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Originally Posted by AlphaBean
I forgot about Michael Lewis. :dunno: I thought they were without a SS... and Dawkins has proven that he's becoming injury-prone. Wasn't he out like three times last season? Best when he's healthy, yes, but what does that mean?
Corners, that remains to be seen. It was a for-instance, but what happens if it's not good enough? What used to be the Eagles' greatest place of depth... no longer is... they are being spread thin, and that's a hard place to be. A very fragile ecosystem, if you will.
It can go one of two ways, and only two: This experiment will be a success, and the Eagles will cross the threshold, or it will fail and they won't. And what I'm saying is: If it doesn't work, they will work harder to try next year and overpay more talent to go there.
As for the receivers, that's an excuse. What did I say? The Patriots lack talent in the WR department, and the Ravens of 99 did too. You don't need your WRs to go over the middle if you play the field right. If you KEEP TRYING TO FORCE IT OVER THE MIDDLE with undersized receivers, whose fault is it?
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Of course, I have to come here and STRIAGHTEN ALL OF YOU OUT (EXCEPT downsider) & (especially you, AlphaBean).
1) This year was Brian Dawkins' FIRST injury. He has never missed as much time as he did this past season AND the DEFENSE held it together with a 9 GAME WINNING STREAK. Damn, the Eagles safeties are amazing. B-Dawk and Mike Lewis are one of the Top 3 if not the BEST Pair of Safeties in the Game. Every team in the NFL wishes they had Dawkins and Lewis. Oh and by the way, before last season.... Dawkins signed a 7-Year Extension... so he is NOT going anywhere.
2) The Eagles DO NOT overpay for players. if anyone on this message board knows anything about NFL Salaries, they would know that NFL Contracts ARE NOT GUARANTEEDED. Jevon Kearse's deal was 8 Years for 66 Mil and 16 Mil signing bonus. Jevon is guaranteeded the signing bonus but none of his salary. If he was cut today we would get nothing from the $66 Million. PLUS all the High Base Salaries are in the later years. So he will play about 5-6 years with us (win a couple of Lombardi's) and we'll cut him.
Doesn't anyone remember that the Eagles have gotten to 3 NFC Championship Games (yes, I know, we lost them... ok... I realize that... move on... BUT) we got to 3 NFC Title games WITH JAMES THRASH AND TODD PINKSTON AS OUR WRs! Now I like Pinkston, he has shown good play in the past and now with TO, Pink should step up his game. But now the Birds have TERRELL OWENS! Terrell Owens, the same guy who has more TDs than any other WR in the NFL in the past 4 or 5 seasons (I forget which, you all know the stat.) Why wouldn't that give the Eagles a HUGE EDGE in the NFC. If they went to the NFC title game with Thrash and Pinkston... they will be a million times better with Owens and Pinkston.
The Eagles are not done with the free agents or adding depth to the team. Of course the draft hasn't happened yet but also... the Eagles are looking for a veteran Cornerback. I don't know who it will be, there is a chance of Bobby Taylor returning (which I would like, being that he knows the system), he could sign a 1 year deal being that too was injured last season. They are extremely high on Lito and Sheldon and they should have support with a VASTLY IMPROVED DEFENSIVE LINE... which was 1) DESTROYED BY INJURIES LAST YEAR (Grasmanis- a great roleplayer, run-stuffer & Hollis Thomas - former starter, run-stuffer, fan favorite) Don't forget Jerome McDougle, Jamal Green (both rookie DEs from Miami). Now we have JEVON KEARSE who only missed 2 games last season, Jerome McDougle set to start on the other side and now with N.D. Kalu back to being a situation pass-rusher (which will keep him healthier, especially on special teams... remember NFC Title Game 1 vs the Rams, he almost blocked that kick with only minutes to go). Plus Kalu is practicing on being a back-up Linebacker.
So with the vastly improved line getting much needed pressure on the QB, the pressure on the QB will help Lito and Sheldon with their assignments.
AS for the 1999 Ravens and the 2003 Patriots.... their defenses were healthy and dominate during their runs as World Champions. The 2003 Eagles' defense was decimated with injures as I stated above. Plus the 03 Pats had a great passing attack, come on... don't you know anything?
Should I mention that Troy Vincent missed the last 3 regular season games and was hurt again during the playoffs (just like the 2001 Season, TV's hip was injured really bad in the NFC Title game against the Rams.
AND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kearse and TO being added (along with Dhani Jones) is NOT an EXPERIMENT, they are on the team together for a minimum of 4 years. This is a great team. Plus the Eagles know how much they can spend for a player, they manage the cap beautifully.
BY THE WAY..... someone said that TO is terrible because only Bal and Phi were going after him.... I GOT NEWS FOR YA! ONLY BALTIMORE AND PHILADELPHIA HAD THE CAP SPACE TO ADD HIM TO THEIR ROSTER BECAUSE BAL AND PHI KNOW HOW TO MANAGE A CAP.
Eagles will be incredible this year. All they need is more depth (which they will get thru the draft) at LB, CB and a #3 QB and #3 RB.