Players Or Team?

From Philadelphia Eagles.com. A very good article from Dave Spadaro. If you believe published reports, the Dallas Cowboys could soon be acquiring talented, but very troubled, cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones in a trade with Tennessee. Aside from the football ramifications, which I will touch on later, it got me to thinking: Does it matter to the fans of the Cowboys, or to fans in general, which players play for their teams? I'm serious about this. Do you root for a uniform, a team, rather than the players who are part of that team? Are you willing to overlook a player like Jones, who has been suspended for a full season, hasn't even been reinstated by the league to date, and who has had some of the more egregious off-the-field problems associated with NFL players in recent years? Does it matter to fans how players represent a team? Or does it only matter how many games are won by your favorite football team? Look, I'm not going to pretend that football players are any different than any other member of society. We all make mistakes. We all have to wake up every day and remind ourselves to make good decisions. The Eagles, your favorite team, want to have players who are model citizens, who never make mistakes, but that just isn't the case. It isn't possible. Players are people, too. But at some point, the line is drawn between a mistake and a real problem. And certainly, Jones has crossed that line. I hope, for the young man's sake, that he has learned from his past and that he applies the extraordinary ability he has for the good, for the right, and that he appreciates the opportunity of playing in the National Football League. At the same time, I put myself in the position of being of Cowboys fan. It is a sickly feeling to begin with, but I wonder how I would react if my favorite team were about to acquire a player like Jones. Could I turn to my son or daughter and say, "Let's go out and buy his new jersey?" How could I be proud of having my child wearing a jersey like that? I guess I have this sense of pride about the Eagles, about what the team represents on and off the field. Character matters. Yes, there are players here who have made mistakes, and they are admonished for that, and they are put on notice, I'm sure, by the organization and by their teammates and by the coaches. By and large, for the many years I've been here, the Eagles players have conducted themselves with respect and with professionalism on and off the field. That means something to me. I'm proud to be here, to represent the Eagles, to know that Andy Reid puts together a locker room that conducts itself the right way with the media, with the fans, with each other and on and off the field. In a recent Fan Poll on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, this question was asked: Would you want the Eagles to make a play for CB Pacman Jones? We had 13,629 votes. The majority of you, 56.3 percent, said "No way." But 24.3 percent selected the answer, "Yes, absolutely." And I ask: Why? Does character and respect not matter to you? Do you only root for the Eagles, and not care about the players who step on the field and are a reflection of the City of Philadelphia, the Eagles organization, heck, you the fans? From a pure football standpoint, I think every team would want a player like Jones. He is a fine cornerback with big-play instincts. He has all the intangibles. He is a dangerous return man -- as the Eagles found out in the 2006 season when Jones returned a punt for a touchdown in a Titans win at Lincoln Financial Field. Adding Jones would give Dallas three very good cornerbacks and would, in theory, upgrade the Cowboys defense significantly. But is that all that matters? I mean, if Dallas really wants another cornerback, there are prospects in the draft and the Cowboys have the ability to move up and make a trade and acquire any player they want, right? I'm just asking. Certainly, everyone is entitled to an opinion. And football fans come from every demographic and generally want the same thing: To win the Super Bowl. My good friend is a Dallas fan -- I know, I picked a buddy and I need to re-evaluate -- and we talked about this dilemma. He told me a story about his son, 13 years old, and about how they were talking about the possible acquisition of Jones and what it would mean. And the question his son asked, which my friend could not answer, was this: "Daddy, should a person go to jail longer for abusing dogs or doing what Pacman Jones did?" Kids ask the funniest things, don't they? Anyway, the story here is not about the punitive process. It is about a fan's reaction to the players on his favorite team. My friend doesn't want Jones to be a Cowboy because "no matter how much he says he is going to change, he hasn't changed yet." At the same time, I know that if Jones becomes a Cowboy and if he plays the way he is capable of playing and if he has success in 2008, then my buddy is going to be cheering on Dallas just as loudly as he has all of his sad, sorry football-fan life. I had a real problem with Terrell Owens in 2005 for the stance he took in the post-Super Bowl months. I didn't like the anti-team approach Owens had in those months and I didn't like the disruption of training camp and I certainly didn't care for Owens putting himself above the team. I expressed my opinion and, well, 2005 was a disaster for the Eagles and Owens was suspended from the team and later released and he ended up in Dallas and has certainly been a different, more mature person. I give Owens credit for that, and I believe that deep in his heart Owens regrets his tactics after a season to remember in 2004. The team comes first. Anybody who has ever played a sport and enjoyed a modicum of success understands that the first principle of success is everyone buying into that premise. Every team is going to have contract squabbles, every team is going to have a clash of egos, every team is going to have challenges that go on every single day. But when the season arrives, and when the 53-man roster is established, the team is first. One of the great successes Reid has enjoyed, in general, in his time here, is a great locker room. One in which the players genuinely like each other, respect each other and appreciate the privilege of playing for the great Eagles fans in a great football city. The players have been vigorous in their support for the organization's many charitable endeavors and for their encounters with the fans. The Eagles have been about a team that loves the fans as much as the fans love the team. That means something to you, doesn't it? I can't speak for how you feel, but I have a real curiosity in what the fans think. Does it matter a whit about the character of the players on this team, or it is a win-at-any-cost approach that you take? In light of the apparent interest the Cowboys have in Jones, I have to think about what it means to those fans, and what it means to Eagles fans. In the end, do you care about the players who wear the helmets and who are portrayed as role models for your children, or do you only care about winning every Sunday? LINK TO STORY

