Looking Ahead: Offseason Wishlist

[MURP]

I don't see Wayne being a Peerless Price.  Wayne is stronger, a better route runner, and has better hands than Price.  Price was more of a one dimensional, down the field type receiver.

I certainly don't think he comes in here and is a Pro Bowl #1 receiver, but he has really improved over the last couple of years and I think he has what it takes to be a very good receiver even w/o Harrison on the other side.   

I agree with this.  I've had a few talks about Wayne at the tailgates along the same lines.   I think that Wayne will get paid more than he is worth, but looking at how bad the Eagles WR situation is, sometimes you have to overpay a little to get an upgrade.   Brown,Lewis, Pinkston, McMullen, McCants etc is a poor lineup of WR's IMO.  All those years of forcing DMAC to do everything with Thrash/Pinkston was so damn frustrating.    Next years projected WR lineup is not comforting in the least.   Even the biggest Pinkston fan has to be concerned with him coming off of such a serious injury.   Reggie Brown is really an unknown at this point.  Sure, he looks like he could develop into a nice WR, but he certainly isnt a lock for anything.  God forbid he doesnt improve.   I think you have to assume the worst which would be that Reggie Brown stays about the same and Pinkston never really recovers.   That leaves you with a very average Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown, two wastes of time in McMullen and McCants and a prayer in Pinkston.  That might be ok if your an expansion team, but it's a joke for a supposed super bowl team.   Wayne is better than any Eagles WR on the roster now.  Expecting him to be a TO is not reasonable, but with the pathetic free agent crop and the pathetic current WR's the Eagles have I wouldnt think twice about paying Wayne. 

[bobbyinlondon]

I don't see Wayne being a Peerless Price.  Wayne is stronger, a better route runner, and has better hands than Price.  Price was more of a one dimensional, down the field type receiver.

I certainly don't think he comes in here and is a Pro Bowl #1 receiver, but he has really improved over the last couple of years and I think he has what it takes to be a very good receiver even w/o Harrison on the other side.   

And PFT had expected cap numbers the other day...not sure where they got them, and of course the cap number by itself is meaningless without knowing how many players each team has signed through next year (ie - if team A had only $5m of cap space, but all their players signed and team B had $20m of cap space, but only had 10 starters under contract, than team A would be in much better cap shape), but according to them, the Eagles are only in the middle of the pack in cap space for 2006.

Early word is that the official cap number for 2006 will land somewhere between $92 million and $95 million per team, up from $85 million this year and higher than the previously anticipated range of $89 million to $90 million.

Even at $95 million, several teams need to trim more than $20 million in 2006 payroll.  The Jets and Raiders each exceed $120 million, and the Broncos have more than $118 million committed to next season.

The Chiefs are at $114 million, and the taterskins are at $112 million.

Despite a serious purge in 2005, the Titans are at $102 million.

The Falcons are a hair under $102 million, and the Bucs are at $100 million.

The other teams currently north of the anticipated spending limit are the Fins ($97 million) and the Steelers ($96 million).

At the other end of the spectrum, the Browns are at only $61 million and the Cardinals are at $62 million.  The Vikings are at $68 million, giving them yet another offseason with more than $20 million on hand in an effort to upgrade the roster.

The Packers are $70 million and the Bengals are at $71 million.

At $71 million, the Seahawks have plenty of room to sign running back Shaun Alexander, if they so choose.

The Chargers also are at $71 million, which means they can keep both Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, if they so choose.

The Niners are at $74 million, and the Bears and Jags are at $75 million.

The folks within $20 million of the expected cap are as follows:  Rams ($76 million); Ravens ($77 million); Texans ($78 million); Saints ($82 million); Bills ($82 million); Lions ($83 million); Eagles ($85 million); Giants ($89 million); Cowboys ($90 million); Pats ($92 million); Colts ($92 million); and Panthers ($93 million).

I wouldn't trust PFT.com's numbers, even if they did get them from the NFL. A lot of things they don't include is Owens' contract is included in that number, so that's 8.2M refunded, they have 6.2M still this year that they'll write into NLTBEs that they'll get refunded next year--now, that's already 14.4M, plus, money they'll save by cuttin gcertain players. I look for the Eagles to have in the region of 25-30M to spend.

