15 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

 

If you're a high Howie pick, you have a job for the foreseeable future. Demonstrated ability matters only peripherally.

4 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

We don’t know that the team didn’t check into other options at DE or RB. In all likelihood they did but didn’t like the numbers they were hearing. In Barnett’s case, they have simply preferred him to what’s left. Key had character concerns previously and apparently is a poor run defender with his best pass rush success at DT.

I think there is merit to the thought that the team should have waited out the market at RB. Maybe they should have waited it out longer at DE, but we won’t really know until we see Barnett’s contract or some of the others that eventually sign. 

So, that almost pushes us to conclude the narrative that players don't want to come here has a significant amount of truth to it.

2 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Ward signed a minimum contract with zero guaranteed money. Why bother waiting to sign him to that deal? 

As for Scott and Barnett, we really have no idea if they were being pursued. I know you’re going off a lack of report, but that doesn’t mean teams weren’t sniffing around. I think we can surmise that the interest wasn’t heavy however. That’s a fair assessment. 

That was the best news of the offseason.  And I was very happy to see that when it came out. 

14 hours ago, Khani1 said:

Haven't had a knob creek and coke in a while.  Forgot how good they are.

Why would you ruin a decent bourbon with coke...or any soda?  Just stick to Evan Williams or something if you gonna mix it with coke lol

7 minutes ago, RLC said:

They signed the best, young EDGE in the FA class.

Highly debatable.   Is a guy more prone to being penalized than making a positive play for your defense really 'the best' there was?  And if he was... how sad for the league.

Just because a lemon is the best car on the lot, doesn't mean that you have to be first in line to buy it. 

1 minute ago, Wentz_Era said:

Why would you ruin a decent bourbon with coke...or any soda?  Just stick to Evan Williams or something if you gonna mix it with coke lol

For real! 

 

I once had some guests over, walked into the kitchen and saw somebody pouring a bourbon and coke with my Blanton's! Lesson learned. Keep the good stuf in a cabinet, and let the people who appreciate it know where to find it.

15 hours ago, Texas Eagle said:

Eagles next move is to trade into top 5 for a QB. Heard it here first.

I won't be surprised.

Just now, Iggles_Phan said:

So, that almost pushes us to conclude the narrative that players don't want to come here has a significant amount of truth to it.

That’s a pretty wild conclusion to jump to based on what you bolded. 

Players want X dollars. The team wants to pay Y dollars. 

13 hours ago, Khani1 said:

Besides Cox's earlier years, when was the last time we had a perennial difference maker on defense?

 

13 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Dawkins

Asante technically was here after Dawkins left.

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

That’s a pretty wild conclusion to jump to based on what you bolded. 

Players want X dollars. The team wants to pay Y dollars. 

I did say 'almost'.   There are other options, for example: 

The team can only pay Y dollars.  Other teams are offering X dollars (though according to reports, Marcus Williams was offered the same from the Ravens). 

Maybe the issue is the Eagles can't compete because of their tight cap situation, and players don't want to come for a discount or even the same money as other teams.    Typically when a team can't land talent without overpaying, there's a reason for it.   Maybe this isn't the most attractive place to play any more. 

 

 

Needless to say, I have zero confidence in this front office to acquire the necessary talent to fix what this same front office broke.

4 minutes ago, Wentz_Era said:

Asante technically was here after Dawkins left.

He was never the same level of play maker as Dawkins or Cox was early in his career, at least not to my eyes.  He was extremely limited in his usage.  He had to be used as a zone corner exclusively.  Dawkins was a chess piece able to be moved around at the whim of our maniacally genius DC.  Cox was scheme independent, starting in a 4-3, then effective in a 3-4, then back to 4-3.

12 hours ago, HazletonEagle said:

still want Kyzir White

Who is Drew Hartlaub at Penn State with the 4.22?

Franklin certainly doesn't recruit the Ferrari's very often, but he assembles a team of Lexus' then spends 3-4 years trying to get them to work but can't because he stares at the FOB not understanding keyless start.

Just now, Iggles_Phan said:

I did say 'almost'.   There are other options, for example: 

The team can only pay Y dollars.  Other teams are offering X dollars (though according to reports, Marcus Williams was offered the same from the Ravens). 

Maybe the issue is the Eagles can't compete because of their tight cap situation, and players don't want to come for a discount or even the same money as other teams.    Typically when a team can't land talent without overpaying, there's a reason for it.   Maybe this isn't the most attractive place to play any more. 

Of course the Eagles’ poor cap plays a major factor. That’s the real issue in FA. 

