Pro Bowl vs. Picks?

Here’s what I don’t get about some NFL teams. June was a restricted free agent. A team that signed him gives up their number one pick.

 

Why wouldn’t a team in the last third of the 1^st round - #21-32 be willing to give up their pick for a pro bowl LB? An unproven college player vs. a guy that is one of the best at his position? Why don’t more teams with low draft picks go after guys like this?

 

 

From ESPN.com:

Three-year veteran Cato June, the former college safety who became a Pro Bowl linebacker in 2005, has signed his one-year qualifying offer with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal is worth $1.573 million.

	June

A restricted free agent, June received the middle-level qualifying offer from the Colts in March. That all but precluded his departure in free agency. Any team signing June to an offer sheet would have owed Indianapolis a first-round draft choice as compensation. The period for teams to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets ended on Friday night.

It will be interesting to see if the Colts now pursue a long-term deal with June, who could be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring unless he signs an extension.

The Colts have a history of not overpaying at the linebacker position. In recent years, Indianapolis has allowed three starting linebackers -- Mike Peterson (2002), Marcus Washington (2004) and David Thornton (2005) -- to depart as unrestricted free agents. The Colts' personnel department, in each case, was able to locate suitable replacements.

June, 26, is a self-made player. He was a sixth-round choice in 2003 who overcame not only his low-round status but also a change of positions, and turned himself into a Pro Bowl performer. The former University of Michigan standout played primarily on special teams as a rookie in 2003, and then moved into the starting lineup in 2004, after Washington's departure.

 

Jackson would be selected in newest mock draft.

SI’s newest mock draft is out and it has the Eagles, once again, taking Florida WR Chad Jackson.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/don_banks/04/04/mock.draft4.part2/index.html

 

Really, with the first ten players pretty much set – just the order to be decided, the Eagys’ choices are pretty much narrowed down to these four players: Jackson, Brodrick Bunkley, Ernie Sims, and Winston Justice. Who they take will be entirely dependent on which of these players remains after the Rams, Browns, and Ravens pick ahead of the Eagles.

Why the Phillies Stink

 

Paul Hagen has a great series going in the Daily News articulating and exploring why the Phillies hav sucked so bad for so long.  Here is the link from yesterday:

 

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/14266597.htm

 

and today:

 

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/14275328.htm

 

David Montgomery's own words are the best indictment.  The leadership at the top is THE problem.  Some very interesting tidbits and quotes though.  Great reading for Phillies fans, but it makes you want to jump off a freakin' bridge.  I am going this afternoon to watch us reach 0-3.  And again on Saturday as we strive for 0-5.

 

i believe it is the ownership that has run this franchise into the ground. This group – first Giles and now Montgomery – have been more focused on getting a new stadium and having someone else pay for it than anything else over the past 15 years. Now these charlatans are shocked – shocked! that more fans won’t come to games just to experience the ballpark though the team has been mediocre for a generation.

 

April is the Cruelst Month for Phillies Fans

Rich Hoffman's article today hit the nail on the head with respect to the Phillies’ disastrous start and the two week window in which the Phils have to turn it around or the season is probably lost. If anything, Hoffman understates the crisis given the Phils’ April history.

 

 

 

It is, quite simply, not possible to overstate the importance of April baseball.

 

It is, without question, the mos important month of baseball, with the possible exception of September.

 

Who you are as a  team in April almost always defines who you are as a team in August and September. Through the wonder of Google, I just found the baseball prospectus site that keeps game logs for every single season. From

1987 through 2005 -- exempting '95, since there was no April baseball that year -- the Phillies have had just five seasons in which they played above .500 baseball in April.

 

Not surprisingly, in those 18 seasons, 19 if you include '95, they've had just five winning seasons of baseball.

 

Two classic examples of recent bad April baseball vintage, and how those Aprils destroyed our seasons.

 

In '02, the Phils went 71-64 for the final 5 months of the season, according to Baseball Prospectus. Not bad, not great, but decent enough that had they just gone 14-13 in the month of April they'd have won 85 games for the year

and been in the hunt for the wild card.

 

Not so. They went 9-18. Won 80 games for the year.

 

In '04, they went 76-65 in the final five months of the season. Their 10-11  start meant that they won just 86 games, rather than 90.

 

Bad starts mean bad seasons. The Phils last year had that amazing homestand where they went 12-1.

 

Do you realize what their record was after winning 12 out of 13 games?

 

36-28.

 

They were so many games below .500 that winning 12 of 13 only put them at 36-28 and they were still in 2nd place behind the Nats at the time.

