P. King tabs Eagles as favorites for Asomugha
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P. King tabs Eagles as favorites for Asomugha
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Over the weekend, I came to the realization that the Eagles could be looking at a seriously disappointed fan base if they don't make a big splash via trade or free agency.
While this has been a relatively quiet offseason with the lockout, new articles seem to emerge on a weekly basis - both locally and nationally - about how aggressive the Birds plan to be once they are allowed to make moves.
The seeds have been planted by on-the-record sources like Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman, along with unnamed sources reportedly within the organization.
And the comments really are not surprising. The franchise has approached most offseasons in recent memory with an aggressive mindset. When you hear members of the Eagles' front office saying they explore pretty much every avenue to improve the team's personnel, they usually mean it. That's why we saw them trade for Terrell Owens and sign Michael Vick. That's why they pursued Asante Samuel and dealt a first-rounder for Jason Peters, along with draft-day trades for Jeremy Maclin and Brandon Graham.
So it's perfectly reasonable to think they'll at least look into adding some big names this offseason, but again, it's one thing to explore these possibilities and another to actually land one of the many players they've been linked to. I just wonder what the reaction will be if they make a push for some of the big names but end up not making the big splash some are anticipating.
On that note, SI.com's Peter King presented his take on the favorites to land cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. And he's got the Birds at No. 1 on his list.
Rumors (and they seem to be more than that) are flying that the Eagles are going to strike quickly and spend big money in free agency. Imagine pairing Asomugha with very good cover man Asante Samuel. It'd be money well-spent, even at a Bradyish $18 million a year.
That $18M/year suggested price tag is a big one. Consider that Samuel is scheduled to make $5.9M in 2011 (although his initial deal was reportedly for $57.14M over six years).
King has the Cowboys second and the Ravens third on his list. Later in the article, he writes that since the dawn of free agency, only Reggie White has been a better prize than Asomugha.
SPARKING GIANTS/EAGLES RIVALRY
Several of my recent posts have detailed the back-and-forth between LeSean McCoy, Osi Umenyiora and to a lesser degree, Steve Smith.
While the Tweets and trash talk are not a huge deal, this is still just about as much fun as we can have during a lockout. And doesn't it add something to a rivalry when you know the players dislike each other? In this city, specifically, it drives fans nuts when players are smiling and hugging opponents after a loss.
This is pretty much the opposite of that.
Giants-Eagles is always fun, and the McCoy/Umenyiora/Smith chatter just adds another element to the games. Considering that McCoy is only 22 and Smith is 26, this rivalry appears to be in good hands for years to come.
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I think it says something about the Eagles D that nobody stepped up for McCoy. I think it was a boneheaded thing for Shady to do in the first place, but you want someone on the defense to tell Smith to not even think about coming over the middle next game.— HandNik- More puff and fluff until they come back from lock-out; meanwhile, the Phils just keep rolling along...— M60tanker
- No way they sign a 31 year old for that big of a contract. That's not how this team operates.— Vote for Dickie
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I really hope the Eagles do get Nnamdi Asomugha. If not, hopefully they get DRC, Ike Taylor, Brent Grimes or Jonathan Joseph.— briandawkins20- Too much cash...Eagles are not BIG SPENDERS all of the time....just when it suits them.— WhiteBear
- Two reasons the Eagles won't sign Asomugha...too much money and Peter King predicting it. No sports mag is as full of it as King and SI. If they spend all that money for Asomugha, they won't be able to afford a respectable safety.— dapmman
- Trade Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, pickup Haynesworth to an incentive laden contract and bring Babin back. That would be a sucessful offseason. Plax would be nice, but not critical
- Asomugha doesn't solve anything as the front seven needs a major overhaul. Unless the signing is coupled with other changes, another playoff exit for the Flyers, I mean Eagles.— DennyP
- Eagles don't need a "major overhaul". D-line is pretty solid. Washburn should help turn things around. Cole is a beast, Dixon is only going to get better, Patterson is under appreciated, Laws and Bunkley are serviceable. Just need Graham to come back strong. LBs are a little up in the air, but I believe Bradley will rebound and Chaney will have a pretty good season. Having Asomugha, or any viable CB opposite of Samuel, will only help take the pressure off the front seven by providing tighter coverage. That was the main problem the the D-line, the gaping hole at RCB.