NFL Recruit Found Dead

Heath Benedict, a two-time Little All-American offensive lineman from Newberry College in South Carolina, was found dead on a couch in his home. Jacksonville police said no foul play is suspected in the death of the 24-year-old Benedict, a 6-foot-6, 326-pounder who finished up his senior season in the fall and left school to train for next month's NFL Draft. He was nine hours short of a business degree.

Benedict took part in the Senior Bowl in January, the first Division II player to do so since 2004, and was invited to last month's NFL Combine.

"He was a big, tough man, but he had a very gentle heart," Newberry president Mick Zais said. "He was a teddy bear."

Benedict, who redshirted at Tennessee in 2002 before moving to Newberry, was a native of the Netherlands. He played high school football at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J.

Jacksonville police spokesman Ken Jefferson said Benedict's body was taken to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of his death. He was found dead Wednesday evening.

LINK TO STORY

Eagles Sign LB

Here are two reasons to immediately love the Eagles' newest linebacker.

One: While he wasn't named after the movie icon, Rocky Boiman has the perfect name for Philadelphia.

Two: He's got a grudge against Dallas.

The Eagles made their fourth addition of the free agency period when they inked Boiman, a versatile special teams demon, to a one-year contract.

"I think it was a good situation," said Boiman. "First of all, it's a team that is always competitive and in the hunt every year. Winning has always been the most important thing to me. As far as the position at linebacker, there is a lot of youth. I think I can come in and bring some veteran capabilities to that. I think it's going to be a really good fit."

A fourth-round draft pick of the Titans in 2002 out of Notre Dame, the 6-4, 236-pound linebacker has played in 86 career games (19 starts) and nine playoff contests with Indianapolis (2006-07) and Tennessee (2002-05). He has posted 194 tackles, five interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown at Pittsburgh in 2003), 1.5 sacks and 91 special teams tackles.

Last season, Boiman was forced into a starting role at strongside linebacker when Rob Morris suffered a season-ending knee injury. He responded with a career-high 64 tackles, a pair of interceptions and another 15 tackles on special teams.

Another reason to love Boiman: he's got some bling. He was a member of the Colts' run to the Super Bowl in 2006.

Boiman is the most experienced linebacker on the Eagles as he enters his seventh season. Omar Gaither is the second-longest tenured vet at linebacker with three years under his belt. Boiman has played at all three linebacker positions, but is expected to make his greatest impact on special teams. Sounds like a job that would have been perfect for his movie namesake.

"I think at this level, you have to have the desire on special teams," said Boiman. "A lot of times, it's not the prettiest work in the world, but you have to be tough and you have to really have that desire to run down the field and know you're going to get hit and things like that. It's something that has really been big for me. It's been a big part of my career and has kept me in the league for a while. I'm definitely looking forward to doing it here too."