 

Without further adieu -- hide your eyes or hit the delete button if you don't want to see the horror -- here are the last 18 Aprils in Phillies history:

 

'87: 7-13

'88: 7-12

'89: 11-12

'90: 10-9

'91: 9-12

'92: 10-12

'93: 17-5

'94: 9-14

'95: n/a

'96: 13-11

'97: 8-16

'98: 12-13

'99: 11-11

'00: 7-17

'01: 14-10

'02: 9-18

'03: 16-12

'04: 10-11

 

I don't have the numbers for '05, they weren't up on baseball prosepctus, but I sure know we had a sub-.500 record. I know, because we all went to that Nats-Phils game at RFK in late April and we spent the entire game bitching.

Eagles 2006 Schedule

 

Note Christmas night game is IN DALLAS not Philly as previously reported.

 

Three straight division road games in late December. Are you kidding me!??!?

 

Also note home night games vs. GB and Carolina. TO’s return to Philly is October 8.

 

Home opener vs. the GIANTS!!!

 

Home game on New Year’s Eve!

 

Late bye week this year.

 

 

Sep 10@Houston1:00pm

 

Sep 17N.Y. Giants1:00pm

 

Sep 24@San Francisco4:15pm

 

Oct 2Green Bay8:30pm

 

Oct 8Dallas4:15pm

 

Oct 15@New Orleans1:00pm

 

Oct 22@Tampa Bay1:00pm

 

Oct 29Jacksonville1:00pm

 

 Week 9BYE

 

Nov 12Washington1:00pm

 

Nov 19Tennessee1:00pm

 

Nov 26@Indianapolis1:00pm

 

Dec 4Carolina8:30pm

 

Dec 10@Washington1:00pm

 

Dec 17@N.Y. Giants1:00pm

 

Dec 25@Dallas5:00pm

 

Dec 31Atlanta1:00pm

Peter King Knows What He's Talking About

PHILADELPHIA -- Nowhere do people love pro football like they do here. Nowhere. I hugely respect the fans of Green Bay, Washington, Denver, Oakland, New England, New York/New Jersey, Cleveland and Dallas. The fans in Green Bay and Cleveland are almost as fanatical as the fans in Philly. I don't say any of this to demean the truly passionate places around this passionate league. I say it to emphasize how much this city hurts this morning.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/peter_king/01/19/mmqb/index.html

Peyton Manning comparison

ya know, it's become very fashionable to beat up Peyton Manning cause he hasn't won 3 SBs like Tom Brady. I'm really getting disgusted at the way alot of people, the Sports Guy in particular, are jumping on the bandwagon and picking on him. the question i have is why are they so obsessed with manning and criticizing him?

 

in some respects the analogy to marino is unfair to marino. manning at least has some great offensive weapons in harrison and james. Can you even name a starting RB on the Dolphins during Marino's career there? A TE? A WR besides the Marks brothers?

 

to a certain extent i think this infatuation with the notion that only a championship can validate a player is rather silly, especially in such a team-oriented sport such as football. it's the michael jordan effect.

 

besides it is still too early to fully judge manning's career. the conventional wisdom of john elway was he was a great QB that couldn't win the big game, at the tail end of his career he wins 2 SBs on the back of Terrell Davis and vs. the Falcons...the Falcons! and all the sudden he's locked into the the first tier pantheon (i think he was regardless).

 

Is the best analogy Tom Brady: Troy Aikman as Peyton Manning:Brett Favre.

 

remember when the Pack couldn't get past the Cowboys in the playoffs in the mid 90s and where that scheduling quirk had them playing a regular season game in dallas each year too, which they lost. Favre those years had great numbers - he and Faulk were perennial fantasy top picks, but the knock was he couldn't win the big one. couldn't get over the hump. finally did when the Boys got a little old and the Pack finally got to the play the playoff games in Lambeau instead of that damned crowned field in dallas. all manning needs to do is get over the hump once and play the jan. games in the rca dome and not in -15 weather in foxboro.

 

WRs?

A friend writes:

 

Good god, someone’s going to get  A STEAL in LenDale White. One bad workout, and he’s falling off the charts.

Reminds me of the time Warren Sapp plummeted in the draft and word spread it was because of a failed drug test. Later turned out that it was just pot. Christ, NFL drafters are the stupidest people on earth.

If we draft a wide receiver, you can rest assured of one thing: he will never amount to anything.

We have the worst, the worst wide receiver coaches in all of football. In the entire Reid Era, not a single receiver we’ve drafted has ever improved. None, no improvement at all. A guy like Thrash, who we acquired via free agency, completely lost his career in two years with us.

