1 minute ago, Sack that QB said:

It's not necessarily about replacing AJ with the compensation. It's if you're going to make a trade you're under no obligation to make, and actively make your team worse in a SB or bust season(which their moves tell you for them it still is) then you better get back an absolute haul.

Getting drama out of your locker room is addition by subtraction. Whether he was pouting or had a bad knee/hammy, last years version of AJ was not worth the drama.

Just now, DaBirds said:

Getting drama out of your locker room is addition by subtraction. Whether he was pouting or had a bad knee/hammy, last years version of AJ was not worth the drama.

Some fan outsiders look at it that way but every single reporter who covers the team said this was a non issue for every player in the locker room. So to the team it wasn't a problem. And that's all that matters.

Fans always overrate the "distraction" aspect of sports. It's not nearly as big of a thing as fans think it is, on-field production and impact will always matter most. A far bigger factor is if his attitude will impact his effort and that is fair. I think the "AJ had a bad year" narratives are severely overblown. Was he the AJ of the previous 3 years? No, but he was still the best WR on the team. Missed games and still had a better year than Devonta.

I think a lot of this is copium and setting the stage for the "Eh... he wasn't that good anyway anymore" takes assuming the trade happens, which you know those takes are coming.

This situation from a fan standpoint(not player standpoint) reminds me a lot of the Sixers Jimmy Butler situation. When he was playing for the Sixers that year everyone knew the value he provided. Almost carried them to upsetting the Raptors in that playoff series. Then he gets traded to the Heat so the team could build around Simmons and Tobias Harris(LOL) and suddenly the takes were "Good luck in Miami, loser! Good luck winning down there!" and "The dude flat out refused to shoot 3 pointers here as a protest to Ben Simmons not passing him the ball. He was a distraction, we're better off."

The rest is history, a lot of egg on the faces of a lot of fans for those takes.

14 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Lemon is clearly a slot, but who is he mirroring in the SF/GB/LAR schemes. Stowers is clearly a F type, not Kittles or Kraft or the slew of Y types that the Rams are amassing. Bell is not in the same zip code as a OZ lineman.

So, to my point - it appears that Howie is collecting players that are not a match to what we thought Mannion is selling.

Did you see the video of Mannion’s sh** eating grin when Howie announced Stowers? I’m pretty sure there is a plan and that Stowers will act as a power slot type of player. A lot of him lining up in bunch formations, in the slot, motioning him pre snap, etc. He’ll also be the lone "TE” (though probably lineup in a 2 point stance) on third and distance.

As for his direct comparison, the Rams just brought in Max Klare and Rohan Jones, both "F” types. The 9ers have Jake Tonges. Yes, the 9ers have Kittle and he’s been the best all around TE in the NFL since Gronk hung up his cleats, but both of those teams have pure pass catchers on their roster.

Bell I think is a unique situation in that maybe he doesn’t fit the stereotype of an OZ tackle, but he has enough movement skills and such rare physical proportions that he can play in an OZ system while still giving you another dynamic to his game. Plus, finding a guy in a weak draft in the mid rounds who can actually pass protect at a starter’s level isn’t easy.

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

She made him a f’n mix tape????

1 hour ago, NCiggles said:

Remember when everything wasn't online.

Thank god social media wasn't a thing until I was well out of college. I would be so f'n screwed.

2 hours ago, NCiggles said:

I believe so.

He may have left but you guys got to keep me

9 minutes ago, paco said:

Thank god social media wasn't a thing until I was well out of college. I would be so f'n screwed.

Or even camera phones for me. That would not have been good

1 hour ago, Mike030270 said:

Will you cry if Brown has 1k+ yards on his new team?

Shouldn't be hard for him to reach that level. He's done it every year with us. His 4 year average with us is about 1200 yards and 8 TDs. I'd cry if he goes for 1700, 12 TDs and a SB.

3 hours ago, ManuManu said:

I can appreciate a receiver wanting the ball more, especially elite players who want to be viewed as the best at his position. That means targets and production. I can even understand that after a win. I’m sure it’s annoying to run a bunch of wind sprints and come away with the ball thrown your direction 5 times.

What always got me though was not long after winning the Super Bowl he was like, "That was cool, I guess, but what I really love is beating the man across from me.” Even if you think that, don’t put that out there. You won the damn Super Bowl.

No wonder he was pissed last year. He was not at his best at beating the man across from himself.

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Having to wait two years to get a return on the best WR in team history would be a colossal joke. Unless it’s like a 2027 2nd and a 2028 1st. I could tolerate that.

6 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

Or even camera phones for me. That would not have been good

You mean if in 99 some snapped a pic of me tripping on acid in an Ohio Waffle House wearing an Afro wig would have been a bad thing?

(I may or may not have an analog photo….)

43 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

I don't think it's bad blood with Hurts or Sirianni that is driving the trade request. This is about money. AJ wants another big money deal. If his productivity here is where it has been the last 2 seasons, he's not going to be able to get a big deal. His complaints about production about wanting a bigger role are all about knowing he is closer to 30 and if he stays with the team will not get a big money deal. People on this board tend to underrate him but he has been a top 5 all-time Eagles WR since joining the team. Even with Lemon, the Eagles are taking a step back in terms of talent at the position.

