DRC: I'll Play Nickel If That's What Team Needs
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
DRC: I'll Play Nickel If That's What Team Needs
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM -- Where to begin?
Here at the center of the NFL universe, all of a goshdarned sudden, huge stories just seem to be just wandering down from the low hills surrounding the practice fields and chasing us, instead of the other way around.
We had interviews with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin, Vince Young, Andy Reid and Joe Banner this morning. Nnamdi Asomugha apparently is scheduled for tomorrow.
Headline No. 1: DRC says a three-cornered defense isn't a problem for him.
"That'd be all right with me," he said, about the possibility of lining up as the nickel corner, with older heads Asante Samuel and Asomugha also in the equation. "Long as I can get on the field and just compete."
Rodgers-Cromartie said he was excited, not flustered, to find that Asomugha had trumped him as the Eagles' big cornerback acquistion, even as DRC was flying in from Arizona in the wake of the Kevin Kolb trade.
Headline No. 2: Young showed for practice, even though he can't work out until Aug. 4, conferring on the field and on the sideline with the other QBs and QB coach Doug Pederson. Young has jersey No. 9, perhaps an homage to Sterve McNair, his Tennessee mentor. Later, Young called the new-look Eagles "a dream team."
Asked why he chose to pursue a backup role in Philadelphia to restart his career, Young said: "Andy Reid."
Both Young and Reid referenced a meeting at the 2006 Maxwell Club banquet.
"I met him a long time ago. Some things just stand out about him, there's a respect across the league, as well as how players talk about him, and have respect as well," said Young, the third overall pick in the 2006 draft. "I really felt like it was a good fit for myself. I had a lot of opportunities, but I felt like this was a great opportunity for me to get better as a quarterback and learn from him, as well as learn from the rest of the quarterbacks here -- Michael Vick."
Headline No. 3: Reid finally shed some light on wideout Jeremy Maclin's excused absence. Reid said Maclin is "still ill."
Maclin reportedly lost weight early in the offseason with a mono-type illness. When he joined lockout workouts in South Jersey in late May and early June, he said he was over that problem and back to normal. Apparently not. The Eagles offered no further update.
Headline No. 4: Banner spoke passionately about the front office's attempts to load up the wagon and win a Super Bowl.
"It's dramatic. We went in with an aggressive plan," Banner said on the day after the Eagles shocked the football world by signing Asomugha to a five-year deal. Banner said agent Ben Dogra told the Birds they were Asomugha's top choice from the beginning "if the economics were right." Sometime in the middle of Friday afternoon, that began to seem likely, Banner said.
Banner called the Eagles "one of the most desirable places to play in the league," and acknowledged reports that Asomugha left money on the table to join Vick and the Eagles.
"My impression is that there were some higher offers," Banner said. "I don't think there's any doubt he wanted to be here very badly."
Banner wouldn't discuss possible new deals for Vick or holdout DeSean Jackson, but assured reporters "we still have some flexibility" under the $123 million cap.
"We're doing everything and anything we can," Banner said. "The expectations are high."
Asked if there was a big focus on "legacy," Banner said: "There's a big focus on relieving the stress and pain of having been so close of having been so close so many times and not winning it all. We're very focused on getting that knot out of our stomachs."
The front office is loading up on the talent...lots of new weapons & two more draft picks for next year...major upgrades with a few more on the way....their not done yet...satisfaction level is 100% in my book as a fan...fantastic effort in improving the team....Go Birds!!!— greenbloodVAEagle- Slayer: I'm concerned too. Sometimes mono can take forever to resolve, and sometimes there is a late recurrence. On the other hand, it is sometimes easy to mistake some low grade leukemias for mono.— doc35
- They have managed to acquire the talented 3 headed corner, now the Eagles owe it to themselves to give this trio a chance to prove or disprove conventional theories that abound as to the make-up of a good ("great?")NFL defense. The Eagles have in the past few seasons made a commitment to putting together a defense that features speed as it's prime characteristic and playing the tree corners together and utilizing the diversity of their combined talents in my opinion could very well lead to the team concept of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. It's easy to follow conventional wisdom and to do what every one else is doing, it takes a little more intestinal fortitude to follow the less traveled path. Consider, there was a time in basketball when the 'twin tower' phenomenon was unheard of and flew in the face of conventionality.— AMelt
- The best part of the Asomugha acguizition is it shut up and embarrassed two of the biggest mouths in the NFL, Jerry and Rex. Delightful to steal a potential Cowboy. Gimme an E— lunch
- Still haven't won squat with Reid. Close doesn't count since Cole, Jimmy, Chase and Ryan showed us that it is possible to actually win the last game they play. But keep on hoping the QB can actually play a whole season and Reid will magically learn how to make in-game decisions that aren't on his stupid chart.— phillyjeffsr
- I hope we can keep Asante,at least for this year.INSURANCE !!
