Should Eagles Now Look at Trading McNabb?

by | Mar 11, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The Philadelphia Eagles have been relatively busy this free agency.  Unfortunately for Eagles fans, they’ve spent more time waving goodbye to former All-Pros than welcoming players to the fold.

First it was Drian Dawkins leaving for Denver.  Most recently it was Tra Thomas heading to Jacksonville.  In between they’ve lost or traded role players Correll Buckhalter, Lito Sheppard, Greg Lewis and Sean Considine.

Donovan McNabb wrote on his blog that he “will always regret not having the chance to win a championship with these guys.”  (Technically he did have a chance, but I think we get his point).

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Another Possible Winner in the TO to Buffalo Deal

by | Mar 10, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Fantasy Football

Andy already threw out Miles Austin as one potential sleeper for 2009, with T.O. no longer causing headaches in Dallas.

Another player that could move up draft boards come August thanks to T.O. landing in Buffalo is Marshawn Lynch.  After bursting on the scene with 1,115 yards as a rookie in 2007, Lynch took a bit of a step back in 2008 with just 1,036 yards in 2008.  This was partially due to the emergence of Fred Jackson as a capable backup, and partially due to some injuries suffered–although Lynch appeared in 15 games.

Additionally, in 2008 he actually scored more touchdowns on the ground (8 vs 7), slightly improved his yards per carry numbers (4.1 from 4.0), and got himself more involved in the passing game (47 receptions for 300 yards and a TD, vs 18-184-0 in his rookie season).

While the Bills have been making some changes to the offensive line that could impact Lynch’s ability to find holes in 2009, the addition of Owens on the outside should help keep defenses a little more honest when it comes to moving a safety up in the box.

In fact, if James Hardy can show signs of improvement in his second season, Lynch could possibly even crack our 2009 draft board top 10.

Jaguar Jones-Drew’s stock just keeps rising

by | Mar 9, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Fantasy Football

When I was short a running back late last season one of the guys I tried to acquire was Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones Drew.

The guy had a rough opening to the season, as he continued sharing time with 87-year-old Fred Taylor and the team’s offensive line fell victim to a ridiculous spate of injuries and mediocre play.

But as the season wore on, Jones-Drew got stronger and as he has done throughout his career, he continued to be a touchdown machine, scoring 15 in 2008 despite starting just one game and touching the gall just 212 times.

Jones-Drew was already likely to improve upon his numbers in 2009 just based on the likelihood that the offensive line would be more healthy (center Brad Meester missed time with a biceps injury and guards Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams missed all but the season opener due to injuries and backup Richard Collier had his career ended by a gunshot wound shortly before the season started).

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Jettisoning Owens makes Austin possible Cowboys fantasy sleeper

by | Mar 9, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Fantasy Football

I’ve been trying for a few days now to figure out the fantasy ramifications for Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans and other Buffalo Bills now that they’ve picked up Terrell Owens. Sure, Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed weren’t cutting it as number two wideouts, helping make Evans one of fantasy’s most frustrating potential stars.

But Owens’ history, admitted or not, of being a jagoff of a teammate makes me nervous that the youngster Edwards could get rattled and curl up in the fetal position on the 50 yard line.

Hopefully he’s stronger than that, but it leaves me with no idea yet how to look at the Buffalo Bills’ skill players heading into the middle of free agency. I’ll leave you with a link to ffchamps.com, where Anthony Maggio, whom we occasionally contact for insight and who also writes the blog Punting Baxter, wrote an extensive piece outlining his thoughts on Owens’ contributions.

One person in Dallas I think might be an overlooked beneficiary of Owens’ departure is little-known Miles Austin.

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T.O. to Tennessee?

by | Mar 5, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, NFL News

If early media coverage of the Terrell Owens saga proves accurate it seems the brash former Cowboy, Eagle and 49er wide receiver might have trouble finding his next suitor.

Stephen A. Smith on ESPN News Thursday night indicated that Owens would like to play for Indianapolis, the New York Giants or New England. He cited no sources in his report, however, so it’s uncertain to me whether he was saying so based on solid information or just guessing where T.O. would like to play.

And the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network’s further reporting, courtesy of Chris Mortensen, indicated that all 16 NFC teams and 14 AFC teams have said they have no interest in signing the enigmatic receiver, cut loose officially by the Dallas Cowboys Thursday.

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Loss of Birk to Ravens continues confusing Vikings offseason

by | Mar 4, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency

The Baltimore Ravens Wednesday signed long-time Minnesota Viking center Matt Birk to a three-year deal reportedly worth $12 million.

The signing fills a hole opened for Baltimore when Jason Brown signed with the St. Louis Rams. It also creates a chasm in the middle of a Vikings’ offensive line that, outside of left guard Steve Hutchinson, was overrated to begin with.

Ponder this. Former top pick and current left tackle Bryant McKinnie is maddeningly inconsistent. He was solid in 2008 but he has been in more jails than Pro Bowls and he’s struggled to live up to the hype that came with him from the University of Miami.

Anthony Herrera is a hard-working right guard. He’s fine as the fifth-best starter on your line, but on this team, he’s not. Vikings officials have talked openly about seeking better play from the right tackle position, manned last season by Ryan Cook. They’ve failed to land anyone thus far to challenge for Cook’s position.

Now, with Birk gone, the team faces the prospect of drafting a center far early than most “experts” think is wise or starting either second-year guy John Sullivan or Cook, who was originally drafted as a center.

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