The Eagles open training camp a week from tomorrow (for rookies and select vets)... the earliest camp open in the league. There should some really good position battles with some new faces on the roster and some players returning from injury. If the Eagles are able to stay healthy, and recover from the TO fiasco in the locker room, they are as talented as any team in the league despite their 6-10 record in 2005.

Here's my take:
QB - The job is obviously Donovan's, and he's 100% healthy and slimmed down some from previous years. I felt his increased bulk limited his escapability and may have also hampered his throwing some... we'll see. Jeff Garcia is the clear #2 guy, although Koy Detmer manages to stick around because of his role as a holder for FGs and XPs. Timmy Chang has no chance to make the roster.

RB - Brian Westbrook is #1 and Ryan Moats should be #2. Then things get interesting. Correll Buckhalter is returning from injury and would be a great complement (big back) to the smaller backs on the roster if he's healthy. However, Thomas Tapeh (a RB/FB hybrid) is also coming back from injury and could claim the big back role if he plays well and/or Buck doesn't. My guess is that Buckhalter will be let go because I've heard lots of buzz about Tapeh and none about Buck. Reno Mahe and Bruce Perry will battle for a final roster spot.

FB - Josh Parry, a former LB, has had the duties for the past couple years, but he's no threat to run the ball and only a slightly serviceable receiver. Thomas Tapeh is more of a triple threat at the position (blocker, runner, receiver), but he's coming back from a very serious injury and only saw limited time at the end of his rookie (2004) season. Stephen Spach, a UDFA tight end last year, has moved to FB to compete for a spot as well.

WR - Reggie Brown is the #1 guy, and that's about all we know. Todd Pinkston and Jabar Gaffney should be the next two in line, although it shouldn't matter who is #2 or #3 since they will both be on the field a lot in three receiver sets. Rookies Jason Avant, Jeremy Bloom, Hank Baskett, and JJ Outlaw, along with vets Greg Lewis, Darnerian McCants, and Justin Jenkins will be battling for roster spots and playing time. Look for Lewis to get the #4 spot because of his experience. Avant and Bloom will make the roster, with both contributing on special teams initially. McCants should get the final spot because of his contributions on coverage teams. Baskett and Outlaw could end up on the practice squad.

TE - LJ Smith and Matt Schobel will be the top two tight ends, with Mike Bartrum (long-snapper) serving as the third (emergency) TE. Andy Thorn and rookie Jonas Crafts will likely be cut.

OT - William "Don't Call Me Tra Anymore" Thomas and Jon Runyan are your starters, although Thomas's prospects are still shaky due to medical concerns. Rookie Winston Justice will get a lot of Thomas's snaps at LT while second year pro Calvin Armstrong will add depth at RT.

OG - Right now Todd Herremans and Shawn Andrews are the starters. Herremans was forced into action at LT last season as a rookie and so impressed that the staff wants him on the field at OG this fall. The back-ups are rookie Max Jean-Gilles, Adrien Clarke (who has improved a lot in his few years with the Eagles), and Scott Young (a second-year guy who earned rare praise from coach Reid). If Herremans can make the successful transition to OG, this is a very solid (and young) unit.

C - There's going to be a real battle here between longtime vet Hank Fraley and Jamaal Jackson. Jackson got playing time when Fraley was injured last fall and the running game immediately improved. Fraley is penciled in as starter again, but his hold on the role is tenuous at best. Third-year player Trey Darilek is a versatile and capable backup.

DE - The Eagles got very little pass rush from the end position as Jevon Kearse faced constant double teams last season. The Eagles signed veteran Darren Howard to alleviate this problem. The Eagles also have a healthy, and re-invigorated Jerome McDougle back after missing 2005 with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Second-year pro Trent Cole showed flashes as a rookie before wearing down late and Juqua Thomas, a journeyman type, round out the group.

DT - Mike Patterson was the only contributor a year ago, as the rest of the rotation underachieved. Patterson now gets the services of rookie Brodrick Bunkley to help out. Darwin Walker, Ed Jasper, and Sam Rayburn will be part of the rotation and could be challenged for time by youngsters Keyonta Marshall and LeJuan Ramsey. The duo of Patterson and Bunkley could really help improve the entire defense.

