2 Minutes to Midnight Green

Breaking News: Eagles' Shawn Andrews Likes Twitter

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:17:00 +0000

Philly.com's John Gonzalez thinks this is a real pic.

What? This isn't breaking news? Well pardon me for thinking that the well-qualified scribes over at Philly.com wouldn't waste our time with anything that isn't breaking news or of the highest quality analysis.

But that's exactly what Philly.com's John Gonzalez decided to do when he wrote up this little gem about Shawn Andrews and his affinity for Twitter. Apparently a 27-year old semi-famous man is a topic of discussion because he likes this new form of social interaction that I don't fully understand.

(By the way, follow me on Twitter!)

Gonzalez starts off this Pulitzer Prize candidate by talking about how Andrews is apparently addicted to Twitter and offers a career change for the embattled lineman.

"Forget football. He could replace Dave Spadaro and the entire Internet team down at the NovaCare Complex all by himself," Gonzalez writes. "He's that prolific."

You're that hilarious, Gonzo.

He then goes on to tell us about one day in which Andrews "tweeted an astounding 134 times - or roughly one tweet every 10 minutes." That, of course, led to this always-used-but-never-less-funny joke: "I wonder if he has a shower-proof Twitter device or if he just skips cleaning himself altogether."

Get it? He "tweets" so much that he doesn't take showers. You know, because it would mean he couldn't tweet were he to take a shower. Unless, of course, he has a phone or some other internet-ready device that is waterproof.

Seriously, who is this guy and why in the hell is he qualified to be taking pokes at anybody?

I mean honestly which of his editors approved this story for the website? Who in their right mind thought it was something that just had to be read by everyone and that we'd all get a kick out of this hack taking a poke at Andrews via his laptop?

The only bit of this that might make sense, to which he fails to allude, is that maybe we should all be upset because Andrews is tweeting rather than rehabbing. But even that is fairly half-assed as we have no idea what his schedule is, what he's doing, or what he should be doing to rehab.

But, as is usually the case with these people, they're not going to let a little thing like common sense stand in their way.

Smart money says little Gonzo isn't saying a word of this to the Big Kid personally, unless of course he idolizes Jim Rome. He would rather hide behind his laptop and take a poke at the guy because he knows a lot of Philly has had enough of Andrews not seeing the field.

Anything to get the public riled up, right? That's what journalism, especially in the sports and political arenas, has come down to: What can we do to get the general public talking?

Now I know, some of you may be asking yourself why I took the time to read it and respond to it on here if I think it's such a waste of time. And the answer is that when I started this site I wanted to do it not only because the Eagles coverage, and NFL coverage in general, that is available is, for the most part, garbage -- but to call these people out, when needed, as well.

It's nothing but a bunch of guys who decided they wanted people to listen to and/or read their nonsense regardless of topic. These guys chose sports and apparently bumbled their way into Philadelphia. Hooray for me, and hooray for you.

I read the article -- or what more or less looked like an old post from someone's Xanga page -- because I knew it would be nonsense and, look at that, I was right. Not all the guys over at Philly.com are bad, but this Gonzalez character is one that just needs to go away.

With analytic gems such as this in response to a tweet by Jeff McLane that the Eagles would not be signing Justin Fargas: "For the Huggie Bear jokes alone, the Birds need to reconsider."

Or this one in response to the signing of Chad Hall: "Waiting list for season tickets just got longer. Take that, Phillies! The Eagles are back."

Or there's this one in response to the Hank Baskett signing: "Hooray. Maybe they'll bring back Feely & complete the Super Bowl puzzle."

By the way, folks, this is all on his Twitter feed. So, apparently, it's okay to Tweet, but not if you happen to play for the Eagles and do it in excess. The definition of what is and is not "excess," by the way, is determined solely by John Gonzalez.

So keep it up, Mr. Gonzalez. You're a big man behind your computer, your hypocrisy apparently knows no bounds, and you write the way I did in second grade. Why anyone pays you for your opinions is beyond me, and you're an embarrassment to real Eagles fans everywhere.

As says one commenter by the name of "ahab" (like the captain): "I'll take Andrews' Twitter over this mean-spirited twaddle any day of the week... What a pinhead."

Eagles Will Select Best DE Available In First Round

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Pierre-Paul is a freakish athlete with a lot of upside.

It's often extremely hard to get into the collective mind of the Philadelphia Eagles front office. They are very good at not tipping their hand, and usually any move they make catches everyone on the outside off-guard to the point it will hurt your neck on the double-take.

But if we really look hard enough, it becomes clear what they're draft-day plan has become: take the best defensive end available and move forward from there.

They will most likely address other needs, such as the secondary, offensive line, and linebacker in the later rounds, but their first round pick appears to be set -- barring a slide of a great player like Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, C.J. Spiller or someone of their caliber, the Eagles will simply stay put at 24th overall and draft the best defensive end left on the board.

And there's a very good chance that they'll be able to land one of the coveted defensive ends at the 24th pick. There's probably four defensive ends with a first round grade -- Brandon Graham of Michigan, Everson Griffen of USC, Jason Pierre-Paul of USF, and Carlos Dunlap of Florida -- and I've only seen two (at most) slated to land before the Eagles.

It's not because they're not great players, but mainly due to teams having other needs or, in the case of Pierre-Paul, Dunlap, and Griffen, having worries about their maturity off the field.

The most likely to be off the board is Pierre-Paul, so we'll remove him from the equation. That still means that Graham, Griffen, and Dunlap will most likely be available, and one of them will become an Eagle.

So how do we know all that?

Well, the Eagles are creatures of habit. They handle things the same way year in and year out in that they will address their immediate needs through free agency and wait on the draft for positions they feel like they either (a) cannot get value at through free agency or (b) feel they're set for the upcoming season and recognize it as a need in the future.

In the case of getting a defensive end, I think it's most likely option 'A.'

Julius Peppers drew some interest from the Eagles, and they flirted with the idea of bringing in Aaron Kampman, but in the end they recognized that both guys wanted far too much money and with free agency as thin as it was, they were going to get it.

