Heard in the Cheap Seats

There has been some chatter over the last couple of days that Buffalo Bills left tackle Jason Peters could be available via a trade if the Bills cannot work out a contract.  Of course, because the Eagles currently do not have a LT on the roster (not counting Todd Heramanns or possibly Shawn Andrews) they have been rumored as one of the teams that could get involved in the bidding. 

Granted, much of this is speculation at the moment, but it bears some closer consideration as to whether or not Peters would actually be an upgrade over the Birds current options. 

Jason Peters is an undeniable talent.  At 6’4”, 340 pounds, he certainly does not lack the size to play the position.  In 2007, Peters dominated opposing defensive ends and catapulted himself to elite status at the position.  In his eyes, this earned him the right to be paid as one of the top left tackled in the game.  But the Bills would not oblige.  After a lengthy holdout, Peters returned to action but never quite displayed the same level of dominance as he had in 2007.  In fact, Peters was so shoddy in 2008 that he led the league in sacks allowed with 11.5.  That is a startling number that would make even Winston Justice cringe.  Despite those meager stats, Peters still earned a Pro Bowl invite largely on reputation only.

Of course, you do have to take that 11.5 number with a grain of salt.  For starters, sacks allowed is a rather arbitrary measure of an OLs production.  The guy in the booth responsible for stat keeping has the sole discretion on where to place blame.  Not to start conspiracy theories, but wouldn’t the Bills stand to benefit from deflating Peters’ stats to gain an edge at the negotiating table?  And even if that is not the case, the stat also hinges greatly on the play of the quarterback.  A quarterback like Peyton Manning that gets rid of the ball quickly can make any offensive lineman look good.  But when you are hesitant to make decisions like Trent Edwards, he often leave your linemen out to dry.  But no matter how you spin the story, it is fairly obvious to even the most casual observer that Jason Peters was not at his best in 2008. 

If you are the Eagles, would you be so eager to fork over the number of picks and pile of cash it would take to bring Peters to Philadelphia?  It depends.  If you believe that you are getting the 2007 version of the massive lineman, it just may be worth the steep price.  Acquiring a productive Peters would create one of the biggest and most feared offensive lines in the game.  With a line like that, Andy Reid just may stick to the running game.

On the flip side, if you get anything back remotely resembling the 2008 version of Peters it would not be worth the king’s ransom required to get a deal done.  The Eagles have two viable internal options to move to left tackle in Shawn Andrews and Todd Herremans.  Let us not forget that both Andrews and Herremans played tackle in college and have apparently been itching to play it in the NFL.  Surely both of these options could match the play of Jason Peters cica 2008.  In addition, the Eagles would have to strongly way the apparent “attidue factor.”  This team has a long history of run-ins with players that wanted to rework deals before it expired.  In most cases, those clashes do not end well for the player.  Who is to say the three years down the road, Peters isn’t going to look around and call for another deal? 

The chatter has largely been that Jason Peters would be a huge upgrade for the Birds and a move they need to make if the price is right.  I’m not so sure.  There are just too many risks in the equation that outweigh the potential return.  If I were Andy Reid and his cohorts, I would take my chances with the guys already sitting in the locker room.

All has been quiet on the Philadelphia Eagles front, unless, of course, you count the Andy Reid interview with Dave Spadaro the other day as news.  I personally would rather have my eyes gouged out with spoons.  In case you missed this brilliant interview, you really need to check out this amazing interpretation of the content.  (http://insidetheiggles.com/2009/03/20/another-not-so-in-depth-interview-with-andy-reid/)  But, all that changed today as the Eagles signed the Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver to a one year contract that is worth up to $2.5 million after incentives. 

Weaver is 26 years old, and according to the Eagles website, they believe he fills two needs for them.  I am assuming they mean a big short yardage back (Weaver is 6ft, 242 pounds), and a REAL fullback.  The Eagles like Weaver because he can also catch the ball out of the backfield, which is a weapon they have not had at that position in awhile.  Weaver was actually a tight end converted from linebacker in college.  Supposedly, Weaver turned down bigger offers from other teams because he liked the way the Eagles told him they were going to use him in the offense.

