Birds Add Weaver
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Birds Add Weaver
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Eagles have signed fullback Leonard Weaver to a one-year deal, just when it seemed their interest in Weaver had cooled.
Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, acknowledged as much after the signing was announced Friday -- Lewis said he thought he was concluding "a three-horse race" among Seattle, Tampa Bay and Houston, but Andrew Brandt, hired last month by the Birds' front office, called "and we started goofing around" with different ways to get Weaver to the Eagles, where Weaver and Lewis wanted to go all along, Lewis said.
The result was a sort of "prove-it" deal that will allow Weaver to make as much as $2.5 million this season, Lewis said, if he meets incentives pertaining to playing time, rushing yards and receptions.
Not to doubt Lewis' assertions about how badly Weaver wanted to be an Eagle, but the fact that he lasted three weeks into free agency would seem to mean that Lewis' attempts to market Weaver as more than a fullback -- a hybrid who can also run and catch -- didn't really resonate with NFL personnel people. Weaver can, indeed, gain a yard at the goalline or on third and 1, which might be cause for rejoicing in Eagles Nation, but with 30 Seattle carries last season for 130 yards, he's hardly the new Mike Alstott. The pass-catching part is a necessary in Andy Reid (and Mike Holmgren's) West Coast offense. I've heard some people question whether Weaver is all that great as a lead blocker, though, which would be kind of the main point of bringing him in.
"I have a hunch he's going to be an Eagle for a long, long time," said Lewis, who clearly is hoping his client will be such a good fit that the Birds will want to sign him long-term next fall.
Lewis said he and Weaver took less money just to get Weaver into an offense where they thought he could flourish.
"We're taking a little haircut now and hoping for a wonderful 'weave' later on," Lewis said.
So far, offensive tackle Stacy Andrews is the only free agent the Birds have inked to more than a one-year deal, which says something about their interest in the talent pool, but also probably says something about the looming uncapped year in 2010, which complicates contracts.
Stay tuned for more details.
Comments (37)
That is a great signing and a good sign for the future. Will the Eagles really begin to go with skilled trained blockers at all the key positions necessary to make an NFL offense work?— Chuckle Berry
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- good signing for 1 year-if the eagles and he do well in 09 then reward him with another contract. Long term pro contracts take all the incentive away from overpaid bozo's playing games for a living.— jwatson
- I am astonished that the Birds really got a good guy who will protect, run and catch. Perhaps Andy is funning with his comments on WR's, backs et al. Perhaps the Eagles will get some pieces that will keep them in the upper regions of their division. Miracles do happen.— KGKoons
- I'm so confused. I was just starting to understand the highly intelligent and logical argument that Andy Reid and Joe Banner were actively opposed to improving the team.— owumd
- Another very good pickup for the Eagles. The reason they have been sucessful is because of a good FO. Give them a chance, this FO is going to have a very good draft.— fred13
- "Give them a chance, this FO is going to have a very good draft." Fred13, are you smoking crack? They have been successful despite the front office, not because! They barely sneaked into the playoffs last year because of some other teams loosing..lets face it. It was not becuase of the great drafting of Reid & Co. The last two years we have traded out of the first round (money reasons?) and their best draft pick the past couple years was rookie Jackson who was picked as their second overal pick in the second round which they took a chance on with his size. So what in the past two to three years drafting gives you the impression that this year is going to be good???— #1WRneeded
- Is that opposed to smart idiots, sewell guy? I assume a smart idiot is the type of person capable of putting together hysterical plays on words lie "McPuke" and using stingingly relevant cliches like "drinking the kool aid." If only I could be a smart idiot like you, then maybe I'd get it. Oh, if only we could return to the years when we prayed for a 10-6 season and a first round playoff exit. I mean, we lost, sure, but the coach was brutish at press conferences! What could be more important?— owumd
- The Eagles were EXACTLY as good as the Bengals last season. The proof, they played them for 75 minutes and couldn't beat them. That's right, EXACTLY the same, no better, no worse!!
