What they're saying about the Eagles
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles.
Joe Fortenbaugh of the National Football Post breaks down the market for cornerback Asante Samuel. He lists the Bucs, Lions, Chargers, Panthers, Titans and Browns as teams that could potentially be interested. Here's what Fortenbaugh says about Tampa:
Ronde Barber is coming back for a 16th season, but will turn 37-years-old in April and could function better as the Buccaneers’ No. 3 cornerback. With Samuel lining up opposite of free agent acquisition Eric Wright, the Bucs would be well on their way to improving a defense that ranked 21st against the pass last season and dead last in points allowed (30.9 pts/gm). Tampa may be trying to get younger, but in a division that features Drew Brees, Cam Newton and the Roddy White-Julio Jones receiving duo, you can never have too many solid corners. Should the Bucs show an interest but come up short, that may tip us off that the team is gunning for LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the fifth overall pick instead of Alabama running back Trent Richardson.
SI.com's Peter King likes the Eagles' move to acquire linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Texans:
I think, judging by the well-worn NFL draft choice value chart, I like what Philadelphia got more than Houston in the deal for linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the former centerpiece of the Texans defense. Houston got a fourth-round pick and moved up 12 spots in the third round. That, according to the trade chart, is the equivalent of getting the 86th pick in the draft for Ryans. If Ryans can be a three-year starter in the middle of the defense for Philadelphia, it's a steal for Philly. Of course, the Texans are gambling Ryans, who wasn't a great fit in Houston's 3-4 defense, doesn't have that much good football left.
Personnel people think the Birds got the better of the Ryans trade, according to Len Pasquarelli of The Sports Xchange/Yahoo Sports:
Early returns on the trade that sent inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans to Philadelphia: Personnel people think the deal was a big win for the Eagles, and, while there is a ton of respect for Houston coordinator Wade Phillips, people wonder how well the Texans will play without both Mario Williams and Ryans. That said, there is a consensus that both players will be better returning to 4-3 fronts.
Rivers McCown of Football Outsiders/Battle Red Blog thinks the Ryans trade was a good one for the Texans:
Once I got over the usual disgust I have over these scenarios (long-time stalwart gets deserved contract, gets hurt, is no longer worth said contract, has to go), I have to say I think this is a pretty solid trade for the Texans. As the NFL continues to tilt towards passing, a two-down linebacker getting paid the salary that Ryans was making is a complete luxury. Is there a chance that Ryans could recover more of his range next year, after he's further past his Achilles' injury? Sure. But if there was any doubt in Rick Smith's mind about that, this was absolutely a move that he had to make.
ESPN.com has the Eagles 12th in its offseason power rankings:
The Eagles finally have a quality middle linebacker in DeMeco Ryans, whom they stole from Houston. And they have a happy DeSean Jackson.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com gives some credit to Andy Reid:
Reid shouldn't hesitate to take credit for this offseason in Philadelphia. The Eagles have made all the right moves. One year after loading up on outsiders, they smartly retained underrated guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans. They also re-signed two of their best players, Trent Cole and DeSean Jackson, removing a potential distraction with Jackson's surprising deal. The team's trade for DeMeco Ryans was a steal and filled a huge need. This feels like a win-or-else season for Reid. If he's going out, he's going out his way. It's more likely that the personnel continuity serves Philadelphia well, and the talented roster fulfills those lofty expectations that we had for the Eagles last season.
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Still need a QB!— osi is hurt boohoo- 7-9, miss playoffs, Laurie makes up another excuse for Reid.— jimmymack
- You really believe 7 & 9 ?
Sound like a hater !!— dmanphilly - No, not a hater, just a true fan. Unlike customers who call themselves fans, some of us aren't swayed by the smoke and mirrors routine put forth by Lurie and Company. We see them as they truly are.
— Atomic Fury - Wake me up when the season starts! Just sayin'...— DJ
- If they can get McCoy secured with a long term deal this year, it will be good off season for the Birds. The big thing in my mind is the draft, which they've wiffed for three years running.— bbohannon
- Whiffed for the last 3years?you dont like mccoy n maclin?not really fair to lable watkins yet.graham could still shape up to be a beast.nate allen is gonna be good too.— Sean s.
Comment removed.- Yes, this is definitely Andy and Vick's last year, no matter how it ends.
He's not going to come back here in 2013 and start from scratch with a young QB, when he can make equal or better money to do that somewhere else with a town that is happy to have him rather than tired of him.
All or nothing in 2012.— banned - banned you are going off the public perception that he actually is arrogant. Who knows if he actually is though...I think Philly is slowly learning that the arrogance of our media somehow finds ways to put the players and coaches regarding the team, and even us fans, in defense mode all the times.
For instance, Utley will say something like...I felt fine coming in, then my left knee started hurting. Then I backed off, waited, and went hard. Didn't work...now I am the doc.
Then someone at this site writes a piece wondering if Amaro knew about the lies, or if he was lieing himself.
Than a plethora of fans, gullible as a Brewer's fan, trip right into a pile of sheep's wool.
I see some people starting to think more and more now, on their own. Figuring out that we aren't given some natural right to factually assume any info that hasn't been fed to us, or pretend we are the masters of reading between the lies; The Mel Gibsonesque theorists.— MFPhils - Uh, I see how he acts and listen to his remarks and I see him as being arrogant. There's no conspiracy about it. The media does their job and Andy doesn't like that. Andy doesn't feel that its right to inform the paying public of what his thoughts are. Perhaps he's unable to do that as well as the hundreds of other Head Coaches that have done it before - you know, without telling too much about his plans to outsmart himself.
The man is an overrated oaf at his job, I don't care what he's like at home. I don't pay him to be a good Dad or an approachable neighbor. No, I want a freaking Super Bowl V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, not head-scratching bewilderment.
Many of us are experienced and intelligent enough to not need another persons viewpoint to form our own opinions. The media reports. We - the public - read those reports and with the added ingredient of what we see either at the game or on television, decide for ourselves just how we feel about things.— Atomic Fury - Eagles need to sign Plax and stop playing around. Maclin, Plax, Djax, Celek, and McCoy would be what you call weapons. It would be like pick your poison. The Eagles are not trying to really win.— GrownMan86
- If McCoy posts four 100 yard games by the mid point of the season they will give him a max contract. At least by Thanksgiving if he stays healthy.— nceagle
- AS long as Castillo has the defense, this team has the potential to rack up 10 in the L column. The best players in the league still lose when the coach has them in the wrong place because he's losing the chess match with the QB.— Lancer248
- I heard the NFL is looking for the Giants' opening night game to be vs the Eagles, so a loser franchise that has 0.0 chance of winning a title can at least be in a stadium when the other team receives their rings.— Phils2Repeat
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