Archive: April, 2008
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
"There's got to beee a morning affftteerrr ....if weee can hold on through the niiigghht ... We have a chance to find the sunnshinne ... Let's keep on looking for the liiiighttt" ....Sorry, too early still for karaoke.
The first day of the Eagles' draft carried a very low "wow" factor, but, hey, they got some things they needed and that extra No. 1 is going to look really good a year from now -- if you liked the Cowboys being able to take Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins yesterday in the first round, well, next year the Birds will be in that position.
Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson are in the NovaCare house and will be introduced to the media at noon.
Josh Barnett
The long wait has ended for Penn State linebacker Dan Connor.
Connor, a Strath Haven High product, was chosen by Carolina in the third round, with the 74th pick overall.
Connor was expected to be chosen in the first two rounds Saturday, but had to wait until Sunday morning to get the call.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Good morning, boys and girls, and welcome to Day 2 of the 2008 NFL draft.
While I know there probably was a lot of teeth-gnashing yesterday when the Eagles traded away their first-round pick, I'd have to give them a B+ for Day 1. Why?
Well, our biggest gripe about the Eagles' past drafts is they usually get little contribution from their rookie draft class. But just two rounds in, they've already got three players who figure to get a fair amount of playing time this season -- DeSean Jackson, who probably won't be much of a factor as a receiver as a rookie, but will be their primary punt returner; Trevor Laws, who will be part of their four-man DT rotation along with Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson and Montae Reagor; and running back Lorenzo Booker, the poor man's Brian Westbrook they acquired for a fourth-round pick from Miami. I'm assuming the Eagles still have hopes for Tony Hunt as a short-yardage and goal line guy. So Booker's arrival could most impact Correll Buckhalter. If Booker can play, Buckhalter could be a summer roster casualty.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson are not a terrible haul from the first day of the NFL draft. I'd rather have Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, the two guys the Cowboys got in the first round, but Dallas did enter the day with two first-round picks, so you kind of figured the Cowboys were going to improve.
I still remember the shock waves at the NFL Draft Combine in February when Jackson weighed in at 169 pounds. That's why he was still on the board at 49. But I also remember him blazing past hapless pursuers last fall, as a receiver and a returner.
I can't say I took a lot of notice of Laws last season, but Andy Reid compared him to Mike Patterson in his Day 1 wrapup remarks, and analysts like him.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Some end-of-day-one thoughts on the Eagles:
1) With the drafting of DeSean Jackson and the offseason acquisitions of free agents Rocky Boiman, Dan Klecko, Kris Wilson and Chris Clemons, their special teams should be a lot better this season, which should also translate into better field position for the offense and poorer field position for the opponent.
2) Pray that the Carolina Panthers are really bad next season.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
So, we finally have a pick. The Eagles' biggest need, for the year after Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley solidified the defensive tackle position, was .... a defensive tackle, of course. Trevor Laws from Notre Dame. OK, they needed depth at the position. But you haven't taken any players, there's WRs like Limas Sweed and DeSean Jackson on the board, safeties like DaJuan Morgan ... and you really needed a defensive tackle? Well, the bio the Birds just passed out says he's also a defensive end. And punt returner. No, actually, I made that last part up.
Hey, the Eagles just drafted DeSean Jackson, all 169 pounds of him, with their original second-rounder, 49th overall. So maybe this isn't the worst day ever. Still no Lito trade, though.
"I played end in a 3-4 scheme, but with Philadelphia, a 4-3, I'm definitely an inside guy," said Laws, who formerly roomed with Victor Abiamiri.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Well, a safety just went, Tyrell Johnson, a pretty good one, by all accounts. Except he wasn't picked by the Eagles, who traded out of the 43rd pick they acquired from Carolina, when they traded away their first-round pick.
The Vikings drafted Johnson. The Birds also traded 152 in the fifth, getting back 47, the Vikings' second-rounder, and 117, in the fourth round.
I know I'm excited.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Yikes. The Saints just took corner Tracy Porter in the second round. Would they have done that if they were getting Lito Sheppard in a trade?
Meanwhile, what are the Birds doing at 43 and 49? I'd say a safety and a wideout, but what do I know?
Darn, Buffalo just took WR James Hardy, a guy I would have liked to have seen the Birds get.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Well, the Eagles finally added something other than more draft picks. They sent their fourth-round selection (115 overall) to Miami for running back Lorenzo Booker, a third-round Miami rookie last season, from Florida State. Presumably, with the regime change in Miami, Booker is no longer a good fit in the offense.
He seems like the Eagles' kind of guy. Talking with Philadelphia-area reporters on a conference call, Booker said that during his rookie season, in which he caught 28 passes for 237 yards, "I wanted to line up a little more in the slot."
Booker, 5-10, 191, also carried 28 times, for 125 yards. He said he was shocked to get the call from the Birds, but "given the situation I'm going into, I can't say that I'm the least bit upset."
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
So, the Eagles have lots of resources still at their disposal, lots of trade options. But I never thought we'd be three hours into this draft with no real news. The Penn Relays might have been a more productive way to spend the afternoon.
Certainly, the vendors there would have been more enticing than the trail mix and soda on the table outside the NovaCare media room. And I haven't really checked, but I don't think I can purchase a Jamaican flag here.