- oh, do we need a fullback....I thought anybody could do that job....I guess the genius of Arrogant Andy finally realized that after last year's esperiment in cheapness failed, and the recent punt returner "plug in" the previous year's failure, the light bulb went on and he figured we should actually get a fullback.....now if only the real power in the organizion, that great football mind, Joe the Bean Counter could see his way clear to upgrade a number of positions it could be a good year....(yes he does have 40 million under the cap)and you know our fearless leader Jeffery, the little rich kid will do anything Joe says.......to insure our gold standard and capology cup stays with us...— nuggett
- gregneff62- we also beat the Steelers and Cardinals earlier in the season. Does that mean we were BETTER than the Superbowl Champions and runner up? Oh wait those games were played earlier in the season. A team changes over the season. They were equal with the Bengals that DAY but it does not mean they were equals the WHOLE season. The Eagles were one game from the SB; the Bengals didn't make the playoffs.— BadgerVMD
- Joe the Bean Counter, Amen— pigsofsunday
- A great addition and so many of you idiots can still only be critical. You deserve to live in Detroit. ENJOY the team. It's been the best 10 years you've seen— J Ziggy
- So we lose 4 former pro-bowlers, all of whom also played in the super bowl, plus the only wide receiver on the roster to catch a touchdown in a super bowl and then we add a fullback for 1 yr 2.5 mil and an offensive lineman from the cincinnati bengals. Are these moves supposed to make us better or are they trying to get a better pick in the 2010 draft?— woogie
- I would like all of the haters who have espoused non-stop the last couple weeks how it would never happen because the FO is too cheap to stand up and eat some crow! But instead we keep getting lame comments about how he is no good. Give me a break and STFU!— Viewkeeper
- andy has learned so much over the years. only two years ago we didnt need a FB or a KR. now we have both. wow, he has really matured. now we just need to run the ball considering our QB is good, not great.— jb99
- Now they need a real tight end and RB...Jared Cook and Knowshon Moreno would do wonders for this team— crohnkiller
- This signing really surprises me. Really, I'm amazed. A real fullback? In philly? What? What's next, a blocking tight end? A WR corp that doesn't lead the league in drops *again*?— psv
Good Player think POOR mans Keith Byars and I mean Poor! But he is only 26 could be that type of player if he flourishes.- i think no matter what the eagles , some of you idiots know how to do is complain!!!! go find another team , we don't need you any way— sch723
- i still think they will do some things in the draft or make trade yet before the season starts— sch723
- somebody above me is a moron!— losteagle
- Weaver is an upgrade for the Eagles at the FB position. Although he is not a great lead blocker. Maybe the Eagles can still pick up a TRUE run-blocking FB in the draft.— Lehigh Philly
- #1WRneeded, how do you think they rebuilt the D? The D is almost completely different from the SB season. It was rebuilt by making good choices in the draft and FA. They will keep up the good work by having a good draft. Maybe you don't remember the drafts before this FO was in place— fred13
- sewell guy- mcpuke? do u and lonewolf hang out together and come up w/ as many mc nicknames u can? for all u stupid fans whi give us a bad name- how can u say mcnabb doesnt come thru? how about 3rd and 19 w/ huge giant pass rush and down 11-10 and he makes great play to avant- dod he chpke then? or the 50 yd bomb to curtis down 24-6 on 3rd and 20 berse cards- did he choke then? or the bomb to desean- did he choke then? i hate philly fans- we suck— JONeill
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- Will the Igs require that the be interviewed by SPUDS ??— mick314
- Great move!! never thought the FO would get it done. things are looking up. they're showing signs of actually running the ball more next year. though i'll believe it when i see it.— 82tank
- Glad the Eagles filled another hole. Now, lets see how they plan to get an elite wide receiver with size, a new starting left tackle, a backup running back who may be the starter one day, a tight end better than what the Eagles have now and a free safety that can cover and puts fear into receivers going over the middle. Pretty tall order for just a draft and undrafted free agents. The next month and a half should be pretty interesting.— southern eagle fan
- 1-year deal? Wow, this guy must be a stud.— Phront_Runner
- J Ziggy, this is a great addition. But the POINT IS that the stubborn fat guy still thinks this team is fine where it is at the LONE position that factored in to why we didn't go farther in the playoffs or why we lucked into them in the first place: LEADING THE LEAGUE IN DROPPED PASSES!!!!!! YES, Weaver is a good pick up. But what are we now, $35 million under??? Andy just does not get it. The bottom line here is that defenses are not scared of DeSean Jackson and they probably will not be until he is honed. He says he is happy with what he has but let Andy eat the fact that "what we have" is a receiving corps that drops the ball at gigantic moments and does not affect the way D Coordinators look at a game, nor should they. GET BOLDIN!!!— elektrika
Leonard Weaver is the actual fullback 'the birds have needed; dividends for the front office and Brian Westbrook.=johnnyu- Any player who takes an incentive deal from the Eagles that is based on playing time, is absolutely crazy. The Eagles will flat out control his playing time to not meet incentives. I am wrong? Ask Hugh Douglas and Donavan.— Pat c
- Hey guys, bad news--the regular season starts this Sunday! That's right, the team that we have right now is the team we're going to field next year. There's no NFL draft, no trades, no remaining free agents to sign, no single possible way we can fix the team between now and the start of the season. What a horrible 3-week offseason we've had! We should definitely fire the winningest coach in franchise history because he's not an emotional barnburner like we want him to be and trade the most successful quarterback in franchise history so we can let Kevin the Walking Turnover Kolb take the reigns--he's the future, after all, and since we just made the NFC title game this year, we're not even CLOSE to being competitive, right? Plus, that Joe Banner guy is only looking out for money--I mean, he must be getting all that cap money he's saving and putting it right into his pocket, right? Especially since it's NFL shared revenue and it can only be used to sign players--that nickel-and-diming fiend! We knew these guys were trouble the moment they made our team relevant again!— moderndaymesh
- modernday--great rant! right-on. Question; what side of the dawkins fence you on?— 82tank
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Eagletarian is your home for comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Les Bowen
Daily News Staff Writer
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