Bleeding Green Nation

Offseason Free Agency Guide - Part 1: Quarterbacks

2010-02-09T20:32:56Z

Now that the Super Bowl is over and the 2009 season has officially ended, we can finally start to seriously consider the free agent market. In less than a month, the trading/free agent signing period will begin, so the Eagles front office will have to decide who they plan to pursue come March 5th. Over the next few weeks at BGN, we will be taking a position-by-position look at who we could see in an Eagles uniform come training camp. The first (and by far the most controversial) position on the block is quarterbacks.

With at least one of the three starting-caliber Philadelphia quarterbacks likely to leave via a trade or free agency, the Eagles should be in the market for an experienced backup. The pickings are slim this year, but here are a few players that the Eagles might consider:

A.J. Feeley- A reliable backup in Philadelphia for many years, the 32 year old Feeley will be an unrestricted free agent after a one-year stint with the Carolina Panthers. With Josh McCown returning from IR, Jake Delhomme locked in an insanely high contract, and Matt Moore stepping up in the final weeks of last season, chances are high that Feeley could be the odd man out next month. And hey, it's not like the Eagles haven't brought him back before. It might be time for a third stint from Mr. Feeley.

J.P. Losman- After a successful run with the UFL's Las Vegas Locos, Losman was picked up by the Oakland Raiders late in the 2009 season and signed to a one year deal. If Al Davis declines to offer him a new contract, the 28 year old Losman will become an unrestricted free agent. The former Buffalo Bills starter might not be the happiest to be relegated to the #3 quarterback on the Eagles roster, but considering his high TD-to-INT ratio (33:34), he'll be lucky if he reaches a #2 position on any team's depth chart. That being said, Losman has shown flashes of reliability, so the Eagles could at least give him a shot at handing the ball off to LeSean McCoy should every other quarterback on the roster go down.

Patrick Ramsey- The former Redskins first round pick may be moving to a new team for the fifth time in five years. After not playing a single snap for the Tennessee Titans or the Detroit Lions this season, the 30 year old Ramsey could find himself in search of work come March 5th. Sure, he has only has a 10-14 record as a starter, but he has kept a decent QB rating (74.9) over his eight seasons. Just don't ask him to run in for any touchdowns, though. His lifetime rushing average in 47 attempts is 1.8 yards with a sickening 28 fumbles. This is clearly third-string material here.

Other Available Free Agents-

Jason Campbell (RFA)
Kyle Orton (RFA)
Chad Pennington (UFA)
Matt Moore (RFA)
Kellen Clemens (RFA)
Chris Redman (UFA)
Tarvaris Jackson (RFA)
Josh McCown (UFA)
Jeff Garcia (UFA)
Kyle Boller (UFA)
Mark Brunell (UFA)
Daunte Culpepper (UFA)
Charlie Batch (UFA)
Bruce Gradkowski (RFA)
Brodie Croyle (RFA)
Rex Grossman (UFA)
Charlie Frye (RFA)
Matt Gutierrez (RFA)

In the next installment, we will be taking a look at halfbacks. Feel free to leave any suggestions on who to examine in the comments section.

The Linc - Kendra hasn't taken Hank's loss well

2010-02-09T15:01:52Z

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Stan Hochman: Friends, loved ones pay final respects to Brookshier | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/09/2010
THE HORSE in the hotel lobby. How many memorial services inside the century-old First Presbyterian Church in Ardmore, before someone told a story about a horse in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel? Pat Summerall was talking about Tom Brookshier's zest for life yesterday. "We had dinner in New York," Summerall said. "And we were asked to leave.

Free Stallworth for the Team that can Stomach Him - Field Gulls
Despite the fact that he killed a man, I have a feeling Stallworth's return to the NFL won't generate the outcry that Michael Vick's did.