[Larry]

The way I see it, the FO only puts out the big money towards, what they consider, elite players:  Runyan was the best RT in the league when he signed here...Kearse was an elite pass rusher...Owens is judged by many to be the best receiver in the league.  If you're not in "elite" territory, the Iggs will just wait until June to make a "bargain-basement" offer.

Using that criterion, I believe there's a greater chance of us going after someone like Peterson rather than Wayne.  Peterson -- when he's healthy -- is the best covering OLB in the NFL; he can shut down these monster TEs.  Wayne, on the other hand, is the #2 receiver on a team chock full of weapons and Peyton Manning, a QB who makes Stokely look good.  The only obstacle, of course, will be if Banner & Reid are willing to fork over that kinda money for a LB.

[rjs246]

Get Randel El and Wayne. Wayne, Brown and Randel El for the receiving corps would be pretty sweet and Randel El would immediately upgrade the return game and can anyone say emergency quarterback?

But seriously, getting both would be a miracle. One or the other and Keith Bulluck would be a very very nice start.

[MDS]

Update the mustard packs!

[Feva]

Keith Bulluck anyone?

PFT reports that he's due a $7.1 cap number next year.  Could be another Titan firehouse sale.

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187502

He went to Syracuse. And (I'm pretty sure) he helps out McNabb with the 5 foundation (or whatever it's called) in Philly and then spends his time, while there in Philly, with JK. 

For the ht people, he's 6'3" OLB

Keith Bulluck in an Eagles uniform would make ma a very, very, very... happy man. 

[Feva]

I don't see Wayne being a Peerless Price.  Wayne is stronger, a better route runner, and has better hands than Price.  Price was more of a one dimensional, down the field type receiver.

I certainly don't think he comes in here and is a Pro Bowl #1 receiver, but he has really improved over the last couple of years and I think he has what it takes to be a very good receiver even w/o Harrison on the other side.   

I agree with this.  I've had a few talks about Wayne at the tailgates along the same lines.   I think that Wayne will get paid more than he is worth, but looking at how bad the Eagles WR situation is, sometimes you have to overpay a little to get an upgrade.   Brown,Lewis, Pinkston, McMullen, McCants etc is a poor lineup of WR's IMO.  All those years of forcing DMAC to do everything with Thrash/Pinkston was so damn frustrating.    Next years projected WR lineup is not comforting in the least.   Even the biggest Pinkston fan has to be concerned with him coming off of such a serious injury.   Reggie Brown is really an unknown at this point.  Sure, he looks like he could develop into a nice WR, but he certainly isnt a lock for anything.  God forbid he doesnt improve.   I think you have to assume the worst which would be that Reggie Brown stays about the same and Pinkston never really recovers.   That leaves you with a very average Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown, two wastes of time in McMullen and McCants and a prayer in Pinkston.  That might be ok if your an expansion team, but it's a joke for a supposed super bowl team.   Wayne is better than any Eagles WR on the roster now.  Expecting him to be a TO is not reasonable, but with the pathetic free agent crop and the pathetic current WR's the Eagles have I wouldnt think twice about paying Wayne. 

I agree 100%

[rjs246]

What I want this offseason in no particular order.
1. Two first round picks. Whether from trading up or down. This way they can draft one of the top OLBs and a first round OL.
2. A playmaking veteran OLB named Will Witherspoon.
3. A fullback for the love of god.
4. A real running back with size (or failing size, just a RB with the ability to run up the gut).
5. A free agent WR who can contribute on offense and special teams named Antwaan Randle-El.
6. Playcalling responsibilities stripped from Andy Reid.
7. Seventeen blowjobs.
8. Legitimate talent and depth on the DL, I don't care where.

[rjs246]

Semi-interesting stuff from NFLDraftBlitz.com.

OFFSEASON PLAN – Part 1

            It's been argued what the Philadelphia Eagles need to do this off-season. The ongoing debate regarding which player(s) would be a perfect fit, according to position, will continue into spring. Part 1 of the off-season plan will analyze certain positions in need of an upgrade, with solutions coming from both free agency and the 2006 draft.



