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  • Eagles-Bears: Updated playoff picture, Richard Sherman blasts Birds play design, and more

    Eagles-Bears: Updated playoff picture, Richard Sherman blasts Birds play design, and more

    Thanks for nothing, Kansas City.

    The Eagles face the Chicago Bears on Black Friday still in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, but their magic number to clinch the division remains four games following the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving win against the Chiefs.

    It remains unlikely the Cowboys will be able to overtake the Eagles — even after Thursday’s victory, the New York Times gives Dallas a 3% chance to win the NFC East — but the division is suddenly a lot closer than it appeared just a few weeks ago.

    NFC East standings

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    Of course, the Eagles are playing for higher stakes than simply winning the division. Entering Friday’s game, the Birds hold the No. 2 spot in the NFC, with head-to-head wins against most of the conference’s top teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions.

    The Birds can add the surprising Bears to that list today with a win, while a loss would knock the Eagles down to third place in the NFC with just five more games to go before the playoffs.

    The Lions put themselves in a bad position with their loss against the Packers on Thanksgiving. At 7-5, Detroit is suddenly on the outside of the playoffs looking in with a tough schedule that includes games against the Cowboys, Rams, and Bears.

    NFC playoff picture

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    Week 13: Bears (8-3) at Eagles (8-3)

    • Where: Lincoln Financial Field
    • When: 3 p.m., Friday
    • Streaming: Amazon Prime Video (Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung)
    • TV: Fox29
    • Radio: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, Devan Kaney)

    It shouldn’t be hard to watch or stream Friday’s game. In addition to simulcasting on Fox 29 in and around Philadelphia, Amazon is streaming the game for free globally on its Prime Video platform.

    Amazon’s Richard Sherman says Eagles play designs are ‘pretty pedestrian’

    Richard Sherman called the Eagles’ offense predictable and “pedestrian.”

    Last week, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles called out the Eagles’ predictable offense, pointing to “simplistic” route designs that don’t create enough opportunities for wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

    “[Eagles offensive coordinator] Kevin Patullo is probably a great dude, a great coach, but there’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has and it’s not showing up this year,” Foles said.

    Richard Sherman agrees.

    The five-time Pro Bowl defender turned Thursday Night Football analyst said during a conference call earlier this week the design of many Eagles plays are “pretty pedestrian,” allowing defensive backs to “determine route combinations and route concepts” based on how the Birds line up.

    The Eagles have the 24th ranked offense in the NFL entering Friday’s game, among a handful of teams averaging less than 200 passing yards per game. Plus, Saquon Barkley isn’t coming close to repeating last year’s dominant 2,000-yard performance.

    “Do I think they can repair their offense? No, I don’t,” Sherman said. “I think Kevin Patullo’s the issue, and unless they replace him, nothing’s going to change. They’re going to go home” early in the playoffs.

    Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sherman’s colleague at Amazon who spent 17 seasons as an NFL quarterback, played with Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo during his time in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick said it’s up to Patullo and head coach Nick Sirianni to fix “some missteps,” with their receivers, including getting A.J. Brown ”on a few more out cuts” and “in the slot a little bit more.”

    “They’ve got to start in the second half of the season here, breaking some of those bad tendencies,” Fitzpatrick said. “Because you do fall in love with certain routes, with certain guys, because they’re such good players.”

    They got paid. They got Super Bowl rings. And now, the Eagles’ offense is unmotivated.

    NFL games airing in Philadelphia this weekend

    Sunday
    • Texans at Colts: 1 p.m., CBS (Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt)
    • Rams at Panthers: 1 p.m., Fox (Adam Amin, Drew Brees)
    • Bills at Steelers: 4:25 p.m., CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo)
    • Broncos at Commanders: 8:15 p.m., NBC (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth)
    Monday
    • Giants at Patriots: 8:20 p.m., ESPN/ABC (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)

    Eagles-Bears live updates

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on Inquirer.com.

    Notes and observations about the game can be found at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Eagles-Bears: Live updates

    Eagles news

    Saquon Barkley is averaging just 62 rushing yards per game this season.