SLB - Dhani Jones has been playing the SAM, despite the fact that he's better suited as a WILL. Now he'll be challenged for playing time by rookie Chris Gocong, who will try to make the transition to the OLB position after playing DE and DT in college. The Eagles are excited about his progress and athleticism thus far. Greg Richmond has been hanging around the Eagles for a few years now and is starting to show signs of improvement. It wouldn't surprise me to see Gocong claim the starting role (if he plays well in camp) and Jones shown the door.

MLB - Jeremiah Trotter will man the position with assistance from backup Mark Simoneau.

WLB - Shawn Barber was reacquired in the off-season to man the position, which has been a disaster since he left. He's a placeholder until second-year man Matt McCoy can show he is able to play the position. Rookie Omar Gaither will add depth and contribute on special teams immediately.

CB - The Eagles return a healthy duo of Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard as starters. Nickelback Rod Hood will be challenged by Donald Strickland, who the Eagles picked up as a free agent late last season. Strickland played very well and is very underrated. Matt Ware will have his hands full just trying to keep a roster spot after failing to live up to expectations thus far.

SS - Michael Lewis is one of the best in the league and has a healthy second-year man in Sean Considine behind him. This should be a position of strength for the team.

FS - Brian Dawkins is clearly slowing down a bit, but he's coming down from a very big hill. He's still one of the better free safeties in the league. He will be supported by Quintin Mikell and JR Reed (if he's able to return from a freak nerve injury that all felt ended his career).

K - David Akers is back, healthy, and should be much improved over 2005. Any other kickers in camp will be just to carry the tees.

P - Dirk Johnson is healthy again from his hernia injury and should be the starter, although second-year guy Reggie Hodges will push him during camp.

From what I've heard Broderick Bunkley has been struggling in mini-camps thus far; Do you think he will start opening day?

It's hard to get a read on a player during a mini-camp. Sure, you can tell how quickly he's absorbing the playbook and understanding what the team wants done on defense, but there's no pads so we don't get to see his quickness, strength, motor, etc.

I don't know if Bunkley will start. Remember last year Mike Patterson didn't start opening day, but came in off the bench and had 7-8 tackles anyway. I don't think Patterson got a start until week 3 or 4 when Darwin Walker was gimpy. So even if Bunk doesn't get the start, he'll immediately be in the DT rotation and should make an impact (assuming he's in camp on time).

KFFL-

Eagles | Gaffney charged with unlawful possession of a handgun
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:17:00 -0700

Updating a previous item, The Associated Press reports Philadelphia Eagles WR Jabar Gaffney was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun following a traffic stop last month, county prosecutors said Friday, July 28. Prosecutors added Gaffney intends to apply for a program for first-time offenders that would result in charges being dismissed upon completion of the program.

It's a non-issue with Andy Reid, so I'm not worried about it. He had a license to carry the gun from Texas -- and thought that it was still good in Jersey, which it wasn't. It's his first offense and there's no reason why it would be an issue with him and the NFL.

The biggest stories of camp so far:

1) Hank Baskett is really opening some eyes and taking advantage of Pinkston, Avant, and Bloom missing practice time. He's making a real push to be a contributor on this team immediately.

2) Brod Bunkley is still a holdout. Andy Reid is not able to talk to him because his agent, Gary Wichard, isn't allowing it. Wichard is not making himself very available for negotiations with the Eagles either, which is irritating Reid and Co.

3) JR Reed was a promising KR and backup safety as a rookie a few years ago, but tore a nerve in his leg during the off-season following his rookie year. There were some who thought that he might have trouble even walking again because of the severity of the injury. Now he's wearing a special brace that allows him to run. He's getting rave reviews from his efforts (and performance) at camp.

I liked the way the Eagles looked in the Hall of Fame game . McNabb went 3 for 3 and a touchdown in the first drive, Reno Mahe showed some breakaway ability, but couldn't hold on the football, Roderic Hood had an interception against Aaron Brooks, Trent Cole had a sack against Robert Gallery, and David Akers looked like he returned successfully for injury last year. Koy Detmer and Timmy Chang looked horrible though ...

Yeah... the biggest things I will take from the game are the play of both lines and the return of David Akers.

