Not a Fire Sale
Posted: March 4th, 2021 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 10 Comments »The Eagles are in rebuilding mode. The Super Bowl winning coach and franchise QB are gone. It is time to focus on finding young talent and rebuilding the roster so the team can get back to being a contender.
The focus on young talent means some key veterans will be moving on. DeSean Jackson has been cut. Alshon Jeffery and Malik Jackson are going to be cut. Zach Ertz will be cut or traded.
Is anyone safe?
I’m told eagles and Brandon Graham are working on restructuring his deal
— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunn) March 3, 2021
This is good news. Graham remains a good player. He led the Eagles in sacks (8), TFLs (13) and QB hits (16) last year. Graham remains a terrific run defender and he plays as hard as ever. He is exactly the kind of veteran you want young players to learn from, on and off the field.
While the Eagles are in rebuilding mode, you can’t get rid of every older player. You need to keep some guys around to set a good example for young players. Coaches can teach them how to play, but players also need to learn by watching other players. They need to see how to practice. They need to see how to condition. They need to see what kind of film study and game prep is required to be good.
Young players need good veterans to learn from.
Players like BG, Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce are important. They will help the Eagles compete on the field and they will help the young talent develop at the same time.
Brian Dawkins learned from Troy Vincent.
Brandon Graham learned from Trent Cole.
Jason Kelce learned from Evan Mathis.
Zach Ertz learned from Brent Celek.
Chuck Bednarik learned from Frank Gore.
As you can see, this stuff matters.
There is also the point that Jeff Lurie can handle rebuilding, but he can’t just throw out a completely hopeless team. Going through a 5 or 6 win season is very different than going 2-14 or 3-13. There is bad and then there is awful. Lurie knows he must keep some of his veterans to keep fans somewhat interested.
NFL teams just don’t tank. Fans and media sometimes think that is happening, but it isn’t. The 2019 Dolphins were awful early on and looked like they would have an embarrassing season. Brian Flores shed dead weight and gave young guys a chance to play. He and his staff got the most out of that team. After an 0-7 start, they went 5-4 down the stretch. That helped set the tone for 2020, when the team went 10-6 and barely missed the playoffs.
Barring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around.
I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year.
It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing.
*****
It is going to get ugly around the league as teams cut veterans to get under the cap. There will be some veterans available at a cheap price, which is about all the Eagles can afford. As with the point above, the team will need to sign some free agents to be in better shape to compete.
I doubt Mr. Tate gets a call though.
The Saints have officially released TE Jared Cook and TE Josh Hill. The Cook move is procedural, as he was scheduled to be a free agent at the start of the new league year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 3, 2021
The #Giants have begun making cuts, informed WR Golden Tate and LB David Mayo of their releases, source said. No surprise, but now official.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2021
Vikings released veteran TE Kyle Rudolph.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2021
*****
Being a fan in the 1970’s was so cool. Football is a great sport now, but there are times when I do miss the old days. This is an amazing photo.
https://twitter.com/addicted2helmet/status/1367283224234385417
So cool.
_
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[…] Not a Fire Sale […]
[…] Not a Fire Sale – Iggles BlitzBarring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around. I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year. It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing. […]
[…] Not a Fire Sale – Iggles BlitzBarring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around. I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year. It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing. […]
[…] Not a Fire Sale – Iggles BlitzBarring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around. I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year. It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing. […]
[…] Not a Fire Sale – Iggles BlitzBarring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around. I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year. It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing. […]
[…] Not a Fire Sale – Iggles BlitzBarring a miracle, the Eagles won’t be good in 2021. Lurie needs them to be competitive and/or entertaining. If fans stop watching and stop caring, that’s a problem. And that’s why the Eagles need to make sure they keep some good veterans around. I hope BG is able to finish his career as an Eagle. He’s been fun to watch over the years and it would be cool if he only played for one team. We don’t know if that will happen, but we do know he’ll remain an Eagle for at least one more year. It would also be great if Graham was able to last until the Eagles can get back to the playoffs. You would love to see a guy like him go out in a winning season. That doesn’t mean winning the Super Bowl, but just getting back to the playoffs. After the misery of 2020 and the likely frustration of 2021, just getting back to the right side of .500 would feel pretty amazing. […]
[…] Tommy Lawlor | Iggles Blitz […]