    Eagles 2025 schedule

  • Former Fox exec urges FCC to reconsider petition to revoke Fox 29 license

    Former Fox exec urges FCC to reconsider petition to revoke Fox 29 license

    A former Fox broadcasting executive submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday asking the agency to reconsider a petition seeking to terminate the license of the network’s Philadelphia-area affiliate, Fox29.

    Preston Padden, who worked as a senior executive at the broadcasting network controlled by Rupert Murdoch and his family in the 1990s, has been a vocal critic of Fox News and its coverage of the 2020 election and an early supporter of the petition.

    In his letter to the FCC, Padden writes that Fox and the Murdochs lied to the American people by reporting that the 2020 election was stolen, despite knowing that it was untrue.

    He cites court findings in the defamation case brought against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems, which resulted in a $787 million settlement.

    “Fox and the Murdochs’ lies to the American people had consequences,“ Padden wrote. ”Those lies undermined public confidence in the electoral process.”

    Neither Padden nor Fox’s attorneys responded to requests for comment.

    Padden’s letter urged the FCC to respond to an appeal of the order denying the challenge to Fox29’s license.

    The FCC dismissed in January a challenge to Fox29’s license renewal that was brought by the Media and Democracy Project, a self-described nonpartisan nonprofit. The petition, originally filed in July 2023, accused Fox of broadcasting “knowingly false narratives about the 2020 election” on the cable-based Fox News Channel.

    Former FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, said in a statement accompanying the dismissal of the petition, alongside three other complaints targeting local TV stations, that the order was intended to direct the agency to “take a stand on behalf of the First Amendment.”

    “We draw a bright line at a moment when clarity about government interference with the free press is needed more than ever,” she said.

    The challenge is not based on materials broadcast on Fox29, or the local channel’s journalism. Instead, character requirements for broadcast license owners that include a prohibition on “broadcasting false information that causes substantial ‘public harm.’”

    The examples in the FCC’s consumer guide are related to a crime or a catastrophe.

    Fox said in its filings with the FCC that revoking Fox29’s license would be “fundamentally incompatible with the First Amendment.”

    The Media and Democracy Project’s appeal is still pending, and is now in the hands of FCC chair Brendan Carr, a President Donald Trump appointee who has been criticized for interfering in broadcasters’ editorial decisions.

    In September, ABC temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from broadcast after a threat Carr made on a conservative podcast.

    “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said following remarks Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk. “These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

    Carr also reopened previously dismissed complaints of ABC’s moderation of a 2020 presidential debate and CBS’s 60 Minutes interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

    He also blasted news organizations over their coverage of the deportation of the immigrant Kilmar Abrego García.

    Arthur Belendiuk, the attorney for the Media and Democracy Project, said he expects to “grow old and die” before Carr issues a response. Even if Carr denies the appeal, he would open the possibility of an appeal to court.

    Belendiuk believes that’s a risk the FCC chair will not take.

    “If you, Brendan Carr, think you are right, issue a decision and defend it in court,” the attorney said. “Be a man.”

    Staff writers Rob Tornoe and Nick Vadala contributed to this article.

  • WMMR’s ‘Preston & Steve’ losing another cohost following surprise announcement by Nick McIlwain

    WMMR’s ‘Preston & Steve’ losing another cohost following surprise announcement by Nick McIlwain

    The Preston & Steve Show is losing another personality.

    Longtime cohost Nick McIlwain, who has been a fixture on Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison’s popular WMMR morning show for 21 years, announced Wednesday would be his last day on the show.

    The surprise announcement comes a little less than a month after the sudden death of beloved WMMR host Pierre Robert. McIlwain made the decision to leave the station before losing his friend and colleague, but made clear it impacted his choice. McIlwain said he was also motivated by the departure of former colleague and current B101 host Kathy Romano, who was forced out in May as part of cutbacks by parent company Beasley Media Group.

    But mostly, McIlwain thought it was time for a change.

    “Kathy and I are really close, but I don’t know if things would be different if she were still here,” McIlwain told The Inquirer. “One of the main factors was I’m 50 years old, and if you’re going to make a change in your life, the older you get the harder it gets.”

    Playing in the background is the long decline of radio (and just about every other form of media) in a digital world, which has led to a continuous cycle of cutbacks and layoffs. Unlike Romano’s departure, it is entirely McIlwain’s decision to leave WMMR, where he began as an intern in 1999 and spent more than half his adult life.