I like this signing.  I was starting to get worried that the Eagles were going to go into next season with Klecko and Eckel at the fullback position.  Some people feel that the improvement of the Eagles in short yardage situations was due to Klecko getting better and the addition of Eckel.  I think it was too small of a sample to really tell.  I think they got a little bit better, but I was not comfortable with another season of those two.  I wouldn’t mind seeing Weaver and Eckel on the team and hopefully the Eagles will now move Klecko back to defensive tackle, where he provided some nice depth for them at the beginning of last season.  I always find it odd when a team actively tries to sign players at a certain position, is not able to do so, and then turns around and tries to sell to the fans that they are pleased with the players they have.  There are exceptions of course, like if you have the opportunity to sign a superstar, but with positions like fullback, that isn’t the case.  We knew the Eagles were trying to sign Weaver, and I am glad I didn’t have to listen to Andy Reid say that he felt Klecko and Eckel did a great job.  Good job by the Birds to fill a need.  Let’s see what happens next!

Jay Cutler:

The talking heads of the Philadelphia sports world have been tossing around the idea of the Eagles pursuing disgruntled Broncos QB Jay Cutler.  As a result, there have been more than a few Eagles fans that have followed with that line of thinking.  I have one word for you. STOP.

Jay Cutler has not proved anything in the NFL yet.  Sure, he is a talented 26-year old quarterback that has been to the Pro Bowl.  And yes, he threw for an other worldly 4,526 passing yards this past season.  But he is also a quarterback that threw 18 interceptions last season and has never won a playoff contest.  The only thing that Cutler has over McNabb is the fact that he is 6 years younger than him.  So for all of the fans calling for a trade I ask: do you really want to pay the steep price it would cost to get a QB that will not improve this team?  Didn”t think so. 

Every time there appears to be an opening to run McNabb out of town too many Eagles fans jump on the bandwagon.  Oh how soon they forget 3-13.

Matt Jones:

It’’s kind of strange that I constantly hammer home the idea that the Eagles are not barren at the WR position yet I continue to post about WRs on the market.  Here goes a few more thoughts on the position.

The Jaguars today released troubled WR Matt Jones.  At 6”6″ and 219 pounds, Jones is exactly the type of receiver that could help the Eagles overcome their red zone woes.  But is he worth the trouble?  As a player, Jones seemed to blossom last year, hauling in 65 grabs for 761 yards in only 12 games.  Expand that out over 16 games and you are looking at about 86 receptions for close to 1110 yards.  Not bad huh?

Jones is a very talented WR that can”t seem to keep himself out of trouble.  He is exactly the type of player the Eagles tend to shy away from.  But with 2010 possibly being an uncapped year, they could sign Jones for short money on a one-year deal.  He may just be worth the risk. 

Leonard Weaver:

Rumor has it that the Philadelphia Eagles may be out of the running for the services of Leonard Weaver.  I called for the Eagles to evaluate Weaver a month ago, so I clearly think he would make for a solid addition to this club.  However, from what I have read, it sounds like Weaver expects to make feature-back type money.  The Eagles are not going to, and should not, spend that kind of money on a FB.  There are some solid players available in the draft that could fill this need.  Or the Eagles could continue to go with a tandem of Dan Klecko and Kyle Ekel.  I know that is not a popular sentiment, but remember that toward the end of the season, the Eagles converted 74% of their third and short situations.  That was dramatic improvement.  Was it an aberration?  Possibly.  I am not advoicating that the Eagles use this tandem, but only that the situation is not so dire they need to out and spend big money.  Instead, I”d like to see the Eagles add a body via the draft for competition if Weaver won”t sign at a reasonable price.

What do you think about the Eagles moves leading up to the NFL draft?  Is the team done for the time being or is there something brewing?

In case you haven”t heard by now, the rumor mill is churning with the notion that the Cardinals are actively shopping Anquan Boldin.  Of course, Eagles fans are salivating at the prospects of adding Boldin to their wide receiving corps. 

 I wrote here yesterday that I am skeptical the Eagles will be able to land the coveted Cardinals receiver.  If this news is true, it removes one major barrier to getting a done deal and I would soften my stance a bit.  But for a minute, let’’s allow ourselves to dream and suppose that Boldin is there for the taking.  How much would you be willing to pay for his services?  It’’s a reasonable question, as the other most likely suitor appears to be the New York Giants.  The Eagles will likely have to overpay to get Boldin in midnight Green and keep him out of the grasp of a division foe.