Peyton Manning storms off Super Bowl field. Is he a poor sport? - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Peyton Manning(notes) didn't shake hands with New Orleans Saints players after his Indianapolis Colts lost 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. Apparently some think this is a sign of poor sportsmanship from the NFL's greatest player. It's not.

The Kendra Wilkinson Upset | TMZ.com
After her husband Hank Baskett dropped the ball on a game-changing onside kick -- arguably blowing the Colts' shot at the Super Bowl -- new mom Kendra Wilkinson left the Super Bowl looking visibly upset.

Crying is only acceptable when you win the Super Bowl.

Westbrook: "No question" McNabb will be back

2010-02-08T20:19:59Z

More photos » Matt Rourke - AP

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In an uncharacteristically candid interview, Eagles RB Brian Westbrook said he thought there was "no question" that Donovan McNabb will be the starting QB for the Eagles next year.

"I think there is no question in my mind if Donovan will be back. After what he was able to do last year which he had a very good year of course. Everybody measures, a lot of fans measure by Super Bowls. Did you win the Super Bowl and you know? Realistically there is only going to be one team out of thirty-two to win the Super Bowl every year and it is hard to do that. I don’t think that you can measure whether a quarterback can be successful or not whether he was a Super Bowl or not. If you look at this football team with Donovan and without Donovan I think you would be hard-pressed to say that there was better quarterback in the league than Donovan McNabb for Philadelphia Eagles."

Anyone who has watched Westbrook at a press conference or read one his rare quotes to local media knows that the guy just isn't the type to speak at length. This interview was actually done by his former teammate Blaine Bishop. Westbrook also spoke at length about everything he's learned about concussions in the past year.

The interesting thing is that Westbrook himself is hardly assured of a place on the team next year. In fact, if the Eagles did decide to move on from McNabb they may very well do the same with Westbrook and complete the "youth movement" 100%.

Where Vick Will Go: The Breakdown

2010-02-08T15:54:20Z

So, as we've already done with McNabb, it's time to breakdown where Michael Vick might end up.

Maybe I didn't make it very clear last time, but my thoughts on distinguishing landing spots for McNabb and Vick is simple. I see three largely distinct groups of teams looking for quarterbacks this offseason. There's the group who should be interested in McNabb: contenders who just need a good QB to put them over the top (e.g. MIN, ARI, SF). There's the group who should be looking to the draft: teams rebuilding long term (e.g. STL, CLE, SEA). And then, somewhere in between, there's the Vick group: those that don't have the time or don't want to fully rebuild, and are in some way desperate for attention (e.g. BUF, JAC, OAK).

This is definitely reductionist. For example, St. Louis might decide, as has been recently rumored, that Vick is a good bet for their franchise. Or Buffalo might want to go get McNabb instead. These are basic categories for who most likely will be interested — and you can definitely disagree with me.

But while we're here, let's define the Vick category a little better:

Not Blowing Up and Rebuilding: I would be shocked if someone like Pete Carroll traded for Vick. He has the luxury of a few years to rebuild his team the way he wants — and can therefore take the time to develop his own QB. Whatever team takes Vick has to be looking to win now.
Not a Contender Either: Arizona will not be risking their Super Bowl chances on the play of a quarterback who hasn't played in two years. Unlike McNabb, Vick isn't the last piece in the puzzle (and he may never have been).
Franchise Uncertainty: Trading for Vick is inherently risky. The cost might not be very high for him, but he hasn't started an NFL game in two years. Are you willing to risk your job on his performance? To some degree, the front office and/or coach is going to have to feel pressured to make a bold move and have something happen right away. Any team with the time or confidence to rebuild slowly won't be looking at Vick.
Desperation: This is what I think highlights the Vick-chasers most. Vick has maybe always been more hype than hero, and after two years away from the game that is definitely the case. He still can be an exciting addition to a team looking to return from obscurity — or just attract more fans.
Need a QB, and Maybe Don't Want to "Try Again": Kind of obvious, but this team can't be set at quarterback. However, I think that they might be more likely contenders if they've already been burned once with a QB. San Francisco and Oakland fit that bill — both having tried and failed with #1 overall picks.

