Promote your business or product on 700level.com. For
more information about advertising with us CLICK HERE!

Well, TC starts today. Rookies and selected veterans report this evening (McNabb among the slected vets, which is a little weird).

The only guy who is a question mark right now is Laws, but they are still expecting to get him signed and in camp on this this evening.

The big storylines in camp will likely be:

- McNabb and his health
- Laws (if he doesn't get the deal done)
- Westbrook under new management
- Lito under Rosenwhore
- Can Dawkins return to form?
- Lito vs. Sheldon for the starting spot opposite Samuel (should Lito show up)
- Daily Desean Jackson updates/intrigue


The other big storyline, IMO, is what this team will look like in 2009. Runyan, Tra, Dawk, and LJ are all in the final years of their respective deals and none has a surefire replacement in training on the roster. McNabb is on thin ice. I have to believe Reid might be on his thinnest ice as an employee of the Birds.

I think they'll try to work out extensions with some of those guys, but it's realistic (perhaps probable) that the Eagles could go into 2009 with a new head coach, 4 new starters on offense (including the QB, both tackles, and the TE), and no Dawk on D if things don't go well this year.

So, for all intents and pruposes, this could be the last year of their true "window" of opportunity with the original core.

The biggest need, of course, is health. At any rate, things kick off this evening.

Even if the ice Reid sits on is thin, it would take a couple years of bad football for him to leave. The only way FB leaves is if he says he's had enough - and even then, expect either Banner/Lurie to change his mind, or he assumes GM duties only (which I doubt will happen).

Was listening to Captain Obvious (sans Micah) call in on the radio last night, and he was talking about that he thinks Westbrook would have a better chance holding out this year than in years past, and that he's in a better position of power/desperation (due to him turning 30 soon, and this will most likely be his last chance at a new/restructured deal). That situation is easily more volatile than watching Lito.

Do agree with you f-d - we probably won't recognize the team next year, and maybe a couple people don't finish this year.

Yeah, I'm not saying Reid's automatically out the door with a bad year or anything like that, but he's currently on a streak of 3 straight underperforming seasons. They made the playoff run in 2006, but that was fluky more than a great year.

If they lose this year, McNabb gets the ax. If they lose the next season, it mith be Reid.

The other option, of course, is they slowly force him out as they're doing with Heckert. It all happened so slowly, but it feels like Banner has assumed the position in the franchise that Reid once held...the "untouchable" in the front office who has the absolute last word on matters.


This is unrelated, but an intersting article from Les Bowen. Apparently, Westbrook wants a new deal with $30 million guaranteed and still hasn't signed with a new agent (speculation being he can't find one who things his demands are realistic).

If he was an "upgraded" deal that essentially gives him and extra year or two and adds enough money to put him on par with the great RBs in the game, I THINK he has a chance of getting it. If he honestly has his heart set on a brand new deal with tens of millions of dollars in new guaranteed money...could get ugly.


Yo, click it

If they lose this year, McNabb gets the ax. If they lose the next season, it mith be Reid.

McNabb is gone this year, win or not. In fact, it's not hard to figure that certain instances will be handled in a way to grease the skids of his eventual departure. Banner/Lurie look at Reid and point him out as the resurrection of this franchise, how they make millions off of him, etc. It's just hard to think of him as not being part of the team. Talon's probably right in that it might take his health for him to finally step down, and we haven't heard anything since he was promoting Nutri-System, what? Four, five years ago?

He's not going to get LaDay money. Just not. But his argument is sound - he is the most important player on this offense, and they look quite ordinary without him.

Kolb is going to be an interesting storyline - we all expect McNabb to get hurt and miss time, so for better or for worse, we'll see how good the kid is.

The other thing to look out for is the offensive line. Runyan and Thomas are probably both on their way out, Max-Jean Fill-it probably won't be able to get into a 3-point stance without a pie on the ground, and Justice might be the only person in the world who gets smacked down by Hugh Douglas. I'm interested in how this unit is going to look next year.

