Darren Howard visits today.

[EJ72]

That's a nice signing, congratulations. I agree with PP54, he'll probably never see that 6th year. The signing bonus will be spread over the first 5, then that 6th year will probably be a nice big base salary that will never leave Lurie's wallet.

I'm glad for you Eagles fans to finally have something noteworthy happen.  All we've done is resign a 2nd round waste, sign a Charlie Weis lookalike for the OL whose name I can't remember yet, watch a kicker we could've used walk away to sign elsewhere, and talk to a fashion model/OLB who we haven't signed.

If I lived for this stuff like some people do, I'd be bored to tears at this point. I'm pretty close as it is.

You'll be getting TO soon though, bro. That'll certainly bring some entertainment for ya. Especially when he starts dissin' the Eagles at his PC. Which we know he'll do.

It's looking like a possibility, and I can't say I'm excited about it. I feel the same way I felt about it when he first started going off in SF. The guy's a hell of a player, but a royal pain in the butt. I didn't visit your forum then, but I was one of the doomsayers saying wait and see.

I'll always root for the team, and it wouldn't be the first time we've had a player I didn't care for. Deion "Perpetual Turf Toe" Sanders was another and I got sick of all the crap Irvin got himself into. Hollywood Henderson was another PITA, but he actually paid for it when Landry dumped his butt..

I can see it now...

Broadcaster: Owens is tearing Bledsoe a new one on the sidelines!

5 minutes later...

Broadcaster: Touchdown, Bledsoe to Owens, 45 yards!
Me: Yeah!

1 minute later, me kneeling in front of the toilet:


Back to your regular programming.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I was one of the blind ones who thought him coming here would change him. Boy was I wrong! I pimped the guy like he was the frickin Pope and he turned out to be the same old turd that he was in SF.

I actually liked him since he stood on yall's star. My best friend is a Cowboys fan and it pissed him off so much that I became an Owens fan. So it'll be funny for me to call him when you guys sign him and trash talk him because he said he'd never root for Dallas if TO played there.

[SD_Eagle5]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2366207

Confirmed on ESPN

Free agent defensive end Darren Howard agreed to a six-year, $30.5 million deal Sunday night with the Philadelphia Eagles. Included in the deal was a $9.5 million signing bonus and a $1 million roster bonus, topping guarantees offered by his team of six years, the New Orleans Saints.

Nice, so glad they got this done. Next up should be a DT and possibly another LB, but I won't hold my breath.

[PhillyGirl]

  Nice news to wake up to.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Nice news to wake up to.

I'll second that. It's going to be so bad ass if Doogs comes back strong and hungry. Cole, Kearse, Howard and Doogs at the ends, Patterson, Walker, Rayburn and Bunkley as the tackles. That's a pretty farging serious D Line right there. I Clould play some "Pro-Bowl" caliber LB behind that group.

[Rome]

Love this deal.   

Now if they get off their farging asses and re-sign Runyan, I'll be even happier.

[PhillyGirl]

Love this deal.   

Now if they get off their farging asses and re-sign Runyan, I'll be even happier.

Nothing's going to happen with Runyan until he gets back from his trip out of the country (see Runyan thread)

[MURP]

Eagles spent the money to address a need.  Thats all I ask. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Saints had franchised Howard the past couple of years to try to keep him with the team on one-year deals but decided to let him hit the free agency market. The Eagles called him as free agency began and enticed him by offering $4 million a year and $7 million to sign.

After he decided to visit Philadelphia on Sunday, Howard received a better offer and more up front and wasted no time in agreeing to the deal.

I like that strategy.  Offer a reasonable but low amount over the phone, get him to come into town, then blow him away by upping the offer significantly.  Very nice.

P.S.  $10.5 million up front, $30.5 million over 6 years is almost exactly what Randle El got from the Skins.  I'll take Howard any day of the week, and especially on Sunday.

[Rome]

Love this deal.   

Now if they get off their farging asses and re-sign Runyan, I'll be even happier.

Nothing's going to happen with Runyan until he gets back from his trip out of the country (see Runyan thread)

I thought he was down here in Daytona for Bike Week?

Edited - nevermind, I see it now...   

[hunt]

bentley would'be been nice but a pass rushing d lineman was this team's biggest need....good move.

[ice grillin you]

eh well see how this works out but to me its not that exciting...howards will be 30 before the end of the season and is clearly at the downward point of his career...whereas a bently or randal el are young and have their best years  ahead of him...howard even when fully healthy last year was terrible

im hoping a change of scenery will do him wonders as he hated it in new orleans and wasnt putting forth his best effort because of that

[PhillyPhreak54]

So when they don't sign older players they get ripped.

Now they sign a guy at 29 and they get ripped.

[PhillyGirl]

So when they don't sign older players they get ripped.

Now they sign a guy at 29 and they get ripped.

They don't make big signings, they get ripped.

Now they do, and they get ripped.

[ice grillin you]

who ripped them?...i said it wasnt that exciting...bently was a 10...this guy is a 5 with the chance hes a complete bust but also the possibility that he returns to form and is a 8-9