The McNabb-for-Cutler theory
Before the fan base gets too fired up about the (as far as I can tell) nonexistent possibility of trading Donovan McNabb for Jay Cutler, here's a good take on Cutler from CBSsportsline's Clark Judge, a guy whose opinion I respect a lot.
The McNabb-for-Cutler theory
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Before the fan base gets too fired up about the (as far as I can tell) nonexistent possibility of trading Donovan McNabb for Jay Cutler, here's a good take on Cutler from CBSsportsline's Clark Judge, a guy whose opinion I respect a lot.
I will add this: People who think Donovan's too much the diva want to replace him with a guy who is trying to get himself traded because his new coach might have considered exchanging him for a quarterback the new coach has more history with. The new coach has twice tried to smooth over the problem and reassure the guy, but the guy won't listen.
Hmm. Yeah, that makes sense.
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This just in -- according to Pro Football Talk and, apparently, a Baltimore radio station, L.J. Smith has signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Ravens.
Well, at least L.J. has escaped exile to Detroit, which seemed his fate when Atlanta pulled out of the bidding yesterday. But wow. One year, $1.5 million? That's about a third of what the Eagles franchised him for in 2008. And Baltimore has a good tight end, Todd Heap, who makes way more than that. So L.J. is going to back up Todd Heap for a year, and somehow hope that provides a better platform for free agency than his injury-riddled, 37-catch 2008 season.
This only works for L.J. if Heap gets hurt. It's hard to remember a guy with more potential falling farther, faster. The L.J. Smith who was taking over the position from Chad Lewis the year after the Eagles went to the Super Bowl seemed to have years of stardom in his future.
Injuries, inconsistency and missing a few key blocks will do that for you. I think teams are very leery of guys who ought to be better than they are. In the end, they're often more comfortable with guys who might have less talent, but use every bit they have.
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Outside linebacker Angelo Crowell met with the Buffalo Bills about returning, the Buffalo News reported.
The Eagles have expressed interest in Crowell, agent Todd France told the Daily News on Friday, although France said Crowell was keeping his options open.
Crowell visited Tampa Bay and Detroit last week and has reportedly had preliminary contract discussions with the Bucs.
The Eagles would seemingly be a potentially odd fit for Crowell, given their young group of starting linebackers, all of whom they drafted, plus Omar Gaither, another homegrown player. The Eagles also have second-year man Joe Mays and special-teams ace Tank Daniels, whom they just re-signed.
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Another pretty astute NFL observer, SI.com's Don Banks, has a new mock draft up. Chillingly for Birds fans who think maybe their team needs to trade up from 21st and 28th overall to get one of the top OTs, Judge has Baylor's Jason Smith and Virginia's Eugene Monroe going 1-2. It's going to be pretty hard to trade into the top 2. Judge even has the red-flag guy who bolted the combine, Alabama OT Andre Smith, going 13th overall. But Judge has the Eagles getting an OT, UConn's William Beatty, with that 28 pick, after netting Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno (I'm all for that) at 21.
William Beatty? I've mostly seen him as a second-round guy, but mock drafts tend to undervalue offensive tackles. Don't know much about him, other than that obviously, he blocked for the running back, Donald Brown, who has drawn the Birds' interest. Otherwise, he might as well be Zelmo Beaty to me. (Everyone reading this who's under 50 is puzzling over that. Sorry.)
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In other news from around the league, Brian Dawkins missed the start of offseason workouts with his new team, the Denver Broncos, because he was in Hawaii at the NFL Players Association meetings. He is expected back later in the week, the Denver Post reported.
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Philadelphia fans are stupid. Without McNabb, the Eagles never would have got to 5 NFC championship games in the last 10 years. Winning a SB is difficult, and to win one the Eagles need McNabb, not a guy who will be out of the league in 2 years due to stupidity (Jay Cutler.)— nervegenerator- 5isaKing, I wouldn't through around the "moron" card when you have phrases like "mine as well"...FYI...its "might as well"...And McNabb is not a HOF as of yet, but Jay Cutler will NEVER BE!— Chris1429
- Ireally believe lonewolf is on crack.— Phillies08
Comment removed.- JimG, don't give lonelywolf too much credit. He is an obvious 13-15 year old boy with an inferiority complex. Now, I am not all that big of a McNabb fan, but anyone with a brain 9or an iq higher than a 13 year old) knows that Cutler is a class A loser. A headcase. We can get rid of McNabb for all I care, but replacing him with this fraud would be suicide for this team.— thingfish
- Bill1966, I'm so glad you and the other pea-brainers are not the Eagles GM. Cutler replace Plumer, who took the team to the playoffs with a 13-3 and has a 17-22 record. And now has the cojones to challenge his new coach. You guys are just haters. Get a clue or go with the old racist man to the sewer.— EL Zorro
- Cutler has a 17-22 record in a soft division.— EL Zorro
- C'mon this is such a non-story. Why don't you report on the draft and what prospects would fit into our system ?? What if this guy Beanie Wells gets picked up by the Birds!! I'm going on record here.He is the real deal.!!— MJPD345
- I have no faith in D Mac whatsoever! When stakes are at the highest he pukes. Trade him for something. No more puking!— Reggie92
- JAY CUTLER HAS NEVER HAD AN ABOVE .500 RECORD AT ANY LEVEL ABOVE HIGH SCHOOL. THIS GUY IS NOT A WINNER AND WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. A MAJOR STEP BACKWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— fiveforone
- 5isaking, McNabb is a future HOF. Really?— BobbyD
- "I hide behind a psuedonym and call others stupid pathetic morons. That makes me feel better about myself." That's what I read between the lines every day on philly.com. The Internet: Giving a voice to losers everywhere.— tbone pickins
- ONLY IN PHILADELPHIA..........EITHER STICK WITH EM, OR GET THE HECK OFF THE BUS..........BE TRUE TO YOUR TEAM,OR ROOT FOR THE COW-GIRLS !!!! 11— t_darb_56
- i think LJ is depressed and should take a year off.— Huge
- i think LJ is depressed and should take a year off.— Huge
