Eagles News: Dolphins writer says Jay Ajayi trade is a “very bad, dumb move” by Miami

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Spin this however you like, Dolphins trading Ajayi for 4th-round pick still comes out dumb - Miami Herald
The Miami Dolphins beat Tuesday's NFL trade deadline by making a very good, smart move. Alas, it was a very good, smart move for the Philadelphia Eagles. For the Dolphins, it was a very bad, dumb move or at the very least a perplexing one defying logic. The team can spin this any way this wish in an attempt to justify the trade, but I'm not buying it and I doubt most fans are, either.

What the Jay Ajayi trade means for the Eagles - BGN
How do the Eagles handle their running back situation moving forward? There are now five RBs on the roster. Who is the odd man out? (Hint: things not looking so great for Wendell Smallwood).

LeGarrette Blount still the starter, but Jay Ajayi could be Eagles' long-term RB solution - PhillyVoice
“All that stuff, playing time, is sorted out by the coaches, but LeGarrette continues to be our starter,” Roseman added. “We’re just really excited to have that group and add a good player.” “LeGarrette’s been productive when he’s gotten the ball,” Roseman said, adding that Blount took the trade news well. “He’s a warrior and he’s a two-time Super Bowl champion. And we’re really glad to have him. You know, I really shouldn’t get into starter roles – that’s really up to the coaches – but we’re counting on LeGarrette going forward."

More on Ajayi - Iggles Blitz
I went back and watched Jay Ajayi play against the Falcons (26-130) and the Ravens (13-23) to get a better feel for him. I came away very impressed. Ajayi is strong enough to break tackles and not go down on first contact. He’s also elusive enough to make defenders miss. That combination makes him a dangerous runner. LeGarrette Blount can run guys over, but he can’t do this.

Thoughts on the Jay Ajayi trade for the Eagles - Inquirer
You never know how a trade will work out until you see the player in his new situation, but I view this as a relatively low-risk price for a potentially big reward. Ajayi can be a difference-making running back, and he’s only 24. I’ve written before that running back is a weak spot on the Eagles’ roster even though they’ve been productive through the first two months. Not anymore. With Ajayi arriving, this is a much-improved backfield. The Eagles are a better team than they were when you received the Tuesday newsletter. That’s a good sign for a 7-1 team.

A peek behind curtain shows Eagles needed RB like Ajayi - NBC Sports Philadelphia
He's 24 years old, he's got a cap-friendly contract, he had a Pro Bowl season a year ago, and the Eagles are a better football team today than they were yesterday. You never want to give away draft picks, but this is a football team that's on the brink of some pretty special things, and when you're in the position the Eagles are in — 7-1 with a six-game winning streak and your eye on the No. 1 seed in the NFC — you do everything you can to get better. When you look at the Eagles' collection of running backs, you have a bunch of guys who've contributed in various ways this year but also a bunch of guys who also carry significant question marks.

Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount give Philly NFL's most bruising backfield - ESPN
Opposing defenses might want to buckle their chin straps extra tight when facing the Philadelphia Eagles. On Tuesday, the No. 4 rushing team in football added the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Jay Ajayi, acquired from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round pick. He joins a backfield that to this point has been led by the 6-foot, 250-pound LeGarrette Blount. Philly now has two of the top bruising backs in all of the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Ajayi ranks first (81) and Blount third (69) in most forced missed tackles since 2016. That's some serious force lining up behind MVP candidate Carson Wentz.

Dolphins trade RB Jay Ajayi to Eagles - Pro Football Focus
Ajayi had a breakout year in the 2016 season as he ranked third in the NFL in PFF’s elusive rating with a mark of 76.0. Furthermore, Ajayi led the league with 58 forced missed tackles on runs, which was 11 more than what second-ranked Jonathan Stewart racked up. In addition, Ajayi ranked second in the league with 3.46 yards after contact.

Dolphins trade Jay Ajayi to Eagles - The Phinsider
Earlier this week, head coach Adam Gase had stated that he would look to get rid of players who were not buying into the system, and Ajayi seemed to be one of the players he was discussing. Now, it appears confirmed that Gase was frustrated with the performance from his running back, and the team has moved on from their 2015 fifth-round pick.

