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Here's the Insider blurb:

Eagles eyeing Spikes

The Eagles have jumped to the front of the Spikes sweepstakes and something could happen quickly, reports ESPN.com's John Clayton. The Bills have quietly shopped Spikes him for the past few weeks with the Eagles and Giants showing the most interest.
Spikes is hoping to hear sometime Monday that a deal could be done. The plan would be for Spikes to play outside linebacker for the Eagles. The former Bengal was also willing to go back to Cincinnati but the Bengals weren't interested in his $4.5 million salary.

Coming off an Achilles tendon injury, Spikes played in 12 games last season. He finished with 70 tackles and one sack.

Grasmanis and Pinky had their careers ended because of achilles injuries.

Can't end something that didn't really exist, but w/e.

And where's our buddy Mark with the scoop?

His contacts are in Buffalo; it'd be common knowledge to him, right?

4.5 mil? Steep. I'd rather have Vilma or Porter at slightly greater expense but no significant injury history.

I'm not sure they can get Vilma. NY has taken him off the market. He is doing promo's on ESPN regarding the state of the Jets (via the Jets PR people). Porter was given $20 million guaranteed and is 30 years old, hardly $4.8 million. He IS the best option out there, like it or not. You cant depend on the draft, they need help, and need help now.

What would it take to make this happen?

Eskin is reporting that it will probably take a 3rd round pick...

wow...thats high for a guy who will probably be cut. The thing is, if he is cut, I think the eagles have even less of a shot getting him.

so you make the deal for a 3rd rounder?

Updated: March 26, 2007, 7:41 PM ET
Eagles and Bills talk trade involving LB SpikesBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


PHOENIX -- There remains plenty of work to be done before a deal is consummated, but the Philadelphia Eagles were deep into discussions on Monday aimed at acquiring Buffalo Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes, who has been on the trade market for the past week.



Spikes
Officials from both teams, here for the annual NFL meetings, confirmed the talks. The two sides cautioned that, while many of the parameters are in place for the trade, the deal could still fall apart. Eagles officials are hoping to resolve the pursuit of Spikes, a former Pro Bowl performer, by Monday night.

According to the proposed trade, the Eagles would also acquire veteran quarterback Kelly Holcomb. It is not known what Philadelphia would surrender to the Bills in the trade. The Bills have discussed Spikes trade scenarios with other clubs as well, but none of those have progressed as far as the talks with the Eagles.

Contrary to reports, the New York Giants are not a suitor for Spikes' services.

Spikes, 30, has quietly been seeking a change of scenery and the Bills, who feel that he is in the early stages of decline and prefer to go with younger players at the position, appear ready to accommodate those wishes. The Eagles have been trying to upgrade at linebacker for much of the offseason.

If the Eagles can land Spikes, he probably would start at strongside linebacker.

A nine-year veteran, Spikes has played in 126 games. He has 878 tackles, 21½ sacks, 12 interceptions, 33 passes defensed, 12 forced fumbles and 14 recoveries. In 2005, Spikes ruptured his right Achilles tendon and appeared in just three games. He returned from the injury in 2006 and played in 12 games but missed time with a hamstring injury.

The former Auburn star was the first-round choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1998 draft, then signed with the Bills as a transition free agent in 2003. He has one season left on his contract, at a base salary of $4.5 million, and then an option year in 2008, at a base salary of $5 million.

Holcomb, 33, is an 11-year veteran who has played in Indianapolis (1996-2000), Cleveland (2001-2004) and Buffalo (2005-2006). He has appeared in 34 games, with 21 starts, and has completed 523 of 810 pass attempts for 5,401 yards, with 37 touchdown passes and 37 interceptions, for a passer rating of 79.9.

The former Middle Tennessee State standout would join A.J. Feeley on the depth chart as a backup to starter Donovan McNabb.

The deal is official: Spikes and Holcomb for friggin Walker and a conditional 7th.

Great deal, any way you look at it.

No more shitting on the eagles 2007 offseason, GREAT DEAL.

They basically got them for Walker and a compensational draft pick they will receive next year (from Garcia, Lewis, Hood, maybe stallworth if he renegotiates contract).

Her is the question. Does he play on the Strongside, and the bowtie guy leaves. Does trotter get cut, gaither to MLB and bowtie guy go to WLB.

Good day to be a birds fan...

Steal. Flat out.

It's not a bad deal for either team, but with Walker being completely expendable, it was essentially Spikes and a very good clipboard holder for a conditional 7th NEXT year.

Nice.

Anyone wondering what Extremeskins thought about this one?

A DT in his prime and a pick for a journeyman QB and a productive vet on the waning side of his career tilts a bit to the side of the Bills IMO.

Those guys could make Karl Rove blush.

Hosannah Heysannah Zannah Zannah Ho!

TheTalon is happy now.

Holcomb is an interesting little side note to this deal. I had no idea he was 33, but I do recall him putting up ridiculous record numbers in his playoff loss to the Steelers a few years ago. Regardless, I think he clears up any possible question at backup QB. If McNabb goes down, they won't have to trot out Brad Goebel or Jeff Kemp.