    Though he has some things he plans to pursue, McIlwain doesn’t really know what comes next, though he doesn’t think his future will be on the radio. The only concrete plans he has is to take the next few months off to figure stuff out and come to terms with the death of his friend and mentor.

    “Losing Pierre was really tough. It’s taken a real big toll on me and hurts all the time,” McIlwain said. “I haven’t had a ton of time to grieve and mourn properly yet, so I’m gonna do that for myself.”

    Elliot admitted he was confused when McIlwain first approached him about leaving the show. McIlwain, like the rest of Preston & Steve’s close-knit crew, was under contract for another four years. But both he and Morrison have come to terms with McIlwain’s decision and have already settled on a path forward.

    Replacing McIlwain in the studio will be Preston & Steve producer Marisa Magnatta. Replacing her will be Robert’s former midday producer, Ryan Shuttleworth.

    “This is what you need to do,” Elliott said to McIlwain on the air Wednesday. “Given our druthers, you would stay right here. We’d have you on board. Things would be business as usual. But you know, this is a decision that you came to, and he presented us with it, and who are we to say, ‘How dare you?’”

    More radio personalities on the move

    Paul Kelly (left) will take over Matt Cord’s spot as morning host of 102.9 WMGK.

    Robert’s death last month stunned the music world and left WMMR’s midday spot vacant for the first time in more than four decades.

    Fortunately, WMMR found the perfect replacement in Matt Cord, a veteran Philly voice and the longtime PA announcer for the Sixers. Cord and Robert were close friends for years, and program director Chuck Damico said “Pierre would absolutely 100% approve of the move.

    “No one will ever replace Pierre Robert but I promise I’ll carry his spirit into the ‘Pierre Robert’ studio everyday and do my best to make him proud,” Cord wrote on social media earlier this week.

    Taking over Cord’s morning show at 102.9 WMGK will be another radio veteran — Paul Kelly, a Philly native who’s been a utility infielder at the station since 2019, hosting just about every shift.

    Kelly’s been on the air since 1989, hosting shows in Atlantic City, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and is proud of the fact his family has been Eagles season ticket holders since their Franklin Field days.

    Both start their new gigs Monday.

  • Philly radio shuffle: Paul Kelly takes over Matt Cord’s WMGK slot

    Philly radio shuffle: Paul Kelly takes over Matt Cord’s WMGK slot

    The sudden death of Pierre Robert has forced a Philly radio shuffle, with veteran host and Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord returning to 93.3 WMMR to take over the midday show, which Robert hosted for 44 years.

    Taking over Cord’s morning show at 102.9 WMGK will be another radio veteran — the versatile Paul Kelly, who’s been a utility infielder at the station since 2019, hosting just about every shift.

    Now Kelly will take over WMGK’s morning show, the former home of famed Philly radio host John DeBella, who retired in 2023.

    Both Cord and Kelly will begin their new hosting gigs Monday.

    “This has been a dream come true — rocking in the same building I visited on my bike as a kid,” Kelly said in a statement. “It’s been amazing working alongside the personalities I grew up listening to — Matt Cord, Tony Harris, John DeBella, Debbi Calton, and Andre Gardner!”

    Kelly, a Philadelphia native, has been working on the air since 1989, hosting shows in Atlantic City, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He also runs his own radio consultancy firm and is a founding member of Kelly Music For Life, a nonprofit that turned an old retail store in Havertown into the Kelly Center, a home for concerts, festivals, and shows.

    “Paul’s deep Philadelphia roots, his lifelong love of classic rock, and the genuine connection he’s built with our listeners over the years make him the ideal choice for mornings on WMGK,” said program director Chuck Damico. “He understands this city, he understands this music, and he brings an energy and authenticity that resonate with our audience every time he cracks the mic.”

    Pierre Robert, seen here broadcasting on WMMR in 2017.

    Robert, 70, was found dead in his Gladwyne home on Oct. 29 after failing to show up for his midday show. The cause of Robert’s death was not disclosed and officials don’t plan to release additional information. Caroline Beasley, the CEO of WMMR’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, said foul play was not suspected.

