Because I haven’t near the writing ability to successfully organize all this stuff into one coherent piece, let’s just talk about the moves one by one – in tenative order of awesomeness.\u00a0 And, yes, all of this has happened since July 29th.<\/p>\n
The Birds steal the most coveted free agent from New York and Dallas Now, fast forward eight months and the preeminent NFL free agent is mulling over two monster offers from New York (the Jets) and Dallas (the Cowboys).\u00a0 Just like the Lee negotiations, no one even considered Philadelphia.\u00a0 No one expert – not Adam Shefter, not Chris Mortensen, not Mike Florio or Mike Lombardi or even Peter King – even mentioned the Eagles, and why would they?\u00a0 We already had two <\/em>of the best corners on the planet and we were OFFERING LESS MONEY.\u00a0 Then, out of the blue, it was announced that the Eagles had signed Nnamdi Asomugha<\/strong>, who wanted to come here<\/a>\u00a0because of “first-class organization,” despite leaving money on the table in New York and Dallas.\u00a0 This is awesome!<\/p>\n The best free agent leaves money on the table from Dallas and New York to come to Philly. Sound familiar?<\/p><\/div>\n I heard a pretty cool story about how it was kept so under wraps.\u00a0 Joe Banner was giving an interview and he said that the first thing is said to Nnamdi’s agent was that the Eagles didn’t want anyone knowing that they were in the running.\u00a0 He knew that they could keep everything quiet on their end, so if news got out that they were interested, Banner would know that it was Nnamdi’s camp that leaked the information in an attempt to drive up the price, and the Eagles would immediately take the offer off the table.\u00a0 The whole time WE<\/em> were Nnamdi’s first choice, and he didn’t want to lose this offer, so they didn’t say a word.\u00a0 That is just phenomenal management.<\/p>\n Now, aside from the generally incredible feeling resulting from the best player on the market taking less money to play for our team, let’s talk about the on-the-field implications.\u00a0 Nnamdi is exactly what the Eagles want – a physical press-man corner\u00a0who allows a variety of blitzing schemes or simply letting the D-ends pin back their ears and go get the QB.\u00a0 He will not pick up a ton of interceptions (in fact, he didn’t have ANY last year, which is why he’s a free agent now), but that’s only because they never throw at him.\u00a0 He only allowed 11 receptions all year last year.\u00a0 Yes, you read that right – ELEVEN RECEPTIONS ALL YEAR.\u00a0 More on how he fits in with veteran Eagle, Asante Samuel and new Eagle…<\/p>\n Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is officially an Eagle, along with a #2, for Kevin Kolb<\/em><\/strong> So, who is this DRC guy?\u00a0 Well, we’re going to find out – and fast – in this city that this Pro Bowler can seriously play.\u00a0 He, like Asomugha, is a physical, press-man corner that likes to get up into the shoulder pads of receivers because he knows that he has the pure speed to keep up with anyone in the league with his elite speed and acceleration.<\/p>\n Not many people outside of Arizona really know just how good this guy is...but, they're about to<\/p><\/div>\n How will this all work?\u00a0 Well, there are two VERY good options:\u00a0 (1) trade Asante and (2) keep all three.\u00a0 Let’s address each of them:<\/p>\n Anyway, no matter what they are thinking as return, it’s gotta be really good because Asante is still elite.\u00a0 Personally, I’d like to see them come back with a player who can help immediately, but even if they flip it for a #1 and a #3 or something like that, it might be worth exploring, considering they only gave up a backup QB for his TWO replacements and a #2 pick.<\/p>\n This could work...IF they decide to keep all 3 and IF Asante's pride allows it to work<\/p><\/div>\n This could work…and work very well.\u00a0 Seriously, think about it:\u00a0 Nnamdi completely cancels out the best receiver.\u00a0 DRC is bumping and running with the slot receivers or covering the Stephen Jacksons and Reggie Bushs of the world out of the backfield or even banging with the pass-catching tight end.