Wednesday Stuff
Posted: November 23rd, 2011 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 19 Comments »I have the DGR all ready to post. Small problem. Half is on work computer, half is on home computer. I will post it tonight. Sorry for delay. Stupid is as stupid does.
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I said yesterday I still think DeSean Jackson has a 75 percent chance of re-signing. Someone wanted an explanation of that. I could get into all the math, but it would be way over your head (as T approaches infinity you add .1 and divide by the coefficient of DeSean’s 40 time).
I think situations like this need to be looked at in obvious terms.
* DeSean likes Andy. He likes being an Eagle.
* Andy likes DeSean. The coaching staff values his speed, skill-set
* DeSean knows he’s got QBs who can get him the ball here.
* DeSean likes being part of a passing offense.
* The Eagles want to give DeSean a big deal. They do value him.
This is where things get tricky. DeSean thinks he’s an elite receiver. He isn’t. He has that kind of potential, but isn’t there yet. You can’t pay him like Larry Fitzgerald because he can’t take over a game the way Larry does.
Will DeSean be elite in a year or two? Will he ever be more than a speed guy? Those unknowns can’t be ignored.
I get the sense that the locker room is more of an issue for DeSean than management. Andy has been very patient with DeSean. He is willing to work through the issues. Teammates are tired of seeing DeSean give less than 100 percent. I’m sure his performance on Sunday night helped that situation quite a bit. DeSean was a difference maker in that game.
If DeSean hit the open market, who would pay him big bucks? Would he want to go to STL, CLE, or JAX? The Eagles are a winning organization (usually). They play in lots of prime time games. DeSean loves the spotlight. I get the feeling he’d be miserable somewhere like St. Louis.
I think the deal gets done because both sides want it done. It really is a question of finding some middle ground. Now, if Drew Rosenhaus stands firm with wanting $10M a year, the Eagles will let DeSean walk or tag him and trade him. They aren’t going to give him that kind of money. They’ll pay him a lot, but not that much.
All we can do is hide ‘n watch on this one.
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Someone yesterday asked about my comment that I don’t see any definite answers at LB.
I love Brian Rolle to death and he’s had a nice year, but Brian has not done anything so special that you guarantee him a job next year. I want him and Casey Matthews (or someone else) battling for the job.
Akeem Jordan had a nice game at SAM. I thought he was lost as a SAM last year, but that was in a different system. He looked pretty natural on Sunday night. Akeem showed very good instincts on his 3rd/1 stuff of Brandon Jacobs. One nice game is just that. Akeem needs to show me a good month before I’ll get too excited. He played well down the stretch in 2008.
Jamar Chaney is killing me at MLB. One play he picks off a pass or makes a good tackle vs an inside run. The next minute he’s whiffing on a backup RB out in space. Multiple times. I want a MLB who is consistent and reliable. Chaney isn’t. I’m willing to let him battle for an OLB spot or be the backup MLB, but I want a new starter. Find me a guy with instincts and who tackles well.
I think we’ve got a nice collection of LBs, but we’re missing a standout player. We’ve got some interesting complementary pieces, but not the star. I have hopes for Chaney, Rolle, and Matthews continuing to get better. Fokou and Jordan can be good backups or acceptable starters. We’ll see what Greg Lloyd can do next summer. Keenan Clayton is a good role player and STer. We must get at least one high quality player to add to the mix.
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The Eagles lost DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim off the Practice Squad. Tampa signed him to their active roster. Good for him. They need DE help. He’ll get some playing time down there.
The Eagles signed DL Maurice Fountain, 6’4, 270, to take his place. Fountain is older – 29 to be exact. So what gives?
I assume this move was done for the sake of practice. The Practice Squad functions in 2 ways. First, it gives you a chance to develop some young guys. Second, it is players for your starters to practice against. Fountain is a tall guy at 6’4. Mike Vick has struggled with tall DL this year (and in the past). I wonder if Fountain’s height was something they wanted in a practice player.
Clearly Fountain isn’t here as a young guy to develop. I don’t have any college notes on him right now. They are on a legal pad somewhere at home. I’ll need to dig them up to let you know if I liked him when he was at Clemson.
There was another open spot and that was filled with C/G Zane Taylor. He was a solid, but unspectacular player at Utah. Could be a backup here in the future. I don’t see Jamaal Jackson coming back in 2012.
Rolle hasn’t set the world on fire, but he’s been way more consistent and made more plays than fokou or chaney or mathews or jordan or… the list goes on. When was the last time a linebacker made an impact play like his strip/FR/TD? He might not look like an elite guy but I’ll take him over any of the other shlubs we’ve drafted recently.
I like Brian. I hope he continues to play well and can be a starter here for a long time. I also want to be realistic and not overrate him because he’s having a nice year.
