Forget WRs, Defense Wins Championships

Although the Eagles haven’t been as flashy in Free Agency as many would have liked, they have added two potential starters at positions of need.  Stacy Andrews will contribute if healthy somewhere along the yet-to-be-determined new-look offensive line.  Sean Jones will be hitting on special teams and will have a chance to compete for a starting Safety spot.  Even with these solid moves, it sure seems like a lot of work remains to be done.

With over $40 million in open cap space and 12 total draft picks in April (including two 1st rounders and metric ton of 5th round picks), the Eagles have more flexibility to improve their roster than any team in the NFL.  Maybe that’s why we are all so anxious to be a part of the action.

This team still has a lot of room for improvement, and the glare from the window of opportunity closing is blinding.  I for one think the time to take the Eagles to the next level is now, and some of the stereotypical Eagles front office conservatism should be thrown to the wind.

Click here to read all the Eagles Free Agency News, including interest in Leonard Weaver, Jason Peters and Julius Peppers

I’ve heard fairly mixed reactions from the SOB Nation regarding Friday’s signing Free Agent Safety Sean Jones, but the Eagles are spinning it as a big plus.  For every positive that I can find in Jones, there is a negative or uncertainty that has yet to be answered.

We will all be watching Jones closely in training camp and and throughout the pre-season, it will be interesting to see how he pans out.   I think he will be given the opportunity to make an impact this season.  Not sure why, but I do feel a lot more comfortable with Jones on the roster than I did a few days ago when Demps was the only remotely viable Safety option outside of Quintin Mikell.

Jones, although coming from a 3-4 defensive scheme, he’s excited about coming to the Eagles and playing in Jim Johnson’s aggressive 4-3 defense:

I watch (defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson. He brings pressure defense and I’ve always admired that. I always wanted to be in that kind of defense. I have experience playing the 4-3 in college. I still have experience doing that. It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to just showcase my skills.

Jones (#26) looks significantly bigger than former teammate Safety Brodney Poole at the :34 mark.

Click here to read our full take on the Eagles newest member, Sean Jones

Here’s a roundup of some of the stories floating around out there right now.

• The Chargers might be looking to deal cornerback Antonio Cromartie if they can land Dayton Florence.  Would the Eagles be interested in Cromartie to start opposite Asante so they can move Sheldon Brown to safety?  Cromartie had 10 picks in 2007.  Why the Chargers are so eager to deal him?
• Speaking of Sheldon Brown, NBC’s Sports Final had Adam Caplan on last night and Caplan reported that there is a chance they Eagles might try to use Sheldon Brown in any potential deal for Anquan Boldin.  Don’t get your hopes up though.  If the Cards do indeed end up dealing Boldin and the Chargers end up shopping Cromartie, the Eagles would have competition for Boldin.
• According to Caplan, the Eagles don’t think Quentin Demps is ready to start just yet.  He said to look for the Birds to try and find a temportary replacement for Dawkins until Demps is ready.  He also said the Eagles are interested in free agent corner Jabari Greer.  Again, the idea here is that Sheldon could be used in a trade for Boldin or could be moved to free safety to replace Dawkins.
• Cedric Benson could be headed to Houston to backup Texans starting RB Steve Slaton.   If Benson is willing to be a backup, why aren’t the Eagles at least giving him a look as Westbrook’s backup?
• More speculation that the Rams are looking to deal Orlando Pace and Tory Holt.  While WR and OT are both needs for the Eagles, I can’t see the Eagles taking on either aging former star.
• Tra Thomas visited Jacksonville on Monday, but apparently didn’t leave with a contract.  I would have written a full post on this, but I’m pretty damn tired.

And so the exciting 2009 Eagles off-season continues.

The Eagles won’t be “putting it on the board” in free agency this year.  Free agent TJ Houshmandzadeh has reportedly reached a deal with the Seattle Seahawks according to multiple internet reports.  Housh ended up not even being on the Eagles radar after his agent played games with the FO last week by lying to them about how much money they were seeking.

With Housh off the board, the Eagles have fairly limited options at wide receiver via free agency this year.  The only wide receiver left that could be cosidered an upgrade is Laveranues Coles, but so far the Eagles haven’t shown any interest in the former Jets #1 wide receiver.  Most NFL experts have mentioned that the Dolphins lack of interest in Coles (because of his ties to the Tuna) is hurtng Coles value and reduced his market.  So far only the Bills have made an offer to Coles.

Coles recorded just 850 yards receiving last year, but reached the end zone 7 times.  Considering the Eagles lack of production in the red zone last season, adding a receiver that can get open and score near the goal line would be a welcomed addition.

If only we had the cap space…

Les Bowen interviewed Brian Dawkins on Sunday.  Dawkins thanked the fans for al of their support over his 13 years as an Eagles.

“For so many years, they’ve allowed me to come into their living rooms, to laugh with them, to party with them, to celebrate with them, to cry with ‘em through tough losses, to bleed with them. I just really appreciate the way they accepted me, a little safety from Clemson.”

Here’s the part of the interview though, that shows that Dawkins is hurting as much as we are about his departure from the City of Brotherly Love.

The day after, it would not be stretching to say Dawk sounded like he had regrets – buyer’s remorse, at the very least.