So what will it take?  The Eagles have two first round picks and are sitting on a boatload of cash.  This means they can manufacture a package that gets Boldin to Philadelphia AND the new deal he craves.  The Giants on the other hand do not have the same number or quality of picks in their arsenal and are working against some cap constraints.  The Eagles are in the stronger negotiating position by far.  But again I ask, how much would you pay for Boldin?

By any measure, Anquan Boldin is a better player than Roy Williams.  The Dallas Cowboys gave up a 1^st, 3^rd and 6^th round pick to bring him to Dallas.  Granted, at the time, most experts felt the Cowboy overpaid.  So using that as a benchmark; would you give up the same package? 

I would.  If the Eagles gave up that package, they still have enough picks to get quality players at TE, RB and OT. IF the Eagles get involved in the talks for Anquan Boldin, they need to carefully consider how it impacts other areas of need this team faces.  I have said many times that WR is NOT this team’’s biggest need—despite the common refrain from most of the fan base,  If getting Boldin impacts the Eagles ability to address other, more pressing areas of need they should not pull the trigger.

 What do you think?  What kind of package would you give up to get Boldin?

Many Eagles fans, on this blog and elsewhere, have expressed frustration over the lack of activity out of the front office so far this season.  And the moves the Eagles did make, the signing of Stacy Andrews and Sean Jones, are being overshadowed by the ones they didn”t—Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas.  Philadelphia fans are not known for their patience and certainly are not showing it right now.

But is there something looming to change that rising tide of frustration?  Are the Eagles really just executing against a grand plan, acting as puppeteers and pulling on the strings of Philadelphia? 

Recently, there has been speculation from the likes of SI, ESPN, local Eagle-insider Gary Cobb and Don”t Boo the Birds (among others) that the Eagles are planning on making some big moves leading up to or during the draft.  The evidence to support this claim is apparent.  The Eagles have been getting younger at a startling pace, while stockpiling draft picks and keeping a stack of money locked away in a vault.  It seems they are priming themselves for a run at some big name players via trade or a quick move up the draft board. 

Of course, most Eagles fans would like to see Anquan Boldin don an Eagles uniform next season.  I share in that sentiment, but it still seems unlikely to me at this juncture.  NFL pundits like John Clayton and Peter King seem unable to fathom a scenario where Bolden is not moved.  They must have short memories because I recall a plethora of articles about this time last year making the same claims about Larry Fitzgerald and we all know how that squabble ended.  The Boldin situation is different, but it still seems like a remote possibility that the Eagles land him via a trade.  I hope I”m wrong on this.

Another name that has been floated out there is Jason Peters—the disgruntled left tackle of the Buffalo Bills.  From a football standpoint, an aggressive move to get Peters makes a lot of sense.  He is already a Pro Bowl player and is verging on the status of perennial Pro Bowler.  If you are Donovan McNabb, you can”t ask for much better protection for your blind side.  But again, this seems unlikely to happen.  For starters, the Bills and Peters are currently talking.  Translated a different way, the discussions are not so sour at this point that the relationship is beyond repair. The Bills have also cleared significant cap space with the express purpose of keeping Peter happy.  It seems like Peters will get his money—just not with the Eagles.

I think it is far more likely that the Eagles use their picks to move up the draft board and get a guy they covet—perhaps a player like Brandon Pettigrew. 

So maybe the Eagles do have a grand plan and we are just all in the dark.  They are sitting at a high-stakes table right now and have as many chips as any of their negotiating partners.  But in this game, it feels like the Eagles are playing a fool’’s game.  After all, the house always wins.

Quick Free Agent Update: The Eagles signed Rashad Baker today from the Oakland Raiders.  He is a relatively small safety with solid coverage skills but questionable run support ability.  Baker is also the Oakland Raider safety that came up with the interception that sent the Eagles to the playoffs in 2008.

In addition to the news on Baker, reports have been circulating that the Eagles are interested in Leonard Weaver.  A few weeks back I mentioned Weaver as a potential target for the Birds.  He is a young fullback that is still developing at the position.  He was drafted as a tight end but moved to FB and has blossomed in the role.  He is not a potent lead blocker but definitely a capable one.  His best attribute is that he is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield—a nice weapon to have in the West Coast offense.  If the Eagles complete the deal, it’’s a solid move that adds versatility to their offense and some much needed help in short yardage situations.

