The Eagles' best offseason move
What was the Eagles' best and worst move of the 2010 offseason?
The Eagles' best offseason move
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
About to head out of town for the weekend for a family gathering, but wanted to get a quick post up first.
A publication recently asked me to answer a series of questions about the Eagles for their NFL preview magazine.
And there was one question that made me think a little longer than the others: What was the Eagles' best and worst offseason move?
For me, the worst was easy. If you're a frequent reader of MTC, you'll be able to guess it right away: trading Sheldon Brown to Cleveland.
Brown, when healthy, is an above-average corner. The options left now: starting Joselio Hanson, converting safeties Macho Harris or Marlin Jackson, starting rookie Trevard Lindley or hoping for a resurgence from Ellis Hobbs are far from sure things.
As for the best offseason move, I really struggled to find one. Who are the new players the team's added? Darryl Tapp, Ernie Smis, Jackson. Do any of those moves qualify? Nope.
What about the Donovan McNabb trade? While it seems like the majority of fans were on board with starting the Kevin Kolb era, I don't think that deal fits the mold either. It's not lik the Eagles received overwhelming compensation.
So I went with the selection of Brandon Graham and Nate Allen in the first two rounds of last month's draft. Is this choice contingent on those guys actually being able to play? Of course. But at least the Eagles addressed a couple areas of need - pass rush and safety.
I won't lie. It did feel like a bit of a stretch. But it was more a process of elimination than anything else.
So I ask you: What was the Eagles' best and worst move of the 2010 offseason?
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Comment removed.
Oh InterceptionMachine, your bold-font insults cut right to my soul...— emoser- Much like the draft, they didn't have one move that was great, just a bunch of so-so moves that depend on "quantity" proving more worthwhile than 'quality'. KK fans will argue that that move was the best, and as much as it pains to admit it, it probably was. But that's more of a technicality, since there was no other obvious selection. Defense needed more than what they got combined with what they gave up, and that will prove to be the Birds weakness this year. If they can add next year (if there is a next year) like they did this year, then next year will begin the Birds return to dominance in the NFC East.— Bleue
- "theshow" obviously has been watching his redskins for too long so no need to answer him. I will disagree with you Sheil, I think the Ernie Sims move will be seen as a huge addition. Maybe I'll even make up a clever posting name like "TheSimsTacklingMachineShow"— vincemcd
- You are in need of therapy TheKolbIntereceptionMachineShow.......Andy Reid is responsible for perennial contenders not McNabb. Check yourself in to "Get a Life"— mmmike22
The best? For sure Graham and Allen, providing they live up to the hype (and also live thru Reid's killer training camp - remember, we lost Bradley last year and others were dinged before they ever played a real game). The worst? Shipping Brown to the Browns. He may have of some faults, but the alternative doesn't look that bright. Kolb coming in was due, since he was talking of testing free agency to the FO. The worst offseason NON-MOVE? Not sending Reid to Cleveland too. ("InterREception"? Your act is getting stale. Must we listen to you all year?).- Dear Sheil, Enjoy that trip, please, 'cuz you need to get your batteries recharged. Drafting two guys can't be the best move; that's two moves, dude. And why, prey tell, can't the McNabb trade qualify. Doesn't fit??? Of course it was the best offseason move! And it's not about hating #5. He was and is a stellar individual, but we were never going to reach the top with him. Good move for us, good move for him.— Richard S
- Sounds like interceptionmachine is a Boston fan. In other words he/she/it is a miserable, distgusting, spineless, cranky, ignorant, cheap shot endorsing, pathetic, weak choker whose soul is so scarred all he/she/it can do is hate on Philly sports teams...— thomaspfoolery
- Hey TheKolbIntereceptionMachineShow...are you Donovan's agent?— mmmike22
- Comment removed.
- We'll see how Andy is responsible for anything now that he doesn't have a franchise qb to throw the football 50x a game. He'll have to coach this yr for once in 11yrs. Anybody with any sense knows that the gameplan and lack of players know that's the reason the Eagles ain't win nothing. No wrs, no punt returner, no fullback, no safety, no lbs, did I miss any? Every year he puts out a team with holes. Thank god we had McNabb, Westbrook, and Dawkins to at least get us in the playoffs. I can't wait till the season begins to expose this fraud Reid. How about the Saints 3rd string rb? Is that a good move? Pathetic!— Birdman411
Trading McNabb to the Redskins was the best move in the history of the franchise. Not only do we now have a starting QB who is a natural leader but we also get two easy wins in our own division against Washington. Next up is letting Bronw go as Brown played his opponent too close and didn't get a lot of interceptions. Now with Asante on one side and Hobbs on the other we have 2 gamblers who will take chances and get a ton of interceptions even if it means giving up a TD or two. As for the Sims trade he will excel in this defense the same way that all of the LB's have excelled in Andy's defense. Levon Kirkland, Will Witherspoon, Dhani Jones and Takeo Spikes all played above their head here with our defense. Now with Kolb at the helm, a real All-American and natural born leader, the defense will play even better.- the best offseason move by far was hiring Bobby April to be the special teams coach. He has a proven track record and with the depth of the eagles he should have much talent to build on.— craiggo
- Dick Jauron. He stinks as a HC but I've heard he is a great assistant coach - and with our DBs and his defensive experience, we may be leaning on his guidance.— AllDawk_AllTheTime
- Best move was picking up a new special teams coach. Second best was putting a QB in who will allow the defense to rest, not that I don't like 5, but the older he got, the quicker their drives became so the undersized defense was getting pushed around by the 4th. Worst move is letting people in the defensive inside linemen rotation go. This D is contingent on those plays where they have 4 ends lined up against a passing situation.— HandNik
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