Philadelphia Eagles Offseason Free Agency Guide - Part 13: Safties
by Bob_Q on Feb 28, 2010 1:06 PM EST
34 comments
The trading/free agent signing period is fast approaching, so the Eagles front office will have to decide who they plan to pursue come March 5th. Over the next few weeks at BGN, we will be taking a position-by-position look at who we could see in an Eagles uniform come training camp. Today's position? Safties.
Ever since the departure of Brian Dawkins, the free safety position has been a shadow of its former self. It became yet another position on the Eagles defense that saw a revolving door of starters, from a former Browns interception wizard to a rookie cornerback. Free agent acquisition Sean Jones did little to fill the hole in the Eagles secondary and likely will be departing via free agency. Macho Harris needs a lot more time to develop and may need to consider switching back to cornerback, his natural position. Oh, and don't even get me started on the play of Quintin Demps. Unfortunately, while the free agent market offers many tantalizing options at safety, almost all of them are unreachable restricted free agents. However, there are a few players worth examining:
Darren Sharper (UFA): Although he's getting up there in years, this past season has shown that Sharper still has what it takes to be a big playmaker in the NFL. During the Saints run to the Super Bowl, he racked up an amazing 9 interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. The Saints have not placed the franchise tag on Sharper and, should contract talks fail to produce, the Eagles could be a tempting team for Sharper to finish his career. It's hard not to salivate at the thought of Sharper in midnight green.
Jermaine Phillips (UFA): Coming off of a season ending thumb injury, there is a good chance that the 30 year old Phillips will be available come March 5th. In his eight seasons with the Buccaneers, Phillips has demonstrated powerful tackling, good hands, and a knack for stuffing running backs at the line of scrimmage. One thing to watch out for, though, is his off-the-field issues. Phillips was arrested in January for domestic battery, which could eliminate his chances with many teams.
Bryan Scott (UFA): The 28 year old Scott could prove to be a good option at FS with his ballhawking tendencies. He performs well in coverage plays and moves like a cornerback. He has also demonstrated a good deal of versatility, starting at outside linebacker for the Bills during 2009. Scott's natural position, though, is safety and he could prove to be a quality contributor whether starting at FS or backing up Quintin Mikell at SS.
Other Available Free Agents:
- Oshiomogho Atogwe (RFA)
- Antoine Bethea (RFA)
- Roman Harper (RFA)
- Nick Collins (RFA)
- Dawan Landry (RFA)
- Melvin Bullitt (RFA)
- Atari Bigby (RFA)
- Bernard Pollard (RFA)
- Will Allen (UFA)
- Mike Brown (UFA)
- Jarrad Page (RFA)
- George Wilson (RFA)
- Roy Williams (UFA)
- Eric Smith (RFA)
- Ryan Clark (UFA)
- Clinton Hart (UFA)
- Mark Roman (RFA)
- Danieal Manning (RFA)
- Gerald Sensabaugh (RFA)
- Abram Elam (UFA)
- Brodney Pool (RFA)
- Ko Simpson (RFA)
- Nick Ferguson (UFA)
- Brian Russell (UFA)
- Daniel Bullocks (RFA)
- Josh Bullocks (RFA)
- Matt Ware (RFA)
In the next installment, we will be taking a look at cornerbacks. Feel free to leave any suggestions on who to examine in the comments section. For more information on unrestricted vs. restricted free agents in a potentially uncapped year, check out this great article over at Mocking The Draft.
Previous articles: QB, HB, FB, TE, WR, OT, OG, C, DT, DE, OLB, MLB
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Safties?
Out of the UFA’s, Sharper will have GM’s and HC’s drooling all over his agent.
Scott also looks like an interesting and longer lasting choice.
However, the draft class at safety is pretty deep, so it wouldn’t be a huge loss if the Eagles decided not to pursue anyone. Any news on Antrel Rolle?
Ryan Clark!!!!
so underrated.
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 1:30 PM EST reply actions
Bethea as well since he’s probably a top 5 safety in the league.
by andyreidswaistline on Feb 28, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed – I’ve crossed him off the wish list already
by andyreidswaistline on Feb 28, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
Montario Hardesty
Looked great today. Maybe on our radar after his performance. And I wasn’t even a big fan of him when he was playing here. But he continued to impress me.
