dhockster

I think Buffalo wanted to get rid of the headache of Peter's contract situation. So they must have felt they had to move him, and to get any value, they had to move him before the draft. While the Eagles obviously wanted Peters, they did not have to have him, thus they could get a little better deal. Based on what they got, I bet the Bills asked for a first and a third. The Eagles then said no, but we will give you a 1st and a 4th and a late round pick next year. Since I assume there was no other team offering what the Eagles were, the Bills had to take it

1. Check in a major way 2. Probably addressed by the draft 3. Probably addressed by the draft 4. Check 5. Probably addressed by their first round pick 6. Maybe addressed by Trade/FA signing/draft. I think the front office is doing pretty well, assuming they do well on draft day.

Now they either need to get Boldin or a good RB compliment for Westbrook using their remaining first round pick. Either way, I think the offense will be fine. If they could somehow do both, the offense once it plays together for awhile, could be amazing.

I was reading over the weekend about Peters, and have some concerns about his attitude and work ethic. He held out last year trying to get a new contract until the week before the season started, had to be scratched for the first game, had an average last year and missed the last two games with an injury. If the Eagles traded for him and gave him a big contract, would this guy be motivated to play? I still would trade for him if Buffalo will do a reasonable deal (maybe a first and third) but I am somewhat leary that this guy may forget that all-pro talent still needs all-pro work ethic to be an all-pro.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9420958...ested-for-drugs What a bad off season for this guy. Arrested twice in the last two months, no free agent visits, and to top it all off, getting tasered by the Houston Police Department. This guy is basically trying to end his NFL career.

I think Boldin is still a possibility. I think nothing has happened yet because the Cardinals are not ready to deal him yet, they think they still might be able to make him happy. I think if something does happen it will come right at draft time when the Eagles still have something to trade. If the Cardinals wait until after the draft then there is really nothing they could get for Boldin, other than Reggie Brown (which wouldn't be a bad fit on the Cardinals; he just is not worth what Boldin is worth). Of course, if it comes out after the draft that the Eagles could have had Boldin for one of their first round picks (or some other reasonable deal) then I will be critical of management. Boldin would be a great intermediate threat that would open things up for D Jackson.

I tend to agree with this line of thinking. While TO had talent, I think his need to be the focus of the offense hurt Romo's overall development as a QB. Without TO he will not have to worry about the repercussions of throwing to someone other than TO. If Dallas utilizes any of their RB's as receiving threats than I think he will still be a good FF QB. If they go with a more traditional running game with a lot of rushing TD's than I think he will only be an average FF QB.

Just Curious what the consensus is among Eagles fans as to what they should do in the upcoming draft. If they could somehow use picks (this year and next year) to get Boldin and trade up to get a future left tackle, I think that would be awesome. I think they have enough good young depth overall, that using all 12 drafts picks is a waste because they will probably end up cutting some of them.

Who would you take with the #1 pick?

Schaub will not be throwing to Shiancoe and Rice. Rosenfels will. Schaub will still be throwing to an all pro (Johnson), a good number 2 (Walters), and a good young TE (Daniels). Assuming he stays healthy (not necessarily a safe assumption) he should have a big year.

More Speculation by Peter King on the Boldin Situation http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/0...g-up-on-boldin/

While I know the Eagles haven't made the big move this off season that people are looking for, I am still confident something big is going to happen. Having $40 million in cap space and 12 draft picks, I will be really disappointed if they don't do something that has more of an impact on the upcoming season than just drafting 12 more players (with only 3 starters gone from last years team, there is not much chance for them to have an impact). The Eagles philosophy of stockpiling draft picks, however, may provide some benefit from last years draft. Because they had extra draft picks, the Eagles were able to use a 4th rounder to take Jack Ikegwuono, CB, who had torn his ACL. Before his injury he was considered to have 1st round ability. He now looks like he will be ready to participate in mini camps in May, and could further strengthen the Eagles secondary in 2009. If I were to make a prediction now, I think the Eagles will use their extra draft picks to trade up in the first round to get a LT. I do not think they will trade for Boldin (the Cardinals will ask for more than the Eagles are willing to give up). I am not saying that I think this is the right thing to do, but what I think the Eagles will do.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/0...in-on-the-move/ More speculation about if Boldin will be traded and to whom.