So that's the basic outline we're talking about. Desperate, attention-seeking, uncertain, middling teams. Who, per the rumors about Vick, fits this bill:

Oakland Raiders: Oakland was rumored to be interested last year, but Vick (or Tony Dungy) supposedly turned them down. Vick is everything Al Davis loves — speedy, flashy, big arm. And having already been burned by JaMarcus Russell, trading for a starter makes more sense. Of course, little Oakland does "makes sense." Then again, that may be a mark in their favor.
Buffalo Bills: Could be interested in McNabb, but the team reeks of desperation to me. They're trying to stay relevant while rumors swirl about a move away from upper NY (See: move for TO). New coach who probably won't be around long enough to mentor a new QB could be interested in Vick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: As I already talked about, the Jags could be an ideal spot for Vick. David Garrard hasn't wowed anyone, and everyone knows that their biggest problem is attendance. They have to get a game-changer this offseason to reverse that trend — whether that's Tim Tebow or Michael Vick.
San Francisco 49ers: I still think they're more likely McNabb suitors, but if Mike Singletary likes Vick and wants to work with him, don't count this out.
St. Louis Rams: Apparently there's been interest, but I think Spags would be better suited continuing his long-term rebuilding plan.
Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks: Other teams with new regimes and long-term strategies. See above.
Carolina Panthers: Also mentioned them with McNabb, but this could be John Fox's last year. If he doesn't want to tie his future to Matt Moore, Vick could be an option.
Miami Dolphins: I know some people suggest this. Not likely. Chad Henne is their guy. (This also goes for DET, TB, KC)
Washington Redskins: If they weren't in the NFC East, I'd say Daniel Snyder's team would be in hot pursuit.

The takeaway: it's tough to tell who's really interested in Vick and who'd be willing to send a conditional pick for him. If the Eagles are forced to drop him before his bonus comes up then a lot of teams could be inquiring. Ultimately, though, I think the Jags take Tebow and either Buffalo or Oakland send something to the Eagles for Vick.

Thoughts?

Follow me at www.mcnabborkolb.tumblr.com — come get all your latest news and analysis on the Eagles Offseason QB Clusterf%$k™.

The Linc - Volkswagon wins!

2010-02-08T11:54:57Z

It wasn't the best year year for super bowl commercials, but I thought this Volkswagon ad was the best. Honorable mention to Google and the Bud Light T-Pain autotune ad.

15 observations: Baskett, Payton and more | Philly | 02/07/2010
The play you will remember when you think about this Super Bowl 20 years from now is the onside kick to start the second half. With the Saints trailing 10-6, Sean Payton decided to gamble, and of all people, it was Hank Baskett who could not handle the kick. New Orleans recovered and went 59 yards for the touchdown to take a 13-10 lead.

Goodell: NFL to mull ban on 3-point stance | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/08/2010
No more three-point stance? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says it's possible. Concerned about concussions, Goodell said the league would keep looking for ways to make the game safer. Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation" hours before the Super Bowl, he didn't rule out the idea of banning the three-point stance for linemen to reduce the ferocity of collisions at the line of scrimmage.

Ashley Fox: Brees passes; Manning fails | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/08/2010
It was the mistake that halted all talk of legacy and supremacy for one man, and brought immortality to the other.

Super Bowl Commercials: Liveblogging The Reason This All Happens - SB Nation
SB Nation's Spencer Hall offered his thoughts on the real reason Super Bowl Sunday is so celebrated: the commercials. This year's theme: men in their underwear.

