The Eagles have been en fuego with their big moves this week.
Anyone seen the Philadelphia Eagles? Because this new front office is showcasing moves entirely unlike anything we have previously witnessed from the organization.
The big, smart moves just keep on coming. Less than 24 hours after the team acquired this year’s top free agent, Nnamdi Asomugha, the team inked former Packer defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins to the team. Jenkins signed a 5-year, $25 million deal with the Birds. Last season he had a career-high 7 sacks and 29 tackles.
Room for Three?
Meanwhile, the plot thickens with regard to the 3 Pro Bowl corners currently on the Eagles squad. While it was casually mentioned previously that Asante Samuel wasn’t at training camp due to “personal reasons,” his absence now looks plain suspicious. Was he in fact asked not to come to camp, as the team had an inkling that he wouldn’t be with the squad very long? We’ll have to wait and see, but there is nothing with this team that is coincidental.
DRC Speaks
While the whereabouts and true reasons for Samuel’s absence are in question, newly acquired corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had his first practice and press conference as an Eagle. Though there is a lot for DRC to learn, he enjoyed his time on the field with his new teammates:
“Different terminology, but it’s still football. It’s still covering guys and reading guys, so that part was real fun. It was fun to get out there and learn some of my teammates and learn some of the guys and how they act and the type of atmosphere it is out here. So it was a plus day for me.â€
On where he can be of value on the field, DRC is game for whatever assignment he is given.
Left side?
“Wherever I fit in, I’m going to get in.â€
As a nickel corner?
“That’d be alright with me, as long as I can get on the field and compete.â€
Welcome to Philly, Vince
I have been remiss in noting that the Eagles have signed former Tennessee Titan QB Vince Young to a one year deal. Young will serve as Mike Vick’s backup, and it’s a wise move for the team, as Vick’s style of play will likely require a backup to fill in for him at least a few times this season. » Continue reading “The Big Moves Keep Coming: Eagles Sign Cullen Jenkins”
In a day that has features developments occurring at breakneck speed, the 32 NFLPA player reps unanimously agreed to approve the CBA, as suggested by NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and that body’s executive committee.
The news conference that formally announced the end of the four-month long work stoppage showcased relief, emotion, apologies and congratulations.
“It’s been a long time coming. Football is back and that’s great news for everybody.”
Smith expressed pride at the solidary showed by the players of the league.
“…Our guys stood together when nobody thought we would. And football is back because of it.”
There will be little time for champagne and celebrations, as the work that couldn’t take place over the past 136 days must now occur in a few short weeks. As the dust settles from today’s developments, there are conflicting reports about specific timeframes when events will unfold. However, it is generally believed that trades can begin as soon as Tuesday and free agency will start at 6 pm on Friday.
There is still work to be done, however, as the NFLPA must recertify by Friday. The players must reach a majority agreement, with 50% plus one of the league’s 1900 players approving of the move.
The approved CBA is a 10-year deal with no opt-out clause, so there is no danger of a similar work stoppage happening for another decade.
The NFL league year will not begin until August 4.
Today could FINALLY mark the end of the NFL’s labor dispute. We’ve heard it before, but supposedly today is really, truly the day when we can get happy.
We’ll see.
Sources say that NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith will recommend that to that body’s executive committee and 32 player reps, including our very own Winston Justice, that they approve the proposed 10-year CBA to end the 130-day lockout.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter puts this recommendation into historical context, noting that
“no collective bargaining agreement has ever been turned down by the players when approved by leadership.”
Good news! Does that end everything?
After 130 days of bickering and foolishness, you know it can’t be quite THAT easy. After the executive committee meets, approval to recertify as a union must come from the NFL’s players. 50% plus 1 of the league’s 1900 players will need to approve the deal. That will take some time.
SportsCenter this morning laid out a potential timeline for the remainder of the week, provided that the NFLPA vote goes as anticipated today:
Wednesday – Some players can report to facilities; teams can discuss contracts with their own players
Friday – Union receives necessary votes and recertifies
Saturday – Free agency (i.e. sheer and utter madness) starts
Will this blasted thing ever end?
Is the lockout over yet? Sadly, the answer is no. But, but–the owners ratified a CBA–we’re all set, right?
