Eagle Fan Diary

  Free Agency is coming next week.   Understand the Eagles cap situation when evaluating Free agency acquisitions…   Some basics: Unless the Eagles sign a “premier” free agent receiver, they’re likely out on DeSean Watson, probably because he refuses to waive his no-trade for Philly.   This means they would “own” the not insignificant cap hit for their premium draft picks (last year’s 15 th pick represented a 4 mil cap hit in ’21).   They will thus have multiple 1 st round picks to sign, each currently a cap hit of around 4 million in 2022. They will therefore attempt to trade at least one of these picks back to 2023, not only to stagger cap hits, but more importantly to provide “plan B” assets if Jalen Hurts is not the answer for the Birds at QB. They may trade 1 st round assets “back” for more 2 nd day picks in this deep draft. Eagles Lessons : When evaluating free agent activity, one must factor in the impact of draft pick salaries vis-à-vis th...

  As a follow-up to yesterday’s QB carousel discussion, Carson Wentz was traded today by the Indianapolis Colts to the Washington Commanders.   See both the 2/15/22 summary and yesterday’s carousel regarding “the state of Wentz,” now with the Commanders.   In summary, any chance for his future success will be predicated on his and his team’s ability to recognize and manage his limitations… He can still be a fine game manager.   I think his landing in Washington is being underrated by Philly fans and media.   While he could be a bust, he could also be a solid success on a team that won 7 games last year handling a plethora of injuries and COVID issues.   A healthy Washington roster paired with their excellent head coach will give teams fits.   Eagle Lesson : The Commanders are not a team to overlook.   Adding Wentz, if he can play within himself, will further improve this team.

  A 2022 QB carousel is starting to unfold.   The Eagles have interest since Jalen Hurts has a high floor but a low ceiling.   There are several QB’s whose 2022 home was uncertain as this off season commenced.   3 of the top 10 NFL QB’s (probably better) are in this first bulleted list below. Two found 2022 homes today, and revelations about the third are anticipated Friday, 3/11.   Aaron Rodgers: He has some serious character flaws.   A prima donna who loves to highjack the news wire, he does not get along with his family and is a cad who revolves thru semiannual personal relationships.   He clashes with coaches and teammates, and he’s the jerk that misrepresented himself as vaccinated when he was not.      Ah, but he is also the supremely talented QB that won the NFL MVP last season… for the 4 th time.   And he has decided at age 38 to return to the Packers, his NFL home since college, and a team that went 13-3 in ‘21. Still,...

  After being traded from the Eagles to the Colts, Carson Wentz went 9-8 as an Indianapolis starter, with a 94.6 QB passer rating.   He threw for 3563 yards with 27 TD’s and only 7 interceptions.   Yet it appears his career in Indy will be limited to 1 season.   His possible exit from the Colts is clearly highlighted not by his above average statistics, but questionable leadership and character, underscored by poor individual performances in 2 critical late season games against the Raiders and Jaguars.   Although leading the Colts to 9-6 at that point (with an 11 win season clearly a possibility entering those last 2 games), the Colts may want to move on, and Wentz will now likely move from young Eagle star and MVP candidate in 2017, to post-injury NFL capable starter in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (his horrific 2020 an anomaly), to now a player who at best will need to fight to remain an NFL starter. After a fine rookie season in 2016, Wentz was the biggest reason, a...

  Dick Vermeil was voted to be enshrined as an NFL HOF for coaching this past week.   Although some of his resume appears relatively (HOF) modest (126-114 record, 3 Division titles, 1 Super Bowl win in 15 seasons) for a Hall Of Fame projection, Vermeils induction will be well deserved: He was named Coach of the Year at the high school, junior college, collegiate, and professional levels.  He was the first NFL special Teams coach ever (under George Allen in 1969). As an NFL head coach over 15 seasons, he turned not 1, not 2 but THREE NFL franchises (Eagles, then Rams and finally the Chiefs) from losers to winners, taking 2 to the Super Bowl. He is 1 of only 6 NFL coaches ever to lead 2 different teams to the Super Bowl. He was twice named the NFL’s best head coach during his 15 seasons in that role. He will be 1 of only 27 NFL coaches in the Hall. Vermeil was a terrific motivator and versatile communicator.   His 15 years of head coaching were spread acr...

  The Rams returned to LA in 2016, and after going 54-25 over the last 5 seasons, got to their 2 nd Supe since their LA homecoming… And this time they won it in a new stadium in front of their fans, at home.   Can the Eagles and the rest of the NFL learn anything from the template the Rams used to get to TWO Super Bowls since the Eagles made their appearance?   The Rams actually were a team built through the draft, acquiring talent that can be locked “inexpensively” for several seasons.   But this was done non-traditionally by trading most of their 1 st round picks in recent years.   Rams GM Les Snead obtained the Lombardi trophy by doing the “right thing” (build thru the draft) with 1 major exception… He acquired his “finishing pieces,” crafty veterans and pricey free agents, at the cost of recent premium draft picks, but still wisely selected and used his “less valuable” remaining draft selections to choose mid-late round crown jewels.   In 2018 a re...

  The 2021 NFL season concluded today with a Ram victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.   3 players were most responsible for the championship… For both the game and the entire season. One- Aaron Donald solidified his position as a worthy 1 st ballot Hall of Famer at Defensive Tackle.   While claims that he may be “ the best defensive player of all time ” are overstated, it is true he is in short company.   Donald was drafted 13 th in 2014, behind this “dirty dozen…” DE Jadeveon Clowney, OT’s Greg Robinson & Jake Mathews & Taylor Lewan, QB Blake Bortles, WR’s Sammy Watkins & Mike Evans & Odell Beckham, LB’s Khalil Mack & Anthony Barr, CB Justin Gilbert and TE Eric Ebron.   While surely an impressive list (8 of them have, in total, earned 24 Pro Bowls), those clubs would no doubt love to have their selection back to have acquired Donald.   At his position, he sits alongside some of the best ever (Bob Lilly, Alan Page & Merlin Olsen ...