The observation thread

[ice grillin you]

Howard's paid far too much to play situational DT.  Take a huge pay cut or GTFO.

howard is only a little over three mil next year...not peanuts but hardly a number that would require an automatic cut like kearse at eight and a half

[Diomedes]

nevermind what Kearse is getting paid...a guy who logs 8 tackles and one sack through 15 games isn't worth 3 mil

[Don Ho]

nevermind what Kearse is getting paid...a guy who logs 8 tackles and one sack through 15 games isn't worth 3 mil

you sure those aren't his stats for the last three years?

[Diomedes]

well, you'd have to quintuple the salary he's drawn, otherwise, yeah..pretty close

[PhillyPhreak54]

"It's harder to sign free agents mainly because up until two years ago, there were a limited number of teams with significant cap room to sign players," Eagles president Joe Banner said. "You just weren't competing against as many teams. Now, 26 out of the 32 teams have a significant amount of cap room, and the other six probably still have room to do things."

A perfect example presented itself Friday when the Colts signed safety Bob Sanders to a five-year, $37.5 million extension that took arguably the best defensive player off the market before he ever got there. Dallas' Patrick Crayton would have been one of the more attractive wide receivers, but he, too, signed a contract extension last week.

Teams also have the option of using the franchise tag, which is another reason the elite free-agent names out there now will never become available.

The Eagles, nevertheless, are hopeful that they can make some key free-agent additions. According to a league source, the Eagles rank only 20th in available salary-cap space. But they should improve that by at least a few spots when they release veteran defensive end Jevon Kearse.

A year ago, the Eagles hit in free agency with the signing of wide receiver Kevin Curtis, but they missed with their signings of veteran defensive tackles Montae Reagor and Ian Scott.

It wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles went after someone like Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen if he became available because the team philosophy puts a high priority on outside pass rushers. Allen, who has 131/2 sacks this season, would be an incredible complement to Trent Cole, who leads the Eagles with 121/2 sacks.

The Eagles have some difficult decisions regarding some of their own players as well.

At the top of that list is tight end L.J. Smith, an unrestricted free agent limited to 10 games this year by groin and knee injuries. Smith finished the season with career lows in catches (22), receiving yards (236), yards per catch (10.7) and touchdowns (1).

The Eagles never came close to an agreement with Smith's agent, Brian Mackler, when the sides tried to negotiate a contract extension, but two league sources have said the team likely will make another effort to re-sign him during the free-agency period. It's also possible the Eagles could place the franchise tag on Smith. The franchise tag for tight ends is $4.37 million.

Defensively, the Eagles probably will seek some help in the secondary because cornerback Lito Sheppard has not been able to remain healthy the last three seasons, and Brian Dawkins is 34 years old and had his share of injury problems this season.

The Eagles, as always, will rely on the draft for help. They figure to have at least 12 picks and possibly 13.

As for the McNabb situation, it seems to be an issue that is as dead as the Eagles' 2007 season will be at around 4 p.m. today.

Unless a team is willing to make the Eagles a blockbuster offer like the one the Dallas Cowboys received from Minnesota for running back Herschel Walker in 1989, then McNabb will be back for a 10th season in Philadelphia

From Brookover today...

I can't see KC letting Allen even get close to the market. But if they do, I still don't see the Eagles making a push to get him simply because of them being in the lower 3rd of teams with money to spend as well as Allen's off-the-field problems as being a drunkard.

LJ Smith is tricky to me. I really don't like him because he's shown himself to be a whiner. And still the guy doesnt know how to carry the farging ball. However, with that being said we all know how much this offense needs a TE to be a potent offense. Judging by what is available on the market, there is no one better. If Celek develops into a decent player, then they would have a pretty good 1-2 combo at the position.

[QB Eagles]

Signing LJ on the cheap, yes. Signing LJ for the average salary of the top 5 tight ends in the league, no thanks.

By the way, that $4.37 million would be for a non-exclusive tag only. LJ could still sign somewhere else if the Eagles don't match. The exclusive franchise tag would be a higher, yet-unspecified salary.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Well, they won't get him on the cheap because Smith and Mackler have been chirping about the salary of TEs all year long. LJ was popping off during camp about the deals signed by Graham (who did nothing in Denver) and Shiancoe (who sucked and still sucks but got a sweet deal from Minny).

My guess is some team will go after him (Tampa or Seattle) and pay him as a top 5 guy. Because I'm with you; they better not drop a load of cash on this guy.

[Magical_Retard]

"It's harder to sign free agents mainly because up until two years ago, there were a limited number of teams with significant cap room to sign players," Eagles president Joe Banner said. "You just weren't competing against as many teams. Now, 26 out of the 32 teams have a significant amount of cap room, and the other six probably still have room to do things."

A perfect example presented itself Friday when the Colts signed safety Bob Sanders to a five-year, $37.5 million extension that took arguably the best defensive player off the market before he ever got there. Dallas' Patrick Crayton would have been one of the more attractive wide receivers, but he, too, signed a contract extension last week.

Teams also have the option of using the franchise tag, which is another reason the elite free-agent names out there now will never become available.