Roger Daltry, Who not happy with performance - ESPN
The Who's frontman Roger Daltry didn't really care for his experience singing at halftime of Sunday's Super Bowl. Daltry, who doesn't hide the fact that he isn't a fan of American football, thought the whole idea of singing a medley of classic rock songs in 12 minutes at halftime of a sporting event "a little strange." "It didn't even feel like a concert," Daltry said. "It's a television show. And what can you do in 12 minutes?"

3 teams ask for mcnabb CLE DEN BUF

2010-02-08T10:11:05Z

3 teams ask for mcnabb CLE DEN BUF

Report: Cleveland, Denver And Buffalo Eyeing McNabb

February 8, 2010 | Last Updated: 2/8/10 12:45 AM ET | Comments (15)

To follow up on ESPN's Adam Schefter's report that "multiple teams have called Eagles to inquire about their three QBs," Schefter's colleague Sal Paolantonio discloses the identity of three teams who have had discussions with the Eagles specifically regarding Donovan McNabb - Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo.

The Browns will likely be tied to the Eagles because of Andy Reid's close relationship with new president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. Cleveland has Derek Anderson, a Pro Bowl quarterback in the 2007 season who has not been able to duplicate that season's performance, and Brady Quinn, a former first-round pick. The Browns were 5-11 in 2008 as Quinn led the team with 1,339 passing yards, but he threw just eight touchdowns with seven interceptions. Just to note, the Browns have the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Broncos proved how the NFL season is a marathon and not a sprint in 2009. After a 6-0 start, the Broncos missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Last off-season, the Broncos traded Jay Cutler for a bevy of draft picks and quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton passed for 3,802 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 62.1 percent of his passes in 2009. Denver had the league's 20th-ranked scoring offense in 2009. The Broncos will have either the 10th or 11th overall pick (subject to a coin flip with the Jaguars) in this year's draft.

Buffalo is interesting because the Eagles have spent the early portion of their off-season acquiring former Bills coaches in new special teams coordinator Bobby April and senior assistant/defensive backs coach Dick Jauron. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards split the quarterback duties for the 6-10 Bills, who ranked 28th in the league with 16.1 points per game last season. It will certainly be up to new general manager Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey to chart the path for the organization. Buffalo has the ninth overall pick in the draft.

Superbowl XLIV Open Thread

2010-02-07T22:00:34Z

More photos » =220100344Name= - AP

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Superbowl XLIV is finally upon. It's a matchup of two of the best quarterbacks in football leading two of the best offenses in the leauge. It certainly has all makings of an exciting one, but it has a lot to live up given how good the past few Superbowls have been.

In addition to this thread, we're also running an SBNation league wide open thread over at SBNation,com. So if you're looking to chat about the game with fans and bloggers of other NFL teams that could be a fun scene to check out.

Here's to us winning it all in Dallas next year! Wouldn't that be sweet?

The Superbowl Linc

2010-02-07T18:00:21Z

More photos » Morry Gash - AP

12 days ago: A large NFL football Super Bowl XLIV is seen along the beach Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Our fellow SBNation bloggers have been down at the Superbowl all week. Here's a sample of what they found.

Manning's Great, But He's Not the Best - Front Office Fans
Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Is he really as dominant in football as Michael Jordan was in basketball though?

Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice Among Seven Selected To Pro Football Hall Of Fame - SB Nation
On Saturday, seven new entrants to the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced. The 2010 class: Emmitt Smith Jerry Rice John Randle Rickey Jackson Russ Grimm Dick LeBeau Floyd Little

Who Dat Nation Annexes Vegas - SB Nation
For the record "Who Dat" is why I'm rooting for the Colts today.

Dang, Super Bowl Players Get Paid How Much? - SB Nation
Super Bowl I featuring the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs saw the players on the winning team take home $15,000. The losers received a check for $7,500. My how times changed.

Stampede Blue has a beer with Peter King: Part I - Stampede Blue
Stampede Blue sits down with Sports Illustrated's Peter King to talk about blogging.