If any one of the "three" go down we still have a heck of a secondary
This is exciting.As Daniel Snyder might tell you,You can't just be willing to Spend The Money.You have to know how to spend the money.
You can't just pull the trigger,you have to know what to shoot at.
BANG!!BANG!!BANG!!We're closer than we've ever been.— Ernie Garman 
Craig321:
"Asuckte"... really? You're the exceptionally ignorant yokel that gives Philadelphia fans a label as low-life idiots among so many around the country. Get your head out of it and give it some sun, son.— oldfriar- 726 I demand you show yourself or your name is dookie! This has all become surreal. Veteran reports tinging their articles with disbelief and awe, and most comments being gushing accolades of the Eagles.— Murrayman
- Welcome to Philly free agents and trade-ins, we want the Super Bowl as badly as all of you seem too! Please stay and win some games. Do this, and even the "Joe 'Nickles' Banner" guy will love you! KEEP ALL THREE CORNERS, remake the D around a 4-2-5!— WestonF01
- If they get a good offer, Asante is gone. They still need a MLB, a veteran safety and a right tackle to protect Vick's backside. They're not done yet. And they may add Plaxico.— greenflyer
- Hey Craig you idiot. Asante is one of the best CB's in the league. He has the most interceptions over the past five years. He has been to the Pro Bowl how many times and your saying he sucks? You suck at life.— oharabri
- I'm getting nervous about Maclin. I wonder if he has a very serious illness.— ej610
- This is all wonderful, but unless we get a free agent play caller, who can manage the clock, we will be in the same boat as usual. We usually have more talent han the other teams, that has never been the problem. Run the ball more, and more red zone touchdowns!!!! Please!— Bigkahuna3131
- Yessss....keep all three....see if you could unload Hansen and one of them extra DE's for some draft picks!— DavezMental.Com
They just signed a DT from the Packers...— CCRichards- Joe "Nickel Defense" Banner— Scraps77
- free agency aint over yet nancies— PHLtoLAX
- I'm trying to be as positive as possible, but how can they expect to get to the Supper Bowl with such inexperience at linebacker. This team as constantly undervalued that position since Reid has been coach.— LasVegasScott
- This has been an amazing few days for life long Eagles fans, but it's asking to much to have all 3 on the Team. I refuse to believe that's a possibility. I still have a concern about Right Tackle, and Linebacker. When you have been an Eagles, Sixers and Phillies fan as long as I have, skepticism is just part of your make up. This week for the Eagles is akin to the announcement the Sixers signed Doctor J
— Dexter - Man, this is gonna be GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
— madaboutit - I'm all for having 3 of them as well but man, it's a ton of money to tie up on one position. Trimming Hanson's 2 mil would help.— hillbillybirdsfan
- Trading away ANY of our Three Gems is out of the question in my mind. With the emphasis on the pass rush, opposing QB's will be hard pressed to get the ball deep, so keep the middle swept with LB's and especially safeties, and we should be able to hold teams to hopefully 19-24 PPG. And if Andy can fix the O=Line (Oh god...how long have I been saying this???)and we get our skill guys rolling, NFC Championship game here we come. (How some other teams like Green Bay and the Saints do will determine if we can claw our way to the Super Bowl. Then we'll see how WELL he fixed the O-Line.) FLY EAGLES FLY!!!— TBear
- Starting to get a little concerned about Maclin. An illness where you spend months sick and losing weight is nothing trivial....— sla6yer
- A good offensive cordinator will line up with single back and two TE's, have QB work the eagles linbackers, and pitch to the RB rolling out of backfield, thus avoid the eagles 3 corners— camasbud
- Are you still in high school? You certainly sound like it... Sorry if you really are a teenager, because then I would have no reason to call you out. Post away, young man. — goeagles87
Comment removed.- Fire Reid— Bubba James