Offensive line was dominant on that first drive. The interior line was opening large holes and Westbrook was able to run between the tackles without too much problem. Even if William (Tra) Thomas can't stay healthy, Winston Justice should be able to step right in.

The defensive line looked so much better with Darren Howard. They were able to get pressure from inside and out. Trent Cole looked bigger and, hopefully, won't wear down like he did last year. McDougle looked good too.

And Akers kick was huge. Not only was it a 55-yarder that went straight down the middle with yards to spare, more importantly, the holder was Dirk Johnson (and not Koy Detmer). Looks like Koy's time is ending.

Well... the Eagles are mentioned in the Ashley Lelie rumors, the Jerry Porter rumors, and then the Deion Branch rumors -- all of which they shot down. I guess they were looking, but ended up with Donte Stallworth (for Mark Simoneau and a conditional 4th round pick).

A decent move by the Eagles, as he's currently better than anyone else they have, but he isn't a #1 WR. The Eagles now have Stallworth and Brown, both solid #2 guys. Baskett is likely #3 and Lewis and/or Avant will be #4. Say bye-bye to Pinky and Gaffney (who never got it going in camp).

Doesn't seem like a bad trade at all. The Saints must have a lot of trust in all their young receivers. I'd take Pinky or Gaffney over Avant..

Avant has shown pretty well in camp and pre-season games so far. All us Philly fans know what we're going to get with Pinky (alligator arms when he's within 5 yards of a defender, sore Achilles tendons, and menstrual cramps in the Super Bowl), so we'd be more than happy to see him leave. Gaffney is an unknown so far. I thought he had potential when he was in Houston and was excited when the Eagles signed him, but he's done nothing so far (except get his name dragged through the media for carrying a handgun in his car without a valid license).

Looks like Josh Parry is a Seahawk now... Could you tell me anything about him?

Parry is a classic overachiever. He got cut (as a LB) by the Eagles more than a couple times before he switched over to FB and took advantage of injuries to Jon Ritchie. He's a hard-worker who is a decent blocker. He won't run the ball at all and is a marginal pass-catcher, but he should help open holes for the running game and is very solid on special teams.

Jwest- How are the Eagles doing in your opinion? Have they exceeded your expectations of them? I don't think losing Jevon Kearse will have a major impact on the defense this year, but what are your thoughts?

I expected the Eagles to be a very good team with a chance to win the NFC East or at least secure a Wild Card. So far they are living up to my expectations. I think they are the most talented team in the division despite the collapse against the Giants (a team they thoroughly dominated before the Eagles assumed they had the game won).

McNabb has played very well. Both lines are playing well. Stallworth has been a very pleasant surprise. The biggest disappointment has to be the play of the defensive secondary. Losing Lito Sheppard hurt, and then losing Rod Hood during the Giants game didn't help either, but the Eagles had no depth at that position. They cut a player (Donald Strickland) who I thought had a shot to be a good CB.

The loss of Kearse hurts a little, especially with the way he was playing, but the Eagles have a LOT of depth on the D-line. Now they'll still have Darren Howard, Trent Cole (leads the NFL in sacks), Juqua Thomas (playing well), and Jerome McDougle (was very impressive in camp prior to his injury). I think they'll still get pressure on opposing QBs, especially with the push they are getting from the interior.

I want to see Jeremey Bloom get on the field, why isn't he out there?

He's on IR if Im not mistaken. Wont see him this year.

That's correct. He had a hamstring injury all through camp and landed on the IR.

He wasn't quite ready for the rigors of the NFL yet, so the Eagles get to hang onto him and get him into football shape so he can be ready for the PR/KR role in 2007.

Jwest, what do you make of this Garcia-led surge...

They look like they can win the whole NFC with how well they're playing...

Top needs for the upcoming offseason...?

Garcia knows how to run the offense and the coaches aren't asking him to do things he can't do. He's given them a spark and has helped the O-line a lot. The biggest change has been the team's (read: Andy Reid and Marty Morninhweg) willingness to run the ball a lot more. If they keep the offense balanced and the defense plays the way they did against Dallas, then they're as capable as any team to win the NFC. I'm still a bit skeptical though--it's just the nature of an Eagles fan.