Philadelphia Eagles fans are passionate, knowledgeable and blindly loyal.  It is that blind loyalty that is impairing the vision of many fans across the Delaware Valley when it comes to Brian Dawkins. 

Many want to quickly rush to his defense and chastise the Eagles organization for failing to resign the future Hall Famer and all-time Eagles great.  Few players in the history of this city have ever been as universally beloved as Brian Dawkins—so few players departures have stung quite so bad.

The reasons are obvious.  Brian Dawkins embodies everything this city craves in a professional athlete; namely he seems to get every ounce of potential out of his body through sheer effort.  When word came that the swirling rumors on his signing with the Denver Broncos were true, there was an uproar heard up and down the banks of the Delaware River.  Jeffrey Lurie, Joe Banner and Andy Reid were ripped to shreds for being cheap, incompetent and ruthless.

Few fans, if any, have criticized Brian Dawkins for being greedy.  The stark truth is that the Eagles offered Brian Dawkins a two-year deal.  The terms of that offer have not been disclosed but they did offer him the length he desired.  And it is not unreasonable to expect a home-town discount if you are the Eagles front office.  It was Brian Dawkins that made the choice to fly the coup for greener pastures (or in this case oranger).  I don’t begrudge him for making that choice; he is a smart businessman that made a business decision.  

It may turn out that the Eagles said some things in the negotiations that offended our beloved safety that caused him to spurn their offer.  But again I ask: is it the Eagles fault for dealing in reality or Dawkins’ for expecting to be paid for past accomplishments?  On the football field, Brian Dawkins is not nearly the player he once was.  As I have said before, he is still effective when used close to the line of scrimmage in run support and as a blitzer.  But flip that statement around and it means he is no longer effective in deep zones as a pass defender.  The Eagles constantly had to game plan around Brian Dawkins to hide his decencies.  Is that a guy that sounds like a safety that should be paid among the highest in the league?  I realize Dawkins’ value is more than just what he brings between the lines; it is just as much about what he brings between the walls in the locker room.  Leadership can only take you so far and it hasn’t led the Eagles to the promise land yet so they obviously made a personnel decision to go in a different direction. 

My intent is not to discredit what Brian Dawkins meant to this franchise and what he has accomplished thus far over his illustrious career.  In fact, to start of this column on Eagles free agency I wrote that I thought it was a foregone conclusion he would be back in an Eagles uniform next year.  I, like most Eagles fans, could not fathom Dawkins in another uniform.  But if players like Reggie White, Brett Favre and Joe Montanna can finish their career in different uniforms, we would be naïve to think that it can’t happen to Brian Dawkins.

The Eagles front office definitely shoulders some of the blame here—namely letting Dawkins get to free agency in the first place.  But Brian Dawkins was the one that put pen to paper.  Shouldn’t we at least question his role in this?

As Brian Dawkins likes to mutter in the tunnel prior to a game, “the time has come.”  Brian Dawkins is no longer a Philadelphia Eagle.  ESPN and the NFL Network are reporting that the Broncos have reached a 5-year deal valued at $17 million for the veteran safety.  The important number is that $7.2 million of that is guaranteed.

For the time being, I need to digest this and gather all of the facts before I share my reactions.  It goes without saying I am sad to see Dawkins go.

BIG UPDATE–DAWKINS A BRONCO: I can’t believe I am typing this, but Brian Dawkins just signed with the Broncos according to Sporting News.  Thanks to 215SportsGuy for the tip below.  More shortly.

It’s not secret that both myself and my brother are huge fans of Brian Dawkins.  He was the heart and soul of this football team and to see him walk is disheartening.  This past year, some were pointing to his diminishing skills as proof that he had nothing left in the tank. He responded with a trip to the Pro Bowl.  Has he lost a step?  Absolutely.  He does not have the recovery speed he once did and struggles in pass coverage on faster receivers.  But when put in the correct spots, there were still few better in this game.  As I mentioned below, nobody has a knack for timing the blitz quite like Weapon X and his play against the run was always excellent.

Why did it happen?  Obviously the Broncos were willing to give him more money and more years than the Eagles would pony up.  What we don’t know is if Dawkins provided the Eagles with a chance to counter the Broncos offer.  Given the timing of the announcement, it seems as though he did not—but that remains to be seen.  Either way, it is a sad day in Philly.  A day when we should be talking about the big acquisition of Stacy Andrews will instead be about the day we lost an all-time great in Brian Dawkins.

