SBNation.com User Blog: southjersey89

Two-fold Question: 1.) Did we sign another QB for depth yet? 2.) If not, could it be...

southjersey89 — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:12:02 -0000

Two-fold Question:

1.) Did we sign another QB for depth yet?

2.) If not, could it be possible the coaches use a conservative game plan (read: much less running) with Vick, since we only have Kafka behind him, and Kolb will probably not be cleared to step in?

Saw this on Brent Celek's facebook page today, too funny.

southjersey89 — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:27:01 -0000

Saw this on Brent Celek's facebook page today, too funny.

An (Off)Season for Change

southjersey89 — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:26:51 -0000

I think this team is ready for Kevin Kolb. There, I said it.

I'm sure some of you will accuse me of being a closet McNabb hater, but I assure you this couldn't be further from the truth. I have cheered for McNabb from his first days wearing a green jersey, right up until the fading minutes of last night's treacherous game. Not only is he the most accomplished quarterback the city of Philadelphia has ever seen, but he is a genuinely awesome person on top of all this. How do I know he is an awesome person, you ask? Ladies and gentleman, I give you Exhibit A.

Ahhh what a great moment. Yes, McNabb is most definitely the shit. The thing is, I think he has given this team everything he can possibly offer. We've been to the playoffs time after time. Hell, we've even been to the NFC Championship Game time after time. Yet still, we have nothing to show for our "success". I know that many of our playoff losses are not fully on McNabb's shoulders, but I have finally come to the conclusion that his best years are behind him. It's time for Kolb.

Does that video look familiar to any one? Very few people gave Kevin Kolb a chance from the get-go, yet this season he has proven that there is something to build on. He stepped in for McNabb to start for only two games, and the result was literally record-breaking. I don't put too much stock into Kolb's two performances, since they make up a very small sample size, but at least they give me hope that we can achieve a Superbowl victory with the next guy in line, so to speak.

I know, McNabb gives us the most immediate chance at success. Still though, I am willing to sacrifice a year (or two) with Kevin Kolb, if it means we can have a young quarterback to "grow old" with our ridiculously young offense. This offense has not even begun to reach its pinnacle, so it only makes sense to insert a quarterback that has not yet reached his. Maybe the result will be a perfect storm of pinnacle-reaching awesomeness, leading us to that elusive Lombardi Trophy.

A lot of people have been saying that our era on top of the NFC East has ended. I say that's bullshit. We may have had a down year, but the best has yet to come with this team. Our offense is getting more dangerous by the minute, and our defense can be fixed, despite what last night's game may lead you to believe. All of this makes me believe that Kolb is the right man at the right time for this franchise. We have seen what a decade of McNabb can bring us, but we have yet to see what a decade of Kolb can yield. I say we give the guy a chance, and let him mature with our offense. The results could be shockingly good or shockingly bad, but I'm willing to find out.

For the record, this is not a knee-jerk reaction to last night's game. McNabb wasn't playing his best football, but what else would you expect with that patchwork offensive line? This post is more of a realization of mine that has finally culminated as the season comes to an end. If you disagree with me, that's fine. I'm just putting my opinion out there to start up the discussion. Also, if McNabb is our quarterback next season, I will continue to cheer for him like I always have.

Time's Yours.

I think this team is ready for Kevin Kolb. There, I said it.

Time's Yours.

Poll

Who do you want leading this team next September?

Donovan McNabb

43 votes

Kevin Kolb

67 votes

Other

8 votes

118 votes | Poll has closed

Please Use That Rec Button

southjersey89 — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:39:06 -0000

Within the past 12 hours, and probably the next few days, there will be a lot of new fanposts on this site. As I'm sure you all have noticed, 90% of them are a steaming pile of incoherent garbage. Furthermore, these shitty posts (which reminds me of the Eagles performance last night) are being put up so fast that they are bumping out possible legitimate fanposts so that we may never see them.

Please, let's start rec'ing the good posts so we can have some quality football discussion, instead of having to sift through the debris to find it.

A Look Back at this Season - Get Pumped for the Playoffs

southjersey89 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:22:42 -0000

A Look Back at this Season - Get Pumped for the Playoffs

Random Thoughts About the Game

southjersey89 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:28:01 -0000

Yeah I know this is a cliche post to sum up my feelings after a great game, but I haven't posted in a while so here goes nothing.

via cdn.picapp.com

Micheal Vick

Did anybody notice a difference in Vick's usual approach last night? Instead of hitting the hole full speed, he would almost casually trot towards the line of scrimmage, wait for things to develop, and then gash the Giants for either a TD or 1st down conversion (which is becoming his thing now). Even the passing play to DeSean in the 1st quarter was beautifully designed. Kudos to Reid for adapting and changing the way he uses Mike Vick, especially in the run game.

LeSean McCoy & Leonard Weaver

These two combined for a total of 61 yards on the ground, so I wouldn't say last night was a huge showing for the running game. We did, however, score two TD's in the red-zone with our ground attack (Vick + Weaver), so that has to count for something.

DeSean Jackson

Does this guy even have a ceiling? Seriously. I thought he would come back slow and hesitant after his concussion but boy was I wrong. DeSean Jackson is the definition of a weapon. 250+ all-purpose yards, 1 receiving TD and 1 return TD. Unbelievable.

Andy Reid

The Big Man had an excellent game. He came in with an excellent game plan on offense, didn't have any major time management gaffs from what I remember, and most importantly had his team ready to play. He was 1 for 2 on challenges, but the one that fell our way denied the Giants a TD so it was a good one. And let's not forget the chest bump with DeSean Jackson.

Offensive Line

I'm not too great at breaking down offensive line performance, but I thought they had a good game. They only allowed one sack all night I believe, and really gave McNabb a ton of time to let our deep routes develop. Very few penalties called too.

McNabb

He had a great game last night, and that's all there is to it. McNabb had very few mistakes aside from that interception he threw. His long ball was connecting with targets all night, and his pocket awareness was great. He even stepped out of the pocket and ran for some yards a few times too.

Jeremiah Trotter

This could be just me, but I thought he had one hell of a game last night. It seemed like every play ended with Trotter wrapped around someones ankles. I mean the guy was all over the place. At one point, my friend and I deliberately watched Trotter before the snap to see what he would do. He kept stunting behind the line, and then when Eli snapped the ball he punched through the OL and looped all the way back around to get a shoestring tackle on Ahmad Bradshaw. He showed great hustle last night, even in pass coverage when he almost pulled in that interception in the 1st quarter.

