The day the music... died.

by BrianS on Apr 30, 2007 1:37 PM EDT

[editor's note, by BleedGreen] promoted from diaries.

my, my Miss American pie...

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=68189

Eagles release Dhani Jones, and Chris Gocong is now #1 on the depth chart on the strong side. That Jones was released doesn't surprise, although the timing does. I'm surprised he didn't at least make it to camp. I'll try to dig around to see if there was a roster bonus that he was due to collect or anything like that, which would have influenced the timings.

While I don't think a lot of Eagles fans (myself included) will complain about this, the spotlight is now squarely on Gocong and to a lesser extent Stewart Bradley.

[editor's note, by BleedGreen] Let's also not discount the fact that Spikes could play the strong side if he needs to. By the way the Eagles sent me a text alert the moment this release happened. Makes me think they figured Eagles would like to know about this one...

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Spikes

Takeo's versatility really gives the Eagles some insurance here. Good point.

I'm kind of disappointed that the Eagles got so little immediate help (minus Tony Hunt) from the draft, but I think was was still an interesting offseason. If he's healthy, the Spikes trade will look like an incredible acquisition.

by BrianS on Apr 30, 2007 2:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Salary Cap Casualty

Jones was due $2.75 million in salary, while he only had $800,000 in signing bonus remaining.

Cutting him frees up $1.95 million in salary cap.

There was no way he was going to be kept, because the Eagles weren't going to pay 11.5% of the salary cap into the Linebacker spot.

Kelly Holcomb and his $1.5 million against the cap are another obvious coming casualty.

by Andrew on Apr 30, 2007 5:08 PM EDT 0 recs

McNabb

Andrew you seem to always know the cap as good as anyone. Do you know what McNabb's cap situation is in 2010 and beyond?

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by JasonB on Apr 30, 2007 5:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

McNabb Cap Numbers

McNabb is not signed beyond 2010. The last years of his contract to 2013 were automatically voided by clauses in the 2002 deal.

Cutting or trading McNabb provides salary cap relief starting this year.

2007 $8.8M cap, $5.5M base, $3.3M bonus, $2.2M freed by cutting or trading.

2008 $9.6M cap, $6.3M base, $3.3M bonus proration, $6.3M freed by cutting or trading.

2009 $9.2M base, $9.2M freed by cutting or trading.

2010 $10M base, $10M freed by cutting or trading.

I'd say there is no way McNabb makes it past 2009 on the Eagles with his current contract. Either he wins a Super Bowl this year or next and restructures and extends his contract to provide cap relief to the team (say a 2 year extension after 2008 with $10M converted to bonuses), or he is gone in 2009 or 2010.

by Andrew on May 1, 2007 9:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Awesome

Thanks!

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on May 1, 2007 10:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks for the explanation

The timing makes a lot more sense now.

by BrianS on Apr 30, 2007 5:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm confident

the Eagles will remain competitive well after McNabb is gone.. and beyond...

they seem to know what they're doing with the draft... if we already have the QB of the future ala Steve Young Style... than that is great... if Feeley and Kolb can compete in 2012 for the spot... than that is great.

Fly Eagles Fly!
The Eagles Chronicles

by klkatz on Apr 30, 2007 7:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Overconfident?

Love the optimism. But comparisons to Steve Young might be a little premature.

I must say, I am a little despondent. This Kolb pick must surely mean the day of the Whip are over. Say it ain't so Koy, say it ain't so.

by brooksy on Apr 30, 2007 7:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Already retired

Detmer's hung em up, no? Ditto w/ Bartrum.

And not so much a direct comparison to Young as it is a comparison to that situation... Also like the Schaub situation in ATL/HOU where worst comes to worst, maybe we can get a nice draft pick in a deeper draft in the future

by Alon on Apr 30, 2007 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

don't forget the neckbeard

I'll miss it as well...

Can he be the first hall of fame holder?

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Apr 30, 2007 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

the holder...

is an interesting topic though. Cuz i'd be willing to bet that dirk is gone as well next year... who holds?

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 1, 2007 8:28 AM EDT 0 recs

A few candidates

I know the new punter Rocca is practicing holding. I'd have to guess that Feeley will as well.

There's also a chance that a guy like Dorenbos could come back. PLus, I thought I heard the big TE the Eagles drafted has long snapping experience.

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by JasonB on May 1, 2007 9:31 AM EDT up 0 recs

Long Snapper

"Plus, I thought I heard the big TE the Eagles drafted has long snapping experience."

If Celek has Long Snapper experience, we've seen the end of both Bartum and Dorenbos, which frees up $1.5M of the current cap. There's only room for 3 Tight Ends on the roster.

Darren Howard remains the gameday back-up long snapper.

Its possible the Eagles may let Linebacker Jeremy Cain make the roster also as the 7th or 8th Linebacker. He's also a Long Snapper, and is already counting against the cap as one of the top 51 players.

People were talking about converting the Brown and Patterson roster bonuses to signing bonuses to make room for Spikes and Curtis' salary and bonuses. I'm not convinced that has actually happened yet.

Cutting Jones, Bartrum, Dorenbos, Holcomb, McDougle, Roper frees $6M. Other possible cuts like Bethel Johnson, Moats, and Tapeh are probably another $1M. That $7M is enough to pay the rookie pool.

by Andrew on May 1, 2007 9:59 AM EDT up 0 recs