Mikell says Eagles offseason moves rid team of problem players

by JasonB on Apr 19, 2010 11:25 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

In one of the more revealing stories of the offseason, Quintin Mikell admitted to Reuben Frank that there was division in the Eagles locker room last year and that the teams' moves this offseason removed that negative element.

"There was just a lot of negativity," Mikell said. "A lot of people weren't putting the team first. Everybody's guilty of it at some point - I've been guilty of it here and there. But when it's all the time, then it's a problem. We've never had that before, since I've been here. We've never been a selfish team, where guys were more worried about what they did individually than how we did as a team. But we had guys who were more concerned about how the game plan affected them. It was, 'How am I going to get my sacks if we're doing this,' instead of, 'Hey, let's go out and do whatever it takes to win the game.'

If we look at the guys jettisoned on defense this offseason: Jason Babin, Chris Clemons, Darren Howard, Sheldon Brown, Chris Gocong, & Sean Jones... Who could he be referring to? Mikell did seem to make it clear that the problem guys were not Brown or Gocong. He also spoke of certain guys doubting the playcalling of McDermott, saying that they could have had better stats with a different call in a certain situation. He said that guys blamed scores they conceded on bad field position or on the offenses' inability to get first downs...

He referred several times to guys complaining about their chance to get sacks... which might lead you to believe that one or all of the defensive lineman(Babin, Clemons, & Darren Howard) could have been part of the problem.

In all, he painted a picture of a faction in the locker room as selfish and excuse making. Obviously that's not conducive to winning. It also shows that the defense needs leadership and that Sean McDermott and Andy Reid need to do a better job of stamping their authority on the team. By jettisoning a number of these guys, they may have started to do just that.

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You forgot Darren Howard

And I think it someone like him that could have been a problem. He had 10 sacks in 2008, and his numbers reduced in 2009. He’s not some elite talent by any means, but he could have used the play calling as an excuse for his lack of production.

by Team Serbia on Apr 19, 2010 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

You’re right. I added him.

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by JasonB on Apr 19, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I saw this on a fanpost earlier and didn’t catch the talk about guys missing out on sacks. Before I thought it was Sheldon, but now I am sure it had to be Clemons or Howard. Babin barely made the team so I can’t see that.

Regardless, that this even occured is concerning to me. Hope Andy took care of the problem for good.

by Clyde Simmons on Apr 19, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, Babin seemed to have a good attitude and all that. I don’t think he would’ve been one to be complaining. He got to show off a little bit in the preseason and keep himself in the league. Who knows what would’ve happened if he didn’t catch on with the Eagles during the preseason.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Apr 19, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Few things

- Forgot to add ’Spoon and

- I would have to think that there are at least a few holdovers that Mikell was talking about especially in the secondary.

- Wonder if he was talking about either Patterson/Bunkley too in terms of the ‘sacks’ issue. If the Eagles do draft a DT with their 1st or 2nd pick, you will probably have an answer to that questions.

- Eagles added a few veteran coaches this offseason and Jauron specifically in secondary.

- If the Eagles send a few high draft choices on defense and they struggle again this year, I wonder if the Eagles won’t make a change next year at the D coordinator position. Wouldn’t surprise me.

by MG77 on Apr 19, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Doubt it on B&P

If they wanted to complain about not getting sacks they would have been doing it for a long time now; I doubt it would have suddenly become a problem last year.

Hopefully Jauron can force Asante into tackling people.

Veritas Liberabit Te

by DSmith215 on Apr 19, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

We just got Ernie Sims from the Lions

3 team deal with Broncos/Lions

Sheffler to Lions, undisclosed pick to Broncos

by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Apr 19, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

For a 5th rounder! We got Ernie Sims for a 5th!

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Apr 19, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

BDawk would have squashed it.

I love the part where he says players where “out to get their snacks”. Great wording, never heard that before. Funny as hell. We need more leadership though.

In Kolb we trust

by yophillybro on Apr 19, 2010 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

It appears I may have read it wront, he said Sacks not Snacks.

Snacks sound funnier though.

In Kolb we trust

by yophillybro on Apr 19, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

i prefer snacks lol.

kind of surprising that no one like Cole stepped up and set the D-line straight…

Leadership IS important…it’s not the end all..but you def need some driving force in the locker room to make sure everyone has the same TEAM goal.

Funny how some think leadership is worthless.

by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Apr 19, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Not worthless

just overrated.

by Team Serbia on Apr 19, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I wish Clemons and Howard HAD been out to "get their snacks"

Perhaps adding a little much needed weight and muscle would have kept them from being blasted off the ball on every snap.

...But if he pulls the rug on his quarterback, Reid must do it knowing that he let McNabb down more than McNabb ever let him down.

Phil Sheridan--Philadelphia Inquirer

by EvilBanner on Apr 19, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed on the Dawk squashing it. I believe this has been going on since 2007 or 2006. Dawkins had it under wraps everyone seems to respect him. The first year he is gone the locker room breaks down. That must have been what happen in the end of the season. I guess money for leadership is something needed.

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Apr 19, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

I can’t see saying that about Howard though. When I saw him pushed around it was when he was at DT. That’s a gamble the coaching staff takes when they move a DE to DT on passing downs, not really the fault of the player.

by AZ Eagle on Apr 19, 2010 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

Meant as reply to EB

by AZ Eagle on Apr 19, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Clearly, Mikell was talking about McNabb’s negativity towards Reid’s clear misuse of his talents. He’s 6’2" 240, he should be a OLB in a 3-4, and Andy Reid made him a QB for all these years.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Apr 19, 2010 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Not Sheldon.....

I doubt if Sheldon Brown was one of the players complaining. Sheldon has always been a team players and played hard. When Lito Shepard was uphappy with his contract, he totally stopped playing and was shipped out of town. Sheldon played hard and hurt all year….and with Dawks old position not stable, Sheldon, Mikell and Samuels all tried to take up the slack. Unfortunately, Sheldon had to be traded. Like Dawk, he’ll do well next season.
I believe the players who were complaining were let go (not Gocong or Sheldon)…and probably a couple of the younger players still on that team were guilty too. It’s up to the older vets to mentor the younger players about the ‘team first’ attitude. You can’t win games if you’re more concerned about personal goals than team goals. If you play well, the personal goals will come. One thing I always appreciated about Donovan was that he put the team first. With players like Weaver, Mikell, Trent, Bradley, Peters and now Kolb, I think the younger players will learn the Eagle way and team spirit. I’m still amazed that this team, with all the injuries, finished the season 11-5. If Jim Johnson was still coach, I don’t think much more could be done, especially with all the injuries. Maybe the younger players would have respected him more, but I think McDermott did a damn good job in his rookie season. I hated to see Donovan leave, but I’m also excited about what I see the Eagles doing. And all the players seem to be on the same page with their off season conditioning. Plus with the new trainer and conditioning coach, the team will be in better shape. The rookies didn’t have an off season conditioning program last season. I noticed that some folks have the Eagles in 3rd place for next season, but I think they are going to surprise a lot of people. For a team to transition from a veteran team to a young team and still go 11-5, that’s an accomplishment in itself. Look out 2010….the Eagles are coming. Don’t count them out. A new era has began and the next 10 years will be just as exciting as the last 10 years. Goooooo Eagles

by virgoman on Apr 19, 2010 1:48 PM EDT reply actions