While you still might be reeling in frustration after the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to Dallas on Sunday — when the Birds gave up a 21-point lead and didn’t score a single point after halftime — the changes you think should be made won’t be happening.
At least, not right now.
Nick Sirianni does not plan to change who is calling the plays. The Eagles coach expressed faith in his first-year offensive coordinator on Monday, noting that he has not considered taking play-calling duties away from Kevin Patullo.
The Eagles have the pieces to be Super Bowl contender again, but they’re hurting themselves. They have consistently failed to run the ball and sustain a passing offense through a full game.
Heading into Week 13, it seems like all fingers point to one common issue: the play-calling. It’s clear whatever the offense is doing is not working. Even former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles said, “There’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has, and it’s not showing up this year.”
Yet Sirianni believes “we’ve got the right people” to make a course correction this late in the season.Well, let’s see if Jeffrey Lurie feels the same way.
Former North Catholic football player John Kane holds a 1978 team photo while former teammates gather at Dagwood’s Pub in Torresdale on Nov. 16.
The 50th anniversary Thanksgiving Day game between the North Catholic Falcons and the Frankford Pioneers in 1978 is one many seniors from the North Catholic football team haven’t forgotten. That’s because the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium. While the school closed its doors in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive: “It was the last game we’d ever play together and we went out as a winner.”
Sixers center Joel Embiid has missed six games because of an issue with his right knee.
Joel Embiid’s injury status is either’s the NBA’s biggest mystery or the 76ers’ best-kept secret. The former MVP has missed seven games because of knee injuries and will likely remain out as he continues to nurse a new issue with his right knee. What’s his status? “The same as it was,” coach Nick Nurse said Monday, hours before Embiid was listed as questionable. “He’s still day to day.”
As for Tyrese Maxey, he’s more concerned about Embiid, a person he wants to see healthy on and off the court. “Yes, basketball is our career, but life is life, you know what I’m saying?” Maxey said. “You only get one life. So you’ve got to live life to the fullest. And as long as people are happy, his family’s good, he’s good, and he can get on the basketball court as much as possible, I’m happy.”
Flyers center Jett Luchanko was traded on Monday from Guelph to Brantford.
Monday brought good news for Flyers fans worried about Jett Luchanko’s development, as the speedy center was traded by Guelph to fellow Ontario Hockey League club Brantford.
This is a significant development, as it will see Luchanko join the OHL favorites, who have yet to lose in regulation across 23 games and are expected to contend for a Memorial Cup. With the Bulldogs, Luchanko will play alongside improved talent and in more high-leverage games, both of which should allow the Flyers to get a better picture of where he is from a developmental perspective.
While Luchanko is jetting off to Brantford, Rick Tocchet is a few months away from a trip to Milan as an assistant coach with Team Canada for the Olympics. But will Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim be joining him? Jackie Spiegel talked with Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper on Monday about Sanheim’s chances.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni (left) is standing by his offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo.
The worst thing the Eagles can do right now is the thing that everybody wants them to do. Nick Sirianni isn’t going to do it. You don’t make a change in play-calling duties after a late afternoon road game in the week of Thanksgiving when you are scheduled to play on Friday. Anybody who calls plays for this offense is going to face the same challenges as Kevin Patullo, writes columnist David Murphy.
What you’re saying about the Eagles’ loss
We asked: What bothers you most about this Eagles loss? Among your responses:
Oh where to start. All of it. A sloppy, poorly played game from start to finish. Too many penalties and costly fumbles. Zero offense in the second half. Poor coaching. Most of all losing to the Cowgirls is like a punch in the gut. Will take a while for this stinging loss to subside. — Kathy T.
What bothers me the most is a lack of consistency. Great teams are consistent. Obviously, not every game can be a good one but yesterday was the epitome of this season. Blane the head coach, OC, OL, Hurts holding the ball, Barkley, etc., this team will not advance to the SB playing this helter-skelter game. — Rick W.
Three things bother me. First, the defense, so strong the previous two weeks, disappeared for the last 35 minutes. Second, the OL seems to have taken a step back from the last two years. The split-second timing just isn’t there. And third, Saquon Barkley has lost his magic. He’s not even an average running back this year. Too many commercials? Too much golf? The fourth-quarter, drive-killing fumble just can’t happen. I think the first one is curable. I’m not so sure about the other two. — Joel G.
Both the wife and myself said at halftime, watch them go back into conservative play calling. They think they have the game won but if they do they’re going to lose the game. — Ronald R.
The thing that bothered me most was having to watch the smiling, laughing Jerry Jones with all his friends in his private box. This was the most frustrating Eagles game I have watched in a long time. How can a reigning SB Champ blow a 21-point lead? Jake missed a FG, Saquon fumbled, Hurts sometimes looked like the SB winner, but also often looked like the return of Sam Bradford or Norm Snead. The officials looked like they were handpicked by Jerry Jones, the Eagles defensive backfield could not cover the Cowboys’ two top receivers, and the coaching, play calling, defensive line, and offensive line all could have done better. — Everett S.
