Random Eagles Information Still Not Worthy of a New Thread

[smeags]

If he's not an improvement you're basically just lighting a second round pick and $13 million on fire for fun.

that's what i'm worried about. i know the games have to be played and all of that but at face value, where is the improvement ?

[ice grillin you]

im confident it will be an upgrade with a healthy Bradford in chips offense....but that's such a big if that I don't think it was worth what they gave up

[Rome]

so their plan was to trade shady, agree with frank gore, have him back out, agree with ryan mathews, then have demarco murray call them with interest, sign demarco and then sign mathews too?

crazy plan, bro

Their plan was to upgrade personnel and get rid of guys who didn't fit the plan.

Bro.

[Rome]

Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie addressed the media for over 40 minutes on Tuesday at the NFL's Annual Meeting. After a busy start to the offseason for the Eagles that included a restructuring of the front office, a pair of blockbuster trades, the introduction of a new quarterback and the signing of several big-ticket free agents, Lurie addressed everything that has happened within the organization since he last spoke following the team's final game of the regular season.

On why he chose to give head coach Chip Kelly final say over personnel after initially saying that Howie Roseman would remain the team's general manager:

"I changed my mind. What we do at the end of every season, which is why it's probably not the greatest idea to talk about things in the locker room as the away team in the final game, we sit down and have really serious conversations with all of the senior people. I know that we were one of three teams to have double-digit wins twice in a row, but that's not what we're about and I think you all know that.

"That's not what our goal is. We really sat down and looked at ourselves and we were as self-analytical as you can possibly be. After thinking about it, I thought that the best way to align ourselves was to try to do this relatively rational, seamless way with Chip of taking scouting and integrating it into every aspect of the operation in terms of making it seamless with on-field performance and sports science and all of that.

"There was a vision that I wanted to support, and it would have been easy to say, 'Well, we had it going well and we already said we were going to stick to the status quo that way,' but I don't think that's the best way to operate. You learn after the season exactly how you might become better and it was worth taking that alternative structure and acting on it."

On whether there is a risk in giving Kelly "full control" over personnel:

"I think there is a risk no matter how you structure it. The only model to me that correlates to having success in the NFL is having a Hall of Fame franchise quarterback. You can put any system around that player and you can rationalize that structure. No matter what other structure you pick in the NFL, whether it's the structure the (New England Patriots) have and Seattle has – that's fine. You can have a system like Green Bay has or Baltimore has, that's fine. There's no perfect structure. I think you always have to find a way to maximize the people you have. Don't think that structure is the answer. It's people and trying to maximize and manage the people that you have and finding the best head coach you can and the best evaluators that you can. Don't put your feather on structure because the best structure is a franchise quarterback who is going to play for 10 or 15 years for your franchise.

"In attracting Chip, I wanted him to be able to come to the NFL and get the best out of him. That's what an owner, I think, needs to try to do. You don't want to say, 'Here's the NFL, adapt to it.' You want to bring in somebody who's innovative, sharp, hard-working, selfless about trying to become a really good team and support that."

On why he decided to give Kelly final say after Andy Reid and Ray Rhodes did not win Super Bowls with similar structures:

"I tried to make the best choice I could in a head coach. I thought Chip was the most exciting candidate out there (during the hiring process after the 2012 season). I think that he brought something that was refreshing, innovative but also really well-grounded and smart. He's so much about all-football, all the time. As a fan, we've got someone working in our best interests at all times and somebody who really thinks, not just outside of the box, but he thinks it through. He studies. These are not flippant decisions of a head coach. These are very studied decisions. He watched Sam Bradford hundreds of times, talked to every coach he ever had. This is well-researched. It wouldn't satisfy me if it wasn't."

On why the organization believes that Sam Bradford can be a franchise quarterback: 

"When he was scouted out of college, and this goes back to Andy (Reid) and the group, we thought he was best young quarterback we had seen in a long, long time, probably since Peyton Manning coming out of college. He was Rookie of the Year his first year, outstanding. (Offensive coordinator) Pat Shurmur had him as an offensive coordinator (in 2010 in St. Louis), reconfirmed everything we had heard about him in the draft process – extraordinary competitor, incredibly accurate and needs to stay healthy."

On whether the front office restructuring was a result of the team's 2014 draft:

"No, it's much more in the training of the scouting staff by the coaches in terms of what exactly is needed. It's so defined in Chip's system. I've never seen anything like it. It's incredibly detailed, both psychologically, athletically, in so many categories. There are notebooks you could read. It's incredibly defined and I think in order to maximize Chip, I think this was the best way to go."