If you haven’t been tied to your television and Twitter feed trying to figure what in God’s name is happening with the lockout, consider yourself lucky. To sum it all up for you, the lockout is still on. The player conference call that took place on Thursday evening did not yield a vote, as players had not been seen the version of the agreement approved by the owners.
Oh come now, you know there had to be some last minute games.
As it currently stands, players will reconvene on Monday to discuss how they will proceed. What has to happen before the lockout can end? The players would need to approve the same CBA approved by the owner, which may not happen as the owner-approved CBA included some additions not previously discussed or agreed to by the players. Additionally, the owners’ vote is contingent upon the NFLPA re-certifying as a union by Wednesday. So, clearly there are still some significant hurdles to face.
No predictions on end dates here, as it simply leads to increased frustration (how is that even possible?). Need I mention July 21st, anyone?
Kevin Kolb’s heart is in Arizona. Apparently.
Kevin Kolb’s name was all over headlines this week. Yes, it was still due in part to the unending speculation as to the Eagles plans for the backup QB when football resumes, but the buzz was caused to a greater extent by Kolb’s own comments in a radio interview. Kolb sounds like his bags are all but packed to go to Arizona to play for the Cardinals, and reports from ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio stated that Kolb is already on the hunt for a place there. » Continue reading “Eagles Briefs: Nope, Still No Football”
There are several Eagles-related tidbits to report over the past few days. I’m not sure where all of this news is coming from, but here’s hoping it continues. It’s delightful.
More Kevin Kolb trade rumors: There is rarely any new information of this front, but that doesn’t prevent my Google reader from being clogged with about 50 new articles on Kolb non-news each day. This time, Pro Football Zone cites statements by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Eagles can expect to get more than just a first round pick for the QB.
The Eagles are 1 of only 7 NFL teams that haven’t cut coaches’ salaries thus far during the lockout. In addition to Philadelphia, the Seahawks, Steelers, Raiders, Giants, Colts and Cowboys have also retained full salaries for their couching staffs.
Are NFL fans angry enough about the lockout? An excellent piece from Eagles Couch asks that very question. The media seems to think fans are too complacent, but what do they want to see?
More good work from members of the Eagles squad off the field: ProFootballTalk reports that DeSean Jackson’s work against bullying continues in California. Started by his touching visit to bullying victim Nadin Khoury on “The View,” Jackson spoke at schools and San Quentin prison to speak out against bullying.
It won’t help change anything in the NFL’s current situation, but the NBA and NHL players unions filed briefs with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals throwing their support behind the NFLPA. Both basketball and hockey have CBAs set to expire this year (next month for the NBA) so are carefully watching the cases relating to the NFL lockout.
Philly Sports Muse enlisted the expertise of NFL Draft guru Matt Bitonti of the website Draftdaddy.com to discuss some possible strategies the Philadelphia Eagles may employ in this year’s draft.I forwarded a few questions, and Matt got back to me with the following insights and perspectives.
I’m confident you’ll find his insights and perspectives as interesting as I did.
I’ve said enough. Now, let’s here what Matt has to say.
*****
At our website, Draft Daddy, we can’t play favorites. We report on all the NFL teams and most of the draft eligible prospects from college. But having lived in the Philadelphia area for over ten years (all during the Andy Reid era), the Eagles are a team I feel I can predict more confidently than others. They have certain trends under Andy Reid, for example they have never drafted a first round linebacker, no matter how dire the need. Recently I’ve been asked draft questions from Philadelphia Eagles fans, and here are my answers.
Q:Â Have the Philadelphia Eagles more heavily favored players on offense or defense in recent drafts?
A: Digging into the numbers, there’s usually balance in Andy Reid’s drafts, especially in the early years. He would often pick a player from one side of the ball and then alternate the next round with a player from the other side, all the way through the draft. However, in 2009 and 2010 his drafts have been more unbalanced; ’09 was an offense year with the first three selections from that side and ’10 was a defense year, with five defensive picks until the selection of Northwestern QB Mike Kafka in round four.
This year it would appear to be a defensive focus again. This is in part because recent offensive picks have panned out (DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy) and also due to the uncertainty at the coordinator spot. New DC Juan Castillo is a tremendous coach who will work hard to restore the defense to its previous Jim Johnson-led glory.