What bothers me most is the complacency after the early 21-0 lead, especially on offense. A good team will view this loss as a wake-up call and immediately right the ship.— James F.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, David Murphy, Mike Sielski, Gina Mizell, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Alex Coffey, Jonathan Tannenwald, Gabriela Carroll, Lochlahn March, Sean McKeown, Ryan Mack, and Greg Finberg.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
That’s it for me this week. Jim will be back in your inbox with Wednesday’s newsletter. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Bella
There’s always some anxiety that comes with heading to the airport. This week, maybe more so.
AAA predicts nearly 82 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, a U.S. record if it stands. Even with concerns about the reliability of air travel, AAA reports about 6 million people will fly to their destination this week, a glut of humanity that could jam airports nationwide.
Air traffic at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has been running relatively smoothly since the government shutdown ended, Inquirer analysis shows.
But an onslaught of holiday passengers could quickly change that.
Are you headed to PHL? Use our charts below to get a glimpse of how the airport is functioning today. The charts will update every hour through Jan. 1 and reset every morning at 4 a.m.
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Nearly half of the flights at PHL were delayed or canceled at PHL during the climax of the federal government shutdown, which lasted until Nov. 12. Analysis shows delays and cancellations have returned to normal levels since, with disruptions generally affecting less than 20% of flights a day.
Fewer than five flights a day have been canceled for the last week at PHL.
In the lead up to the holiday weekend, Frontier Airlines was experiencing the most disruptions. More than 40% of the company’s flights in and out of PHL were delayed or canceled last weekend, analysis of PHL flight board data shows.
PHL offers flights from 15 airlines. The chart below shows what percentage of the most active airlines’ flights are delayed or canceled.
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What about my flight?
PHL offers up-to-date information for each flight arriving or departing from its gates on its website. However, airport officials recommend checking with your airline for more specific information.
A traveler enters the TSA PreCheck security line at Terminals E-F at Philadelphia International Airport in October.
Security wait times
As of Monday morning, all six security checkpoints at PHL were open. TSA PreCheck is available at Terminals A-East, C and D/E.
Current security wait times are available on PHL’s website.
Weather outlook
Leaving Philly: Rain could slow things down Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Some wind may linger into the weekend, but otherwise flying out of Philadelphia looks fairly unhindered. What’s happening at your destination could, of course, change this.
Coming to Philly: Elsewhere in the country, NWS forecasts show a broad area of low pressure affecting the eastern half of the country with rain Tuesday into Wednesday. Later in the weekend, weather systems could affect the Midwest, Northwest and Rocky Mountains, potentially complicating travel from those locations.
Time and time again this season, the Eagles seem to provide fleeting promise on offense, only for that glimmer to be extinguished in a matter of drives.
The offense followed that familiar formula in the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, going up 21-0 in the second quarter and never scoring again. The Cowboys’ 24 points were tied for Dallas’ fourth-lowest total of the season, so naturally, it is not the Eagles’ defense but the offense that will spend continued time under the public microscope in the aftermath of the loss.
Was the deflating defeat to the Cowboys a sign that the Eagles are beginning a slide similar to the one they suffered in the second half of the 2023 season? Or, perhaps more rationally, was it just a sign that this Eagles team isn’t bound for Santa Clara, Calif., and Super Bowl LX in February?
There’s plenty of football left in the Eagles’ schedule, starting with the 8-3 Chicago Bears on Black Friday. The Bears are on a four-game winning streak, most recently posting a narrow 31-28 victory over the Aaron Rodgers-less Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s what we know (and what we don’t) about the Eagles going into their Friday the (Week) 13th matchup against Chicago:
Penalty palooza
After the Dallas game, Nick Sirianni characterized the Eagles’ 14 penalties as “uncharacteristic.”
However, at this point in the season, the Eagles’ mistakes have become very characteristic.
Going into Monday night, the Eagles ranked sixth in the league in penalties against at 84, according to nflpenalties.com. Their infractions have cost them 721 yards, which also ranks sixth in the league. Their opponents have been called for 64 penalties by comparison, which is tied for fifth fewest in the league.
The Eagles have been among the NFL’s most penalized groups this season.
What was notable about the Eagles’ penalties against the Cowboys was that they often wiped out big plays. For example, in the third quarter, Dallas Goedert had a 20-yard reception that would have put the Eagles in Cowboys territory, but Matt Pryor’s illegal formation penalty while lined up as the sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package negated Goedert’s play.
The Eagles couldn’t overcome that 5-yard loss, ultimately forcing them to punt.
That sloppiness must be reversed if the Eagles want to have long-term success into the playoffs. They can’t keep beating themselves, especially seeing as one of the NFC’s best, the Los Angeles Rams, have incurred a league-low 51 penalties.
But the good news for the Eagles going into Friday’s game? There are few teams that have been as undisciplined as the Bears this season.
Chicago has been called for 87 penalties, which is tied for fourth in the NFL. The Bears’ opponents have incurred 61, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league. It’s worth acknowledging that the Bears have been flagged more frequently on the road (49 on the road, 38 at home), just like the Eagles (47 on the road, 37 at home).
Run ragged
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Eagles can’t thrive offensively if they don’t have a running game to fall back on this season.
