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Good move...lets hope this doesn't end up like every other Franchise tagged Iggle

Link?

Considering how all the others have panned out (like you pointed out), I see nothing good coming from this, especially since he favors the front office as much as a proctologist named "Dr. Hook".

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=15068

I don't know... Not sure I like this move... Dude been nurs'n a hammy or groin most of the year.... I think Celek has shown he has the capability of stepping up...

All things considered, the current FA group of TE's out there, this is a good move in that he's the best available when healthy, his injuries have humbled him and his asking price you'd have to figure and instead of bitchin about the franchise tag holdin him back, now he's guaranteed more money then he'd ever be offered on the FA Mkt due to his injury, and he and his agent know it.

Not to mention, this is the 1st arrow in the quiver for McNabb.
He specifically asked that they keep LJ, just last wk. and they did it.

The pacification begins.

Not to mention, when healthy and not fumbling, he is good and McNabb does love lookin for him. With Celek, and a healthy LJ, you have two good TE's for the WCO and you needn't address it durin the top half of the draft.

I wouldn't franchise that kid. He's good ... but to be paid like one of the top 5 tight ends in the NFL for only playing 9 games a year?

Thought this would be a move that says they're not ready to have a tandem of Schoboat and Celek taking over.

Either wasy, unless he's pissed at the FO, signing the offer sheet would be a smart move, since he probably won't get that kind of money on the open market (unless someone's really desperate), and the inclusion of giving the Birds 2 1st round picks will scare suitors away.

Agreed he's not worth it, but the Eagles feel like they have no alternative (especially with the way they draft).

Guys-

When healthy he was definately a good TE, not as great as he always felt, but the fact that McNabb named the cat as a weapon he wanted back, its smart if they're lookin to show the team they're intent to 'go for it' in 2008, with McNabb, and they should be seeing what NY pulled off.

4.5 is an OK number considering the return they stand to get if he returns to 100% health. Honestly I feel that way and Ive been a harsh critic of LJ before, mainly cos of his inflated self worth and selfish attitude I thought he's exhibited in the past, with the media etc in his contract year.

Fumbles or not, the guy is good in the red zone and McNabb loves him.
Take that, and think about how many good to great TE's there are out there. Not a lot, surely none out there that woulda been available in F.A. (Shelve the Dallas Clark talk, they'd not let him walk and im not sure he's better or just the beneficiary of the players around him- and he gets hurt way to easy for my liking)

Not a big fan of L.J. ... but if he can have his ass on the field for most of the season, not fumble and score more than 5 touchesdown in a single season like a top 5 TE, then I guess I can't complain.

seth,
I couldnt agree more. When you look at the alternative (nobody is better on the FA market and they have more pressing needs to draft a TE on the first day), it is a no brainer.

Even if he becomes a backup to Celek (unlikely), this is a good move. Talent doesn't come cheap, and 4.5 mil with no signing bonus or performance incentives for a starting quality TE is a good deal.
now, if they could only get Jared Allen. . .

Im fine with targetting a DE in the 1st round (That or a CB) and using the offseason veteran move in a deal for a playmaking wr.

i agree with seth,

the available FA talent at TE is mediocre at best. LJ may be the best anyway and they get him at a "reasonable" dollar value, only have to committ one year, and gives them another year to find out more about celek, and use this yr to fix some other problems

from LJ's view. his FA value is probably weak at best, so he gets paid for a yr as a top 5 TE, and it allows him to, in his mind, have a career year playing for that LTC in '09 with whoever.

remember the career year aaron rowand had this past yr. the fact that it was a contract yr was no conincedence.

Not a big fan of L.J. ... but if he can have his ass on the field for most of the season, not fumble and score more than 5 touchesdown in a single season like a top 5 TE, then I guess I can't complain.

Lots of ifs there. I don't know about the franchise tag. I think it would have been reasonable to resign him at a reasonable price to a 3 year contract instead. He isn't worth the money he'd get paid and it would buy the FO some time to get his replacement in. They can't rely on Noshow and Celery alone.

Jules, he didn't want to come back here, which made using the franchise tag necessary. Is there another team that would be willing to pay him top 5 money?

Bass-

I disagree- he didnt think theyd HAVE HIM BACK HERE- he always wanted to play here. And again, im not a "superfan" of his or anything- but the fact is he was whining about gettin a contract from this team, a long term one, and citing how he and 5 have a great thing goin, for well over 16 months now.
As the injuries mounted since camp, he felt less and less like they'd pay him even the slightest bit of attention, as did plenty of us-myself included.

He seemed shocked to get this offer, and I think as much as he's capable of, he is grateful for it, and the chance to go out and have that 'contract year' again, in green. As much as Andy's offense is based on the TE, if LJ has a great season, healthy etc, I honestly think he'll get the deal he seeks outta this F.O.

Having two excellent TEs on some teams is a luxury they cant afford. In Andy's scheme, and especially in light of the fact that at present no game breaking WR hangs his helmet in the Novacare Complex, 2 exceptional pass catching TE's is almost a must.

Seth are you saying that LJ and Celek are two exceptional pass-catching TEs?

Im saying I like what I see in Celek to date, and yes, he does have very good hands- you see otherwise?