In terms of value for the trade, the Eagles are not looking to replace AJ with the compensation. They are looking at Lemon and Devonta having enough talent to replace it in a different offense. Whatever asset they get is going for other team needs. Howie knows he has the job security to think ahead to 2028 and beyond. For him, getting a 2028 first vs. a 2nd in 2027 may give him more flexibilty. My guess is that they looked at this draft as a way to replace either AJ or find Lane's replacement. I think they view Bell as a dart throw at Lane. Lemon is viewed as a replacement for AJ's production. In 2027, my sense is they will go into the draft with OT as their biggest need. QB may be a close second depending on Hurts's season. The 2 2028 firsts allow them flexibility to target a QB in 2027 or 2028.

This. I’ve said this for a while, once that trade is completed and I’m guessing New England gives him an extension there’s gonna be leaks about how he wanted an extension and the Eagles didn’t want to do it. I don’t think that’s like the major thing, but I do think it plays a part. Money always talks. I can totally understand it from the Eagles perspective cause he’s gonna be 30 years old when the extension would kick in. And they have a bunch of defensive players they gotta pay and they don’t want to pay a guy over 30 who might be on the decline, has had knee issues and can be a pain in the ass at times. On AJ‘s side I can totally see him saying well. My production is going down and that’s gonna be held against me. It’s gonna be held against me then I’m gonna be 30 if I wait until after 2026 to try to get an extension and maybe I get hurt or maybe my decline even more statistically then I don’t get what i think i deserve on my last big payday.

To your second paragraph, I still think going into next year the 4 positions where they more than likely kind of have long-term questions are probably safety, corner (woolen only here for a year), OT (Williams and bell are still projects) and OG (don’t know how Dickerson is going to look this year or feel at years’ end and steen is a fa). I think Qb, WR and Rb could also be there depending on the season. I’m not so sure how much longer Barkley is going to be here based of his contract an d age. and you don’t know exactly how the wide receiving corps is gonna be. Lemon and smith may work but might still need an outside wr if wicks, brown and cooper don’t work.

1 minute ago, pgcd3 said:

Isn't everyone gonna think Goedert is the ball??

2 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

Do you guys think he’s holding out?  

2 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

Man. Smith invited Janky Rando and Christian Gonzalez and AJ still didn't want to go

49 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Lemon is clearly a slot, but who is he mirroring in the SF/GB/LAR schemes. Stowers is clearly a F type, not Kittles or Kraft or the slew of Y types that the Rams are amassing. Bell is not in the same zip code as a OZ lineman.

So, to my point - it appears that Howie is collecting players that are not a match to what we thought Mannion is selling.

Lemon and Stowers were clearly Mannion influenced picks. The look between Mannion and Howie on the Lemon pick says it all.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXhmsY8kVc9/

2 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Man. Smith invited Janky Rando and Christian Gonzalez and AJ still didn't want to go

Clearly he hates Devonta…

6 hours ago, Eagles1960 said:

Stribling is actually a very good replacement for Jauan Jennings. Same big body and both block their asses off. Both do the dirty work. Stribling is much faster than Jennings. I can see why SF drafted him #33. No other team would have done that. I am surprised nobody has signed Jennings.

3 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

This. I’ve said this for a while, once that trade is completed and I’m guessing New England gives him an extension there’s gonna be leaks about how he wanted an extension and the Eagles didn’t want to do it. I don’t think that’s like the major thing, but I do think it plays a part. Money always talks. I can totally understand it from the Eagles perspective cause he’s gonna be 30 years old when the extension would kick in. And they have a bunch of defensive players they gotta pay and they don’t want to pay a guy over 30 who might be on the decline, has had knee issues and can be a pain in the ass at times. On AJ‘s side I can totally see him saying well. My production is going down and that’s gonna be held against me. It’s gonna be held against me then I’m gonna be 30 if I wait until after 2026 to try to get an extension and maybe I get hurt or maybe my decline even more statistically then I don’t get what i think i deserve on my last big payday.

To your second paragraph, I still think going into next year the 4 positions where they more than likely kind of have long-term questions are probably safety, corner (woolen only here for a year), OT (Williams and bell are still projects) and OG (don’t know how Dickerson is going to look this year or feel at years’ end and steen is a fa). I think Qb, WR and Rb could also be there depending on the season. I’m not so sure how much longer Barkley is going to be here based of his contract an d age. and you don’t know exactly how the wide receiving corps is gonna be. Lemon and smith may work but might still need an outside wr if wicks, brown and cooper don’t work.

I honestly don’t think it’s about money. It was about his utilization and relationship with Hurts. That "If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” immediately after having 2 catches for 7 yards (on 9 targets) speaks to that IMO

3 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

Lemon and Stowers were clearly Mannion influenced picks. The look between Mannion and Howie on the Lemon pick says it all.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXhmsY8kVc9/

That was Vrabel-Russini level fireworks

Just now, paco said:

I honestly don’t think it’s about money. It was about his utilization and relationship with Hurts. That "If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” immediately after having 2 catches for 7 yards (on 9 targets) speaks to that IMO

I think that’s the bigger issue. I think he also realizes because of that issue it’s going to cost him money. In the end, there’s always a money aspect because he knows his next contract is his last big contract. especially because he only has 4 million guaranteed on his contract after 2026. He doesn’t want his production to keep dropping knowing he’s gonna go into negotiations and it is gonna be held against him as he is going to be 30 and his production has continuously declined over the past couple years due to what you are stating.

6 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Makes sense if he's mulling over going to a new team, but who the F would want his drama at his age??

CLE, ARI, Jets are the only places I can think of.