What they're saying about the Eagles

Here's this week's roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles:

SI.com's Peter King likes the Eagles' decision to lock up running back LeSean McCoy:

If the Eagles had waited a year and he had that kind of season, there's no way he'd be a $9-million-a-year player, which this contract defines him as. He'd be more costly. And with other backs (Ray Rice, Matt Forte) out there battling for new deals, there's no telling where the market would be then.

I don't know how good McCoy is going to be, but I don't see how, unless there's a disastrous injury, this deal isn't a good one for the Eagles.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com says the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC East:

Defensive end Justin Tuck says the New York Giants are talking "dynasty," but they should be talking the Philadelphia Eagles instead. Because while the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions, they're not the team to beat in their own division.

The Eagles are.

SI.com's Don Banks has a hunch about Juan Castillo and the Eagles' defense this season:

Castillo will be accorded even smarter status this year, and if the revamped Eagles defense starts quickly, don't be surprised if the words "stroke of genius'' are employed at some point to describe his 2011 promotion. At least Philadelphia went out and got their DC some IQ helpers this offseason, trading for veteran middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, and then splurging on defense in the draft, with the first four rounds bringing to town defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, defensive end Vinny Curry and cornerback Brandon Boykin.

If the Eagles can get better play at safety, and make all those blown fourth-quarter leads a distant memory, Castillo's unit might vie for the league's most improved defense in 2012.

Greg Cosell of NFL Films really liked the Eagles' draft:

Curry played both defensive end positions at Marshall. What stood out on tape, and it's not a characteristic you often see in college pass rushers, was his quick, active and violent hands. That attribute reminded me of San Francisco 49ers first-rounder Aldon Smith when he came out of Missouri last year, and we all know the success Smith had as a sub-package rusher with 14 sacks. Curry could well be a factor early in Washburn's "Wide 9″ scheme, in which he has more space to build up speed and velocity.

Dan Pompei of the National Football Post put together a list of the top short quarterbacks of all-time. Michael Vick comes in at No. 6:

We think of Michael Vick as many things, but rarely do we think of him as a short quarterback. But he is. Vick gets away with being short because he is the greatest running quarterback ever. He has been invited to four Pro Bowls and won the NFL comeback player of the year award in 2010.

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