The First Moves

Posted: August 29th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 82 Comments »

The Eagles have until Saturday to get down to 53 players, but went ahead and made some moves on Friday. Let’s take a look at what has already happened.

CUT

WR Quron Pratt
WR Ifeanyi Momah
QB G.J. Kinne
RB Henry Josey
OL Josh Andrews

There are some reports on guys who will make the team as well.

We’ve talked a lot about Burton in recent days. He has shown so much potential that you had to be nervous about cutting him.

There are some reports that Chris Polk will make the roster. If the Eagles feel he’s pretty close to returning, they may be willing to overlook the fact he’s been hurt this summer. Chip Kelly has praised Polk as a key STer, as well as being a RB the Eagles like. Never underestimate the importance of STs.

That makes total sense. Johnson can play. He’s just not an ideal fit for the Eagles. If Darren Sproles wasn’t here and Kelly didn’t prefer big WRs, then Johnson might be a guy the Eagles kept.

The only real surprise of all these moves might be the cut of Josey. While he was a lot of fun, you do wonder how his game translates to real games. It was fun to watch him run around defenders, but going against starting defenders is very different. The backup OL was dominant the last couple of weeks, which gave Josey plenty of running room. That’s not always going to be the case in real games.

There are other factors. How did he do in pass protection? How did he do on STs? And you also wonder if there were any concerns about how his knee would hold up.

Josey had a great summer and I hope he makes it onto someone’s roster or practice squad, whether the Eagles or not.

Speaking of the practice squad, both Pratt and Momah could be candidates for that.

* * * * *

One really interesting nugget is that the Eagles worked out QB Thad Lewis, most recently of the Buffalo Bills. Pat Shurmur worked with Lewis in both St. Louis and Cleveland so there is a connection to him. The reason this is interesting is that it makes you wonder why the Eagles are looking at a #3 QB? Could this mean that Matt Barkley is trade material?

I don’t know any more than you, but I could easily see the Eagles trying to deal Barkley. He is dying to get a chance to get on the field. Nick Foles is the Eagles starter for the next thousand years so that doesn’t bod well for Barkley.

It is possible Mark Sanchez could be a long term solution as the backup. He’s only here on a 1-year deal so that will have to be sorted out next February when Sanchez has to decide if he is comfortable as a backup or wants to go start somewhere.

Barkley doesn’t make sense as a long term player because he’s not going to be comfortable as a backup. He wants to play. If you can deal him now to a QB needy team like the Rams or Bills, do it. We’ll see if it happens. No idea how likely it is, but the move would make a lot of sense.

* * * * *

Saturday is going to be a busy day so make sure to stay tuned for lots of news and rumor-mongering.

_

82 Comments on “The First Moves”

  1. 1 Anders said at 8:03 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I actually began thinking about Josey. The NFL has a clear size bias with RBs (less than 200 pounds and lower than 5’10 and you need to be super special)

  2. 2 mtn_green said at 11:34 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Sproles?
    I think there is a fear of wear and tear.

  3. 3 mksp said at 8:06 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Tommy, you missed a big one:

    http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/08/cody_parkey_makes_eagles_53-man_roster_according_to_source.html

  4. 4 McNabbulousness said at 9:24 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    i hope this is the case

  5. 5 McNabbulousness said at 9:31 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    another nail in the coffin for the ’11 draft class. sure looks like it’s in the running for worst draft in eagles history (save for Kelce in the 6th rd)

  6. 6 Anders said at 9:34 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    1997, 2000, 2001?

    Pretty sure there is plenty worse drafts. Remember we also got Cedric Thornton and still have Casey Matthews.

    The 2011 draft class is not all time bad consider how many seasons we got out of it (no matter what people think of the picks)

  7. 7 McNabbulousness said at 9:37 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    taking a few liberties with ced, he went undrafted. and im not counting that we “still have casey matthews” as a win

  8. 8 Anders said at 9:40 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Matthews is one of the best ST’ers on the team, its not like he cant do a job (he is this teams version of Ike Reese)

  9. 9 McNabbulousness said at 9:42 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    he can definitely be an impact STer, but if that’s all he can do is he still worth a 4th rd pick

  10. 10 Anders said at 9:48 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Based on the average 4th round draft pick, yes a good ST player for several years is a good 4th round pick (people grossly overvalue what a draft pick should contribute)

  11. 11 Flyin said at 10:13 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Jason Peters was an UDFA. Score. Every signing/pick should end up being a Pro-Bowl player…right? That is the genius of Chip. He doesn’t give a crap about that, he wants football players that fit his team.