\u00a0 And, then Asante is playing off the second receiver, knowing that the other side is taken taken, baiting the QB to make a mistake.\u00a0 Think about this:\u00a0 Asante was only THROWN AT 36 times last year, and he came away with 7 interceptions.\u00a0 With Nnamdi completely taking away the other side and DRC a complete mismatch for the slot receiver\/running back, teams will have <\/em>to throw at Asante consistently.\u00a0 Is it unrealistic to think that he could intercept 12-15 or even more passes this year in that scenario?\u00a0 Now, throw in an explosive offense that can score quickly, forcing the other team to throw.\u00a0\u00a0Then, add an\u00a0ELITE pass rush\u00a0(more on this in a minute), forcing QBs to make quicker decisions.\u00a0 How many INTs are we talking now for Asante?\u00a0 20?\u00a0 That sounds insane, but is it?\u00a0 And, how good is this team going to be if they even got 15-20\u00a0INTs from the team, as a whole, this year?\u00a0 This is what we are talking about, people.\u00a0 Wow.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Ho-hum, the Eagles only sign the best defensive tackle on the market<\/em><\/strong> The Birds added an absolute man to the middle of their D-line<\/p><\/div>\n Jenkins<\/p>\n The Eagles add the perfect complement to Trent Cole at the other D-End spot<\/em><\/strong> Coach Wash has brought the best out of a number of d-line stars, but Jason Babin is one of his shining stars<\/p><\/div>\n Anyway, the Eagles signed Jason Babin and his 12.5 sacks to play opposite Trent Cole on a suddenly terrifying d-line.\u00a0\u00a0All of a sudden, this line is ferocious – and very well-constructed, as well.\u00a0 We all know what Trent Cole can do to disrupt opposing offenses, but they never totally had a defense that allowed him to do what he does best – get after the quarterback.\u00a0 Now, that they have a stalwart set of corners and a strength in the middle of the d-line, Cole can pin back his ears and rush the passer.\u00a0 Add into the mix the addition of Jason Babin, and either Cole will see very few double-teams OR Babin is going to lead the league in sacks.\u00a0 With Jim Washburn – who is generally accepted as the best in the business and one of the main reasons for Babin’s success<\/a>\u00a0– coaching these guys up, the sky is the limit with how good this line will be at getting after the QB.<\/p>\n There are still a few questions about their run defense because the line is the more smalllish type of a line that relies more on speed than strength, and the linebackers are, well, almost non-existent, but, if the offense is as good as we think it might be, this problem could be somewhat negated by playing so often with the lead.\u00a0 And, I’m really doubting that any team will be able to throw much on this team in any formation with these blisteringly quick pass rushers and lockdown, best of the best corners.<\/p>\n While we’re at it, why don’t we go ahead and fill the biggest remaining hole on offense<\/em><\/strong> Well, probably not anymore.\u00a0 In, easily the most underrated<\/em> signing of this entire crazy week for the Birds, they signed former Bronco offensive tackle Ryan Harris<\/strong> to a one-year deal.\u00a0 Never heard of Ryan Harris before becoming an Eagle?\u00a0 Yeah, me neither, but how many right tackles are well-known (or known at all) outside of the cities in which they play?\u00a0 Not many.\u00a0 Harris is very, very <\/em>good. \u00a0He\u2019s not a Jon Runyan type bruiser, but this team is not exactly a hit-you-in-the-mouth kind of an offense, and at 6\u20195\u201d and 300 pounds, Harris is extremely agile and athletic.\u00a0 He has started 34 of the 35 games in which he has played over the past 3 years and was exceptional for his first two years as a starter.\u00a0 In fact, remember two years ago when the Broncos started 6-0 and then finished 2-8 down the stretch and missed the playoffs?\u00a0 Well, Harris got hurt in Week 8, and a lot of people in Denver actually think that his loss was one of the main factors <\/a>that led to the team\u2019s ultimate collapse offensively.<\/p>\n Before injury and changing coaching staffs, Ryan Harris was a future star in Denver...and he's still only 26<\/p><\/div>\n And, with GMs well aware of this, Harris was a relatively coveted commodity on the market this year.