UPDATE: Sean Considine signed with the Jaguars.  He was a solid special teams player last season and has been told he will have the chance to compete for a starting job in Jacksonville.  I personally think he just wanted warmer weather.

UPDATE: The Eagles offered Brian Dawkins a 1-year deal.  He will test the market and see if he can get a multi-year deal.  Somebody will give him two, the question is: will the Eagles match it?  Another quick update here, reports have Dawkins on a plane to Denver for a meeting.

UPDATE: It is official, Kellen Winslow is a Tampa Bay Buc: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3939777&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

UPDATE: There are some early indications that the Browns have traded Kellen Winslow to the Bucs for draft picks.  Details to follow.  This guy would have looked good in an Eagles uniform if they could keep his attitude in check.  There have been no serious rumors tying the Eagles to Winslow but it would been nice to see them make an effort.

UPDATE: Reports have L.J. Smith nearing a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.  I don’t think too many Eagles’ fans are shedding tears over losing Smith.  He is the prototypical tight end in appearance but never quite lived up to his vast potential.  Will the Eagles be content with Celek as the primary TE?  My guess is if they are, they will get someone who can block to fill the void.

UPDATE: As soon as I finished writing this section, the Eagles appear to have signed Stacy Andrews–older brother of Shawn Andrews.  Will they still move on Jason Brown and insert him at LG and slide Heramanns out to LT?  It’s not out of the question.  In any case, I like the move.  Stacy Andrews is massive at 6-7, 342 pounds.  He is a better run blocker than pass blocker and it appears likely the Eagles will move him inside and slide Shawn out to play the RT spot.  This gives the Eagles a very powerful right side of the line—a line one would think would be ideal to run behind.  There are some injury concerns with Stacy.  He is coming off of ACL surgery and this deal surely is contingent upon him passing a physical.  Moving him inside to the guard spot should help mask any lingering effects from surgery as he won’t have to chase down speedy DEs all game long.

UPDATE: It looks like Correll Buckhalter has signed with the Denver Broncos.  He’s said all along if he had a chance to start he would leave.  The Broncos must have offered that.

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A lot has transpired in the last week in the NFL and specifically as it relates to the Eagles.  Here is a quick summary of what’s gone down and what it all means.

Will they let the veterans walk?

If history is any judge, it seems unlikely that Brian Dawkins or Tra Thomas will be donning an Eagles’ uniform next year.  Some call it ruthless, others call it shrewd—call it whatever you like but the Eagles have always been wary of signing aging veterans.  On top of that, the Eagles rarely let the players they want to keep hit free agency.  Last night at 12:01 a.m., Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas became the dreaded double-whammy—aging veterans that the Eagles let test the market.  Uh-oh.

And while history certainly does not seem to indicate these two players with a combined 24 years of service to the Eagles franchise will be back in midnight green, something tells me they will buck the trend just this one time.  For starters, Dawkins proved last year that if used correctly, he can still play at a Pro-Bowl level.  He may have lost a step in pass coverage, but he can still play the run with the best of them and his instincts on the blitz are uncanny.  But more than that, the Eagles cannot risk the PR disaster that would ensue if they allowed Weapon X to walk.  Few players in Eagles history have been as beloved as Dawkins and seeing him in an opposing team’s colors would be equally as unnatural as seeing Brett Favre sport a Jets’ jersey.  The guess here is that Dawkins will not test the open market and will come to terms on a deal in the next couple of days.

Big Tra Thomas is a more difficult situation to assess.  There is no doubt that the offensive line needs to be addressed.  Thomas is a known commodity for the Eagles that still plays at a high level.  But OTs are tough to come by on this market and Thomas may be tempted by the prospects of a big pay day.  The Eagles are unlikely to spend big dollars on Thomas so if he bolts, the team is left with an interesting quandary.  With both of last year’s offensive lineman without contracts, the Eagles would have some huge holes to fill.

