Roseman: Desean has "a bright future"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Roseman: Desean has "a bright future"
Jonathan Tamari
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman hinted that the Eagles would be more restrained in free agency this year, said DeSean Jackson has a "bright future" and discussed the team's draft philosophy -- all without getting too deep into specific answers, leaving plenty of room for interpretation of his remarks.
My initial take away was that Roseman’s comments leaned ever-so-slightly toward the idea that Jackson could return. I base that on his emphasis on building through the draft and re-signing players whom the Eagles have developed – “you want to always keep your really good players under contract,” Roseman said at one point. But those takes on both Jackson and free agency admittedly come from reading between the very broad lines Roseman painted in a 22-minute interview with three reporters Thursday. He left lots of room for interpretation, declining to get too detailed about the team’s offseason plans.
Along with Jackson and the draft, Roseman talked about Asante Samuel’s future, his hopes for Brandon Graham and Nate Allen and the criticism he faces. More on that below.
The most interesting answer, I thought, came when Roseman talked about the importance of the draft and keeping homegrown players. That was the Eagles’ philosophy for years – construct a team from within, while adding a few key free agents -- before making a massive splash last offseason. Roseman indicated that it was a one-time spree.
“If anything maybe last year was the change in thinking and it’s because of the opportunity that was presented to us,” Roseman said when asked if the team would move away from last year’s philosophy. He said the 2011 free agent class offered opportunities to get players who can help for years to come. “We thought there were opportunities there to get some players that can make a difference at key positions in free agency, but really what we want to do is draft and re-sign our own.”
Jackson, of course, would fit that category.
“You want to always keep your really good players under contract. That’s the way it’s always been,” Roseman said when we asked whether the team had any reluctance to use the franchise tag. “It’s been draft and lets extend them and re-sign them. It just doesn’t always happen that that’s how it works.”
Roseman said contract talks in general tend to heat up at the Combine, when agents and general managers are all in one place. As for Jackson, Roseman wouldn’t comment specifically on the franchise tag (which the team can apply as soon as Monday) or any talks with the star receiver, saying they are best left between the team and player.
“We feel fortunate to have a player of DeSean Jackson’s magnitude on our football team and I think the future is bright for DeSean Jackson,” Roseman said.
We asked about the many quality receivers who might hit the market and could be viable replacements. Roseman downplayed that idea.
“Without talking about specific players, when you break it down and you look at age or maybe injury history I think that kind of decreases that amount of players at whatever position you’re looking at; and then you’re talking about tags and resigning, so as we sit today it’s going to change,” he said.
On other topics:
On Samuel:
Whenever you have a surplus at a particular position there are talks around the league. People call and your phone does ring and that’s happened in the past couple years by our quarterback situation and so I think there are particular position on our team that maybe we had a surplus at and I expect the phone calls to be active. In terms of talking about a specific player or position obviously I stay away from that. But we’re always open to phone calls and to seeing if something works and really if there are win-win situations for particular teams and particular players we’ll look at that.
On emphasizing the draft over free agency:
That doesn’t mean that if there’s an opportunity to get a good player or player that that we think can improve us – or a couple of players that can improve us – we won’t go and look at that. But we do think we have a core of good young players and we want add to that, and we also have some players that it was their first year in Philadelphia and we think they will improve and have good seasons.”
On recent struggles drafting on defense:
When you just look at Pro Bowl selections of guys that we’ve drafted, it’s obvious that the offensive players are getting more nods than the defensive homegrown players. But we’ve drafted some players that we had high hopes for. Now injuries have kind of taken them a step back – I’m talking about Brandon and Nate – and so we haven’t gotten a clearer picture of them. Obviously we want to get great players from the draft.
On criticism of his performance and any fear for his job:
You get into this business you know what you’re getting into. This is not a business where you’re sitting in the same place for 25 years or 30 years. I feel very fortunate to have the support of ownership and I work with a great head coach and try to bring a championship to the city of Philadelphia. Anything other than that I’m just putting my head down and trying to work as hard as I can.
On whether free agency signings will significantly change the Eagles’ draft plans:
You really want to take the best player available because you can’t really project where your roster is going to be 3, 4, 5 years from now and I’ve always felt that the draft is a long-term decision for your organization. If that’s the case, you shouldn’t be worried so much into who’s going to help you this year because really, when you look at it, the history of rookies is they don’t help that much in the first year, whether it’s here or somewhere else, it takes time to grow.
Quick hits:
-- Roseman had no update on quarterback Trent Edwards, who the team worked out and had in for a physical.
-- On the Eagles regular season win over the Giants: “I don’t take any great pleasure in knowing we were 1-1 against the Super Bowl champions or we were close to making the playoffs. Our goals are bigger than that.”
