IS GETTING SICK OF ALL THE INJURIES
Just got done reading every Tweet, blog post, article, column, etc. about the Cliff Lee trade and figured I better get back to football.
Some news and notes around the league before we call it a night here:
** Former Eagles DE Derrick Burgess is a holdout in Oakland. He was the only Raiders player under contract who didn't report to camp. Per David White of the San Francisco Chronicle, Burgess is owed $2 million in the final year of his contract. White suggests the holdout is not about money, but rather about Burgess wanting to be traded or cut so he can continue his career somewhere else. ESPN's Chris Mortensen suggested back in May that the Eagles could be a possible landing place for Burgess.
** Speaking of former Eagles, Hollis Thomas has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rams, sources tell Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Thomas visited with the Eagles and took a physical earlier this month.
** Everyone seems to agree that the limited number of first-round picks under contract has had an effect on the Jeremy Maclin situation. Today, a couple more reached deals. Per baltimoresun.com, the Ravens and Michael Oher reached a five-year agreement. Oher was the 23rd overall pick.
** Meanwhile, the Bills and center Eric Wood have also agreed to terms. Wood was drafted 28th overall with the pick that was originally the Eagles' from the 2008 trade with the Panthers. The Birds, of course, included the pick in the trade with Buffalo for Jason Peters.
That brings the number of first-round picks who have signed to six.
Yesterday, Eagles consultant Andrew Brandt Tweeted the following at 7:16 p.m.:
Grinding through Maclin negotiations when told news of Jim Johnson passing. Puts things in perspective. Great coach, wonderful gentleman.
** Slightly off-topic, but I have to mention it. The old Jeep was down to its last drops of gas this evening when I pulled up to an Exxon on my way back to the hotel. At the pumps were mini TVs with NFL Live showing. How great of an idea is this? TVs at the gas pump? I almost didn't want to leave when I had filled up. In what other places can we squeeze in TVs where they don't currently exist? I want suggestions here. I'm serious. If they had these at the station in the Allentown Service Plaza, I wouldn't have minded the pump taking 30 minutes to fill up my tank.
** Some things to look out for Thursday. First of all, I just got back the next set of questions from Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders. In case you missed it, Barnwell wrote the Eagles chapter in the FO Almanac. He has some interesting things to say about the Birds' run-pass ratio and turnover along the offensive line. I'll post those items throughout the day.
** Also, join me for a live chat Thursday at 2 p.m. We can talk about anything you like -- camp questions, Maclin's holdout, Sexy Singles, whatever.