\u00a0 They know that he is a 26-year old former 3rd<\/sup>-round pick from the Notre Dame o-line factory.\u00a0 And, they know that he is just entering the prime of his career (many people around the league think that he should have already been a Pro Bowler).\u00a0 But, as is the theme of the year in this city, Harris was willing to take less money to come play in Philly.\u00a0 And, with his pedigree and ability, I think it\u2019s safe to say that he is coming in as the starting right tackle \u2013 regardless of the health of Winston Justice or King Dunlap.<\/p>\n The last of the Eagles\u2019 draft picks signs on<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The former fireman from Vancouver may now be the Eagles starting left guard<\/p><\/div>\n With the new rules in place, it is unclear as to why the Eagles had so much trouble reaching an agreement with #1 pick, Danny Watkins, but all of that doesn\u2019t matter now, as the former Baylor offensive lineman is officially a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for the next four years.\u00a0 And, this is a really good sign because with the much-abbreviated offseason, it is going to be a lot harder to rookies \u2013 particularly offensive lineman \u2013 to be able to pick up the schemes right away.\u00a0 So, any missed time will be big for a guy like Watkins, who, at 26 years old already, has a pretty good shot at being the Eagles starting guard<\/a>\u2026a position, by the way, that he has never played.\u00a0 So, while this is still a big question mark, it is not nearly as big as it would be if Watkins missed any more time as a holdout.<\/p>\n Sure, Why Not?\u00a0\u00a0We do need a part-time running back, so he might as well be a Pro Bowler<\/em><\/strong> First of all, he\u2019s versatile.\u00a0 As a former 1,000-yard rusher, we all know he can run the ball, but he has also been one of the best pass-catching running\u00a0 backs in the sport over the past couple of seasons, with 30+ catches in every full season he has played (including 389 yards on 39 catches in just 7 games<\/em> in 2007) since entering the league in 2005.\u00a0 And, he complements McCoy in that he is willing to run downhill.\u00a0 While he\u2019s not what everyone would envision as a 3rd<\/sup>-and-1 masher, he is actually very good in short yardage and goalline situations.\u00a0 Add in the fact that he is a very good blocker, and you\u2019ve got yourself one of the more complete backs in the league \u2013 at a fraction of the price that Brown\u2019s old team paid for Reggie Bush.<\/p>\n This do-it-all running back won't have to do it all in Philly, but he may be a cure for the Birds' recent red zone ills<\/p><\/div>\n And, maybe the best part about the whole thing is the kind of guy that the Eagles signed here.\u00a0 Despite his immense natural ability (6\u20190\u201d, 230 pounds and ran a 4.3-forty \u2013 though doubtful he\u2019d do that anymore), Brown has always been one of those no-nonsense, lunch-pail kind of guys.\u00a0 He does whatever it takes to win.\u00a0 And, has no problem sharing the load, as he has done every year since high school. \u00a0He was only half of a great backfield at Auburn (Cadillac Williams and even Brandon Jacobs for a year, before transferring) and then, despite being the #2 overall pick, Brown was only one half of the backfield in Miami, as he shared the load with Ricky Williams most of his years there.\u00a0 The guy just wants to win \u2013 which is probably why he (\u2026cue the phrase of the year\u2026) took less money to come play here in Philly.<\/p>\n So, you were the #3 overall pick?\u00a0 You basically won the BCS title game single-handedly right after being awarded the Heisman Trophy?\u00a0 Then you went on to win two-thirds of your NFL games as a starter?\u00a0 Great, sounds like you’d make a semi-decent <\/em><\/strong>backup<\/span><\/strong> quarterback\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In this era of fantasy football and "advanced statistics," some people lose sight of the fact that the ultimate job of a professional athlete is to WIN GAMES<\/p><\/div>\n A lot of people are luke-warm on the Vince Young<\/strong> signing, and, honestly, I have no idea why.