I see this playing out one of two ways, the team signs 25-yeard old Jason Brown, inserts him at left guard and slides Todd Heramanns out to LT with Shawn Andrew moving out to the RT spot.  But I find this highly unlikely, that’s just too much turnover on one offensive line for a season.  Andy Reid always professes the importance of winning the battle in the trenches and this would shake things up far too much.  Looking at the market, it seems likely to me that the Eagles make an aggressive push for Jason Brown, insert him at RG and move Shawn Andrews out to RT.  They would then resign Thomas and keep the left side of the line intact.

Where will Donovan Get His Weapons?

In case you haven’t heard, Donovan McNabb allegedly requested additional weapons in a super-secret meeting with the Eagles’ front office.

If you believe this meeting took place, which I do, what are we to make of it?  McNabb has long been perceived as a player walking in lock step with the organization.  While controversy has seemed to find him, he has never been one to impose his will on the team (and sometimes a game for that matter).  This is a startling turn of events if it turns out to be true.  It’s a turn of events that I have no problem with.

McNabb has long been tortured with inept offensive talent surrounding him.  Names like Todd Pinkston and Charles Johnson are not soon going to strike fear into the hearts of any DB.  Yet Donovan continued to plod along, putting up productive individual and team seasons.  Why shouldn’t he ask for more to work with?  If Donovan held a press conference to voice his issues then I would have a major problem.  But he didn’t.  He had a closed door meeting that was supposed to remain between those involved.  What’s wrong with that?  At my work, I am empowered to talk to senior leadership on the direction of the company, the types of clients we should pursue and the people we should consider hiring.  It doesn’t mean they will listen but I can certainly voice my opinion.  Why should this be treated any differently?

So if the Eagles take Donovan’s request under advisement, where are they going to turn for help in this free agent market?  The talent is scarce meaning competition for what is out there will be fierce.  Will the Eagles make a play for TJ Houshmandzadeh or Lavernous Coles?  Could the possibly pull of a deal for Anquan Boldin or make a move on Marvin Harrison in hopes that he has something left in his legs?  Would they be so bold as to make an offer to a restricted free agent like Owen Daniels?  As you can see, questions abound and because the Eagles always play things close to the vest, answers are hard to come by.  One thing is clear: the Eagles could use an upgrade on the offensive side of the football.  We’ll see if fans and Donovan get what they want.

Three Eagles Tendered

As you probably saw, the Eagles tendered contracts to Hank Baskett, Nick Cole and Tank Daniels.  These moves were expected, not much to analyze here.

Eagles with $48 million to spend

As usual, the Eagles have plenty of money under the cap to spend.  And as always happens, fans will be up in arms when they don’t spend all of that money.  Let’s get it out of the way right now folks—there is not a chance in hell the Eagles spend all of that money.  First of all, with the way the current market is shaping up, they simply can’t spend that type of cash.  And before we are so quick to say the Eagles are cheap and unwilling to spend money, let’s check the facts.  The Eagles have made very large deals in recent years on the first day of free agency.  Do the names Jevon Kearse and Asante Samuel ring a bell?  The front office is willing to spend money, it may not be where the fans want it spend but they are not cheap by any means.

So what do you think about the start of free agency?  How will it play out?  Stay tuned for the latest developments.

My intention when I started this series of posts looking at the Eagles’ offseason needs was to look at every position and assess the depth of the Eagles heading into the 2009 season.  But with my attention diverted and the draft right around the corner, it is time to speed this process along.

Instead of taking a look at every position, I will instead hone in on where the Eagles have pressing needs and will likely look to make significant upgrades either through the draft or free agency.  If I had control over the franchise for the offseason, this would be my blueprint.

Needs in order:

1.) OT: Here’s the situation at the OT position: their two aging and long-time OTs are without contracts and their supposed replacement, Winston Justice, is so bad that the Eagles are attempting to trade him.  Think about that: a team WITHOUT its two starters from last year is shopping the backup-who was a second round pick drafted for the express purpose of replacing Tra Thomas.  Clearly that plan is not going to pan out so it’s time to go in a different direction. 

With Runyan on the shelf for 4-6 months with microfracture surgery, it seems obvious that the Eagles will sign Thomas to a 2-3 year deal.  He is still productive-particularly as a pass protector.  But that still leaves a big gaping hole at the RT spot.  There is a chance the Eagles could slide Shawn Andrews outside and plug either Max Jean-Gilles or Nick Cole in at the RG spot.  It’s also not inconceivable that the Eagles would move Todd Heramanns to the RT spot and use either Cole or MJG at LG.  Every scenario has its risk and in recent days, the free agent options have dwindled as well.  Jordan Gross resigned with the Panthers, and Vernon Carrey resigned with the Dolphins.  My hunch is the Eagles will wait to see how Runyan bounces back from injury and resign him to a two-year deal if the recovery seems to be going well.  If not, they will look to one of the two internal options presented above.  Either way, I expect the Eagles to take an OT with one of their two first-round picks to put the successor in place (assuming they keep them both).

