Boldin Feels Much Better, Will Play Sunday

Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin practiced Wednesday, and says he will play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

This doesn’t bode well for the Eagle secondary as they will already have their hands full trying to contain Larry Fitzgerald.   I expect to see Asante Samuel man up on Larry Fitzgerald and Sheldon Brown to take on Quan.  Look for B Dawk and the Q’s, Mikell and Demps, to be helping out all day on this explosive wide receiving corps.

As my buddy Matt said yesterday on the email chain, ‘I’m more excited for Sunday, then any Christmas as a kid.”

Sunday can’t come soon enough.

Bring BOLDIN Aboard!

In a Pacman Jones-like turn of events, Arizona Cardinals’ star wide receiver Anquan ‘the Phenomenon’ Boldin is reportedly seeking a trade from the team after contract negotiations have seemed to sour.

Boldin’s agent Drew Rosenhaus (yes, the infamous Drew Rosenhaus) had already asked for a new contract shortly after fellow wide out Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million deal last spring.  By the time training camp opened, however, Boldin still had no contract and blamed the Cardinal brass for not making good on promises of restructuring a contract extension he signed three years ago.

Under his current contract, Boldin is making $4 million a year, while Fitzgerald is making $10 million (BALLER).   Boldin was reportedly seeking a contract equal to or more than that of Fitzgerald’s.

Boldin and Rosenhaus have made it clear that he no longer wants a new contract.  He wants to leave the team.

Last time I checked we have a plethora of cornerbacks and Arizona could use a few good ones.  Here is our golden opportunity to package Lito and a pick for a TOP NOTCH WIDEOUT.  Boldin would be a FORCE to be reckoned with in our offense and with McNabb throwing bullets to him.  Donovan with Boldin and Kevin Curtis lined up wide.  B West behind him and Reggie Brown and LJ Smith in the slots.  I LIKE IT, A LOT!

BRING BOLDIN ABOARD!  THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL STARTS HERE.

Larry Fitzgerald: Officially OFF the Market

According to Larry Fitzgerald’s own website, Larry-Fitzgerald.com, the Arizona Cardinals have reached an agreement with their All-Pro wide receiver, pending NFL approval. The 24 year old , who helped the Cardinals to a 8-8 record in 2007 will remain a Cardinal after signing a four-year contract extention worth $40 million.

“I’m very happy with this, my intent was to stay with the Cardinals. I’m grateful that we were able to get this done,” said Fitzgerald, who led the NFC in 2007 with 100 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Fitzgerald will get $33 million over the next three years $30-million is guaranteed.

TKO’d

So Takeo Spikes gets cut, clearing $5 million in cap room. Is the other shoe about to drop?

My immediate reaction to the Eagles cutting Takeo Spikes is that it is a very sound move.  He was not much better then the young guys and it freed up cap space. He made a lot of nice goaline plays last year, but like the rest of the defense he could not catch an INT. Spikes injury history and age had a lot to do with it, but I believe this move more then anything shows that the coaches are very impressed with their young group of linebackers. I believe this means that Double J’s either likes Stew Bradley at MLB, Gaither at the WILL, and GoCong; providing the defense with even enough versatility to go 3-4 (would look like this).

• D – Line : Howard, Bunkley, Patterson, Cole, Abiamiri (3 of these 4, great combos in different situations)
• LB Corps : Gaither, Bradley, Gocong, Clemmons

OR

They like a MLB in the draft. Most likely Dan Connor because he is a local guy and a F-in stud.

The fact that Eagle brass also freed up $5 million in cap space could be the hint that another move is on the horizon ….. ahhhem Larry

Don’t, Don’t, Don’t, Don’t Believe the Hype

Source: Update on Wide Receiver Hunt

March 5, 2008

Jel Kiper here to report some info that I found this morning.