Now playing in what he described as a "physical" NFC East, Boiman will also get the chance to play against the Cowboys twice a year. After he left Tennessee, he signed with Dallas but was the odd man out after they drafted Bobby Carpenter and moved Greg Ellis to linebacker.

A fan of the movie Rocky, Boiman said that he knows the theme song, but don't ask him to sing it. Having the name certainly wasn't lost on him in the days leading up to his visit with Philadelphia.

"I had never even thought about it until a day or so ago, my buddy said something about it," said Boiman. "There's definitely some irony there. It should be a fun thing."

With Boiman in the fold, the Eagles have signed three defensive players in free agency (cornerback Asante Samuel and defensive end Chris Clemons the others) and one offensive player (fullback Dan Klecko).

LINK to ARTICLE

Ten Of The Best Eagles Draft Picks

The 10 smartest draft choices in Eagles history,
all but one taken after the fifth round:

1. Tom Brookshier, DB, Colorado. A 10th-round choice in the 1953 draft,
   Brookshier evolved into a two-time all-pro whose career was shortened by a
   two-year stretch in the Air Force. Brookshier had eight interceptions in his
   rookie season (when the schedule was only 12 games) and played on the
   Eagles' 1960 NFL championship team.
   
   

2. Clyde Simmons, DE, Western Carolina. Simmons was a ninth-round pick in
   the 1986 draft. His career covered 13 seasons, in which he earned all-NFL
   honors three times and never missed a non-strike game. Simmons had 19 sacks
   in 1992 and finished with 1001/2 in a career that saw him score six
   touchdowns, block six field-goal and extra-point tries, and force 20
   fumbles.

3. Sonny Jurgensen, QB, Duke. Taken in the fourth round of the 1957 draft,
   Jurgensen played seven seasons in Philadelphia before he was traded to the
   Redskins for Norm Snead. A classic drop-back passer who got rid of the ball
   in the final nanosecond, Jurgensen played 11 seasons at Washington and
   finished his career with 255 touchdown passes. He was inducted into the Hall
   of Fame in 1983.

4. Bobby Walston, WR, Georgia. Walston was taken in the 14th round in 1951.
   In 11 seasons with the Eagles, he caught 311 passes and scored 46 TDs. He
   also kicked 80 field goals and 365 extra points to finish as the Eagles'
   all-time leading scorer, with 881 points.

5. Seth Joyner, LB, Texas-El Paso. An eighth-round pick in 1986, Joyner was
   a punishing tackler whose 11-season career included 24 interceptions and
   five touchdowns. Joyner was a fiery leader for what was, at the time, the
   NFL's most dominating defense. He went to the Pro Bowl three times.

6. Wilbert Montgomery, RB, Abilene Christian. The second sixth-round
   selection of the 1977 draft, Montgomery was a tireless ballcarrier who
   rushed for 194 yards in the Eagles' victory over Dallas in the 1981 NFC
   championship game. He remains the Eagles' all-time career and single-season
   rushing leader.

7. Harold Carmichael, WR, Southern. Selected in the seventh round of the
   1971 draft, Carmichael went on to play 13 seasons with Eagles, and now
   serves the team as director of player relations. Carmichael also tops the
   Eagles' career receiving list with 589 catches for 8,978 yards and 79 TDs.
   He was a four-time Pro Bowl player who played in the 1981 Super Bowl.

8. Carl Hairston, DE, Maryland Eastern Shore. A seventh-round pick in the
   1976 draft, Hairston was a tough defender who won all-NFL honors four times.

9. Charlie Johnson, DT, Colorado. A seventh-round choice in 1977, Johnson
   matured into a strong and competent nose tackle. He played five of his eight
   NFL seasons in Philadelphia and went to the Pro Bowl three times as an
   Eagle.

10. Andy Harmon, DT, Kent State. A sixth-round find in the 1991 draft,
    Harmon played six seasons during a career cut short by a knee injury. He had
    40 sacks in 61 starts.

Link to Article

Eagles Draft Busts

The NFL draft is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year for some people. It is the day when teams look to add quality football players to their roster.