-- He essentially no-commented when asked about the possibility of adding either Randy Moss or Albert Haynesworth, both of whom are available.
This team is just plain tired. Tired. They don't win enough. They hire criminals.— rubicon24- why does everyone think we need an OL? our line was amazing this year. we need an OLB and a tall red-zone receiver like a Plaxico Burress. And if not him than i would like to see us get randy moss IF we can get him for the right price which i think we can since he really just wants to play— massimocooz
- @younged - I don't know about all that. Jim Johnson defenses gave up second half leads in some of the biggest games in franchise history. Also, knowing that JJ ran a 4-3 version of a zone blitz which is a 3-4 scheme by design, it seems pretty obvious that all those years, it was JJ himself who wanted smallish, fast, high motor DE's who are like a 3-4 OLB's who rush the passer and drop into coverage(ie, Trent Cole).— UncleStosh
- When you look at the last 2 drafts with 25 selections, you ask yourself, how could anybody miss on so many players? The answer is quite simple, you make sure you have a GM with no real Football Experience whatsoever (Check) and a stubborn Head Coach (Check). Reid still believes that on Defense you only need to focus on the Line and Cornerbacks. He places no value on Linebackers or Safties. That's why he passed on Earl Thomas and went with Graham two years ago. This year he'll pass on the Boston College LB and draft the smallest, high motor DE that wowed them for 1 game in the Senior Bowl. Arrogant Andy might know Offense but he is clearly a BOZO (see Castillo as DC) when it comes to Defense! It's very apparent to diehard Fans that Jim Johnson (RIP) carried Reid on his back for all those successful years. Having a clueless, Fantasy League GM that uses the Draft Strategy, "Quantity over Quality" is slowly killing this team's roster of legitimate NFL starters. The Insanity continues!— younged
- Note to Howie: You are such a dope. You got the kid for free last year and now you pay. Stop the PR BS and franchise him and trade him or keep him. You're not going to get his speed or experience in the FA class. Between you/Banter/Mr. Know it all coach/and fool's gold owner, it's like Barnum and Bailey's three ring circus except there are four rings and not three.— alwaysphil1
- well when you comment on a comment board you want to make sure you comment on the comment board in such a way that your comment will be on the comment board. -thats me doing my 'answers by howie ask an expert roseman' impression.— bloodymess
- HOWIE GEEKBOY ROSEBUD IS ANYONE REALLY LISTENING TO THIS FAIRY PANSY A--.— Pete60
- Howie Roseman will be the scapegoat next season after they are one and done in the playoffs. Then Lurie will make his end of year press-conference and say we will bring Reid back for one more year after saying he was extremely "disappointed".— eaglessuck@life
- Everyone here wants Roseman and Reid gone.Maybe Lurie should sell the team.Every coach Fired and every player cut.Lets start from scratch.45 years and counting and still no ring.Several owners,Many coaches and thousands of players i have seen.I say lets sign Every member of this board as talent excs.Coaches,GM and so on.Everyone in here seems to know more than any of the pros.So for just 10 years i would like to see my proposal.Because after all these years i would have to say at least it would be fun to watch us all fail as everyone before us and them have done.Never once reading these boards have i ever read." great job FO" And i guess not ever winning a superbowl is the reason.We have had some great teams.Alot of wins over many years.We just are not as lucky as the Giants and Patriots.I have no idea why.On many areas our players are so much better than those teams yet they win superbowls.its just sad— ackid38
- Same ole, same ole. Lame. Reid and Lurie are much bigger problems than Roseman and Banner.— Kioto
- “You want to always keep your really good players under contract." Wow, Howie!! Can we quote you on that?
— crumblinggeorge - I agree with the draft day stuff, they get too cute trying to "outsmart" everyone else.— verve
- Hey Howie, I have a strategy. Trade out of the first round and load up on threes and fours.— Lil Ratman
- I think if Roseman could acquire the Giants QB, RBs, WRs, O-line, D-line, LBs, punter, kicker, and coaching staff, the Eagles might have a shot.— jtj06
- Why even bother with these worthless, waste of time, interviews and press conferences...what a joke.— richardecredico
- Pitchers and catchers arrive Saturday! Take me out to the ballgame.....— peteinmich
- Hey Howie "Oxycute" em...