\u00a0 This is a phenomenal signing.\u00a0 Let me remind you guys – HE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK.\u00a0 And, is there a better backup quarterback in the entire league?\u00a0 Maybe, maybe not.\u00a0 But, if so, there aren’t many and they’re only marginally better.\u00a0 And, I assure you that none of them will fit the Birds’ needs better.\u00a0 Unlike with Kolb, now, if Vick goes down for a couple games, they do not have to change the playbook very much.\u00a0 And, if Vick happens to go down for a significant period of time, you don’t necessarily have to throw the season away because Young has had a lot of success before.\u00a0 Do I want VY as my #1 quarterback?\u00a0 Hell no.\u00a0 Do I think he’s got the head to be a superstar?\u00a0 Almost unquestionably not.\u00a0 Do I trust him a hell of a\u00a0lot more than the Jim Sorgis, Jared Lorenzens, or even Mike Kafka<\/strong>s of the world?\u00a0 Without a doubt.\u00a0 Say what you will about him (and his stupid comments<\/a>), but he is 30-17 as a starter in the National Football League and that was all for a team that did not have anywhere near the talent that this one does.\u00a0 Just sayin’…<\/p>\n We need a safety, so let’s just go grab a 26-year old who has already started 40 games in the NFL Meet your new starting safety, Philadelphia<\/p><\/div>\n from ’07-09 before getting hurt.\u00a0 He was picked up by the Patriots last year and was a really solid 3rd safety for a pretty good defense.\u00a0 Now, he comes here to vie for the starting strong safety spot vacated by the departed Quintin Mikell.\u00a0 Whether or not he starts is still up in the air, but there is no doubt that he is very talented and very much worthy of a roster spot at a position of relative weakness on this team (and by \u201cweakness\u201d I mean doesn\u2019t have a slew of All-Pros).\u00a0 At the very least, he will provide nice experience in the secondary and on special teams, while providing an insurance policy strong safety.\u00a0 At best, he will come right in and beat out Kurt Coleman<\/strong> and Temple rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett<\/strong> and fill to void left by Mikell. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Hey, if you\u2019re just going to give draft picks away, we\u2019ll take one\u2026 After all these signings, it\u2019s hard to imagine what to do with this EXTRA $4 million in cap space<\/em><\/strong> He certainly is "different"<\/p><\/div>\n the Eagles still have a shade under $4 million of cap space to play with.\u00a0 Now, I\u2019m no capologist, but that sounds like plenty of room to sign DeSean Jackson<\/strong> to an extension AND add at least one more quality piece.\u00a0 And, if I had to bet money on it, I would put my money on that piece being some guy who used to wear #84 for the Vikings and #81 for the Patriots.\u00a0 Obviously, I am not the first to put it out there (some have even reported that an offer has already been made<\/a>), but would it shock anyone if Andy Reid went out and signed Randy Moss<\/strong> to an incentive-laden, essentially risk-free contract?\u00a0 Now, who knows if he has anything left in the tank, but one thing we do know is that he has proven doubters wrong in the past when they said he was done.\u00a0 And, he certainly has a lot to prove right now.\u00a0 Hmm\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I blacked out, what just happened…?!? So, the Eagles – our Eagles – just absolutely, utterly dominated the NFL offseason…and they’re not even finished yet.\u00a0 I know that I’m prone to hyperbole, and I am an unabashed fan of the … Continue reading
\n<\/em><\/strong>Sound familiar?\u00a0 Over the winter, the #1 free agent on the MLB market was a guy named Cliff Lee.\u00a0 Anyone who knew anything kept saying the same thing:\u00a0 that it was a two-city race between New York (the Yankees) and Dallas (the Rangers).\u00a0 No one knew where he would go, but it was definitely between those two behemoths.\u00a0 Then, in an absolute shock to everyone, he picked us – Philadelphia\u00a0(prompting one of my more emotional BSB posts<\/a>\u00a0about us, as fans, and our general awesomeness)\u00a0– despite the fact that we already had three of the best starting pitchers in baseball and were not offering the most money.\u00a0 He picked us because of us<\/em> the fans and our team.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/photo\/2009\/0610\/nfl_g_asomugha11_480.jpg\" "\\"Nnamdi\\"")