As for the offseason needs (in order of need):
CB - Rod Hood (nickel) is gone. Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard have been off an on (and Sheppard is injury prone). #1 need in my opinion
SS - Michael Lewis was benched. Sean Considine is OK, but nothing great.
OLB - Weakside was a disaster until they put Omar Gaither there. SLB is still a need (although they may still think Chris Gocong can play).
DE - Kearse is injury prone. Howard has been a bust. McDougle will be gone.
MLB - Need depth if they keep Gaither at WLB.
RB - Might need a big back, although Buckhalter has filled that role well.
FB - Thomas Tapeh has been OK, but the position could be upgraded.
TE - LJ Smith hasn't become the elite TE they expected (and he's injury prone).
WR - If Donte Stallworth is NOT resigned, then they'll have to watch this are.
QB - If Jeff Garcia bolts for a starting role somewhere, then they'll need to get a long-range project.
OL - They seem to be in good shape here, although they might draft OT for depth since William "Tra" Thomas is likely gone after this year.

eagles looking good this offseason. guess will see how things go in preseason

Here are my post-minicamp, pre-training camp assessments of the Eagles.

QB - Donovan McNabb appears to be progressing well enough to take part in training camp and start the season. Remember, he was having an outstanding season last year prior to his injuries. A philosophical change to the offense (Marty Morninhweg achieved better run/pass balance than Andy Reid did) should only help McNabb. Feeley will likely be the backup and Kolb should be #3. Unless he tears it up in practice, I see Holcomb getting the axe.

RB - Brian Westbrook is the best RB in the league that no one talks about. He touched the ball 320+ times last season and averaged more than five yards a carry. He's an outstanding starter and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. After him, things are a bit unsettled. Right now Correll Buckhalter appears to be the #2 guy, and he was very effective in limited time in 2006. If rookie Tony Hunt performs well (and he's been very good in minicamps), he could earn the #2 spot. Ryan Moats is on thin ice due and might be gone before the season starts.

FB - Thomas Tapeh is penciled in as starter, but he didn't excite much in 2006. Vying for his spot (or at least a backup role) are Jason Davis, Zach Tuiasosopo, and rookie Nate Ilaoa. I would love to see Ilaoa make the team and be the top FB. He fits the scheme perfectly because of his ability to run, block, and (most importantly) catch the ball out of the backfield.

WR - Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, and Hank Baskett are your starters. Despite rumors to the contrary, that's not a bad group. There's no "star" among them, but the Eagles offense spreads the ball around so much that there doesn't need to be. Look for Jason Avant and Greg Lewis to be part of the mix as well.

TE - LJ Smith just underwent surgery for a hernia, but should be ready to go for training camp. The Eagles have Matt Schobel as the #2, but I think his job is in jeopardy. Rookie Brent Celek can do everything he can do (and is cheaper) and the Eagles are very high on converted DE Lee Vickers, who has moved to TE and is doing well there thus far.

LT - William (Tra) Thomas is your starter once again. He had a solid 2006, but he is always an injury concern. Winston Justice appears to be primed to take over soon, although current LG Todd Herremans played the position successfully as a rookie.

LG - Todd Herremans has played both LT and LG effectively. Max Jean-Gilles is a stud waiting in the wings and could start if Herremans moves back to tackle.

C - Jamaal Jackson is the best center in the league that no one knows about. In just one season, he's established himself as the anchor of the line for a long time to come. Nick Cole backs him up and can play OG as well. UDFA Chris White could surprise.

RG - Shawn Andrews is young and talented. The team also likes Scott Young (can also play center) as a backup, although there is a marked drop-off from starter to backup.

RT - Jon Runyan had a great season, and is as durable as they come, although he is aging. Patrick McCoy is listed as the #2 RT, although I'd probably put Todd Herremans there first.

LDE - Jevon Kearse is healthy again, although he's frighteningly light (225 at minicamp?) and needs to get back up to about 240-250 again quickly. He's always an injury concern. Juqua Thomas is an excellent backup who can rush the passer and is decent against the run. Jerome McDougle likely won't be on the roster.

LDT - Mike Patterson is a very solid UT, but needs help against the run. He needs to play better in 2007 than he did in 2006. Montae Reagor backs him up, although he shares a similar skill set. LaJuan Ramsey is battling for a roster spot.

