Eagles sign Jabar Gaffney to a one year deal.

[The BIGSTUD]

To a one year deal.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/14108715.htm

The Eagles added a starting wide receiver last night when they agreed to a one-year deal with unrestricted free agent Jabar Gaffney, who started 50 of 64 games during his four seasons with the Houston Texans.

Details of the deal were not immediately available. It remains to be seen if he will move into the starting lineup with the Eagles, who also have receivers Reggie Brown, Todd Pinkston, Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen and Darnerien McCants on the roster. McCants also signed a one-year deal yesterday.

Gaffney, 25, is the cousin of Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, and the two played together at the University of Florida. Gaffney and Sheppard were drafted in 2002, with Sheppard going in the first round to the Eagles and Gaffney going with the first pick of the second round to the Texans. Gaffney's father, Derrick, also played in the NFL, spending eight seasons with the New York Jets.

The move to acquire Gaffney came just one day after the Eagles released Terrell Owens. Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus also represents Gaffney.

Though Gaffney never lived up to the potential of being such a high pick with the Texans, it should be noted that his first year was also Houston's first in the NFL. The Texans have had one of the worst offenses in the league and had trouble throwing the ball because they were unable to protect quarterback David Carr.

Gaffney, who was the Texans' No. 2 receiver, had his best year in terms of receiving yards in 2004 when he caught 41 passes for 632 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, he had a career-high 55 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns.

I don't know what to think. He's young and has upside, but if we go into the season with Reggie Brown, Gaffney, and Pinkston as our starters, that will be... um, not good.

Let's hope this just means McMullen is cut and we may look to draft or trade for another receiver, but I'm thinking this will be it for receivers. But I still like the signing. He's young and has upside.

[The BIGSTUD]

Here are Gaffney's stats compared to some of the big name receivers that were on the market.

Gaffney:
2002   Houston Texans   16   14   41   483   11.8   27   1   5   0   27
2003   Houston Texans   16   11   34   402   11.8   33   2   4   0   21
2004   Houston Texans   16   12   41   632   15.4   69   2   12   1   34
2005   Houston Texans   16   13   55   492   8.9   29   2   3   0   31

Randle El:
2002   Pittsburgh Steelers   16   0   47   489   10.4   36   2   7   0   22
2003   Pittsburgh Steelers   16   1   37   364   9.8   32   1   4   0   21
2004   Pittsburgh Steelers   16   7   43   601   14.0   39   3   10   0   29
2005   Pittsburgh Steelers   16   15   35   558   15.9   63   1   10   3   23

Givens:
2002   New England Patriots   12   0   9   92   10.2   30   1   1   0   4
2003   New England Patriots   13   5   34   510   15.0   57   6   9   2   24
2004   New England Patriots   15   12   56   874   15.6   50   3   13   3   47
2005   New England Patriots   13   10   59   738   12.5   40   2   9   1   32

Jurevicius:
1998   New York Giants   14   1   9   146   16.2   59   0   2   1   6
1999   New York Giants   16   1   18   318   17.7   71   1   3   2   12
2000   New York Giants   14   3   24   272   11.3   43   1   2   1   17
2001   New York Giants   14   9   51   706   13.8   46   3   10   1   36
2002   Tampa Bay Buccaneers   15   3   37   423   11.4   26   4   4   0   24
2003   Tampa Bay Buccaneers   5   2   12   118   9.8   22   2   1   0   9
2004   Tampa Bay Buccaneers   10   3   27   333   12.3   42   2   5   1   15
2005   Seattle Seahawks   16   11   55   694   12.6   52   10   9   1   39

[bobbyinlondon]

I see him as challenging Pinkston. He has very siliar stats to all of them--now let's see what happens when he has McNabb throwing to him instead of Carr. When you give up an average of what, 70 sacks per season, your wideouts aren't going to do much.

[Feva]

Meh.  Marginally improves the WR corps.  I guess he is Pinky insurance though.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I like Gaffney. I think he can be a decent number two. Has Pinky's ability, minus the inclination to be such a Hoyda. The Texans also used him to return kicks.


His old prospect profile:

Prospect Profile

Jabar Gaffney 
Position: Wide Receiver   
College: Florida 
Height: 6-1 
Weight: 193  (Now listed at 205)
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. 

