2007 Tight Ends Failure

[ice grillin you]

well when you said "unfortunately" i got the impression that youd rather him not be starting next year

[Rome]

I'd rather the Eagles draft a stud or get a legitimate free agent starter.

I'm sick of the plug & pray bullshtein that the Eagles regularly employ.

Admitting that and expecting anything different from those clowns are two different things entirely, though.

[Seabiscuit36]

Celek is a manbearpig that much is known, getting Clark would make me so wet i would fall off seats

[mussa]

have you ever shtein so bad you could taste it?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Colts just dropped a load of cash on Bob Sanders.  Maybe that helps free up Clark.

Probably not.

[ice grillin you]

it helps free up the franchise tag for him

[Diomedes]

precisely

[QB Eagles]

Colts just dropped a load of cash on Bob Sanders.  Maybe that helps free up Clark.

Probably not.

Probably the opposite, because now they don't have to worry about which of the two to apply the franchise tag to.

[Diomedes]

I wonder how Clark will handle getting tagged.  He was a real bitch about that EA sports ad he didn't like.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Smith's career as an Eagle may be over
Saturday, December 29, 2007
BY JOHN NALBONE

PHILADELPHIA -- Free safety Brian Dawkins and cornerback Lito Sheppard are listed as doubtful for tomorrow's season finale against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field.

Veteran tight end L.J. Smith is out.

Possibly for good.

Smith admitted this week that negotiations for a new contract with the Eagles (7-8) have broken down, and the unrestricted free agent come March is not about to risk his future and a potential payday elsewhere for one meaningless game.

"At this point, I don't want to get hurt. Period," the former Rutgers University standout said. "I don't care if it's free agency or not. If my knee is not right, my knee is not right. I can't rush it."

Smith, the Eagles' second- round draft pick in 2003, played in only 10 games this season due to groin, sports hernia and knee inju ries. He missed all of the post-draft mini-camps recovering from the hernia surgery, only to break down after only a few days into preseason camp with a severe groin strain.

Smith's final totals for 2007 are 22 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown -- not exactly a glowing resume' to take into free agency.

Since 2003, Smith has 194 catches for 2,227 yards (11.5 avg.) and 15 touchdowns in 73 games (44 starts).

The only other tight end of note with the ability to test the market is Dallas Clark of Indianapolis, but many suspect he will re-sign with the defending Super Bowl champion Colts.

"I've been hurt since May," Smith said. "It's been a frustrating year for me, but at this point I really can't control anything, so I'm just looking forward to playing football from start to finish next year. Wherever it may be."

The Eagles have received only 45 catches, 496 yards and two touchdowns worth of production from their three tight ends, including only 13 receptions and no trips to the end zone for rookie Brent Celek after the fifth-round pick from Cincinnati led the team in receiving during the preseason.

Smith, 27, averaged 55 catches per season in 2005-2006 and seems resigned to his fate.

"I've thought about not being here since the beginning of the season," Smith said. "I can't cry over spilled milk, (but) this definitely is not the way you want to go out."

Bringing Smith back remains a possibility, albeit a long shot, but with neither Celek or Matt Schobel doing much to stand out in an offense that depends on its tight ends to make plays, where does head coach Andy Reid and the front office go from here?

"We haven't really gone through all that yet," Reid said yesterday. (General manager) Tom (Heckert) and I will sit down with (team president) Joe (Banner) after the season. We'll see how things work out. L.J. is a good football player. He's been banged up a little bit, but that doesn't mean he's not a good football player. It's just been one of those years for him."

The injury-plagued seasons of Dawkins (foot) and Sheppard (knee) also appear to be over, as both are expected to be de-acti vated for the Bills (7-8).

Contact John Nalbone at jnalbo ne@njtimes.com

[Diomedes]

I don't want LJ back.  It's irrational, I know.  There aren't better options in FA. 

So be it.  I think you can find plenty of TEs who can't block, can't hang onto/run with the ball.  Time to let one of them have a shot.  It could hardly turn out worse than this year has.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I really don't want him back either. I soured on him this year with his comments, attitude and the inability for the butterfingered farg to not hold the ball. That's one reason why I want to see Celek do well today.

Find a pig who can block as the #2. And hope Magnum PI can be a #1 guy that this offense needs.

I hope this is just lip service being paid to bringing him back. If Celek develops and if Smith is brought back and is the Smith of old they could be a solid 1-2 punch. But I'd rather see them move on.

But hey - aren't we all glad Jason Witten is in Dallas? LJ 2nd; Witten 3rd. farg.

[Diomedes]

Boss looked pretty good last night.  When was the last time we could say that about an Eagles TE, much less a back up?

[Sgt PSN]

[crack dream]Maybe the Colts will sign LJ because they can get him on the cheap compared to what they'll have to pay Clark and Clark will fall into the Eagles lap.[/crack dream]

[Diomedes]

I'd be happy to get Eric Johnson away from the Saints and let Johnson and Celek fight for the starting role.   

I'm sure that's a pipe dream too.