    “Everything seemed to be natural,” Preston Elliot said on air following Robert’s death. “It just appears he passed overnight.”

    Robert was beloved by musicians, who are hosting a memorial concert in his honor at the Fillmore on Dec. 17, with a portion of the proceeds going to MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance.

    The show will feature bands and musicians near and dear to the former WMMR host’s heart, including the Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “Nobody replaces Pierre — let’s make that clear,” Cord said in a statement. “I promise to carry his amazing spirit into the studio bearing his name and do my best to make him proud.”

  • Matt Cord to take over Pierre Robert’s midday slot at WMMR

    Matt Cord to take over Pierre Robert’s midday slot at WMMR

    Longtime Philly radio host Matt Cord will serve as the late Pierre Robert’s successor for WMMR’s midday slot starting next month, the station’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, announced Monday.

    “Nobody replaces Pierre — let’s make that clear,” Cord said in a statement. “I promise to carry his amazing spirit into the studio bearing his name and do my best to make him proud.”

    Cord will take on Robert’s former time slot starting Dec. 1, and leaves behind the morning slot at WMGK he took on in 2023 following fellow radio veteran John DeBella’s retirement. Cord previously helmed the midday time slot at WMMR briefly in the 1990s, when Robert switched to mornings, and his return to the rock station marks his third run there.

    A replacement for Cord at WMGK is expected to be announced “in the coming weeks,” Beasley said.

    A longtime friend of Robert’s, Cord has been appearing on the air in Philadelphia for about 40 years, and, in addition to stints at WMMR and WMGK, previously hosted mornings at BEN-FM and helmed the afternoon drive slot at Y-100. In addition to his radio work, Cord has served as the Sixers’ in-arena announcer for more than 20 years.

    Despite his Philly radio pedigree, Cord, a Glen Mills native, noted that “no one can step into [Robert’s] sparkling high-top Converse and fill them.” Instead, he said, he hopes to “carry on” Robert’s role in tribute.

    “Everyone at the station is so grateful that our longtime friend and radio family member Matt Cord is willing to take that on,” WMMR program director Chuck Damico said. “No one can replace Pierre, but I know that Matt can do him proud and Pierre would absolutely 100% approve of this. We will all continue to honor Pierre in everything we do forever.”

    Robert, 70, was found dead in is home in Gladwyne on Oct. 29, prompting an outpouring of grief from friends and fans. A Northern California native, Robert joined WMMR as an on-air host in 1981, and quickly became one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive and well-liked radio personalities.

    Following Robert’s death, hundreds of fans and friends flooded Rittenhouse Square, one of the late radio host’s favorite spots in Philadelphia. Among those who showed up to honor him were WXPN host Jim McGuinn, B101 host and former Preston & Steve cohost Kathy Romano, a slew of WMMR staffers, and Cord himself, The Inquirer previously reported.

    Next month, WMMR plans to host a tribute concert for Robert dubbed Pierre Robert: A Show of Life. Set to take place at the Fillmore on Dec. 17, the show will feature appearances from the Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “We will sing, dance, and celebrate in the way Pierre would have wanted us to,” Damico said of the concert.

  • Eagles-Cowboys: Playoff scenarios, Cris Collinsworth’s surprising Philly connection, and more

    Eagles-Cowboys: Playoff scenarios, Cris Collinsworth’s surprising Philly connection, and more

    The Eagles (8-2) can’t quite clinch the NFC East yet, but will get a lot closer with a win against the Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1) Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.

    Philly’s magic number remains four to clinch the NFC East. That will drop to two if the Birds defeat the Cowboys Sunday, meaning the Eagles have a chance to lock up the division on Black Friday against the Chicago Bears.

    That should make HBO’s in-season Hard Knocks about the NFC East, which debuts on Dec. 2, really compelling.

    NFC East standings

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    No team has won the NFC East in back-to-back years since 2004, when Donovan McNabb and the Eagles claimed their fourth-straight division title on the way to Super Bowl XXXIX.

    On the other side of the coin are the New York Giants, who could become the first team officially eliminated from the playoffs. A Giants loss paired with a win by either the Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, or Seattle Seahawks would officially snuff out the Giants’ playoff hopes.