What is going on in Indianapolis? The Colts, the organization that since 1998 has been absolutely devoted to its future Hall of Fame quarterback, Peyton Manning, seems to be slowly setting the stage for life without Peyton.
It is the prudent thing to do. Manning, who turned 35 on March 24, is set to enter his 14th season in the National Football League. And the team and its star were unable to come to an agreement on what may be the star’s last contract with the team before the lockout. This must be incredibly unsettling to the Colts’ front office.
Hard as it is to believe, Peyton Manning is currently a player without a home. The Colts placed a franchise tag on the quarterback before the lockout, but that tag means nothing with the lack of a collective bargaining agreement in the NFL, as it is unknown what the franchise tag provisions will look like in a new CBA. Cue rumors of of the quarterback finding a home with other organizations, like the New York Jets. Rex and Peyton, working together and walking hand in hand? Not likely. » Continue reading “The Beginning of the End for Peyton Manning?”
With two days remaining until the latest deadline from the NFL and NFLPA, there seems to be some progress to report.
After meeting for 9 1/2 hours on Tuesday, the longest day thus far in mediation, there has been some movement on the part of the league to provide financial information. However, at this late stage in the process the owners continue to balk at the prospect of providing full disclosure into the finances of their organizations.
The player’s union is now working with an international investment firm to determine if the information given is enough to provide them with the information they are seeking.
NFLPA executive committee member and Colts center Jeff Saturday said that the firm would “help judge how helpful the material they were offering to give us.”
Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns, also of the NFLPA executive committee, summarized the position of the players and the biggest stumbling block in the negotiations best.
“What they’ve provided so far hasn’t been sufficient. Asking for almost a billion dollars back — that’s a huge, huge leap of faith. And that’s kind of what it’s been so far — them asking us to take a leap of faith. And we can’t do that without sound judgment.”
My refrain has been the same since the start of this process. If you are claiming, as the owners are, that you need a massive restructuring to an existing arrangement because you are losing money, that’s fine. You need to demonstrate how much you are losing, and from where. It’s really simple. The fact the NFL is willing to show some information, but not all, is just not going to cut it. In fact, it makes it seems that the owners have something to hide. » Continue reading “NFL Still Won’t Reveal Full Financial Picture”
In these times of labor uncertainty, Eagles fans can take comfort in this fact: Mike Vick will sign his franchise offer today.
Under the franchise tag, Vick will make a one year commitment to the Eagles and receive a $16 million salary. The tag does not preclude Vick and the Birds from working towards a longer term deal.
This is all somewhat theoretical as there is as of yet no CBA for the 2011 season onwards. The Player’s Association disputes the validity of the franchise tag if the CBA expires. Experts expect, however, for there the feature to be reworked into a new deal.
Mike Vick will wear this uniform for at least one more year.
In a long anticipated move, the Philadelphia Eagles announced today that they have placed the franchise tag on starting quarterback Mike Vick. They have also placed the transition tag on Pro Bowl kicker David Akers.
The franchise tag is an attempt to ensure that Vick is with the Eagles for at least another year. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Vick being tagged does not preclude the Eagles from speaking with the quarterback about a long term contract.
The franchise tag means that a player receives a one year contract based on the top five highest paid players currently in that position. In 2010, the value of the franchise tag for a quarterback was $16.405 million.
“the Eagles would have a chance to match any offer Akers were to receive elsewhere. The Eagles would also be required to tender the kicker a one-year contract offer for the average salary of the 10 highest paid kickers and punters in the league.”
Head coach Andy Reid said hanging on to Vick and Akers were important steps for the Eagles organization.
“Michael Vick and David Akers were two of our most valuable players last year. They were well deserving of their Pro Bowl berths and we’re happy to take this step to ensure that they’ll be back in Philadelphia next season.”
Schefter states that Vick, like other players who receive the franchise tag in the next nine days, will not sign paperwork to process the designation, as the validity of the tag is under dispute by the NFLPA if a CBA is not reached on March 3 .
Will this blasted thing ever end?
With two days remaining until the latest deadline from the NFL and NFLPA, there seems to be some progress to report.
In these times of labor 