Roseman: Building For Now And The Future - PE.com
The old saying in the NFL is that if you are staying still, you are really going backward. So the Eagles, as they approached the league’s trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, kept their ears and eyes open, understanding the opportunity for the rest of the season in front of them. And then a name popped up on the radar screen that Howie Roseman and the personnel department couldn’t ignore: Running back Jay Ajayi ...

Why the Ajayi acquisition made sense for Howie Roseman - The Athletic
It's easy to feel confident in the culture of your locker room with a 7-1 record, but as Sheil Kapadia wrote earlier this week, there are some tangible reasons to believe that's not just empty boasting. And more importantly, there's some reason to believe that the situation in Miami was toxic to begin with. Having a better organization than the Dolphins should be an easy bar to clear. Frankly, the concerns about Ajayi's character seem secondary. The bigger reason to worry might be his long-term health. He fell to the fifth round of the 2015 draft because his knees are bombed out and depleted, and the Dolphins have kept him out of practices for precaution's sake throughout his career. He's also had concussion issues since entering the league. Certainly, the Dolphins have more information on Ajayi's health than the Eagles, even if he did pass the physical.

Analysis: Why would the Miami Dolphins trade Jay Ajayi? - Palm Beach Post
The Miami Dolphins felt they were better off without Jay Ajayi, make no mistake. Coach Adam Gase had warned that he was going to play the players he felt knew what to do, whether the fans liked it or not. Gase had warned that he was going to find the players to do what he wanted, how he wanted, or he would play somebody else. It was embarrassing to Gase, the offensive play-caller, the offensive guru, to be at the head of the worst offense in the NFL. And something had to change.

Jay Ajayi Trade: Grading the Eagles' Move at NFL Trade Deadline - SI.com
The presence of a Pro Bowl-caliber running back also adds to the matchup issues the Eagles can already create with their current set of weapons, thus taking stress off Wentz’s shoulders. It was thrilling last Monday to watch Wentz scramble and wheel his way around an advancing Washington defense, but it also has to be terrifying for the coaching staff. Blount is a great power runner, especially as a closer late in games when worn down teams don’t feel like dealing with a runaway bus. Ajayi attacks with a different style and speed, as does Smallwood. Through the cold November and December slog, this is a trio of running backs good enough to lift a team in quarterback-neutral contests.

The Winners and Losers From the NFL Trade Deadline - The Ringer
Then again, Ajayi’s going from a very bad team without a quarterback in Miami to a very good team with one of the league’s rising superstar signal-callers in Philly. The Eagles have a great defense and are legitimate Super Bowl contenders―and as the old saying goes, winning cures all ills. Ajayi might actually benefit from a decreased volume of touches, especially if the report that the Dolphins front office made the trade because they fear that “knee issues stemming from a significant 2011 surgery are finally catching up to him.” Fewer carries equals fresher legs. Fresher legs equals more burst. More burst equals more broken tackles and breakaway runs.

Elway: Quarterback position “under evaluation right now” - Mile High Report
All signs point to a change at the quarterback position.

4 stats to know as Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos gear up for Week 9 meeting - PennLive
Denver's minus-11 turnover differential is the second-worst mark in the NFL. Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian has struggled to get into a rhythm all season, and he’s failed to protect the ball. Siemian’s thrown 10 interceptions this year, including six in the past three games. Denver’s stingy defense hasn’t been playing with many leads and haven’t produced takeaways at a high rate, accounting for just six on the season.

NFL Panic Index 2017, Week 9: Winners and losers from the trade deadline - SB Nation
The Eagles surprised us all by trading for now-former Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi. The Eagles sent a fourth-round pick for Ajayi, who should fit in flawlessly with LeGarrette Blount in the Eagles’ backfield. Blount has already been having a good season for the Eagles. On 100 rushes, he’s got 467 yards and two touchdowns. Blount is a very powerful back who will still be the starter per Howie Roseman. But Ajayi adds relief. In 2016, Ajayi had three games in which he rushed for at least 200 yards. He finished fourth in the NFL with 1,272 yards. Although his numbers were down this year in a lifeless Dolphins offense, Ajayi still ha promise — and he’s just 24 years old. Now, the Eagles’ offense features the two backs and one of the best pairs of WR1 and WR2s in the league. Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor have combined for over 800 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Let’s also not forget about Zach Ertz, who leads the team in receiving yards (528) and touchdowns (6). Oh, and Carson Wentz has been pretty good too. He’s thrown for over 2,000 yards to go with his 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now and a real MVP candidate.

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