\nThis was the best-case scenario.\u00a0 Honestly, as I said in Thursday’s post before this trade was completed, I would probably take DRC for Kolb, straight-up.\u00a0 So, for the Cardinals to throw in a #2 (presumably a high #2, since they are more than a Kevin Kolb away from being good) is an absolutely coup.\u00a0 In fact, I heard that the reason it took so long is because the Birds were holding out for a NUMBER ONE!\u00a0 Hahaha.\u00a0 That’s fantastic.\u00a0 So, this trade was Kevin Kolb (picked #36 in 2007) for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie<\/strong> (picked #16 in 2008) and a 2nd-round pick that is likely to be in the top 40.\u00a0 Wow!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.indy.com\/photos\/314457\/post.jpg\" "\\"DRC\\"")
\n
\n<\/span>Here’s a question for the day –> Who says no to this trade:
\nEagles<\/span><\/strong> send Asante Samuel<\/strong> and the #2 pick they got from Arizona to the
\n49ers<\/span><\/strong> for stud linebacker Patrick Willis<\/strong>I think that that is a pretty fair deal on both side.\u00a0 The Niners DESPERATELY need a corner now that they were shut out.\u00a0 Plus, they are sort of rebuilding, so the draft pick would be nice.\u00a0 And, the hard sell to the fans of moving their best player would be somewhat negated by getting a top-10 corner in return.\u00a0\u00a0As for the Eagles, I think that a stud linebacker would fill a MUCH bigger hole for them than a 3rd corner who probably wouldn’t be happy in that role anyway.\u00a0 The #2 is a bit much to add to a deal that already includes a top-10 corner, but they are loaded with picks next year, so maybe they get it done with a #3 or #4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\nAnd, then there’s the option of just keeping all three.\u00a0 And, while, at first blush, that seems an inefficient usage of their resources, it’s worth looking more into.\u00a0 Every year this league becomes more and more of a passing league, so it would reason that preventing the passing attack is just as important as having one yourself – if not more.\u00a0 And, the best teams have figured that out.\u00a0 I just read somewhere about the defense the Packers used against the Eagles in their wild card game last year.\u00a0 The Eagles had 66 offensive plays in that game.\u00a0 The Packers top three cornerbacks, Charles Woodson, Travon Williams, and Sam Shields were on the field for 66, 65, and 63 plays, respectively that game.\u00a0 The three corners combined to sit out for just four <\/em>plays all game – and Sam Shields isn’t even that good.\u00a0 Now, I haven’t spent the time to look into this being a trend for the Packers or anyone else, but that one statistic leads me to believe that a lot of good teams are playing entire games with 3 corners on the field at all times.\u00a0 I can totally see an Eagles defense with Asante and Nnamdi on the outside with DRC in the slot on all downs except 3rd-and-short, when Asante and his aversion to tackling would come off the field for another backer and DRC would move outside.\u00a0 (Or Nnamdi in the middle, playing the Charles Woodson role \u2013 which he has already said he\u2019d be more than willing to do.)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/grfx.cstv.com\/photos\/schools\/ucf\/sports\/m-footbl\/auto_action\/2599719.jpeg\" "\\"Asante\\"")
