Can Graziani save the Soul?

By Michael Rushton
Phanatic Magazine

If the Philadelphia Eagles and the Soul have one thing in common, it could beat the quarterback position.

After all, both clubs' immediate futures are hinging on the return of a high-profile quarterback coming back from injury. And while Donovan McNabb is still some time away from returning to the field, the time has just about come for Tony Graziani.

Graziani has missed Philadelphia's last five games and has seen his club drop six in a row since starting 4-0. However, the six-year veteran should be under center this Monday at home against New Orleans.

Graziani has 28 touchdown passes on 164 passing attempts this season, while backups Juston Wood and Leon Murray have combined for 22 in 179 passing attempts.

And while the Eagles seem to be preparing for life without McNabb -- signing A.J. Feeley long-term and drafting Kevin Kolb -- the Soul have little without Graziani.

Wood failed to win a game after Graziani went down and is now lost for the season with a left-knee injury. Murray has shuffled between a few different clubs over the past few seasons. Clint Stoerner had a short stab as the signal caller, but has since been released.

So now Graziani, who helped lead the Soul to their first-ever playoff win last season, will be counted on to help Philadelphia reach the postseason this year. At 4-6, the Soul still have a shot with six games to play.

However, it can't be all Graziani.

"I can't put that much pressure on the guy," head coach Bret Munsey said after his team's 69-49 loss to New York on Monday. "We've still got to improve in other areas to win football games."

And while Munsey also said after the game that wide out Larry Brackins will return for Monday's game against New Orleans, the team needs to make improvements on the other side of the ball.

The Soul are still without ironman Sean Scott, and corner Mike Brown played for the first time in five weeks due to injury on Monday. Now with one game under his belt, Brown should be stronger this Monday on the field.

That could help a Soul defense that has been lit up on the scoreboard this season and failed to come away with any big stops against the Dragons, a recurring theme throughout the season.

Graziani has heart, no doubt. But he alone can't save this city's Soul.

Michael Rushton has Soul at mrushton@phanaticmag.com