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Eagles Team Headlines: Lane Johnson's Legal Battle With The NFL And Who Eagles Fans Should Root For On Thanksgiving

By Kevin McGuire

The Philadelphia Eagles are filling our plates with news headlines this Thanksgiving as we wait an additional day for the next game, Monday night against Green Bay.

Lane Johnson takes aim at NFL and NFLPA

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson is coming down the stretch of his 10-game suspension from the league for a second violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, but his fight against the league may just be getting started. Johnson reportedly field a lawsuit against the NFL and the NFLPA for what he claims to be unfair labor practice. His attorney confirmed that report with a statement, stating the complaint was filed through the National Labor Relations Board. Johnson is targeting the language in the policy and called it meaningless. This is probably going to get pretty ugly, and Johnson really only has himself to blame for this whole situation. 

What are the Eagles going to do at wide receiver?

It is no secret around the league that the Eagles have no receiving threat other than Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. The other receiving options have been so bad this season, that the pressure is getting to Nelson Agholor. Brandon Graham is there to let Agholor know he can dig out of his hole right now, but the heat is on head coach Doug Pederson to make some changes. This week, the Eagles activated Paul Turner, but Pederson is not ready to say he is going to be a huge part of the offense on Monday night. At this point, isn't any change a positive change for the Eagles receiving corp?

Who to root for on Thanksgiving

If such a thing existed, it would go against the Philadelphia Eagles Fan Honor Code to root for the Dallas Cowboys, unless it was absolutely necessary to benefit the Eagles in a division-clinching or playoff situation. Some fans will take to their grave enough pride to never give in to doing such a horrid act, even if it does benefit the Eagles. Come Thursday though, it'll be time to swallow some pride along with a helping of mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Washington Redskins. The Cowboys may be too far out of reach to catch for the Eagles now, but anything that knocks Washington down a peg would be good for Philadelphia.

If you cannot stomach the idea of pulling for a Cowboys win, just load up on some turkey and gravy and induce yourself into a coma so you do not have to watch any of it. Your family will wake you when it is over.

As for the early game between 6-4 Detroit and 6-4 Minnesota, Eagles fans are kind of stuck. A tie is unlikely, but pull for Sam Bradford and the Vikings (a team the Eagles beat) to hand the Lions (a team the Eagles lost to) a traditional Thanksgiving Day loss. The AFC takes the stage in the primetime game, which has no impact on the Eagles. But you can't root for the Steelers, can you?

Congratulations to Merrill Reese!

An older generation of Eagles fans may remember when Philly games on the radio were called by a different voice, the legendary Bill Campbell. But multiple generations of fans now view another speaker as the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles. Merrill Reese took over at the microphone to deliver his signature play-by-play over the radio airwaves in 1977, and he's been going strong ever since. He will now be honored for his 40-year career calling Eagles games for WIP. Reese will be inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame on Monday night as Philadelphia takes on the Green Bay Packers.

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