— phillychaos - Asomugha doesn't solve anything as the front seven needs a major overhaul. Unless the signing is coupled with other changes, another playoff exit for the Flyers, I mean Eagles.— DennyP
- nnamdi solves a huge hole in our secondary better than any of the other jokers that are out in free agency and why do we need a safety as bad as you people are saying safety isnt an issue linebacking corps is and we could use a dt other than that we need a rt on offensive and then we will be set for a superbowl run. so lets spend the money on the best cb and do an incentive deal for fat al and we just pray to get a good year out of our linebackers because stew bradley should be let go because hes a let down. put chaney in the middle and we would be better off— satcho27
- osi is soft n overrated— brmorgen81
- Sheil is right. There will be a lot of disappointed fans if the Eagles don't overspend wildly and pick up Asomugha, who will not bring a SB. King is wrong. Samuel is not a "very good cover" corner. He's an outstanding ballhawk, okay in coverage. Not at all hard to burn him with a double move. He and Asomugha, if healthy, would be a good tandem, also the most over-priced in NFL history.
If we are talking about improving the Eagles, Wishbone is right on target. He sounds like a real GM.— armchairGM - I hope the Eagles get DRC or Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Albert Haynesworth and sign Plaxico Burress. That would make the Eagles the favorites in the NFC to win the Superbowl and they would win the Superbowl. Go Eagles!!!!!!!!— briandawkins20
- a puff piece....nothing matters till the new deal and whosays they will over pay .....there are others out there...and JoeB will keep the slotted budget price....wake me when they actually do it....other wise it is all mouthwash...— nuggett
- We can all chatter like magpies but we will know nothing until the lock out is over. I will take a chance and say the Eagles are one of the first to sign a free agent contract possibliy within hours of the lock outs end, but I would dare to guess who or for how much. The Eagles front office has and always will hold their cards really close to the chest.— unbelieveable!
- Good news. I just talked to Andy and he said he has been reading your column ND COMMENTERS evey day and will make the changes you all
suggested. hahahahahahahahahahahaha— marioP - marioP talked to Napoleon last week too...
Hey sheil, how about a work up on how much money the Eagles will/may have to spend vs. how much the various FAs may want to get. There are a lot of guys who think the team can't sign more than one top free agent or may opt to "settle" for 2 or more lesser talents rather than a stud. I'm thinking the Es should have enough money to take a serious run at more than one major FA and Reid knows his time is coming to an end here too. I'm thinking he rolls the dice and goes all out, what do you think? Speculation never hurt anybody and there isn't much else to talk about.— tpizza - Yep, the Eagles will get Asomugha, sign Plaxico and still manage to choke in the playoffs... Sick of the same old collapse...— GJK3161
- I am now convinced that the Eagles will definitely NOT sign Asomugha. Now that Peter King has said so, it is clear to me it won't happen. Why do sportswriters write about Peter King's stories as if they are fact. I'm not just picking on Sheil, but I've seen it from other writers and on ESPN. Peter King rarely attributes his sources and is frequently dead wrong.— Rombo
- They won't sign him -- he's not coming off an ACL tear.— IgglesFan79
- Can Nnamdi Pamndi tackle? We don't need two CBs back there who are allergic to contact.......sure you can get 1-2 INTs a game but you miss 5-6 tackles you lose.....— Mark1npt
- Blah Blah Blah! A bunch of braggers who want to build a great team and it never happens. No wonder why the New York fans always laugh at Philly at the end of the season and New York has the Super Bowl trophies. At least the Giants have Class!— MRD
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- PK is speculating based on laurie's comments from a week ago.
if the eagles believe they already have their cornerback of the future, why would they spend huge money on NA?
as much as i would want to see us grab him, and keep him out of the nfc east, i think pass rush is more pressing.
grahm is such a gamble this year.
can we roll the dice on fat albert?
lets get solid free agents and take care of our guys who need new contracts.
we were the only team to give greenbay a scare in the playoffs.
WE R CLOSE ALREADY.
THIS IS OUR YEAR, LETS GO FO!
1!— meengreen - sign everybody— bc3030
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- I Really got a good feeling that once free agency begins that the Eagles will go all out to fill every hole that the team needs to fill to contend for a super bowl,and need I say with the right free agent signings we might actually win the super bowl this year.Don't call me crazy just wait and see.— littleman163
- The eagles will be major players in free agency but won't put out the huge contract it will take to get Asomugha. The lunatic fringe is loading up their crying when that doesn't happen. I agree with littleman163... they will go all out to fill every major hole but i don't interpret going all out as being having to get Asomugha or they fail.— bleedgreen
- he writes " that since the dawn of free agency, only Reggie White has been a better prize than Asomugha "
This Asomugha kid must be pretty good..... There is nobody like Reggie White, the man or player. After watching Reggie all those years, I can never get to worked up over the Eagles defense.
Reggie was beautiful to watch coming off that end....
— Dexter
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