Reid needs to play a better Santa Clause this off-season, all Eagles fans have got is (Trent) Cole.

What the hell is going on around here?  I know the 2008 NFL season went a little bit longer for the Eagles than everyone expected, but it’s like Andy Reid and Joe Banner didn’t prepare for the off-season at all.

They are the blurry-eyed, bed-headed student rushing to their final while pounding a Red Bull and scanning their notebook one last time.  At his point, the smart kids have already started to hand in their exams and its become very obvious; we’re screwed.

Still we try to tell ourselves everything is going to be okay; there is still time left, we can still turn this around.  But it appears as though the Eagles front office have responded to an uninspired start to Free Agency by using the old A, B, A, C multiple choice method.

Today’s round of Free Agency updates don’t look much better than the last few, but here goes nothing:

From the way Tra Thomas has been talking, you would think he already signed with another team

• Tra Thomas - Although he visited with Jacksonville and left without a contract, Thomas seemed pretty resigned to the fact that he may not be an Eagle in 2009.  Yesterday, Tra said “They haven’t shown any interest in bringing me back, so as hard as it is I have to move forward.  The Eagles have always been the team I wanted to play for, but now I have to go to the team that wants me.”  Damn.  So who is our left tackle again?  Bookend Andrews’ are starting to look like a distinct possibility.

• Shawn Springs - Visiting the Eagles today?  Really?  Shawn Springs like the extremely mediocre CB?  As Free Agent visits and signings go hand in hand with the Birds, one has to question what the ulterior motive behind signing Springs.  Does Sheldon Brown move to FS?  Is Sheldon on the block?  Although Eagles can’t afford to let another talented leader exit the secondary this off-season, Brown is one of the more attractive trade pieces the Eagles currently hold.
• Antonio Cromartie - When the word got out that the Chargers were looking to bring back CB Drayton Florence, the rumors started to fly that Cromartie was on the block.  Florence ended up signed with Buffalo yesterday, meaning that Chargers GM A.J. Smith had to grovel his way to the podium and release a statement that Cromartie is not on the block.  There goes that idea.
• Jermaine Phillips - Now that the Safety position has changed forever, why not take a look at one of the better safeties available in Free Agency?  The former Buc SS Phillips has been a staple in the tough Tampa Bay defense over the past seven seasons, and visited with San Diego and Seattle yesterday.  Phillips is much more of a proven player than any safety on the Eagles roster not named Quintin Mikell, but the Eagles probably won’t pursue him as that would make it look like we need a safety.  Solid Costanza Logic right there.
• Cedric Benson - Would have made a pretty mean thunder to compliment Westbrook’s lightning, but signed a 2-year, $7 million contract with Cinncinatti yesterday.  There is probably a stipulation in his parole which forced Benson to sign with a land-locked team (Cedric tends to get in trouble on boats).  Too bad for the Eagles, it could have been a lot of fun at the Jersey Shore this summer.

But forget the missed opportunities and departed Eagles.  Today is a new day, full Free Agency opportunity and $43.8 million in salary cap space.

We can only go up from here, right?

Tra Thomas is patiently waiting for the Eagles to make him an offer he can't refuse

If there is one thing that I agree with Andy Reid on, it’s the importance of the offensive line.  Football games are won and lost in the trenches.  The Offensive Line has long been strength of the Eagles, and we have used both the draft and Free Agency to add talent.

The 2009 off-season brought a lot of questions to the line, none of which have been addressed (yet).  Both starting tackles from last year are unrestricted free agents.  Jon Runyan had a fairly serious knee surgey, and I expect him to re-sign once he gets himself healthy.  On the left side, Tra Thomas is expected to resign with the Birds, but that has yet to happen upon posting.  On top of the questions at Tackle, former first round pick Shawn Andrews missed the entire 2008 season while battling depression and a lingering back injury.

With such uncertainty at a critical position like Offensive Tackle, the Eagles would be wise to address the position in more ways than one.  Restricted Free Agent Nick Cole signed a 2nd round tender today, so he will be back in Green next year.  The Eagles have already been linked to Ravens Guard / Center Jason Brown, and I’m sure Andy Reid and Co. plan on aggressively pursuing the top Free Agents along the Offensive Line.

Click here to check out all the 2009 NFL Free Agent Offensive Linemen by position

The 2009 NFL Combine kicked off yesterday with Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends completing positional drills, bench pressing and running their 40’s.  Offensive tackle has been a position of strength for the Eagles over the past few years, starting two Pro Bowl level players in Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas.  However, both are aging and impending free agents.  Runyan is currently recovering from knee surgery and the rumor is currently floating that Tra Thomas will resign, but a young competitor at tackle may need to be added to the mix.