The Eagles weren't willing to spend it, and I don't blame them. But they did go out and address their needs at free safety by signing Marlin Jackson, and they feel comfortable enough with their linebackers to release Will Witherspoon (who has since signed with the Titans), so the next logical step is defensive end.

Andy Reid will always take the best player on the board regardless of position, but I believe this year it will just happen to be the best player on the board who fits a need as well. Then in the second and third rounds they can hopefully bring in another free safety and a true SAM 'backer.

Personally, my hope is that Pierre-Paul is still on the board, but it will most likely be Carlos Dunlap. I think the Birds are enamored with Dunlap's size and skill set, and aren't all that worried about his off-field issues. I would say the potential positives of both players certainly outweigh the potential negatives.

If both of those players are gone, I would prefer Brandon Graham and then Everson Griffen -- in that order. Griffen is probably more gifted athletically, but Graham seems like a stand-up guy who also has what it takes to make it in the NFL.

Either way, the fretting can stop because the Eagles will be picking a defensive end right off the bat come April 22nd.

Fargas Leaves NovaCare Complex Without Contract

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Justin Fargas might not become an Eagle in 2010.

Justin Fargas stuck around for a while during his visit to the Eagles' practice facilities at the NovaCare complex, but apparently has left the building without a contract.

As far as I know, he is still in Philadelphia but apparently will not sign a deal today.

There's no cause for concern just yet, but if he leaves the city is becomes highly unlikely that he would be back to sign a contract. There's no word of another visit scheduled for Fargas, so he and his agent could just be playing hardball at the moment.

He probably wants to be paid like a "1a" running back -- or a guy who is going to see about 40 percent of the carries -- but the Eagles are most likely offering him a deal as the backup, figuring he's only going to see about 25 to 30 percent of the carries.

We all know the Eagles aren't going to overpay for someone, but it's unlikely that they'd feel comfortable going into the 2010 season with a rookie as LeSean McCoy's backup. That is, unless a guy like Dexter McCluster could possibly fall to the third round.

He won't, but it's okay to hope and dream, right?

Fargas would be a terrific backup to McCoy, but it just doesn't look like it's going to happen today and the longer it goes, the further the chances drop. Fargas is probably going to have to come down on what he's looking for if he wants to become an Eagle.

Let it be known, however, that Jeff McLane is reporting via Twitter that a league source has told him that the Eagles are not expected to sign Fargas at all. I'm not sure how a "league source" would know what specifically the Eagles are doing, but there it is.

The Eagles have no free agents scheduled to come in tomorrow, so it looks like both sides could just be playing a waiting game.

Does Vikings' Ray Edwards Make Sense for Eagles?

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Is Edwards really an upgrade at left defensive end?

Bob Grotz of the Delaware County Times expects the Eagles to make a push for Minnesota Vikings' defensive end Ray Edwards, a restricted free agent with a first-round tender, but is Edwards really a guy the Eagles should be attempting to acquire?

He set a career mark for sacks this past season with 8.5, but that's while playing next to Jared Allen and the Williams Wall. The real attention put on Edwards has been because of his three-sack performance against the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional round of the 2009 playoffs.

While it was impressive, it's important that teams keep things in perspective. Playing on such a great line gives him a lot of opportunities for one-on-one matchups and he wasn't even able to hit double-digit sacks.

He's got great size (6'5, 270) and would benefit from having Trent Cole on the other side, but Edwards' lack of production in the regular season is cause for concern. To me, it says he either lacks the talent or the work ethic necessary to become a great player.

A guy like Edwards always takes me back to what Brian Dawkins once said about Clinton Hart; When a guy only shows flashes of talent, it just means he's not working hard enough.

It's a statement so simplistic and obvious in nature that it's genius. Showing flashes clearly means that the talent is there, but the player isn't putting in the time and effort it would take to bring everything together consistently.

That is Edwards in a nutshell, and I think it's going to cause a lot of teams to shy away from him. He's very good for what the Vikings have right now because he has shown that he can produce when called upon, but a lot of his success directly correlates to the presence of the three great players next to him.

And for those who think he would be better than what the Eagles already have in Juqua Parker, consider that Edwards had 8.5 sacks to Parker's eight. Is an extra half of a sack really worth a draft pick and about $4-6 million per season?

Justin Fargas, Hank Baskett to Visit Eagles Friday

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:57:00 +0000

Fargas should not be allowed to leave without a deal.

The Eagles have announced via their official website that wide receiver Hank Baskett and running back Justin Fargas will be visiting the NovaCare complex on Friday.

Baskett may not need a tour guide as he hasn't been out of Eagles' green for even a full season. He was released after Week 1 because the Eagles needed to add a quarterback after Donovan McNabb's injury and Baskett was the guy who lost the numbers game.

But now with Reggie Brown being moved to Tampa Bay in a trade, there's a need for some wide receiver depth and Baskett is the logical fit.

Fargas is an intriguing prospect that really excites me. He has shown that he's not a guy who's going to carry the load for a team, but as a backup change-of-pace guy he can really make an impact.

He's a fast back who can hit the corners the way Reid likes, but he's also big (6'1, 220) and can run between the tackles.

He will be 30 years old next season, but has never had more than 222 carries in a single season, and didn't have more than 40 in his first three years, so he's got some good years left in him.

Fargas has been a guy I've wanted the Eagles to bring in since the day I found out the Raiders were going to allow him to walk. He won't be the biggest signing, but he is certainly good enough to come in and help out in the running game as LeSean McCoy's backup.

Between McCoy, Leonard Weaver, and Fargas, the Eagles will have a trio of running backs that should be able to do some real damage on the rare occasion they're actually allowed to touch the football.

UPDATE: Eagles and Hank Baskett have agreed to one-year deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Should Eagles Move Chris Gocong to Defensive End?

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:02:00 +0000

Moving Gocong is the only thing that makes sense.

The Eagles are in a tough spot with Gocong because he could play two positions at which they desperately need some help. He's been a SAM linebacker since he first arrived in Philadelphia, but he's a natural defensive end -- as evidenced by his 23.5 sacks in a single season at Cal Poly.

