Will Witherspoon, Philadelphia Eagle

[shorebird]

Whoopdie friggen' doo!

?? Its a solid move, Not sure why anyone wouldn't think this was needed and important right now.

We could have Dick Butkus at MLB and it wouldn't matter as long as Reid is calling the plays on offense. Sorry if I'm a little bitter.

[Rome]

Dick Butkas now is better than any linebacker on the squad.

NO HYPERBOLE!

[PhillyPhreak54]

As long as it kills the Trotter experiment, it's all good.

Sorry, Phreak.

All gravy baby...but I think he will still contribute on goal line and short yardage packages. In game two back after that lay off, I can't expect the guy to be Pro Bowl Trot, ya know?

Also - I have to give the FO credit for getting a solid LB here. Although a few years too late (they pursued him during his FA year)...a real life LB in Eagles green!!?!

[Rome]

Blaine Bishop Part Deux

[PhillyPhreak54]

Will Witherspoon is Blaine Bishop? 

[bowzer]

That's idiotic...

[mussa]

Dhani Jones part deux 

[PhillyPhreak54]

Reid: Witherspoon brought in to be middle linebacker

The Eagles acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from St. Louis for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick in 2010.

Today is the NFL trading deadline and the Eagles clearly had a need at linebacker. Gibson looked good in training camp but has not been playing.

Andy Reid was clear about his intentions for Witherspoon, "I'm bringing [Witherspoon] in here to be my MIKE linebacker."

The moves comes on the heels of a rough performance by Jeremiah Trotter against the Raiders and Omar Gaither's foot injury, although Gaither indicated that he did not think he was seriously hurt. Reid said Gaither will see a foot specialist.

Witherspoon, in his eighth season out of Georgia, sustained injuries to his hip and back in Sunday's overtime loss at Jacksonville. The 29-year-old had to be assisted to the sidelines by trainers. An MRI indicated only a bruise.

Witherspoon, 6-1, 239, signed a 6-year, $33 million deal (including $15 million guaranteed) with St. Louis in 2006. In his first season with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. In 2007 he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007

In 2004, he played in Super Bowl for Carolina and had a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. He was a Panthers' third-round pick in 2002.

Reid also said there is a "good chance" that Todd Herremans will make his season debut against Washington on Monday night. The scan on his surgically repaired foot looked good, Reid said.

[ice grillin you]

this should end well

[bowzer]

Gold Standard!!

[MDS]

so a slightly younger, less gimpy version of trot?

[The BIGSTUD]

Totally different from Trotter. Witherspoon is an undersized LB with good cover skills. If the DTs don't plug the run well, then this team could get hurt against physical RBs because Witherspoon isn't a big stout LB. He's not terrible against the run, but it is definitely the weaker part of his game. He's more of a playmaker/disrupting LB.

[Sgt PSN]

i really can't see how anyone couldn't love this move.  they didn't give up anything of tangable value and got a very solid player.  would have been nice to get him him 3 years ago, but better late than never. 

[LBIggle]

cool, i hope he can score.

[The BIGSTUD]

i really can't see how anyone couldn't love this move.  they didn't give up anything of tangable value and got a very solid player.  would have been nice to get him him 3 years ago, but better late than never. 

It absolutely is a no-brainer. Just put it this way. If this deal isn't made, then we have Trotter playing the majority of the snaps against the NFC East tight ends coming up on the schedule.

This team could easily find itself below .500 and falling way back in the playoff race in that scenario.