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The Eagles obviously have a great situation at running back with Westbrook, but they need a complimentary back to keep Westbrook fresh, run out the clock, and provide push in some goal line and short yardage situations. Westbrook used to be the “change of pace”, but the Eagles now need a change of pace for him.

I hope the Eagles are looking at backs with some power, who would ultimately have to be good in pass protection and serviceable catching the ball out of the backfield.

The Eagles may look to the draft here, but there are a few players in FA who could be had for reasonable money and I think they could be great filling this role.

Ahman Green
Green knows the Eagles offense and comes from Green Bay, so we know the transition wouldn’t be a problem. He’ll be 30 in a couple weeks and despite durability concerns, he’s been fairly healthy over the course of his career. He’s rushed for over 1,000 yards in 6 of the last 7 years, but he’s clearly on the downside. He was an 1,800 yard rusher a couple years again and went for 1,059 last year…just wearing down and getting more nicked up. He has the ability and size to compliment Westbrook, but his potential price, durability issues, and fumbling could be an issue.

Ball security is also a huge issue with him, but I expect he’ll garner some offers that will make him too costly for his role on the Eagles.

TJ Duckett
At 6 feet tall and 243 lbs, he’s got to be a bitch to tackle. The Redskins traded way too much for him and found out what some of us knew already…Betts is a damn good back. So, Duckett (two tears in a bucket) was buried.

The pluses are obvious. He’s a monster and has great speed for his size. He’s got experience in the WCO. He’s been a TD producer as the goal line back in Atlanta. He’s young (he’ll be 26 in a couple weeks). He doesn’t have much wear on the tires (only 590 NFL carries in 5 years as a pro).

The minuses are also there. How does a guy with his size/speed and his draft position (middle of the first round), never really take over as a starter anywhere? Is he a pain in the ass? Is he stupid? Can he not block or catch the ball? After a healthy average his first 3 years, the last two have been 3.1 and 3.5.

Certainly and interesting player and one I would take a very long look at.

Chris Brown
I’m not a big fan of this guy because he runs too upright, is made of glass, and fumbles. He got buried by Henry and Betts on the Titans and will absolutely hit the market. He was basically rotting on the bench last year, BUT he did register over 1,000 and about 900 yards in the two previous seasons, so he isn’t a complete waste.

Najeh Davenport
He’s still relatively young (28), great size (6’1”, about 250), great feet for a man of his size, and great receiver out of the backfield for a man of his size. He knows the WCO from his years in Green Bay and (despite not knowing a lick of the Steelers offense and coming off an ACL), came in off the street as a late signing and produced over 400 yards of offense and 2 TDs for them.

I don’t think Davenport is a stud, but I’ve long thought he’d be a great fit in Philly because of his skill set. The only thing I can figure is the Eagles hate him because they had two chances to sign him last year and didn’t take either. I wanted to mention him, though.

Dominic Rhodes
He’ll get his name mentioned a lot because he played so well in the Super Bowl. He’s a good all-around back, but doesn’t bring what I’m hoping for (size).

Under the radar Special: Musa Smith
He’s been unlucky with a couple injuries (including a decimated ankle that cost him a season, courtesy of the Pillsbury Slowboy, #31 in Dallas), but he’s a young, big back who had lots of potential but never got out of the blocks.

I don’t know how you could sign him and declare the RB problems solved, but he could be a great bang for the buck player. If you sign him for 2 years at the vet minimum and give him a role he can embrace, he could shine, IMO. If the other guys are snapped up in FA, this might be a guy you can bring in along with a 5th round pick and let Musa, Moats, and draft pick battle it out for 2 spots.

I disagree with each post

GAY!

If the Birds didn't sign Davenport when he was available for a song, I don't know why they'd want him now that he's a year older.

If the Birds didn't sign Davenport when he was available for a song, I don't know why they'd want him now that he's a year older.

No doubt.

I doubt they do any substantial upgrade at this position. Buckhalter surprised a lot of people, so I expect they'll think they can still count on his (reduced cost) production. I wanted Duckett in here before, and I still do now, but they probably view Tapeh as a lower-cost alternative. Plus, it's not as if they run him on 3rd and short anyway, so they won't pay for a guy to be brought in for the same reason.

Basically they're set at RB, even thinking that the soon-to-be-re-signed Mahe can "contribute".

I don't think they will be re-signing Mahe and Buckhalter is gone. Thanks for the memories, but they know he's not the same player and is a FA. With RBs as cheap as they are, there's no reason to spend money on one you know is damaged and could break again at any moment.

They can bring Mahe in off the street in October if they want.

Tapeh is a fulbback only, after the hip injury.

They'll be adding a new body (at least 1) at RB. The only question is whether it's via FA or the draft, IMO.