    If that were to happen, it would be the earliest playoff exit for the Giants since 1976 and the soonest a team has been eliminated since the New York Jets in 2020, according to NFL playoffs analyst Joe Ferreira. The Giants would also become the 11th team since 1990 to be eliminated from playoff contention before their bye week.

    While the Cowboys can’t be eliminated yet, they need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Entering Week 12, they are three back in the hunt for the NFC’s final wild card spot, and their odds of sneaking into the playoffs drop to just 4% with a loss to the Birds on Sunday, according to the New York Times playoff simulator.

    Eagles (8-2) at Cowboys (4-5-1)

    • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
    • When: 4:25 p.m., Sunday
    • TV: Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
    • Radio: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, Devan Kaney)
    • Streaming: Fox One

    Cris Collinsworth’s milestone has a surprising Philly connection

    NBCs Cris Collinsworth will call his 500th NFL game Sunday.

    Tonight’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams is a milestone for veteran color analyst Cris Collinsworth, who will be calling his 500th NFL game.

    Collinsworth, who spent eight seasons as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, debuted way back in 1990 on NBC alongside the late Jim Donovan. During his 36-year broadcasting career, Collinsworth has called games alongside many all-time greats, including Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Philadelphia native Dick Stockton.

    What may surprise Eagles fans is Collinsworth has called 32 games at Lincoln Financial Field, the most of any stadium in his long broadcasting career. And he’s called Eagles-Cowboys 17 times, including this season’s NFL kickoff game alongside Mike Tirico.

    Despite all that, some Eagles fans still hold a grudge against Collinsworth for his call of Super Bowl LII because he thought two touchdown catches — one by running back Corey Clement and one by tight end Zach Ertz — should have been overturned by officials. He later said Ertz’s game-winning touchdown grab late in the fourth quarter was the correct call, telling The Inquirer, “I wish I’d never said that.”

    “I’ve listened to talk radio in Philadelphia,” Collinsworth, a former sports talker himself, told The Inquirer back in January. “It’s OK for them to criticize their team, but don’t come in and criticize my family from outside.”

    While the Eagles have no more Sunday Night Football games on their schedule, and a flex is highly unlikely, Collinsworth and NBC could end up with a Birds game in the playoffs — the Super Bowl, which the network is broadcasting.

    Other games airing in Philly Sunday

    • Steelers at Bears: 1 p.m., CBS (Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt)
    • Giants at Lions: 1 p.m., Fox (Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Megan Olivi)
    • Buccaneers at Rams: 8:15 p.m., NBC (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)

    NFC standings

    The Eagles remain in first place in the NFC entering Week 12, thanks to their win against the Los Angeles Rams back in Week 3.

    The Birds hold tiebreakers against four of the top teams in the NFC — the Rams, Buccaneers, Packers, and Detroit Lions. They can add a fifth next week if they defeat the Bears on Black Friday.

    While the Eagles could clinch the NFC East as soon as next week, their magic number to land the top playoff seen (and a first round bye) is seven.

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    Eagles-Cowboys live updates

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on Inquirer.com.

    Notes and observations about the game can be found at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Eagles-Cowboys: Live updates

    Eagles news

    Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson may be back earlier than expected.

    Eagles 2025 schedule

  • Sixers TV ratings on NBC Sports Philadelphia up big thanks to the Maxey-Edgecombe show

    Sixers TV ratings on NBC Sports Philadelphia up big thanks to the Maxey-Edgecombe show

    Sixers announcer Alaa Abdelnaby had high hopes this Sixers team would erase the memory of disappointment from last season. So far, he’s gotten his wish.

    Coming off a thrilling overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Sixers seem rejuvenated this season behind young talents Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe. Though things have slowed following their red-hot 4-0 start, newfound interest in the Sixers is showing up in the team’s TV ratings.

    Through nine games, Sixers games on NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Philadelphia+ are up 73% compared with the same point last season, according to Nielsen numbers obtained by The Inquirer. That works out to an average of about 138,000 viewers tuning into each game.

    As a result, Philadelphia has the fourth-strongest growth in NBA TV ratings this season, trailing behind only Portland, Chicago, and Denver.