— mediatedviscera - its clear Andy does the drafting and that Howie, is well, just Howie being Howie...meaning nothing. We have drafted some good offensive players over the past few years, but no one on defense. It doesn't take "a good football man" to know this. just look at the track record.— mediatedviscera
- The fact that Howie Roseman is involved in ANY personel decisions tells me how far this franchise has fallen in the past 5-6 years. He and Joe Banner are bean counters, and should be worrying about the Salary Cap and THATS IT! Roseman is about as qualified as all of us who post here to make personel decisions in the NFL!— Jacket85
- The problem with the Flyers...Sixers and the Phils is....Andy Ried. His gravitational wave is inextricable...— gogoruch
- We are doomed— Ssteve115
- apparently you all are haters. a dirtball Rosenman might be, but he obviously knows how to rake in the dough...and in entertainment, that's all that matters! you imbeciles can waste your breathe and typing efforts on this drawn out Desean Jackson quagmire...I will stay locked on the 76er run that has this city thumpin'! The birds will never win a superbowl. Get used to it. Phillies might crack another one for the record books, and even the flyers can sneak a chip in one of these years, but the eagles won't win because this town has FAIRWEATHER FANS who cry, cry, cry!!!! Do your self a favor and wipe your tears with Andy reid's dinner napkin. It's big enough to absorb an ocean!— cancerouscynic
- Wish the Eagles had a time machine to go back two years ago and draft Jason-Pierre Paul! Also, wish I had a time machine to go back to last September so I would know ahead of time to not watch any of the games.— eaglessuck@life
- Eagles would be better off just drafting according to whatever the draft experts say. Reid is always trying to show he is smarting than everyone else by drafting no names, that turn out to be no bodies on the field. Advice: draft SAFE!— Wise_Owl
- Eagles will let Desean walk but make up for it by poorly drafting an undersized lineman— yourdaddy!
- What would you expect from the young head yenta? Please...............— eagle stuck in dc
- Oh Magic 8 Ball, how bright is Howie's future? Answer: Outlook not so good.— tpizza
- I dont have exact stats, but i think there are at least 10 rookies per year in the first two rounds outside the top ten picks that have a day one impact on their team. newspaper guys - write a story on this. honestly, if you can show that is true, doesn't it say a lot about roseman being out of touch with reality?— djack10
- I perform about 60-70 vasectomies/year. Every guy who said he was well-hung, like a ton, actually had a wee-willie roseman.— tommy_the_k
- Why didn't anyone ask him how he was going to rid his forehead of that alien?— PhillyBurbs
- Funny....Pee Wee Roseman saying anybody has a bright future. How we he have any idea? Goofball.— kelprod2
Comment removed.- Tulsaphil, what's worse is that we drafted T'eo-Nesheim a few slots before Navarro Bowman; I guess PSU LBs like Bowman and Sean Lee are difficult to figure out how to watch here in Philadelphia.— chesapeake
- Hey Andy! You can your hand out of his back now.— NC Eagle Fan
- Bama: Did you notice that Pa State's BOWMAN was starting for San Francisco in his lst year and the Eagles passed?? Also that draft choice we traded to DALLAS changed to Sean Lee?— tulsaphil
- Girl, you know it's true.— hunglikeaton
- Another observation: The Eagles have the hardest working front office and coaching staff in the league, at least they say they work hard. The Tonner's mama told him to work smart, not hard. Now the Tonner isn't the GM of a professional football team but the Tonner's made a pretty good living at what he does and is definitely more competent at his job than ole "Mailroom".— hunglikeaton
- The Tonner must admit, Howie doesn't seem as delusional as his bosses and some of his employees (players). Still, the Tonner thinks Howie has reached the apex of his Peter Principle potential. Whether you like it or whether you don't like it, you all know that's the truth according to the Tonner and it's the best thing going today.— hunglikeaton
- " Howie" , do you use an electric razor, or cream with straight razor to shave?
Ahhhhh! I think both are good, but I would rather not comment at this time.— camasbud - To start in FA and sign two good LB's and then keep King and sign one experience QB that is over 6ft tall and can run!
Sign another tall and rough TE that will be ablel to block and catch.
Draft a tall and good hands WR and A big and tough FB
Then draft DL and OL anthat can start if need be right away.
That would be a start.
Oh yes replace Reid! a win /win plan— losteagle - "...when you look at it, the history of rookies is they don’t help that much in the first year..." That sure is the case around here but not in other cities because the Eagles are so damn smart they draft people nobody ever heard of. Of course, around here, they don't help that much 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year either - see Abiamiri, Laws, Graham, Allen, Kolb, etc., etc., etc. Maybe just once do what Kiper tells you to.— Bama
- The Eagles need better talent evaluation.— thegooddre
- In order to grow your roster thru the DRAFT a team needs to be able to evaluate the talent available. Linebackers in the draft the last 2 years that are starting with other teams were passed over by our highly skilled personnel.— tulsaphil
- In order to grow your roster thru the DRAFT a team needs to be able to evaluate the talent available. Linebackers in the draft the last 2 years that are starting with other teams were passed over by our highly skilled personnel.— tulsaphil
- How come you never asked Roseman if he can make any personnel decision without Reid's approval? We all know Reid calls the shots.— farley
