WR help?

In advance of the final cut downs, three names caught my eye on the list of WR released this week. Troy Edwards, Darnerian McCants, and Peter Warrick. All have pro experience, and the Eagles should be familiar with McCants' abilities having played against him twice a year for four years now. Warrick isn't available yet, but is expected to be released shortly.

All of which is to say, there are some WR available to the Eagles right now, and probably a coupe of more recognizable names next week when teams cut down to 53 players. If they want to try to add some depth to the receiving corps. Now adding a power RB to the backfield, that is a whole different story.

Westbrook the Winner in Simon Slash?

By removing the franchise tag on Corey Simon, the Eagles have opened up $5.1 million worth of space on this season's cap. I would say its even money that this savings is applied to a contract extension for Brian Westbrook. With that kind of room, the Eagles can give him a signing bonus and, more importantly, load up this year's salary for cap purposes - a win/win for Westbrook and the Eagles. Westbrook gets up front money, the Eagles efficiently use their cap space, and the Eagles protect themselves down the road by reducing the future potential cap hit by loading up this year's contract rather than putting all the cash in the form of a signing bonus.

The other incentive for the Eagles is to send a locker room message. Westbrook wasn't happy, but he played ball. He signed the tender (he had no choice) and came to camp and played. He's been a model teammate. Just like the contract extension the Eagles gave Pinkston several years ago while dealing with the unhappy Duce Staley, I certainly expect a similar reward to B. Westbrook in the wake of the Simon parting.

Sayonnara Simon

Wow. The Eagles just don't mess around with disgruntled restricted free agent players, particularly disgruntled players. The whacking of Corey Simon is eerily similar to the cutting of Jeremiah Trotter several years ago. Even the timing of the action seems planned to put the player at max disadvantage. With Trotter it was after most of that year's free agents had been signed by teams and few had the cap space to make an offer. With Simon it comes as teams have made their second to last round of cuts and hard choices on rosters will be made on Monday as teams struggle to get down to the 53 man squad. Anyone interested in pro bowl caliber d tackle?

Vegas still likes the Eagles with the TO turmoil

Last week, I referenced an ESPN online poll about
what the general fan thought the Eagles should do about TO.
I dismissed it as rather meaningless, but giving the sense
of where public opinion and support lie.

There is another "opinion" poll that matters a little more,
if for no other reason than the opinion makers
are putting their money where their mouths are - The Vegas lines.

A friend suggested after TO was suspended that perhaps
a profitable wager opportunity may have presented itself
with the turmoil and uncertainty TO's camp suspension
had dealt to the predictions of the Eagles returning to
the Super Bowl. Indeed, three years ago the Eagles' odds
sank like a stone after McNabb broke his ankle
three years ago. But alas, I checked the online sites and
the Eagles' odds - amazingly - do not seem to have
budged.

These odds are from last Tuesday night, before TO successfully
(it appears) returned to camp Wednesday  morning. And by the way,
honestly, ESPN really is treating this entire situation like th OJ trial.

I mean ESPN is becoming just like Fox, CNN and MSNBC when
they get a story and just beat it to death with 24/7 coverage. Mike and Mike
ESPN radio morning show broke into their programming at 8:49 am to
get a live report from Sal Pal about the TO/Andy Reid meeting and the
fact that Reid walked onto the practice field at 8:46 and Owens
followed two minutes later. I kid you not.

Anyway, according to the "site" the Eagles and the Colts are the
favorites among ALL NFL teams to win the Supe. That's to win, not just
get there. They are both at 5 1/4 -1. The Pats are 5 1/2 to 1. The next
closest is the steelers at 13-1. (the skins are 40-1).

The Eagles, obviously then, are also the prohibitive favorites to win
the NFC Championship. They're a little more than 2-1 favorites. Next
closest are the Falcons and Panthers at 6-1, followed by the Vikings at
7-1 and then the rest of the teams are more than 10-1.

This year, something new, you can pick the division champs. Here the
Eagles are prohibitive, prohibitive favorites. They are 1-5 favorites.
That's right. Risk 5 to win 1. Cowboys are next favored at 5 1/2 to 1,
then the skinnies at 7-1 and the Gints at 8-1.

The People Have Spoken...the Bastards

The viewer poll run by ESPN last night could not have been comforting to TO or Drew Rosenhaus. More than 150,000 participated and 50% preferred TO and the Eagles part ways by selecting either one of the two poll options: traded or cut. 42% preferred status quo and only 8% thought the Eagles should renegotiate TO's contract. This poll, like all polls, doesn't mean a thing to the principals involved, but it does give a sense of where the public's sentiment is with regard to the TO vs. Eagles' management battle. Decisively on the Eagles' side.

Giving TO the Sports Guy Treatment

My brother and I were talking this weekend about the whole TO ordeal. We were trying to figure out the end game scenario-- how does this end? Trade? Being waived? Suspended?

I brought up the Sports Guy's (Page 2 of ESPN.com) suggestion on how to deal with the sulking Vince Carter when he was in operation shutdown in Toronto. TO craves the spotlight. How great would it be if the Eagles said after the next TO outburst - "you're too much of a distraction. We're going to put you on our practice squad. We'll pay you the money owed on your contract this year, but you're not welcome at team meetings, functions, etc." Wouldn't it kill him to not be the center of attention? After three weeks eveyrone would have moved on.

Eagles management just seems ballsy enough to do it. What could TO do? What could the players' union say? From the reports I've seen, a lot of the players are tired of his antics. And he is not helping his cause by ripping McNabb. #5 is the undisputed leader of the team. 4 TDs on a broken ankle. 3 championship games without TO and with the likes of pinkston, thrash and na brown.

We'll see how this goes when he returns on Wed. How many teams would trade for him at this point when he appears to be on the verge of a complete mental and emotional meltdown? Peerless Price for TO? Jerry Porter for TO? TO for Ricky Williams?

Players don't have to like each other to play well. And TO is basically going to have to perform since he's essentially in a contract year when the eags cut him after the season. But the Eagles hold the ultimate penalty card in dealing with TO.

Steelers' game initial thoughts

So the first 3 minutes of last night's game was TO's wet dream. But the rest of the quarter was OK. McNabb looked good. Reggie Brown looked really good. Heck, even Billy McMullen looked ok.

Ryan Moats looked like he might be even quicker than Westbrook. Still concerned about this offense's ability to smash mouth their way to 3 yards when they really, really need it, but I guess at this point that's what you are getting with Reid's offense. 3rd and short is a passing down.

Special teams was a disaster. That steelers return guy just ensured himself a spot on the team, right? As my brother said to me last night (and which the Inqy makes several references to today), who'd a thunk that Ike Reese would have been the biggest loss of the off season.

TO is on the brink, but if he were to pull a Hines Ward then maybe his season with the Eagles can be salvaged.