The goal is to go find someone who can be a difference maker. Rolle is solid, but not that level. With time he can get better. I just don’t know how high a ceiling he has. Love watching him play. Tough guy with lots of energy.
I dunno man compared to the slop we’ve been putting out there Brian Rolle is a godsend. Clearly he’s no Urlacher but jesus, at least he looks competent and makes some plays.
I think that’s reasonable; if somehow we were to draft Derrick Brooks 2.0, then Rolle is on his way out…
TL: “Now, if Drew Rosenhaus stands firm with wanting $10M a year, the Eagles will let DeSean walk or tag him and trade him.”
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Some agents you never hear from or know from — or when you do, what they say is straight business. Leigh Steinberg. Tom Condon. Two examples.
But Rosenhaus . . . what a spotlight-grabbing piece of crud.
He makes it so much about himself and then complicates things by telling his players to make it about them. A complete A-S-S.
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I don’t know who represents Matt Forte or Alex Smith. But whoever it is, each guy (or the same guy) has handled those clients really well.
Not only do the clients say nothing stupid. You’d never know they had an agent.
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I understand that Rosenhaus has a business to run. And his schtick is to be “on camera” pushing his client’s value as high as possible. A more TV-oriented version of baseball’s Scott Boros.
But as much as I dislike Boros for the Drew-fiasco [no pun] and his approach — although I’d hire the guy if my kids could do what Ryan Madson does — at least Boros is about his clients.
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I’ll feel much better about McCoy when he’s signed to a nice extension. But I hope it’s one that pays him as a Top-5 guy for the next 5 years — and not a “Banner Special,” where the player feels underpaid in 2 years and the Eagles, despite a performance beyond the contract’s value, lets the player stew in his unhappiness.
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Sorry, Tommy . . . Rosenhaus just hits a nerve. (And this isn’t even how I really feel.)
From a fans perspective and FO perspective, Rosenhaus is really frustrating, but from the perspective of the players, he does a great job from my understanding. Rosenhaus pumps up his guys and works hard to get them the best deal he can get them. If he happens to ruffle a few feathers in that process, he could care less, as long as he pleases the player he represents and gets them a contract. There’s a reason he represents so many high profile guys.
Pretty sure McCoy fired Rosenhaus about a month ago.
He fired and rehired him a month ago, 2 weeks ago he did the same again
So if I’ve got this timing correct, Rosenhaus is due to be fired and rehired again any moment now… Wow – McCoy’s jukes are amazing!
“Small problem. Half is on work computer, half is on home computer”
Apparently Andy has to put you in a better position to get your DGR posted in a timely manner.
He did take responsibility for this error, didn’t throw you under the bus.
Well played.
Well I feel slightly better. I think length of contract and get out clause will be important to DeSean’s deal from his point of view. How long before he is the 2nd highest paid receiver on the team and by how much?
Relevant points. I think the fact that DeSean and Mac complement each other and aren’t rivals does help.
re: DeSean’s contract mess
I’m pretty sure Rosenhaus’s point of comparison would be Santonio Holmes, not Larry Fitzgerald. Holmes, like Jackson, is on the shorter side and is not a top 5 receiver. He signed a 5 year 50 million contract this year. He also won a Super Bowl with an incredible catch. I agree that DeSean is worth about 8 million a year – if he were more consistent as a receiver and returner then he would be worth more. As for his antics, as much as I don’t like them personally, I do think the team feeds off them. When Reid responds to a question about what DeSean brings to the team and he says “Energy”, I don’t think he’s just talking about DeSean’s speed.
Some notes at ScoutsNotebook on RG3 and my new favorite OLB prospect.
http://scoutsnotebook.com/
I just caught the end of the Baylor /OK game and Griffin was amazing. Reminded me a little of the Vince Young performance in the Texas/USC championship game.
So do you see Danny Trevathan as a WILL or SAM? Also, is Donta Hightower a 34 ILB or could he be a 43 MLB also? If so, do you see him strictly as a 2 down player?
He was my “guy” about 4 weeks ago . . . glad you’re on board.
Now . . . do the Eagles trade up for him?
Because I believe this team will win more than they lose.
OLB Danny Trevethan is a B-E-A-S-T.
I’m in SEC country. (Georgia)
I can’t remember watching an OLB cover as much ground and make so many plays as he did last week against UGA.
RGIII and DT would be two unassailable choices next April.
Tommy, who are the best *coverage* linebackers in the 2012 draft? I think to make this defense work, you somehow have to find a MLB or OLB that can cover TEs reliably in space *and* make stops in the running game. I know that’s a tall order; is there anyone like that in this year’s draft?
Also, what do you think of taking Donta Hightower with one of the 2nd round picks if he falls that far? He is a big linebacker in the Jeremiah Trotter mold and might be just what the Wide-9 needs at MLB, no?