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I’m sure the Eagles believe they have their starting 3 in Gocong, Trot, and Gaither, but excuse me for being a skeptic. The reality is Trot is slowing down. Love the guy, but his game has been declining and he can’t cover me at this point. Gocong is a D1AA defensive end converting to linebacker and he’s never played an NFL snap. Gaither flashed when they gave him a chance, but quickly disappeared. He clearly has a little something, but what is he…really? Jones is awful. McCoy can play, but he’s way, way too small. He got completely worn down after 4 or 5 games. The Eagles will tall you how high they are on Tank Daniels, but he’s a project.

I’m going to look at players who could help for various reasons, but I’m going to skip on Briggs and Adalius Thomas because it neither will happen for about 30 reasons. I’m also leaving out Cato June because he’s a midget. No need to get smaller.

Kawika Mitchell
Plays the middle for the Chiefs, has the numbers, and seems to be a team leader, but there is a faction of their fan bases that quite simply hates this guy. The Chiefs would like to keep him, but “won’t overpay” (translation: he’s not an impact player) and are considering moving him to the outside. The fans give him the Dhani Jones treatment on their message boards, so I’m not thinking he’d be a fit.

I’m mentioning him because he’s a name out there with numbers, but I’m really doubting he’s a fit.

Napoleon Harris
This is an interesting guy. He was a high pick, he’s reasonably young (just turned 28) he’s got great size, and can play all three LB spots. His numbers the past couple years have been bad, but the Vikings and their fans still seem to like him. Last year, he had 59 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3 INTs in 14 games, though.

His weakness is apparently in deep coverage. They’ve got him playing the Derrick Brooks spot in the Tampa-2 they are running, so he’s spending most of his time in his weakest area. Despite the down numbers, the Vikes say he does a “great” job and the fans seem to love him. His specialty is the run and he is hailed as the main reasons the Vikes had one of the bets run defenses in history last year…allowing only 985 yards and 2.8 yards per carry, both tops in the league (and no one was close on either). For comparison, the 2000 Ravens allowed 970 yards and 2.69 per rush, so the Vikes had a HISTORICALLY good run D.

He’s had some problems with injuries over the years and I’m not sure what he would command on the open market, but he’s an interesting guy to me. He could play any of the LB spots and with all 3 slightly up in the air, he would be a player worth taking a shot on for mid-range money, IMO.

Dark Horses….Donnie Edwards and Ike Reese
Edwards has AVERAGED 134 tackles per year over the last decade. He’s got a cap hit over $5 million and it’s rumored the Chargers will trade or cut the soon-to-be 34 year old. He’d probably project as a WILL in the Eagles D, but someone you’d have to look at if he comes free.

Reese will be cut. He might make a nice depth signing and he’d immediately help on special teams. He’d love to come back and I’m guessing the Eagles would be interesting in having his leadership on special teams with Harbaugh changing roles and Mikell leaving.

Ike Reese is who he is....a nice special teams player...thats it!

The Eagles need serious help on special teams, particularly coverage units. Of course, we all know that they love shoving undrafted, undersized rookies in there.

Reese would also provide a lot of depth, which would be important if you're going to rely on McCoy, Trotter, or Cogong to be contributors.

How bout I quell this one now-

As I speculated this season from time to time----

Ike Reese is coming back.

Next....

Seth, please stick your hand in your magic hat and see if you can pull out Stallworth, as well.

I'd give Ike a try with a look to the future. Sign him for the vet min with a shot at being a ST coach next year.

As Ray Didinger said, "Good things happen when Ike Reese is on the field".

Granted, he said that in 2004.

Isn't Ike still under contract with the Falcons? I thought he got a 4 year deal.

Isn't Ike still under contract with the Falcons? I thought he got a 4 year deal.

He is under contract but has been told he'll be released. He's already made it known he'd like to come back to Philly as soon as he is, so it's simply a matter of whether or not the Eagles want him back in some role. I think they will. Seth thinks they will.

Hopefully he'll be back.

That said, he's not a "FA linebacker addition", IMO. He's more of a special teams addition at this point who can play the nickel backer in a pinch.

I didn't know where else to put this, but Foxsports just gave this kid the kiss of death.

"Anthony Spencer, outside linebacker/defensive end, Purdue — Spencer is a great athlete with the speed of a linebacker and the strength of a lineman. At 260 pounds, he could go either way, and with a great combine he could be this year's version of Mike Mamula, the Boston College linebacker/defensive end who was a combine sensation in 1995. If he is, let's hope his pro career turns out better than Mamula's did."

I hope you're right Seth, Ike would be a great addition this year, He is a solid back-up LB and very good ST player and with a new ST coach (yet to be named) having someone with Ike's leadership would be great, the vet leadership alone let's not forget how piss poor the coverage units were last year...

my buddy told me that on GCOBB.com, or whatever his site is named, he recently touted the young LB's saying he thinks they deserve a chance. he still likes mccoy, saying he's fast, smart and hits. he needs to bulk up a bit and can still have a big role on the team. he also loves The Tank. he thinks that daniels can be the SAM if cocong doesnt make it, or goes back to the juqua type role he played in college.

personally, i dont think G has an ax to grind one way or another with the team. his reporting is usually right on the money.

thoughts

I saw that JJ said this about Gocong "We like Chris as a football player, but we have to see if he can make that transition after missing a year and whether he's going to be a linebacker or defensive end."

Not the worlds best confidence booster. Either he really doesn't know....or he thinks he's not a standout at either LB or DE.

Brian Simmons was released by the Bungles yesterday, so add him to this list. He's 31 and will turn 32 this summer.

He missed 5 games last year with a neck injury that bothered him the whole yera, but he came back and played okay despite the injury.

He's 6'3" 240 and had been an incredibly productive player. I think he could be an excellent signing for a 2 year deal or something like that because he can play all 3 spots and played both Mike and Sam just last year.

He give you Trot insurance, he pushes Gaither, and he gives you another option at on the strong side in case Gocong can't translate.

Joey Porter just gut dumped by the Steelers?

WOW.

Dang, should've posted it here.

But yeah, he got cut - seems like the Steelers are in worse cap shape than they're letting on.

They're movin to a 4-3 and fear thats not suited to him....thats the buzz but you KNOW its about the $$$.

Cleveland Browns / Steelers rivalry needs a jumpstart- I say Cleveland moves on Joey ASAP!!~

BREAKING NEWS

The Eagles wasted no time in free agency locking in one of their key defensive players from last season - defensive end Juqua Thomas. The Eagles re-signed Thomas to a 5-year deal on Friday. PhiladelphiaEagles.com will have complete coverage as free agency is underway

Sorry wrong thread..

I think SF will back up the dump truck of money for Porter.

Tattoo,
Any idea of how much $$$$$ he cost?

Seems like Adalius Thomas was a FA LB OF INTEREST to the Pats- a preliminary deal seems to be struck- per PFT.COM

That deal was done when the whistle blew.

I'm just waiting for the numbers (which should be disgusting).

The Patriots... winners of 3 Super Bowls since 2000 are signing a free agent in DAY ONE of free agency. Fools!

Clearly they do not know how to operate an NFL franchise.

They are bronze standards!

NBCSports.com has reported that A. Thomas's deal is expected to be worth $60 million over six years.

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