    Not surprisingly, the most-watched Sixers game this season was last week’s win against the Boston Celtics, which, along with Denver Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings on the West Coast, averaged 2.9 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.

    A large reason behind the surge of interest is Maxey’s MVP-caliber performance. In his sixth season in the league, Maxey is averaging 33.4 points, up big from the 26.3 per game he put up last season.

    Maxey put up a career-high 54 points Thursday night and is averaging a league-high 40.7 minutes per game. It’s been 14 seasons since an NBA player averaged over 40 minutes a game, all the way back to former Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis during the 2010-11 season.

    Edgecombe, the Sixers’ energetic rookie, has dropped back down to Earth a bit after his 34-point debut against the Celtics. Still, Edgecombe is averaging 15.6 points and six rebounds and has been a workhorse for the Sixers, averaging 37.4 minutes per game, the second-most in the NBA behind Maxey.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia’s pre- and postgame coverage, featuring Amy Fadool, Marc Jackson, and Jim Lynam, has also benefited from the increased interest in the Sixers. Viewership for Sixers Pregame Live is up 150% compared to last season’s average, while Sixers Postgame Live is up more than 60%.

    Podcasts are also enjoying a bump. The Rights to Ricky Sanchez, the popular Sixers podcast co-hosted by 94.1 WIP’s Spike Eskin and Mike Levin, tends to have a loyal audience that doesn’t surge or sink too much. But Eskin said the podcast has seen a “pretty good jump,” especially during the Sixers’ hot start.

    “The Ricky listeners are die-hards so they’re always there,” Eskin said, “but the hot start certainly gave the pod a lift as the people who checked out of the team last year seemed excited to get back in.”

    Sixers NBA standings

    Eastern Conference

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    Western Conference

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    Sixers news

    Sixers center Joel Embiid hasn’t been on the court much so far this season.

    Upcoming Sixers schedule

    • Heat at Sixers: Sunday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
    • Magic at Sixers: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. (NBC)
    • Sixers at Nets: Friday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
    • Hawks at Sixers: Sunday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
    • Wizards at Sixers: Thursday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
  • Musicians will honor beloved WMMR host Pierre Robert in memorial concert

    Musicians will honor beloved WMMR host Pierre Robert in memorial concert

    What better way to remember Pierre Robert than to hold a concert in his honor?

    93.3 WMMR announced on Wednesday the Pierre Robert: A Show of Life, a celebration of the memory of the beloved Philly radio host, whose unexpected death last month shocked the music world.

    “We will sing, dance, and celebrate in the way Pierre would have wanted us to,” said Chuck Damico, WMMR’s program director.

    The concert will take place at the Fillmore on Dec. 17. Tickets will cost $50 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster on the Fillmore’s website. A portion of the proceeds will go to MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance.

    The show will feature bands and musicians near and dear to the former WMMR host’s heart, including The Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “He was a beautiful man who meant so much to so many people,” an emotional Roland said on social media.

    A poster for a concert honoring former WMMR host Pierre Robert, who died unexpectedly last month.

    Robert, 70, was found dead in his Gladwyne home on Oct. 29 after failing to show up for his midday show. The cause of Robert’s death was not disclosed and officials don’t plan to release additional information. Caroline Beasley, the CEO of WMMR’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, said foul play was not suspected.

    “Everything seemed to be natural,” Preston Elliot said on air following Robert’s death. “It just appears he passed overnight.”

    Robert was a musical institution in Philadelphia, where he spent 44 years on the air sharing his deep love of classic rock and expressing a humanity that touched musicians and listeners across the county.

    Earlier this month, hundreds of fans and friends flooded Rittenhouse Square, where Robert enjoyed a book and a cup of La Colombe coffee just days before his death.

    “He was truly irreplaceable and his passing will leave a big hole especially in the local music community,” Hooters singer and cofounder Rob Hyman said. “Pierre was that ‘good citizen’ who will be missed by all.”

    Pierre Robert’s annual Thanksgiving Day show will continue this year, hosted by his former producers.

    With Thanksgiving approaching, WMMR plans to keep Robert’s annual Turkey Day show alive with a midday show anchored by Ryan Shuttleworth and featuring a collection of the rock host’s former producers — Kevin Gunn, Michael Anthony Thompson, Nick McIlwain, Jason Fehon, and Chris “Pancake” Ashcraft.