This is probably the closest I will ever get to that trophy. - Arrowhead Pride
A Chiefs fan gets tantalizingly close to the ultimate prize. (Hint - not Kim Kardashian.)

Saints vs. Colts: A SuperBowl Victory Hinges on Saints' Ability to Contain Dallas Clark - Canal Street Chronicles
Saints fans seems to have this figured out.

Snoop Dogg At Super Bowl XLIV - SB Nation
Snoop Dogg is in South Florida but it’s not for Super Bowl XLIV. I’ll give you one guess. He’s here for… The partying.

Terrell Owens: 'I'm Changing My Name To Ocho Uno' - SB Nation
All week, Chad Ochocinco has been lobbying to get Terrell Owens on the Bengals. And at Ochocinco's mansion party on Friday, Owens acknowledged his efforts

"Multiple" teams interested in Eagles QBs

2010-02-07T17:48:46Z

"Multiple" teams interested in Eagles QBs

Adam Schefter (who, by the way, knows that Chris Mortensen is wrong about everything) is reporting that there are multiple teams contacting us about our QBs. Who knows, maybe we can play them against each other and get even more value for whichever QB we decide to trade.

"I believe that if they’re in the game Sunday and they need to drive to win the game, he’s going to ...

2010-02-07T17:12:26Z

"I believe that if they’re in the game Sunday and they need to drive to win the game, he’s going to do it. I don’t think the game’s going to come down to that. I think they’re going to be so far ahead that people are going to say, ‘Oh, ho-hum, he played a good game, they won by two scores, the Colts won their second championship.’ He’s going to have those rings Sunday night. I don’t think it’s going to be close."

According to Tony Dungy, the superbowl won't even be close.

Oh yeah, the Superbowl is today

2010-02-07T11:00:26Z

More photos » J. Pat Carter - AP

"We'll have to play hard to win." "Well shucks, You took the words right out of my mouth!"

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It recently dawned on me that I've barely even thought of the Superbowl the last couple weeks. Judging by a lot of the comments and fanposts, neither have a lot of you. There's a few things that have conspired to create our indifference to the biggest TV event of the year.

First, there's been Eagles stuff to talk about. As anyone who has read this site, posted on any message board, or listened to any local sports station knows... the "McNabb question" has had us fairly preoccupied.

Second, it's pretty boring run up to the big game. While the Colts and Saints are both really good teams who could make for a good superbowl, neither team is particularly interesting off the field. As we know, the off the field stuff is where the pre superbowl sizzle usually comes from. Both teams are led by fairly stoic and business-like quarterbacks. Peyton Manning flashes some personality in his billion commercials, but gives pretty standard answers in press conferences. Drew Brees can approach Andy Reid levels of boringness.

It's funny to think how fun these last two weeks may have been if the Vikings and Jets were the two teams who had advanced to the big game. Both are loaded with interesting characters and big personalities. Of course, neither of those teams are probably capable of putting on the show the Saints and Colts are capable of.

Finally, indifference to these type of events is in our nature as Philly sport fans. As far as passion for our local teams, this is hands down the best sports city in America. However, beyond our own teams... we never seem overly interested.

All that said, we only have about 12 hours of pre game shows before we actually get to watch this thing... So WHO YA GOT?

Poll

Who wins Superbowl XLIV?

The Linc - Can Leonard Weaver get an amen?

2010-02-06T20:00:24Z

More photos » Carolyn Kaster - AP

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NFL players take stage to sing in Miami gospel concert - 5-Minute Herald - MiamiHerald.com
Regardless of his singing prowess or lack thereof, Weaver and several other NFL players sang at the 11th Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Friday night at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. Part of the proceeds from the concert went to support the One Team 4 Haiti campaign. ``It's a blessing to be here,'' Weaver said. ``This shows character of who we are, I think, as an organization in terms of the NFL and its players. It shows we care more than about ourselves. A lot of people get the perception that as professional athletes we are all about ourselves.''