My advice: DO NOT DRAFT A RECEIVER.

New Mock Pick - WR Chad Jackson

Newest SI mock draft has the Eagles taking Florida WR Chad Jackson – with this explanation: Giving the Eagles USC offensive tackle Winston Justice would make sense, too, even though they re-signed veteran tackle Jon Runyan. But it's hard to see Philly's offense matching up with the likes of their NFC East rivals without a No. 1 receiver who can at least compare to Terrell Owens, Santana Moss and Plaxico Burress.

 

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/don_banks/04/04/mock.draft4.part2/index.html

 

Previous projected pick Ernie Sims moves up 2 places to #12 – taken by the Browns and the earliest projected Eagles pick, SC RB LenDale White has fallen to 29 after a disastrous workout on the USC campus.

Sleeper Sims?

Riffing off an earlier post tied to a Paul Zimmerman article that says Ernie Sims could be a sleeper first round LB pick, it is fair to ask “how much of a sleeper?” and “does Dr. Z read his own publication’s mock draft board?”

 

According to the most current SI mock draft, Ernie Sims would be the 2nd LB taken (by the Eagles). AJ Hawk would be the first LB taken. How much of a "sleeper" is that? Other LBs taken in mock 1st round are Greenway (Iowa, 23, bucs), Bobby Carpenter (Ohio st., 25, giants), and DeMeco Ryans (Alabama, 28, Jax).

 

So according to SI, Sims is such a sleeper that he is the 2^nd LB taken, well ahead of three other prospects who supposedly are in front of Sims in some personnel evaluations.

 

Perhaps Sims is the kind of talent – small but quick – the Eagles prefer at LB over these other names? No one says. (And then there is the terrible thought of Eagles fans that Sims is this year’s Matt McCoy, an undersized but speedy LB project who can develop, eventually, into a starter.)

Ernie Sims

 

NFL personnel quote on possible eagles pick

 

OK, Mr. A, could you please give me one sleeper, a guy who's not projected near the top of the board but might slip in?

"Ernie Sims, outside linebacker from Florida State. I see him listed as the fourth- or fifth-best linebacker on some charts. He's a lot better than that. An undersized guy with tremendous athletic ability."

Eagles - Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Thank you Mr. Hofmann for perfectly capturing the fans’ current frustration. You could have added the bizarre Jon Runyan situation to your list of examples.

 

After losing out on LeCharles Bentley, fans thought re-signing Runyan would be a priority. Given the Eagles’ current surplus cap status, you would think that structuring the deal with added bonus money or an extra million in base salary (what’s it matter, they’re so far under the cap they won’t be able to spend it all) just to ensure the continuity on the line and send a message that the Eagles don’t discard team leaders over pennies would be a no brainer.

 

Yet the Eagles let Runyan visit the Jets. Why? Were they letting him test the market so he could see for himself his true value? Did the Eagles not think he was worth what he was seeking? Had the Eagles determined that his skills had deteriorated and he was part of the offensive line’s problems last year? The point is, as you pointed out today, we don’t know. Heck, we still don’t know the answers to some of these questions even after he’s now re-signed.

 

The Eagles have been masterful in managing their salary cap, but sometimes – in cases like Jon Runyan – the Eagles front office gives the impression that they are hardball negotiators whose bottomline is the bottomline. What else are we to think? The Eagles won’t tell us.

 

How 'bout them 'Boys

Just another reason to hate the Cowboys and their fans.

They're such Bandwagoners!

Look Beyond Reggie Wayne

With soon to be free agent Colts WR Reggie Wayne on the tip of every Eagles fan tongue as the cure for what ails the Eagles receiving corps, perhaps everyone should look a little deeper at other soon to be Colts free agents that could improve Eagle deficiencies in other areas - specifically defense.

To wit, LB David Thornton and DE Raheem Brock (who the Eagles drafted in the 7th round 4 years ago and then let walk after using up all their draft cap money) both of whom are free agents this off season.

and while we're at it, why not add pro bowl RB Edgerrin James to the wish list - he too is a free agent.

Golden Boy

interesting that on the NFL website's play-by-play recount of the Pats-Broncos game that the ONLY play not listed in the log is NFL golden boy Tom Brady's backbreaking, game changing INT to Champ Bailey. See for yourself here.

Now why is that the ONLY play missing?

TO Trade?

Bob Brookover breaks the story today that the Eagles might not release Terrell Owens outright, but might trade him, with the two teams expressing interest as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NY Jets.

The turn of events isn't as outlandish or far-fetched as it might seem, save for the weeks of reporting that concluded the Eagles were (had?) to cut TO after the season, but before the March 1 $5 million roster bonus is due.