    And yes, that means a heaping spoonful of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” the folk singer’s 18-minute opus. Expect to hear three versions of the song, including the even-longer 25th anniversary edition, which will be played at noon.

    These locals once restored Pierre Robert’s VW van, Minerva. Now, they want it to serve as a tribute to the late DJ.
  • Court settlement calls for NPR to get $36 million in government funds to operate U.S. public radio system

    Court settlement calls for NPR to get $36 million in government funds to operate U.S. public radio system

    WASHINGTON — National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to operate the nation’s public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settlement with the federal government’s steward of funding for public broadcasting stations.

    The settlement, announced late Monday, partially resolves a legal dispute in which NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of bowing to pressure from President Donald Trump to cut off its funding.

    On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he would “love to” defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats.

    NPR accused the CPB of violating its First Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.

    On April 2, the CPB’s board initially approved a three-year, roughly $36 million extension of a grant for NPR to operate the “interconnection” satellite system for public radio. NPR has been operating and managing the Public Radio Satellite System since 1985.

    But corporation officials reversed course and announced that the federal funds would go to a entity called Public Media Infrastructure. NPR claimed the CPB was under mounting pressure from the Trump administration when the agency redirected the money to PMI, a media coalition that didn’t exist and wasn’t statutorily authorized to receive the funds.

    CPB attorneys denied that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had argued that NPR’s claims are factually and legally meritless.

    On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that called for federal agencies to stop funding for NPR and PBS. The settlement doesn’t end a lawsuit in which NPR seeks to block any implementation or enforcement of Trump’s executive order. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to preside over another hearing for the case on Dec. 4.

    The settlement says NPR and CPB agree that the executive order is unconstitutional and that CPB won’t enforce it unless a court orders it to do so.

    NPR, meanwhile, agreed to drop its request for a court order blocking CPB from disbursing funds to PMI under a separate grant agreement.

    Katherine Maher, NPR’s president and CEO, said the settlement is “a victory for editorial independence and a step toward upholding the First Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system.”

    Patricia Harrison, the corporation’s CEO, said CPB is pleased that the litigation is over “and that our investment in the future through PMI marks an exciting new era for public media.”

    On Aug. 1, CPB announced it would take steps toward closing itself down after being defunded by Congress.

  • Eagles-Packers: Latest on ESPN-YouTubeTV dispute, Jason Kelce’s serious turn, and more

    Eagles-Packers: Latest on ESPN-YouTubeTV dispute, Jason Kelce’s serious turn, and more

    The Eagles will play their first game in 15 days when they take on the Green Bay Packers tonight on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

    Unfortunately, some fans in Philly and across the country won’t be able to tune in.

    An ongoing dispute between YouTube TV and Disney has left ESPN, ABC, and a handful of other channels dark on the so-called “skinny bundle” for more than a week, with no end in site.

    The two sides continued to negotiate throughout the day Monday but remained far apart on dollars — Disney wants more money than parent-company Google wants to pay.

    On Sunday, hopes of a potential deal got dimmer when YouTube TV announced a $20 credit for customers due to the continued outage of Disney’s channels.

    YouTube TV has grown into the third-largest cable distributor in the country with about 10 million subscribers, trailing only Comcast and Charter. Not surprisingly, ESPN’s college football and Monday Night Football ratings were down slightly last week, which most experts attribute to the blackout.

    Networks ending up blacked out over carriage disputes is rare, and ones lasting this long are even rarer, though they happen. TelevisaUnivision has been dark on YouTube TV since late September, and Disney-owned Fubo hasn’t had TNT or TBS since April 2024 due to a carriage dispute with Warner Bros. Discovery.

    It’s the first of two Monday Night Football appearances this season for the Eagles. Hopefully, this dispute is settled before the Birds take on the Los Angeles Chargers on ESPN Dec. 8.

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream Eagles-Packers.

    How to watch Eagles at Packers

    • Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.
    • When: 8:15 p.m., Monday
    • TV: ABC, ESPN (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge)
    • Radio: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, Devan Kaney)
    • Streaming: ESPN Unlimited

    How to stream Eagles at Packers

    There are plenty of options to stream Eagles-Packers tonight.