On bringing in players who fit Kelly's system:

"For two years Chip has been talking about getting players that fit more what he's all about in terms of their style of play. LeSean McCoy is a great running back. He's the all-time franchise leader and a great guy in every way. To maximize (Kelly's) power spread offense, he always admired the one-cut runners. You have to let a coach try to bring in the players that he thinks fit best and what he's all about to maximize what he's trying to accomplish. It really boils down to that. You have a decision as an owner –  do you want to fight that or do you want to adopt it? I went all out to try to get Chip as the coach and I'm really happy that we did. I think he has a great potential future and I'm happy to provide him resources to try to maximize what he's all about."

On whether the current roster better fits Kelly's ideal than the previous two seasons:

"I think what we're evolving into is a roster that fits much better what he wants to accomplish schematically and play-style and all of that. He's talked about this for two years. This is not new news for us internally. He's been very definite about how he wants to evolve. He was patient and wanted to play it out, I think, in terms of these outstanding young athletes we had. This has allowed Chip to take a step back and take a look at where the program is at. As an owner you have to be accepting of that and you have to respect that and I completely respect it."

On the boldness of some of the team's offseason moves:

"When you're trying to go from good to great, you have to take some gambles. You have to take chances. Yes, there's a chance bringing in a running back [DeMarco Murray] who doesn't know what we're all about, who has a sterling reputation as a player as a teammate, all that – (Ryan) Mathews as well -- will not be as productive as LeSean. But you have to make that judgment. You have to take chances in order to be great. I don't know any other way about it.  We're not interested in being predictable in terms of what we do in player personnel. We have to be not risk averse, and sometimes trades are the best way to accomplish that. It's not easy to trade the young quarterback that you're developing who had a terrific year the year before and got hurt this year. But you have to go on your evaluations and there was an opportunity to do an upside gamble with an outstanding young quarterback who you hope can become healthier throughout his career. It is so hard to get a franchise quarterback, as you know. It sets the ceiling on what you have as a team and do you want to take upside gambles or not? You have to make that decision."

On parting ways with several long-time Eagles this offseason:

"You know, the NFL is a people business and we went through some changes in terms of free agency and trades and, I have to tell you, as an owner who's been in it for a while, you discover you're a fan first and also an owner.

"It's very difficult to trade players who you're very, very fond of. It's almost easier for someone in the organization who is newer to be able to bolder than you would be. I think I recognized that weakness in myself. I think it's always better to allow those who are really studying it and who are less, at times, emotionally connected.

"You grow up with the players you bring in through the draft. I can't tell you how difficult it is to trade a LeSean McCoy or a wonderful young man like Nick Foles. I talked to Trent Cole the other day for a long, long time. Todd Herremans played injured and is one of the toughest guys we ever had.  Jason Avant last year. The two things that are hardest when it comes to owning a team are when you get really attached to the players because of what they've done for you and the city and you get to know their family environments, you get to know what their challenges are from youth through becoming a professional. And the second is losses. Well, they're both losses, but you always struggle with the fact that you spend so much more time going over the loss of a game than you do going over a win and that's a hard thing to manage."

On Kelly's management of the salary cap:

"The whole organization manages the cap. This is not all on Chip. We're very philosophically committed to being very sound in the future with that. We want to re-sign our best young players. Chip will decide which of those best young players are the best to put resources in, but that's exactly what the plan would be. I think in terms of building, the draft is the way to go. We all are committed to that. There are moments in free agency where you have either market opportunities ... but we're not a team that wants to build around paying top dollar per player in the free-agent market. That's not the way you're going to win. You fill holes through it. Philosophically, we're all on the same page and that's never changed."

On whether he agrees with Kelly that mortgaging the future for one player is bad business:

"Well, I think it's a great question. I think it's great to mortgage the future for Peyton Manning and it's not very good to mortgage it for Ryan Leaf. It's great to mortgage it for Donovan McNabb, but not for Tim Couch. Again, it's about people. It's not a system. If the taterskins had traded for Andrew [Luck], we all would have been saying how it was a great trade, so you tell me."

[PhillyPhreak54]

I laughed bc I imagined him saying tater skins rather than the real name and that's funny

[ice grillin you]

so their plan was to trade shady, agree with frank gore, have him back out, agree with ryan mathews, then have demarco murray call them with interest, sign demarco and then sign mathews too?

crazy plan, bro

Their plan was to upgrade personnel and get rid of guys who didn't fit the plan.

Bro.

shady has led the nfl in rushing since chip arrived....you don't upgrade from that and if that doesn't fit the plan then the plan should be burned to the ground

[Rome]

Well, they got the leading rusher in the league last year to replace him and Ryan Mathews as well.  They improved the linebacking corps by getting Kiko Alonso, they improved the defensive backfield by replacing the pieces of shtein cornerbacks they had last year, and they believe (again THEY, not me) they got a franchise QB in Bradford.

Lurie said it himself in that article you evidently didn't read.  They're being methodical in what they're doing even if you or even I don't agree with the moves, dude.

Bottom line is they clearly have a plan of action.  They've had to adjust to things because of players going elsewhere, but you and Mr. Sarcasm over there are suggesting they don't have one and that's just ridiculous.  Sorry, but it is.

