Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009, 2:54 PM | 44 comments |
 

EAGLES ACQUIRE HOBBS
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One day after saying he felt Sheldon Brown would take a professional approach to his bitter contract dispute with the Eagles, coach Andy Reid acquired a veteran cornerback.

The Eagles sent two fifth-round picks -- 137 and 141 overall -- to New England for Ellis Hobbs, a former third-round pick who was a starter for the Patriots in 2007 and 2008.

The addition of Hobbs gives the Eagles both of New England's starting cornerbacks from the team that went 16-0 in the regular season two years ago. The other, of course, is Asante Samuel, who signed a $57 million deal with the Eagles as a free agent before the 2008 season.

Hobbs, who turns 26 next month, has nine career interceptions, including three last season.

According to an Eagles source, this move does not mean the Eagles are going to trade Brown, who went public with a trade request Monday and made some strong statements in various media outlets the remainder of the week.

Like Brown, Hobbs said he isn't thrilled about his own contract. Hobbs, however, has just one year left on his rookie five-year contract with the Patriots. He will make $2.545 million in 2009.

"It's definitely frustrating when you see guys making certain amounts of money that you think you should get just as well and you deserve," Hobbs said. "That's especially true with some of the injuries I've played through: a torn shoulder, a torn groin. To take some of the blows I did from (Patriots fans) and to put it on the line day in and day out when I know some of the guys weren't doing that and to get the money I was getting, you're definitely not happy with it. It is what it is and I'm getting paid more than a lot of people in this world, so that will come."

Hobbs said he would be willing to extend his relationship beyond one season with the Eagles.

"If we can make this my home, I would definitely love to be here," he said. "I know it's not going to come easy. You have to go out there and prove it. Nobody wants a paper champ. These guys have seen me and the coaches said every time they watch film, there I am showing up and making plays."
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 2:54 PM  Permalink | 44 comments
44
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:50 PM, 04/26/2009
    actions speak louder than words. they dont think sheldon is gonna play 100%. he is being litoed. usually i dont agree with banner and company, but sheldon is crazy!
    — iloveprimerib!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:53 PM, 04/26/2009
    I like this pickup. It puts more pressure on Sheldon, first off. Plus, Hobbs has experience both as a starting corner AND a kick returner. It adds some more depth to our special teams and secondary. This also means, I think, that they really want Demps to start over Sean Jones at safety--getting all these guys who can return kicks might mean they don't want to risk Demps and Jackson on returns anymore.
    — moderndaymesh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:55 PM, 04/26/2009
    Sheldon Brown, you are a FOOL. Disrespected your AGENT!? Have fun on the bench, and way to trash your career you friggen crybaby. We don't need you any more! OUCH. Didn't see that one comin' did ya?
    — PG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:56 PM, 04/26/2009
    i'm a negadelphian. i dont care that hobbs started at NE last year. He sucks because he is on our team now. maybe we can trade hobbs and brown and our 1st round pick for the next 13 years for boldin?
    — beeron
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:56 PM, 04/26/2009
    Nice pickup!! You can go home early Sheldon...
    — crohnkiller
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:59 PM, 04/26/2009
    i dont know if this guy was worth two fifth-rounders. at 5'9" he's another smallish cb on an already smallish secondary. he is injury-prone an has missed a lot of time in his short 4-year career.. he's done nicely as a kickoff returner though.
    — zwarte piet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:00 PM, 04/26/2009
    Good pick up. Solid player. The Eagles are having a good weekend and a nice offseason overall. FLY EAGLES FLY!!!!!
    — wondo40
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:01 PM, 04/26/2009
    did mort just say he thought sheldon would be traded by the end of the day?
    — iloveprimerib!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:06 PM, 04/26/2009
    Considering he was a 3rd round pick, getting him for two 5ths, which we had six of anyways, is a pretty good value.
    — moderndaymesh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:06 PM, 04/26/2009
    Trade Sheldon for Tony Scheffler
    — mish798798
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:08 PM, 04/26/2009
    Patriots draft team were salary dumping they are trying to sign jason taylor and peppers.. time will tell!! Patriots say This Guy is the best of the DB's but they were all average..in their eyes... Spadaro and merrill are Horrible on Draft Coverage Patriots tweeted the transaction and Eagles couldn't confirm not even the Eagle PR Guy in the Draft room... pathetic! NFL announced it still Spadaro awaiting confirmation...
    — Philly-d-kidder
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 PM, 04/26/2009
    sheldon brown all of a sudden does not feel so good. he could of stayed here and made his money, now he is on a journey thru the seamy side of the NFL. uh oh.
    — belocki
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:11 PM, 04/26/2009
    What's the appeal of Scheffler? He's a receiving TE who hasn't had a truly great season yet and who can't block for beans. In my mind, he's no better than Celek. Would you trade Sheldon Brown for a guy as good as Brent Celek? Plus, I'm just sick of giving Denver our players, or players that we wanted.
    — moderndaymesh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:31 PM, 04/26/2009
    You knew it wouldn't take them long to give Sheldon Brown's starting job to someone else, but OF COURSE they won't trade him, because it's more important than anything else to punish him for speaking out. He'll sit on the bench all season, getting used sporadically at best, and they'll trade him next year after they've run his trade value into the ground.
    — Hutch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:35 PM, 04/26/2009
    I liked you Sheldon. So long.
    — MaddenFL


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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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