Quintin Mikell

One of his worst games I can remember. Poor tackling, stupid penalties, and he got beat in coverage several times. Let's hope we've seen the worst of Mikell.

Asante Samuel

Another night of atrocious tackling from #22. He did break up some big deep passes, but ultimately he's got to get interceptions to make us forgive his poor technical skills when tackling. There was one play where he cheated up to the line of scrimmage to jump a route, and Eli just threw right over his head for a deep completion. The Sunday Night Crew caught him red-handed on that.

Sheldon Brown

Not a great game by his standards. The hamstring could be bothering him because he sure looked sluggish throughout most of the night. He even whiffed on a few tackles, which is uncharacteristic of him.

Player of the Game - Mario Manningham

Thank you, not only for stepping out of bounds on TWO touchdown catches, but also for making sure to wear bright red shoes so the officiating crew could easily deny you your 12 points.

Yeah I know this is a cliche post to sum up my feelings after a great game, but I haven't posted in a while so here goes nothing.

via cdn.picapp.com

Micheal Vick

LeSean McCoy & Leonard Weaver

DeSean Jackson

Andy Reid

Offensive Line

McNabb

Jeremiah Trotter

Quintin Mikell

One of his worst games I can remember. Poor tackling, stupid penalties, and he got beat in coverage several times. Let's hope we've seen the worst of Mikell.

Asante Samuel

Sheldon Brown

Player of the Game - Mario Manningham

Thank you, not only for stepping out of bounds on TWO touchdown catches, but also for making sure to wear bright red shoes so the officiating crew could easily deny you your 12 points.

Hilarious and pathetic at the same time.

southjersey89 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:38:02 -0000

Hilarious and pathetic at the same time.

Ahh the Good Old Days

southjersey89 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:02:31 -0000

Ahh the Good Old Days

A few things to note:

1. The comment by the Big Tuna at around 2:14 is pure awesome.

2. I think the douchebag at 2:04 is the guy who was booing McNabb at the draft.

3. I'm floored that the Vet did not crack the top 5.

Decent Jeremiah Trotter tribute.

southjersey89 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:42:54 -0000

Decent Jeremiah Trotter tribute.

Saints Video Rewind - Courtesy of Igglesblog

southjersey89 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:10:49 -0000

Saints Video Rewind - Courtesy of Igglesblog

Awesome stuff.

A Yahoo Sports preview of this week's game. Honestly, I could care less how wrong Tiki is about...

southjersey89 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:30:02 -0000

A Yahoo Sports preview of this week's game.

Honestly, I could care less how wrong Tiki is about Garcia getting some play-time, I am just searching for scraps to hold me over until Sunday.

Video Rewind & Assessment of Winston Justice on Igglesblog

southjersey89 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:55:23 -0000

Video Rewind & Assessment of Winston Justice on Igglesblog

Check it out, very nicely done. I can't wait to see how he does next week.

Looks Like the Macho Man Has a Twitter Page

southjersey89 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:01:34 -0000

Looks Like the Macho Man Has a Twitter Page

If his posts are a true indicator of his character, I'm excited for his future.

Florio is an Idiot

southjersey89 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:13:52 -0000

Florio is an Idiot

The gist is the article is fine - Vick will be putting his money where his mouth is by helping several organizations today. What irked me was the stupidity of the last paragraph. I mean it's possible, don't get me wrong, but crazy things would have to happen for things to play out this way.

Bold Predictions

southjersey89 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:35:55 -0000

Well, the preseason is winding down and the regular season is looming in the near future. We now have a decent feel for which players are on the rise, and which will plummet to their demise (wow, unintentional rhyme). In the spirit of the offseason and preseason, and its deficiency in football related news, I would like to announce the bold predictions competition.

The premise is the following: Make 5 bold predictions about the Eagles or the NFL as a whole.

An example of a prediction: "Jack Ikegwuono will be better than Asante Samuel this season"

At the end of the season, we can check this post and see who is a football mastermind, and who was completely and utterly wrong. Of course, it goes without saying that the more wild your prediction is, the more "credit" you will get down the road. Maybe at the end of the season we can have a vote on who has the most gridiron foresight.

I will begin with my 5 predictions.....feel free to judge my stupidity.

1.) Statistically, Aaron Rodgers will have the best season as a quarterback in 2009.

2.) The Eagles will be #1 in the entire NFL for offensive yardage.

3.) NFC Championship Game: Eagles 23 - Packers 14

4.) Rex Ryan will be named best rookie head coach of the year.

5.) Jason Campbell will get injured for a significant period of time, if not the entire season.

Remember folks, these are supposed to be bold predictions, so they will appear ridiculous. However, you will look like a genius if you prove to be correct. Please rec this post so it stays relevant long enough for people to get their predictions in. Good luck.

"I bet no one could have predicted this..."

The premise is the following: Make 5 bold predictions about the Eagles or the NFL as a whole.

An example of a prediction: "Jack Ikegwuono will be better than Asante Samuel this season"

I will begin with my 5 predictions.....feel free to judge my stupidity.

1.) Statistically, Aaron Rodgers will have the best season as a quarterback in 2009.

2.) The Eagles will be #1 in the entire NFL for offensive yardage.

3.) NFC Championship Game: Eagles 23 - Packers 14

4.) Rex Ryan will be named best rookie head coach of the year.

5.) Jason Campbell will get injured for a significant period of time, if not the entire season.

"I bet no one could have predicted this..."

"Good Chance" Vick Will Play Thursday

southjersey89 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:32:34 -0000

"Good Chance" Vick Will Play Thursday

DeSean to Return Punts Thursday

southjersey89 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:13:06 -0000

DeSean to Return Punts Thursday

No. 1 WR DeSean Jackson will return punts for the Eagles Thursday. Rookie Jeremy Maclin has fumbled in each of the preseason games, leading the team’s special teams coach to say "it’s a huge concern."

Umm...if its a huge concern, shouldn't you let the kid work out the kinks during the preseason, instead of putting one of our top skill players at risk for nothing?