- Keeping in mind that 47% of the plays against the Eagles' defense last season involved multiple wide receiver sets and keeping in mind that injuries happen, I hope the Eagles stand pat with the three corners.— dasher
- Very pleased to see the team first, it's all about winning attitude from DRC. Philly fans will love him to death if he keeps that up and performs well. Young's comments are a little less mature and more self interested. Teams win championships b/c everyone is willing to do whatever is asked of them, not b/c they have a lot of guys that have been rated 95 in Madden. Awesome moves F.O. Let's pray for good health throughout the season. With that, this could actually be the year.— HorshamGuy
- Shocking moves to start free agency; keep the intensity level until a Lombardi Trophy at Novacare ...johnnyu— john ullman
- Asomugha and DRC may be known as cover corners, but Asante is the playmaker. Asante is the guy of the 3 whom is most likely to make a big pick and take it to the house. I think people are way to willing to have the Eagles trade away Asante, but it would be hard to replace those playmaking skills. I would love to see all 3 on the field at the same time.— mish798798
- Similar to the Phillies, the Bird's are trying to create an aura that Philadelphia is the place to be!..."dream team" sounds nice, but now it's time to work and get it done on the field. Right tackle,linebacker , and safety round out question marks...keep em all healthy...Go Eagles.— bearsfriend
- Andy Reid is Vince Young's answer. Wisenhunt says everybody in the league knows Andy Reid is a great talent evaluator especially at quarterback, free agents want to come here to play because of, Andy Reid. Yet the smart savvy Philly football fans want him gone. Maybe we should bring Buddy back will that make you happy? Body Bag Game YO!— phillboyinhawaii
- Wow. Great attitude by DRC and Young. Talent and attitude together makes winners. Eagles front office does not do everything right, but recent moves are looking very strong. Lets give them credit, hop on the bandwagon and enjoy!— JohnFC
- Comment removed.
- "I'm old enuff to remember when neither team was any good." Yep, yep. I hear you. If someone would have told us back then, or even 10 years ago, that baseball and football players were going to leave money on the table to COME to Philly, we would have laughed our @55e5 off. The way Philly sports have been going lately, I am going to have to change my screen name.
- I grew up with Jaworski, Carmichael, and Montgomery. The Buddy Ryan years were great...but Rhodes, Kotex, and Braman were rough! Go Birds!
— NancyNancy - Still need linebackers and O-Linemen. Trade Asuckte for one or the other and free up some cash for DJax and some more free agents. Howie, Joe, GREAT work so far, keep focused and plug the remaining holes.— Craig321
- Still need linebackers and O-Linemen. Trade Asuckte for one or the other and free up some cash for DJax and some more free agents. Howie, Joe, GREAT work so far, keep focused and plug the remaining holes.— Craig321
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"Asuckte"... really? You're the exceptionally ignorant yokel that gives Philadelphia fans a label as low-life idiots among so many around the country. Get your head out of it and give it some sun. Or maybe you're just a little kid trying to be funny. Making up mocking names is juvenile.
— oldfriar - Idiot alert... Asante leads the NFL in Int's since 2006 with 32. He was targeted 36 times last year in 11 games played and had 7 picks. So idiot, basically every 5th time a QB threw his way he pick it. But you idiot want to trade him. — Facts before ignorance
- Are we still alive? Is this all just a dream? This is so amazing. Can't wait for the season. This D is going to be fierce! Heck, the whole next 6+ months will be amazing! ;-)— NancyNancy
- That's what I'm talking about DRC. Way to be a team player. Love the good vibes.— DennyP
- Keep as much quality talent as possible— shawnmac
- Good. We need to keep all 3. that is whay makes this trade works. Asante Samuel is a ballhawk.— briandawkins20