Although it isn’t flashy to draft an offensive lineman high in the draft, every good offensive in football has one thing in common: a good offensive line.  Here’s a look at some of notable offensive tackle performances from the NFL Combine:

I would love to see Jason Smith blocking for #5, but he may end up being the 1st player selected in the 2009 draft

• Jason Smith - At 6′5″ 309 pounds, Smith sure looked the part and is a pretty nasty finisher on tape.  Smith moved around well in positional drills and had an impressive overall workout.  Despite an average 5.22 40, he threw up the 225 pound bench press 33 times.  Smith looks like an impact player I would love to draft, but Smith will gone long before the Eagles have a chance to draft him, even if we combined both 1st rounders to move up. 
• Michael Oher - Has popped up as a potential target for the Birds in round 1, but had an uninspired Combine workout.  21 bench reps decent for a guy with long arms, but his 5.32 40 didn’t do anything to help his cause.  There are some question if Oher is a tackle or a guard, and the “boom or bust” talk seems to follow him but he looks like he may be worth the gamble.  
• Eugene Monroe - The massive 1st round prospect ran the 40 fairly well (5.12), and put up 23 bench reps.  He did show some of his agility, posting one of the better OT broad jumps of 9′2″.  The fact that Monroe’s play at LT kept last years 15th overall pick Brandon Albert at guard in Virginia says a lot about his ability.  Monroe is going to go early.
• Andre Smith - It baffles me that a guy who is due to make millions in guaranteed money by getting drafted in the top 10 picks would kill his draft stock by being so out of shape that he is forced to bail on the Combine.  Sure seems like a bust waiting to happen, but the kid has enough talent to get himself drafted in the first round or two.   
  

  Loadholt is quite a load at 6'8", 337 pounds

• Phil Loadholt - is 6′8″ 340 pounds, damn.  Due to his ridiculous size, it isn’t too surprising that he has some trouble dealing with smaller speed rushers.  Despite not lifting at the combine, he’s got a ton of upsize.  Practicing opposite the Eagles wealth of undersized and speedy DEs could help him become a real force at LT.
• William Beatty - Is one of the more impressive athletes in this year’s tackle class (5.12 40, 33.5″ vertical), but looked weak and his footwork is sloppy.  I’ll pass.
• Eben Britton - Looks like a natural who will transition well into the NFL and reminds me of Matt Light a little bit.  His 32 3/4″ arm length raises some concerns, but the 5.16 40 and 24 bench reps are legit.  His stock has been on the rise, and if the Eagles are stay at #28 and Britton we may be tempted to draft him (We’ll see how he interviews).
• Jamon Meredith - Another player with a real possibility to be drafted late in the first round.  The combination of his 5.03 40 and 31 bench reps make his performance one of the strongest statistically for an OT at the combine.

As you can see, there are a ton of solid options at tackle, and I expect quite a few of them will go in the 1st round of the draft.  I would love to somehow get Jason Smith,  but Oher seems like the top prospect that the Eagles have a legitimate shot to land at #21.  Even if the Birds don’t draft a tackle with their first pick, strong options may still be available like Loadholt, Britton or Meredith at #28 or even later.

The second unrestricted free agent offensive  tackle in the UFA spotlight, LT William “Tra” Thomas.

Doctor Said I Need A Backiotomy

2008 Season Overview:

• Started all 16 2008 regular season games and gave up only 2 sacks, good for third best in the league; hard to argue with that.  However, this statistic is a little deceptive as Thomas’ play didn’t always seem to be at such a high level and at times he lacked push in the run game.  Playing with a QB that’s fairly difficult to take down like McNabb helps cover up some mistakes as well.

2009 Outlook:

• As we’ve said before, offensive tackle is the #1 priority of the 2009 offseason and many consider left tackle to be the most important position on a football team.  Tra’s been to three Pro Bowls and selected to the All Pro team twice; teams pay a lot of money for left tackle’s with resume’s like that.  In last year’s free agency Dallas resigned Flozell Adams (four career Pro Bowls) at 32 to a 6 year, $43 million contract.  Thomas is 34, and has had back spasm issues over the past few years, but I would expect teams are floating Tra somewhat comparable numbers ($30+ million).
• Drafted by the Eagles in the 1st round the year before McNabb, the time may have arrived for the Eagles to draft the LT of the future, as they ponder who the QB of the future will be.  That’s not to say that there aren’t a few options already on the roster:

1. Winston Justice - A blatant assassination attempt on Donovan/Kolb/other’s life.
2. Todd Herremans - If he were to move to tackle, he seems more of a fit at the RT spot in the NFL.  With that being said, Herremans did first crack the starting line-up at left tackle during his rookie season in 2005 when Thomas was injured.  This could actually work out if we resign Runyan, but a healthy and happy Shawn Andrew’s is needed to make it a reality.
3. King Dunlap - The wildcard.  King showed promise during the ‘08 preseason, coming in as a 7th round pick that year.  Although most second-year, 7th round picks who have never played in an NFL game don’t get much love, most aren’t 6′8″ and 320 pounds.  Size like that gets people’s attention, but his ability to play at the NFL level is still very much up in the air.

Will he be an Eagle in ‘09?

• Doubtful, but…
• It’s going to hurt. There have been some rookie tackle’s who weren’t drafted in the top 10 recently who stepped right in on Day 1 and played well; Ryan Clady, Michael Roos, Chris Williams and Marcus McNeill to name a few.  The consistency of resigning Tra would ease some uncertainty heading into the ‘09 season.  But really, there is nothing certain about a 35 year old tackle with a history of persistent injury and declining play.  There are teams out there more desperate for a LT in this fairly weak offseason for the position.  I see Thomas moving on, but we may end up missing him greatly as the options behind him have yet to prove themselves.