The Eagles younger linebackers played well at the end of the season and it looks like the front office believes they will only get better.
I was a little upset at the move at first, but I have to stick to my guns and say that offensive and defensive line play is what really matters. I think the Eagles acknowledged that they would like to pick up a receiver as seen through their actions in trying to aquire Randy Moss.
There young linebackers will do good but you cant help wondering how they could let go a 2time probowler to maybe teach them if its late in his career or whatever the Eagles are thinking
Possible trade involving Lito Sheppard and a second or third rounder for Roy Williams? What do you Eagle fans think of that? Randy Moss is one bomb ready to blow up, and when it happens you will be glad you werent stuck holding the bag on him. I dont know of any other real top shelf receivers out there, and Detroit needs the secondary help.
Granted, the Eagles need a bunch of help, but this move along with signing Samuels just don't make sense. The Eagles will be an also-ran next year, just like the past years.
How does the Samuel signing not make sense? The defense was top 10 in everything except pass defense. Not enough turnovers, and not enough consistancy at that left corner spot. So they went and signed the guy that never misses a game, and apparently knows a thing or two about getting picks.
As for the Spikes being released, it's an obvious sign in faith in the young linebackers. Last year, they commited 2 of the 3 starting LB jobs to two guys, 1 who only played half the season at weakside the year before, the other out the entire year with an injury. All that, and cut a 4-time Pro-Bowler who has been solidifying the middle of the Eagles since 1999, except for his two year injury plagued stint in Washington ('02 and '03), who in the previous season had 113 tackles and an interception. They had confidence that Omar Gaither could play the middle, and he did good. Better then expected. Gocong proved useful and an upgrade to Dhani Jones. Now they have a LB who is athletically considered better then Gaither and Gocong, in Stewart Bradley. Well, it's apparent they used the same reasoning to get rid of Spikes, as they did with Trotter. 1.) younger talent capable of doing better then the current veteran 2.) also concerned about injury issues...with Trotter, they cut him at the right time, due to his injury season.
As much as I liked Trotter, I understood he had to go for this team to succeed so the younger players could start. Trotter was given the oppurtunity to cash in somewhere else, he did, and at least he got something for signing. Spikes will probably go the same way, maybe not the injury part...but the team feels it's better without the veteran, and they were right about it last time, I trust they're right this time too.
Hey ColtsandBears hope you read Blitzvanias response...this is definitly a young LB core but a solid one. HOW IN THE WORLD can you say signing Samuels the #1 free agent dosen't put us in the running for a first round Bye is beyond me if their D was just a little better they would've make the playoffs last year. Releasing Spikes dosen't make perfect sence but obviously they have faith in this young group of guys and if they already think that they have the starters in place what is the point of keeping a veteran who's only been with them one year. Trotter's release last year suprised me this only shows me that Spikes was just an insurance policy for what they already had going into last year and things are gong as planned.
I was sorry to see the Eagles release Spikes, A great player and all around good guy. I loved him when he was with Cincinnati and have follwed him since he left. Maybe the Bengals will bring him back for a visit. Anyway he will find a new team.
Sadly, teams can't pay players 5 million dollars to be a good guy. As the posts above me (notably Blitzylvania) noted, the young corps of Eagles linebackers have already played well, and will only continue to improve. Just thinking that there is only about 5 years of experience combined in the LBs might sound worrisome to any non-Eagles fans, but anyone else who watched all 16 games last season knows that this set of LBs is special. Spikes will find a home where he can start, still make 100+ tackles and even be on a playoff contender (Pats?). The move just makes practical sense for both team and player - as Stewart Bradley would have undoubtedly gotten more playing time next year even with TKO on the roster. Whenever a team loses a veteran who is not entirely passed his prime, it does sting for a bit though (Hugh Douglas, anyone?).
Another point - anytime you pick up the top free agent available (and don't grossly overpay for him) - you win. Asante Samuel (there's no 'S' on the end of his name) will be just as good as a cover corner as Lito and will make a few more game changing plays.
The position that the team is in at DB is also extraordinary because it's essentially a win-win situation:
1) Lito gets traded for a top-flight WR: win for the offense, and the defense is still solid.
OR
2) The front office doesn't find equal worth for Lito in a trade (he IS quite valuable, as most Eagle fans will tell you - despite the 'injury issues'), and elect to keep him to play RCB. Sheldon moves to safety and all of a sudden the DBs are: Samuel, Sheppard, Brown, and Dawkins?? That set with more than capable backups in Mikell at S and Hanson at CB will hands-down be the best secondary in the league next year.