The running game fueled their 2024 Super Bowl run. It powered their 2021 offensive turnaround that reversed their 2-5 start to the season and earned them a playoff berth. But the Eagles can’t lean into the running game this year because of their lack of efficiency for the majority of the season.
Saquon Barkley averaged a season-low 2.2 yards per carry against the Cowboys. After the game, left guard Landon Dickerson partially attributed that inefficiency on the ground to the Cowboys’ five-man front.
Will Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo be better prepared for the Bears defense than they seemed to be for the Cowboys?
He suggested that the Eagles were not fully prepared for that wrinkle even though the Cowboys had deployed five-man fronts in the weeks leading up to the game, especially the previous week against the Las Vegas Raiders. That was the Cowboys’ first game since acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets at the trade deadline.
The Eagles should be able to run on this Bears defense. But will they? Over the last three weeks, the Bears have conceded 470 rushing yards, third highest in the league among teams that have played three games in that span. They’ve allowed 5.3 yards per carry in that time frame, also third in the league.
Secondary attrition
Three starters in the Eagles’ secondary — Reed Blankenship, Adoree’ Jackson, and Drew Mukuba — were hurt against the Cowboys and did not return to action, putting their statuses for Friday’s game in question.
Mukuba, the rookie safety, was spotted after the game using crutches and not putting any weight on his right foot, which sported a boot. Sirianni said Monday that Mukuba, who sources confirmed to The Inquirer will need leg surgery, will be “out for some time.” Jackson entered concussion protocol, just five weeks after suffering a concussion in the Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Reed Blankenship’s availability would offer a huge lift to a banged-up Eagles secondary.
If Blankenship (thigh), Jackson, and Mukuba can’t play, the Eagles’ questionable secondary depth is going to be tested again, this time by Caleb Williams and a Bears passing offense that has scored seven touchdowns (no interceptions) in their winning streak.
Jackson was the first player to go down in the third quarter. Cooper DeJean moved to outside cornerback and Michael Carter, whom the Eagles acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline, took over at nickel cornerback. DeJean had a tough time on the outside, allowing four receptions on five targets for a team-high 148 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
When asked about Mukuba, Sirianni listed a number of potential candidates to play at safety against the Bears, including Carter and Sydney Brown, who took over for the injured Blankenship in the third quarter. Sirianni also noted that Blankenship is “still manning everything back there” in his response to a question about personnel going forward, so he may have the best chance of playing Friday out of all the injured members of the secondary.
Based on Sirianni’s response, DeJean may not be a candidate to move to safety. He had some experience playing the position during training camp. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could also look to the practice squad and tap Andrè Sam to start at safety.
Caleb Williams and the Bears’ passing offense have been explosive at times under first-year coach Ben Johnson.
It’s been an inconsistent year for the Bears’ passing attack. Williams’59.2% completion rate ranks last among 29 quarterbacks who have had at least 238 drop backs this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Still, the Bears have generated the sixth-most explosive passing plays of at least 20 yards (39) this season.
Rome Odunze, the Bears’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Washington, is leading the way. He’s had a team-high 13 explosive receptions for a total of 330 yards this year.
Old friends
If the Eagles’ secondary depth becomes an issue on Friday, scrutiny might intensify against the Bears given their familiar defensive personnel.
The Bears have a pair of former Eagles defensive backs on the roster in Kevin Byard and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Byard, the 32-year-old safety, joined the Eagles in 2023 at the trade deadline after spending the first eight years of his career with the Tennessee Titans. That was a disastrous season for the Eagles defense as a whole, as Sean Desai was demoted and Matt Patricia took over as defensive coordinator over halfway through the season.
Old friend C.J. Gardner-Johnson will face the Eagles for the first time as a member of the Bears this week.
Byard moved on to the Bears that offseason. He has been a bright spot in Chicago’s defense, tying for the NFL lead in interceptions with five.
But Byard’s departure from the Eagles isn’t as notable as Gardner-Johnson’s. The 27-year-old defensive back has bounced around the league since his March trade to the Houston Texans. The Texans cut him in September. The Ravens signed him to the practice squad and cut him in a span of a week in October.
Then, in late October, Gardner-Johnson found a home with the Bears, whose defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, is his former head coach with the New Orleans Saints. The Bears have been a strong fit for Gardner-Johnson so far, as he has started three of the last four games at nickel cornerback, notching three sacks in that span.
His presence has been particularly important for the Bears, who are navigating injuries to three of their top linebackers, including former Eagle T.J. Edwards. With the Bears utilizing nickel and dime packages more often lately, Gardner-Johnson has seen his playing time increased over his last three starts. He was on the field for 98.6% of the defensive snaps in Week 10 against the New York Giants, 100% in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, and 90.3% in Week 12 vs. the Steelers.
The Eagles replaced Gardner-Johnson with Mukuba this offseason. But he was technically available in October to serve in a depth role for cheap if the Eagles wanted him. While hindsight is always 20/20, the timing of Gardner-Johnson’s return to Philly is interesting nonetheless.
If you’re trying to pass some time while you wait for your delayed flight home, these stories can help.
