With everyone around here (understandably) talking about guys like Nnamdi Asomugha, Albert Haynesworth, Kevin Kolb, and so on, I thought it might be interesting to discuss potential Eagles free agent targets that aren't really getting any play. The one I am most intrigued by is Houston Texans fullback Vonta Leach. He has put together quite the impressive resumé as of late, garnering a Pro Bowl berth, a spot on the All-Pro first team, and the 65th spot on NFL Network's recently concluded Top 100 list. That last piece speaks a great deal to the power and effectiveness of his blocking, his signature talent and the most important one for a fullback. It is in this respect that Leach could be an excellent addition to the Eagles, who, as anyone that turned on an Eagles game last year could attest, struggled tremendously with blocking. His blocking would also help the Eagles in another area of chronic concern: short-yardage conversions. One needs look no further than the Eagles' last game of the season to see how Leach's top-notch blocking could improve the Eagles profoundly. In that heartbreaking loss to the Packers, the Eagles failed to convert several short-yardage situations into first downs or touchdowns, including one that forced Andy Reid to choose between going for it on fourth-down or kicking a field goal. As we know, he chose to have David Akers kick the field goal, which Akers promptly missed. This was a huge momentum swing in the game that ultimately ended the Eagles' season. Had Leach been blocking for McCoy on that run, it's highly probable that the Eagles would have put up points and changed the outcome of the game, and ultimately, the season. He helped clear the path for Arian Foster last year on Foster's way to a historic season, he could do the same for Lesean McCoy, and to a lesser extent, Michael Vick. 

That's my two cents. What do you think about Vonta Leach? Who do you guys think would be positive additions to the Eagles that aren't necessarily being discussed at the same lengths as some other players? 

With Antti Niemi scheduled for an arbitration hearing and the Blackhawks still in dire cap straits, I was contemplating the possibility of Niemi coming to join the Flyers. If Chicago recieves an unfavorable ruling from the arbitrator, then I could easily see them walking away from the settlement and letting Antti walk, making him an UFA. Considering the rather weak market for Goaltenders and the lack of teams looking for an unpgrade in net, let alone signing a full-blown starter, Niemi could be had at a very pallatable price. The cap space is there as long as a few expected demotions/waiver placements are made with players like Riley Cote, one of the extra defenseman, (most likely Matt Walker or Oskars Bartulis) and Brian Boucher, who's role would be filled by the signing of NIemi. I personally think this is a fantastic idea if it does come to fruition, which is no sure thing. Niemi won the Stanley Cup last season which shows he has what it takes to step up in the Playoffs, and he would also be the best Netminder on the market. He's not Ryan Miller or Roberto Luongo, but he's steady based on what I have seen, and he's a  upgrade over Leighton, which with the defense the Flyers now posess, is all they really need. 

What does everyone else think, were he to reach the open market, should the Flyers attempt to sign Antti NIemi?

Towards the end of the season, stories came out saying that Paul Holmgren approached Peter Forsberg and offered him a deal to rejoin the Flyers. Even though this didn't pan out in the end, I loved, and still do love the prospect of bringing someone like him on board. In my estimation, the Flyers are one forward short of having a fully balanced team offense. Forsberg is not the only player I would like to acquire to fill this spot. I think other veteran greats who might be slightly past their primes like Jaromir Jagr or Paul Kariya, etc. could also fill this hole. All of these players were very productive the last time they played in the NHL, or in Kariya's case, last year. I think this type of player could not only help fill a positional need but also help burgeoning offensive talents on the team such as Claude Giroux, James Van Riemsdyk, and others to produce at a much higher level. I'm surprised that people have not really talked about this idea at all this offseason. The Flyers need all the offense they can get after trading away Gagne for essentially nothing and not upgrading in goal at all, which is another reason I think a move like this would be fantastic. You have to think that these players would come at a relatively low price due to various  factors and therefore fit under our cap once we dump guys like Cote and Matt Walker

So what do you all think, would this be a good idea and who specifically would you like to bring in in terms of players of this ilk?