Couln't agree with you more Phillywest. Even if the Eagles don't trade Sheppard they will have one of the best secondary's in the game easily. The reason I would like Sheppard to stay is because of injuries alone. If Samuel,Sheppard, or Brown get hurt, your team is not relying on Hanson who as you said isn't that bad. Still it's great to have depth and a solid Strong Safety or Nickel back.
The best trade I can see involving Sheppard would be for Larry Fitzgerald. I am not that sold on Roy Williams. He had some pretty impressive seasons but last year he was in a slump. And this is with a pass happy offense. I also like Larry more than Ocho Cinco because he is not only young but also not a controversial personality. His only baggage is his contract which he might actually deserve. Clearing this 5 Million from cutting Spikes and whatever they save on dumping Kearse will not make signing Fitz as much of a problem.
As far as the lb's go I like them but I still want a utility guy in there like Ike Reese was. Whether they address it at the draft or not we shall see. If one of these guys get injured we need one or two backups that can fill the void. Is Clemons playing DE or will he also be playing LB?
I was surprised to hear it on the radio at first, but it honestly does make sense when you think about it. They are confident in the young LBs they have in there and didn't want to pay a 10 yr veteran 5 Mil to be in a rotation or play on specials. If they really thought the young (and not cheaper) LBs step up Eagles will look smart for saving millions, if say Stewart Bradley doesn't pan out as hoped everyone will be pointing the finger at this release.
As far as WR as far as what I have heard about him, he is a pretty solid player but has been diagnosed with a bad case of the dropsies as of late. I mean I don't take in to many Detroit Lions games but from what I have read and heard is that he has been having a hard time of hanging onto the ball. Will it be an upgrade? sure but I really doubt it would be worth Lito + picks. If you are going to get a WR, you know cleared of 5M off the cap package Lito + 1 or Lito + Reggie Brown + 2 or 3 and get Larry Fitzgerald. There is nothing worse in trading away a lot and then paying a guy top money and have him not live up to it. I can't tell the future I am just going by what I have heard from analysts on the radio and such.
If they can't get a top flight guy don't waste just to make the fans happy.
I'm quite surprised they released him because it wasn't as if they just picked him up in free agency last year, they actively traded to get him. Surely, if he wasn't the long-term option they wouldn't have sacrificed a draft pick for him (correct me if i'm wrong there)?
I just can't see why they would have done it. Its not as if he had a disastrous season - he didn't get many turnovers but that was a problem for the whole Philly defense not just him. He wasn't going to take up a huge amount of cap space and the Eagles have lots of space anyway - as a rotation guy he might be getting paid too much but its not as if the Eagles are sacrificing elsewhere (unless a trade involving someone else's monster contract is involved, Larry Fitzgerald? Roy Williams??). He's not especially old for a LB and he didn't get injured regularly. The only thing I can think is that the coaches decided he wasn't gonna be the starter and that he therefore asked to be allowed to pursue options.
the Eagles didn't bring spikes in to be a solid tackler, they have enough of those. they brought him in to be a play maker and a leader for the linebacking core- to replace trotter. he made tons of tackles, but did nothing outside of that. towards the end of the season, when the playoffs weren't an option and spikes tore his shoulder up, Stewart Bradley got his shot- and he made plays. why pay 5 mil for a vet when you can give some young talent a chance, for a much cheaper price. they're unloading as much as they can to get ready for one more move before the draft (or perhaps on draft day). as for the secondary, i personally love lito and would hate to see him go. he has been a consistent cowboy killer his entire career- and what birds fan doesn't love that? statistically speaking- samuel doesn't have much over lito, aside from a few rings- lito has been to more probowls and they are almost dead even in career picks. however, i'm definately one to appreciate health, and lito can't seem to put an entire season together. i would love to see a way for the eagles to keep lito, brown, samuel and dawkins together (forming the most vicious secondary in history) and still find a way to land a top notch reciever....but that would cost picks, and the eagles hoard those like fat kids with candy. regardless, i would like to thank the eagles front office for waking up and finally making some moves- now lets get mcnabb a weapon.
one final note...i heard there are some contract problems with moss and new england and that we still might have a shot at getting him...anybody know if there is some truth to that?
The only reason I can think of why they released him was to free up cap space. This might be the first move to bring in a number 1 WR. Takeo was a great addition, but he did not have any interceptions or forced fumbles, which is what he was known for while playing for the Bills and Bengals. Don't get me wrong though, he will get signed by a good team and make a great contribution to them.
