5 Burning Questions In Philly Sports
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We're almost finished with the worst sports month of the calendar year.
Spring -- home of NFL free-agency, baseball's Opening Day, the NFL Draft, NBA draft lottery, and the respective postseasons for the NHL and NBA -- is around the corner.
Here are five burning questions facing the collective four major professional sports teams in Philadelphia.
5. Will the Eagles re-sign Sam Bradford?
NFL free-agency begins on March 9th. The biggest question facing is the Eagles is what will happen with their quarterback situation, as Sam Bradford will become a free-agent if he is not re-signed or tagged. This past weekend, it was reported the Eagles have "upped" their offer to Bradford, apparently trying strongly to re-sign the 28-year-old QB.
4. Will the Sixers get the first overall pick?
This year's NBA draft lottery is on May 17th -- and I know we hear this every summer -- but this is the 76ers' most important lottery during the Sam Hinkie era. The Sixers, who currently have the league's worst record, will have the best mathematical shot at pick No. 1. Also, they have the potential to add three more first-round picks from the Los Angeles Lakers (top-3 protected), Miami Heat (top-10 protected), and Oklahoma City Thunder (top-15 protected).
It seems as the Sixers will acquire two of those three picks as the Heat have the fourth-best record in the East, while the Thunder have the third-best record in the West. The most valuable pick, the Lakers' top-3 protected, seems less likely to convey as LA has the NBA's second-worst record.
3. Will Ryan Howard blow up?
Howard, 36, enters his 13th -- and likely final -- season with the Phillies. The former MVP and World Champion first baseman is not the same player he used to be and is already getting testy about potentially platooning at first-base with Darin Ruf. Howard is due $25 million in 2016 and can be bought out in 2017 for $10 million.
The Phillies will seemingly be looking to trade Howard, but the team could eventually release him if things continue to sour.
The Phillies open their 2016 season on Monday, April 4th at the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Will the Flyers make the playoffs?
In Dave Hakstol's first-year, the Flyers have pleasantly surprised Philly fans, over-achieving all season long thanks in large part of the emergence of rookie phenom D Shayne Gostisbehere.
With 21 games remaining, the Flyers (28-22-11, 67) find themselves just three-points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Flyers will finish up a six-game home stand (currently 2-0) this week with three straight games against below .500 teams, before a home-and-home with the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Flyers finish their season on Sunday, April 10th at the New York Islanders.
1. Who Will The Eagles Draft With Pick No. 13?
This year's NFL Draft begins on April 28th and the Eagles have the 13th overall pick. While the Bradford situation will be cleared up by then, the Eagles must decide if it's finally time to draft a quarterback in round one, something they have not done since 1999 when they selected Donovan McNabb second overall.
All eyes will be on the team's executive vice president Howie Roseman, who is seemingly back in charge of the Eagles' personnel decisions.