Westbrook's not getting LaDay money, I mean.

All the soap opera stuff is quite appealing to talk about, but I would rather not dwell on it because I still have TO nightmares.

I basically have 2 things I am looking at with Training Camp (one of them has been said):

1) How are the young linebackers coming together?
2) Is Dawk back from his first (only?) bad season?

If both of those questions have positive answers going into the season then I believe that we could very well have a number 1 defense on our hands (as long as the Lito soap opera doesn't turn sour).

With a number 1 defense and improved (fingers crossed) special teams, McNabb will have a ton of pressure lifted off of him and this team can set themselves up for a run at the playoffs in the manner that they did the first 4 times they went to the playoffs with McNabb.

Here's more on Westbrook (from Brookover). I think it speaks to his expectations and, as usual, Westbrook just isn't realistic when it comes to money. His one flaw is he just doesn't understand the economics of the game.

Based on that article, you can assume (IMO) the Eagles offered him an additional $15 million in guaranteed money for an extension and he's looking for something closer to $30M, at 29 years old.

"If LaDainian [Tomlinson] got paid $25 million guaranteed in 2003 and now it's 2008, the next person needs to be paid $30 million guaranteed," Westbrook said. "It works its way up. You can't sit here and say, 'I'm as good as LaDainian right now, and I'm getting paid five years after him. . . . So I'll take $15 million.' That doesn't make any sense."



linc

With a number 1 defense and improved (fingers crossed) special teams, McNabb will have a ton of pressure lifted off of him and this team can set themselves up for a run at the playoffs in the manner that they did the first 4 times they went to the playoffs with McNabb.

I think the D is key, as well. The linebackers will be fine, IMO, and just a matter of how good they are. Are they going to be a "solid" group or a playmaking group?

I think the defense has a chance to be special and the offense does not, so if the Eagles have Super Bowl dreams this year it will come down to the Defense becoming an elite, shut everyone down squad.

For that to happen, Dawk needs to return to form, Gocong needs to provide a spark off the edge, Bradley has to make players, Bunkley has to improve as a pass rusher, and the DEs need to improve as a group. Last year, quite frankly, everyone not named Trent Cole had a tough time getting to the QB. 37 sacks for this defense isn't even close to enough and that number was elevated because of early contributions from Kearse (4) and Thomas (5) before they fell off a cliff. The lack of pressure, of course, led to fewer turnovers and the Eagles were among the 2 or 3 worst teams in the league taking the ball away.

In 8 of their games last year, they record zero or 1 sack. That'll kill a defense like this...they have to get pressure.

I agree completely. Again, this is probably blind hope, but I am thinking that with 3 really good d-backs and a swarming, fast LB corp that they will be able to create many more turnovers. They were still a top 10 defense last year without a ton of sacks and turnovers. I think this year is going to be different with both.

Sacks are somewhat misleading as to the ranking of a top defense. For this defense, pressure on the QB makes everything else work, and that All-Pro secondary won't mean anything if the QB is sipping tea while in the pocket.

The LBs as a unit will be the best this team has seen in FB's tenure here.

I'm VERY concerned about Dawk - he's been able to handle things, and he's always played at a high level, but can he do it for one more year? It's not like he's been Mr. Iron Man, either.

Was thinking about this over the weekend:

What are the odds Dawkins gets cut like Trotter last year? It's a crowded defensive backfield.

I'm HOPEFUL. The year or two that had Trot and Emmons together was a good season, but neither of those guys is a big playmaker (sacks/picks). I think Gocong and Bradley have a chance (a CHANCE) to make a lot of plays. Gaither just seems like a solid all-around player without many big plays in him.

What are the odds Dawkins gets cut like Trotter last year? It's a crowded defensive backfield.

Extremely small, but anything is possible. With Trot, they had a guy in house they thought could step in right away. With Dawk, his immediate backup is Considine.

