The Eagles Offseason Thread(all aboard the Brian Finneran bandwagon)

[Diomedes]

Get Walker?

Javon Walker: Broncos are "not for me"
By Bill Williamson The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 12/31/2007 11:11:42 AM MST

Javon Walker dropped the first bomb of the Broncos' offseason this morning.

In a rambling briefing with the press, Walker essentially said he longer wants to be with the Broncos.

"It's not for Javon," Walker said. "It's not for me."

Walker bounced and back and forth and said that he'll do whatever the Broncos decide but he concluded by saying that being here is not for him.

Walker even suggested a return to Green Bay. The Broncos acquired him from the Packers in April 2006 for a second round draft choice.

Walker was unhappy with the Packers when he was dealt.

Walker missed seven games this season with a knee injury and second-year player Brandon Marshall flourished, catching 1002 balls.

Walker has $5.4 million in option bonus money coming to him this year and the team was planning on keeping him. However, after his bombshell, the team will likely seriously consider parting ways.

Holy shtein that's a lot of receptions.

[MDS]

id give very little for walker. attitude and injury problems aint a good combo.

[SD_Eagle5]

10 guys who should go away

10 guys who should go away

The list was a lot longer last year, and that's a good sign for the Eagles.

It's the list of Eagles we never want to see again.

Nothing personal. Some are great guys. Do great work in the community, donate to charities, buy Girl Scout cookies, etc.

We're just tired of seeing them play for the Eagles.

Here's 10 of them.

1) Thomas Tapeh.

Four years in, I still can't figure out why he's in the NFL. In an offense built on the precept that every eligible receiver is supposed to be a legitimate option, Tapeh has 25 receptions in three seasons, seven this year. To go along with 69 career rushing yards.

Tapeh, an unrestricted free agent, is a barely adequate blocker. Brian Westbrook is better at half the size. And a tad more skilled.

The Eagles use the fullback maybe 30 percent of the time, and Tapeh brings nothing to the table. He's so slow special teams coach Rory Segrest recently pulled him off every single special team.

Whoever heard of a fullback who can't even play special teams?

2) Matt Schobel

Doesn't matter that L.J. Smith is leaving via free agency. The Eagles have to find two tight ends. Schobel came here billed as a tight end who couldn't block but was a gifted receiver. Turns out he's neither.

Nice guy, but 24 receptions in two seasons in which he's started 10 games isn't getting it done. Schobel is signed through 2010 at $850,000, $950,000 and $1.15 million. The Eagles can find a better way to spend that money.

3) Jevon Kearse

Here's his career arc (not counting seasons in which he was hurt: 14 1/2, 11 1/2, 10, 9 1/2, 7 1/2, 7 1/2, 3 1/2.

Notice a pattern?

4) Darren Howard

Because the Kearse signing turned out so lousy, it's easy to forget that the main reason the Eagles overspent so dramatically on Howard is because they were trying to find somebody who could pressure the quarterback when it became obvious Kearse couldn't.

The Eagles will have to eat about $2.1 million in cap room to release Howard, but they'll save the $2 1/2 million he's due to earn next year. Since recording 11 sacks in 2004 for the Saints, Howard has 9 1/2 sacks in 43 games, just one this year.

If it wasn't for Kearse, Howard might be the worst free agency signing the Eagles have made in the last decade.

5) Todd Herremans.


Actually, we don't want to see Herremans released or traded. We just don't want to see him at left guard anymore.

Let's face it. Herremans is a tackle. He's a solid backup on both sides, but even though he played OK last year he just isn't a guard. The Eagles need to either play Max Jean-Gilles at left guard or sign a proven free agent. Something. Upgrading left guard will make center Jamaal Jackson better, too. Make one switch, improve two spots.

6) Montae Reagor.

Inspirational story. Bounced back from nearly fatal car accident a year ago to revive career. Only problem is that he barely played. Even when Brodrick Bunkley missed the Seattle game with an injury, Reagor was inactive.

Oh, and this is with a $2.32 million 2007 price tag.

LaJuan Ramsey isn't the answer. Kimo von Oelhoffen isn't the answer. Reagor isn't either.

7) William James.

The ultimate Player to be Named Later. The one-time Will Peterson began the season as Jim Johnson's hand-picked challenger to Sheldon Brown. And he's finishing it in obscurity, mired behind Joselio Hanson., who has outplayed James since Day 1.

Maybe he needs to change his name again. But he could change it to Eric Allen and it wouldn't help him cover James Thrash.

The Eagles' belief in James was as mystifying. A $1.1 million waste.

Reno Mahe.

Hall of Fame guy. But if the Eagles can't find anybody else to return punts, they should just fold the franchise.

9) Greg Lewis / Hank Baskett / Jason Avant

Any one of them would be a fine fifth receiver. But they can't be three, four and five. Paging Na Brown.

10) Jerome McDougle

You have to admire how hard he worked to overcome constant injuries and a terrifying shooting, but when a first-round pick hasn't panned out after five years, it's a wild guess he's not going to pan out in his sixth either.

Kearse and Howard are gone, so the Eagles may as well clean house at defensive end. Keep Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas and Victor Abiamiri and get rid of everyone else.

[Rome]

"It's not for Javon," Walker said. "It's not for me."

What is it about wide receivers that they insist on referring to themselves in the third person?

[rjs246]

8. Reno Mahe.

Hall of Fame guy. But if the Eagles can't find anybody else to return punts, they should just fold the franchise.

The 'fold the franchise' comment is a nice touch and could be applied to a few of the other players listed above as well...

[Diomedes]

I completely agree with everything on that list.

[MadMarchHare]

Holy farg.  I didn't even realize McDougle was still on the team.

[SD_Eagle5]

Moats should be on the list

[Diomedes]

Yeah, something about you can't cut an injured player.

I think he'll just stay perpetually injured until he retires as an Eagle in 2012.

[rjs246]

I thought Moats was dead.

[Rome]

Someone mentioned Moats at the game yesterday and I thought he was kidding.  I completely forgot that he was injured and not outright released.

[rjs246]

DEAD

[Diomedes]

Moats should be on the list

yeah, it's hardly complete

[Don Ho]

id give very little for walker. attitude and injury problems aint a good combo.

agreed.  trouble.

[rjs246]

farg that. He isn't a team-crusher like TO always has been. He's just got an attitude. He's a prima-donna and that sucks, but I'd take him for a year or two. If healthy he makes the offense a whole hell of a lot better.