Special Teams, Draft Tidbits
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Special Teams, Draft Tidbits
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Not much going on in the NFL for another week and a half or so, until everybody convenes in Indianapolis for the
Scouting Combine. But that doesn't mean we can't cobble together a very special Valentine's Day Eagletarian.
BTW, my favorite Valentine was the "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY" Tweet from Rosenhaus Sports. Makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside to know that Drew and Jason care.
*It's always notable when Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News publishes his annual special teams rankings. I called 'em "arcane" in a story written when the Eagles hired Boby April last month, and Goose thought I was making fun. I just meant "esoteric." Also, "brilliant," "mind-blowing," "awe-inspiring," "incomparable," though somehow I omitted those characterizations. I'm including them now.
Anyhow, the 2009 Eagles ranked 17th overall, first in punt returns, which means the rest of their operation didn't grade out as well as you might have expected. (Or I might have expected, anyhow. I doubt you're been giving it that much thought. That's why you have me.) The Bills, April's team last season, ranked third, which is the reason April is now the Eagles' special teams coach, and Ted Daisher was down at the Senior Bowl a couple weeks back looking for a job. (With, as Ted pointed out, his kicker, longsnapper and punt returner all in the Pro Bowl. If you wanted to make a list of people who really deserved to get fired by the Eagles, it would take quite a while to get down to Ted, but as we all know, life and the NFL are less then fair.)
The top special teams belonged to Cleveland. The Super Bowl-winning Saints ranked 29th.
*New mock draft up from ESPN's Todd McShay. Notable only in that I agree with Todd's premise, that the Birds should be looking for a safety at 24th overall. He has them getting the USC monster, Taylor Mays, then has the Cowboys taking South Florida's Nate Allen with the 27th pick. After talking to some people who really follow this stuff, I'm not sure Allen isn't the more complete player.
*I held off until now on last week's GCobb report RE Eagles contract negotiations with Kevin Kolb. The last few days, though, I've seeing all sorts of analysis of what this "must mean" from various internet sites. Before we get the cart all the way down the track while the horse still stands in his stall, I feel compelled to note that as far as I can tell, there have been no contract talks. Kolb's side indicated to me that it certainly would like for there to be contract talks. So far, nothing.
I think the Eagles are still sorting out exactly what they want to do. If they really are solid on one more year of Donovan McNabb as the starter, as Andy Reid has indicated, they will offer one sort of deal to Kolb. If there is a real chance they listen to McNabb trade offers, they might offer a different sort of deal to Kolb. They definitely will do something there, at some point. But I'm pretty sure they haven't done it yet.
Gosh Les, why doesn't the brain trust just ask us knowledgeable fans on how to proceed? Have we ever steered them wrong?— TBear- On what basis can you say there have been no contract talks? Were you told by his agent? Les, you're just speculating. It's interesting that Kolb's agent did not deny the story that a contract offer was made. He had no comment. If there was no truth to the story I don't see why Kolb's agent wouldn't just say that it's untrue. The story also appeared on the Eagles official website which is interesting. If there was no truth to the story would the Eagles allow Dave Spadaro to put it on the website? Interesting...— soulman386
- We want Ricky Williams!— p-diddy
- When you use the word tidbits, with an 's' at the end, it implies multiple "bits". You put one obvious point in print and get paid for it. Apparently athlets in Philly aren't the only ones stealing paychecks.— Bleue
- TBear - Eagles fans are among the dumbest in sports. And I'm from Philadelphia.— bobbyd24
- Wow, bobbyd24, you proved your own point! Ever hear of irony?
- uh, that would be sarcasm, not irony.— high alpine
- I think the Eagles have made the fans into idiots with all the emotional upset they have caused the past 50 years.— Wise_Owl
- I don't think that was sarcasm, although I must say sarcasm translates exceptionally well over the internet.— Jerome99RIP
- soulman, he said "as far as i can tell" there have been no talks.— juggadore
- Stupidity is frequently defined as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. So...is Lurie at the top of the list for keeping the same coach who can't get it done for 11 years. Is the head coach at the top of the list for sticking with the same QB for 11 years and not getting it done? Are the 60-plus thousand fans who have been filling Jeffrey Lurie's stadium and coffers as the team repeatedly fails at the top of the list? I'm thinking there's strength in numbers.— jimmyeagles
- "Do I know what 'rhetorical' means?" - H. Simpson— Wes Hopkins
- Daisher got fired because the Eagles were among the league leaders in special teams penalties. I bet he wasn't in any hurry to bring that up when he was talking to reporters.— tagryn
- Well bobbyd24 you certainly proved your standing among Philadelphia fan smarts. but I happen to believe that we are probably the smartest(and most sarcastic) fans in all of sports....— Va. EagleFan
bobbyd24, thanks for not including us NYers in your classifications :)— tpizza