The "hopeful" response was for Bass, regarding the Eagles linebackers.

Dawkins can still play, and he's huge for the lockeroom. Figured the writing was on the wall for Trot last year (and not just the funny "hit a hole harder" comments).

Look back on the tickets/marketing materials from early last year...no Trot (I noticed after he was cut, but I already had my ticket package). Now go to philadelphiaeagles.com and the splash page is an awesome shot of Dawk. He's even in the pocket schedule that I am looking at right now. Dawk is going nowhere.

Cutting Dawk would be the ultimate PR nightmare.

The Eagles may want to sit Dawkins down and have a "don't be Brett Farve" talk with him. A realistic one. Tell him that he's welcome on the team as long as he wants to play and he's always going to get snaps, but the reality is that he might not get all of them for the rest of his career. Tell him that they want him to retire as an Eagle and they want to work with him to make sure that he can do that and it's done in a way that maximizes the team's chance of winning from year to year, and that's going to include mentoring his eventual replacement.

He stays as long as he wants to stay, although it's about time to start looking for a FS early in the draft. They've built their defense around the guy and their choices are to rebuild their defense when he leaves or try to find someone that can fill some of the hole that he leaves when he retires.

Laws has apparently been inked to a contract, but will still miss the first several days of TC (the rookies-only and selected veterans part) with a foot injury suffered "while preparing for camp."

Hmmm.

Dawkins can still play, and he's huge for the lockeroom.

I think this regime has already proven that lockeroom chemistry is about as valuable as "other teams' garbage."

If they were to cut Dawkins, I think it might be their most brazen act to date. Even if the cut were justified because of health concerns, the fallout would be colossal and catastrophic.

Everyone on the season ticket waiting list would move up at least 3 more slots.

- As mentioned above, Laws is in and not participatign due to a foot injury (not much word on it yet).

- Bryan Smith is not participating due to ahamstring injury sufferred yesterday. He was supposed to get an MRI last night.

- Reid instituted a "30+" plan for the team this year where the players 30 and older will essentially get every 3rd day off. I think that's a pretty good thing to do because you get to rest the older guys, make them happy, and get a look at younger guys with the first team.

- D-Gunn "had learned" last night that our speculation on Westbrook appears to be fairly accurate. The Eagles went to him and offerred him new money above the bonus he received in his last contract. His last bonus was $10M, so i'm guessing it's between $10M and $15M. The catch is they wanted to just hand him the new money as part of his existing contract. Westbrook wants more money ($30 million, from his own mouth) and an extension. I have a feeling that report isn't entirely accurate, though. I can't believe the Eagles wouldn't ant to add at least a year or 2 to his deal.

- Reid said he expects Lito and Westbrook to be in camp based on what he knows.

Camp Updates:

- Desean Jackson apparently played very well, but dropped his first pass in 7 on 7 drills. SUCKS.

- Demps worked at both CB and safety in practice today.

F-d, though you say that in jest about DeSean, I am certain there was more than one iggles fan saying that today when the ball was dropped.

defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said linebackers Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither will be designated to wear the NFL's new defensive helmet headsets, to communicate with the sidelines. That's because at least one or the other should be on the field at all times, Johnson figures, despite situational substitutions.

Johnson said he anticipates playing nickel 50 to 60 percent of the time, which might ease the crowded cornerback situation, where Asante Samuel, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown all are accustomed to starting

Some stuff from day 1-

Apparently they have Quinten Demps lining up at CB as well as Safety- and JJ said that he wants Demps to at least know both safety positions inside and out.

Considine has teh team made, and will get a lot of action, again, per JJ.

Mcnabb no soreness in shoulder apparently- throwin the ball well.

Andy Studebaker working on his long snapping...


Let the "Spuds raving about a nobody" stuff begin officially with the Gasperson Gushing.
He got several mentions todayin the official Practice Blog.

1  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13