\nLost in the hoop-la of the Kolb trade, the signing of a DE with 12.5 sacks last year (still to come…), and the Asomugha heist is the signing of former Green Bay Packer defensive tackle, Cullen <\/strong>.\u00a0 If this was the only move that a team made this year, it would probably be heralded as a successful offseason.\u00a0 Jenkins (the younger brother of former Panthers and Jets star, Kris Jenkins) was, easily, the best<\/em> defensive lineman<\/em> on the Super Bowl champions last year<\/em>, despite playing in virtual anonymity<\/a>.\u00a0 He had 7 sacks from the D-TACKLE position, and\u00a0is very good against the run.\u00a0 And, to boot, Jenkins\u00a0is extremely versatile in that he can swing outside and play end without missing a beat – something the Eagles have always loved about d-linemen because they like to keep everyone fresh.\u00a0 With Mike Patterson<\/strong> still in the fold, if they can get the development they expect this year from Trevor Laws<\/strong>, they may have just turned what was a weakness into a real strength.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/02\/cullenjenkins.jpg?w=250\" "\\"Cullen")
\nSo, I really wanted to add some stupid boasting line about how I predicted the Jason Babin<\/strong> signing\u00a0months ago, and then I looked up the post that I first said it.\u00a0 I did find it<\/a>, but it’s not what I was hoping for because the Babin comment is a throw-away line in an April 29th post about that was all about how the Eagles were going to get Patrick Peterson and would trade away Danny Watkins.\u00a0 Ya, well, at least the throw-away line was right because the crux of the post was dead-wrong.\u00a0 Oh well…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/prosportsblogging.com\/psb\/uploads\/2011\/06\/washburn-haynesworth-titans.jpg\" "\\"Jim")
\nA lot of people would say that even before the Winston Justice<\/strong> injury news came out that the Eagles were in need of a right tackle.\u00a0 Justice, who was added to the PUP list last week, wasn’t really all that confidence-inducing when assumed healthy.\u00a0 And, with our left-handed quarterback (the starter, that is, not the newly-acquired backup…oops), the right tackle is responsible for the blind side – the blind side of an injury-prone QB, that is.\u00a0 So, this was a concern\u2026<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cdn3.sbnation.com\/entry_photo_images\/1693385\/57138_Broncos_Harris_Football.jpg\" "\\"Ryan")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/draftbreakdown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Danny-Watkins1-150x200.png\" "\\"Danny")
\nThis week started similarly to how last week ended, as the Birds inked yet another Pro Bowler (and former #2 pick in the draft) to fill the Jerome Harrison, backup running back role.\u00a0 Ronnie Brown<\/strong> has come to terms with the Birds on a one-year deal to come in and do, well, whatever the offensive coaching staff wants to do with this cool new toy.\u00a0 And, this is a toy that fits the Birds\u2019 need to a tee<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.paraorkut.com\/img\/football\/images\/r\/ronnie_brown_of_miama-569.jpg\" "\\"Ronnie")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/nfl_us_young_195.jpg\" "\\"VY\\"")
\n<\/em><\/strong>Considering the Eagles do not believe in the linebacker position, and they have completely shored up the d-line and cornerback position, that only leaves safety left to be addressed.\u00a0 And, since all the other picks have been Pro Bowlers and superstars, a guy like Jarrad Page<\/strong> almost makes you shrug your shoulders.\u00a0 But, let’s not lose perspective here.\u00a0 Page started 37 straight games for the Chiefs<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.nepatriotsdraft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/4802198_Chargers_v_Chiefs-420x294.jpg\" "\\"Jarrad")
\n<\/em><\/strong>As a great hidden bonus to the Cullen Jenkins signing was that it\u00a0enabled the Birds\u00a0to find a sucker (first the Browns, ultimately the Broncos) to send over a 5th-round pick in exchange for the oversized jersey of Broderick Bunkley<\/strong>.\u00a0 They turned a guy who most likely would\u00a0have been released into a decent 5th-round pick.\u00a0\u00a0Brilliant!<\/p>\n
\nYes, folks, that\u2019s right.\u00a0 The Eagles may already have had the best offseason in the history of sports\u2026and THEY MIGHT NOT BE DONE!\u00a0 According to this interesting website<\/a>\u00a0someone told me about,<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ECMo0K1qQmg\/TM8RmgqlauI\/AAAAAAAABiM\/spPj89LPJb0\/s1600\/randy-moss.jpg\" "\\"Randy")