Freakonomics Radio, Super Bowl Edition: What Happens to Your Head, Inside the Helmet, After a Nasty Hit? - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com
Last week, I interviewed several players who were assembled for the Pro Bowl in South Florida. Among the most fascinating — candid and extremely descriptive — were Quintin Mikell of the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s an excerpt from the podcast, with Mikell talking about the hardest hit he ever took, what it felt like afterward, and what it would be like to play football without a helmet:

Tra Thomas, Torry Holt will be released by Jaguars | Jacksonville.com
Wide receiver Torry Holt and offensive tackle Tra Thomas, two veteran free agents who were signed last year, won’t be returning to the Jaguars next season.

NFL labor woes weigh on Goodell's mind | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/06/2010
A day after NFL players association chief DeMaurice Smith put the chances of a 2011 work-stoppage at 14 on a scale of 1 to 10, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he would prefer less rhetoric and more productivity in the bargaining talks. "I sure hope he's wrong, and I sure hope it doesn't become a self-fulfilling prophecy,'' Goodell said yesterday during his annual Super Bowl-week news conference.

Spags on Vick: " I think he’s a terrific player"

2010-02-06T16:44:54Z

Yet another clue has dropped regarding the Rams being the next possible destination for Michael Vick. St Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo was asked down at the Superbowl this week what he thought of the Eagles' backup.

"I’ve got a lot of respect for Michael as a player," Spags said. "Everything I’ve heard out of Philadelphia is kind of good. We haven’t gone down that road in our process yet. I think he’s a terrific player."

It's pretty telling that Spags didn't give the "I can't comment on other team's players" line that pretty much every coach does. His willingness to address Vick openly could be the first step in softening up the Rams fanbase for an eventual Vick trade.

Is DeSean Jackson about to be fired into outer space?

2010-02-06T11:00:27Z

via www.gatorade.com

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I think that's what is happening in this picture...

In reality, he's being placed in a Bod Pod to have his body composition measured during ~~testing at the Gatorade Performance lab~~ a Gatorade promo event.

There's some video from DeSean at the event after the jump.

The Linc - McNabb, Savage, Jauron, & Umenyoria

2010-02-05T11:00:35Z

More photos » Mark Duncan - AP

5 days ago: FILE - In this July 23, 2008, file photo, Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage talks to reporters during practice at the team's football training camp in Berea, Ohio. The The Philadelphia Eagles have hired former Browns general manager Phil Savage as a player personnel consultant for the April draft. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)

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McNabb hopes Vick gets a chance to be a starter | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/04/2010
"I don’t know what particular team," McNabb said. "I just hope he has an opportunity to be a starter for another team. I think he definitely deserves that and he has done a great job of getting himself together and preparing himself for this opportunity and I think he is going to flourish in it."

Osi: "I'm not going to be a back up" - Big Blue View
"I’m not going to be a back up player, I can promise you that," Umenyiora said. "I’ll stop playing football before I do that ever again. This has been just the worst offseason of my entire life. I can’t even think of a time when things were this bad during the offseason. You’re supposed to be relaxing, but I can’t relax because all I can think of is the things that took place last season, you understand? So for me it’s not something that I’m going to do. If I’m asked to come back there and do that then I’ll just stop playing football."

Eagles Notes: Jauron says he's happy with Eagles job | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/04/2010
"I was flattered when Andy called about this job and I couldn't resist taking it. I love working with the secondary and I look forward to learning from Sean [McDermott] and this scheme."

Eagles hire Savage as consultant - NFC East Blog - ESPN
"This is a great opportunity for me to get back in the NFL. I’m really excited about the role the Eagles have afforded me and I’m ready to help Howie and the rest of their scouting staff in the best way I possibly can." - Phil Savage

Eagles Dipping into the CFL Again?

2010-02-05T03:52:55Z

Eagles Dipping into the CFL Again?