Blount is my guy this year on offense
I want him in Eagles green.
last year I wanted McCoy in the first
year before I wanted desean in the first.
On defense this year I love Withspoon (LB)
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
I went to school with Bryon Scott
Great work ethic,g reat kid (not a thug or anything like that… Doylestown is a really nice area). He’s been bounced around from team to team and unless he’s gotten better (haven’t follwed him for awhile) he wasnt anything spectacular. If Rolle isn’t available I would definitely like to go after RYan clark for a short term answer
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Not anything spectacular, or actually bad?
Translated namesake (my real name is José), do you think he could be a workable starter? It may sound like overkill, but he could be signed, somebody could be drafted, and then McDermott could just have them battle it out in training camp, or rotate.
Like I said it's been a few years
but, when I saw him play his first couple seasons he wasn’t very good. He had a promising sophomore year but was more actually bad. Maybe he got better but considering hes going from team to team it makes you wonder.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Ryan clark reminds me of Mikell
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
If we go through FA for a S I want either Rolle or Clark although I think Clark is going to stay with the Steelers.
Also I am not touching Sharper with a ten foot pole. I believe 2/3rd’s of his INT’s came off of young QBs and he doesn’t like to tackle and we already have somebody in the secondary that doesn’t like to tackle.
2nd rounder is a joke.
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
My opinion
I think that we need to sign Sharper for a year as well as draft a safety in the draft. I believe it will work out for the best being that the draft is loaded. Sharper can teach them the ropes as well as lead the defense to the Superbowl with his experience. Anyone thought about that?
the eagles wouldn't sign dawkins last year...
what in the world would make you think that they would even look at sharper who is almost the same age.
we have dick jaroun teaching the secondary
i doubt we need sharper as a coach out there either.. I dont think we’llg et sharper…too old
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
WTF!!!!!!
B.Pollard is hands down the best saftie available and maybe even a pro bowler.
The Houston Texans snaked him away from the Chiefs last year, but i dont think they will resign him?
cardinals
are apparently going to let rolle become a free agent… i would love if we could scoop him up
by Johnny G on Feb 28, 2010 4:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
yeah there was a thread about it a while ago, you are in the majority with his view. He’d be a significant upgrade.
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
This* view
My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.
by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Feb 28, 2010 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
From Tommy Lawlor on Darren Sharper
Caveat emptor. The highs are high, but the lows are low. Darren has great instincts and elite ball skills. Picked off 9 passes this year and ran back 3 for TDs. Loves to bait QBs. That works great against young guys. Look at his INTs from this year:
Matt Stafford – DET – 2 … rookie playing first ever game
Kevin Kolb – PHI – 1 … young QB making first ever start
Mark Sanchez – NYJ – 2 … rookie QB in his 4th start
Chad Henne – MIA – 1 … young QB making 4th ever start
Matt Ryan – ATL – 1 … 2nd year starter
Tom Brady – NE – 1 … can you say anomaly?
Josh Freeman – TB – 1 … rookie QB
Darren loves to jump routes. Veteran QBs know to be careful when facing him, but young guys think they see an open receiver. Out of nowhere comes Sharper to make the pick. He is a playmaker in the passing game. The downside of Sharper is his tackling. He is flat out bad. He misses tackles. He doesn’t always look real interested in taking on runners. There are times when he doesn’t even get in good enough position to miss closely. Darren can’t be counted on to clean up mistakes by the front seven or CBs. The Saints did not finished 20th or worse in points and yards allowed. Any team interested in bringing in Sharper as a FA better have a high powered offense. Not my cup of tea.
The Solution is Simple
Antrell Rolle or Draft Pick. Darren Sharper is a big name but he is alot like Asante Samuel. He makes a few big plays a year that make it on sportscenter. Everyone thinks this guy is alot better then what he really is- great at jumping routes and forcing turnovers but horrible at everything else. The guy gives up more big plays then he creates. Anrell Rolle is 27 or 28, he makes big plays but covers well as he is a corner turned safety. The draft also has alot of talented safeties we could draft in round 1 or 2 like Nate Allen, Taylor Mays or Rashed Jones.
by MidwesternEaglesfan on Feb 28, 2010 9:11 PM EST reply actions
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