I for one am a huge draft fan. I love the excitement around it. The feel of the people in the crowd. The reactions when players are picked. The good picks, the bad picks. I love it all.

One thing I don't like are the "busts". Just what is a bust? No one will say for sure, but my personal definition of a bust is simple. Someone who showed plenty of potential in college, was a high draft pick, and never materialized. Most people think bust and think of Ryan Leaf right away. He was the great college QB who was the second overall pick in the draft in 1998. He never really got off the ground though.

As for the Eagles, we have had our share of draft busts.

Starting way back in 1936. Jay Berwager. He was our first ever draft pick. He never signed a contract and never played a down for the Eagles.

Kevin Allen. The 1985 pick looked good at the time. A monster at OT. But was a terrible pass protector and run blocker. Former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan once described him as a good player to have, "if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass."

In 1993 we actually had two busts. Leonard Renfro and Lester Holmes. Holmes, the OG actually did play in 46 games, but wasn't a very productive player. Renfro was even worse at DT.

1994 was much of the same with Bernard Williams. He played two seasons but never really did anything worth mentioning.

1997 yielded John Harris. The big 300 lb DE was supposed to be a force. Instead he was a farce with only 2 sacks in two seasons.

2001 had the "Mouth". "The Peoples Champ" "Fred -Ex." Yes Freddie Mitchell had some OK catches. 4th and 26 sticks out most. But overall he never lived up to his potential. He was known for his mouth than anything else.

People claim 1995's draft pick, Mike Mamula was a bust. I strongly disagree. He wasn't a bad player. He was a player who shouldn't have been drafted that high in the first place. A great combine showing made his stock rise dramatically. The Eagles traded up to get the DE from Boston College. IMO he should have been playing LB. He was too small to play DE against big 300 lb OT's. He had decent speed for his size. But he only recorded 31.5 sacks in 5 seasons.

So there you have it. Some of the busts the Eagles have had. I'm sure I'm overlooking other ones. Other teams I'm sure have had the same experiences at one time or another. My only hope is the Eagles have more luck in this year and future drafts.

Search For WR Continues

It's no secret the the Philadelphia Eagles want to upgrade their WR's by adding an impact one. The last time we had one was in 2004 when they went to the Super Bowl. Why we can't develop our own is beyond me. We need to look elsewhere to get one.

Randy Moss was offered a contract. He turned it down to stay with the Patriots.
Larry Fitzgerald signed a contract extension with the Cardinals.
Javon Walker went to Oakland. Donte Stallworth to Cleveland.
Tory Holt, Marques Colston and Roy Williams are all said to be off the market.
Chad Johnson may make enough noise to have the Bengals want to trade him.

But other than that who is available. Rumors have Anquan Boldin on the list of potentials here in Philly. Lee Evans would also be a nice addition, as would Andre Johnson. But a deal may not be done.

The Eagles can offer Lito Sheppard and Reggie Brown as trade bait. They also have 8 picks in the draft not counting the Comp picks they will receive. It should be enough to get a deal done somehow. But how much will it take. I don;t see the Eagles giving up a first round pick and Lito Sheppard. When Sheppard is 100% healthy, he is one of the top CB's in the league. And our first round pick is #19. A solid player will be had for sure.

As for the draft, the Eagles can either trade up or down to get who they want. Among the top WR's are Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Mario Manningham, Devin Thomas and James Hardy. Any of these players would be a quality player, but rookies rarely start right off the bat for the Eagles. They would be gradually worked in. So the question is do the Eagles pull the trigger on a deal and get a WR like Williams or Boldin? Or will they go through the draft and hope they pick the next Fred Barnett and not Freddie Mitchell?

Wait in another month and see.

Eagles LB's......Young Guns

Stewart Bradley, Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong, Akeem Jordan.

None of these players are household names like other LB's are. But they might soon be.

The Eagles released Takeo Spikes last week in a move that gives the "Young Guns" a chance to shine. All three are 25 years old or younger. All three have talent. Just how much remains to be seen.

