Eagles see Sims as starter
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles see Sims as starter
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles picked up another linebacker with the addition of the Lions' Ernie Sims, who came via a three-team trade, but even he admitted that he didn't quite know what his role would be next season.
"The only people I've spoken with from the Eagles are Howie [Roseman] and coach [Andy] Reid," Sims said today during a conference call with reporters. "Coach Reid said he was excited. But I haven't heard anything about where I'm going to play. I'm ready to jump in and learn as much as I can. I'm like a sponge right now."
According to Eagles, though, Sims is being brought it to start.
"He’s a starter in the National Football League, but we’re trying to create competition," Roseman said. "We have a lot of starters on our defense and our offense. We think he brings that.”
Roseman said that Sims could play either weak-side or strong-side in the Eagles' defense. The Eagles also view Akeem Jordan, who has mostly played weak-side, as being able to play both outside linebacker positions.
"I don’t expect to come in and have them just hand me the job," Sims said.
Sims said that he can play all three linebacker spots, adding that he lined up at all three positions last season depending upon the Lions' scheme and an opposing offense's alignment. Second-year guy Moise Fokou is penciled in as the starting strong-side linebacker, but the Eagles could be looking for an upgrade.
The Eagles have had trouble finding a SAM linebacker that can cover a tight end. Sims said he has had that responsibility before. Still, his size (6-0, 230 pounds) is better suited for the WIL spot.
The Eagles acquired Sims in a three-team deal that had the Denver receiving the Eagles' 2010 fifth-round draft pick (137th overall) and Detroit acquiring Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler and a seventh-round pick.
A 2006 first-round draft pick, Sims had 49 tackles in 11 games (eight starts) last season. The 25-year-old missed part of the season with shoulder and hamstring injuries. He suffered a sprained AC joint in Week 2 and tore his hamstring in the middle of the season.
"I'm healthy now," Sims said. "But I was able to come back from both injuries last year."
Sims didn't miss a game in his first three seasons in the NFL, recording over 100 tackles each year. He lead the Lions with 144 tackles in his rookie season.
"Ernie Sims is an impact player at the linebacker position," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He brings a lot of energy to our already energized defense. We are looking forward to adding him to our team."
Sims said that he didn't know much about the Eagles defense, other than it was a 4-3 base and that his former college teammate at Florida State, Brodrick Bunkley, was a starting defensive tackle.
"We are excited to acquire Ernie Sims," Roseman said. "He plays fast, he's aggressive and he style is a great fit for our defensive scheme. He is a leader who was a team captain for the Lions and we are eager to see what he can do in our defense."
Bringing Sims in could lessen the likelihood that the Eagles would extent an early-round draft pick on a linebacker. They have other needs and could feel that exchanging a fifth-round pick for a proven linebacker fills that particular need. The Eagles still have ten picks -- first round (24th overall), second (37, 55), third (70, 87), fourth (105, 121), sixth (200) and seventh (243, 244) -- in this year's draft which begins Thursday.
love this trade.......— baseballdad1- 5th round pick was what they gave up— Carl Spangler
- fantastic trade for the eagles.— sasquatches
- Love how the birds at pieces in FA to allow them to go any direction in the draft. Allows them more flexibility to make trades and keeps other teams guessing as to what they will do in the draft.— trudat
- horrible trade, the birds need veterans like jason taylor, danny clark, junior seau, and adalius thomas. You win in this league with veterans, Andy Reid's youth movement is gonna be another choke job.— truwarier
- Great trade, good pickup, we can now focus on other positions. A linebacker from the LIONS is going to be an impact player, who still has to compete w/ Akim Jordan. Man the Eagles have Really fallen on hard times. They are even further away from winning a SB title then they were at the end of the playoff debacle. I Love It!— BirdsSuck
- horrible trade, the birds need veterans like jason taylor, danny clark, junior seau, and adalius thomas. You win in this league with veterans, Andy Reid's youth movement is gonna be another choke job.— truwarier
- Good trade. One less area we have to address at draft time.— cjdelite
- Jason Taylor? Junior Seau? Good Lord.— smfree31
- truwarier, are you joking? Seau? Taylor? I have to assume you are joking.— allen_jones
- Ernie Sims had 100 tackles each year in his first three years in the league, he was injured last year but he's young and can bounce back. People who do not like this trade just don't know football and are stuck on hating whatever the birds do until they win a superbowl.— trudat
- This has the potential to be a great trade, this guy is young and has shown himself to be an impact player his first 3 years in the league. Hopefully the injuries he suffered last year are behind him, then it will be a steal for the Eagles.— cgrant
- I don't know how anyone could think this was a bad trade, most of those who do probably know little about football and think just because he played for the Lions he must be bad. Assuming he does not have injury problems this year, he will be a great pickup considering Sims is capable of getting over 100 tackles every year. Great value when all we had to give up was a 5th round pick.— phillyfan27
- Love the fact that they are addressing the linebacker position, a problem for at least the last two years, with a proven veteran. Now focus on the secondary.— fillyfan
- I might be all wrong about this, but, are they just "renting" guys now for one year. Seems like it. Like they've found a way to get players who are in the final year of their contracts, when they have cheap annual salaries since the big signing bonus' are long-ago paid. I'm wondering if they've found a way to field players as cheaply as possible, keeping themselves competitive, but never building a SB TEAM, but always winning the salary cap trophy.— mccloudmj
