announced the firing of the general manager reuben amaro, junior and "eyewitness sports" reporter leslie van arsdal is live at citizens bank park with the details, leslie. >> reporter: you both know ruben amaro, junior had taken a lot of heat the past couple of years and president andy macphail said he knew that the fans were not happy and he was ready to make a fresh start. after seven years with the phillies, the team has decided to part ways with general manager reuben amaro, junior. >> i didn't think this one would be as hard as it turned out to be, but again, i've got, i'm charged with the certain responsibility, i have a responsibility to the franchise, the fans, ownership, to do what i think is best and get this thing back to where it was as quickly as i can. >> reporter: amaro became gm of the phillies days after they won 2008 world series, they made it to the post season following three seasons. for now scott proflock would be the interim gm. he said he was shocked when he heard the news. >> i was stunned. i was just surprised. >> reporter: phillies manager pete mackanin says he gets it. >

leslie van arsdal has very latest on the birds. >> reporter: demarco murray, is still unclear status on sunday. did he in the practice today after injuring his hamstring on wednesday but chip kelly says that will not affect the eagles game plan. >> will not go today, we will see what he does friday on or saturday. >> the good news eagles have ryan matthews and darren sproles waiting in the wings. >> we know, we have depth in running back. that was always the the plan for us. we have tremendous confidence in ryan and darren sproles if demarco cannot go. >> no secret that the gun game has been bad, total of 70 yards, worst in the league. players necessity whoever end up in the backfield they have to get something going. >> we have very strong and powerful backs. >> unaudible. >> it is still early in the season. we have to get out and execute and we have time to get this stuff turned around. >> chip kelly a says linebacker kiko alonzo will not play sunday and linebacker michael kendricks could be a game time decision. reporting from the novacare complex, leslie van arsdal, "eyewitness s

eagles are favored by three points at georgia dome and that is where we will find our leslie van arsdal, leslie, what is up. >> i'm sorry, don i was distracted by eagles chants going on behind me now. these fans are so excited, this is one of the most anticipated seasons i can remember. you can see some guys out here on the field behind me and probably why everyone is so excited about this season is because fans maybe felt last year at ten-six record but they missed the playoffs. chip kelly remade this team, so many changes, so many moves. the biggest for sam bradford player recovering from back to back acl injuries. this will be his first meaningful game in almost two years. he just can't wait. >> i think more than anything other season am more excited then ever to get back on the field. the it is something i have been waiting a long time. i didn't get the the opportunity to do it last year. it has been a while and i'm looking forward to it. >> it is no the about watching one guy play and eager to see sam play as opposed to demarco play or anybody else that is new, byron maxwell we are

leslie van arsdal is live, in new jersey with more on this, leslie. >> reporter: well, guys, so many story lines but yes, that is the the major story line. they are behind me as we speak, tim tebow and matt barclay, they are together on the field. during the game matt barclay will start, tebow would like to play second half, both played well this preseason in an effort to claim that third quarterback spot on the roster. barclay's number yes, they are better but tebow could bring an important element to the offence with the running ability and both players very a aware of how important tonight is. >> just to be consistent, just to be accurate and my decision making show them that i can play quarterback for this team. >> it is important to cover every single day and that is just one more day. it is another blessing. it is an opportunity to play the game that i love. >> reporter: barclay and tebow walked out on the field together a few moments ago. the two are very good friend, so, of course, this all adds to the drama of who will be the third string quarterback. ukee and jessica back t

leslie van arsdal is live in tonight's game and she has more than demarco, leslie. >> we have been talking about this for what seems like forever, finally here, season opener here in at the plant a, guys are on the field as we speak, i'll tell you, i talk to some in the hallway, they are ready to go, so many changes made during the off season, the one of the biggest chip kelly switched shady mccoy to demarco murray. he led league with 1845-yard. he will share time with darren sproles, ryan matthews creating a lethal backfield. demarco says he doesn't care how many times he carries the the ball. >> for me it is always been about winning, high school, college, pro level. you want to be out there as a competitor and lead the group and you want to work as hard as you can work but i think at the end of the day, this is a top to bottom league. only thing that matters is winning. the not yard, not record, in of that stuff. at the end of the day, it is wins and losses. >> as far as all eyes will be on quarterback sam bradford. his first meaningful game in almost two years. he says he is a little b

eyewitness sport reporter leslie van arsdale takes a look at what went wrong. >> many things went wrong here. the offense got off to slow start. sam bradford shaking off some russ, that was to be expected, mount serious come back only to lose on failed field goal attempt to code ' marquis. >> we didn't get a lot of movement up front. kind of thought that, again, 44 yarder, right until the middle of the field. tough one. you know, he's hit host before. >> the difference between the first half and the second half, we were much more efficient on first down in the second half. you know works played from ahead, got things going, you know, then we got it rolling, you know, we kind of kept it that way. >> good defense, good defensive line. they did a good job against the running game. like i said, we'll watch the films, and learn from it. >> go out, watch them, and as coach will same, it is never as good as you think it is, it is never as bad. we'll take a look at the tape and make the necessary adjustments that we need, get after it next week. >> yes, this is very tough loss, next up, dallas

sports reporter leslie van arsdal show eagles wanting to get back on track in north injuries think afternoon that forced a league high ten turnovers in two games and allowed a league low 17 points. going into sunday, what is the mind set. >> we cannot back down and lose confidence in what we are doing or what our system is. we all believe in it. >> we are not doing nothing different. we are continuing to work. if we can we will see football bounces our way. >> reporter: key to beating the jets, blocking better in the running game and creating actual holes. ground game has been bad, a total of 70 yards, the the worst in the league. >> you need to continue to try to string a couple first downs together to stay on the field. when you do that, that is a byproduct of getting able to start to go fast. kind of like you are in a car and you can only go so far because is there a stop light 20-yard down the the road. you cannot go 60 miles an hour because you will stop real quick. >> reporter: leslie van arsdal, "eyewitness sports". >>> phillies and nationals last night playing some extra innings here

sports anchor leslie van arsdal tell us how eagles plan to keep that streak alive. >> reporter: jetses. they are a team that forced a league high ten turnovers in two games and allowed a league low 17 points. going into sunday, what is the mind set. >> we cannot back down, we cannot lose confidence in what we are doing or what our system is. we believe in it. >> we are not doing nothing different. we are continuing to work. and, if we can, we will see football bounce our way. >> reporter: key to beating the jets this sunday blocking better in the running game and creating actual holes. the the ground game has been bad the first two weeks of the season a total of 70-yard, the the worst in the league. >> yeah, you need to continue to kind of get a couple of first downs together to stay on the field. so when you do that, you know, that is a byproduct of getting a able to starting to fast. kind of like, you are in a car and you only can go so far because stop light 20-yard down the road. you cannot the stick your foot on the gas and go 60 miles an hour because you have to stop real quick

and "eyewitness news" anchor, leslie van arsdale, has preview of today's matchups. >> demarco murrayllas with three game winning streak at the linc. cowboys will be without dez brian, broken foot, eagle look to go get fast start monday night, just couldn't climb out of 20 to three hole in atlanta they can't afford to do that again. facing tony romo. >> start faster, crank up intensity from the get go. i think we'll be fine. >> we definitely have to get out because they're going try to run the ball. if we stop, we definitely don't want to get beat. >> we got to go execute, like i said, guys got to go out, step up, win their matchups. , won't be the same level, but doesn't mean can't go out and complete balls and go move the ball. >> zone me and don bell along with panel of experts as we get you ready for the showdown between the birds and the boys this morning 11:30, sunday kickoff, right here on cbs-3. >> i'm leslie van arsdale, great day, go birds. >> donald trump using his twitter account, to respond to his latest controversy, in how he handled that voters anti-muslim question andr

in an "eyewitness news" exclusive, our leslie van arsdal caught up with tebow before his release andabout everything like life without football. >> what do you think you would be doing if you weren't playing football. >> right now i would be with my sec nation, sec network and they will crush it, but i'm glad i had an opportunity to play in awesome places. these fans that come out and they support, and they cheer, you know, that is awesome. >> such a nice guy. sad to see him go. >>> last night eagles linebacker connor barwin and sixers hall of famer charles barkley talk about getting positive things done in the city of philadelphia it was opening night of the new speaker series at presbyterian church. >>> it is phillies have a loss tonight ape phillies will be eliminated from the divisional pennant race. last night was a good night, right-hand error on nola struck out seven over seven shut out innings and there is a a reason for optimism. he is doing well. outfielder odougal herrera hit a home run and phillies beat the braves five to nothing. >>> talking hockey, september talking hoc