Gocong, 23, is the former DE turned SAM. He sat out his first season with an injury. He returned last year and took the starting spot from Dhani Jones. Not that it was too hard. He had 66 tackles and a sack. 15 of his tackles were for a loss. He struggled a little in coverage, but should get better with another year under his belt.

Gaither, 24, is the former WILL turned MIKE. He played in 2006 at WILL then took the starting spot from Trotter last season. Now he turns it over to Bradley. The good thing about Gaither is he can play both positions. It will be a major plus with Jim Johnson. He had 103 tackles last season. He made some big plays.

Bradley, 24, was the rookie drafted to compete with Gocong. Instead he was battling for playing time at MIKE. He was mainly a Special Teams player but did get into some games at the end of the season. And what we saw of him we liked. He had size and speed. He had 18 tackles, an INT and a sack in two games.

Jordan, 22, is the outside guy looking in. He will push for playing time. He saw action in nine games last year. He spent time on the practice squad and was brought up once Matt McCoy was released. He had 20 tackles, mostly on ST.

The four of these guys are hungry. They will push each other in practice. They will push each other to be better. And along the way they will open peoples eyes. Jim Johnson has already hinted around to using a 3-4 defensive set at times next year. Maybe there is a chance we will see all four of the LB's playing at the same time.

The Hunt For Red Receiver

The Hunt for Red Receiver*

By the RipperEagle

*Thanks, Tom Clancy!

DISCLAIMER: The Following comedy story is strictly the origin of the author of this story, and any relations to anyone in real life and the usage of people in the story were NOT used with permission, so don’t sue me for the manner in which I am about to use you.

-Philadelphia has always claimed that they have such great fans and we are so loyal to their cause, well, it is TIME to put that to the test shall we? I have come up with a storyline in which the five guys who post the most on our boards (me, Yankeeboy1046 AKA the Admiral, Chase, Young-T, and Wynn) had a fictitious meeting with Banner, Reid, and Lurie, to discuss receiver happenings and the final piece of an offense which would be elite with it on the roster.

ONE DAY…

Out of nowhere whatsoever, a guy who lives in Atlanta (Young-T) a guy who lives in Newark (Chase) a guy who lives in Hanover (Admiral) a guy who lives near Pittsburgh (Ripper) and a guy I ASSUME lives in Philly (Wynn) all just happened to come together to finally meet one another in South Philly. They all decided to take a trip to the NovaCare Complex to meet with Jeffery Lurie, team CEO and Owner, Joe Banner, Team President, and Andy Reid, Head Coach. Upon arriving at the site, these five dedicated Eagles fans walked to the main desk inside.

Admiral: Excuse me; would it at all possible to meet with the front office?
Secretary: Of course: and you guys would be?
Admiral: Oh, we are just hardcore Eagles fans?
Secretary: And what is the nature of which you need to speak with him?
Admiral: Team issues.
Secretary (chuckles) good luck with that one.

She picks up a phone and dials a number and talks to someone: she hangs the phone back up and tells them to go to the last door on the right down the hall.

Admiral: What did that girl say before she called them?
Ripper: I don’t know, but she was hot: gotta post a pic of her in our babe thread.
Chase: F*** her.
Young-T: Typical Chase.
Wynn: got your briefcase Chase?
Chase: (chucks out a brown case) you betcha!

They walk to the door and Admiral knocks on it, and they open it as someone on the other side says to come in. He leads them four into the room as they look around to see Lurie and Banner with a book out on the table, Reid standing by leaning on a chair, and Reno Mahe with a vacuum cleaner and duster.

Lurie: Oh hello gentlemen, I assume you are the fans that Ashley was telling me about on the phone a few minutes ago…
Ripper (to himself) Ashley: what a sexy name.
Admiral: (Smacks him on shoulder) yes that is correct sir.
Lurie: Come on in (to Reno) fetch me five chairs boy!
Reno: Yes sir! (Exits)
Young-T: Um, we didn’t re-sign Reno did we?
Lurie: Not yet.
Wynn: Then what is he still doing here?
Reid: Oh you know, got to find work for my Mormons some how.

Reno returns with five folding chairs as he hands one to each of the guys as they unfold them next to the desk and they all sit down.