As for LJ- many's the time Ive seen him make a nice catch (God knows how many balls land right in the breadbasket of any of McNabbs intended targets?) and I think its well established that prior to injury, he was considered to be a genuine target of many clubs in this F.A. period. His strength has always been his hands and the matchup issues he presents for LBs in coverage.

This isnt news to you.

His faults were always his blocking (which i thought improved in 2006) and his FUMBLING THE EFFIN BALL.
You have to make the catch in order to fumble.

Are you saying LJ doesnt have excellent hands?

Of the TE's out there- he is absolutely in the top 10 when healthy, and maybe top 6 in ability with the ball, running.

He does have a nice combo of size / speed.

Come on.

I honestly do not think LJ has "exceptional" hands and it's too early to tell with Celek.

In the "exceptional" category I'd put Gates and Witten and Gonzalez but LJ is only slightly above average. I don't know what he's done in his career here to be labeled exceptional. For as many great catches as you seem to recall I can also remember a lot of easy drops.

And he doesn't fumble all that much.

He's cleaned up his fumbling, but everytime he catches the ball he holds it almost like a loaf of bread, so someone could make him cough it up.

Top 10?

Witten
Gonzales
Gates
Shockey
Davis
KW2
Clark (though it's still unknown how good he really is)
Crumpler
Heap

Can't really think of anyone else. Guess that works, but I wouldn't call him "great" or anything.

And Seth, thought the opposite of what you said was true about him wanting to be here, so I stand corrected. But what teams were pining for him prior to last season?

LJ doesn't actually fumble. He just runs like kid who just missed the short bus and he holds the ball way out in front of him when he runs so it always LOOKS like he's going to fumble. He's a very good tight end, but he's one of the worst on the team with being injured. He's a lot like Shockey in that respect, except he's not as good.

I wouldn't fault him for his pass blocking. He's gotten better at that.

The fact is not keeping LJ would mean an almost automatic downgrade at TE. Where else could they use the franchise tag? I'm certainly OK with the move.

LJ's lost 2 fumbles in 5 years and missed only 15 games since his rookie year (which doesn't count since rookies never start in Philly). The bulk of the games he's missed recently were last year, and he seemed to perpetually be Questionable or Probable for the past few years.

The franchising is starting to look less unreasonable. I wouldn't put him top 5, though.

Bass, I have real issues with your top 10.

Not only is it in need of some modern day tweakage, but I would ask that for the purposes of this discussion, since it's about 2008 and possibly beyond (it is about Philly resigning LJ under some capacity- the tag for now at least) lets put it in the context of GOING FORWARD in their careers.

You cite the following as your top 10:

Witten
Gonzales
Gates
Shockey
Davis
KW2
Clark (though it's still unknown how good he really is)
Crumpler
Heap

I will say in roughly a best to worst order:

Gates ("down year" for him, but still a freak physically who is without question best TE in the game.)

KW2 (After a real rough start, Im ready to annoint this kid the 2nd best in the game. He truly presents matchup issues for D's unlike all but the guy ahead of him.)

Witten (I realize Im biased as Ive always felt he was a great prospect comin out and wanted the Birds to get him- but he can exploit the middle of the field with the best of em, the best is yet to come with him. His QB LOVES him and for a TE's numbers thats almost as vital as the players skills themselves.)

Tony G (The old guy can still be THE passing option on a team with little else for defenders to fear, and STILL produce).

Heap (If not for the CONSTANT injuries I'd place him higher than Tony G at this point).

LJ Smith (I guess he DOESNT fumble as much as I thought. Kudos Uber.)

Cooley (Underused. Could be higher if used properly).

Dallas Clark (Agree, unsure how good he is, but he certainly makes a top 10 list.)

Shockey (how many MORE injuries can this guy get? Where are the TDs after the rookie season? Poor attitude and red zone stats have me thinkin this cat's a) done in NY and b) much overrated)

Randy McMichael- (Moving to the Rams PERHAPS saw him playing with worse personel in 2007 at the QB position than his former team, the Fish, McMicheal is STILL a tough cover for any LB and has proven time and again that his hands are beyond solid. An off year in St. Louis but who WOULDNT have one the way that Line played and the turnstyle at QB? I expect better numbers and continued "Top 10" type production outta him in 08 and beyond.)


Honorable Mention:
Ben Watson- ( I would love to place him in the top 10, but since he hasnt put up actual #s, I cant. He would be a STUD in the top three if he played ANYWHERE but N.E. He needs a change of scenery bad.)

Missing:

Crumpler- best days behind him, he's considerably slower and rounder than he once was- and has nobody to throw the ball to him. Meh.

Vernon Davis- just cos he has a great skill set, impressed in college as a man amongst boys etc- the guy's done squat at the pro level in 2 yrs. Granted, 1 was lost to injury, but Ive held other TE's in this post accountable for lost time so same applies here. Some may be beyond his control (poor offensive personel, horrible playcalling- but you cant put this cat in the top 10).

Yipes- never corrected the Shockey post (I type long ones out in OUTLOOK so as not to have a browser up too long)---

"Where are the TDs following the rookie season" and even that doesnt say what I wanted to.

I wanted to make mention that while he had heaps of yds in the rookie year, i knew he had only 2 TDs. I drafted him in a couple leagues the next yr and was rewarded with???? 2 TDs.

He finally totaled a decent amount (tho not stellar) in the "Junior Season".

For his career tho, as great as he is supposedly, I think he barely averages over 4 TDs a yr.

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