This Eagle team faced the toughest training camp in its history, never really shedding the negativity that cast ominous shadows across Lehigh valley. From gun-shot wounds to sit-ups, the 2005 season will be remembered as a season to, well.....forget. The expectations for this team, a few months removed from a Superbowl run, went sour like a box of milk left to spoil in the August sun. Negative contributions from T.O., the front office, Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, and Jerome McDougle launched the 2005 season strait down. Situations were left to spiral out of control as the powers that be decided to brush grumblings aside, desperately trying to down-play the building dissention. That's the way this regime had done it in the past--dismissing problems as "in-house" issues that would be resolved as quickly as they had started. These problems would have been a daunting challenge for the United States government to squelch, let alone Andy Reid and his patent "cloak of silence." Andy Reid is big, but even he could not cover up the multitude of problems that swirled about camp. No one could. Not even the "gold-standard" of all organizations in professional sports....sniff.



What's done is done. Now Philadelphia fans and those who cover the team must look ahead and cleanse our collective pallets of this bad taste. This team, as dreadful as they now appear, has the core (once healthy) to get back in the saddle and gallop towards a championship next year. Donovan McNabb, who's received more criticism than Rosanne Barr's rendition of the National Anthem, is still a top quarterback in this league. Once healthy he should return to prominence and lead "his" team into familiar waters. The only real criticism that should concern Eagle fans is not his recent poor play, but questions regarding his leadership ability. McNabb had relied on his play to lead in the past but faltered once faced with verbal opposition in the locker-room. The T.O. saga did more to damage his reputation as the team leader than any external verbal assault he had previously absorbed. This includes the ridiculous criticism by the physically obese and mentally thin Rush Limbaugh, booing "draft-nicks" and hip-shot digs from call-in philosophers who flood the air-waves of 610 WIP (local sports talk radio). McNabb will be just fine and yes, good enough to win the big game.



There are many positions that desperately need upgrades. It's unfortunately not limited to a few positions, but rather a handful. This season acted as a magnifying glass in displaying the deficiencies of a team searching for a pulse.



OLB – There's been a revolving door at the outside "SAM" and "WIL" linebacker position over the last 5 seasons. Carlos Emmons left for the rival Giants and Shawn Barber saw a bigger paycheck in K.C. Since then, a caravan of mediocrity has strolled into town for a lesson in futility. Nate Wayne was consistently terrible aside from a handful of big plays on MNF. Mark Simoneau, playing out of position from the experiment at MLB, has been painful to watch. His special teams play would be the only reason I see a future for him in the NFL. Keith Adams, or as he's been playfully referred to as the "bullet," is no more than a special teams gunner in this league. Let's not for get the unforgettable Barry Gardner and James Darling, who played like their shoes were constructed of lead. Why did time have to take its toll on Willy T. and Seth Joyner?



Greg Richmond will have a chance to become a mainstay once he rehabs his problematic back. And then there's Matt McCoy. The Eagles in a half-hearted attempt to address the outside drafted McCoy out of San Diego State. McCoy was not even the best LB on that S.D. State team.....Kirk Morrison, who was drafted by the Raiders (after the Eagles pick) was clearly a better prospect. His future is a crap-shoot, but as Eagle fans have learned from Reid: linebackers are merely a by-product of a strong defense.



Solution:  Sign Julian Peterson (LOLB – San Francisco). Drafting a player in the latter rounds would be wise but does not do anything for the defense now. Peterson is an elite pass rushing LB and is solid when covering TE's and RB's in pass coverage. His price tag may be higher than what the Eagles would like to spend on a position they don't place high value on. It's undoubtedly the right move at this time. With Trotter in the middle flanked by Peterson, the defense could be much more aggressive in applying pressure on opposing QB's. Peterson's ability in pass-coverage allows the entire secondary more freedom. Not having a linebacker whose proficient in man coverage, handcuffs the safeties. This move alone would improve the defense dramatically. It's time to acknowledge the impact a quality OLB can have on the overall success of a defensive unit.



FB – Josh Parry has improved to the point of serviceable. The converted linebacker has worked hard in practice and given the team his greatest effort. Unfortunately it's not enough as the running game has looked cumbersome at best. Yes, there has been other contributing factors that have prevented the running game from becoming a viable option, but this is clearly a weakness since Jon Ritchie went down to injury. A fullback who can not only run block but contribute as a receiver would add another dimension to Andy's scheme.