Banner: You know this is absurd Jeff…
Lurie: Hush up Joseph: so what is on your minds, fair gents?
Admiral: Well sir, it’s about our receivers…
Lurie: Listen, I assure you and our fan base that we are working around the clock to find a playmaking receiver, but truth be told, it has to be a two-way interest.
Admiral: I see: so who have you guys been looking at?
Lurie: Well, there was a deal pitched to us by the Arizona Cardinals in order to obtain Larry Fitzgerald…
Young-T: That sounds sick.
Wynn: I agree.
Lurie: But what they wanted is unreal: Lito Sheppard AND our first round pick?
Ripper: How so: last year you traded our pick to DALLAS of all teams!
Lurie: Well, we did get three picks for it, didn’t we?
Admiral: But this is the chance to land a world class young receiver who obviously is at a stalemate with his current team.
Lurie: And we are at a stalemate with Rod Graves and Michael Bidwill…
Ripper: S*** just send him some ice cream and bowties for Bill, gonna love it!
Admiral: (stares hole through him) so, is there anything else?
Reid: Well guys, we have been talking to Cincinnati in lieu of Chad Johnson, and Detroit in regards to Roy Williams.
Admiral: Now THAT sounds like a plan!
Ripper: Roy Williams…that dude is tall and a game breaker!
Chase: What would Detroit want for him?
Lurie: Lito…
Chase: That’s it?
Reid: Seems so.
Admiral: well let’s call Matt Millen and try to work this now!
Reid: um guys why can’t we just draft one?
Chase: (snorts) with your track record and value of receivers early in the draft?
Reid: what is that supposed to mean?
Chase: (Opens briefcase) HELLO ANDY: do the names Freddie Mitchell, Todd Pinkston, and Billy McMullen ring a bell?
Reid: Well…
Chase: And in 2000 we could have had Reggie Wayne and in 2001 we could have had Chad Johnson: you really whiffed there big guy.
Ripper: …OWNED!!!
Admiral: Well, in order to get who we WOULD want, we would have to trade up.
Lurie: Oh no way we are NOT trading up in the draft: we might trade out of the first round however if this gibberish keeps up!
Lurie: We are open for suggestions: who would you guys want?
Chase: Limas Sweed…
Admiral: Sweed or Mario Manningham.
Ripper: What he said.
Wynn: Ditto.
Young-T: …same here.
Chase: But to me personally, Sweed is a guy who we would need to get up close to the tenth spot to get: if we go that way, then we could move Sheppard that way since we got Asante Samuel…
Admiral: Which may I say that was simply amazing that we got this guy!
Ripper: Heck yeah: he had more interceptions himself last year then we did as a whole unit!
Lurie: Thank you guys, but back to Roy Williams…

The phone rings on the desk, cutting them off as Lurie picks it up.

Lurie: Hello?
Guy: Duh hello, is this Jeffery Lurie?
Lurie: Yes it is…Matt?
Millen: Duh yeah hi there Jeffery I wanted to call and talk to you about that guy you wanted to give me for my receiver.
Lurie: You mean Sheppard?
Millen: Huh: wait I thought you meant a football player not a guy who herds sheep.
Lurie: (smacks head) no Matt LITO Sheppard!
Millen: Oh okay then…yeah you want Charles Rogers for him…you have to give me a pick as well.
Lurie: Charles Rogers: you mean Roy Williams right?
Millen: No, MIKE Williams!
Lurie: He is in Oakland Matt…
Ripper: (Reaches over desk and hits the speakerphone button) Matt?
Millen: Yeah hello?
Ripper: This is a mother trucker who hates you because you are stupid: listen dumb-dumb, we want ROY WILLIAMS, the tall dude you drafted in 2004 out of Texas, not Mike, who you took in 2005 and even isn’t ON your team anymore, and not Rogers, who was caught with crack and failed out on you.
Millen: …but I want…
Ripper: I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WANT! WE WANT ROY WILLIAMS AND WE WILL GIVE YOU LITO SHEPPARD FOR HIM AND A 2ND ROUND PICK!
Millen: Yes sir…good deal.
Ripper: and you will ALSO send me a new black Ford Fusion, just because I need a new car, and I expect it delivered to my neighborhood Ford dealer within a week, for it is not, I will come to Detroit personally and B**** slap the sense right back into the head, got it?
Millen: Yes sir! (Hangs up phone)
Ripper: (Sits back down in seat) was I too hard?
Lurie: No…in fact, I liked that.
Admiral: you really think he will give us him now after you yelled at him?
Young-T: Do you really think they will trade Lito anyway?
Wynn: Do you really think you are going to get a new Ford?
Chase: F*** Ford.
Ripper: Well, as long as we get our receiver, I will lay personal greed aside and forget I even asked for a car…in a perfect world, right guys?