Scheffler Becoming Orton's Favorite Target

southjersey89 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:24:04 -0000

Scheffler Becoming Orton's Favorite Target

Those hoping for a last-second Scheffler signing shouldn't hold their collective breaths. It looks like the Bronco's will hold onto him...at least they would be stupid not to.

Scouting the Competition - Giants Preseason Opener

southjersey89 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:29:26 -0000

Although all 4 NFC East teams are technically capable of winning the division, I would have to say the Giants are our most concerning opponent. They have returned much of the talent they had last year, while adding a wide array of talent through the draft this year. I was curious to see what we are up against this year, even though I don't put too much stock into preseaon games, so I decided to watch a little bit of their game against the Panthers tonight.

Game Summary: The Giants defense is still as good as advertised, from what I gathered. Their pass rushers were putting a lot of pressure on a shaky Carolina offensive-line. While the defense was good, their first offense stole the show. Remember the early half of the Giants schedule last season, when the entire team was clicking, and they were running through defenses like they didn't exist? Well, for the brief amount of time that their first offense was on the field, they looked exactly like that. Again, I have to repeat my disclaimer that preseason games should be taken with a grain of salt, but for the sake of conversation, let's take a look at what some of their more "interesting" players accomplished tonight.

Eli Manning: (2-3, 31 yards): I know, I know....three passing attempts means this is too small a sample to gather any conclusions from, but he did look solid and poised in the pocket. His passes were on target and efficient.

Brandon Jacobs ( 4 rushes, 31 yards): Still a bruiser. He was plowing into the secondary on almost every touch, and even then it took excessive manpower to take him down, but really that isn't anything new is it?

Ahmad Bradshaw (5 rushes - 35 yards, TD, 17 yards receiving): Easily the star of the night. He lit up the field on almost every touch, with quick cuts and acceleration. He could be very dangerous this year.

Danny Ware (12 rushes-21 yards, 2 rec.-43 yards, TD): Although he is their third running back, he was more of an exceptional receiver in this game. His TD came on a 36 yard passing play. I really hope this guy doesn't turn into another Westbrook, because we are supposed to have him on OUR roster, and his name is LeSean McCoy.

Mario Manningham: Maybe Giants fans will finally get something out of this guy. He had a nice 21 yard punt return, as well as making a difficult catch on a bad pass.

Osi Umenyiora: Doesn't look like he's lost a step. Recorded a sack and a forced fumble, but hey that's business as usual. Let's hope our O-line gets some semblance of stability before we face the Giants pass rush.

Clint Sintim: A lot of people were raving over this draft pick, and it's easy to see why. He showed tremendous bursts of power and quickness, and even recorded a sack.

Ramses Barden (1 rec - 20 yards): Although he only recorded one reception, he is so big that he looked wide open on almost every play. This guy is so huge, that it could be very difficult to get him covered. He doesn't look like the second-coming of Plax quite yet, but definitely one of the guys I've been keeping a cautious eye on.

Domenik Hixon ( 2 rec - 23 yards): He looked solid, with most of his yardage coming from a nice screen pass courtesy of Eli.

Hakeem Nicks (1 rec - 9 yards): Nicks didn't really contribute at all, which is good news for us. There was a deep ball that looked catchable, but he dropped it. Again, too little information to draw any wide conclusions, but what I saw didn't look spectactular.

Mario Manningham: Maybe Giants fans will finally get something out of this guy. He had a nice 21 yard punt return, as well as making a difficult catch on a bad pass.

Clint Sintim: A lot of people were raving over this draft pick, and it's easy to see why. He showed tremendous bursts of power and quickness, and even recorded a sack.

Domenik Hixon ( 2 rec - 23 yards): He looked solid, with most of his yardage coming from a nice screen pass courtesy of Eli.

Poll

Which Giants threat causes the most concern?

Brandon Jacobs

22 votes

Domenik Hixon

0 votes

Ahmad Bradshaw

18 votes

Eli Manning

0 votes

Ramses Barden

8 votes

Hakeem Nicks

0 votes

Osi Umenyiora

27 votes

The Giants? Concern? Hahahahahahaha

5 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

L.J. Smith's Conspiracy Theory "There were a lot of things going on there, a lot of...

southjersey89 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:28:50 -0000

L.J. Smith's Conspiracy Theory

"There were a lot of things going on there, a lot of internal things," he said. "There were several people in the organization that put things out [about me] in the media like bait. Like, 'Go get him.'

"I felt like there were times when certain plays weren't being called for me," he said. "I don't really want to talk about it. As an athlete, you don't want to make headlines. You don't want to bring negative attention to yourself. I just tried to keep my head up and do my job. But it was hard, man. It was hard."

http://igglesblog.com/

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who hasn't played since suffering a torn ACL during Week One of the...

southjersey89 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:21:33 -0000

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who hasn't played since suffering a torn ACL during Week One of the 2008 season, says he plans to play in the 2009 preseason opener.

PFT.com

Sean Mcdermott

southjersey89 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:18:41 -0000

Haven't had much time to do anything but scan over a few posts lately, so forgive me if someone covered this, but can someone put together an informative analysis of the Jim Johnson - Sean Mcdermott transition? I'm curious to learn more about our new DC, including what percentage of his coaching style is derived from his great predecessor.

Thank You

southjersey89 — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:26:24 -0000

Thank You

Thanks to whoever posted about this website a while ago. I won a football autographed by DeSean Jackson the other day, so I'm pumped. Never would have known about it if the link weren't posted on this site, sot thanks again to whoever that was, and I suggest you guys try it out - you might win something.

2009 Power Rankings - Totally Meaningless but Interesting Nonetheless

southjersey89 — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:11:15 -0000

Power Rankings: Brady buoys Pats, but Philly's coming fast

By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!

Updated May 4

Which is the most-improved team heading into the 2009 NFL season?

Hint: It's a trick question.

Think. It's really easy. It's the New England Patriots. For one reason: Tom Brady is back.


Even the Dalai Lama thinks the Patriots are No. 1 right now. (AP)

That's why the Patriots sit atop my latest batch of the CBSSports.com Power Rankings. They have a deep team, but with Brady back from a torn ACL they go from a good team to a great one and the Super Bowl favorite.

OK, so it was a trick question. Let me ask another: Other than the Patriots, which is the most-improved team?

Hint: It's a team in green.

Yep, the Philadelphia Eagles. I love what they've done in the past three months. They've added key veterans like left tackle Jason Peters, right tackle Stacy Andrews and corner Ellis Hobbs and added speed to their offense in draft picks Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy.