RDT - Brodrick Bunkley was a non-factor in 2006 and has to step up this year. Ian Scott provides nice depth and is a capable run-stopper as well. Rookie Jeremy Clark will battle Ramsey for a roster spot.

RDE - Darren Howard is your starter, although he was horrendous in 2006 and played a lot of DT as well. He has to play better in 2007. Trent Cole is an excellent pass rusher, but played too much early and disappeared as the season progressed. Rookie Victor Abiamiri adds nice depth here and will contribute this year.

WLB - This was a problematic position with Matt McCoy getting blown up by fullbacks and wide receivers in 2006. Omar Gaither slid over to provide some stability at the position at the end of the season. Now it's time for Takeo Spikes to add size and experience to the position. Rookie UDFA Akeem Jordan might surprise some and make the team as depth/teams.

MLB - Jeremiah Trotter was the only LB who could stop the run in 2006, and paid the price as he wore down. He'll get spelled more this year as Omar Gaither returns to MLB as his backup.

SLB - Chris Gocong took a redshirt last year and watched Dhani Jones disappear every play. Gocong will be battled early and often for his spot by rookie Stewart Bradley, a big, strong, athletic backer.

LCB - Lito Sheppard is a big play guy who will struggle against the bigger WRs (Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress) in the division, but plays well enough against everyone else to keep making the Pro Bowl. Dustin Fox has a ton of speed, but very little NFL experience behind him.

RCB - Sheldon Brown is the guy who flattened Reggie Bush in the playoffs last year. He's a physical corner who is excellent against the run as well. He's shaky at times in coverage though and will be challenged by William James (formerly Will Peterson) for a starting role. Joselio Hanson is listed as the backup, but he was bad in 2006.

Nickel CB - William James appears to be the nickel back, and he should be very good in the role. He's fully recovered from his injuries and is challenging for a starting role. Depth after the first three corners is very, very sketchy.

SS - Gone is Pro Bowler Michael Lewis, replaced by Sean Considine. Considine played the pass better than Lewis did, but is nowhere as physical against the run. If he doesn't have blockers to deal with, he'll be OK. Quintin Mikell (who also plays FS) re-signed with the Eagles and is a capable backup and valuable special teamer.

FS - Brian Dawkins is one of the best in the biz, and is the wise veteran of the defense. He's a step slower now and wears down more quickly, but is still a solid starter. Mikell is likely the first guy in at FS were Dawkins to go down. There are some young players vying for a roster spot (CJ Gaddis, Rashad Barksdale, Marcus Paschal) that all have nice potential but are quite green.

PK - David Akers. Enough said.

P - There will be an exciting battle (yes, exciting is the right word, even at this position) between incumbent Dirk Johnson (who wasn't all that consistent in 2006) and newcomer Saverio Rocca (an import from the world of Australian Rules Football). Rocca has the bigger leg, but no American football experience and has been inconsistent in minicamps.

All-in-all, the Eagles should be a much better team than they were in 2006 (and they won the NFC East last season). A healthy McNabb and an improved offensive philosophy, along with a solid WR corps and one of the best O-lines in the biz should keep the Eagles among the top scoring teams in the NFL. The defense was the weak spot in 2006 and appears to be improved in 2007. They have size at all of the LB positions so they should be able to stop the run better. Better play from the D-line will help the secondary.

In the NFC East, the Giants appear to have bettered themselves, especially defensively. Their success will lie in their ability to replace the multi-functional Tiki Barber, the blocking of the offensive line, and the maturity of Eli Manning. They will challenge the Eagles for the NFC East title.

The Dallas Cowboys still have a lot of question marks, although their defense should be amongst the best in the league with Wade Phillips bringing his version of the 3-4 to town. Offensively they have to see if Tony Romo can carry the team and if Julius Jones and Marion Barber III are able to tote the rock effectively enough (judging by the way Dallas was shopping Julius Jones, it's a legit question). This looks like a team within a game of .500 by season's end.

The Washington Redskins are a bit of an enigma. They have some very talented players, but they will not be able to keep pace with the likes of New York and Philadelphia.

