Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This blog has moved


This blog is now located at http://bloggingwitheagles.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://bloggingwitheagles.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Monday, March 8, 2010

OL STACY ANDREWS PRIVATELY GETS $4.1 roster bonus, essentially guaranteeing himself a job in '10. The cost: $1.8M pay cut. Shawn Andrews might not be so lucky.

5-year pact for WR Jason Avant

Jason Avant turned down an offer to extend his contract during the 2009 season.
Then the uncapped 2010 league year began.
Instead of waiting around for offers, Avant agreed to terms on a 5-year contract with the Eagles that he will address at a news conference Monday afternoon. Clearly he wanted security, not the strange new world of uncapped free agency.
In the capped years of the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, Avant would have been able to shop his reliable receiving and route running skills as an unrestricted free agent. It would be the reward for four seasons of work.
In the uncapped NFL, it takes six years of service to be unrestricted. Avant and 210 others were caught.
Avant still could try to sell his skills. But the Eagles would have the right of first refusal. And if they declined to match the offer, they would receive at least a second round pick as compensation.
The 2006 fourth-round pick out of Michigan caught 41 passes for 587 yards(14.3 average) and three touchdowns last season and 103 grabs and eight TD's in his career.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Vick sticks around a little longer

The Eagles are picking up the $1.5 million option on QB Mike Vick before Tuesday although it still seems more of a formality to trade him.
Vick has spent a chunk of the offseason reiterating what he said last season - he wants to be a starter somewhere.
With head coach Andy Reid sticking by his man, veteran QB Donovan McNabb, that means Vick or Kolb won't be around unless the Eagles like to pay big money to part-time performers.

CB Jacskon to visit Birds

CB Marlin Jackson scheduled to make a stop in Philly Monday.
The first stop is Baltimore, which will thorougly investigate his knees.
Jackson tore the anterior cruciate ligament tendons in his right and left knees the past two seasons. Last year the former No. 1 pick of the Indianapolis Colts out of Michigan appeared in just four games, producing one interception.
The 6-0 Jackson, 26, also might be able to play safety.

Eagles hold right of first refusal on Babin

Defensive end Jason Babin, who had 2 1-2 sacks in 12 games with the Eagles last season, is visiting the Tennessee Titans Sunday and Monday.
Though Babin is listed as an unrestricted free agent the Eagles have the right of first refusal under terms of a contract restructuring last September. Basically Babin exhanged the ROFR for a spot on the 53-man roster. The Eagles would receive compensation if they decline to match offers for Babin.
The Titans have an opening for a pass rusher as Kyle Vanden Bosch exited for the Lions in free agency.

If you've seen one ACL rehab ...

Birds should be applauded for not wasting money on another ACL risk like Aaron Kampman. How did Stacy Andrews work out?
Kampman signed with a Jaguars team so desperate for help it took on the risk that is Kampman, who is coming off a torn ACL. You can take this to the bank - players becoming off ACL's need at least a full season before they're close to being what they were. Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb are perfect examples (yeah, it took McNabb two years to play small in big games).