Joy Velasco / For The Inquirer
The Inquirer published some fantastic reads this year — stories you may have meant to read but couldn’t find the time for. The holidays are the ideal time for catching up: Maybe you’re stuck on a delayed flight, waiting for the turkey or ham to thaw, or just looking for an excuse to avoid that one annoying relative who’s a despicable Cowboys fan.
We’ve rounded up some of our best and top-read journalism from 2025. Take this quiz to find the perfect match for your holiday downtime.
It’s been almost two months since the Philadelphia Art Museum unveiled its new name and logo to, let’s be kind and say, a mixed response. To the bane of all graphic designers, rebrands are lightning rods where everyone suddenly becomes a branding expert.
So we wanted to put your knowledge to the test. We’re going to ask you to identify the real logo among those that we’ve subtly modified.
Good luck!
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Question 1 of 6
Before the change, one of these was the real logo for The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Can you pick the right one?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
For those concerned about the changing logo, fear not. Legally the museum’s name isn’t changing, just its “consumer-facing” one.
Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
The questions will get a little harder from here.
Question 2 of 6
Which logo replaced the one above?
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The museum said in a statement, “The new brand identity captures Philadelphia’s vibrant culture, reflecting how art influences everyday life and resonates across the city’s diverse communities.” The change surprised many, with lots of critics upset with the new look.
Question 3 of 6
Let’s move to another art gallery. Which is the real logo for the Barnes Foundation?
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Pentagram, the company responsible for the logo, said about the design: “The identity is based on the forms found within a specific ‘ensemble.’ The letters play with positive and negative space, gaining coherence through the act of reading across the ensemble.”
Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
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Question 4 of 6
Which is the real Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts logo?
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The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is the nation’s first institution that is both an art museum and school. The Heads of State, the brand agency that designed the logo, said: “We felt a classic wordmark would be an opportunity for visual simplicity and increased name recognition.”
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Question 5 of 6
Eastern State Penitentiary also recently rebranded. Can you pick out their new logo?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Not only does Eastern State have a new look, but they also recently released their 2025-2029 strategic plan, with a focus on criminal justice education and a reimagined visitor experience.
Question 6 of 6
The Museum of the American Revolution has part of its logo displayed on its building. Can you spot the right design?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The thirteen stars in the museum’s logo are displayed on the building outside. The stars are based off the Commander in Chief’s Standard flag, which is on display in the museum.
Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Your Results
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Design, development, and reporting: Garland Fordice
Editing: Sam Morris
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As families across America prepare to settle in for turkey, stuffing, and football, the Trump administration is imposing a brutal choice on the people of Ukraine: capitulate by Thanksgiving, or lose U.S. support.
If the bloodiest fighting in Europe since World War II is to come to an end, any peace plan must be fair and hold Russia accountable for invading its neighbor. The 28-point plan released last week and endorsed by the White House would enshrine injustice instead.
Perhaps the only surprise about the lopsided peace proposal is that it took so long. Ever since Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office, it has often felt like an all-out push for Kyiv’s surrender is just around the corner.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground has deteriorated.
Ukrainians have taken to covering their streets and homes with anti-drone nets due to the Russian military’s “human safari” tactics. Russian drone operators have terrorized civilians and aid workers by attacking them indiscriminately, making simple errands dangerous in cities close to the front lines.
Russia’s military, fueled by the conscription of ethnic minorities, convicted criminals, and Ukrainians from Russian-occupied territories, has made incremental gains. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has suffered from increasing rates of desertion and low morale. While most Ukrainians do not want to give up territory to end the fighting, this position has become more popular over time because of the suffering and devastation the war has unleashed.
American support for Ukraine has reached new lows under Trump, but President Joe Biden bears much of the blame for what’s happening today. The past administration never supplied Ukraine with anything close to the kinds of weapons it needed to succeed in the war’s early stages. Instead of rushing F-16 fighter jets into the country, Biden held off on delivering them for years. Long-range missiles, which would have allowed Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, were also delayed.
The Trump administration seems prepared to compound this betrayal by forcing Ukrainians to accept a peace plan that some U.S. senators have suggested was written by Moscow.
As released last week, the plan would force Ukraine to cede territory, abandon hopes of joining NATO, and cap the size of its military. It would create a blanket amnesty for war crimes and allow Russia to rejoin the G8 and reintegrate into the global economy.
Given the scale of the suffering in Ukraine’s towns and cities and along the front lines, peace is a crucial goal. Beyond the direct human toll, the war has also led to the destruction of the Khakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River, a major environmental disaster. Russian recklessness has also repeatedly endangered nuclear plants.
Zelensky and European leaders have countered the plan with one of their own, which was immediately criticized by the Kremlin. Ukrainian negotiators are keen to avoid formally handing over territory, remove or raise the cap on the size of their military, and allow for eventual NATO membership, even if it is off the table in the foreseeable future.
U.S. efforts to end the war should be more in line with its allies’ proposal, instead of fulfilling Putin’s wish list. If Trump sides with Russia, it will send a clear message to other authoritarians that the West will not stand together against illegal aggression.
If America sells out Ukraine, the world will be watching.
Ramon Roman-Montanez knew the police were watching.
One day last April, as Roman-Montanez prepared to hand out free drug samples to users on Weymouth Street — a common tactic that dealers use to attract customers — he stood in the middle of the Kensington block and spotted a problem.