An amazing analysis of the Eagles and the NFC East---I have done a game by game analysis of next year and my forecast is virtually the same as yours---1) NY Giants (11-5) 2) Philadelphia (9-7) 3) Dallas (8-8) 4) Washington (7-9) I agree 100% with your assessment with a slight bias for my wife's favorite team (NY GIANTS)--- thanks for listening--rich from newport

I still don't understand why the Cowboys get so much love. Yeah, they have a good defense, not great. I see them 9-7 tops. It wouldn't surprise me to see a toatal meltdown in Big D. Hey, the circus can only stay in town so long. I agree with the Redskins observations by and large. I don't see the Giants going 11-5. I think the Giants are an 8-8 team. That defense is really old and if you look at the roster they have zero depth. The Eli Manning team really hurt the team in that they didn't have much to show for a couple of years in the draft. And the one thing you can always count on with Plexico Burress is he will quit at some point in the season. I think any team in this division that can muster 10 wins gets it outright.

The Eagles are the most stable organization in the division and that's why it's been their division by and large for the last 6-7 years. The main concern I have is, can the very sensitive McNabb stay healthy and not let the all the talk about this being his last year get to him? I think the Eagles will have a better defense this year.

I think they have the inside track for the division.


Also, any specifics on why Ryan Moats is in the doghouse? As far as I can remember he had a pretty good rookie year. Did I miss something last year?
Is it attitude?? Work ethic?

That was my concern too, especially given the fact that the Eagles fans showed more love to Jeff Garcia in 1/2 a season than McNabb has been shown during his entire tenure. However, McNabb is reinventing himself a bit. I think he took the Kolb pick as a bit of a slap in the face. He's distanced himself a bit from the Eagles organization (no longer the Uncle Tom and company man that Terrell Owens correctly identified him as) and I think that's a good thing. He's dedicated to prove all of his detractors (even those in the front office) that he's still "the man."

Their biggest problem last year (and it was painfully obvious in both games they lost to New Orleans) was that they couldn't stop the run and at the end of games they couldn't get off the field. The Eagles were in position to win both games (1 reg season, 1 playoff) at the beginning of the 4th quarter, but the defense allowed the Saints to hold the ball for 9 or 10 minutes, running almost every play, and didn't give the Eagles offense a chance to do anything. But they're bigger at the LB position this fall, so they'll be better able to get off blocks to stop the run. They also should be better at the DT position with Bunkley taking football more seriously and Ian Scott and Montae Reagor joining the rotation. I still have questions about the secondary, but it all starts up front anyway.

It's primarily his football intelligence. He's had some real problems with understanding the playbook. He also has botched a few plays on special teams--fumbling as a returner, losing contain and getting out of his lane on coverage... Either he or Correll Buckhalter will be looking for a new job sometime this summer (Buck because of injury history and salary, Moats because of a failure to understand the Eagles offense and some injury history [concussions] as well).

I like the chances that the Eagles have to really revamp in 2007. They have always had a really great core of key players. I think their running game still needs improvement, and that's a coaching thing not a player thing. Because Andy Reid has GOT to learn how to keep the ball on the ground from time to time. Once you start throwing those short passes to the RB's, you expose yourself to being 1-dimensional, and Playoff teams are too good to be fooled. They just have to learn to keep the defense honest, and run time off the clock. Their T.O.P. sucks, and it has for a few years now.

The addition of Takeo Spikes might be the most influential addition to any team in the NFL this offseason. He really adds a lot of strength to their defense. Looking forward to seeing whether or not a couple of Florida State DT's can make a difference this year (Johnson and Bunkley).

Eagles defense is playing very well (6 TDs allowed in 5 games) even without the likes of Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard (injuries) and Jeremiah Trotter (released in pre-season). They've been solid up front due, in large part, to a big improvement in the play of DT Brodrick Bunkley.

On offense, they've been able to move the ball well enough. Brian Westbrook missed a game with an ab strain, but he's been money every other game. Kevin Curtis has shown himself to be a big-play receiver (when he can get off the LOS) and Reggie Brown is starting to come around slowly. The play of the line has been spotty, especially with a crucial injury to William (Don't call me Tra) Thomas. Shawn Andrews has been slow to recover from a pre-season injury and is not playing at a Pro-Bowl level. Donovan McNabb is throwing the ball extremely well and with much greater accuracy than past years. He just hasn't always had the time to make the throw and he's much less able to roll out or buy time on his own. TE has been a position of disappointment with LJ Smith missing nearly all of the season so far. Rookie Brent Celek has shown some great hands and playmaking ability, but his blocking is suspect.