While he does provide depth at SAM, that's really all he's good for at this point. He lost his starting spot to a rookie last year and was relegated to special teams duty for the last month or so. His time as this team's starting strong-side 'backer appear to be over.

He is, however, still with the team on a restricted free agent tender so they're going to have to find somewhere to put him. He's shown that he's not the answer at outside linebacker, so why not let him put his hand on the ground and rush the passer as a defensive end?

Moving defensive ends to outside linebacker is a trend that makes no sense to me. Why would you move a guy from his natural position -- a position he obviously plays well enough to draw your interest -- and try to teach him something he's never done before?

It doesn't make any sense, and it's ruining a lot of players.

Take, for instance, Jason Babin. I was at training camp the day he was signed and introduced to the media, and he said that he felt like he was ruined by the Texans and every other team he played for because they all tried to play him at outside linebacker rather than defensive end.

The Eagles gave him the opportunity to put his hand in the ground, and he had a pretty good year for a guy coming off the bench.

So if they can see the mistakes made by other teams with a guy like Babin, why can't they see the mistake they made with Gocong?

Guys do not just stumble across 23.5 sacks. A number like that means the guy knows how to work an offensive lineman and get to the opposing quarterback -- something the Eagles' defense had a very difficult time doing in 2009.

The problem with Gocong is that he plays in his head. He's always thinking about the play and having to dissect and diagnose what is going on before he can make a move. Guys need to have instinct to play in this league and Gocong just doesn't have the instincts of an outside linebacker.

He does, however, have the instincts of a defensive end. At least playing on the line will allow him to do what comes naturally and not have to wait around and get caught flat-footed while he's thinking about what will come next.

Gocong probably won't be the savior at defensive end, but if he can supply a pass-rush half as effective as he did at Cal Poly, the Birds could be sitting on a gold mine.

Eagles Making a Mistake Keeping Michael Vick?

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Peiffer) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:52:00 +0000

Vick would be another welcome weapon in 2010.

I have been surfing around the internet lately, and a lot of what I have been reading is that the interest for Michael Vick is non-existent and that Andy Reid would be stupid to keep him on the roster for 2010.

I think these two statements are ludicrous. Michael Vick has proven to be an asset for this Eagles team, and that is exactly how Andy Reid and company view him. In fact, the Eagles view all their players in such a manner.

Vick has stated numerous times that he would like to be a starter again next season for an NFL team, and the Eagles, in turn, view him as a starting quality quarterback and will seek due compensation for him. The rest of the NFL, however, may not see him as a starting quarterback and do not want to give up that kind of compensation for him.

It's no secret that Vick was not used as a traditional quarterback for the Eagles in 2009, but rather as a gadget player in certain situations, and on short yardage plays. He was a key in the success that the Eagles saw in the short yardage game that has plagued them for years, but has this ruined his worth around the league?

If a team is going to take a chance on Vick as a starter, they are going to want tape that will prove that he will be a quality starter in this league. The fact that Vick was out of football for two years added onto him not being used as a traditional quarterback, may have lowered his trade value.

With Jason La Canfora revealing yesterday that the Eagles were looking for two first round picks for Kevin Kolb, and a first rounder for Donovan McNabb, the Eagles are sending the message that they will not simply give up their quarterbacks just because they have great depth at the position.

Even though La Canfora did not directly report what the Eagles wanted in return for Vick, they probably will not accept less than a third round pick. Teams will continue to be hesitant to give up that high of a pick for an unknown, but the Eagles will not budge from their stance.

Vick was an asset for the Eagles last year, and he will be even more of an asset for the team this year should he make it through the off-season still on the roster. Andy Reid knows what he has, and he will not trade Vick just to trade him.

He knows what Vick can do on the field, and with another year and off-season under his belt, Vick could will make an even bigger impact next season.

Report: Seahawks Want Kevin Kolb, Not McNabb

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:30:00 +0000

Kolb could be a good fit with Pete Carrol in Seattle.

Earlier today it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks want either Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback in 2010; But apparently the Seahawks are only eying one of the aforementioned quarterbacks.

Kevin Kolb.

According to CSNPhilly.com (through a source in Seattle), the Seahawks aren't all that interested in McNabb because it would leave the team "in the same position they're in with veteran Matt Hasselbeck."

Hasselbeck turns 35 next season while McNabb will be 34. Kolb will be a still-ripening 26.

Seattle coach Pete Carrol is clearly looking to rebuild and must not either feel Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen will be on the board with the sixth overall pick, or that neither is worth such a high pick. Kolb at least has some playing experience and some NFL tape to go off of, rather than only college numbers for Clausen and Bradford.

It will take a lot for Carrol to get the Birds to part ways with Kolb, however. It will probably have to be in the area of a first-round pick or a couple second-round picks to go along with a late-round pick as well.

This report would corroborate the report that the Eagles are not listening to offers for McNabb, as well as Reid's stance that McNabb will be the quarterback in 2010.

I've gone on record as saying I believe the Eagles should take a deal for Kolb and move forward with McNabb and that's not changing now. If the Seahawks are willing to part with a couple picks, the Birds should take them and offer McNabb an extension.

What Does Marlin Jackson Signing Mean for Eagles?

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:13:00 +0000

Jackson will immediately become the starter at FS.

Earlier today, the Eagles and defensive back Marlin Jackson agreed on a two-year deal. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but it's probably somewhere around $7-8 million. I'd be surprised if the Birds shelled out any more than that.

Jackson will immediately be penciled in as the starter at free safety (regardless of what the Eagles say) and will only lose his job if he's absolutely atrocious. Sean McDermott saw what Macho Harris and Quintin Demps can do, and it's not a whole lot.

Many Eagles fans and outsiders alike wonder about this move, but it makes perfect sense from where I'm sitting. He played free safety during his junior year at Michigan and started about half the season as a free safety during his second season in Indianapolis.

He has had some issues with his knees, and is currently rehabbing from a torn ACL, but that actually just makes the decision to move him to safety even better.

The injuries will slow him down, but they will slow him down to the speed of a safety. Pair that with the cover abilities of a cornerback and you have exactly what the Birds are looking for.