. >>> and, leslie van arsdal is at citizens bank park with more details, leslie. >> that is right, ukee phillies looking for a new gm. the fans were not happy with ruben, that was not a big secret. and president and ay macphail said he heard the fans, heard them loud and clear and that was a big factor and wanted to decide to let him go. after seven years with the phillies, team decided to part ways with general manager reuben amaro, junior. phillies president andy macphail addressing the media this afternoon. >> this was more difficult decision then i anticipated. when i saw here and saw that first four game against milwaukee i didn't think this one would be as hard as it turned out to be but again, i've been charged with a certain responsibility. i have a responsibility to the franchise, the fans, ownership to do what i think is best, and to get this thing back to where it was as quickly as i can, you know, as efficiently as i can. >> reporter: amaro became gm days after winning 2008 world series. they made it to the post season following three seasons but also, he left the team with

"eyewitness news" sports anchor leslie van arsdal continues our team coverage at met life stadium. she's live and it could come down to how tebow plays tonight the in the eagles final preseason game, leslie. >> that is right, ukee, and one more to go, so many interesting story lines and yet most interesting story line is battle for third string quarterback between matt barclay and tim tebow. here's how the game will go. matt barclay will start the game, with tim tebow, likely playing the second half. barclay does have the edge when it comes to running chip kelly's offense but tim tebow has that x factor that seems to intrigue, chip kelly, and chip says tonight is very important. >> just one more time for game opportunities. i think especially with the quarterback position, practice is different just because they are wearing red jerseys. when you are in the hit when you get them out there in the game it is another opportunity to get a legitimate the evaluation. there is a lot of wait there. >> reporter: now, the fourth preseason game is usually the bolt of the backups here but we wil

. >>> that's all for sport, i'm leslie van arsdale, have great day, go birds. >>> go birds.if you are going to today's eagle game, be sure to stop by the two broke girls tailgate at xfinity live. yep, they have one of those. there will be awesome prizes and free rides for everybody. you can catch two broke girls mondays at 8:00 right here on cbs-3, and starting tomorrow night, this is new, you can watch them five nights a week on sister station the "cw philly". and immediately following "eyewitness news" at 11:00. at ten, rather, at 10:00. that's it for "eyewitness news" at 7:00. here's what we have coming up for you at 8:00. video just released pope francis speaks to those coming to philadelphia for the world meeting. families. here his personal invitation coming up. >> also, it is something we all use to help get rid of germs, right? it seems some kids are using hands sanitizers, to get a buzz. we'll have the warnings in the health watch. >>> our weather is cooling down, as we approach fall. kyla grogan back with your forecast, she'll even let you know how it is looking fo

that is all for sports i'm leslie van arsdal have a great the day. >>> still much more to come on "eyewitnesss" we are counting down to the pope's arrival, he hands land in philadelphia in three and a half hours. our nicole brewer is live on the ben franklin parkway where people are lining up. >>> we are live in new york with a look at the most powerful moments from his visit including his stop at 9/11 memorial, that and more when we come back a at the top of the hour, good morning.

. >> that's all for sports, i'm leslie van arsdale have, a great day, go birds. >> ukee, well, all icen financial field today as eagles take on the cowboys. but before they take the field, crew of # already working hard to make sure it is ready for the big day. >> from trimming the tour do you have painting the field, final preps underway at lincoln unless al field, making sure the grounds look and play as good as the birds. >> it is something -- if something is not done just right, go back and do it again? >> if we have to, yes. >> eagles versus dallas for home opener, a lot on the line. >> game of inches. and, you know, we do have to be precise. >> the eagle-eye on me now. >> the pressure is on. no pun intended. >> i did my best to stay in the lines, but thought i better lever the rest to the professionals. >> when you are watching on tv, are you ever looking and saying, man, those grounds look good? >> that's probably one of the things we do, we watch the field. we don't necessarily watch the players. we're always watching from the hips down. >> for the first half of the season it i

. >> wow, hello, welcome to toyota sunday kick off sports director don bell hanging out with leslie van arsdalso good to be back. i love city, town, i love cbs-3. >> we love you. >> great to be here with you. >> so glad you are back. perfect timing as always, eagles season starting, tomorrow after a