Special teams has been a weak link (and they face Devin Hester this week!). From the botched PRs in week one that cost them a win against the Pack to inconsistent punting from highly touted Aussie Rules Football star Sav Rocca. The coverage teams have been mediocre and the Eagles returners offer no threat of big returns.

Even so, the Eagles realistically could be 4-1 right now. They handed a game to the Packers and were a couple plays away from wins against the Giants and the Skins. They're still very much in play in the weak NFC and if they get things together, could make the playoffs and win a game or two there.

I've got to agree with jwest on this one, the Eagles have been a bit unlucky and in a weak NFC any team that goes .500 or maybe a game better at like 9-7 will have a great chance of going to the playoffs. If teams like the Eagles and (as much as it pains me to say it) the Aints can get on a run of wins for the next few weeks, then they stand a great chance.

Eagles won't resemble a 'good' team until they get Dawkins back. Their defense and offense will still be suspect though. They need a WR and cutting Trotter was NOT a good move at all. The defense may not be allowing TD's, but they really aren't going to stop people and the offense just won't scare anybody.

Eagles just released LB Matt McCoy. As some of you draftniks remember, McCoy was drafted out of San Diego State the same year as his more heralded teammate, Kirk Morrison. What was surprising was that the Eagles used a second round pick on McCoy. What made that even more surprising was the fact that McCoy did not even receive an invitation to the Combine and wasn't on the radar of too many, at least not that high.

The Eagles have a tendency to think that they are smarter than everyone else, and will reach for a player that they don't need to. They'll ignore value and just say he was the highest ranked player on their boards at the time they drafted him. They do this time and time again.

Anyway, McCoy was terrible when given the opportunity to play. He really wasn't even all that effective on special teams, yet the Eagles kept him on their roster. Now they cut him because of a stupid penalty he took on special teams when he hit the Vikings punter. At least that is the story they are telling.

The truth is, the Eagles know they made a mistake when they drafted him that early, but they had to save face and keep him on the active roster. They'll never admit a mistake. It will take an incident like McCoy's to give them an opportunity, an out, a way to cut ties with a player and try to avoid the scrutiny of a failed decision.

It's a shame because there are some fantastic talented people in the Eagles organization, but the stubbornness that comes from the top down (Lurie, Banner, Reid) makes them look ridiculous at times.

So why not get something for him or does everybody know he's TRASH?

Everyone knows he can't play. Even the Eagles knew he couldn't play, but they didn't want to cut him before because then they'd have to admit they made a mistake drafting him so early. The front office must've been doing cartwheels when he drew the penalty for hitting the Minnesota punter late because they had a ready-made excuse for releasing him at that point.

Well, the Eagles continue to astound (and baffle) me. They placed the franchise tag on underachieving and oft-injured LJ Smith. That means that the team has offered him a one-year $4.5 million contract. Another team can still sign him, but would be required to give the Eagles two first-round picks as compensation (will never happen).

LJ Smith missed much of the 2007 season with nagging injuries, and some questioned how hard he rehabbed to return. Even when he was on the field, he was largely ineffective.

I guess the team looked at the slim pickings on the TE market for free agency and decided to stick with what they knew rather than bring in an unknown.

I personally loved Brent Celek last season as a receiver. Granted, he needs a lot of work on blocking, especially if the Eagles remain committed to running Brian Westbrook as much as they did in 2007.

I think LJ Smith will sign the franchise tender (he wouldn't have done much better on the FA market), and then play his tail off in 2008 to set himself up nicely as an UFA in the 2009 off-season. If he doesn't sign the tender, look for the Eagles to pull another Corey Simon move and hang onto him until the last possible minute and then cut him (after teams have already addressed their TE needs and spent the bulk of their cap money).

Hey, jwest, what do you think of the rumors of the Eagles making a deal for Larry Fitzgerald? I hear Reid has ordered as much film as he can get on him.

He's definitely the type of receiver they need, and I've been hearing some mention of the fact that the Eagles will be making a fairly large splash in free agency this year (a la 2004 when they grabbed Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens and subsequently went to the Super Bowl).