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Of course the Eagles’ poor cap plays a major factor. That’s the real issue in FA. 

They could have not brought Cox back and used that money to go after a true impact player.

3 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

They could have not brought Cox back and used that money to go after a true impact player.

That’s fair. I’d have preferred overpaying a bit for Marcus Williams and letting Cox walk. 

23 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Ward signed a minimum contract with zero guaranteed money. Why bother waiting to sign him to that deal? 

As for Scott and Barnett, we really have no idea if they were being pursued. I know you’re going off a lack of report, but that doesn’t mean teams weren’t sniffing around. I think we can surmise that the interest wasn’t heavy however. That’s a fair assessment. 

Why rush to sign him to that deal, if he's signing that he's had zero interest. You're telling me we couldn't find another slot receiver to replace a guy who was WR4 on our depth chart and had 7 catches for 95 yards last year?  Jesus we could bring TO out of retirement now and I'd back him to make 7 catches against some of the defenses we faced last year.

Ward isn't worth Vet minimum, what is he going to teach the younger guys as a Vet?  He can't even regale the locker room about his career struggle behined 2 of the worst early round WR picks in history because they're still there.

Ward and JJAW should both have been gone, our special teams ain't that good.

11 hours ago, HazletonEagle said:

Thats not even true. People just say that....

If I had a dollar for every time he's lost contain, crashed or been out of position I'd be richer than I would if I had a dollar for every bone headed penalty he's taken.  I'm holding my tongue right now on lambasting Howie till I see the money in this deal.

23 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

He was never the same level of play maker as Dawkins or Cox was early in his career, at least not to my eyes.  He was extremely limited in his usage.  He had to be used as a zone corner exclusively.  Dawkins was a chess piece able to be moved around at the whim of our maniacally genius DC.  Cox was scheme independent, starting in a 4-3, then effective in a 3-4, then back to 4-3.

I agree and disagree.

8 hours ago, jwill2420 said:

For how many targets he will have this season

FYP

16 minutes ago, Wentz_Era said:

If I had a dollar for every time he's lost contain, crashed or been out of position I'd be richer than I would if I had a dollar for every bone headed penalty he's taken.  I'm holding my tongue right now on lambasting Howie till I see the money in this deal.

As the 2nd biggest Howie supporter on the EMB and probably the world, I dont like this offseason.

I admit, I dont know the whole plan. This could be just a frustrating and necessary step 1 of a multi-year plan. Maybe next year is wild. Who knows.

But in a vacuum, despite all DUM's dead money worries and cap hell doomsday warnings, we had money to bring in a few impact players. We started with a bang and then did nothing. And then started bringing back some of our most average players in the 2nd wave of free agency where better players are still available at a bargain. I dont think theres really any way to make sense of it even if theres a larger picture we dont see yet. 

We could have done these same types of deals with different players.

 

I have faith Howie will give us an exhilarating time by this time next year. But Im pissed off at him right now.

27 minutes ago, Cochis_Calhoun said:

Why rush to sign him to that deal, if he's signing that he's had zero interest. You're telling me we couldn't find another slot receiver to replace a guy who was WR4 on our depth chart and had 7 catches for 95 yards last year?  Jesus we could bring TO out of retirement now and I'd back him to make 7 catches against some of the defenses we faced last year.

Ward isn't worth Vet minimum, what is he going to teach the younger guys as a Vet?  He can't even regale the locker room about his career struggle behined 2 of the worst early round WR picks in history because they're still there.

Ward and JJAW should both have been gone, our special teams ain't that good.

Ward is a camp body. The contract says as much. Pascal is our slot at the moment. 

5 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Ward is a camp body. The contract says as much. Pascal is our slot at the moment. 

I agree with the first sentence. Ward is no lock to make this team. I do not agree with your last statement. Paschal is not a big slot. He will play outside. Watkins or a rook will get the majority of slot looks. 

2 minutes ago, Outlaw said:

I agree with the first sentence. Ward is no lock to make this team. I do not agree with your last statement. Paschal is not a big slot. He will play outside. Watkins or a rook will get the majority of slot looks. 

Didn’t he mostly play slot when Sirianni was there?

43 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

That’s fair. I’d have preferred overpaying a bit for Marcus Williams and letting Cox walk. 

Yes!

39 minutes ago, Wentz_Era said:

If I had a dollar for every time he's lost contain, crashed or been out of position I'd be richer than I would if I had a dollar for every bone headed penalty he's taken.  I'm holding my tongue right now on lambasting Howie till I see the money in this deal.

The fact that it was reported as a two year deal tells me there is guaranteed money there, which is too much for him.