The Eagles are loaded. And let's not forget that they were a team that played in the NFC Championship Game last season, losing to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals were a surprise team to many last season. But they were on my radar for a couple of years as a possible playoff contender.

Two teams fall into that category as we sit here in May, non-playoff teams that I think have a chance for a playoff push.

One is the Houston Texans and the other is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans have stockpiled a lot of talent while the Bengals get back Carson Palmer. When he's healthy, he's one of the best.

When he was at his best, carrying the Bengals, the defense wasn't any good. Now the defense is improved and he's back.

Could the Texans or Bengals be this year's Cardinals?

It's early, but they're on my radar.

The next batch of CBSSports.com Power Rankings will come just before camps open in July. There probably won't be much change, but you never know.

Heck, Brett Favre might be back playing. That's bound to drop down any team he joins.

Here are the post-draft Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Patriots · Trends	11
	They get Tom Brady back. They have the deepest team in the league. Oh, and they have the best coach. Add it up, and it's no wonder they are Super favorites.
	2	Steelers · Trends	1
	The champions are loaded again and will be in the thick of it come playoff time. They didn't do much to improve their offensive line, though, which has to be a concern.
	3	Colts · Trends	7
	Peyton Manning is back healthy again, so they are a real contender again. The addition of Donald Brown to the running game will give it more explosiveness. The key will be the return to health of major defensive players.
	4	Cardinals · Trends	2
	They've done some nice things in the offseason, including adding corner Bryant McFadden and drafting Beanie Wells to carry the football. They will be a playoff team again and maybe they'll finish in Miami.
	5	Eagles · Trends	4
	They've had a wonderful offseason, adding key players like tackles Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews and loading up in the draft with speed and quickness. They will be tough to stop on offense.
	6	Giants · Trends	5
	They fortified the defense with some key free agents and added a speed receiver in Hakeem Nicks to the passing game. Tom Coughlin will have this team in the playoffs again.
	7	Titans · Trends	6
	They haven't done a lot, and losing Albert Haynesworth will hurt. The other thing is their division is tough. They also have to get more big plays from their passing game.
	8	Ravens · Trends	3
	Joe Flacco will be better in his second season as a starter and that defense will once again be among the best. They do have to take their passing game up a notch.
	9	Falcons · Trends	9
	It's all about the defense for the Falcons. Adding Tony Gonzalez makes the offense complete and the draft was loaded with defensive picks to help the other side. They aren't going away.
	10	Saints · Trends	19
	This is another team that has improved its defense in the past four months in terms of talent. Now new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has to bring it all together.
	11	Chargers · Trends	10
	This is still a deep, talented team. If Philip Rivers continues to develop, the Chargers will easily be the class of the AFC West.
	12	Texans · Trends	17
	The Texans have a lot of important pieces in place. As long as Matt Schaub can stay healthy, they might be ready to make a real playoff push.
	13	Panthers · Trends	8
	They will be the same team: Run heavy and play tough defense. Is that enough? Jake Delhomme has to play better.
	14	Bears · Trends	18
	Getting Jay Cutler is the steal of the offseason. He makes them a real playoff threat. Yes, I do believe that.
	15	Cowboys · Trends	14
	They have talent, but something just seems to be off. I don't think they're as good as the Eagles or Giants in their own division, which is why they are down this low.
	16	Bengals · Trends	24
	Getting Palmer back makes them dangerous and the defense will be better around him. I like the Bengals as a sleeper team. I really do.
	17	Vikings · Trends	13
	Quarterback. It's all about the quarterback. Whether it's Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, that position has to be better. Words of advice: Stay away from that guy named Favre.
	18	Packers · Trends	23
	The move to a 3-4 under new coordinator Dom Capers will be one to watch closely. If that side of the ball plays better, Aaron Rodgers might get them to a playoff game.
	19	Bills · Trends	22
	Can Terrell Owens make them a playoff team? That might be stretching it, but they will be better on offense.
	20	Seahawks · Trends	28
	New coach Jim Mora takes over a veteran team that was hurt by injuries last season. They need to keep Matt Hasselbeck healthy. If they do, they will push the Cardinals.
	21	Jets · Trends	16
	How long does it take to get Mark Sanchez ready? If he's what they think he is, they will be better than expected. If not, it's a redshirt season and they will win six games.
	22	Buccaneers · Trends	15
	Who plays quarterback? Whoever it is has to be better than what they had last season. There are also some age concerns on defense. New coach Raheem Morris faces a challenging first season.
	23	Redskins · Trends	25
	They're the fourth team in a four-team division. That will make it tough to win eight games.
	24	Jaguars · Trends	26
	They've made some nice moves to fix the offensive line, and now it's time for the offense to do more. The defense also needs young players to step up, especially end Derrick Harvey.
	25	Broncos · Trends	20
	They're excited about Kyle Orton. I'm not. I think he's OK. They better hope the defense plays better than a year ago or it won't matter who quarterbacks the Broncos. I do like Knowshon Moreno.
	26	Dolphins · Trends	12
	They are the step-back team this season. But in 2010, look out. I think Chad Henne will take over at some time this season.
	27	49ers · Trends	21
	It's all quarterback with the 49ers. Can Shaun Hill or Alex Smith get the job done? If not, they'll stay down here all year long.
	28	Raiders · Trends	27
	It's all about JaMarcus Russell. If he plays an entire season to the level of expectations, the Raiders will be better. I think he can. But they have other issues.
	29	Chiefs · Trends	29
	They landed their quarterback in Matt Cassel and have added a few players to help, but new coach Todd Haley faces a big task in getting this offense to play like his Arizona unit did.
	30	Browns · Trends	30
	New coach Eric Mangini will build this team the way he wants it. But one has to wonder if that's a good thing considering his Jets history.
	31	Rams · Trends	31
	The Rams were a disaster last year. New coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of work to do. They're at least a year away.
	32	Lions · Trends	32
	They have their franchise quarterback to build around, and Jim Schwartz will do a good job, but there's a lot of work still to be done.

Power Rankings: Brady buoys Pats, but Philly's coming fast

By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!

Updated May 4

Which is the most-improved team heading into the 2009 NFL season?

Hint: It's a trick question.

Think. It's really easy. It's the New England Patriots. For one reason: Tom Brady is back.