    McNabbulusness is a mirror image of the late McNabb. Flawed in so many ways.

  12. 12 McNabbulousness said at 7:59 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    jesus Flyin, coming in with the high heat. i know im flawed in many ways but do you know who is also flawed; casey matthews and ’11 draft class. and this has nothing to do with j peters or chip kelly since neither was involved in the draft process that year. i also never said that “every signing should make the pro bowl.” thats way off base on your end. i was just asking Anders if he thought Matthews had pro bowl level talent/potential since Ike made as STer back in ’04 (i think it was ’04).

    and ultimately if we’re talking about C. Matthews on STs as the only major contribution (save getting Kelce in the 6th) to this team that means that draft reaalllllyyyy sucked.

  13. 13 Flyin said at 10:17 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Sorry about that. When I see a screen name with McNabb in it, it sometimes brings out my old EMB habits.

    Yes, the ’11 draft class is not a good one overall.

    You stated/asked regarding CM… “he can definitely be an impact STer, but if that’s all he can do is he still worth a 4th rd pick”

    Rather than focus on the 4th round pick, I ask you…

    Is Casey Mathews salary of $758,716 too much to just be an impact STer?

    Which I believe is currently 35th on the roster.

    http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/yearly/

  14. 14 McNabbulousness said at 1:59 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    this is a good point, we aren’t over paying for him.

  15. 15 joe said at 1:45 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    I guess so when teams like the seahawks get Richard Sherman in the 5th and many of their starters in the later rounds.

  16. 16 Dan Jessel said at 2:17 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    They also drafted John Carpenter in the first round, and he’s terrible.

  17. 17 Flyin said at 9:56 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Let me get this straight, is a players draft pick or if they are an UDFA determine if they should be on the team?

  18. 18 McNabbulousness said at 9:55 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    do you think matthews is a pro bowl caliber STer like Ike was?

  19. 19 Dan Jessel said at 2:15 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    He is far from one of the best on this team. Because he was one of the better STers on a terrible ST the last couple years doesn’t mean he’s that good. Maragos, Braman, Smith, Goode, Polk, Huff, and Boykin, just to name a few, are all better than Matthews. Him and Maehl are the 2 biggest jokes on this roster. And both Oregon guys.

  20. 20 McNabbulousness said at 10:05 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    ooooooo, im looking over draft classes now and man, we forgot about ’03. lj smith was your best player from that draft…hes sandwiched in between mcdougle and billy mcmullen

  21. 21 Dan Jessel said at 2:08 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    Casey Matthews is terrible. Still having him on the roster is either a little Oregon bias, or we are still that weak at LB. I’m guessing it has to be the Oregon connection, because Acho was much better than him this preseason.

  22. 22 Charlie Kelly said at 8:14 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Cutting josey was a bad move…. he earned his spot. if barner is still here then the move only looks worse

  23. 23 Jamie Parker said at 8:43 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I agree. Barner looks slow even against backups. Josey looks way better against the same competition. Brad Smith or Sproles can return KO’s.

  24. 24 Anders said at 8:56 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I doubt Barner makes it. Think we only go with 4 RBs, 4 TEs and most assume we go with 6 WRs

  25. 25 Charlie Kelly said at 9:00 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    exactly!! they both played agaisnt the same defenses with same OL and josey looked so much better. and barner looked average at best at KR even worse at PR

  26. 26 joe said at 1:49 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    Barner really seemed to lack explosion, hell Damaris Johnson looked more explosive than barner.

  27. 27 jamesbondage said at 8:34 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I don’t think the Bills will be interested in Barkley. Barkley doesn’t have strong enough of an arm to thrive in Buffalo. The Rams seem like an ideal candidate, but will Jeff Fisher give into Howie’s demands?

  28. 28 Jamie Parker said at 8:40 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Why would they work out another QB if they trade Barkley? Why wouldn’t they just keep Kinne? He’s at least practiced in the offense for the last 2 years.