They have wanted a guy who can play "center field," if you will, for a few years now. Brian Dawkins was never that guy, and it's the reason why Demps was drafted and why Harris was given a shot to take the job.

McDermott's defense calls for someone who can go sideline to sideline, if need be, and be able to tackle in the open field. That wasn't Demps or Harris, but it could be Jackson.

Jackson's best season came in 2007 when he started all 16 games, had half a sack, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, five passes defended, and 112 total tackles -- 76 solo.

The number of tackles is the most impressive because it shows that he can make a tackle in the open field when he needs to. He's an instinctive and tough guy who is used to winning and will carry that mentality into a team also familiar with winning.

Jackon is certainly not the marquee name that fans were looking for, but his presence could have a significant ripple effect.

Quintin Mikell will not longer feel like he must play two positions, which will allow him to roam around the box and make plays around the line of scrimmage -- something he was unable to do last season. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel will also feel more confident in breaking on a pattern because they known Jackson is back there to clean up any mess they leave.

The Birds still need a left defensive end who can rush the passer on a consistent basis, but signing Jackson is certainly a move in the right direction for this defense and for this team.

At the very least he adds great depth to this secondary, so it's a signing that has very little risk involved and certainly looks to pay off in the end.

Report: Seahawks Want Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Could McNabb be heading west to the Seahawks?

According to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, the Seattle Seahawks and new head coach Pete Carrol want either Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb, and they don't seem to really care which one.

Paolantonio says the Seahawks are calling "non-stop" in an effort to pry one of these quarterbacks away, but it doesn't look like the Eagles are budging. Sal Pal says he now firmly believes the Eagles will trade McNabb, but if they wanted to trade him why would the Seahawks have to keep calling?

From where I'm sitting it doesn't look like Reid wants to trade either quarterback barring a blockbuster offer. If the Seahawks were to offer a first round pick for either of these guys, it's probably something the Eagles have to take into consideration, but outside of that it doesn't look like either guy will be moved.

Reid has continuously called his quarterback log-jam the "best situation" in the league, so he's clearly not in a rush to move anyone.

It looks to me like Reid is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He's married to McNabb; He's seen him develop from a rookie to the most successful quarterback in the league (save Tom Brady and Peyton Manning) over the past decade.

McNabb was his first draft pick and really was the guy who got the success in Philadelphia started, so turning his back on him would be very difficult to do. He couldn't even bring himself to tell McNabb he was benched in the Baltimore game a few years ago, much less tell him he's been traded.

But then there's Kolb, who was also a Reid draft pick, and a guy Reid thinks can turn into a franchise player. He clearly believes that he has all the tools necessary to help this team win and that, with all the young talent in place, it could be a team that's highly successful for another 10 years.

Reid will make a tough decision when the time calls for it, but I don't think he's going to make a decision here. I believe he'll keep both quarterbacks and worry about the contracts later, unless a team blows him away with an offer for either quarterback.

And if the Seahawks are willing to part with one of those first-round picks, we could see fireworks in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Eagles Should Pursue Hank Fraley as Stop-Gap Center

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:05:00 +0000

Is a Hank Fraley return to Philadelphia possible?

Jamaal Jackson's knee injury will most likely not allow him to start the season. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see Jackson on the PUP when 2010 kicks off, so the Eagles are going to need a center to fill in for at least six weeks.

Currently, Nick Cole, Mike McGlynn, and A.Q. Shipley are the only guys who can play center on the roster. Cole and McGlynn are guards first who can play center in a squeeze, while Shipley is the only true center.

Shipley, however, is extremely young and has no playing experience. It's going to be difficult for him to pick up the entire offense and be able to make the line calls. Cole had been playing on the line all season long but couldn't make the calls when he was put in the driver's seat, so it's no walk in the park.

Hank Fraley, however, would be a guy who could come in and on day one make all the calls necessary and run this offensive line without a hitch. He did it for five seasons in Philly before spending the last three in Cleveland, so we know he can do it again.

The coach hasn't changed, the quarterback hasn't changed, the offensive coordinator hasn't changed, so coming in and retaking his old position with his former team shouldn't take anything more than a refresher course through training camp.

He will already know the offense and, maybe most importantly, have a rapport with Donovan McNabb. The only obstacle will be the create a rapport with Todd Herremans and whoever starts at right guard (most likely Stacy Andrews).

That, however, will come during the offseason.

The move makes too much sense to ignore. They need a veteran to come in and fill in for Jackson until he's healthy enough to come back, so who better to do it than the guy who lost the job to him in 2006?

Fraley isn't a superstar, but he would certainly be a good option until Jackson gets off the PUP, and could even fill in for the entire season if Jackson has a couple setbacks and is forced to miss all of 2010.

Should Eagles Bring Terrell Owens Back to Philadelphia?

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Seriously, who didn't love him after this little stunt?

We all know the story of Terrell Owens and his time in Philadelphia. Just say the phrase "Next question" and everyone knows what you're referring to. And don't you dare think about doing crunches in your driveway; it's likely to drive an Eagles fan to violence.

But is it now time to consider bringing Owens back to Philadelphia?

The Eagles currently have four wide receivers -- DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and Kevin Curtis -- who have some playing experience, and then have Jordan Norwood, who has played in one game, and Dobson Collins who has seen absolutely no time in an NFL game.

And with Curtis' inflated contract no longer matching his minimal role, he could very well be the next guy traded or simply released.

Bringing Owens back to a city he split in half five years ago would not only create a buzz around this team, but would give the Eagles incredible depth with a young up-and-comer in Maclin, an electrifying deep threat in Jackson, a great slot guy in Avant, and arguably one of the best receivers of all time in Owens.

He didn't have a great season in Buffalo, but that could actually work to the Eagles' advantage.

That poor season is going to immediately drop his asking price and, whether he'll admit it or not, he never wanted to leave Philly in the first place. He was ecstatic to be playing here, but underestimated the resolve of the front office.

He didn't think for a second that Reid would actually cut him, but like he had to so many times before, T.O. learned the hard way.

So T.O. wants to be here, he has patched things up with Donovan, he would add fantastic depth and another scary weapon to this offense, so what's the problem?