The cops had put up a pole camera.
Using binoculars, Roman-Montanez scouted out the new device at the end of the block, prosecutors said in court documents. But he had a business to run — and so, after talking with a few associates in the street, he decided that giveaway day would move forward as planned.
Shortly after dawn, prosecutors said, customers were recorded on the new surveillance camera crowding onto the 3100 block of Weymouth to receive their samples.
And in the weeks to come, business continued to boom.
A pole camera placed near Weymouth Street captured potential drug customers coming to the block to receive free samples handed out by the gang that ran the block, prosecutors said.
The camera, however, was just one hint of what authorities now say was a sprawling, multiyear investigation into the gang Roman-Montanez helped lead — a group that sold thousands of doses of heroin, fentanyl, crack, and cocaine over the course of more than a decade, and effectively took over a residential block in a neighborhood that has long suffered from crime, open-air drug dealing, and neglect.
The results of the probe came to light last month, when FBI Director Kash Patel came to Philadelphia to announce that 33 people, including Roman-Montanez, had been indicted on drug charges. Patel called the case a model for law enforcement across the country, and an example of how to take out a drug gang terrorizing a community.
FBI Director Kash Patel speaks to press at the 24th Police District Headquarters in Philadelphia on Oct. 24.
To understand the scope of the case — which U.S. Attorney David Metcalf described as the region’s largest single prosecution in a quarter-century — The Inquirer reviewed hundreds of pages of court records, examined social media accounts and videos connected to the group, and interviewed law enforcement officials and Weymouth Street residents.
The review revealed previously unreported details about the investigation, including that authorities ran monthslong wiretaps on about a half-dozen phones tied to gang members, placed a recording device in a vacant lot the gang used as a meeting place, employed at least seven confidential informants, and believe that over the course of nine years, the group trafficked tens of thousands of doses of drugs into the city — worth millions of dollars.
Philadelphia police this month continued to restrict access to Weymouth Street long after gang members had been arrested, a highly unconventional approach that officials said was aimed at sustaining the block’s newfound sense of quiet. Several residents said they didn’t mind the unusual tactic, in part because it helped prevent their block from quickly returning to its status as a marketplace for round-the-clock drug deals.
Those tactics underscored the depth of the investigation, which unfolded in the heart of Kensington — where law enforcement has employed a variety of approaches over the years to try to address crime, drug dealing and violence, sometimes with mixed results.
Philadelphia officials have for years tried a variety of tactics to try and address crime and quality-of-life concerns along Kensington Avenue.
But the review also showed that even as the investigation was underway, the gang continued to operate in the open — and some of law enforcement’s attempts to hold people accountable as the probe was unfolding were unsuccessful.
In August, for example, Roman-Montanez was charged in state court with drug possession and related crimes after police found fentanyl, crack, and $20,000 in cash in his house — the result of a raid on Weymouth Street that was part of the investigation into his gang.
But a few weeks later, his attorneys persuaded a Philadelphia judge to reduce his bail and he walked out of jail. The 40-year-old — who federal prosecutors now say was the de facto chief operating officer of one of the city’s biggest drug conspiracies — was taken back into custody only this month, when federal authorities unsealed his indictment.
Even as investigators were continuing to collect evidence against the gang, members routinely appeared in videos and songs on social media in which they boasted about their gang affiliation, brandished guns, and threatened acts of violence against rivals.
Some of the videos made modest Weymouth Street look more like a nightclub. Men wearing shimmering gold chains can be seen carrying designer bags and waving guns with extended clips at the camera. Others smoke blunts, or mix soda and a purple liquid together to make what appears to be the codeine-infused drink “lean.”
A video for the song “Philly Boy,” uploaded to YouTube last spring, made clear where the debauchery was taking place: It opens with a shot of the Weymouth street sign.
Beyond the fact that people who remained on the street could continue to sell drugs, prosecutors said the gang used threats to maintain control over their territory. And at least two suspected coconspirators were killed as the investigation wore on — sparking the potential for more retaliatory violence. Prosecutors have not yet charged any gang members with any shootings or homicides, but have said their investigation is continuing.
Metcalf, through a spokesperson, declined an interview request to discuss the case in more detail. But while announcing the takedown last month, he said there is always a tension in long-running investigations between making quick arrests and taking time to gather evidence for broader or stronger cases. And in this instance, he said, the goal was clear: Prosecutors were seeking to “eliminate the organization.”
“We could obviously just prosecute individual seizures of guns and drugs. But the organizational prosecution … that’s what’s going to make a difference in the community,” he said. “This neighborhood will be a lot safer than it [would’ve been] if we didn’t take our time to do that.”
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf speaks to press at the 24th Police District Headquarters on Oct. 24.
A sophisticated operation
Weymouth Street is one of a series of narrow, rowhouse-lined blocks in Kensington just a few steps from McPherson Square and near the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues — long the epicenters of a bustling narcotics bazaar.
Some corners in the area can pull in tens of thousands of dollars a day in drug sales, authorities say. And the competition among dealers has often led to violence, with shootings and homicides in Kensington historically outpacing the rest of Philadelphia.