The move obviously makes sense for the Eagles - they can salvage something - anything even a single late round draft pick for a player they were going to release anyway. (the salary cap hit to the Eagles is going to be the same either way).

From the Jets or Bucs perspective, a trade gets them an impact (though certifiable) player without a bidding war for his services (if there is a market). More overlooked is the fact that Owens' contract for a new team is somewhat cap friendly, especially for a team trying to minimize their downside on Owens. An $8 million one-year deal ($5 million roster bonus + $2.5 million signing bonus + $770,000 base salary) isn't a bad deal for a player of Owens' talent and volatility.

One of the remaining questions, though, is why sports reporters failed to grasp the trade possibilities. Chalk it up to sports reporters not comprehending one of the most important, but overlooked aspects of pro sports - but especially the nfl - the salary cap and financial implications and permutations of player salaries and signing bonues.

Helix High

Only one college team has ever had players selected #1 overall in back to back years (USC's Ron Yary and OJ Simpson). If Reggie Bush is the first pick in 2006 I think it would mean that Helix High School (San Diego) is the only other school to ever have alums selected #1 overall in consecutive years (Alex Smith). Can you think of any other high school that might have accomplished this feat?

I mean, what are the odds of a high school laying claim to this when only one college has ever done it?

Hello 2006

Rich Hoffman proves once again why he and Phil Sheridan are the best two sports columnists in the Philly with an insightful and succinct summary of the Eagles' 2006 need -- making sure McNabb does not fail. Between the lines is the root of this year's trouble, and an ominous warning for the team if next year McNabb stumbles. Great stuff.

Also, here's hoping Brad Childress gets the Minnesota head coaching job..or one of the others now available. It will allow the Eagles to promote offensive genius Marty Mohrninweg to the post of offensive coordinator. Mohrninweg was the brains behind the high-powered Niners' offense with Young and Rice ( and a young TO). Giving him more input into the game plan and play calling, without the layer of Childress, can only be a good thing.

Also, check out the Kalu stories about the disruption TO was. Pulling the curtain back, it is now becoming clear exactly HOW Owens was a distraction (at best) and a cancer at worst.

Are you kidding?

Bob Brookover can't be serious when he suggests that Josh McCown, Kurt Warner, or Jeff Garcia would be better backup QBs for the Eagles than the current players.

Is that a joke?

He points out that McCown is a free agent at the end of the season. True enough, but he's a starter now. Is he going to sign with Eagles to be the backup? Please.

As for Warner and Garcia, Brookover must not have seen them recently. Garcia's been terrible and has been benched in Detroit. I'll say that again. Garcia can't even start for Detroit. And Warner, like Garcia, has nothing left in the tank.

Give me Koy Detmer any day over the last two guys.

Wish List

Bob Ford takes his crack at the positions in which the Eagles need to improve and puts a little holiday spin on it with a "wish list" title.

The usual suspects are all here-- better backup QB, yardage eating RB (and not Buckhalter), an upgrade at LB, and an impact player at WR.

Two of his positions though caught my eye. Punter - maybe the beat writers know more about Dirk Johnson's injury then they are reporting, otherwise I don't understand why this is on there. Johnson had complications from his sports hernia surgery and was lost for the remainder of the season. He's a good punter when healthy. But why is there an assumption that he either might not be healthy or reliable next year? Is this a cause for concern about McNabb's hernia surgery?

The other position Ford lists, actually leads with, is defensive end. He's not the first to urge an upgrade at D-end. But here's my question about that. You're stuck with Kearse for the foreseeable future given his contract and the salary cap hit the Eagles would take in unloading him. On the other side is rising player Trent Cole.

So where and who would you get at defensive end? Are you going to platoon 3 ends? Is Kearse not going to play every down? Is someone new going to start over Cole? How much more can you afford to invest in defensive end given how much you've already got wrapped up in Kearse?

I understand Kearse has been a disappointment, and part of the reason why people want an upgrade at this position, but it seems to me that the financial reality - and Cole's encouraging play - is such that this is probably one of thee last areas the Eagles will significantly upgrade. I've seen John Abraham's name floated out there, but are the Eags really going to pony up the cash to land him, a premier free agent, when they have other pressing needs (ie, LB).

It's also why I've been arguing for an upgrade at defensive tackle more than end. My opinion is that Kearse will be better if the Eagles could get more interior pressure or push.

Also, if you want to take the long view, the Eagles really screwed up by not going after Ogunlye when Miami wanted to get rid of him. But that horse has left the barn, and now plays in Chicago.