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What they're saying about the Eagles

Before I get to the roundup, here's a link to my post from Sunday about Michael Vick.

I was somewhat surprised by the reaction. My intention was not to rip Vick. I was simply pointing out that he has all the pieces in place to have success in 2012: a good offensive line, a happy and talented group of receivers, an All-Pro running back and a full offseason to put in work. In other words, there's no reason he shouldn't turn in the best season of his career.

That might not translate to a Super Bowl run. I fully admit that. The Eagles have questions in other areas, specifically on defense. But if Vick can't put it all together with the parts around him next season, it likely is never going to happen for him.

Moving on, here's what the national media are saying about the Eagles:

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com says the Eagles have learned their lesson from last offseason:

If there's a lesson there, it's one that was pounded into the Eagles last season. Yes, they added talent. Yes, they had playmakers on both sides of the ball. But, no, they did not have the cohesion needed to win the division, make the playoffs or produce a winning season. In fact, it took them three quarters of a season before they finally, mercifully, started to look like a reputable team.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com thinks the Eagles handled the DeSean Jackson contract situation perfectly:

If you want an example of how a good organization manages risk and procures talent, look at the Eagles and what they did over the past 12 months with DeSean Jackson. When the team neglected to sign Jackson to a long-term deal before the 2011 season, he held out for a week before returning to training camp. He reportedly wanted a deal that was comparable to or in excess of Santonio Holmes's five-year, $45 million contract that allowed for $24 million in guaranteed money. The Eagles were all-in for a 2012 title and could have used a respite from any contractual distractions, but they weren't willing to break the bank and buy high on Jackson because they had both perspective and leverage.

ESPN.com's Dan Graziano applauds the Birds for re-signing Evan Mathis:

The Eagles were wise to pay whatever it took to retain Mathis. Say what you will about their disappointing 2011 season and their decision to bring back more or less the same group to try to redeem themselves in 2012, but the offensive line was an unquestioned strength — one of the very best in the entire league. Mathis, who signed last summer as an insurance or backup plan but won a starting job in training camp, was a huge part of the reason why.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland would probably disagree. He targeted left guard as the Eagles' biggest need in free agency:

After all the hype last year, the Eagles failed because their play at the line of scrimmage wasn't up to snuff. In particular, Philadelphia's offensive line was a patchwork group that never played a single down as the five-man unit the organization expected to use throughout the season. Repairing that line should make Michael Vick healthier, DeSean Jackson more effective, and that dismal goal-line performance a thing of the past.

According to Darren Rovell of CNBC, Michael Vick has paid off his largest creditor agent Andrew Joel, who he owed $6 million.

Good breakdown of Trent Cole's new contract by Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog and Football Outsiders. Cole has some incentives tied to sacks and Pro Bowls.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Jackson actually is scheduled to receive more guaranteed money than Pierre Garcon.

Per Jason La Canfora, Plaxico Burress is in talks with several teams, and the Eagles could be a possibility.

Bovada recently released odds for which athlete will be on the Madden 2012 cover. Tim Tebow was the favorite at 5 to 1, although I'm guessing that could change if Peyton Manning signs with the Broncos. Two Eagles were on the list - Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy came in at 25 to 1.

And finally, Alex's Lemonade Stand is partnering with the Eagles and offering fans the chance to spend a night at the Linc while raising money for kids with cancer. Click here for more details.

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