More Draft

Riffing off of my brother’s point, with so few spots open on the Eagles roster and 7 picks, why wouldn't you trade 2 picks for a proven player.

 

Would the Eagles 2nd and 5th rounders to get Denver  middle LB Al Wilson? Your 5th rounder might not even make this team - regardless of what position they are - so essentially you are "drafting" a proven NFL starter with your 2nd round pick. If the Eagles 2nd round pick this year started immediately who wouldn't take that deal?

 

I like either Spikes or Wilson, both are proven players. And LB is one of the few positions that the Eagles really don't evaluate talent really well (McCoy, Jones, Richmond, Wayne, Gardner, and this list goes on).

 

I just don't see how they draft any interior linemen on the offensive or defensive sides. if they, do it would likely be a wasted pick.

 

I would like to see a couple LBs taken and hope one of them hits (though chances are they won't be starting much this year) - indeed, we're hoping Gocong who is projected as a starter after having taken everything in this year won't be a total bust.

 

I would like to see a safety or two as heir apparent to B. Dawk. In fact, i think at #26 in the first round the Eagles could grab just such a player/position.

 

Oddly, i wouldn't mind seeing a D-end. I presume McDougle will be cut. But i'm a little leery of relying too much on Kearse this year after he's had three ligaments reattached (ACLs are always a 2 year recovery. you can get on the field in year 1, but it isn't till year 2 where you regain past form). That leaves only Cole, Thomas, and Howard.

 

Take a flyer on some WR with speed in the late rounds. And, of course, a big back to get tough short yards.

 

Also should probably look at picking up a TE in case they can't resign LJ.

 

Looking back, why in the world did they waste a draft pick on QB Andy Hall? i mean, did they really think he could make the team?

 

What i also like about the Eagles is that they are willing to trade a later pick to move up in the earlier rounds if they see a guy they really want (Andrews).

 

i presume they'll take best available at 26, as long as it isn't a lineman. i also like they're very forward thinking picks. Everyone questioned why they were taking 3 DBs (Lito, Brown, Lewis) when they already had 2 pro bowl CBs - but they knew exactly what they were doing and they moved seamlessly from replacing 2 pro bowl corners with 2 other pro bowl corners.

The Draft

From my brother –

 

are there 7 open spots on this team?

 

The top 5 from last year couldn't sniff the field.  I assume they still think all or most can play so that eliminates OL.  With Kearse/Howard/ThomasCole + Reagor/Patterson/Walker/Bunkley is there any DL room + Lajuan Ramsey from last year (I imagine Rayburn and McDougle are gone).  If you take a receiver then is Lewis gone?  You're not getting rid of Avant and Baskett yet.  As for DB - you have James as the nickel so you're really looking at dime DB and w/ Mickel re-signed you're looking at maybe a 4th safety.  I'm for upgrading plenty of places, but when you talk 3/4/5/6 rounders - I just don't see how many/any can even dress on Sundays.  These are good problems to have.

 

 

The more you look at it you look like you should draft 5 frickin' LB's and hope 2 work out

 

 

Burrell in Times?

Pat Burrell gets a shout out in the NY Times op-ed section!?!?

Jaws In, Theismann Out

Theismann is terrible as the color guy. Adds little, tends to state obvious, uttes useless clichés, and then often contradicts himself during the same telecast.

 

The fact that he was able to hold one of the premier sports telecast jobs, with the premier sports broadcast channel, for the nation’s foremost sports league for so long speaks volumes about the sad state of sports announcing in this country.

 

Honestly, we all could do a better job than Theismann. I really think one of the networks should take the sports guys advice and pair a professional play by play guy with two regular fans – one from each of the teams playing – and see how it works out. Maybe things are significantly different when the red light goes on, but it certainly would be an interesting experiment.

 

 

 

 

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Lineup change for 'Monday Night Football'

 

 

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - ESPN is changing quarterbacks. Joe Theismann will no longer be part of the network's "Monday Night Football" booth and will be replaced by Ron Jaworski, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. "This new lineup will enhance our presentation of 'Monday Night Football,' our most important property," Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president for studio and remote production, said Monday. "Ron has covered the NFL from many different perspectives, and he is totally tied into the issues and trends from around the league." Theismann, a former Washington Redskins quarterback, will be offered another analyst job with the network, Williamson said. Jaworski is known for his studio analysis and ability to break down game tape for viewers. He will join play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico and analyst Tony Kornheiser in the booth. Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will handle sideline reporting. NFL games on Monday night moved from ABC to ESPN last season.

 

so far, so good?

 

ESPN looks at Eagles off-season so far, and likes what it sees for the most part.

 

“The Eagles have some holes, but overall, are in awfully good shape for this time of year,” says the Worldwide Leader.

 

Um, does this mean Stallworth will not be coming back?

I must admit the Stallworth signing does now puzzle me. Basically it's a
$3.6 million, one year contract. I can't believe the Eagles wouldn't
have paid $4-5 million for a one year deal with him. I read that
rosenhaus did not give the Eagles the chance to match and that
Stallworth became upset at the Eagles initial offer (supposedly they
made one).

Losing LB Fowler is also a blow. What the hell is it with the Eagles and
announcing deals prematurely. Last year it was LeCharles Bentley. This
year it's Fowler who now looks like he's going to the Titans.

C'mon!

phillies payroll

The Inquirer published the Phillies 2007 payroll yesterday (see excerpt below).

 

Looking at it causes so many things to come to mind. Among them, why don’t all players hire Pat Burrell’s agent, at $96 million the Phillies can’t be called cheap anymore, four of the team’s best players’ salaries combined don’t equal burrell’s (Myers, Hamels, Utley, Howard), with all the projections as the Phillies a favorite to win the East this year Gillick was really wrong when he suggested last year they couldn’t compete till 2008.

 

Garcia, Lieber, Myers, Moyers, and Hamels isn’t a bad rotation as long as Garcia can eat innings – and if they don’t trade lieber for bullpen help.

 

Looking at the money they still Thome, when was last time the Phillies signed a big-time free-agent to a big-time contract that worked out for them.  Pete Rose?

 

Without Howard's contract, the projected payroll stands at about $95.66 million. Here's how it breaks down:

Pitchers (12 pitchers worth $48.43 million). Freddy Garcia ($10 million), Adam Eaton ($7.875 million), Jon Lieber ($7.5 million), Tom Gordon ($7 million), Jamie Moyer ($7 million), Brett Myers ($5.25 million), Ryan Madson ($1.1 million), Geoff Geary ($837,500), Antonio Alfonseca ($700,000), Cole Hamels ($400,000), Fabio Castro ($383,000), and Matt Smith ($380,000).

Catchers (two catchers worth $2.88 million). Rod Barajas ($2.5 million) and Carlos Ruiz ($380,000).

Infielders (six infielders worth $19.54 million, not including Howard). Jimmy Rollins ($8 million), Chase Utley ($5.5 million, plus perhaps $1 million of a $2 million signing bonus), Wes Helms ($2.55 million), Abraham Nunez ($2.1 million), Ryan Howard (unsigned), and Chris Coste ($385,000) or Greg Dobbs ($385,000).

Outfielders (five outfielders worth $19.31 million). Pat Burrell ($13 million), Aaron Rowand ($4.35 million), Jayson Werth ($850,000), Karim Garcia ($700,000), and Shane Victorino ($410,000).

Other (1). Jim Thome ($5.5 million).