Well, of course, a main factor will be what T.O. is looking for. If he wants to be a starter and be paid as such, that's just not going to happen. He would, however, come in as the team's third receiver, filling in for Jackson and Maclin when they needed it and in specific situations.

He's still a redzone target at 6'3 and hasn't lost the ability to battle through tacklers and make the big play.

If T.O. is willing to come in, accept his role and accept the money that goes along with it, he could be a key asset to the offense once again in 2010. However, if he's not, then perhaps Chad Ochocinco will finally get his wish.

Eagles Trade Reggie Brown to Bucs for Conditional 6th

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:06:00 +0000

Remember when Brown was the future in Philly?

In a move that's been expected for a couple years, the Eagles have moved wide receiver Reggie Brown. He will join the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay for a 2011 conditional sixth round draft pick.

It's about what I expected the Birds to get for Brown, but a pick in this year's draft would have been a whole lot more helpful. Whether they drafted someone in the sixth or used it to move up, it's a whole lot more useful to them to have it this season.

However, Andy Reid and company must expect Brown to reach the milestones that will turn the pick into a fourth or fifth rather than a sixth.

But like everyone said after the Birds cut Hank Baskett and traded Brandon Gibson, the depth at wide receiver is all but gone. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avant are all locked up, but after them the Eagles have the never-reliable Kevin Curtis -- and that's it.

They have a couple receivers on the practice squad, and Baskett is floating around in free agency again, but they really have backed themselves into a corner with their receiver depth.

I expect them to either go out and pick up a veteran in free agency, or take a flier on someone like they did with Gibson in the sixth last year.

Hopefully they don't just turn around and immediately trade him, just to cut the player they traded for.

Eagles and Jason Avant Agree to Five-Year Deal

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Avant is a key piece to this young, dynamic offense.

It appears as though the Eagles are much more inwardly focused this offseason, signing two of their own players and being very quiet in free agency.

Leonard Weaver signed a three-year extension with the team on the first day of free agency, now Jason Avant has been locked up a few days later with a five-year deal that will keeping him in Philadelphia through 2014.

Terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed, but it figures to pay him around $3 million annually with a modest amount of guaranteed money prorated over the next few seasons.

It's not a big contract, and it's not a move that's going to make a lot of national headlines, but it was the second-most important move this team could make in regards to free agents. Avant is a guy they can absolutely not afford to lose, and now they don't have to worry about it.

Avant has been an absolute rock in the slot, seemingly always coming down with the key third down reception to keep the ball moving. His concentration when the ball is in the air is nothing short of incredible, and his hands may be among the tops in the league.

I would equate his ability to catch the ball to Larry Fitzgerald, so it's only a shame Avant doesn't have the physical attributes to go along with it.

Avant had his best year last season with 41 receptions, 587 yards, and three touchdowns. He's steadily gotten better since his rookie season. He's got eight career touchdowns, all of which have come inside the redzone.

The Birds are hoping he improves on that number this season and can give the Eagles a trio threat similar to Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston of 2008.

Eagles Schedule Visit With DB Marlin Jackson

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Signing Jackson could solve two very big problems.

In an effort to bolster a weak passing defense, the Eagles have set up a visit with former Colts' defensive back Marlin Jackson. It's unknown whether the Birds are looking to him to make the move to free safety, or if they want to keep him at cornerback.

Jackson is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Tuesday, but will meet with the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. If the Ravens don't sign him on the spot, he'll make the trip north to Philadelphia.

The Eagles definitely need some help in the secondary as Ellis Hobbs in the only real backup on the outside if Sheldon Brown or Asante Samuel were to go down. Joselio Hanson is best suited for the nickel and has shown he's not all the reliable playing the close to the sidelines.

Jackson has, however, started six games for the Colts at free safety and has even played a little strong safety. He's 6'0 and just under 200 pounds, so he's a bit undersized as a free safety, but the Birds are looking for someone who can play center field, and that might be Jackson.

Personally, I'd like them to use the opportunity of bringing in a starting-caliber cornerback to move Brown to free safety. He's exactly what any team would want in a safety in that he can not only cover receivers, but he can pop them if they come across the middle and has shown that he can play the ball.

Whether or not he'd go for it or whether or not the Eagles are interested in asking him to make the move is a different story, but it simply makes too much sense to ignore.

Bringing in a guy like Jackson, or perhaps Leigh Bodden, gives the Birds a guy in Brown who I believe would immediately become an All-Pro. He's exactly what they want for Sean McDermott's defense, and he's beginning to slow down a little on the outside.

Move him inside, play to his strengths, and hide some of his weaknesses.

Jackson is only 26 years old, is in the prime of his career, and is more than capable or playing across from Samuel, especially with a guy like Brown behind him to make up for any mistakes he may make.

Hopefully the Eagles, and Brown, are open to the move because it would allow them to fill two needs with one signing and also let them focus on more pressing issues -- like figuring out who is going to provide a pass-rush opposite Trent Cole.

Leonard Weaver Received Better Offer From Browns

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:21:00 +0000

Did the Eagles make a mistake not taking the pick?

Speaking with Garry Cobb on 610WIP last night, Leonard Weaver revealed that the Cleveland Browns had offered him more money than the Eagles for his services. He didn't say how much, but the way he said it made it sound like it could have been substantially more.

If the Browns contacted Weaver and made him an offer, it would mean that they were willing to part ways with their second-round pick, which is the tender level Weaver was on for about 14 hours.

Weaver is a great weapon and a fan-favorite already in Philly, but would the Birds have been wise to let him walk for a second-round pick from Cleveland? The 39th overall pick is incredibly high for a fullback, and it's certainly something the Birds had to have at least considered.

Now I'm by no means an expert on the workings of restricted free agency. It's a new animal for most and learning the rules of it is going to be a process, so I'm not sure if Weaver has the right to reject an offer sheet and stay in Philly, or if he doesn't have a say in the matter.

If he has a say, he probably would have rejected the offer in the hopes of earning a contract from Philly next offseason -- but there's no way to be sure. If he doesn't have a say, a second-round pick for a fullback would be incredibly difficult to turn down -- even for a fullback of Weaver's caliber.