Even the Dalai Lama thinks the Patriots are No. 1 right now. (AP)

OK, so it was a trick question. Let me ask another: Other than the Patriots, which is the most-improved team?

Hint: It's a team in green.

The Eagles are loaded. And let's not forget that they were a team that played in the NFC Championship Game last season, losing to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals were a surprise team to many last season. But they were on my radar for a couple of years as a possible playoff contender.

Two teams fall into that category as we sit here in May, non-playoff teams that I think have a chance for a playoff push.

One is the Houston Texans and the other is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans have stockpiled a lot of talent while the Bengals get back Carson Palmer. When he's healthy, he's one of the best.

When he was at his best, carrying the Bengals, the defense wasn't any good. Now the defense is improved and he's back.

Could the Texans or Bengals be this year's Cardinals?

It's early, but they're on my radar.

The next batch of CBSSports.com Power Rankings will come just before camps open in July. There probably won't be much change, but you never know.

Heck, Brett Favre might be back playing. That's bound to drop down any team he joins.

Here are the post-draft Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Patriots · Trends	11
	They get Tom Brady back. They have the deepest team in the league. Oh, and they have the best coach. Add it up, and it's no wonder they are Super favorites.
	2	Steelers · Trends	1
	The champions are loaded again and will be in the thick of it come playoff time. They didn't do much to improve their offensive line, though, which has to be a concern.
	3	Colts · Trends	7
	Peyton Manning is back healthy again, so they are a real contender again. The addition of Donald Brown to the running game will give it more explosiveness. The key will be the return to health of major defensive players.
	4	Cardinals · Trends	2
	They've done some nice things in the offseason, including adding corner Bryant McFadden and drafting Beanie Wells to carry the football. They will be a playoff team again and maybe they'll finish in Miami.
	5	Eagles · Trends	4
	They've had a wonderful offseason, adding key players like tackles Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews and loading up in the draft with speed and quickness. They will be tough to stop on offense.
	6	Giants · Trends	5
	They fortified the defense with some key free agents and added a speed receiver in Hakeem Nicks to the passing game. Tom Coughlin will have this team in the playoffs again.
	7	Titans · Trends	6
	They haven't done a lot, and losing Albert Haynesworth will hurt. The other thing is their division is tough. They also have to get more big plays from their passing game.
	8	Ravens · Trends	3
	Joe Flacco will be better in his second season as a starter and that defense will once again be among the best. They do have to take their passing game up a notch.
	9	Falcons · Trends	9
	It's all about the defense for the Falcons. Adding Tony Gonzalez makes the offense complete and the draft was loaded with defensive picks to help the other side. They aren't going away.
	10	Saints · Trends	19
	This is another team that has improved its defense in the past four months in terms of talent. Now new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has to bring it all together.
	11	Chargers · Trends	10
	This is still a deep, talented team. If Philip Rivers continues to develop, the Chargers will easily be the class of the AFC West.
	12	Texans · Trends	17
	The Texans have a lot of important pieces in place. As long as Matt Schaub can stay healthy, they might be ready to make a real playoff push.
	13	Panthers · Trends	8
	They will be the same team: Run heavy and play tough defense. Is that enough? Jake Delhomme has to play better.
	14	Bears · Trends	18
	Getting Jay Cutler is the steal of the offseason. He makes them a real playoff threat. Yes, I do believe that.
	15	Cowboys · Trends	14
	They have talent, but something just seems to be off. I don't think they're as good as the Eagles or Giants in their own division, which is why they are down this low.
	16	Bengals · Trends	24
	Getting Palmer back makes them dangerous and the defense will be better around him. I like the Bengals as a sleeper team. I really do.
	17	Vikings · Trends	13
	Quarterback. It's all about the quarterback. Whether it's Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, that position has to be better. Words of advice: Stay away from that guy named Favre.
	18	Packers · Trends	23
	The move to a 3-4 under new coordinator Dom Capers will be one to watch closely. If that side of the ball plays better, Aaron Rodgers might get them to a playoff game.
	19	Bills · Trends	22
	Can Terrell Owens make them a playoff team? That might be stretching it, but they will be better on offense.
	20	Seahawks · Trends	28
	New coach Jim Mora takes over a veteran team that was hurt by injuries last season. They need to keep Matt Hasselbeck healthy. If they do, they will push the Cardinals.
	21	Jets · Trends	16
	How long does it take to get Mark Sanchez ready? If he's what they think he is, they will be better than expected. If not, it's a redshirt season and they will win six games.
	22	Buccaneers · Trends	15
	Who plays quarterback? Whoever it is has to be better than what they had last season. There are also some age concerns on defense. New coach Raheem Morris faces a challenging first season.
	23	Redskins · Trends	25
	They're the fourth team in a four-team division. That will make it tough to win eight games.
	24	Jaguars · Trends	26
	They've made some nice moves to fix the offensive line, and now it's time for the offense to do more. The defense also needs young players to step up, especially end Derrick Harvey.
	25	Broncos · Trends	20
	They're excited about Kyle Orton. I'm not. I think he's OK. They better hope the defense plays better than a year ago or it won't matter who quarterbacks the Broncos. I do like Knowshon Moreno.
	26	Dolphins · Trends	12
	They are the step-back team this season. But in 2010, look out. I think Chad Henne will take over at some time this season.
	27	49ers · Trends	21
	It's all quarterback with the 49ers. Can Shaun Hill or Alex Smith get the job done? If not, they'll stay down here all year long.
	28	Raiders · Trends	27
	It's all about JaMarcus Russell. If he plays an entire season to the level of expectations, the Raiders will be better. I think he can. But they have other issues.
	29	Chiefs · Trends	29
	They landed their quarterback in Matt Cassel and have added a few players to help, but new coach Todd Haley faces a big task in getting this offense to play like his Arizona unit did.
	30	Browns · Trends	30
	New coach Eric Mangini will build this team the way he wants it. But one has to wonder if that's a good thing considering his Jets history.
	31	Rams · Trends	31
	The Rams were a disaster last year. New coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of work to do. They're at least a year away.
	32	Lions · Trends	32
	They have their franchise quarterback to build around, and Jim Schwartz will do a good job, but there's a lot of work still to be done.