Solution:  The ultimate solution to this area of need would come by way of the 2006 draft. He's a throwback workhorse who not only dominates at the point of attack, but becomes a serious receiving and rushing threat when used properly. Brian Leonard out of Rutgers is the perfect fit for the WCO. He would not only help talented players like Westbrook and Moats find daylight, but could become the solution to the Eagles short- yardage needs. His ideal size at 6-2 (235lbs) and rare athleticism for the FB position, makes him a weapon that can help the entire offense immediately. Selecting Leonard in the second round would add rare toughness, skill and versatility to an offense that would pose a multitude of match-up problems for opposing defenses.



*****Part 2 will explore solutions for the Offensive Line, Defensive Tackle and Wide Receiver. Please send questions or comments to the link at the top-right of the page. *****

[bobbyinlondon]

I don't see Wayne being a Peerless Price.  Wayne is stronger, a better route runner, and has better hands than Price.  Price was more of a one dimensional, down the field type receiver.

I certainly don't think he comes in here and is a Pro Bowl #1 receiver, but he has really improved over the last couple of years and I think he has what it takes to be a very good receiver even w/o Harrison on the other side.   

And PFT had expected cap numbers the other day...not sure where they got them, and of course the cap number by itself is meaningless without knowing how many players each team has signed through next year (ie - if team A had only $5m of cap space, but all their players signed and team B had $20m of cap space, but only had 10 starters under contract, than team A would be in much better cap shape), but according to them, the Eagles are only in the middle of the pack in cap space for 2006.

Early word is that the official cap number for 2006 will land somewhere between $92 million and $95 million per team, up from $85 million this year and higher than the previously anticipated range of $89 million to $90 million.

Even at $95 million, several teams need to trim more than $20 million in 2006 payroll.  The Jets and Raiders each exceed $120 million, and the Broncos have more than $118 million committed to next season.

The Chiefs are at $114 million, and the taterskins are at $112 million.

Despite a serious purge in 2005, the Titans are at $102 million.

The Falcons are a hair under $102 million, and the Bucs are at $100 million.

The other teams currently north of the anticipated spending limit are the Fins ($97 million) and the Steelers ($96 million).

At the other end of the spectrum, the Browns are at only $61 million and the Cardinals are at $62 million.  The Vikings are at $68 million, giving them yet another offseason with more than $20 million on hand in an effort to upgrade the roster.

The Packers are $70 million and the Bengals are at $71 million.

At $71 million, the Seahawks have plenty of room to sign running back Shaun Alexander, if they so choose.

The Chargers also are at $71 million, which means they can keep both Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, if they so choose.

The Niners are at $74 million, and the Bears and Jags are at $75 million.

The folks within $20 million of the expected cap are as follows:  Rams ($76 million); Ravens ($77 million); Texans ($78 million); Saints ($82 million); Bills ($82 million); Lions ($83 million); Eagles ($85 million); Giants ($89 million); Cowboys ($90 million); Pats ($92 million); Colts ($92 million); and Panthers ($93 million).

I wouldn't trust PFT.com's numbers, even if they did get them from the NFL. A lot of things they don't include is Owens' contract is included in that number, so that's 8.2M refunded, they have 6.2M still this year that they'll write into NLTBEs that they'll get refunded next year--now, that's already 14.4M, plus, money they'll save by cuttin gcertain players. I look for the Eagles to have in the region of 25-30M to spend.

This has been explained by the guy who does the Eagles cap on http://www.geocities/eaglescap. It has to do with the CBA and the 30% rule on salaries. The upshot is that if the CBA is not extended in time, and 2007 becomes an uncapped year, several Eagles, McNabb included, are going to have to have money added to their 2006 salaries to make up the difference. Thus, where once it was thought that the Eagles might have at least 30M under the cap to spend, that number will be 18M.

[rjs246]

*Nevermind. He's already said that he's staying in school. bastich.

[SunMo]

the decision alone solidifies that he's just another Rutgers dummy

[rjs246]

He'll be a freak though. Well, a freak for any team that actually knows how to use a FB.

[SunMo]

so his chances of being used correctly in the NFL are approximately 1 in 16?

[rjs246]

I'll give credit to more than two coaches for using FBs well, but yeah, it's probably somewhere around 25-30%. Which means the kid will probably end up being a RB and fading into oblivion sooner than later.