Signing White might be the best move made so far.


Since the 2009 season ended, I've been all but screaming that the Eagles have to go out and re-sign linebacker and special teams ace Tracy White.

It didn't look like they were going to at first, and I had even resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't happening, but I was pleasantly surprised last Saturday when the team announced his return.

I'm not sure if it was feeling a need to replace a special teams player when Joe Mays was traded, or if it's a quiet nervousness about the youth at linebacker, but I don't really care either way. White was a guy the Birds had to resign, and they've done just that.

As I've said of White in previous posts, he's a guy every team needs. He's a hard-working guy who has the intelligence and just enough athletic ability needed to play in this league.

The signing might also mean the team is finally starting to take an interest in their special teams unit. It's a phase of the game that's been largely ignored by Andy Reid during his tenure in Philadelphia, whether it was not having a return man in 2007, or not having anyone for the coverage units in 2008, Reid has largely ignored special teams even recently.

But now with the signing of White, Kelly Washington, and the hiring of Bobby April, it appears as though Reid is finally coming around to the idea of special teams truly be one-third of the game.

If Reid is smart, White will make this team -- even if it means sacrificing one of the draft picks because, when it comes down to it, he's still going to be a more valuable asset.