Don't take this the wrong way; I would not want to see Weaver leave, and would in fact love to see him retire as an Eagle, but if a team is willing to give up that much for him I'm just saying it would have been tough for me to turn down in the same position.

I had the pleasure of meeting Weaver last night when I joined Cobb on WIP and he's a very personable and just all-around good guy. He stood and talked to me and someone else for a good 10 minutes or so when he could have simply blown us off and rushed out the door.

He's exactly the guy this city needs and loves to have around, but business is business and a second-round pick is a tough business deal to turn down.

Eagles Release Linebacker Will Witherspoon

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:23:00 +0000

Will Witherspoon saved the Eagles' defense in '09.

In one of the more surprising moves of the day, the Eagles have decided to part ways with linebacker Will Witherspoon only one season after trading for him from the St. Louis Rams.

Witherspoon came in as Stewart Bradley's replacement in the middle after Omar Gaither didn't work out, but was moved to WILL after Akeem Jordan was injured. He kept Jordan on the bench all year long while the middle was a revolving door.

While I thought Witherspoon played fairly well, the Eagles apparently did not believe he was worth the $5 million he was due in 2010. His play doesn't warrant such a high number, but his versatility, to me, would have been enough to keep him around.

This isn't the first time the Birds have done this, however. They cut ties with Takeo Spikes only one season after trading for him back in 2007. A move that, like this one, leaves fans scratching their heads.

Linebacker is a position in which the Eagles are lacking, so either way you slice it this doesn't make much sense -- at least not from where I'm sitting.

I understand the money and that they really only traded for him because they had no other options once their 'backers started dropping like flies, but he was the only reason this defense didn't completely fall apart last season and, overall, was the best linebacker they had.

The Birds must figure that he becomes expendable with the return of Gaither -- a guy who is just as versatile and a whole lot cheaper.

Witherspoon certainly wasn't a superstar, but he was a guy who did whatever Sean McDermott asked of him and did it well, so it's shocking and a bit disheartening to see him leave. However, he should warrant some good attention as a free agent, and might even have a shot at returning to Philly at a reduced rate.

Andy Reid the Only Block of Donovan McNabb Trade?

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:13:00 +0000

Eagles FO wants Kevin Kolb over Donovan McNabb?

FOX 29 in Philadelphia is reporting that there is a huge rift in the Eagles' front office. Apparently everyone is all in favor of trading veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb and starting the Kevin Kolb era, but Andy Reid is quashing any talks.

I've always said I thought Reid would fight to keep McNabb around for as long as he's around, but if this is true it wouldn't surprise me if McNabb is gone after 2010. He wants to be in Philly, but if no one wants him around he's not going to sign an extension.

In that case, it would then make sense to move McNabb before the draft and get something for him before he walks.

However, I don't buy these reports. The team's owner, Jeff Lurie, has always been a big supporter of McNabb, as has Joe Banner, the team's president. Howie Roseman is an unknown, but he really has no power on the team anyway.

Being the GM for the Eagles is like being the offensive coordinator -- it's a nice title to have, but that's all it is. Reid is making the decisions on who stays, who goes, what plays are called, and really everything else.

Aside from signing his own checks, Reid runs this organization from top to bottom.

To me, this sounds like someone has heard about how much the front office likes Kolb, and I don't doubt they do, and spun it into this story. Just because the front office thinks Kolb can eventually take over this franchise doesn't mean they're trying to push McNabb out.

Even those who aren't exactly McNabb fans can't say (with a straight face) that McNabb doesn't give this team the best chance to win a Super Bowl next year.

I think the organization really likes McNabb and wants to keep him. I don't believe that not extending his contract the other year was making 2010 a "do-or-die" season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see McNabb get an extension through 2012 or so.

I'm not denying that McNabb's window is certainly getting smaller, but I think everyone realizes that he's only now getting some real weapons and want to give him every opportunity to use these weapons and bring the Lombardi trophy to Philadelphia.

Eagles Set Their Sights on DE Aaron Kampman

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Kampman might visit Philadelphia today -- or not.

I was about halfway through an article talking about how Aaron Kampman is visiting the Eagles according to FOX's Jay Glazer, right before I notice this:

"Correction on Kampman, birds have had talks with his rep but he is NOT visiting at this point."

So Glazer got his facts mixed up and got everyone all excited over nothing. The two sides talking could be a great thing. It could mean that the Eagles are getting set to bring him in and perhaps offer a deal, or it could mean absolutely nothing.

The Birds could just be doing their due diligence with Kampman and trying to find out what he's looking for and how his knee is doing, for all we know. Talking to the reps mean they're interested, but it could very well not go any further than that.

Kampman is certainly a guy that would make sense for the Birds to pursue if they can't lure Julius Peppers out of Chicago. He's a high character guy who has a great work ethic and could really be a leader on this defense -- not to mention highly productive.

He did tear up his ACL last season, but by all accounts he's progressing nicely and will be ready to go by the time 2010 kicks off.

Kampman would also be returning to his natural position of defensive end, were he to come to Philadelphia. He was playing outside linebacker in Green Bay's 3-4 scheme last season, but he's clearly more effective with his hand in the ground.

Geoff Mosher also just tweeted: "The fact that Eagles haven't yet scheduled press conference for Weaver makes me think they expect to sign someone else today. Kampman?"

It's a good point -- maybe. But, of course, it could just mean that the Eagles haven't gotten around to it because they're dealing with more pressing matters. Adam Caplan just tweeted that the Eagles are announcing the Weaver deal at 4:00PM, so that probably kills what Mosher just said.

Gotta love free agency.

Eagles Still in the Running to Land Julius Peppers

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:46:00 +0000

Julius Peppers' next visit will be to Philadelphia.

Julius Peppers is in Chicago right now, but that apparently doesn't mean he won't be hopping the first flight to Philadelphia in a couple hours.

It was thought that the Bears would not allow Peppers to leave Chicago and would have him signed today, but with every passing hour it's looking less and less like that's the case. His agent is even going so far as to name-drop and say that if a deal isn't done, Philly is their next stop.