Is it a team option or player option for Spikes in 2008? If it's a player option, I see Spikes having a big year in '07 before getting a fat contract elsewhere in '08. Even with that dark cloud on the horizon, I'm looking forward to what he'll bring to the table this year.

What are the conditions on the 7th rounder?

'SKINS MAKING A PLAY FOR BRIGGS?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network and Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com report that the Redskins and Bears are contemplating a trade that would send the No. 6 overall pick to Chicago for linebacker Lance Briggs and the No. 31 overall pick in the draft.

But didn't the 'Skins learn last year the folly of trying to force a Tampa 2 specialist into Gregg Williams' defense? Though we can't fault Adam Archuleta (one of our sponsors) for taking $10 million guaranteed, the Redskins should have considered more carefully the question of whether the player would fit within the system.

Briggs' success possibly is a product of his role as the weakside linebacker in the Tampa 2 defense, which gives him a lot of freedom to roam in open space and make tackles. As the "will" in a traditional 4-3, will he be as effective?

It's a big risk for the Redskins to take, in our view. But we have a feeling that owner Dan Snyder (who has been uncharacteristically quiet in free agency) is itching to make a big deal, especially at a time when he's rubbing elbows with his 31 partners/competitors at the NFL's 2007 Annual Meeting.

from pft.com

I love the Redskins. They trade the #6 pick in the draft ( passing on the best DE available) for a WLB??? They are a joke. J-O-K-E. I pray they make this move.

TALON< i BELIEVE it is a TEAM option. An option that the Bill were not going to pick up. The eagles hold all the cards I believe

I wouldn't put an extension past the Eagles, either.

He's due $4.6 this year with a $5 million team option next year. A 3 year extension with $6 or $7 million guaranteed could be a win-win here.

That way the Eagles get to lock him up for the remainder of his career, they get a better cap number, and Takeo gets some guaranteed money.

There's a possibility he could hit the market at 31 or 32 coming off average seasons and he's got to be considering that in terms of protecting his own interests.

I'm a happy guy right now, even more so if Danny boy blows two 1st rounders on Briggs... I'm still going to dream that the Eagles shock us all and trade for Briggs, to piss on Danny and give the Eagles a LB corp this city hasn't seen in years...

In reality I'm pretty happy with Spikes at strong side Trot in the middle and Banjo man(as he's now being called) back to his traditional spot weakside... the LB corp is set... time to draft away at DB or hell depth almost anywhere.

Actually, this gives them the perfect excuse to draft a decent young LB (Pierogie) to replace Banjo boy, say by preseason week 3.

To sleep now, perchance to dream of a bruising back to compliment Westy?

I can't say I'm as ecstatic as others...

#1 the deal is a steal for the Birds...no doubt

#2 I'm uncertain of Spikes' ability. This sorta feels like the "Freak" to me. Good when he's fully healthy, but with a tendency to wear down quicker and disappear when nagging injuries surface. He's an upgrade but not a definitive solution.

#3 Lance Briggs would have made this a "great offseason". I still think the Birds' #1 would be fair to me. Then, this defense would overnight become ridiculous. Add one seriously powerful DT and its open season on everything and everyone. I'd love to see what JJ could do with that.

Happy happy joy joy.

Even if Spikes tears his quad coming off the plane, it's still a good trade. Walker and a throwaway 7th and you upgrade your LB corps overnight? And a semi-decent QB thrown in for kicks and giggles?

GREAT trade, Birds. Fantabulous.

Excellent deal. EXCELLENT.

Extremeskins cracks me up.

Gaither, Trotter, Spikes isnt a terrible LB corps, assuming Gaither shows growth which I have no reason to think he cannot, and the DTs in front pick it the F up, which I have to HOPE will be the case (lookin at you- Bunkley)

I kinda touched on it yesterday, but this really creates a weird situation with the LB corps.

I assume Spikes will play the strong side (could be wrong).

What does this mean for Gocong...is he now a DE?

Not odd at all IMO.

This buys them time to see where Gocong truly fits. There's been talk even as recent as earlier this month, that they (team) and the player both arent sure where he fits yet.

He is as big as any DE they currently have, and they could be envisioning him as a guy they 'just wanna get on the field to get after the QB" in a # of packages, sometimes as a standup end, sometimes a joker(?) sometimes a SAM.

Spikes will absolutely supplant Jones, and I suspect Jones stays onboard as backup to both OLB spots.

Extends the learning curve, more game experience for Gocong who's essentially in his rookie yr, and upgrades the LB position, no pressure on Gocong....win/win.

I like the trade, but I'm not overjoyed. Spikes isn't the havoc-creating guy he was 3-5 years ago and he's not exactly coming cheap. But if he can stay healthy and Trott can duplicate last year's play (meaning solid, but not his once dominant self) then LB might actually cease to be the weak link of the D. They still need to draft some sleepers to develop for the position who can play inside of 2 seasons.

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