2.) RB: You’ll notice that I didn’t say backup running back.   This is a two-back league and the Eagles need to use a two-back system.  Ideally, they would bring in a RB that has some size, fits their system and can provide some much-needed firepower in short yardage situation.  There are some solid options available in the draft, but two things make it unlikely the Eagles will go that route for immediate help.  The first is they almost never take a running back on the first day.  Andy Reid has shown a general disdain for taking running backs early and those backs that he has drafted have been disappointments with the obvious exception of Brian Westbrook.  For years the Eagles have been searching for a Westbrook compliment in the draft and have whiffed on names like Ryan Moats and Tony Hunt.  The other factor at play here is the Eagles’ window for winning a championship-it ain’t getting any wider.  Because of that, they can’t afford to take a risk on a late-round pick in hopes that they can come in and help right away.  Given all of these factors, I would like to see them go out and get Deuce McAllister.  He is not nearly the player he once was but he tips the scales at 236 pounds, is a solid downhill runner, an above-average receiver and a decent blocker.  He fits the Eagles system well and if they can get him for reasonable money I’d take a shot on him.  His durability is a question but with 12-16 touches a game he should be able to stay fresh.  Another name to consider here is Leonard Weaver of the Seahawks.  He is 26 years old and weighs 246 pounds.  That being said, he is listed as a FB, though he is not a traditional lead blocker type. 

3.) FB: I know most people would probably put WR or TE in this slot and that is definitely a defendable position.  While those positions are areas of need where the Eagles will most likely make a bigger splash, this is an area that MUST be upgraded.  The Eagles need a fullback in the traditional mold that can provide solid blocking in run situations but also double as a serviceable receiver.  I mentioned Weaver above, but I’m not sure he is the type of blocker this team should be looking for-especially if it adds a back like McAllister.  Instead, the Eagles should address this need via the draft.  One player I like is Tony Fiammeta out of Syracuse—and not just because his name has a lot of vowels like mine.  At 246 pounds, he has the size needed at the fullback slot but also has above average hands for the position.  The Eagles could easily get him on Day 2 of the draft and he would at least add someone to camp that has the ability to lead block for Westbrook on the few occasions the Eagles go to a traditional I formation or pro set.

4.) WR: I mentioned in a previous post that Philly is a WR-obsessed city.  Many fans pointed to the lack of a true #1 receiver as one of the primary reasons for the failure this past year.  I don’t subscribe to that philosophy.  The Eagles have a very solid group of receivers that together, offer a wide range of skills.  In fact, I would go so far as to say the Eagles wide receiving corps is in the top half of the league.  So while I do think they should address the position, it is not as dire as some will lead you to believe.  The obvious target out there is TJ Houshmandzadeh.  He does not provide the size the Eagles sorely need but his production levels can’t be questioned.  And let’s not forget, he produced his monster year this past season with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center.  As difficult as it would be to type his name on a regular basis, I’d love to see him in midnight green.   Even if the Eagles do make the big splash the fans crave, they should still look for a big receiver for situational purposes.  One player that might fit the mold is Kenny Britt out of Rutgers.  At 6′-4″ and 227 pounds he has ideal size for a red zone target.  There are some serious concerns about his attitude but hopefully those can be addressed at his young age.  It’s not like DeSean Jackson is devoid of any character issues…

5.) TE: The Eagles like Brent Celek at the TE position and he rewarded that faith with some solid play down the stretch last year.   But Celek is a woeful blocker and is a liability when asked to stay in and help protect McNabb.  And while Celek does struggle in blocking situations, there are very few upgrades available.  Jim Kleinsasser is one intriguing name the Eagles should consider.  He is massive for the position, weighing 273 pounds.  However, he is known mostly as a blocking TE and not much of a threat in the receiving game.  He does have decent hands though and can be a reliable target.  He is by no means a top-flight TE, but can definitely be a solid compliment to Celek.  I doubt the Eagles go this route, but it might be a shrewd move.  Instead, I expect them to stand pat and perhaps add a player in the draft.