[ice grillin you]

im almost positive you don't know what methodical means....because they have been the opposite of that

[SD]

Superbowls won doing it the other way: 0

Why not give this crazy plan a shot and see where it goes. Love the ride so far.

[ice grillin you]

I am giving it a shot....ive been more than fair on the moves....just don't tell me there is rhyme or reason to it....and don't expect me to ever have blind faith....cant do it....wont do it

[Eagaholic]

Coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday the trade that sent LeSean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Buffalo Bills earlier this month took just 30 minutes to complete after the Bills were "stunned" to learn McCoy was available, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

"The trade for LeSean happened really quick," Ryan said at the NFL owners meetings. "We were all sitting there. We were having organizational meetings. ... And all of the sudden we get this call from Philadelphia and I think that was when the trade started. Probably 30 minutes later, the trade was done."

The March 4 deal sent McCoy, the NFL's third-leading rusher since he entered the league in 2009, to Buffalo in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso, who missed last season with a torn ACL.

The Eagles called the Bills about McCoy being on the market, which surprised the Bills.

"We were just kind of, like, stunned there for a little bit," Ryan said. "We're like, 'Really? Wow.' All right, so let's just take it from there. Obviously we were interested and then the trade came down. We knew it wasn't going to be cheap by any stretch. And losing a player like Kiko Alonso is obviously a steep price, but we felt really good about it."

The Bills did not enter the offseason expecting to add a top-tier running back like a three-time Pro Bowler in McCoy.

"We never saw it. It was an opportunity. I think that's it," Ryan said. "We're not just so structured that you can't just allow something like this to happen. Clearly it was an opportunity for us. We all talked about it and it didn't take us long to come up with the conclusion we did, which was let's go ahead and get him."

Sounds like they didn't shop him around at all, Chip probably just wanted Kiko.

[SunMo]

all part of the master plan

[smeags]

Superbowls won doing it the other way: 0

Why not give this crazy plan a shot and see where it goes. Love the ride so far.

that's where i'm pretty much at with this. still dont agree with bradford but time will tell. i'd be much more at ease with all of these moves if the eagles weren't getting damaged goods in return for top players if they get anything at all, ie djax, or signing FA's who have trouble staying on the field as well.

either way it's been anything but boring this off-season.

[SD]

If Bradford doesn't a) stay healthy and b) turn into a top 10 QB this season then it was a dumb trade. Foles is irrelevant, he'll never have what it takes to run a hurry up and his release is maybe the slowest in the league. He was great year one because he could put the ball where receivers could make plays, but that's not what this offense is predicated on. The 2nd round pick is the real killer.

Bradford has the tools to be a top 10 guy, but the part that's worrysome is even when he was healthy he was only so good. We can blame his line or his receivers or his coaches, and they're all valid arguments. The Rams must have seen something in him to keep him around for so long. Just a few years ago RG3 was within their grasp and they chose to trade. Now they got a haul for him sure but if RG3 turned into a top level QB the trade doesn't look so good.

I'd still take the Browns 1st this season but the optimist in me says they did the best they could to get a top level QB without mortgaging the farm.

[AshishPatel81]

If Bradford doesn't a) stay healthy and b) turn into a top 10 QB this season then it was a dumb trade. Foles is irrelevant, he'll never have what it takes to run a hurry up and his release is maybe the slowest in the league. He was great year one because he could put the ball where receivers could make plays, but that's not what this offense is predicated on. The 2nd round pick is the real killer.

Bradford has the tools to be a top 10 guy, but the part that's worrysome is even when he was healthy he was only so good. We can blame his line or his receivers or his coaches, and they're all valid arguments. The Rams must have seen something in him to keep him around for so long. Just a few years ago RG3 was within their grasp and they chose to trade. Now they got a haul for him sure but if RG3 turned into a top level QB the trade doesn't look so good.

I'd still take the Browns 1st this season but the optimist in me says they did the best they could to get a top level QB without mortgaging the farm.

I tend to agree with your last point. I'd rather give up a 2nd and take a chance on Bradford than give up two drafts for Mariota. Mainly because I don't think Mariota is all that great. Not that those are the only two options, but you get the point. It's tough to find a franchise QB in this league, and I think Chip decided to take the least costly option to attempt to find one.

Since this team will be most likely picking 15th or later for the next few years, they won't be drafting high enough to get a true stud QB prospect, so they'd either have to get lucky and have one fall to them, or get lucky that an inferior prospect turns into one. Two options you can't just sit around and hope happen to you. You need to be proactive. I don't like giving up a 2nd rounder for a guy with major knee injuries, but if he works out like Chip envisions, the price paid will have been more than worth it. Chip better be right though, because that one move will pretty much define the offseason. If Bradford bombs, it will vastly overshadow every other move they did this March... even if Murray and Maxwell have monster seasons.