-The Next Day-
All the guys have gone back home went back to their living quarters the next day when they look online to check the Eagles site to see if the deal went through, but to their dismay, the guys are shocked at the headline:

EAGLES SIGN FREDDIE MITCHELL: GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE!

Ripper: Oh mother…
Admiral: I knew Ripper was too harsh with him…
Wynn: God damn it!
Young-T: The hell?
Chase: SCREW YOU MILLEN!

-The End-

What's Next For Eagles

Big Play Cornerback........ Check.
Pass Rushing Defensive End........ Check.

The first couple days of Free Agency landed the Eagles CB Asante Samuel and DE Chris Clemons. What is next for the Eagles? Various rumors are flying around about potential trade of CB Lito Sheppard. What might happen? I don't know. But I trust our Front Office to continue improving this team.

The Eagles made a run at WR Randy Moss. He eventually resigned with the Patriots. But what an addition that would have been. He is a big play WR that can open up the field. It shows that the Front Office is serious about upgrading this team after a disappointing season last year.

Areas that still need addressed are WR, OL (OT in particular) FB and ST.

WR: Roy Williams is the name that keeps popping up. Many of the fans would love to see him here. Larry Fitzgerald is another name. But the Cardinals are reluctant to trade him. Why not inquire about their other stud WR, Anquan Boldin? Other players still on the market are Javon Walker, who has a great relationship with Donovan McNabb, and DJ Hackett, who played in Seattle. He would fit in since both teams runs the same type offense.

OL: Not an overhaul, just a tweak. Our OT's are getting older. It's time to start grooming their replacements. Winston Justice might be one, but we still need another.

FB: Thomas Tapeh signed with Minnesota. That leaves Jason Davis as our only FB. Lorenzo Neal and Tony Richardson are both available. For one year, it might be worth looking at one of them.

ST: Our return game was non existent last year. We need a player who can break the big one every now and then. Having someone who can also fill another position would be a bonus. Chris Carr fits the bill. The CB is a decent return man. He would also add depth to the secondary.

Trades are all part of the game. Trading Lito Sheppard, IMO, would not be wise unless we get a #1 WR out of it. We can trade for draft picks, but as we all know, draft picks can be busts. Packaging him along with a pick for Williams would be the best way to go.

I have a great feeling about this team this season. The Eagles have already gone out and made moves to make this team better. They've made some noise and been aggressive so far. Now lets just hope the rest of the pieces fall in place.

Eagles Sign CB Asante Samuel

The Eagles landed the top CB and possibly player in Free Agency with the signing of Asante Samuel. The 6 year deal will keep him in Philly until 2014. He is a play making corner who does well in both zone and man coverage.

The move also signals that the Eagles are going all out in Free Agency. The Eagles made contact with Samuel first and convinced him to visit Philly. Once here the deal was said to be in place in a short matter of time. A Press Conference was held at 5:15 announcing the signing. When I first heard bout the Press Conference my immediate thought was "We Got Him". Why else would they call a press conference over a player visiting?

Samuel played the last couple season with the Patriots. He has 16 interceptions over the past two seasons. He returned one of those INT's for a TD against the Eagles this season.

The move may also signal the end of Lito Sheppard. Rumors have it that the Eagles are shopping Lito around now. Again they are only RUMORS. Until I see an official trade I won't believe it.

Having Samuel, Brown and Lito as our corners makes the Eagles one of the top secondaries in the league easily. Adding a healthy Dawkins and the youngsters Hanson, Reed and Mikell, well it's pretty solid.