Eagles sign RB Ronnie Brown, RT Ryan Harris, S Jarrad Page
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles sign RB Ronnie Brown, RT Ryan Harris, S Jarrad Page
Jonathan Tamari
The Eagles have signed running back Ronnie Brown, a former Dolphin, to a one-year deal.
UPDATE: They also signed right tackle Ryan Harris, a former Bronco who started 10 games last season to a one-year deal. Harris was a right tackle in Denver who the Broncos expected to retain. (more below).
UPDATE: The Eagles also signed former Patriots safety Jarrad Page. Page, 26, had 12 tackles and two interceptions last year for the Patriots. He played in 10 games with one start. Before that he spent four years with the Chiefs, starting 39 games. He will compete to add depth to a position where the Eagles are very young.
Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2008, has six years of NFL experience and will provide a veteran presence behind LeSean McCoy.
Brown made a mark as a "Wildcat" back in Miami, something that will surely intrigue Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg, who tried several Wildcat plays last season, but with little success. Brown is also an able pass catcher -- he has had 32 or more receptions in all but one season --something else that is critical to any back in Philadelphia. UPDATE: Brown will get a $1 million base salary plus incentives.
“Ronnie is an all-around running back with a versatile skill set,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in a news release. “He can run the ball, catch it, and does very well in pass protection. He’ll add some good size to our backfield and he’s a good character guy. We think he’ll be a tremendous compliment to LeSean [McCoy] and the other young backs on this team that we really like. You can never have enough good running backs in this league and we are happy to have Ronnie join us.”
But Brown's running numbers have dipped. He ran for 734 yards last season, the lowest total of his career in years when he played 12 or more games (he had lower total yardage twice, but in those seasons he played only nine and seven games). He averaged 3.7 yards-per-carry last year as the Dolphins' full time starter.
Brown tore the ACL on his right knee in 2007 and missed the final seven games of 2009 with a foot injury. He started all 16 games in 2010.
Brown's signing fills one of the few remaining holes on the team. Until now, the backup to McCoy was Dion Lewis, a fifth round pick in April.
Brown was the number two overall pick in the 2005 draft.
UPDATE: Harris has had 34 starts in his four-year career and comes to another position of need for the Eagles. Last year's starter, Winston Justice, is on the Physically Unable to Perform list after knee surgery, leaving King Dunlap as the top choice at that position.
And forget the LB's, the Eagles are running a 4-2, the dogfight D will be shootin down air attacks the league over. All opponents better learn to run.— Tesla- I think I woke up in the twilight zone! WHO IS THIS TEAM???— citysims
- This is Amazing!!! I been a fan all of my life and it's like they finally get it..THANK GOD :-)— Philly_Bully
- Actually I was wishing for Ricky Williams.— theborg
- Only thing I can think of is Banner and Lurie see themselves as
not getting any younger and after two decades of ownership never
having a title, and seeing all the fun the Phillies had 3 years
ago, they may have changed?
Reid too, he is only signed through 2013 and I doubt there will
be any extensions, in fact, if he has an early P.O. exit again, expect to see Jun Gruden here next year????— mikey48 - Is it possible the Eagles continue to add after all these moves? There are so many veteran LBs out there they just have to wait until the price continues to fall. If they pickup Tatupu you can just punch me in the face I wouldn't care.— Murrayman
- After all these moves, I'm genuinely surprised they can still be under the cap. We know there's some serious talent with all the acquisitions but my biggest concern is if they can gel and get the chemistry right in such a shortened offseason with new coaches, new system (D) and all the new players. Still, I'm really stoked for this season.— Mabus
- Brown is a guy we can run inside....I personally don't think he is anything like McCoy as a runner he is a power guy...
If McCoy goes down Brown will not be able to do what McCoy does go outside and take the pass find space....He is not a home run back.
I am a big Jerome Harrison fan and cannot understand why we have not signed him.— Bigmike 34 - He wants to be the starter — John Klink
- Too bad profootballinjury doesn't have archives. I can't find anything on Harris' health— Murrayman
- I love the aggressiveness of the front office. They know that the time if finally now to win a championship.— fitlatino8
- right on cue with all the OT talk they sign a guy from Denver! Camp should be interesting this year and there should be some tough competition for a change at almost all the key positions— xlGmanlx
- The Eagles are now a marked team. Love it!!!!!!— shawnmac
- GO FOR IT!! FREAKIN FINALLY!!! although ronnie sucked on my fantasy team last year. lol— king_of_lincolnfield
- Uh oh, RT help has arrived. How long before someone complains we haven't signed a LB yet?
Mabus, quite the haul, no? Just think, all these Christmas presents and no wiff too. It doesn't get any better than this. Has there ever been a better time to be a Philly fan? Eagles AND Phils favorites for parades? Wow. Never been better in my lifetime.— tpizza
