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Okay...according to Peter King, the deadline to extend players and still count that against this seasons cap passed on Sunday.

While there has been so much going on this year I didn't even think of it, the Eagles haven't extended anyone.

Has that ever happened before?

Looking at the roster, the only guy who would have been obvious is LJ. Gaither would have been another guy who would fit the mold of someone they would extend.

However, the fact that they didn't extend a soul leads to a couple questions.

Is it just coincidence? Is it a sign they don't believe Reid will be back and don't want to extend any more players until they know if the new coach wants them/they fit the new scheme? Is it a sign they feel they've handed out too many extensions and it crossed the line from continuity to false sense of security?

It just seems strange, because I literally cannot remember the last time they didn't extend at least 1 player.

By the way, 21 of their 22 starters are currently under contract for 2008.

Thank God.

It means alot of these guys are soft bums and don't deserve a extension.

Who is on this team currently that is not under contract long term that you would want to lock up for a few more years?

What are you thinking the man upstairs for, f-d? That there ARE 21 of 22 starters on a mediocre 3-5 team contracted through next year...or that no one has been extended and change might be in the winds?

Who is on this team currently that is not under contract long term that you would want to lock up for a few more years?

I'm not suggesting guys should get extensions. I'm just pointing out this is the first time it hasn't happened.

Basically, I'm pointing it out and asking if anyone has input as to whether or not it means anything.

We've seen them extend players in the middle of bad seasons before, so I'm thinking it might go beyond that.

What are you thinking the man upstairs for, f-d? That there ARE 21 of 22 starters on a mediocre 3-5 team contracted through next year...or that no one has been extended and change might be in the winds?

Should have been in blue. Sarcasm...

(Whoa).


OK- Wanted to talk about this today as well, Im 1 step behind FD t'day.

Salute FD.


Anyway- I think it is a sure sign that the FO for the 1st time, has questions.

Questions surely about Reid returning.

But I think more than that- questions in the philosophy (not overall, just in the rush to reward upside to guys still young in thier deals).

I think the McCoy release also speaks to a little change in philosophy, tho the fact the Cheifs wanted to sign Jordan off their Practice Squad also paved the way for McCoys departure. I think they were content to house McCoy on the roster all yr if they could, to mask the mistake they made.

I think they're really going to assess where they're at this offseason. I think a step toward signiffigant change has been made and they're (FO) goin forward the rest of this season w. that in mind.

I can see Reid stayin on, a trade of 5 this offseason, a big "draft" (Im with Eckel here- hopefully not run by Heckert and Reid--- tho Heckert's rumored to be in line for a couple gigs elsewhere- most notably Miami; i say 'peace out my man!") and a 'new era' beginning.

No need to waste bucks on guys where they normally would- either cos you're unsure how a new coach may feel about em, how theyd fit a potential new scheme, or whethere the current talent evaluators really arent that good- and maybe these guys dont have as much upside as they felt some others in the past had.

I look at it as a good sign.

I think they're really going to assess where they're at this offseason. I think a step toward signiffigant change has been made and they're (FO) goin forward the rest of this season w. that in mind.

So does that mean perhaps Reid or whoever is runningthe draft this year might actually trade up and not draft a fastball or O-lineman, rather maybe a stud WR, RB, or dare I say it LB?!? the 3 positions Reid has never used a #1 for (I still refuse to admit they drafted Freddie)

I can see Reid stayin on, a trade of 5 this offseason, a big "draft" (Im with Eckel here- hopefully not run by Heckert and Reid--- tho Heckert's rumored to be in line for a couple gigs elsewhere- most notably Miami; i say 'peace out my man!") and a 'new era' beginning.

Combine that with Heckert's South Florida connections, and could it be just a sign of him moving on to different things? Hilarity would be off the scale if he went to the same team that picked up AJ Feeley for a 2nd, but whatever.

DGunn says that he wouldn't be surprised if Reid steps down after this year (and stepping down right now is out of the question), so could it be the first steps of a big housecleaning?

If so, then yay.

At least it would be fun again.

Sorry, but Eagle in DC and I were talkin yesterday and recallin how much fun it was when your team was just comin up, building towards something, adding a piece or 2...

This "They're contenders but not IMPROVING" crap of the last 2 seasons leaves me cold.

Im ready for rebuilding and I honestly believe it will be fun (more fun than this crap- the 'end is looming' crap- and the stagnation of roster development b/c the in house thought process is "we're there already, just go for depth".)

The most fun it's been (aside from 2004) was the year right after they lost the first NFC title game. Fun ride, came oh so close, and the only thing more fun was the anticipation. I think that's really what's missing from this team.

We knew (well, before the Bucs came in and ruined them) that the next year would be "Our Year" (if we look over the "we" part) and you knew the hunt would be fun. Until we first realized how Reid stacked up against better coaches.

Still, getting to that point was fun.

Remember how promising this team was after the loss to StLou in the NFCCG?