According to Adam Caplan of Scout.com, the Eagles held a workout for defensive end Ricky Foley earlier today. Foley, 27, notched a league-leading 12 sacks for the BC Lions this season and has also been courted by the Jets, Patriots, and Rams. If signed, Foley will join RB Martell Mallett as the second CFL player on the Eagles offseason roster. Last year, the Eagles signed both safety Byron Parker and linebacker Charleston Hughes of CFL fame. Neither player made it past the final roster cuts.

Eagles Hire Phil Savage to Personnel Staff

2010-02-04T17:14:56Z

Eagles Hire Phil Savage to Personnel Staff

The Eagles on Thursday announced they have named Phil Savage as a Player Personnel Consultant for the 2010 draft. In this role, Savage will work with Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman and Director of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson in their draft preparations, specifically in the evaluation of draft prospects in the Southeast portion of the country.

Rams the favorites to land Vick?

2010-02-04T17:00:22Z

More photos » Jacquelyn Martin - AP

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We all know that report from earlier this week about the Eagles "definitely" keeping Michael Vick was nonsense. He wants to go start somewhere, and I'm pretty sure a good part of the reason the team signed him in the first place was to get something for him. The word is now that the St Louis Rams are the frontrunners for Vick.

According to the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the St. Louis Rams are the best bet. On Wednesday, La Canfora said that the Rams are "definitely" the front-runners to land Vick. Last week, La Canfora said that the other teams in the hunt for Vick include the Bills, Panthers, Raiders and Jaguars.

The question is whether teams wait and see if the Eagles cut Vick or if they try to trade for him. Rumors about Vick to the Rams have mostly stemmed from the fact that GM Bill Devaney was in Atlanta when Vick was there and the two supposedly have a good relationship. There's also a lot of familiarity between the coaches of the two teams(Pat Shurmur & Steve Spagnuolo are both former Eagles assistants) and the thought is that the Rams would trust what the Eagles say about Vick's progress.

Mike Vick has been a good guy in his time here and while I do think there's been an overly fanatical reaction to him by some... Is anyone really going to be sad to see him go?

"They don't need my advice, but I would say run the ball," said former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins,...

2010-02-04T14:25:53Z

"They don't need my advice, but I would say run the ball," said former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, who played in his eighth career Pro Bowl on Sunday, his first as a Denver Bronco. "Run the ball. With that passing attack, the way that thing is shaping up to be, go ahead and bring Donovan [McNabb] back to where he's supposed to be, and run that pill and let those weapons outside go to work."

An old pal offers some advice

The Linc - Dick Jauron, DeSean Jackson, & former Eagles at the Superbowl

2010-02-04T11:00:21Z

More photos » Eric Gay - AP

8 days ago: Players for the Indianapolis Colts football team Hank Baskett, front, and Bob Sanders arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. The Colts will play the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Eagles make Jauron hire official - NFC East Blog - ESPN
He's obviously overqualified to be a secondary coach, but I still think he'll be an excellent fit. He'll provide McDermott with an excellent sounding board and he should work well with the Eagles mix of veteran and young defensive backs.

Thoughts on Jauron addition | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/03/2010
Jauron is still owed $6 million over the next two seasons by the Buffalo Bills, according to the Buffalo News. His salary with the Eagles, likely around $300,000, will be deducted from what Buffalo owes him, putting a bit more money in the Bills' coffers. Needless to say, that should make him the highest-paid defensive backs coach in the league by far.

Former Eagles Baskett, Eckel doing Super these days | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/03/2010
Less than 6 months ago, Hank Baskett and Kyle Eckel envisioned playing in Super Bowl XLIV for the Eagles. They're both here, but fate has taken a few twists. Baskett wore his blue No. 81 Colts jersey to Media Day yesterday; Eckel wore his white Saints No. 36.

ESPN DeSean Jackson signing experience -ESPN Rise FOOTBALL

DeSean Jackson shares his memories of national signing day