“In a couple of weeks or a month, I’ll be excited about this team,” Dawkins said. “I’ve got to get used to saying that — I’m a Bronco.” Then he paused. “I’ll tell you one thing — I’ll always be an Eagle.”

Then he paused again, and excused himself.

Dawkins will always be an Eagle to the fans as well.  It is going to be tough to see #20 in the opposing defensive backfield next year when the Broncos visit Lincoln Financial Field, but I think it’s safe to say that no opposing player will have ever gotten the kind of reception Dawkins will get.

Brian Dawkins is officially a Denver Bronco.  I don’t want to get into this too much because honestly I’m depressed about the entire situation.  Dawkins wasn’t just my favorite football player of all time, he was my favorite athlete in any sport ever.  I don’t know how I’ll be able to handle seeing Dawkins in a Denver jersey next year, but I would imagine it won’t be well.

In the Eagles defense here, the reported deal was 5 years for 17 mil.  A 5 year contract for a 35 year old safety is just lunacy.  Didn’t the Broncos learn from the John Lynch experiment?  Based on those numbers it’s not tough to see why Dawkins took the deal  and why the Eagles didn’t match.

This doesn’t in any way make up for the Eagles letting Dawkins reach free agency and test the waters.  He would have signed for a lot less than that to stay in Philly if they just would have gotten a deal in place before he could test the waters.  The Eagles though underestimated the market for Dawkins and tried to play hardball.  Well Andy, good job.  You successfully allowed the heart and soul of your team - the only true leader you had - to leave because you couldn’t get a deal in place.  Maybe the time you spent baby sitting and catering to Donovan McNabb would have been better spent negotiating with Dawkins.  At least Donovan got what he wanted.  That’s what’s most important.

Good luck, Brian.  There will never be another one like you in Philadelphia.  Oh… and Andy, you better do something amazing to win the fans back because right now you are public enemy #1 in my mind.

Multiple conflicting reports out there right now about Dawkins and Denver.  Adam Shefter of NFL Network is reporting that a deal is NOT done and that Dawkins hasn’t even reached Denver yet.

Contrary to published reports, free agent safety Brian Dawkins does not currently have a deal with the Broncos. However, he is en route to Denver.

Hmm…. so maybe the deal is not yet in place and maybe there is still a chance the Eagles resign Dawkins.  Could all of the news of Dawkins signing been floated out there by Dawkins agent in order to create a frenzy among the Eagles fans to show the FO just how the fans would react to the idea of losing Dawkins?  Who knows at this point, but if Dawkins still hasn’t reached Denver, I doubt he is signed, sealed, and delivered.

So it appears, at least for now, my previous post might be a bit premature.  I apologize, Andy.  Please digest your cheesesteak properly.  For now.

I think my best course of action until this all settles is to go out, forget about free agency for a while, and enjoy a wonderful open bar at McFaddens.  Goodnight SOB Nation, I hope to return to you with good news concerning one Mr. Brian Dawkins.

Seriously Andy, WTF?!?!?!?!?!?

It appears as though the unthinkable is now very thinkable. CBS4 out of Denver is reporting a confirmation that Brian Dawkins, the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles for the last decade, is signing with the Broncos.

CBS4’s Vic Lombardi has confirmed All-Pro Safety Brian Dawkins has signed with the Denver Broncos.

The NFL veteran has spent his entire 13 year career with the Philadelphia Eagles…until now.

Dawkins is expected to arrive in Denver Friday afternoon to formalize the deal reported to be for 2 years. Details of how much Dawkins will make have not been released.

This story has been around all afternoon, but up until now the only report cited as one from a San Francisco Chronicle blog.  This report certainly makes it seem much more official though.  If this is true, this is a very dark day in the history of the Eagles and a day that Eagles fans will not let Andy Reid and Joe Banner forget for a very long time.  If Dawkins only signs a two year deal, the fan base will flip out.  The Eagles have $48 mil in cap space with a reported uncapped year coming in 2010 and they couldn’t pony up the bucks for a freaking two year deal?

I’ll wait for the final details before saying this is an unforgivable offense from Reid and Banner, but I can’t see it being otherwise if Dawkins only signs a two year deal.

Enjoy your cheesesteak tonight, Andy.  I hope you choke on it.

If the Eagles are in fact interested in TJ Houshmandzadeh and they end up signing him, be prepared for a slew of horribly cheesy headlines from the various media outlets and newspapers.

• Eagles Make Housh Splash in Free Agency
• Housh Your Number 1 Now?
• McNabb Gets Housh Weapon
• Eagles Receivers Get a Housh Upgrade
• Birds Housh in and Nab a Number 1
• Eagles Make Housh Statement

TJ Houshmandzadeh was ESPN just moments ago and listed the Eagles among the teams he is interested in signing with.  He also listed the Giants, Vikings, and Seahawks.  He sounded pretty excited about the idea of playing in Minnesota with Adrian Peterson, but its good to see that he lists the Eagles as a team he is interested in.

I posted earlier that the Bengals official website quoted him as saying that he wants to be signed somewhere by Saturday night so let’s hope we we hear something Friday morning about Housh setting up a visit.  If he is saying that he wants to be signed by Saturday, a visit will be just a formality since he won’t have time for multiple visits.