Seems like a million years ago.

Great minds, bass.

It's always fun to be the underdog.

Can you imagine what would have happened to this team if Westbrook didn't come along? We would probably be in our fourth year of hardcore grumbling by now.

Thought that, jer. And the only thing more depressing than that was thinking about Moats taking his place. Or even worse, trading him for Ashley Lelie!

I agree that the first NFCCG loss at St. Louis was an exciting time and I'm ready for that again.

The organization and players are just stale.

The don't have any good personalities on the team, they don't have many "great" players, and the entire organization is stale.

When I was thinking about the lack of extensions, one of my thoughts was complacency.

They've always been of the mind they believe continuity is the most important part of a team/organization. It's guided them through rough times and helped them become a successful organization, but they took it to extremes by locking guys up after 1 year in the league. I mean, Patterson had 4 years left on his deal that was less than 18 months old when they gave him a 7 year extension. Same deal for Reggie Brown.

Because they lock so many guys up so early, they save money down the road, but all they use the money down the road for is to lock up more young guys early.

Doesn't that breed complacency?

I mean, you never get that monster season our of a guy "playing for a contract" before FA.

It might even instill a sense among the players that you have to flash early to get your deal and can ride it out. once they get that money, what's their motivation? They know that no matter how average they are, they got paid. They know that no matter how well they play, there will be no opportunity to renegotiate.

Why would they go above and beyond anymore? What are they striving for?

You basically have to count on the players you lock up long term wanting to be individually great, being selfless, and not caring that no matter how much work they put in or great they become they will never get a raise.

What are the odds that's going to work out the majority of the time?

Oh, and in terms of "great failure" of the organization, their single greatest blunder was their view that the CBA wouldn't go through.

They laughed at the reckless spending of other teams for years and kept squirreling money away for the day the CBA wasn't extended, so they could swoop in and grab all the players who had to be cut.

When it all came down to it, the league didn't let that bloodbath happen and Danny Snyder laughed all the way home while the Eagles held their cocks.

All the players over the year they could have signed at BARGAIN prices were passed over because Salary cap was coming, but the new CBA raises the cap so considerably that all free agent contracts signed before that date were instant "deals" compared to current market rates.

Salary cap hell was a boogeyman that exiting for about 5 years and victimized only the dumbest of teams.

I'm sure Banner bit down extra hard on his cheeses sandwich when he heard about that.

Here's another q that came up - how likely is JJ to be around next year? Does he get the "retirement" treatment?

You have to hope that JJ and Reid are a package deal, which I think is how they'll be treated. Both stay or both go.

Don't root for JJ to leave, even if his schemes or leadership seem to have waned a lot in recent years. His departure would just buy Reid another two years of excuses if the defense gets better or worse.

If there's a new coach, i'd bet JJ is gone.

Why would they go above and beyond anymore? What are they striving for?

Ticket sales?

If Marty gets promo'd, JJ stays. Any other scenario, I think he'll "retire". Either that, or Reid will point out how improved the defense is, how the line has played pretty well (even though Stevie Wonder could see they got outclassed), and how they're just a hair away.

Too bad, though. Because (and this is getting back to FD's point) complacency is only good in the NFL for about 5-7 years, then the landscape changes. This team hasn't really shown it should change.

Look at Kolb. Regardless of whether or not he can play, he's going to enter the same philosophy that McNabb had - a couple of good receivers, no #1 to make everyone better, Westbrook (maybe) starting to decline and uncertainty on the OLine. Unless there's a serious change (and it has to come from the top), we're going to see more of the same - while the NFL and teams are changing and getting better, the Eagles will still continue the same path.

Maybe this is the darksider talking, but I don't see a return any time soon to the days of hope and the thrill of the hunt.

I'm done with Johnson, too.

The D is playing much, much better after an embarrassing decline the last few years, but the league has caught up with him.

His "exotic blitzes" haven't surprised anyone in years and his "bend but don't break" philosophy has always irritated me.

Reid may retire....I'm praying for it.

Hopefully, the Jets fire Mangini and the Birds pick him up. I'll take Cowher as well.

This team showed that it could change but got scared of it when TO let the world know that many good WRs are prima donnas. Jizus Kriest!

Heckert sucks balls and his last 4 drafts have borne that out. Reid is overmatched and clearly too inflexible. JJs peak was around '99-00. Part of his heavy blitz scheme was to mask a so-so defense's weaknesses. He employed it with the Colts of the late 90s. The problem is a serious one, he never got those devastating LBs that were needed and for many of his years here always had too undersized a defense that could nary generate a pass rush without the blitz or even with a single blitzer, necessitating a 2nd or even a 3rd blizter to get there.

Toooooo many errors to recount.

PS, I LOVED the Rams game. I really walked away not feeling deflated after the loss. It was a great year.

Fuck Mangenius and Cowher (who have a combined 1 win this year).

Give me Jason Garret.

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