A source close to the situation, the same person that broke the Asante Samuel signing to us, has confirmed that the Eagles will seek Roy Williams or Chad Johnson in a trade. The source told us to expect the Eagles to bring in a big name wide receiver this offseason. Asante Samuel was number one on the list and a big name receiver was a close number two. The Eagles are currently sitting tight awaiting to hear about the Larry Fitzgerald negotiations, but they will also seek Roy Williams or Chad Johnson if the Fitzgerald deal seems unlikely.

This confirms earlier reports by OTR that the Eagles are indeed loading up for a run. Eagles fans should be very excited that the Eagles organization is ready to take the team to the next level. Pieces are being put in place and hopefully all goals will be accomplished this offseason so the Eagles can make a Super Bowl run.

Don’t believe the propaganda that Reid, Banner, and Spadaro are throwing out.  They cant seem desperate, even though they are.

Green Thoughts

The Eagles jumped right in on Friday’s free agency when they signed the biggest name on the first day. Asante Samuel is a great CB who can press, play off coverage, blitz, and most of all make big plays. Samuel’s biggest strengths are being able to drop back and get in and out of his breaks while keeping an eye on the quarterback. This allows him to make big jumps on passes and create turnovers. He also is a very smart cornerback. He reads routes well and understands offensive concepts so he can see one route develop and know the complimentary route that goes along with it.  To sum it up Asante is smart and aggressive which should bode well in Double J’s style of defense. 

Chris Clemons’ signing was made out to be a bigger deal then it really is.  Clemons is way too small to be an every down DE. At 245 lbs he will see time on 3rd and long and other obvious passing situations. In my opinion he may see about 10 snaps a game. In those 10 snaps this high motor DE can create serious havoc with Trent Cole and maybe another DE (Howard, Abiamiri, etc) moving to DT on those plays. This guy is a role player, which we all know have importance, but he is not the answer to finding a DE that can play with Cole.

So what now? Did the storm pass? Let me throw a couple of “indicators” that tells me they have something else up their sleeves. I don’t think anyone can argue that Big Red seems to think he has his shit together and borderlines arrogant in the way he continually does the same thing, thinking it will work now when it has fallen short in the past. I think when you understand that, along with listening to Jeff Lurie during the Samuel press conference talk about how he does not want to be the type of owner who steers clear of certain positions when mistakes have been made with those positions in the past (aka WR and T.O. or drafting a DE high in round 1, Jerome McDougle).

So the question remains, is there a second part to signing Samuel. I am not part of the small group who thinks that Lito can/will play with Samuel. First of all, Lito wants more loot and playing with someone making a boatload more just will not work. Second of all, Sheldon COULD play FS, but I don’t think he is best suited for FS and he is not big enough to play SS. So Lito has to go, sell high, and understand he is undersized and injury prone. We simply cannot have him missing 4-6 games a year.

I am going to throw out the bottom 9 teams in pass defense and see if they have a player who might match Lito’s skill and could be a potential match.

1. Vikings – With the worst pass defense giving up 264 passing yards per game. Childress and Reid remain in open dialogue and I am sure the Vikings would like Lito, but for what price? I don’t think the Vikings would give up the #17 pick for Lito and I don’t think they have anything else we want.

2. Lions – Yes, they are hurting for a CB and their pass defense has been bad for YEARS. Roy Williams is someone every Eagles fan would love on this roster. Would you do Lito and our 2nd or 3rd for Roy Williams? I would certainly consider it heavily.

3. Saints – They just signed Randall Gay so in their minds they are probably set now. I would trade Lito for Colston,but I’m not so sure Saints would be down.

4. Bills – How about Lito for Lee Evans? Maybe the Bills sign Bryant Johnson and trade Evans before he is an UFA next year. We would need to work out an extension first, but this works well for both teams.

5. Cardinals – Whatever it takes for Larry Fitzgerald. I repeat, WHATEVER it TAKES! Boldin is a perfect fit for our offense so if Larry is not available, is Quan?

6. Bears – They have no talent (Period).

7. Bengals – Ocho Cinco for Lito in a package deal. You want a deep threat, he is one of the best.

8. Texans – I would love Andre Johnson, but they would need to be unbelievably stupid to want to trade ‘Dre.  So maybe, it is Houston, and they did just resign Andre Davis.