  29. 29 eagleyankfan said at 10:43 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Cause kinne is not NFL material. The fact that looked at him speaks volumes…

  30. 30 Bob Brewer said at 9:13 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    McLane just reported Travis Long tore his ACL and is done for the year. Casey Matthews, come on down.

  31. 31 jpate said at 9:21 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Damn such a shame

  32. 32 Weapon Y said at 9:41 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Preparing for all of the overreactions

  33. 33 McNabbulousness said at 9:45 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS.

  34. 34 Flyin said at 9:50 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Was it noticeable during the game when he got injured?

  35. 35 A_T_G said at 11:22 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Not to me it wasn’t.

  36. 36 gherbox said at 9:56 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Matthews will be on the team for as long as it takes to find a waiver wire replacement.

  37. 37 SteveH said at 9:59 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Sad to see Josey go… but PARKEY!! Gooood-bye noodle-leg.

  38. 38 ACViking said at 10:28 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Off topic . . .

    I’ve seen 8 high school football games the past two weeks. Games from Texas, California, Nevada and Georgia.

    Every team went no huddle. Ran lots of zone reads. And out if the spread.

    One Georgia team used color-coded placards to signal on the plays.

    It’s a revolution out there.

  39. 39 Flyin said at 10:30 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Chip saw it coming, and is two steps ahead.

  40. 40 ACViking said at 11:09 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    These were all big time high school programs.

    The best players are at 2 positions: QB and WR.

    In 3-4 years, every team at every level will be running high-speed no huddle.

  41. 41 xmbk said at 9:55 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Our 7-8 year old team is running no huddle with color coded plays signaled in from the sideline. Some spread, some read option.

  42. 42 ACViking said at 10:31 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Long. Very disappointing. ‘Specially with slow development of MSmith ll so far

  43. 43 Flyin said at 10:35 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    He’s thinking right now. Hopefully the light goes on soon. We have all been through this in our own way, and eventually the switch gets turned on.

  44. 44 ACViking said at 10:44 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Would love to see it next week. But he’s got character. It’ll happen

  45. 45 Flyin said at 10:51 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    He is still learning the D attitude. He says he has it, yet the NFL is another animal he needs to overcome to be dominate.

  46. 46 NinjaP said at 10:51 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I think there will be a game in the middle of the season where you see Marcus get like a sack or two and then he will be good from there on.

  47. 47 eagleyankfan said at 10:49 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Acho out Mathews in….here’s yo hoping he never sees the field

  48. 48 gherbox said at 10:51 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    doubtful hes even on the roster in week 2.

  49. 49 NinjaP said at 10:52 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Has any body paid attention to ILB battles around the league? Looks like we should have drafted someone.

  50. 50 ohitsdom said at 11:03 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I really doubt Sanchez would ever sign up to be a backup, and I think with the way he’s played this preseason that teams will definitely be giving him a chance to start come next summer.

  51. 51 iceberg584 said at 8:12 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I’m not 100% convinced that he’s the type of person that is going to do whatever it takes the start again. His New York experience probably simultaneously made him rich and soured him on the media limelight to an extent. I think his five months with the Eagles have been a welcome change of pace for him.

  52. 52 Media Mike said at 8:15 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    That is a very solid line of thinking. Pat Kirwan often talks about guys that would just be more comfortable being able backups at $4 mil-ish / year and aren’t trying to run into another starting job.

  53. 53 Corry said at 11:18 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    Seriously, what in the hell does Casey Matthews have on the coaches? Photos of a party gone wrong? The location of a body? We just can’t get rid of this guy.

  54. 54 Sean Stott said at 12:22 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    He’s very good on special teams.

  55. 55 Dominik said at 7:01 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    That’s like rationalizing that bitch of a ex-girlfriend who cheated on you, but you “had a good time, too” with. Colt Anderson was way better on ST and he got cut because he couldn’t play D.

    Matthews will be on this roster because at literally last minute, a young player who promised to be at least solid depth tore his ACL. He’s a cockroach, nothing more.

    I just hope that there is a team that has as much depth at LB as we had at RB or O-Line and has to cut a promising player.

    If Shorrs-Parks is correct we finally get rid of Henery, just to have CM on the roster. Ugh.

    Also, I want to see the news that Maehl is cut (yeah, he did play well against the Jets, I know…). Maehl + Matthews would be tough to swallow.