Other Possible Areas of Need: DE, CB, FS, LB

Quick Note: I find it almost impossible the Eagles won’t resign Dawkins so I didn’t even go into the possibilities of finding a replacement.

So that’s my blueprint-albeit incomplete, for the offseason.  What would you do?

Sunday Smattering

Free Agency and Rumors:

• Lance Briggs re-signed with the Bears. The Bears quietly entered free agency with little indication as to what their game plan was. After all of the controversy around Briggs last season, the team managed to lockdown one of the game’s top young linebackers.
• Bernard Berrian landed with the Minnesota Vikings. The WR market started out slow this week, with most playing the waiting game to let Berrian set the market. Berrian is a very good receiver, but he lacks the ability to dominate a game. He has the speed to get vertical, but is limited in the red zone due to his average size. Nonetheless, this is a good signing for the Vikings and will add a legitimate passing threat (provided someone can get him the ball, but hey, Berrian is used to that) to their running attack.
• In the biggest signing of the early-period of free agency, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Asante Samuel to a six-year deal (more on this when we get to the rumors section). In addition, the Eagles added some firepower to their pass rush with the addition of Chris Clemons. As the Giants proved in the Super Bowl, a solid pass rush is the key to slowing down any quarterback.
• Justin Smith, considered by many as the top DE on the market, signed with the 49ers. While Smith is a solid player, I think the 49ers overspent to acquire his services. Smith is a classic example of a “right place at the right time” player. He received big money simply because viable alternatives on the market were scarce.
• With the Berrian signing out of the way, the rest of the free-agent market for WRs has begun to fall into place. Donte Stallworth signed with the Cleveland Browns. This is a good deal that will add depth to the Browns already solid receiving corps. Stallworth can stretch the field and is lethal with the ball after the catch.
• The Raiders signed Gibril Wilson.
• In an effort to shore up some holes on their offensive line, the Jets agreed to a deal with Alan Faneca.

There was certainly more moves made in the free-agent frenzy, but the above encapsulates the biggest moves thus far. For a full list, check out ESPN’s free agent tracker.

Rumors:

• With all this movement early in the free agency period, there still remains some intriguing storylines running through the league, not the least of which involves one Mr. Randy Moss. When the Patriots decided not to franchise Moss, it was widely assumed that the team had a deal in place that would be signed as soon as free agency opened. The move was peculiar at the time, because even if there was a deal in place, why not use the franchise tag to protect yourself in the interim? Well, the Patriots failed to do that and they may end up paying the price. Garry Cobb is reporting that the Eagles and Cowboys are the front runners to land Moss’ services after the Patriots. My gut tells me Moss will end up back with the Patriots, but he currently feels slighted that the team won’t pony up top dollar for his services. Teams have an opportunity to swoop in and offer a contract he might not be able to turn down-and you can bet those teams will answer the bell.
• As far as the Eagles are concerned, they have been aggressive in the early-going of free agency, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them take a run at Moss. But there has been no indication from the team so far that it is interested in acquiring Moss’ services. With the Asante Samuel signing, the Eagles have a plethora of options to work out. The most likely seems Lito Sheppard will be traded. Eagles fans are calling for the front office to use Sheppard as trade bait to acquire Larry Fitzgerald. The likelihood of this happening is minimal, because Fitzgerald carries a massive contract that should never have been signed in this day and age where the teams have all the leverage. Another scenario is to move Sheldon Brown to safety and keep Sheppard as the starting corner opposite Samuel. This would potentially give the Eagles the best secondary in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out. Stay tuned.
• There have been reports that the Vikings could make a run at Brady Quinn. With the multi-year deal signed by Derek Anderson, the Browns have a decision looming on the horizon on the future of their quarterback position. The Vikings might try to nudge them along into making that decision.
• The market for Javon Walker’s services appears to be hot, with as many as 10 teams in the bidding.

As many expected, the market for free agents was short, with most of the best players off the market in the early going. But plenty remains to be figured out.

Final Roundup from Week:

• Kansas exacted a bit of revenge last night by putting a beat down on Kansas State.
• Congrats on #800 Coach K.
• Get well soon, Coach Wooden.