I agree. When has Arizona ever made a decision based on who they might play in the playoffs? If they can get something for him that improves their team and the Eagles have the most to offer, then I think they would be willing to trade with the Eagles. The other thing I think that makes it more likely that the Eagles would try to this would be that if they get Boldin, the Giants don't. Boldin going to the Giants would pretty much be a worst case scenario for the Eagles.

Interesting rumors about the Eagles acquiring Boldin and/or Pace. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/moving_..._to_Eagles.html Getting Boldin would make the Eagles receivers very good. Desean as a deep threat, Boldin as your possession guy, and Curtis in the slot. If Celek continues to develop, McNabb should have plenty of options to throw to. Assuming he has time to throw. While it would have made sense for the Eagles to sign Thomas for this year, there is no way, due to his age, that he was just going to go for a one year deal. The Eagles weren't going to sign him to a three year deal. While this may be short sighted for the upcoming year, that is just how they operate. And probably the reason they get close but never go all the way.

No problem. If you think the Eagles are throwing away their chance next year by not addressing their biggest needs because Lurie's in financial trouble and won't spend the money, you are entitled to your opinion. I would just say that nothing they have done this off season is inconsistent with the way they have managed the team for the last ten years. Based on their success over that time, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when I question why they are doing something I don't agree with. I worry less and sleep better. I hope in this case I am right, not because I want to be right, but that means we have a good season to look forward to in 2009.

So if I read what your saying correctly, your two main concerns heading into next year are left tackle and a complimentary running back. I would agree that those are the two main areas of need. I think because the Eagles have two possible big-time replacements at left tackle on their roster (Shawn Andrews or Todd Herremans) I am confident it will work out okay. In addition I think there is a good possibility they use their plethora of draft picks to move up in the first round to take a tackle to be the long-term solution. I am more concerned about them getting a big, move-the-pile type running back that they use to help out Westbrook, because Andy Reid has for some reason, never gotten one. If anything holds the Eagles back in '09 I think it will be their running game. Again, though, I think the Eagles are in a great position to improve their team on draft day. So, lighten up. Even though the Eagles haven't won the big one in the last nine years, I would take their success during that time frame, over everyone except New England, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis.

In the NFL these days, you are always rebuilding. This is the Eagles FO basic philosophy: 1) Don't commit long-term money to older players. 2) Let your older FA starters sign with other teams, giving you compensory draft picks. 3) Use the extra draft picks to make moves on draft day to get the players the FO wants. 4) Occasionally get a younger top name free agent that fills a need for hopefully a long period of time (Runyan, Kearse, Samuel). 5) Fill need positions several years before they become need positions. I think judging their off season now, before free agency is done, and before the draft has occurred is premature. The FO record of 7 playoff appearances in the last 9 years, with 10 playoff wins is pretty impressive. Yes, I would like to see them "go for it" one of these years and sign several top Free Agents, but that doesn't always work (see Kearse above). The Defense should be very good this year, and assuming McNabb plays, and Westbrook has another RB to shoulder some of the load and keep him healthy and fresh, the offense should be fine as well. The OL will have some transition this year, but they have enough players coming back and a stable system, that I don't see it being a big problem. Dan Snyder spends like crazy almost every year and what does he have to show for his efforts? Just my two cents.

WINNAH!

If you ask TO, he doesn't NEED to do anything. Nor will he. In 2009, he will say stupid things and he will be a cancer on the Cowboys just like he has been everywhere else. What his numbers will be, I don't know, but his negative influence will continue to be a problem for the Cowboys.

Do you think, if he is healed from injury, Deuce Macallister would be a good pick-up for the Birds? I have always been impressed with his ability to get an extra yard or two, and think he would be a good complement to Westbrook. He should come fairly inexpensive, coming off injury. I would only do it, though, if he was healthy.

Ones with good adult humor: Phineas & Ferb Jimmy Neutron (I love that Jimmy's best friend is named Sheen Estavez, and his friend Carl has a Llama fetish)

Assumine Deuce is recovered from his knee injuries, I would love to see the Eagles sign him. I think he would be a good complement to Westbrook. He always impressed me as a guy who knew how to get an extra yard or two when you needed him to. He would greatly improve the Eagles short yardage game (again, assuming he is recovered from his injuries).

There is no way the Giants would sign TO. They are a well enough run team that they won't want his media circus, and each year as his production decreases, his risks outweigh his rewards. I think it will say a lot about the next team that takes on TO, that they probably need the media attention, or they are a poorly run franchise.

Stay classy, Cowboy fan, stay classy.