The crew on Weymouth Street thrived in that environment, prosecutors said, and developed a sophisticated system for seeking to build and protect a business that sold fentanyl, crack, and cocaine 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Their drugs were branded with unique stamps or names like Ric Flair, Horse Power, Gucci, or Donald Trump. Bags were sold for $5 each, prosecutors said, while “bundles” of about a dozen packets went for between $55 and $75.
The group maintained an internal hierarchy, prosecutors said, with key figures at the top overseeing layers of workers who engaged in hand-to-hand sales, watched out for police, managed the drug supply, or used violence to protect the operation. Many members were related to one another, prosecutors said, and some families had people from multiple generations working for the group.
The leader was Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, prosecutors said, who “owned” the block and allowed people to deal there in exchange for payments he called “rent.”
His top deputies ran the day-to-day operations, prosecutors said, and included Roman-Montanez, nicknamed Viejo, and Roman-Montanez’s paramour, Nancy Rios-Valentin.
The two set and distributed schedules for lower-level employees, kept track of how and when drug stashes needed to be refilled, and maintained handwritten ledgers tracking sales per shift.
Prosecutors said leaders of the Weymouth Street drug trafficking organization kept detailed schedules on which members would work which shifts.
The first episode in the indictment dates to January 2016, when, prosecutors said, Angel Rios-Valentin — the brother of Nancy Rios-Valentin — stood watch as someone sold drugs to a confidential informant.
A few months later, the indictment said, police conducted a traffic stop on the block, and gang leader Morales-Nieves — also known as Flaco — responded by approaching the officers in a threatening manner carrying a shovel.
As the gang continued to build its business on Weymouth, prosecutors said, several members took up residence on the block, including Roman-Montanez, and members used a variety of houses or abandoned lots to store or sell drugs.
Among them, prosecutors said, was a vacant lot with a tent they labeled the “bunker.” It was next door to the house Roman-Montanez shared with Rios-Valentin, they said, and served as a meeting place, stash location, and place to cook crack.
Last May, prosecutors said, it also served as a site for violence, when Roman-Montanez dragged a man into the bunker, and another gang member — who is not named in court documents — beat him with a rod.
Crimes involving violence
Much of the 170-page indictment revolves around individual episodes in which members of the gang conducted operations that would be considered routine if they weren’t illegal, such as selling drugs to users, managing the block’s supply, or handling illicit proceeds.
The document includes detailed quotes from those accused of taking part in the operation and describes their actions with unusual precision, the result of what prosecutors said were a series of wiretapped phones, cameras — including one inside the bunker — interactions with informants, and seizures of drugs by police.
Police found handwritten ledgers detailing drug activities inside Ramon Roman-Montanez’s house on Weymouth Street, prosecutors said.
Some incidents, however, went well beyond the everyday rhythm of drug sales, prosecutors said.
In November 2024, several gang members ran after a car that had sped down Weymouth, then fired shots at the vehicle after they caught up to it around the corner, the indictment said. The document does not say if anyone in the car was struck.
Six months later, prosecutors said, the pole camera captured footage of two members of the gang — John David Lopez-Boria and Luis Williams — laughing at someone sitting on a front step across the street, then beating the person and dragging the victim into an abandoned lot to continue the assault.
The gang’s violent nature was also captured on YouTube, where gang members appeared in videos taunting rivals and flaunting guns.
In one video, the rapper Sombra PR — whom prosecutors described in court documents as an unindicted coconspirator — made clear that he and a Weymouth Street gang member known as Panza would use a Draco gun to come after anyone who threatened them.
“I’ll get you with Panza with Draco and you’re stiff,” he rapped.
Prosecutors said Weymouth Street members often flaunted guns and boasted about their gang affiliation in YouTube videos.
Panza, whose given name was Heriberto Torres Gual, was described by prosecutors in court documents as one of the group’s enforcers, and he appeared in some of Sombra PR’s videos.
But last month, Gual, 31, was gunned down while riding an electric bike on the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue, just a few blocks from Weymouth, according to police. Surveillance footage showed a torrent of shots being fired out of an SUV that had pulled up beside him.
In all, police recovered 35 spent shell casings from the scene and said it was a targeted attack.
Gual was the second high-ranking gang member to be killed in the last year, authorities said. Last November, Felix Rios-Valentin — the brother of Nancy and Angel Rios-Valentin — was fatally shot in Mayfair.
Police have made no arrests in either case.
After Gual’s death, an Instagram account for a record label dubbed “Weymouth Family” made a post referencing the title of a new song that memorialized Gual. The post tagged Pressure 9X19, the artist behind “Philly Boy.”
And on another account associated with Weymouth-tied rappers was an illustration of an unmistakable street sign: the marker for the intersection of Allegheny Avenue and Weymouth Street.
Evading accountability
During their long investigation, law enforcement did sometimes disrupt the gang’s drug operations and make arrests.
In 2020, Angel Rios-Valentin was convicted in federal court of illegal gun possession after officers found him carrying a loaded handgun that he had taken from Roman-Montanez’s house. He was sentenced to five years in prison and was on supervised release when he was arrested again last month.