  56. 56 iceberg584 said at 8:09 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I think the news that Benn is going to IR means that Maehl makes the team. The one that would infuriate me (particularly from the ‘Oregon preferential treatment’ aspect) is if Kenjon Barner makes the team. He has shown nothing (here, or in Carolina).

  57. 57 Dominik said at 9:02 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Barner hasn’t had the chance to really show something here. Because of that I wouldn’t be angry if he gets a spot. I wouldn’t celebrate the decision, but I wouldn’t be that disappointed either.

    Don’t think Barner will make it. Polk is on the roster, according to the rumors, and I don’t think they will give up on Tucker.

    Thing is: CM is here since 2011. We KNOW he sucks. Maehl is here since last year. We KNOW he sucks. Maybe Barner sucks, but we don’t KNOW it yet.

    Don’t think Maehl will make it. 3 QBs, 4 RBs, 9 O-Line (Kelly made the team, according to reports, Molk is safe and I can’t imagine they’d cut Tobin or Gardner – they played very well this Preseason), 4 TEs (Barton + the three locks). That leaves 5 WR max (I don’t think Kelly will go 26 on Offense, 24 is more likely imho, 25 possible of course).

  58. 58 Media Mike said at 9:12 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Barner can feel free to show something here on the practice squad and in next pre-season. He’s not worth a roster spot over Tucker.

    What we’ve been able to see and judge doesn’t make a compelling case to have Barner on the 53 and things seen in places other than Eagles practices open to the fans / media and televised pre-season games don’t count and are based on lies.

  59. 59 Dominik said at 10:02 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I’m not saying put Barner on the 53. I just say we all know that Maehl and CM aren’t the answers whatever the question is – it’s about priorities, I guess.

    They’re trying to trade DJ. The target has to be a LB, imho.

  60. 60 Media Mike said at 10:11 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I’m with that type of trade. I’m also down with trying to trade our 9th or 10th o-lineman for a depth LB as well.

  61. 61 NinjaP said at 11:32 PM on August 29th, 2014:

    I think Barkley doesn’t make sense as a long term player because he is awful.

  62. 62 Sean Stott said at 1:38 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I agree. I hated that pick last year.

  63. 63 McNabbulousness said at 8:02 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    it doesn’t really matter if he’s long term awful, if we can trade him for assets he’s short term useful

  64. 64 GEAGLE said at 10:34 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I think it’s too soon to say he can’t grow into a servicable QB… I mean, he was drafted 15 months ago…but yes, he doesn’t make sense long term because he will need to go out, get his opportunity to play NFL QB, FAIL, and then he would be ready to accept backup status,,,like Sanchez and Blaine Gabbert…. Until he gets his chance, and Fails, he will always view himself as a starter and not be happy on our bench… With that said we have him under contract for 3 more seasons, so it’s too soon to dump him for whatever compensation someone offers…if appropriate value is offered, we should trade him, but we are a year or two away from reaching the point where we just unload him for whatever the best offer is

  65. 65 kevinlied said at 7:17 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Anyone know why the Eagles (among other teams) made some but not all cuts Friday? Have they not made final decisions on other guys yet, or is there some other reason?

  66. 66 iceberg584 said at 8:06 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    My guess would be that there are a lot of moving parts (trade efforts, cuts from other teams, etc.) that would influence their decision-making process.

  67. 67 McNabbulousness said at 8:08 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    for sure, it gives a lot more time to make moves

  68. 68 Ark87 said at 9:12 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Seems like a slow process in general too. First people to know of the cuts are the players, and they get called into the Novacare complex 1 by 1 to speak with Chip, their coordinators and position coach for exit interviews. Fair to say this is the worst weekend of the year for the coaching staff?

  69. 69 A_T_G said at 9:31 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Good point. There are probably a few guys where they are thinking they will keep him unless this other guy gets cut by a different team.

  70. 70 xmbk said at 9:14 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Josey shows natural vision and instincts. Must have shown no interest/fit for ST, which seems surprising given his attitude and work ethic. He’s at the top of the list of guys most likely to be a solid starter, somewhere. He outplayed the other backup backs, facing the same level of competition. Don’t think he’ll make it to the practice squad.

  71. 71 Media Mike said at 9:16 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I agree with your view of Josey’s work at RB, but there will be a glut of RB talent on the street, so we stand a good chance of getting him back on the practice squad.