The Eagles, nevertheless, are hopeful that they can make some key free-agent additions. According to a league source, the Eagles rank only 20th in available salary-cap space. But they should improve that by at least a few spots when they release veteran defensive end Jevon Kearse.

A year ago, the Eagles hit in free agency with the signing of wide receiver Kevin Curtis, but they missed with their signings of veteran defensive tackles Montae Reagor and Ian Scott.

It wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles went after someone like Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen if he became available because the team philosophy puts a high priority on outside pass rushers. Allen, who has 131/2 sacks this season, would be an incredible complement to Trent Cole, who leads the Eagles with 121/2 sacks.

The Eagles have some difficult decisions regarding some of their own players as well.

At the top of that list is tight end L.J. Smith, an unrestricted free agent limited to 10 games this year by groin and knee injuries. Smith finished the season with career lows in catches (22), receiving yards (236), yards per catch (10.7) and touchdowns (1).

The Eagles never came close to an agreement with Smith's agent, Brian Mackler, when the sides tried to negotiate a contract extension, but two league sources have said the team likely will make another effort to re-sign him during the free-agency period. It's also possible the Eagles could place the franchise tag on Smith. The franchise tag for tight ends is $4.37 million.

Defensively, the Eagles probably will seek some help in the secondary because cornerback Lito Sheppard has not been able to remain healthy the last three seasons, and Brian Dawkins is 34 years old and had his share of injury problems this season.

The Eagles, as always, will rely on the draft for help. They figure to have at least 12 picks and possibly 13.

As for the McNabb situation, it seems to be an issue that is as dead as the Eagles' 2007 season will be at around 4 p.m. today.

Unless a team is willing to make the Eagles a blockbuster offer like the one the Dallas Cowboys received from Minnesota for running back Herschel Walker in 1989, then McNabb will be back for a 10th season in Philadelphia

From Brookover today...

I can't see KC letting Allen even get close to the market. But if they do, I still don't see the Eagles making a push to get him simply because of them being in the lower 3rd of teams with money to spend as well as Allen's off-the-field problems as being a drunkard.

LJ Smith is tricky to me. I really don't like him because he's shown himself to be a whiner. And still the guy doesnt know how to carry the farging ball. However, with that being said we all know how much this offense needs a TE to be a potent offense. Judging by what is available on the market, there is no one better. If Celek develops into a decent player, then they would have a pretty good 1-2 combo at the position.

while i agree with banner about signing FA being harder now...it all just seems/sounds like a excuse they are already getting to use once they end up not doing much.

[Sgt PSN]

Interesting little tidbit I noticed while looking at some stats.

McNabb and Brady are currently tied for 3rd best Interception % at 1.4%.  Only Gerrard and Garcia threw a fewer % of ints this year and both have thrown a significant less amount of passes. 

With 2 more td passes it will mark the 4th time in his career that he's thrown 20+ tds with less than 10 ints.  Obviously, that number would be higher were it not for some injury shortened seasons. 

The point is, and it's nothing most of us don't know but a lot of us probably lose sight of from time to time is that #5 doesn't turn the ball over.  He may hold on to the ball and take a sack that kills a drive but it's always better than a pick.   

[Dillen]

You also need to take into account that he throws it at the ground 10% of the time, preventing a lot of picks.

[Sgt PSN]

But he's helping control the worm population. 

[Sgt PSN]

Andre Davis returned a kick for a 97 yd td....2nd of the year I believe.  I also think he's a FA this year.  Get Davis?

[Sgt PSN]

Solid finish to the season with 3 straight wins.  Yeah, they played themselves out of a decent draft pick but I think it's more important for this team to have rallied at the end of the year with McNabb leading the way than it would have been for them to struggle with any other QB. 

Not an overly exciting season to watch but I think this team is better than we thought they'd be at the beginning of the season even though the record may not indicate it.  The defense is much better than I think any of us thought they'd be and McNabb will be 100% to start next season. 

Mostly they need to do a little tweeking in the offseason rather than make major changes/adjustments.  Rebuilding is not necessary.

[fansince61]

Solid finish to the season with 3 straight wins.  Yeah, they played themselves out of a decent draft pick but I think it's more important for this team to have rallied at the end of the year with McNabb leading the way than it would have been for them to struggle with any other QB. 

Not an overly exciting season to watch but I think this team is better than we thought they'd be at the beginning of the season even though the record may not indicate it.  The defense is much better than I think any of us thought they'd be and McNabb will be 100% to start next season. 

Mostly they need to do a little tweeking in the offseason rather than make major changes/adjustments.  Rebuilding is not necessary.

WTF     How about a @1 WR lol

[Munson]

The promising thing is they played well enough to win the last 6 games, but only came away with a 3-3 record out of it. Throw in a true #1 WR, or create some more turn overs, or run the ball more...and they're 4-2 or 5-1 and in the playoffs.

Not to mention the stupid plays that cost them games earlier in the season.


All the young LB's look promising....Gaither, Bradley, Gocong, Jordan...How much better would this defense have been over the last few years if Trotter wasn't playing between Dhani farging Jones and Mark Sim/Matt Mccoy/whoever else. When he still had something left in the tank, that is.