In this thread I'll post what I'm hearing about the Eagles during the off-season. I know you guys can go to NFL.com just like I can but there's more here on the local news. I said I'd start this thread and so here I am. I like following these guys so I'll report on what I hear. I don't know what will happen with these two but the talk for a while around here is going to be Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Will they stay or will they be gone. I myself don't know where the team stands but I have a decent idea of where I stand. Sure, Reid has led the team to 5 NFC Championship Games. McNabb is statistically the best QB to ever put on a Philly uniform. The team just somehow can't come through when they get there.. and like Alen1 and I have talked a few times the FO comes to mind.. and that goes above Reid as well. I don't think they're the entire problem but I think they can both use a new team. 10 years is a long time. I've got this running theory that they'll try and replace their tackles because they're getting up there in age.. I think Dawk might retire. Maybe try out Mays as MLB and see where they can place Bradley. More when I think of more.
Think McNabb will be back? He played really well for the most part in the late part of the season, but he really seemed bitter over the benching, and hes never gotten along well with the fans it seems. Do you think the Eagles can Reid to keep McNabb if thats what it takes? Ditch McNabb but keep Reid, or ditch both? Personally, I think Reid is the weak link on that team and needs replacing. Personell wise, yeah they definately need some OL help, but they also need a more reliable hammer back and guy to step in when Westbrook gets hurt.
It's hard to tell about both. The FO and Andy Reid are buddy-buddy so as long as the guys above him are there I've got this bad feeling that Reid is there. And benching McNabb is the worst thing Reid has ever done to him the 10 years they've been a Coach/QB tandem... and that happened this year against baltimore. I've got this feeling they'll both be back or Reid will be back but McNabb won't. I'm not sure I agree about canning Reid. It's hard to argue with someone who has at least put your team in position to go to the SB 5 times; but they did draft Kolb very high up so you have to at least see where he can get you and you might still be able to get a pick for McNabb from a team that needs a QB. I agree about a replacement for Westy he's getting up there. They have two #1s and I'd still spend them on at least a LT and the other pick is kinda up in the air. They're late first rounders (Phillys own and they have one from Carolina). Recently they've traded their firsts away.. and I can see that happening, too.
On the radio today they talked a bit about how players in todays NFL are a bit buddy buddy to one another. They also debated whether or not Sheldon Brown is an underrated or overrated CB. I think he's a bit underrated.
I think McNabb or Reid will leave the Eagles this season. One of the two I think won't be in an Eagles unifrom/coaching gear respectively next season.
Maybe so. Like I said in the first post the thing with andy reid is he's buddy buddy with the FO.. so the FO has to want a change first and I haven't heard anything about the eagles going out and looking for head coaches.. hell, I'd promote from within and make Jim Johnson HC if it were me. If it's anyone that's gone I think it's McNabb. He will find a home with really good WRers and everyone around this area is going to be miserable because they lost their franchise QB. It's so hard to tell with those two (McNabb/Reid) because I've noticed since the SB loss a lot of criticism has fallen on the two of them. There are a lot of folks who want them gone around here. Well all I have to say is be careful what you wish for. McNabb and Reid are proven. Proven at making the NFC Championship Game. Can someone else and Kevin Kolb and Player X get there? We don't know. At least Reid and McNabb have been put in the position 5 times. I think they'll try and shop Sheppard around in the offseason but being the 3rd or 4th man on the depth chart and not playing all that often has probably hurt what they could get for him. I've got a few ideas of what I would like to see happen in philly but that all depends on what the FO does. If they can andy reid all my speculation will go out the window because it's a new HC. If they keep andy reid he will draft players to fit his pass happy/screen happy system. I think tackles should be a priority. L and R are getting up there in age. Dawkins replacement in Quintin Demps may have been drafted last year and reports around here are saying he's ready to step in. I think Dawk is a HOF Safety so replacing him won't be easy. I think at corner they're set. I think they could try and shuffle their LBers a little bit. Joe Mays looks like he is going to be awesome and I think they're not pleased with their ROLB (I think it's ROLB. Whichever spot Gaither was in and this Jordan guy).
It's complete hogwash. Teams like that sometimes break through to win it all. The Colts did it eventually. I hate it when a lack of loyalty is shown by any team to coaches. If those two are gone the team goes into disarray.
The Eagles have had so many opportunities, but have lacked any real offensive talent. Westbrook gets beaten down every year, and McNabb is throwing to guys called Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell. Hell, the leading WR in the ARI game was some guy I never even heard of... They need a power runner. A guy to combo Westbrook with. Thunder and lightning, slash and dash, whatever.... Someone to pound the rock and wear out defenses. I would bid huge on Jacobs if I'm Philly. Next, they need a #1. It's not secret that McNabb's best year was when he had Owens to throw to. You can't draft these 5'10" DeSean Jacksons. They're great complimentary guys, but can't help take over a game the way a T.O., A. Johnson, Plexico, Fitz, Moss, etc... can. You add those key pieces, and Philly still has a small chance of getting to where they need to go. The window is closing. I would say closed, but Philly always lurks in the playoff hunt.
Accordingly to this article they both will be back. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3844946
They had TO at one point. He was good for a year (the year they went to the SB) then the next minute he's calling mcnabb out. They got rid of him. So it's not like McNabb has never had a talented wide receiver on his team. He had a very talented, very cancerous wide receiver. That was something to see. With that being said they haven't had a guy since him. They've had people who have done a decent job but no one has stepped up to the plate and really taken over. Kevin Curtis/Reggie Brown are alright. Westbrook can't carry the team like he used to. And he needs someone to spell him. To me what needs to happen is they need to get younger at their old positions. O Tackle, Safety. Their LBing corps needs to be shuffled in that they need to stick Joe Mays in as MLB and move Bradley over to whichever side it is he's more comfy with and maybe pick up a FA LBer or draft one. They've got the #21/28. I've got a feeling for some reason that they won't trade down this year and they'll draft a couple of tackles or a LT and a guard. Or a Linebacker or RB. I don't think McNabb will be back because of this: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3844946 They've drafted a QB high in Kevin Kolb and at some point you have to hand the reins of the team over to him. He's sat on the bench for a few years a la Aaron Rodgers and I think this next year is the time that he gets them handed to him. I don't know what they're going to try and do with Sheppard, but I think they won't get nearly as much as they could have a few years back. But a few years back they didn't have Samuel and Sheppard was their guy.
