Birds Bag Babin
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Birds Bag Babin
Les Bowen
For fans wondering when some of the underperforming stars that have helped doom this Eagles season might be held accountable, there was an answer Tuesday, too little, too late, but better than nothing.
Preening defensive end Jason Babin was released. In a statement, Eagles coach Andy Reid said he appreciated Babin's contributions -- which included making the Pro Bowl last year -- but that cutting him "gives us an opportunity to give more playing time to some of the younger guys in the defensive line rotation." -- Such as rookie Vinny Curry, who saw his first action of the season Monday and led the DL with five tackles in just 21 snaps.
Babin, who had 18 sacks last year, has 5.5 this season. He has rarely made a play other than a sack.
In an NFL Network interview, Babin was asked if he was surprised, when Reid gave him the news.
“Yeah I was definitely surprised by the move. That’s the way football goes. You can never be too surprised. There are crazy things [that] happen every week, every year,” Babin said.
Babin must clear waivers, because the trade deadline is well past. A team claiming him would be on the hook for about a third of his $5 million base for 2012. Babin began his second tour with the Eagles as part of the disastrour free agent signing tour of 2011, when he inked a five-year, $27.325 million deal after a Pro Bowl year in Tennessee under defensive line coach Jim Washburn, who preceded Babin to Philadelphia.
Reid told the Daily News Tuesday evening that Washburn was OK with the release of Babin. Reid said fans shouldn't imply that Babin is the reason for the Eagles' defensive struggles.
In the NFL Network interview, Babin said the players were to blame, in general, not himself specifically.
“Really a lot of it is due to us. If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do – if you’re not covering the right guy, playing the right coverage, in the right gap, getting the right call, not communicating – you’re giving the other team a big advantage to making a big play.”
Lets start something here......................I started this last night sitting there watching this pathetic bunch of losers..............
who do we keep................??????????????????
I have 2 to start...................
Alex Henry
Jon Dorunbos.......(I like his wife)
— hflu123- No. A dedicated long-snapper is the biggest waste of a roster spot since..... Jason Babin. — jman
- And Washburn hasn't been fired yet because..........— KIBecker
- The wide-nine has to go, too. There was no contain of QB yesterday, or in other games. The DEs are basically taking themselves out of plays.— tbird
- This decision likely came from Howie rather than Andy. In any event, Babin (like the rest of the defensive line) has been a complete bust this season; totally incapable of stopping the run or the pass. Did anyone else notice that Babin nearly picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty along the sidelines (getting into an unnecessary shoving match with Steve Smith) after the Birds forced a 4th down in the 1st half. Ridiculous. This organization is going to have a completely different feel and direction over the final five games (and into offseason), and I am looking forward to it because the change is a positive.— Roll Tide!
- LET THE BLOODLETTING BEGIN!— psubrian
- And last but not least!!!
Everyone will be eliminated before Coach Big Red. Babin was over rated, but again who brought him in. I wish we did not have to endure this dreadful week in and week out disaster. Clean house and do it quickly, not one at a time.— quazzi52 - Already been said but Washburn next?— Claudio Vernight
- Giants might want a part of that contract. Thanks Loserdelphia.— john holmes
- If this is purely based on performance, then surely Trent Cole, Nnamdi, DRC, Coleman and Nate Allen are next, right?— makrom
- Perhaps those wizzin contests with the fan base was part of this too. At any rate, Babin was as useless as the back pockets on a shirt. Won't be missed at all. A few less boneheaded penalties for sure. I surely won't miss those mindless penalties he was good for twice a game— rustypop58
- stay classy loserdelphia— john holmes
- Kurt Coleman would be wise to start packing too. He is just as useless as Babin. (And twice as dumb)— rustypop58
- If this really the start of an underperforming contract purge, and I doubt it really is that today but will be at the end of the season, then in my view these players are in trouble: CB Nnamdi Asomugha; OT Demetress Bell; DE Trent Cole (although I'd give him a pass based on prior production at a reduced salary); QB Michael Vick; DT Cullen Jenkins; and DT Mike Patterson (he should get a pass this year though). OT Jason Peters should be back at a reduced rate. While some other players completely sucked it up and I'd like to see them go, they are dirt cheap and under team control at cheap salaries. You can't cut them all even though we all want to.— Roll Tide!
- Nate Allen & Kurt Coleman should be next— fillyfan
