Local media throwing wet blanket on free agency
by JasonB on Feb 26, 2009 12:30 PM EST
in News
24 comments
Rich Hoffman wrote about the general lack of good free agents and the wealth of cap room around the league.
The salary cap has grown so much, and teams have become so adept at hanging on to their own good players, that free agency for many has become an exercise in marginalia
snip
Second, for want of a better description, more and more teams around the league have begun to act like the Eagles. That is, they lock up the players they really want to lock up and do it sooner than before. They know what the players know: That the injury risk, so severe in the NFL, can rob a player of his big payday. So they make good-but-not-great offers and the players take them for the security.
Hoffman repeated Joe Banner's assertion that the Eagles, like most other teams in the league, have more money under the cap than they can spend. The cap has risen so quickly and so few players are getting to free agency that it's becoming commonplace for teams to be tens of millions under the cap.
Les Bowen warned fans not to expect the kind of quick moves this year that the Eagles made in free agency last year.
A YEAR AGO, the Eagles kicked off free agency by signing the top player available, cornerback Asante Samuel. They went on to take a run at Samuel's New England teammate, wideout Randy Moss, before Moss decided to re-up with the Patriots.
Hard to see anything like that happening this year, when the free-agency period begins at a minute past midnight tonight. The Eagles don't have a pressing need at linebacker (for Baltimore's Ray Lewis) or defensive tackle (for Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth). Those are the top names. Elsewhere, there really isn't much to excite a fan base, after last week's franchise tagathon, which resulted in 14 players leaving the market via the tag. Channel 10 has reported that the Eagles had hoped to sign tight end Bo Scaife, who ended up getting tagged by Tennessee.
Undoubtedly these guys are correct about the economy of the NFL. Free agency is not what it once was... but that doesn't neccisarily mean the Eagles won't be aggressive What do you think?
Free agency begins in 12 hours.
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i think this is a two fold answer… i expect them to be aggressive coming out of the blocks… but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re targeting the big names (haynesworth, ray lewis, etc.). i fully expect them to sign at least one or two people by monday, i just think there’s a strong probability that they won’t be the players most fans are pining after.
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 26, 2009 12:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
They have a plan, but there probably won’t be a big splash. Maybe TJ though.
by MRPH on Feb 26, 2009 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
TJ is the only big name there is a POSSIBILITY that they would try to sign
I voted yes only because i have my hopes up. DONT LET ME DOWN!!
by andyb on Feb 26, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We're aggressive every year despite what most people think
So yes, we’ll sign someone.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on Feb 26, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
who do you think though? It seems like TJ is the only one out there that could have an impact. Anyone else looks like they will be a situational player like clemons. Unless we do sign brown from the ravens. He probably could start.
by andyb on Feb 26, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ummm Weaver from Seattle for one… I think that need is atleast as important as any WR help. He fixes two issues… not only do we get a great FB, but it allows Klecko to move back to DT (where he did well last year) where we need depth.
You can’t rule anything out yet man. If we don’t resign Dawkins, we better get after Bell or someone else fast. They’ll start and move Mikell across the formation.
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 26, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think like ajay said we'll get people who we didn't think were on the radar to begin with
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on Feb 26, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lets get TJ!!!
We better sign someone!
by Eaglesfan10 on Feb 26, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Another prediction
We sign one guy that no one ever heard of (a la Chris Clemons) and then we think, “Ooh, this guy is intriguing…”
by ajay on Feb 26, 2009 1:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
god i hope not
clemons was ok.. but we still couldve managed without him. He wasnt a game changing player.
by andyb on Feb 26, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ummm did you watch him the last half of the year? ya know… after her got a chance to get healthy and learn the defense?
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 26, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah Clemons was all over the quarter back. I loved the signing!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on Feb 26, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think that's the kind of signings were going to see.
I mean who predicted Dhani Jones in 2004, Shoebel in 05, or the trade for Takeo in 07, etc…
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on Feb 26, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah exactly
These under-the-radar signings are how we like to roll.
by ajay on Feb 26, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i did
he had a few sacks and got some pressure. I want an every down player. To better word it, i want a player the other team will gameplan for. Not saying clemons was bad.
by andyb on Feb 26, 2009 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'll take a contributor like Clemons!
IMO, teams with the talent around them, not the main talent. If that makes any sense.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on Feb 26, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
but the problem is, this league is evolving into a situational league. players are swapped in and out of the formation left and right. also, the way we run our d-line, we actually look to get guys in and out alot… fresh bodies = better production. and by got some pressure, i think you mean was in the backfield and sacking the qb, forcing a quick throw, returning fumbles for tuchdowns, or generally causing havoc in the backfield. a large percentage of time he was in the lineup, he did one of those things
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 26, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think there is any chance of bring Derrick Brooks in? He was one of the best OLB to ever play, and it wasn’t like he was cut for anything other than freeing cap room.
Akeem Jordon and Omar Gaither could use some competition.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 26, 2009 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i would say unlikely… if i remember correctly, his sack and int numbers have been dwindeling down over the past few yers… and this past year specifically, his tackles dropped like a friggin rock. plus the way tampa runs their D, he can kinda be hidden away from coverage the past few seasons when his coverage skills have diminished… he’s basically like a rover that runs sideline to sideline anymore to tackle.
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 26, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Aggressive is just signing players...
As long as their having discussions with key players, I would consider that aggressive…If they talk to TJ immediately, I’m ok with that, he doesn’t need to be signed by tomorrow or Saturday…
They need to get the trade feelers out there for the 1st round pick, and have discussions with all the FAs they have targeted…
by PoppiDamus on Feb 26, 2009 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sometimes you have to sign a player immediatly
Asante was schedualed to visit other teams after us but we made him an offer he couldnt refuse so he signed with us. If we take too long, we might miss out.
by andyb on Feb 26, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeremiah Bell?
Since Miami’s not re-signing him, he’s someone that intrigues me. He’s a very tough safety, hits very hard, and plays the run excellently. He’s still a bit raw in coverage but had a heck of a 2008 season and is still improving. Saw him a few times (I live in South Florida, so it’s Dolphins, Dolphins everywhere) and I really like the look of him.
by wildcatlh on Feb 26, 2009 7:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
they already signed him and moved him across the formation
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Feb 27, 2009 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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