A Rough Overview of Cornerback Salaries

southjersey89 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:25:13 -0000

In the spirit of Sheldon Brown's recent outcry over the shortcomings of his paycheck, I decided to take a look at the salaries of other comparable cornerbacks across the NFL.

First, a disclaimer. I am not a statistician, nor am I very good at math in general. This isn't meant to be an "airtight" study, just a very loose look at what other cornerbacks have made up to this point.

To try to get this as fair as possible, I tried to look for the following:

1.) cornerbacks of similar skill levels (some will be better, some worse)

2.) cornerbacks who entered the league around the time Sheldon did

3.) cornerbacks who for the most part played for one team only (like Sheldon)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.) Sheldon Brown - CB - Philadelphia Eagles

Age: 30

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 13,219,940

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 1,888,562

2.) Al Harris - CB - Green Bay Packers

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 22,143,970

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,460,441

( Played first 3 yrs. with the Eagles ($2.1 million) , last 6 yrs. with the Packers)

3.) Ronde Barber - CB - Tamba Bay Buccaneers

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 34,546,710

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 3,838,523

4.) DeShea Townsend - CB - Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 33

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 11,003,840

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 1,222,648

5.) Quentin Jammer - CB - San Diego Chargers

Age: 29

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 31,649,030

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 4,521,290

6.) Lito Sheppard - CB - New York Jets (7 years with the Eagles)

Age: 28

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 18,066,600

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,580,942

It should be noted that over the next few years, Sheldon's yearly salary will continue to increase. He will make $ 2 million this year, $ 2.5 million in 2010, $ 3.5 million in 2011, and $4.25 in 2012 before he becomes a free agent. If you do a very rough projection of what he will have made when he becomes a free agent, it will look something like this.

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 11

Total Money Received: $ 25,469,940

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,315,449

These figures are very rough since they do not even include salary contributions from the "other" column, but they definitely don't look that bad to me. There is also the chance he could get a new contract sometime between now and 2013, so I'm not ruling that out.

Just by looking at what Sheldon has made up to this point, it might look as though he has been underpaid compared to his other NFL counterparts. However, he essentially sacrificed that boost in salary for long-term job security. He would have made way more money if he became a free-agent at some point in the last few years, but that was his decision.

The flip side is that the Eagles made an excellent move by locking up Sheldon in this long-term deal. I personally think they played this very intelligently. They saw in Sheldon the potential to become a future elite CB (which he did), and signed him to an early deal before he could realize his own future worth.

In the spirit of Sheldon Brown's recent outcry over the shortcomings of his paycheck, I decided to take a look at the salaries of other comparable cornerbacks across the NFL.

To try to get this as fair as possible, I tried to look for the following:

1.) cornerbacks of similar skill levels (some will be better, some worse)

2.) cornerbacks who entered the league around the time Sheldon did

3.) cornerbacks who for the most part played for one team only (like Sheldon)

1.) Sheldon Brown - CB - Philadelphia Eagles

Age: 30

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 13,219,940

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 1,888,562

2.) Al Harris - CB - Green Bay Packers

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 22,143,970

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,460,441

( Played first 3 yrs. with the Eagles ($2.1 million) , last 6 yrs. with the Packers)

3.) Ronde Barber - CB - Tamba Bay Buccaneers

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 34,546,710

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 3,838,523

4.) DeShea Townsend - CB - Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 33

Years in the NFL: 9

Total Money Received: $ 11,003,840

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 1,222,648

5.) Quentin Jammer - CB - San Diego Chargers

Age: 29

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 31,649,030

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 4,521,290

6.) Lito Sheppard - CB - New York Jets (7 years with the Eagles)

Age: 28

Years in the NFL: 7

Total Money Received: $ 18,066,600

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,580,942

Age: 34

Years in the NFL: 11

Total Money Received: $ 25,469,940

Avg. Money Per Year: $ 2,315,449

Is it about the money?

southjersey89 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:33:04 -0000

Dispute Between Sheldon Brown And The Eagles Escalates
Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2009, 9:24 a.m. EDT
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the draft approaching and the servers exploding, the Eagles and cornerback Sheldon Brown continue to do battle over Brown’s contract, which has four years remaining.

And Brown is trying to drag some of his teammates into the fray.

“Without a doubt there are going to be more problems,” Brown said, according to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m not the first guy and I’m not going to be the last guy. What’s the incentive for guys like Trent Cole and Mike Patterson to play above their heads? Everybody’s situation is different and everybody handles their business in a different way. This situation could have been handled in a different way. I was forced to put it out there.”

The rest of Brookover’s article contains a lengthy back-and-forth between Brown and Eagles president Joe Banner.

The bulk of the dispute? Whether it’s about the money. Brown says it isn’t. Banner says it is.

“I saw that Sheldon said this wasn’t about the money, but I think it has always been about the money,” Banner said. “We’ve asked the agent if there was anything else we could do for Sheldon and we were always told it was about the money. I’d love to hear what it is about if it’s not about that.”

We’ll defer further analysis of the dynamics of the situation to one of the PFTV segments we’ll be shooting later today. For now, though, we’ll leave you with this observation.

On the surface, it’s about the money. At a deeper level, it’s about the respect Sheldon Brown commands in the locker room, where the size of everything matters.

My take is that this is definitely about the money. Sheldon is just substituting the word "respect" for "money". He knows he is aging. He knows that we will most likely draft another CB. He knows his window for closing a big deal is becoming narrow. He also knows that he would be contradicting all of his "straight talk" over the years if he were to come out and complain about money issues, so he is masking this whole ordeal with a demand for "respect". Banner sees right through this, and clearly he will not give in. Sheldon needs to shut up and play.

Dispute Between Sheldon Brown And The Eagles Escalates
Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2009, 9:24 a.m. EDT
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the draft approaching and the servers exploding, the Eagles and cornerback Sheldon Brown continue to do battle over Brown’s contract, which has four years remaining.

And Brown is trying to drag some of his teammates into the fray.

“Without a doubt there are going to be more problems,” Brown said, according to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m not the first guy and I’m not going to be the last guy. What’s the incentive for guys like Trent Cole and Mike Patterson to play above their heads? Everybody’s situation is different and everybody handles their business in a different way. This situation could have been handled in a different way. I was forced to put it out there.”

The rest of Brookover’s article contains a lengthy back-and-forth between Brown and Eagles president Joe Banner.

The bulk of the dispute? Whether it’s about the money. Brown says it isn’t. Banner says it is.

“I saw that Sheldon said this wasn’t about the money, but I think it has always been about the money,” Banner said. “We’ve asked the agent if there was anything else we could do for Sheldon and we were always told it was about the money. I’d love to hear what it is about if it’s not about that.”

We’ll defer further analysis of the dynamics of the situation to one of the PFTV segments we’ll be shooting later today. For now, though, we’ll leave you with this observation.

On the surface, it’s about the money. At a deeper level, it’s about the respect Sheldon Brown commands in the locker room, where the size of everything matters.

Most Anticipated Games of 2009

southjersey89 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:06:36 -0000

I don't really pay attention to what ESPN has to say much anymore, but I thought this would interest some on the site. I have to say, I disagree with #5 of this list. Also, I'm somewhat curious as to why the Eagles/Dallas matchup at week 17 is not listed. What games do you guys look forward to?

November huge month for rivalries
Comment Email Print Share By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Archive
Getty ImagesIn one of the marquee matchups of the 2009 season, new Bears QB Jay Cutler, left, will visit Adrian Peterson and the Vikings on Nov. 29.
The 2009 season has it all, and quarterbacks are the keys. Tom Brady returns, resuming an annual battle against Peyton Manning of the Colts. Philip Rivers finally gets a chance to play against Eli Manning in a battle of the two pivotal franchise quarterbacks in the 2004 draft. Jay Cutler enters the NFC North, and the Ravens' Joe Flacco will try to grow in his rivalry with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

There'll be plenty of anticipation for these big games.

The Colts have their usual meeting against the Patriots in Week 10, a Sunday night game on Nov. 15. The Eagles-Giants series begins in Week 8, when the Giants go to the Eagles. NFC North fans must wait until Nov. 29 -- Week 13 -- for the start of the Bears-Vikings series. The first Steelers-Ravens game is Nov. 29 in Baltimore on Sunday night.

1. New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (Sun., Nov. 15)

The return of Tom Brady following knee reconstruction makes Colts-Patriots the league's most anticipated game. The Patriots and Colts are the dominant teams of the decade, and each franchise has a Hall of Fame quarterback. In a scheduling quirk, the Colts will be host for the game for the third consecutive year during the regular season. The Colts and Patriots split the last two games. From 2004 to '06, the Patriots hosted the regular-season games, with the Colts winning two of the three.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (Sun., Nov. 29)
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sun., Dec. 27)

This series annually has been one of the league's more physical because both franchises stress defense. The hope for the Ravens is their young quarterback, Joe Flacco, who is being groomed to compete against Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers. The Steelers swept last year's series, but the total margin of victory was just seven points. The Steelers won the Monday night game in Pittsburgh last season in overtime.

3. NY Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Sun., Nov. 1)
Philadelphia Eagles at NY Giants (Sun., Dec. 13)

No season is complete without marquee games from the NFC East, and the Eagles-Giants series takes the main stage because of how Philly ended the Giants' chances to win a second straight Super Bowl. On Dec. 7, the Eagles provided the blitzing game plan to beat a Giants offense that didn't have Plaxico Burress, who shot himself in the thigh in late November. The Eagles blitzed Eli Manning, who didn't have a go-to option without Burress. The Eagles won in Giants Stadium 20-14, and then came back to win the divisional playoff game 23-11. Manning completed only 54 percent of his passes in the final five games, including the playoffs.

4. Chicago at Minnesota (Sun., Nov. 29)
Minnesota at Chicago (Mon., Dec. 28)

The Jay Cutler trade makes this rivalry a headliner because the Bears have their most talented quarterback in five decades. Cutler must see if he can master a Vikings defense that can stuff the run and put plenty of pressure on him (hello, Jared Allen). Before the Cutler trade, the Vikings were favored to repeat as NFC North champs, but Minnesota's decision to stay with Tarvaris Jackson as starting quarterback and let Cutler go to Chicago adds more drama to this battle.

5. San Diego Chargers at New York Giants (Sun., Nov. 8)

In 2005, the Chargers had the pleasure of pounding Eli Manning and the Giants 45-23 in Week 3 in San Diego. Manning said he wouldn't accept being the first pick in the 2004 draft, so general manager A.J. Smith put together a trade to get Philip Rivers. Rivers was a second-year backup for the first meeting. Now, it's Rivers versus Manning on even terms. Manning has been on four Giants playoff teams and won one Super Bowl. Rivers has been to three straight trips to the playoffs and one AFC title game.

Taking a TE in the First: Continued

southjersey89 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:17:31 -0000

Sorry if this is getting repetitive, but I think this is a conversation that is definitely worth beating to death. Whodie made a post the other day that basically asked the question should we pick a tight end in the first round.

Initially, I will admit I was one of the guys that wanted Pettigrew with the 21st pick, if available. After reading several articles and doing some homework, I have decided the opposite. There are two main reasons I do not want to use a first rounder on a TE (Pettigrew).

1.) Take the best player left on the board, while considering need. I will admit that if Pettigrew is the best player left on the board by the time our first pick comes around, then we definitely should select him. The only problem is I think there will be better players on the board, and at more pivotal positions, by the time we get around to our first pick. The 2009 draft class is very deep, so I am fairly sure there will be at least one highly touted RB, CB, WR, or OT available when it is our turn to select. I am not speculating as to which path Reid will take on draft day, but I would be more comfortable taking one of these positions, if there are great prospects left. This brings me to my second reason.

2.) The TE talent in this year's draft is exceptionally deep. Obviously I will admit that Pettigrew appears to be a notch above the rest, but the drop-off in talent is not very steep as we progress into the later rounds. It will not hurt us very much to pass on Pettigrew and select someone like Jared Cook later on. It will save our organization some money, and we can possibly come out of the first round with an absolute gem at another position.

The article that really got me thinking was the following:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80fabea2&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Vic Carucci does a great job analyzing the TE situation. I highly recommend you guys read this, I thought it was really informative. What do you guys think?

The article that really got me thinking was the following:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80fabea2&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Vic Carucci does a great job analyzing the TE situation. I highly recommend you guys read this, I thought it was really informative. What do you guys think?

Another Article on Eagles Draft Position

southjersey89 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:36:02 -0000

Essentially the same topic covered by Mayock on the front page, but a good read with a couple different angles by Rich Hoffman. I think it really does a good job of summarizing the dynamics of the draft in 2009.