The Birds apparently placed their bid and are now just waiting for Peppers to either accept or decline. There's probably a little wiggle room in the offer, but not much. It's got to be a good one, however, if Peppers and his agent are willing to make the trip should things break down in Chicago.

Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Patriots also have an offer on the table for Peppers and are simply playing the same wait-and-see game as the Eagles.

Most of us are completely in the dark as far as what Peppers is looking to command. I've heard numbers that would put Albert Haynesworth to shame, and I've also heard that he's willing to take about $10-12 million per season in order to play for a contender.

It's going to be very interesting to see where he signs, and I hope it's with the Eagles, but I also hope that they don't break the bank on a 30-year old defensive end who has a reputation of not playing as hard as he should.

It's not really something we have to seriously worry about with the Birds, but something tells me his contract will be far from reasonable and could create some unhappy people in the Eagles' locker room.

How will Sheldon Brown react if he's sees big money tossed at a guy like Peppers? Brown constantly does and says the right things, but he's left in the dark while a guy known for taking plays off is getting paid?

Or what about Trent Cole? He's not making nearly the money Peppers would be, but he's certainly worth about as much and has proven so.

That's really my only concern. Players try to keep themselves apart from what other players are making, but in today's NFL is tough not to take it personally when you're playing next to the guy and get to see all his new toys first-hand.

He most likely won't become an Eagle if he's got an outrageous asking price, but if he doesn't like what Chicago has to offer and the Patriots -- the only franchise more frugal than Philly -- are the only other team with a bid in place, the Birds might just get him at a discount.

Eagles Agree to Extension With Leonard Weaver

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:02:00 +0000

Weaver and McCoy will be one hell of a backfield.

According to multiple sources, the Eagles have agreed to a three-year deal with fullback Leonard Weaver. The talks were that Weaver would have a deal done before the end of Thursday night, then the talks stalled and he was slapped with a second-round tender.

But apparently the talks never stopped and the tender was only a precautionary measure because Weaver is now locked down in Philly until 2012 -- as soon as he actually signs the deal.

The deal is reportedly worth $11 million with $6.5 million guaranteed. As everyone expected, the deal would make Weaver the highest-paid fullback ever, beating out Jacksonville Jaguars' fullback Greg Jones from two seasons ago.

Everyone knew this was a deal that the Birds had to get done. Weaver was far too important to this offense in the latter portion of the year and he figures to only be more involved throughout 2010.

Weaver fits Reid's offense perfectly and should be able to really make a name for himself in Philly. Something tells me there will be a few more Pro Bowl nods and he'll show up on a couple more All-Pro teams, as well.

This was one of the best signings Reid ever made when he brought him in last year, and it only gets better by locking him down long-term.

It also says something about the Eagles front office that no one wants to admit -- they will pay a player when they feel like that player is deserving. They had absolutely no pressure on them to resign him as they could have simply let him play 2010 on his RFA tender, but instead they stepped up and gave him the money he deserves.

It's great to know Weaver is locked up, now they can move on to more pressing issues.

Eagles Officially Announce Tenders Applied to RFAs

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Sav Rocca is essentially an unrestricted free agent.

Apparently my assessment of the Eagles-Leonard Weaver contract talks was off. I assumed, quite confidently, that the Eagles would resign Weaver based on what Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, had been saying throughout the week.

However, it looks like he will now play the 2010 season on a second-round tender.

News of talks had gone quiet, so it was assumed that the two sides were close to getting a deal done, but it must have meant quite the opposite. The two sides could still come together in the next few hours, but it's not looking likely now that he's been tendered.

I guess I should learn to stick to my gut instinct.

I surfed Twitter earlier and was relaying the reports of who was being tendered and at what level, and it looks like a few were off.

There were some mixed reports about Ellis Hobbs specifically, with some saying he'd receive an original-round tender and others saying he'd receive a second-round tender.

Well, as it turns out, it was neither.

Hobbs received a whopping first-round tender from the Eagles, which shows that the Birds really want to keep Hobbs around and are making sure that he doesn't go anywhere. There may have been a team or two out there who would have taken a shot at Hobbs for a third-round pick, but no one will give up a first round pick for a guy who played in the dime last season.

Here's the full list of the restricted free agents and how they were tendered via PhiladelphiaEagles.com:

WR Jason Avant - Second-round level
FB Leonard Weaver - Second-round level
CB Ellis Hobbs - First-round level
LB Chris Gocong - Original-round level (third round)
LB Omar Gaither - Original-round level (fifth round)
OL Nick Cole - Second-round level
G Max Jean-Gilles - Original-round level (fourth round)
LB Akeem Jordan - Second-round level
P Sav Rocca - Right of First Refusal (no draft pick compensation)
TE Alex Smith - Did not receive tender, will become unrestricted free agent

I thought Sav Rocca would receive a second-round tender -- I would have thought he would have gotten an original-round level tender, but since he was an undrafted free agent, that wouldn't make much sense -- but apparently the Eagles aren't real worried about him leaving.

Now, all they are able to do is match any offer he receives. But if Rocca walks, they won't receive any compensation.

Eagles, Weaver Will Have Deal Done By Midnight

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:36:00 +0000

Weaver should have a long-term deal in a few hours.

The Eagles have applied tenders to most of their restricted free agents, but there is one glaring omission in that Leonard Weaver has yet to join the likes of Jason Avant, Akeem Jordan, and Nick Cole in the highly-tender club.

That could, however, be because the Eagles and Weaver are getting into the home stretch of their contract negotiations.

Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, told Geoff Mosher that the two sides were talking at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and that he felt a deal would be done by the end of the week. Guys like Weaver are in short supply and his closest comparison, Le'Ron McClain, just received a first-round tender from the Baltimore Ravens.

The first-round tender is usually only applied to guys who other teams might value as being worth giving up a second-round pick, so obviously the Ravens felt pressured into such a high tender.

I've said that I believe about $4 million per season is probably what Weaver and his agent are going after, but he could get closer to $3.5 million. Even the best fullback in the league isn't worth the big bucks that other guys are getting -- at least not in the eyes of the NFL's decision-makers.