Career Notes | Agility | High School | Personal | Stats



ANALYSIS
Positives: Solidly built pass catcher with long legs ... Very physical with defensive backs, using his hands well to push off to create space ... Does a nice job of positioning his body to go up and haul down the pass in traffic ... Shows excellent concentration, exploding in his cuts and executing fluid stutter-step moves in his routes ... Long strider with explosive acceleration in the open ... Has great body control and the ability to make the acrobatic catches ... Stays low in and out of his cuts, displaying the separation quickness to consistently go deep ... Has superb acceleration and attacks defenders after the catch ... Extends and adjusts well going for the ball in traffic ... Has the power to drive defenders off when breaking back for the ball ... Gets into his routes fluidly, using his quick feet to make sudden moves after the catch.

Negatives: Has toughness going over the middle, but rarely faces up to the defender when blocking ... Needs to drop his hips quicker when running patterns ... Has great hands, but will double catch at times ... Fiesty runner after the catch, but is more of a straight-line type, not showing the shake needed to consistently elude ... Has a pair of the smallest hands in college football (7½-inches).

Even Andre Johnson, with of that dude's ability, looked like total ass last year in the Texans offense. Totally screwed one of my fantasy teams too.

[Feva]

Yeah... I know he has potential, but I guess I just need to see proof that it was the Houston offense that was holding him back.

You know the deal with those Florida WR's...

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Yeah... I know he has potential, but I guess I just need to see proof that it was the Houston offense that was holding him back.

You know the deal with those Florida WR's...

No doubt.

However, in an offense that wasn't by any means spectacular, he still had decent numbers. The one thing I've found while poking around about him is that since he has turned pro, he has never missed a game.

This whole story does smell a bit fishy though. A guy as young and with as much upside as Gaffney, getting just a one year deal? He has put up decent numbers in the past, he's no number one for sure, but why would he take a one year deal? Either way, I still hope they bring in another WR to give Reggie some competition.

This move really signals to me only that they are very unsure about Pinky's return to his former self.

From the Texans website:

PRO: Fast receiver who hasn't missed a game in four NFL seasons...exceptional athlete who boasts good hands and balance...teams with WR Andre Johnson to give Houston one of the NFL's best young receiving tandems...has already started 49 games at age 25...can boast 171 career receptions for 2,009 yards and seven TDs...originally drafted by the Texans with the first pick of the second round (33rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

[PhillyGirl]

Not quite sure about you guys, but if this was our going to be our new starter, I don't think he'd be signed to a one-year deal.

Sounds more like a "lets see what he can do since we don't know how Pinkston will be and we don't think Wilbur is worth the gloves he uses".

And because they make a one-year deal with the guy doesn't take other guys out of the picture.

But of course, lets just all jump to conclusions that this is all they'll do.  Like the title of this thread. Nice ASSUMPTION.

[rjs246]

He's an above average #3 and a below average #2. Get Walker.

[PhillyGirl]

He's an above average #3 and a below average #2. Get Walker.

Its impossible to know for sure what he really is after having played with that offense the past few years.

[SD_Eagle5]

Not quite sure about you guys, but if this was our going to be our new starter, I don't think he'd be signed to a one-year deal.

Sounds more like a "lets see what he can do since we don't know how Pinkston will be and we don't think Wilbur is worth the gloves he uses".

That summed it up pretty well. He's insurance. I'm fine with Gaffney for now because at the very least he provides competition and depth. Still holding out for either Walker or Moulds.

[Feva]

Yeah, as long as he's insurance/depth... it's all good.

[Philly_Crew]

Good signing!  I almost wish it was for a longer contract since I think he will flourish here.  There will still be a lot of pressure on Reggie to be a #1 WR.  If he is up to it, our passing game should be pretty good.

[MadMarchHare]

Sounds kinda like the Barber contract a few years ago, except he's proving his skills rather than his recovery.
Eh, at least he's big.

[ice grillin you]

same scenario....i like gaffney...but....

if gaffney is just another body thrown into the mix with what they already have and the best three come out on top then its trouble

if gaffney is the #3 guy behind reggie and moulds then its a very nice move


as for the people yelling to get walker...becareful what you wish for...he had a very very serious knee injury....theres no guarantee hes gonna be 100% next year much less be back to what he was...he may NEVER be that