Monday Morning Media Roundup

by JasonB on Mar 3, 2008 9:25 AM EST in News Comment 10 comments

Despite the Eagles making big headlines, spending big money, and signing big name guys, all anyone talks or writes about is WRs

However, their fans' top goal - a true No. 1 wide receiver - remains unmet, with most of the top names removed from the available pool over the weekend. Bernard Berrian is now a Minnesota Viking, Donté Stallworth a Cleveland Brown. Andre' Davis re-signed with the Texans.

I'm not a person who thinks we have great receivers(although I don't think they're horrible by any means) and I'd be more than happy to see a playmaker brought in here... In fact I'd be ecstatic, but this WR thing has become an obsession. It's all anyone talks about on message boards, it's what they talked about on sports radio this morning, is what's been written about this morning. The Eagles went out and got arguably the top guy in free agency and still all anyone cares about is wide receivers. I know why fans would be looking for a big time wideout, but I don't know how it became such an obsession?

Another WR article if you like.

Thanks to some creative accounting, the salary cap for the Eagles is actually higher than for other teams. The Eagles' adjusted cap is actually $14+ million over the base salary cap.

Count Donovan McNabb among those excited by the Asante Samuel signing.

"This is an aggressive offseason for us," McNabb told ESPN via remote from Orlando, Fla. "I think what you are seeing is a team tak ing a step forward with a great ad dition to our defensive secondary; a guy that has definitely established himself as one of the top players at his position over the last couple of years. We're excited to have him, his cover skills and his leadership on the defensive side."

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Salary Cap

I always found those who complained that the Eagles were spendthrifts a curious bunch. That SI article ought to make any fan feel good about the guys crunching numbers for this organization.

This team has never been afraid to pull the trigger on a big-time FA when they have found someone they like, and they always have the money for it.

http://www.sporsdork.com

by BFH on Mar 3, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I totally agree with you. Obviously the organization has goals every offseason on how they would like to upgrade the team. If there is a big time free agent that fits in with their goals, they have no problem shelling out the money. It is really disheartening that we've made to excellent signings and all people want to talk about is WRs. As I've stated before, the Eagles were very open about the positions they wanted to upgrade and are following what they said. They never once said they needed a WR. Now, if they had mentioned it and we were in our current situation, yes I could see people being frustrated. No matter how much people don't want to admit it, the organization feels they can win with the WRs we currently have/may draft, and they feel their money will be better spent in other places. Do I feel we have the best WR group even in our division? No. Do I feel that we "need" Randy Moss to win? No. I do however feel that the team would benefit from the acquisition of a receiver that can be effective in the red zone. Last year, our lack of productivity wasn't due to poor ball movement between the 20s, it was due to poor red zone execution. I could care less who they get to fix this problem, just someone. I'm fine if we pick up somone whos sole purpose is to come in the slot in the red zone and is productive and puts the ball in the end zone. It's not about getting a specific person, at say $10 million a year. If we can get someone who fixes our problem, even if that's all they do, and for much cheaper, I'm game.

People need to remember that the organization knows what they're doing and is very good at evaluating talent that works in the system. It's not a fluke that we've had alot of success for the better part of a decade here. I just think the Philly media gets something in their head and runs with it, and unfortunately alot of the fans follow suit and don't evaluate the big picture. Please know the team knows what it's doing. Who remembers the media and fan reaction when we took McNabb instead of Ricky Williams? Out of everyone who was ready to kill someone, please tell me if there is a single person left who would still rather have drafted Ricky Williams... Any way we were that successful? Nope. Any way we have the quality of a team we do now? Probably not.

They know what they're doing... If we were better at their job, we'd have their job.

by foos05 on Mar 3, 2008 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow,

Last year I was bitching about money spent on the team and look at it this year. The Eagles are at the top of the list. Now here is the real question, will the extra money spent equal better players? Most of the time it's a crap shoot. But from what I've seen the Eagles look to be in really good shape going into the draft.

by topcat6 on Mar 3, 2008 11:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Remember Donte Stallworth

Lest we all forget that Donte Stallworth was an August acquisition. The draft could also provide a forum for a WR acquisition. Everyone just needs to wait and see what happens. We are so tapped in that every acquisition should have happened yesterday.

by Eaglescout on Mar 3, 2008 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

JasonB made a great point

i belive it was him but you look at curtis's numbers last year and they were his cureer best and it was his first year as a starter.

i give him a second season im guessing 1400 yards and 10, 12 maybe even 14 td catches. avant has stepped up last year and could make a solid slot he is big and physical but he is learning. he could very well be that red zone threat. and i still could hope that brown would have that break out season.

by NickPampani on Mar 3, 2008 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Optimism

Its certainly the time of year for it.
For those who want to be negative tune in to WIP.

That may be a bit overly optimistic for KC to put up those numbers but I'm staying positive for now. I can't say I'm real big on LJ but maybe with the incentive of a big pay day he puts up some career bests this year.

Hopefully we can still get a receiver who can help help us but if we don't IMO we can still be a contender.

The road to victory

by jaybird13 on Mar 3, 2008 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

without a doubt

the only ting that hurt us the last 3 years from making it back were injuries. if were healthy we can be in the super bowl again.

by the way curits was a career back up to both holt and bruce two players who has put up those numbers. I can easly be concived that curtis learned a bit from them.

by NickPampani on Mar 3, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fitzgerald

FYI -- The Fitzgerald dream is pretty much dead. With Calvin Pace officially signing with the Jets, the Cardinals have no real reason not to just pay Fitzgerald what he's owed. Too bad.

http://www.sporsdork.com

by BFH on Mar 3, 2008 6:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

maybe a great find

i was looking around for that ideal red zone reciver that the eagles need and i think i might of found our next addition is.

Ernest Wilford is a big 6 foot 4 220 lb or so physical reciver from the jags.

the eagles website actual talks about him as an under the radar WR. here is what they say about him:

A physical receiver in a run-oriented offense, Wilford is a late-bloomer of sorts as he will enter his fifth NFL campaign in 2008 at the age of 29. Last season, Wilford had 45 catches for 518 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his four-year career, the former Virginia Tech star has 141 receptions for 1,994 yards and 14 touchdowns.

here is how they say he will fit:

At 6-4, 223 pounds, Wilford is a physical specimen who would thrive as a possession receiver and a good downfield blocker. It would be interesting to see how he would play in a pass-friendly offense.

i could really see the eagles going out and signing him.(if he is still available which i think he is) it is like the eagles to take a guy that is not a main streem answer. it would be a pickup king of like clemons

by NickPampani on Mar 3, 2008 7:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs