NFP Weighs In On The Vontaze Burfict Debate

They had bad reports on Cam Newton and Tebow too.. Look at them NOW…

Burfict is the Taylor Mays of the 2012 draft

Any higher and we’d be making a mistake. You don’t bring a player who needs stability and a veteran presence into the black hole that is our linebacker corps.

What the hell, that doesn’t make any sense. Did the classic 1-10 scale go out of style?

Absolutely have to take him if he’s there in the 2nd round. If he can keep his emotions in control he will be the best LB in this draft class. Also if they wanted to bring in a vet LB to put Burfict under there wing I agree with Anders it should be London Fletcher

Our LB’s are soft… Rolle,Fletch,Burfict…. might be a pretty mean group

But if he’s there for our #2 second round pick I might take a flier on him. Definitely take him if he’s there in the 3rd round. For some reason I don’t see us keeping both of our second round picks this year. AR loves to wheel and deal it seems and I’m thinking one of those 2nd round picks will be going to another team for something.

That’s good value at that point. I’d say a second (since we have two) isn’t bad either. But no way should he be our first round pick.

Tired of all these “supposed” scouts; I bet none of “their” so called picks ever did anything. I would actually value what they’ve said if I had a complete list of their picks 10-15 years solid. If not, then I declare I am a scout and I am on BGN/record: wanted Derrick Morgan or JPP over Graham, Nicks over Maclin, Moreno over McCoy, Jimmy Smith over Watkins. I really only became really interested in the draft 5 years ago…which follows the downward spiral of our team. I also like McShay over Kiper and pull my info from waltercampbell. Remember Cam Newton was ONLY a “system QB”, bad rep ie stealing, cheating/honor code violations AND my personal favorite: scored low on the Wonderlic which measures decision making/QB IQ. EVERYONE makes mistakes Jason…I was wrong about Knowson vs Shady, but I am also 3-1 in drafting. How? A 21 yr old 6"+ press/man corner has WAAAY more upside than a 27 yr guard!! I challenge ANYONE to find someone with a REPUTABLE, verifiable, draft history to put a talent in perspective. I am aware of the Leafs, Russells, Mays, Currys, but I am also aware of the Bradys, Rices, Tramon Williams, Ray Lewis, and Lawrence Taylors too. Hell, I could throw McNabb in, but he has no Super Bowl (unfortunately)! I am on RECORD: Vontaze Burfict. Yes, we need a veteran LB, S; but we would still need both if you drafted college tackling machine, Kuechly. I also am on record: sign Desean to a reasonable contract or part ways. Floyd is decent, but Alshon is BETTER. Pick a WR at 15, then package 2 2nds to Steelers at 24 and take Burfict. I’ve said enough…tired of “so-called” scouts…at least he realizes Burfict is PRO BOWL CALIBER!! They tried the “Golden boy, high character, dare I say limited athleticism” ie Matthews. Time for the “Bad boy, character issue, freakish, athleticism/speciman” surveys says… BURFICT!!

But yeah, I agree with nearly everyone else- don’t want him in the 1st, maybe in the 2nd, definitely in the 3rd. I just have too much Ernie Sims aftertaste left to get too excited about him.

I expect us to take a crack at the FA market before the draft, and do plenty of wheelin’ and dealin’ of picks, so all our speculation is especially meaningful. But if we can land a vet linebacker to have him play alongside, sure, take him in the second. If not, probably best to steer clear.

Trying to guess what a team will do is tough. Plan A if we do not get a upgrade for MLB in F/A 45% chance that Luke will be our 1st round pick. 45% chance we make a trade involving our first round pick. 10% chance we stay put and pick someone else (IE some player from the top 10 drops down to 15). I hope if we do not upgrade the MLB position through F/A we do pick Luke. Plan B we upgrade at MLB through F/A . 60% chance we trade up or down with our first round pick. 40% chance we stay put. If we do stay out I would like to see us take who ever is going to help further ensure our pass protection will be solid to very good. The reason I say this is we play the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins 6 times. Just think of the DE/OLB pass rushers we face, JPP, Justin Tuck, Ryan K. and Brian O. from the redskins, Demarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff from the cowboys.
As far as Vontez goes if he is available late 2nd round or after that I would be fine with that if we pass on him that is fine also.

A lot of people hate on Burfict but I’d be excited if we picked him. I think Andy is in control of the locker room and could keep him from acting out. However, I doubt the coaching ability of our LB and D-coordinator to mold him to his full potential.

The hard part will be deciding which of our veteran linebackers would mentor the lad. Our LBs are known for leading both on and off the field, how do you pick just one to guide him?

The problem with Burfict is that I think everyone can agree he isn’t a final product. Like 99% of players in the draft he still has a lot of work to do. When I look at Burfict I see two major problems with the Eagles drafting him.

1. Vontaze Burfict does not fit our current system. What I really think the Eagles need more than anything else is a sure tackling MLB. Burfict just isn’t that, yet. As he is right now he doesn’t fit into the system, and we pretty much need someone who can come in and make an immediate impact.

2. Vontaze Burfict is a too much of an asshole. While this may seem strange, I actually really want the Eagles to have an asshole on the team. As of now the D looks apathetic both on the field and in the locker room. The only guy out there that I actually see get pumped and excited to be on the field is Kurt Coleman. I really think we need an asshole to hype the team up and get them going. The problem is Burfict is too much of one. The Eagles don’t have anyone to give him a veteran presence in the position and i have my doubts about the coaching staff to make the best use of him.

When I look at Burfict I see all the tools to make him one of the next great linebackers in the game. He passionately wants to win, he has the athletic ability to dominate in his position, and he looks like the guy who would scare the opposition. I just doubt the Eagles ability to turn him into that. If we get him with our second 2nd round pick he may be the next Jeremiah Trotter for us. I wouldn’t mind.

Burfict is a physical specimen who has the athletic ability and talent to be an all-pro LB in the NFL. He has his character concerns, he has his issues and those will likely impact his stock. However there’s no lying that players have straightened out before when brought into a healthy locker room and that’s what Burfict will need.

I’d say take him in the 2nd if he’s there even if we have to trade up from the 3rd to get him. There’s no reason we shouldn’t take a chance on a supremely talented guy at that point where there aren’t many other needs that need to be addressed.

I would honestly love to see us pick Burfict because when he’s actually on he kills it, but sadly he’s off 90% of the time.

I’m still swinging for us to go with Kuechly and Trevathan in the draft, move Trevathan to WILL LB and watch the fireworks.