The Birds will have to make him the highest paid fullback in the league, but coming off a season in which he was voted to the Pro Bowl and beat out McClain for the All-Pro team, he's earned his money.

He proved too vital a piece to let go, so I expect something to be done with Weaver in the next few hours. The two sides obviously want to get something done so they don't have to worry about it next year, but if they can't come to an agreement Weaver will get a first-round tender.

But when the Birds want to sign a guy, it usually gets done. Unless Weaver is asking for a ridiculous amount, he'll have a long-term deal in place by midnight tonight.

Eagles Starting to Address Restricted Free Agents

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Jason Avant is a guy the Eagles can't afford to lose.

Thanks to Twitter Nation, I've learned that the Eagles have tendered several of their expected 10 restricted free agents, eight of whom would have been unrestricted free agents in a capped season.

Multiple reports are flying in every few minutes, so it's a bit difficult to keep track of and there's really no way to check the reports since the Eagles have yet to report anything themselves.

The Eagles official website doesn't have a single thing about who has received what, probably because nothing has been made official yet, and most likely won't have a thing until sometime tonight.

Teams have until 11:59 to tender their restricted free agents, then free agency officially kicks off at midnight.

Akeem Jordan

Geoff Mosher is reporting that the Eagles will give Akeem Jordan a second-round tender.

Jordan is expected to compete with Will Witherspoon to be the team's starting WILL, but will most likely be a backup and special teams contributor. Either way, Jordan is a guy the Birds were not going to let get away.

Jordan will make $1.7 million this season on the tender.

Omar Gaither

Jeff McLane is reporting that Omar Gaither will receive a "low tender." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm guessing he'll receive an "original round drafted" tender. It just means that if a team wants to sign Gaither, they would have to fork over a fifth round pick to the Eagles in this year's draft.

Gaither is expected to be the primary backup in the middle if he sticks around. The Birds probably don't want to just let him walk, but would certainly take the fifth round pick for him if a team is interested.

Gaither will make $1.2 million if he does in fact receive the tender he's expected to receive.

Nick Cole

Nick Cole, according to Mosher, will receive a second-round tender. It's a bit higher than I expected, but the Eagles clearly like Cole and want to keep him for at least another season just in case Stacy Andrews is unable to go.

Cole will make $1.75 million in 2010 under this tender.

Jason Avant

Adam Caplan is reporting that the Eagles have offered a second-round tender to receiver Jason Avant. It's about what I personally expected the Eagles to do with Avant, although I think everyone would like to see him get an extension immediately.

It's absolutely imperative that the Birds keep Avant, but a first-round tender probably felt like too much. There is most likely not a team willing to give a second-round pick for Avant, so it's a safe bet.

Avant will make $1.75 million next season barring an extension agreement. There is, however, no signs that the Eagles are talking to Avant about an extension.

Chris Gocong

Chris Gocong will receive an "original round drafted" tender, according to Mosher. He actually says that Gocong will receive a third-round tender, but I'm not sure such a thing exists.

Gocong was, however, drafted in the third round so that would make sense.

Gocong will make $1.1 million if this is actually the tender that sticks.

Ellis Hobbs

There is a bit of mixed reporting going on involving Ellis Hobbs. Mosher is reporting that he's received a second-round tender, while Caplan is reporting that he's received an "original round drafted" tender.

There's a pretty decent difference in the money he'd make depending on the tender. He'll make $1.2 million under the "original round drafted" tender, and $1.85 under a second-round tender. Either way he won't be leaving Philadelphia based on the amount of compensation it would take, but it's going to make a difference for him based on salary.

And the others...

It's also believed that Max Jean-Gilles has received an "original round drafted" tender. Alex Smith will not be receiving a tender from the Eagles, so that just leaves Sav Rocca and Leonard Weaver as the only two who haven't been dealt with.

A deal could soon be coming for Weaver, and Rocca will probably receive a second-round tender.

Donovan McNabb Will Not Become a St. Louis Ram

2minutestomidnightgreen@gmail.com (Bob Cunningham) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:30:00 +0000

The talks of McNabb to St. Louis are 100 percent false.

All this talk of Donovan McNabb to St. Louis is ridiculous. ProFootballTalk.com seems to be the main culprit behind these rumors, and like most rumors they back it up with absolutely nothing.

No sources, no inside scoop, not even so much as a logical explanation as to why it would make sense. Not only that, but they're completely ignoring multiple reports that the Rams haven't even called the Eagles about any of their quarterbacks at this point.

The reality is that the move doesn't make sense for any of the three parties involved. McNabb is 33 years old and wants to win a ring -- he won't do that in St. Louis and everyone knows it. The Rams are in an obvious rebuilding mode, so why would they even want a quarterback McNabb's age?

And why would the Eagles move a quarterback of McNabb's caliber for the first pick in the second round? It's far below what McNabb is worth, and the Eagles would be foolish to even think about it.

The first pick in the second round (33rd overall) sounds like a good pick, but when you consider the fact that there's only about 20-25 players given a "first round grade" every year, anything past that essentially becomes a second round pick because the talent level no longer justifies the slotting of the pick.

If a team wants McNabb, it's going to have to not only be a first round pick, but a mid-level first round pick.

This is really just playing devil's advocate on my part since I don't believe that the Eagles are really looking to trade McNabb anyway, but they're certainly not going to trade him just for the sake of trading him.

If Big Red isn't blown off his chair by the offer, McNabb stays put.

The only teams McNabb would consider signing an extension with anyway are the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. Those are the only two teams with a realistic shot at the playoffs and the Super Bowl every season, and also need a quarterback.

Arizona would also make sense for McNabb because that's where he lives.

But the Eagles aren't ever going to allow that to happen. They're not going to give someone in their own conference the means to knock them off in the playoffs with their own quarterback.

So what we've learned (and really already knew but just like to ignore) is that McNabb will only sign with a good team, but the Eagles won't trade him to a good team. They want to trade him to a rebuilding team, but McNabb won't sign with a rebuilding team.

Or, in other words, McNabb isn't going anywhere.