The thing is that it won't happen. Fitzgerald is just too big a cap hit for the Eagles. The only way it would work is if the Eagles were able to re-work the last couple years of his contract into a lengthy extension that spread the hit out some. But if that's going to happen, then Fitz will likely just stay in Arizona (where he's happy) and re-do his contract with the Cards.

The #1 guy I want the Eagles to go after in free agency is D.J. Hackett of the Seahawks. He's an emerging star in this league. He's the big, physical receiving threat (and redzone threat) that the Eagles need. He's going to garner some interest and make it hard for Seattle to re-sign him, but he won't break the bank like Randy Moss or even Bernard Berrian will.

Hackett would be a very good player if he could stay healthy.

I know what you're saying about the contract situation. However, what if Fitzgerald actually wants out of AZ? He is essentially in the driver's seat here. His present contract ties the hands of the Cards, and he knows it. I'm not sure he doesn't want out...otherwise, the contract issue would be a lot closer to being worked out, if not already done. A player like him could change the look of the NFC East.

I actually think the Cowboys are in for a down year this year. Just a hunch, but between what should be a tougher, 1st place schedule, TO's drama, the pressure now on Romo after the loss to the Giants and the whole Mexico thing, the front office and coaching defections, and the status of the HC & OC, not to mention a maverick owner who thinks he's a great GM, and I see the perfect scenario for a huge meltdown. The Eagles and Giants are going to be tough again, and the Redskins might be, depending on how Zorn does putting the team together. IMO, right now, I think it's a toss up between Philly and the G-men for the NFC East...and someone like Fitzgerald could tip the scales depending on the the other moves and the draft each team makes.

So Jeff,

If the pick were being made tomorrow, who do you think the Eagles would take?

Cards have stated they'll carry him this year whether or not they can get a new deal done. He will not be traded.

Leodis McKelvin.

There's a rumor flying around that the Eagles are shopping Lito Sheppard. The Eagles, of course, have denied the rumor, but there may be something to it. They're already a bit short at the CB position though, with William James as their nickel and Joselio Hanson as their dime guy. There's some concern that I think the Eagles will be VERY active this off-season.

Eagles may be interested in pursuing Gibril Wilson in FA, and there are several good reasons this may come about...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/2008..._at_safety.html

gcobb.com has announced the Eagles have a done deal with NE CB Assante Samuel. While reading the article their web site went down, so I can't give you anymore info. I guess they have a bandwidth problem or something, because I can't get back in.

It has been reported on ESPN that the Eagles have agreed to a deal with CB Asante Samuel!!!!

The NFL network is reporting the Eagles have reached agreement with FA DE Chris Clemons of the Raiders.

There is renewed talks between Arizona and Philly concerning WR Larry Fitzgerald, as the Cards are unable to get him to renegotiate his contract with them. His contract situation has already cost them the opportunity to sign Faneca.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/.../0301cards.html

From what I heard, the Eagles offered Lito Sheppard and their second round pick to the Cards for Larry Fitzgerald. Eagles have denied this, but I think it might be true. The Eagles made a play for Randy Moss (who, admittedly, was using them to get an offer from the Pats). The Eagles actually offered a better contract to Moss than the Pats did, but he wanted to stay in NE.

There's some talk that the Eagles may offer their #19 pick and Lito Sheppard to the Pats for their #7 pick. The Pats want Lito Sheppard and probably aren't too interested in hanging onto the #7 pick because of the risk and contract size. Should the Eagles move up, they'd be able to grab Ryan Clady.

I'd take that!...Let's just do it, Jeff.

The only problem there is the rate which Clady has jumped up on many teams draft boards. He very well may not be there at 7. If this trade goes down, it will have to be a draft day trade, where the Eagles know for sure he's there. Now the question becomes, can both the Eagles and Pats wait this long to make this deal?

The Eagles can. Worst case-scenario for them? They hold onto a Pro-Bowl CB who has a very cap-friendly contract and their own #19 pick.

Thanks Adam Scheffter! LOL, No thats some quality info there, where do you find stuff like that out?
Also just to let you guys know, if the Raven's take Brohm at 8, or even in round 2....I'm converting to an Eagles fan....