Rich Hofmann: Eagles in enviable draft position
By Rich Hofmann
Philadelphia Daily News

Daily News Sports Columnist

EVERY TIME the possibility of the Eagles moving up in the first round of the NFL draft is brought up, the idea seems to be hooted down - and accompanied by worries that all they would do is take an offensive lineman anyway.

This might be the year, though - the year when you could move up farther for less treasure than at any time in the past.

At the owners' meetings last month, general manager Tom Heckert said the Eagles were in a position pretty much to do whatever they wanted to do. With the 21st and 28th picks in the first round, with a second and a third and about a hundred fifth-rounders, they could maneuver this thing however they wanted to maneuver it. They might be able to move up to the tippy-top of the first round if they were willing to give up both of those late first-rounders - something that would not have been true in the past but which, in 2009, could be at least in the conversation.

But there are myriad permutations. Their first pick and their second-round pick could probably get them in the top 10. Their first- and third-rounders could probably get them to about 15th. These are guesstimates because the value situation in the first round is not nearly as ironclad as it once was. You get the sense, reading newspaper Web sites around the country and places like ProFootballTalk.com, that there is this great, uncertain fluidity when it comes to drafting near the top of the first round.

Some of this is the United States economy, no doubt. More of it, though, is the National Football League economy and the upcoming labor uncertainty. There has been growing talk over the last few years about this entire subject - that high draft choices make so much guaranteed money in the NFL that teams are a-scared when they find themselves at the top of the round.

How a-scared? Nobody has suggested that the Detroit Lions are actually thinking this way, but it is being speculated that the smart move for the Lions might be to pass on the first pick and let the St. Louis Rams go ahead of them if they aren't completely in love with somebody - because, whether it's love or like, the first pick will cost whomever makes it somewhere north of $30 million in guaranteed money.

It is a bizarre sport in many ways. The warriors - and they are warriors, survivors of the most physically brutal sport we have - often find themselves in an ungainly cash scramble with people in the same situation while untested kids lounge on a couch in the VIP room. Because of that, teams find themselves looking at this great reward for being lousy and wondering if they want it.

There are people in the NFL who believe that the way to handle it is to give the worst team the choice of where it wants to draft, not mandating that it take the first pick. That is how far out of whack the economics have become.

So people have all of those uncertainties. There also has been ongoing discussion for a couple of years about the value chart that most teams use, and whether or not it reflects the economic realities. What used to be simple is not anymore - and, with that, the Eagles have their opportunity.

There are people who believe that the place where the Eagles currently sit with their first three picks - from about 20th in the first round down to about the same place in the second round - is the most valuable place to be drafting in the NFL. That is, you don't pay ridiculous sums for these guys but still have a good chance of finding quality players. In the cost-benefit analysis that these people endlessly perform, that is the value spot in the system.

But here is the counterargument: a disproportionate number of Pro Bowl players come from the first half of the first round of the draft. Yes, they cost more - a lot more. And, yes, when you miss on one those guys, the stain on the front of your shirt will be winking at you (and your paying customers) for years.

But so many of the difference-making players in the league come from that small pool. And while you can like the way the Eagles handle their business in most cases, and you can respect the talent level of their players and the overall ability of their coaches to scheme them into successful positions on the field, it seems clear that they need two more difference-makers, one on each side of the field.

Trade up, and you have a much better chance of getting one.

Given that all of this endless talk about trading for Anquan Boldin/Braylon Edwards/Chad Ocho Cinco/whoever is creative fiction until proven otherwise, maneuvering in the first round really makes sense. It might be the boldest thing the Eagles can do. *

Eagles Show Interest in yet Another TE

southjersey89 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:27:51 -0000

I think it is becoming obvious what the Eagles draft day priorities are.

Sleeper Tight End Nalbone Gaining NFL Interest
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 28, 2009, 1:04 p.m. EDT
Small-school tight end John Nalbone is looking to follow in the footsteps of former Monmouth teammate and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin into the NFL.

Nalbone will visit the New York Jets on April 9. He has also scheduled a private workout with the Philadelphia Eagles and is in the process of setting up more visits and workouts.

At 6′4″, 256 pounds, Nalbone has intriguing 4.57 speed in the 40-yard dash and caught 101 career passes for 1,273 yards and nine touchdowns. He has bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times and registered a 33-inch vertical leap with a 9-10 broad jump.

“I think that he has all of the measurables NFL teams are looking for in terms of height, weight, speed, movement and athleticism,” Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan told the Asbury Park Press. “They look at him as a guy with a tremendous amount of upside.

“You look back three years ago with Miles Austin, that’s what they saw. A big, physical receiver with great hands, who they thought still had room for development, so they’re similar in that regard.”

As a senior, Nalbone caught 42 passes for 491 yards and five touchdowns.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/28/sleeper-tight-end-nalbone-gaining-nfl-interest/

This guy seems to be a physical marvel. He is massive, yet quick, and on top of that he has a well documented history of being a receiving weapon.

I think it is becoming obvious what the Eagles draft day priorities are.

Sleeper Tight End Nalbone Gaining NFL Interest
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 28, 2009, 1:04 p.m. EDT
Small-school tight end John Nalbone is looking to follow in the footsteps of former Monmouth teammate and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin into the NFL.

Nalbone will visit the New York Jets on April 9. He has also scheduled a private workout with the Philadelphia Eagles and is in the process of setting up more visits and workouts.

At 6′4″, 256 pounds, Nalbone has intriguing 4.57 speed in the 40-yard dash and caught 101 career passes for 1,273 yards and nine touchdowns. He has bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times and registered a 33-inch vertical leap with a 9-10 broad jump.

“I think that he has all of the measurables NFL teams are looking for in terms of height, weight, speed, movement and athleticism,” Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan told the Asbury Park Press. “They look at him as a guy with a tremendous amount of upside.

“You look back three years ago with Miles Austin, that’s what they saw. A big, physical receiver with great hands, who they thought still had room for development, so they’re similar in that regard.”

As a senior, Nalbone caught 42 passes for 491 yards and five touchdowns.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/28/sleeper-tight-end-nalbone-gaining-nfl-interest/

This guy seems to be a physical marvel. He is massive, yet quick, and on top of that he has a well documented history of being a receiving weapon.