Eagletarian

Birds Ship FB to New Home, Gain DL Body

The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian

Birds Ship FB to New Home, Gain DL Body

POSTED: Thursday, March 28, 2013, 3:14 PM

Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer

The main purpose of Thursday's Eagles trade of Stanley Havili to the Indianapolis Colts for defensive end Clifton Geathers was to get something for Havili, while giving the fullback a decent shot at continuing his career.

Havili, 25, was a good solider who worked his way up from the practice squad in 2011 to play in 15 games in 2012, but new coach Chip Kelly's offense is not expected to include a traditional fullback. The Colts' GM is Ryan Grigson, who was the Eagles' personnel director when Havili was drafted in the seventh round from USC in 2011.

For a guy they were going to cut sooner or later, the Birds got a potential 3-4 end in Geathers, also 25, listed at 6-7, 325. Geathers was a sixth-round pick of the Browns in 2010, and has since played for the Dolphins, Seahawks, Cowboys and Colts, in three years. That's a lot more teams than you'd think a guy Geathers' size would have played for by now. (So, no, the Eagles aren't cutting anybody because they got this guy, He'll compete for a roster spot.)

Geathers is the brother of Robert Geathers, a nine-year Bengals DE vet, the son of Robert Geathers Sr., a third-round Buffalo pick in 1981, and the nephew of James "Jumpy" Geathers, who won two Super Bowls in a 13-year career that included stops with the Saints, Redskins, Falcons and Broncos.

BTW, that linebacker the Eagles hosted this week, Victor Butler, ended up signing with the Saints. A source close to still-free-agent OT Eric Winston indicated the Eagles recently made inquiries again. It doesn't sound like teams are beating down Winston's door.

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Comments (9)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:49 PM, 03/28/2013

A good solider.

— P Even

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:53 PM, 03/28/2013

solider comparative of sol·id (Adjective)
Adjective
Firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid: "frozen solid".
Strongly built or made of strong materials; not flimsy or slender: "a solid door".

— Horst Muhlman lives on in all of us

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:53 PM, 03/28/2013

solider comparative of sol·id (Adjective)AdjectiveFirm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid: "frozen solid".Strongly built or made of strong materials; not flimsy or slender: "a solid door". (HTML deleted)

— Horst Muhlman lives on in all of us

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:44 PM, 03/28/2013

Sensible move for both parties. Eagles are being run much more professionally than before and have reasons for things now that don't leave you shaking your head wondering. I wish they would sign Dansby and Winston because each of these guys is a good addition and provides depth and experience.

— hankhammer2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:37 PM, 03/28/2013

This comment has been deleted.

— Quixote III

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:46 AM, 03/29/2013

I know. Good technique unless those other guys are 6'-10" (unlikely).

— essell

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:24 PM, 03/28/2013

It's now official...Chip Kelly's offensive schemes has no time for a FB...Like the DoDo bird, soon to be extinct... As the DE's in the 3/4 start looking like trees, hoping the likes of Cole (draft Day trade bait?),Graham, Curry, and Hunt realize their potential as pass rushing LBs in this different defensive alignment.

— bearsfriend

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:44 PM, 03/29/2013

Glad we got rid of that useless, unathletic wretch. Couldn't block or catch a pass to save his life. At least we got a guy who provides much-needed depth for our odd-man front. And the guy is a physical specimen.

— Bob1Progeny