Crab boy being re-signed after the season starts? I SO do not see that happening, especially since he's just a drop in a (small) bucket.

And didn't Buckhalter sign a 2 year contract after he was dropped as a RFA?

And you forgot the obvious choice at RB for the Eagles - Dorsey Levens.

Crab boy being re-signed after the season starts? I SO do not see that happening, especially since he's just a drop in a (small) bucket.

I'm not saying they'll add him, but I'm saying that if they feel light or there is an injury to Bloom, Mahe will be sitting at home looking for a job, so they can sign him at that point if they want.

And didn't Buckhalter sign a 2 year contract after he was dropped as a RFA?

He signed that deal in 2005, which means he's hitting the street in a couple weeks.

Another RB that may or may not be available at a reduced price:

From PFW.com

We hear that RB Corey Dillon told teammates in the locker room following the Patriots’ loss to the Colts in the AFC championship game that he was done as a player and would retire. His agent has since softened Dillon’s stance, which was likely a heat-of-the-moment reaction after a difficult defeat. However, agent Steve Feldman won’t guarantee that Dillon is coming back, even though he has $4.4 million reasons (he counts that much against the 2007 salary cap) why he might want to return in ’07. That being said, we hear that there is no way the Patriots will want to bring him back at that number, and it’s likely the team doesn’t want to bring him back at all. Dillon has several strikes against him — he’s 32 years old, relatively slow, a potential malcontent if he’s unhappy, and he has the younger, faster Laurence Maroney waiting in the wings behind him and ready for a bigger role. Odds are good that Dillon has played his last down in New England, unless he comes back at a dramatically reduced salary.

Add Jamal Lewis and Deshaun Foster ot the list of runnign backs likely to hit the street via cuts.

If it was at feasible, Dillon would be my choice of all those backs listed above.

i would take lewis over dillon

Ha...give me Foster. I guess that's the trifecta.

I think Lewis has hit the hole like a DT the last couple years. His name will probably earn him some money, but he's been a below average back ever since his 2,000 yard season.

Dillon looked slow last year, too.

The big thing with Foster is he's constantly hurt.

I dunno...the more I think about RB, the more I think it's just a young man's game. There are TONS every year in teh draft and most backs have such a short shelf life, you never know what you're getting in FA.

My reasoning KB, is that Dillon is a much better pure runner than Lewis (a drop the head and try to move the pile kind of runner). Dillon is also a very good power and short yardage back, and has good enough pass catching skills to be effective in the passing game.

Lewis? Not so much so.

I don't think Dillon is that guy anymore (not that Lewis is now, I guess). Dillon looked like he was about 40 last year. He's toast.

I disagree KB, for what your asking him to do. Your just asking for short yardage and goal-line, and Dillon scored 13 TDs and averaged 4.1 per. That's production my friend.

4.1 is very average. Scoring TD's from the one ain't the problem for the Eagles (it's actually calling the running play down there). 4.1 is average.

They need a change of pace guy, and I don't think Dillon has enough left in the tank.

But, none of these guys are great, so I'm not going to argue it too strongly.

Isn't anyone draftable?

There aren't that many 2,000 yard backs who can still continue to be productive. Lewis is still riding on that rep, but it's been like, what? Four, five years since? He might be good for a short yardage back, but his rep may try to demand he makes more money, and I wouldn't pay him much more than the vet minimum. But he hasn't been good since he got thrown in jail.

Dillon's got a case of fumblitis, plus I doubt anyone here would want to take on his malcontent personality.

Foster? Meh.

Guess we're looking towards the draft.

"Isn't anyone draftable?"

You bet. Just let me check to see if any backs under 5'10" and 210lbs are gonna be at the combine first.

Why would you need to draft anyone? Ryan Moats is RIGHT HERE!

You bet. Just let me check to see if any backs under 5'10" and 210lbs are gonna be at the combine first

210? Sounds like an outside backer/defensive end to me.

How's his bubble?

There are always speedy receivers that would make excellent RB "projects."

Ooh, and don't forget about I-AA quarterbacks!

If the go the FA route I'd prefer (in this order):

Duckett (young, less wear and tear, perhaps a sulker, but the kind of guy they can use situationally and who's price hopefully isn't too expensive)

Rhodes (relatively young, part of me prefers Dominic over Duckett, tough, and willing to share the load)

Dillon (older, a name who probably wants $$, but was supposedly a model citizen in NE if you beleive Bellyache, and still tough and productive)

Lewis (still reasonably young but basically living off his name as others said, will want $$ and looked ineffective in the Ravens games I saw during the season)

I want no part of Ahman. He knows the WCO, but is getting up there in age and will want that last contract and plenty of touches.

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