9. Falcons – Roddy White was pretty impressive last year with no real QB. Raise your hand if you are an Eagles fan and Roddy White is the #1 WR you were looking for.

Free Agents :

Randy Moss – Resigned with the Pats – 3 yr, $27 million. Apparently Samuel told Banner and Big Red how great of a teammate Randy is and how much he has matured. This would be right in line with Kearse/TO in 2004. Biggest defensive FA on day one, followed by the top WR available.

Bryant Johnson – He was the Cardinal’s #3, so he could be signed to be our #1….that seems about right.

Draft:

Six of the top seven teams need help at CB. I could see the Eagles packaging up Lito and their #1 to make a big jump on draft day for their future LT or a stud DE. Chris Long, Jake Long, Vernon Gholston, Ryan Clady could all be targets to make a big move on draft day. Chris Long and Jake Long are flat out studs. Gholston is a freak athletically and played very well at OSU. Clady could be a reach, but OT talent always seems to go early.

What will the Eagles do next?               1) Bring in a WR       2) Package Lito       3) Another FA pickup       4) Add via the Draft       5) Stand Pat                View Results

Twas the Night Before ….. Free Agency

My friend Steve said it best today:

YES! I may not be able to sleep tonight, it is better then Christmas eve. Come on Banner, Reid, Heckert, and Lurie, it is GO TIME!!

And so it is finally here.  One of the most exciting eve’s in the NFL off-season is upon us, the eve of Free Agency.  With an unusually high number of serious playmakers on the market this off-season, tomorrow should be a very interesting day, one that could shift the balance of power in the NFL.  Most notably last year’s powerhouse, the New England Patriots, have three of their premier players hitting Free Agency tonight at midnight; Donte Stallworth, Asante Samuel, and Randy Moss. 

With all of the rumors swirling around the Nest at Broad and Pattison I am thoroughly excited to see what the Eagle Brass will do tomorrow.  Some of the rumors that I have heard over the past few days:

The free agent acquisition of CB Asante Samuel (some kid wrote this in the comments section).

The trade of Lito Sheppard to the Arizona Cardinals for Larry Fitzgerald (same source as Asante). 

The free agent acquisition of DE Justin Smith.

The free agent acquisition of SS Gibril Wilson. 

The free agent acquisition of WR Randy Moss.

 The free agent acquisition of WR Javon Walker.

According to Anthony Gargano, the Cuz, who is filling in for Eskin today on 610 WIP (thank GOD) has said there is serious interest in Javon Walker now even though word is he cannot pass a physical (his agent however, says he can play).  The Cuz has also confirmed that the trade rumors between the Eagles and the Cardinals are simply that, rumors, and nothing more as the Arizona front office has squashed Fitzgerald trade speculation.

I just want the Eagles to make a huge acquisition tomorrow.  They need to show the league that they have the cahones and mean F_ _ _ _ _ _ business this year.

REPORT: Sheppard out? Asante and Fitzgerald In?

As the NFL free agent period opens this Friday, February 29th, we are already beginning to hear serious grumbles around the (215) that our Philadelphia Eagles could be very active.

The latest winds blowing around my sources, are that the Eagles will heavily pursue former Patriots CB Asante Samuel. Also if the Patriots fail to come to terms with a one Randal Moss, the Eagles will also be in the mix of teams vying for his services.

Lately we have all also heard about Lito Sheppard’s unpleasantries with Eagle brass and more specifically his contract. The Eagles are also apparently seriously trying to hammer out a trade, sending Sheppard to the Arizona Cardinals for WR Larry Fitzgerald. Now this could be contingent upon Asante sporting midnight green first, but we are not sure at the moment.

The Sheppard for Fitzgerald talks seems to make sense for both sides. One of the Cardinals glaring needs going into this off-season is secondary help, and Sheppard would be an instant fix to that problem.

More to come……..