Police found four guns in Rios-Valentin’s house, a discovery that prosecutors said showed his ongoing commitment to the gang.
When Angel Rios-Valentin was arrested, prosecutors said, responding officers found several guns in his house, including this assault rifle.
Roman-Montanez, meanwhile, was arrested twice in the last three years, court documents show — but in both cases managed to avoid significant consequences.
In October 2022, police searched his house and found 96 grams of fentanyl, four loaded guns, and nearly $125,000 in cash, prosecutors said. Roman-Montanez was charged in state court, but the case was withdrawn.
Federal prosecutors did not explain the withdrawal in court documents, and because the case did not result in a conviction, the records are now sealed under Pennsylvania law. The district attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
A source familiar with the case said it collapsed because scheduling issues with lawyers and witnesses delayed the preliminary hearing for more than a year and prosecutors ultimately withdrew the charges.
The second arrest was in August, when police, acting on a search warrant, again searched Roman-Montanez’s house and found more fentanyl, crack, and cash inside, court records show. He was charged with crimes including conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver, and his bail was set at $750,000.
But a month later, his lawyers persuaded a judge to lower his bail.
The prosecutor argued against that, according to a transcript of the bail hearing, saying the sheer amount of drugs and cash involved made clear that Roman-Montanez was “not a minor player.”
But Common Pleas Court Judge Elvin Ross III said details about Roman-Montanez’s role in the conspiracy were lacking. He reduced bail to $300,000, and a few weeks later, Roman-Montanez was back on the street.
Will the quieter aftermath last?
On the morning of Oct. 24, dozens of federal agents and city police officers swarmed Weymouth Street to arrest suspected gang members and gather additional evidence to use in their court case. Some targets were taken into custody elsewhere — the group’s leader, Morales Nieves, was arrested in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.
Patel, the FBI director, said at a news conference afterward that the case “is not just one instance of removing a couple of people — it is an example of how you remove an entire organization that has corrupted not just the city of Philadelphia but the state of Pennsylvania as well.”
Roman-Montanez has pleaded not guilty, as has Nancy Rios-Valentin. Her attorney wrote in court documents that she maintains her innocence, that the case against her was “not strong,” and that she “cannot be convicted on a theory of ‘guilt by association.’” A federal judge on Monday ordered that Rios-Valentin — who has four children — be released from jail and placed in home confinement at her sister’s house while awaiting trial.
On Weymouth Street, residents said in interviews that life has been quieter in the weeks since the raids. Some of that is the result of the ongoing police presence, which began to relax this week as officers resumed allowing passersby to walk or drive through the street.
One resident, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said he appreciated law enforcement’s attempt to help clean up a struggling area.
But he was skeptical that one prosecution — even one as ambitious as this — would reverse a persistent and neighborhood-wide problem.
“I don’t see it making a big difference any time soon, and it’s nobody’s fault,” he said. “This is not an overnight fix.”
As your recent editorial noted, the central sticking point in negotiations between City Council and the mayor on the best and fairest way to focus limited housing funds appears to be how to divide that pie between the neediest and those who have just a little bit more. One way of addressing this dilemma is to increase the size of the pie. This could be done, not by borrowing more, which would just jack up the already eye-popping amount we’ll have to pay back in interest, but by utilizing resources from the city’s $8 billion pension fund. For decades, our neighbors in New York City have directed 2% of the investments by their pension fund to local housing. As a result, the fund has produced almost 100,000 affordable units. One of the groups they invest in is the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, whose sole purpose is to invest public and union pension funds in the construction and rehabilitation of housing. Let’s get some of our pension fund’s billions working here in the city, and reap the rewards of more affordable housing for all.
I am troubled by potential funding cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency. I want my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to live on a planet where the air is safe for them to breathe, where fruits and vegetables are safe for them to eat, and where the water is clean and safe to drink. I’m sure all of you want the same. If we don’t do something immediately, the generations after us will not be able to turn things around because of the terrible things we have done — and continue to do — to the earth’s air, water, and soil. Our planet, and everything on and around it, needs our protection.
Please write your senators and representatives and ask them to make clear their strong support for the EPA when funding decisions are being made.
Becky Comer, Gilbertsville
Review resign-to-run rule
We should press for a no vote on City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas’ proposed amendment to the resignation-to-run rule. If Thomas gets his way, Council members would be allowed to stay in office while running for state or federal elections.
This is just a step toward eventually letting city officials stay in their official capacities while running for another city office.
How about letting them use their own money, or campaign funding, to support their efforts while campaigning for a higher or different office?
Or maybe a compromise could be that they wouldn’t be paid their city salary if they run for local, state, or federal elections?
Michael Miller Jr., Philadelphia
Abortion stance unbrotherly
I was both shocked and disheartened to learn that the City Council of Philadelphia, where I was born and raised, has recently passed a resolution declaring abortion a “human right.” This decision prompts serious reflection on the meaning of human rights and who they truly protect.
Human rights, by their very definition, are meant to be universal and encompass all individuals, including the unborn child. These children in the womb are among the most vulnerable members of our community, yet they have become the victims of an industry that regards the termination of their lives as necessary for controlling population growth in our city.
