I was going to write a post to this effect yesterday before the first round of the NFL draft, but (a) I didn’t get to it and (b) I didn’t think it would actually be relevant.\u00a0 But, now that it is totally relevant, I am shocked that I cannot find anyone else that has expressed this opinion.\u00a0 I believe the following to be true:<\/p>\n
The Eagles and the Cardinals made an agreement <\/em>(which is completely illegal in the current state of the NFL labor situation) to make the following trade:\u00a0 The Eagles would send Kevin Kolb and their 1st round pick<\/span> (#23 – Danny Watkins) in exchange for the Cardinals 1st round pick<\/span> (#5 – Patrick Peterson).<\/em><\/p>\n I was watching with cautious excitement for the Cardinals decision at #5, hoping that they would take Peterson because that would go further towards confirming my pre-draft suspicions of “something fishy.”\u00a0 But, I really didn’t expect it…and then it happened.<\/p>\n The Cardinals took him – Peterson, the\u00a0cornerback from LSU.<\/p>\n Interesting.<\/p>\n The Cardinals were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year.\u00a0 But…there is one part of their roster that almost indisputably is pretty solid – the secondary.\u00a0 They have first-round pick and rising star, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, at one corner and an emerging young playmaker, Greg Toler, at the other.\u00a0 And, then they have maybe the most underrated (if not the best) set of safeties in the league in Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes.\u00a0 And, yet, they took a cornerback…<\/p>\n Which team had the worst quarterback situation – in maybe the shakiest quarterbacked season since Don Coryell’s offensive schemes\u00a0reinvented the position – in the league last year?\u00a0 The Cardinals.\u00a0 Which team was on the clock with a plethora of first-round QB talent still on the\u00a0board (only Newton was gone)?\u00a0 The Cardinals.\u00a0 And,\u00a0yet, they take a player at the one position on either side of the ball where they don’t really need to upgrade?\u00a0 Interesting…<\/p>\n Let’s look at the other side of the coin.\u00a0 Who does need a cornerback desperately?\u00a0 The Eagles.\u00a0 Which team, almost above all others in the past 3-4 years, has gravitated towards speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball?\u00a0 The Eagles.\u00a0 Then…which team, with their own pick, passed on a very talented cornerback (Jimmy Smith) to take an offensive linemen, who seems like good value and isn’t exactly un<\/em>needed, but is not even close to the most pressing of needs?\u00a0 The Eagles.\u00a0 And, which front office has shown that they keep things very close to the vest and are not afraid of repercussions from the NFL league office?\u00a0 The Patriots.\u00a0 Okay, good point – Belichick is on his own level of indignation.\u00a0 But, among mere mortals at the trade, isn’t Andy Reid well up there on the ole “I don’t give a crap” meter?<\/p>\n Okay, so how is this more than random speculation from a guy who has absolutely, positively zero <\/em>inside information?\u00a0 Well, it is not more than that – it is precisely that.\u00a0 But…you have to admit, it smells fishy, especially if you consider that were countless rumors – from very reputable sources, including Sal Paloantonio and Adam Schefter – that, if the lockout was lifted and players were able to be traded, the Cardinals would strongly consider giving the #5 pick to the Birds for Kolb.<\/p>\n So, why is no one talking about that now?\u00a0 Because it would be highly illegal, under the current league regulations, and no one with any information would be willing to “out” a team, or even attract attention to a team, for doing something that could result in significant penalties from Officer Goodell.<\/p>\n But, I’m not “in the know,” by any stretch, so I’ll throw it out there.<\/p>\n I predict that Patrick Peterson will be starting across from Asante Samuel next year for the Birds, and that Kevin Kolb will be starting at quarterback in the desert.\u00a0 I also predict a very strong reaction from the league office that will include a hefty fine on both sides and, possibly, the forfeiture of a future draft pick.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n (Quick tangent:\u00a0\u00a0While we’re on the subject of predictions, I also expect the Birds to resign Jason Babin and reunite him with Jim Washburn, who turned him from a bit rotation guy here in Philly to a Pro Bowler in Tennessee.)<\/em><\/p>\n But, if you’re asking me – I’d take it.\u00a0 Peterson is a game-changer and a flat-out stud.\u00a0 Remember when the Eagles defenses were so good under the late, great Jim Johnson?\u00a0 Everyone says it was because Johnson was such a brilliant innovator of blitz schemes, and that is very true.\u00a0 But, I really believe that no matter how brilliant Johnson was, he could not have pulled off those elaborate, risky blitzes without complete confidence in his one-on-one coverage on both sides.\u00a0 First it was Vincent and Taylor and as soon as they showed signs of age, they transformed that combination into a younger version with Sheppard and Brown.\u00a0 Now, they have one piece in Samuel, but the other side was a disaster last year.\u00a0 With Peterson, they can go back to sending the house.\u00a0 I love it!\u00a0<\/p>\n Let’s hope that this crazy hair-brained theory of mine that no one who actually knows anything thinks is even remotely possible does become reality.\u00a0 Not so that I can sit around come September and say “I told you so,” but so that all of us Eagles fans have a slim chance to\u00a0sit around come February and say “We are the champions!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was going to write a post to this effect yesterday before the first round of the NFL draft, but (a) I didn’t get to it and (b) I didn’t think it would actually be relevant.\u00a0 But, now that it … Continue reading