    While ESPN will likely remain blacked out on YouTube, there are a host of services that will stream tonight’s Monday Night Football game.

    The most obvious is ESPN Unlimited, the network’s new subscription streaming service that includes every game that airs on all 12 ESPN networks. The service runs $29.99 a month.

    You can also stream tonight’s game on a host of other skinny bundles, including Hulu + Live TV ($64.99 a month for three months), Sling ($4.99 for one day pass, $60.99 a month), Fubo ($84.99 a month with a free trial), and DirecTV Stream ($94.99 a month with a free trial).

    If you’re just planning to watch the game on your phone or tablet, you can stream it on NFL+, the league’s mobile subscription streaming service. NFL+ runs $6.99 a month.

    Because the game is simulcasting on ABC, most fans who live in and around Philadelphia and other cities should be able to stream the game for free using a digital antenna.

    6abc’s signal in Philadelphia can be finicky. The station suggests an all-band antenna that covers Low-VHF, High VHF and UHF with long elements (rabbit ears for those of you old enough) that should be fully extended.

    The Channel Master website has specific information about what channels are available using your address.

    Jason Kelce takes a serious turn on tonight’s Monday Night Countdown

    Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen (left) was interviewed by Jason Kelce for “Monday Night Countdown” ahead of Birds-Packers.

    In his second season with ESPN, former Eagles star Jason Kelce has become known for his crowd-pleasing antics and fun-loving outfits, from his “South Philly tuxedo” to a Bills Mafia getup inspired by Fred Flintstone.

    For tonight’s game, Kelce took a more serious tone for a featured story about Rodney Davis, the grandfather of Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen, whose heroic death during the Vietnam War saved the lives of several members of his platoon.

    Davis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after jumping on a grenade that landed in a bunker where he and five other soldiers were pinned down by enemy fire in 1967. He was 25, the same age Steen is now.

    “He gave his life for his, for his …” said an emotional Samantha Steen, Davis’ daughter and Steen’s mother. “He gave up his life for other Marines.”

    Kelce signed a three-year deal with ESPN last season, just one of the many post-Eagles gigs the future Hall of Famer lined up for himself. The fate of one of those gigs — a limited late-night show on ESPN2 during the playoffs — has yet to be announced.

    Quinta Brunson, Shane Gillis will be guests on the Manningcast

    “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson at a Phillies game in August.

    Peyton and Eli Manning will be back on ESPN2 tonight for the Manningcast, and they’ll be welcoming some Philly star power to their Monday Night Football alternative broadcast

    Quinta Brunson, the star and creator of Abbott Elementary, and comedian Shane Gillis will appear as guests tonight. It’s unclear when either will join the show.

    Also joining the show will be Disney CEO Bob Iger, a lifelong Packers fan whose appearance coincided with the company’s dispute with YouTube TV.

    It’ll be the sixth time the Eagles have appeared on the Manningcast, which is quietly in its fifth season at ESPN. Last season, Peyton and Eli turned to Downingtown native Miles Teller during the Eagles’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts — who attended the Mannings’ quarterback camp while a sophomore at Alabama — was a guest in 2022, where he revealed he liked to watch game tape of former San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and wore a hoodie with the phrase, “God bless whoever hating on me.”

    The newest episode of Manning’s ESPN+ show, Peyton’s Places, was also Eagles-centric. It featured a trip to Philadelphia to learn about the origins of the Tush Push from Kelce. Not surprisingly, Manning came away a fan.

    “Other teams, it’s a copycat league, and if you can copycat it, you will. If you can’t, then you probably complain that it’s not fair,” Manning told The Inquirer. “So I’m on the Eagles’ side of it. I think it’s their niche, and it works, and they make it happen.”

    NFC standings

    The Eagles were overtaken Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks, who moved into the top spot in the NFC thanks to their blowout win against the Arizona Cardinals.

    If the Eagles win tonight, they’ll move back into first place because they’d hold the tiebreaker against the Seahawks with a better conference record.

    NFC standings

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    NFC East standings

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    Eagles-Packers live updates

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on Inquirer.com.

    Notes and observations about the game can be found at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Eagles-Packers: Live updates

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