  72. 72 Ark87 said at 9:29 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I think Chip was just looking for versatility in his RB corps. But I still wonder if we couldn’t make room for a 4th running back. I get why we didn’t keep him over Polk, we already have Dancy McCoy and a tiny back in Sproles. Gotta think Chip likes having 1 guy that goes North South and whose instinct is to go through some obstacles (be it arm tackles or defensive backs) rather than around them. I still wish we kept Josey as a 4th rb, seems a natural replacement to Sproles down the line.

  73. 73 Media Mike said at 9:30 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    To me, Josey was the 5th best guy after Shady-Sproles-Polk-Tucker. I would have been ok with keeping 5 at RB if we were going to go one guy less at WR.

    I just think there is crack being smoked down there if they see Barner and better than Josey.

  74. 74 xmbk said at 9:43 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Agree that Josey is not a power runner. But his ability to hit holes fast impressed me. He doesn’t dance, he slashes and gashes. Probably why he’s had such a high YPC his whole career. Still, I’m sure ST is the reason they didn’t keep him as a 4. Wouldn’t be surprised if they just sign whoever doesn’t get picked up out of the backups onto the practice as their 4th.

  75. 75 GEAGLE said at 10:26 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    I maintain we only needed to keep 3 RBs…but a lot of fans were talking that 4RB, 5RB madness… I’d be ok with a 4th running back, the notion that we would keep 5 is ridiculous..
    …
    While I was ok with keeping a 4th back, NOT if we are also keeping a 4th TE and a 6th WR…..keeping the 4th TE was supposed to be the argument for not needing as many WR because we would use a lot of Multi TE sets this year….but it looks like we are keeping a 6th WR anyway, which I don’t get, but whatever …
    …
    I don’t see how we could keep a 4th TE, a 6th WR and a 4th RB
    ….
    I would rather lose Maehl/Damaris over Tucker at this point… Those two WRs are what they are at this point, where as Tuck still has untapped potential to realize..

  76. 76 Media Mike said at 10:28 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Need to drop WR to 5 then.

  77. 77 anon said at 10:34 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    He ran better than tucker and most importantly he stayed healthy. Unclear if polk / tucker / barner will even be healthy on game day

  78. 78 GEAGLE said at 10:39 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Can’t wait, two weeks from now no one will remember Josey exsisted… Can’t wait..that’s a lie. I would like to get himo n practice squad.. Lose no sleep if someone poaches him

  79. 79 GEAGLE said at 10:20 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    Deal Barkley for what, kind of matters when discussing the possibility… We paid a 4th and spent two summers growing him already. He hasn’t been given a chance to fail yet so I don’t see why his trade value would be diminished to say a 5th round pick.. We paid a 4th, for a QB who had two years of training from Chip the QB whisperer, if you want to trade for Barkley you should have to pay for that… Don’t see a reason as to why we would dump him for anything less than a 3rd at this point, 4th should be the lowest we go…..when his contract gets closer to expiring, that’s when you start lowering your asking price to try and get something before he walks away and we get nothing…
    …
    Just because Barkley hasn’t tore the league up in his 15 months since being drafted, I don’t think it means he is doomed to never be a decent QB.. If we really like a 3rd QB like Thad Lewis, then it’s ok to dump Barkley for a 4th…but under no circumstance should we dump him for a 5th or 6th round pick at this point in time

  80. 80 anon said at 10:32 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    he’s got a lot of bad tape out there and some ok tape.

  81. 81 GEAGLE said at 10:37 AM on August 30th, 2014:

    What bad tape? The time he was thrown into an NFL game as a rookie and had no practice reps? Every Great QB looked like shit the first time they were thrown into an NFL game…the tape of his first time playing in an NFL game is irrelevant…you might think Barkley sucks, but he doesn’t suck THAT bad… His preseason tape isn’t bad… It’s nothing to write home about, but I don’t think his value is less than a 4th round pick at this point…
    ..
    Had the great Aaron Rodgers been thrown in a game as a rookie with little reps, it would have looked a lot like Barkleys game

  82. 82 Mitchell said at 6:28 PM on August 30th, 2014:

    If we dnt get Momah in the ps. Can we at least get Coleman from Rutgers? Stephen hill is interesting as well.