News for Eagles FO: Draft != Free Agency

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Look, there are still moves that can be made before, or even after, the draft.  Don't get me wrong.  And the secrecy of the Eagles' front office could be misleading us that they aren't showing interest in some players that they possibly are.  I guess my bottom line is that if a 6-10 season combined with a $17 million increase in the salary cap (from 2005 to 2006) is not enough reason for you to replace the parts of the starting lineup with better players, then there is a persistent stubbornness in the philosophy that needs to be cut out of the equation.

Hey, we'll see what happens.  I'm just saying that if the team goes into the season with Todd Pinkston or Greg Lewis starting at WR, they failed.  If Dhani Jones is still starting at LB, they failed.  If Donovan regularly has inadequate time to throw and/or the running game sucks ass...

[Rome]

Agreed, FF. 

To be fair, though, they have improved two positions that were pretty woeful last year and have shored up the backup TE spot.  If they're done in free agency, then they're kidding themselves.  There are still players out there who could help the team immensely. 

Hopefully they're not done, but if they are, some serious introspection on their parts is required.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Agreed, FF. 

To be fair, though, they have improved two positions that were pretty woeful last year and have shored up the backup TE spot.  If they're done in free agency, then they're kidding themselves.  There are still players out there who could help the team immensely. 

Hopefully they're not done, but if they are, some serious introspection on their parts is required.

Yep.  That's all I'm saying...

(and this is assuming that they are signing a backup QB and Runyan also)

[reese125]

Agreed, FF. 

To be fair, though, they have improved two positions that were pretty woeful last year and have shored up the backup TE spot.  If they're done in free agency, then they're kidding themselves.  There are still players out there who could help the team immensely. 

Hopefully they're not done, but if they are, some serious introspection on their parts is required.

Players out there in the FA market? Or waiting for the vets to be cut? I'd take the latter because there is nobody left worth spending decent money on...especially the kind of foolish loot that other teams have been paying these complimentary players....

[hunt]

offseason goals:

- upgrade d-line...howard helps but i'd like to see a dt added as well.
- upgrade lb's...i'm not sure replacing adams with barber is enough.
- upgrade o-line...re-signing runyan would prevent them from downgrading the o-line but no improvements have been made thus far.
- upgrade wr's ...to was released, as expected...still a position of need.
- find some real backup qb's...garcia visiting today?
- add a bigger rb...nadda.

[Rome]

We're now five days into free agency and there is still a shteinload of talent out there to be had.

Personally, I'm hoping the Eagles were simply letting the suckers overspend (which they clearly have, IMO) and then dive into the market.  I agree with Hunt, although I think Howard was a terrific signing.  In fact, if it's not too early, I'm going to go ahead and be his official sponsor for 2006.

[rjs246]

offseason goals:

- upgrade d-line...howard helps but i'd like to see a dt added as well.
- upgrade lb's...i'm not sure replacing adams with barber is enough.
- upgrade o-line...re-signing runyan would prevent them from downgrading the o-line but no improvements have been made thus far.
- upgrade wr's ...to was released, as expected...still a position of need.
- find some real backup qb's...garcia visiting today?
- add a bigger rb...nadda.

I would add that getting a good backup TE was on my list, which they did, even if it wasn't a perfect fit.

There is still plenty of time, but when laid out in front of you like this, its hard to ignore the fact that not much has been done.

[SunMo]

There is still plenty of time, but when laid out in front of you like this, its hard to ignore the fact that not much has been done.

it's easy to ignore that fact, just ask Rome

[reese125]

offseason goals:

- upgrade d-line...howard helps but i'd like to see a dt added as well.
- upgrade lb's...i'm not sure replacing adams with barber is enough.
- upgrade o-line...re-signing runyan would prevent them from downgrading the o-line but no improvements have been made thus far.
- upgrade wr's ...to was released, as expected...still a position of need.
- find some real backup qb's...garcia visiting today?
- add a bigger rb...nadda.

"If the Eagles keep the status quo at the receiver position, they'd go into the season with Reggie Brown as the No. 1 target and either Todd Pinkston or Greg Lewis as the No. 2 guy. The other veteran receiver on the roster is Billy McMullen."

I mean, if you dont seriously fall out of your chair with laughter when you see Billy McMullen as the veteran reciever...how is he still on the team for the love of....

[rjs246]

Stop saying 'for the love of...'

And learn to quote.

[BigEd76]

Did you just use "!=" in the title of a thread? You just won the award for biggest nerd of all time. I'm dumbfounded.

[computer geek] Would "<>" or "ne" have made it less geeky? [/geek]

[Rome]

There is still plenty of time, but when laid out in front of you like this, its hard to ignore the fact that not much has been done.

it's easy to ignore that fact, just ask Rome

Wow.  I have a Sun Mo hanging from my testicles.  How'd that happen?   

Anyway...

[SD_Eagle5]

As of right now I agree wholeheartedly with everything said in the initial post, here are the moves I'd like to see made.

- Sign Rocky Bernard. Dude is young, fits JJ's profile of a DT, and still has a tremendous upside
- Draft Bunkley. Bernard, Bunkley, Patterson, Rayburn/Walker is a young solid D-line. Problem solved at that spot for the next 3-4 seasons.
- Trade for Walker. This fills a need and also saves us from using an early draft pick.
- Re-sign Runyan. Draft a OT in the second and groom him while Runyan fills in.

That still leaves us with roughly $10-$12 million under the cap. Absolutely no reason why these moves can't be made. What do I see happening? Nothing, we'll maybe sign Garcia, the draft will come, then maybe we'll sign 1 decent player after June 1st and that will be that.

[hunt]

offseason goals:

- upgrade d-line...howard helps but i'd like to see a dt added as well.
- upgrade lb's...i'm not sure replacing adams with barber is enough.
- upgrade o-line...re-signing runyan would prevent them from downgrading the o-line but no improvements have been made thus far.
- upgrade wr's ...to was released, as expected...still a position of need.
- find some real backup qb's...garcia visiting today?
- add a bigger rb...nadda.

I would add that getting a good backup TE was on my list, which they did, even if it wasn't a perfect fit.

yep...add backup te to the list.  i missed that one.

[Beermonkey]

Hey, we'll see what happens.  I'm just saying that if the team goes into the season with Todd Pinkston or Greg Lewis starting at WR, they failed.  If Dhani Jones is still starting at LB, they failed.  If Donovan regularly has inadequate time to throw and/or the running game sucks ass...

I completely agree too.

DT, LB & WR need(ed) to be addressed before the draft, as I get the impression that even the Eagles aren't happy with some of their players in those positions.  I do not want to see them try & fill those needs exclusively though the draft & pin your hopes on a guy who never played in the NFL before.

I have a hard time believing that there are not even any mid-level guys available that would be an improvement over what they have already. Sign them & if your draft picks beat them out, great, if not you didn't invest too much.