In light of this, I propose that our City Council consider a new resolution: to remove the long-standing moniker “City of Brotherly Love” from Philadelphia. It is a contradiction to celebrate brotherly love while simultaneously excluding and disregarding the rights of the most defenseless among us. How can we claim to embody brotherly love if we do not extend it to every member of our population?
Patricia Dowling,Philadelphia
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married to my husband for two months. I haven’t told anyone I’m married except my close friends and family. Someone recently messaged me about my husband, stating that he has Asperger’s. They know my name and have my phone number. I don’t know who this person is or why they would tell me this now.
I already suspected my husband has Asperger’s, so I’m not shocked, but this is eating me up inside. I can’t sleep. I can’t think. I recently lost my mom to cancer. Now I’m facing this. I previously dated a narcissist who used to lie regularly. But after all that heartbreak and torment, I’m now with someone who lies to me again? I’m so confused and upset. I really do want to ask my husband to get assessed. I don’t think I can trust him anymore. Do you have advice for me?
— LOSING AGAIN IN CANADA
DEAR LOSING: Let me point out that individuals who write anonymous letters usually are not trying to be helpful and instead may be trying to cause trouble in your marriage. Before asking your husband to be assessed for Asperger’s, go online and read as much information about it as you can. You might also consider contacting the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (aane.org), which has been mentioned in my column before.
If what you learn from reliable resources indicates that it could be your husband’s problem, then by all means suggest he be assessed. He may not necessarily be “lying” to you as much as being in denial. This does not have to destroy a marriage. Many successful people are on the spectrum.
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DEAR ABBY: My best friend and co-worker is 57. I’m 32. Her husband died two years ago, leaving her and her 22-year-old son alone. We’ve been best friends and co-workers for the last six years, but over the last few months, I’ve been realizing she’s a lot more to me than just a friend.
I am nervous about trying to make advances because I don’t know if the feelings are mutual or how she views our age difference. I don’t want to risk ruining our friendship. I just know that my heart skips a few beats when our eyes meet or our fingers accidentally touch. I’ve realized these last few months that I’m falling hard for her, and I’m afraid to let her know. If I don’t, however, my feelings are going to eat me alive. What should I do?
— FALLING FOR HER IN KANSAS
DEAR FALLING: Ask your best friend (and co-worker) to join you for a casual lunch or dinner. Keep it light but tell her how much you enjoy her company and ask if the age difference between you bothers her. If the answer is no, explain that you care very much for her and wonder if she’d be open to the idea of dating you.
If she says yes, and there are rules at your job that discourage “fraternizing,” you may have to find another place to work. If she responds that dating would be awkward, let her know you will always be her friend because you think she is special.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your personal journey also happens to be very relatable. Though what you’re doing feels specific to you, it will become meaningful to others, too, if communicated well. The first step is to read the room and adjust your vibes to match it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Life is like a bubbly drink. Down it on the fresh pour and enjoy the effervescence. If you wait, it goes flat. The sparkle is fleeting, and that’s what makes it precious. Taste the moment.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). After a string of intense days, the quiet feels strange but sacred. The body exhales first; the mind lags behind, replaying everything. Let yourself land. Stillness isn’t the absence of motion; it’s the moment your spirit catches up to you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). To those who know how to read the signals, body language often tells a deeper truth than words. You are such a person. You may not know exactly what’s being expressed, but you read the tension and it makes you curious about getting a fuller story, which you’re sure to do today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People like you, but that’s not what’s important here. External approval or popularity isn’t the real reward. It’s nice, but secondary. The point is, your contribution is making a difference. It’s meaningful and will have an impact beyond your control or awareness.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There are those who will keep taking for as long as they are allowed. With these types, you need to state the boundaries and then refer to them multiple times. Being assertive is the kindest thing to do.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The day’s events remind you that you are in a phase of self-improvement and discernment — not a phase of comfort. Because you want growth, you will opt for the more challenging lessons and teachers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Follow the muse. She speaks in posters and puffy clouds. She speaks in street art and store windows. She beckons with song and draws you into detours that will be better than the main road.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There were times you distanced yourself from the decision-making process just to keep things simple for the group. But right now, they need your leadership. Gather the relevant information and leap back in.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll receive appreciation, emotional rewards, creative satisfaction — the nonmonetary kinds of payment that make life rich. But it’s the financial compensation that allows you to keep going. Material stability keeps the whole system functioning.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some people can’t meet your playfulness. Humor is intimacy in disguise. When you make someone laugh, you’ve shown them your rhythm, your timing, your view of the world. That can be terrifying for the person who’s used to controlling the scene.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Are you starting to notice a pattern? Something repeating in a relationship or a little habit of yours that’s not doing you any good? If you knock it off soon, it will be quick and painless with a rich reward.
TODAY’SBIRTHDAY (Nov. 25). Welcome to your Year of Community Magic. You’ll step into a circle where your gifts uplift many, and the group returns the energy tenfold. You’ll attract collaborators who challenge and stretch you, helping your career blossom in directions you couldn’t map alone. More highlights: financial stability through a smart partnership, an artistic triumph and an adventure that changes your worldview. Aries and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 15, 22, 40 and 13.
