Eagles show interest in Takeo Spikes?

by JasonB on Mar 26, 2007 10:56 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

This rumor was brought up in the diaries over the weekend and it looks like it's gaining some steam.

Eagles | Team showing interest in Spikes
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:17:42 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports the Philadelphia Eagles are showing interest in possibly obtaining Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes, according to a league source. Spikes would need to pass a physical and negotiate a new deal. The source believes the Bills could receive a mid-to-late round choice in the 2007 NFL Draft if both conditions are met. The Eagles would likely move Spikes to the outside if they acquire him. The team could also move him inside and make LB Jeremiah Trotter more of a two-down linebacker.

The Buffalo news reports that a trade could happen today or tomorrow.

The Buffalo Bills are getting closer to trading linebacker Takeo Spikes, The Buffalo News has learned.

Trade negotiations gained steam Friday and Saturday, and a deal might be consummated within the next day, a league source told The News.

ESPN is also reporting on TV that the Eagles have made the "best offer" to the Bills.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one. The Giants are supposed to also be in the mix, but it looks like Spikes is going to be somewhere new today or tomorrow.

Update [2007-3-26 11:46:15 by BleedGreen]: 610 WIP is reporting that Spikes will be in for a physical this afternoon or tomorrow. Barring a failed physical it looks like this is close to a done deal.

Here's what ESPN has to say...

Eagles eyeing Spikes The Eagles have jumped to the front of the Spikes sweepstakes and something could happen quickly, reports ESPN.com's John Clayton. The Bills have quietly shopped Spikes him for the past few weeks with the Eagles and Giants showing the most interest. Spikes is hoping to hear sometime Monday that a deal could be done. The plan would be for Spikes to play outside linebacker for the Eagles. The former Bengal was also willing to go back to Cincinnati but the Bengals weren't interested in his $4.5 million salary. Coming off an Achilles tendon injury, Spikes played in 12 games last season. He finished with 70 tackles and one sack.

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not bad..

he's not what he used to be.. but he's serviceable.

interesting to see the Eagles addressing all issues... like us, they're hungry for a title

Fly Eagles Fly!
The Eagles Chronicles

by klkatz on Mar 26, 2007 11:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If healthy

He's an upgrade, and that makes me happy. Plus, I don't think he's going to be very expensive...

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 26, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Bills want to unload his contract

If he weren't traded, he'd be released.

So yeah, he'll come with a fairly low pricetag in trade; he will be a highly paid player though.

by InsultComicDog on Mar 26, 2007 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Desparate Move

Not that this move doesn't make the team better, but it smacks of desparation. I don't think it speaks very highly of the organization generally or its planning in particular. Ideally, this would be the off-season of wishing a tearful farewell to Jeremiah Trotter and unveiling a young linebacking corps supplemented by a couple of mid-priced veterans. Instead, the Eagles are taking their cues from the Redskins and the Raiders and signing a guy on the backside of his career for pretty big money. How much would Spikes have been able to sign for in the free agent market? Are there any examples of all-pros who have worked out successfully elsewhere later in their careers? I don't know about this one.

by dave in san mateo on Mar 26, 2007 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's not alot of risk

They traded a guy that very well may have been cut in June for Spikes. He's making good money, not huge, but good money this year and next and could be cut next offseason if he doesn't work out. If he does return to form, he's well worth the 5 mil. There's no long term money or risk here.

Plus, look at this way... I doubt Trotter and Dhani make the team this year. One will be gone. If Spikes is here to play the SAM spot, Gocong will back him up and Dhani is gone saving the Eagles nearly 3 mil next year. Holcomb only counts a little over a mil.

When you subtract Walker and Jones or Trotter and add Holcomb & SPikes the Eagles are probably only taking on less than 2 million more in cap space.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 27, 2007 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Got him!

Got spikes and Kelly Holcomb (why?) for Darwin Walker and 2008 Conditional pick.

by BrianS on Mar 26, 2007 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Walker

For those curious, dumping Walker frees up $150K in cap space.

Spikes, OTOH, is supposedly due $4.5M and $5M in the next two years. I can't imagine the Eagles aren't going to extend him a year and move some of that salary out in bonuses.

by Andrew on Mar 26, 2007 9:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs