Barnes barely had time to unpack his bags in Philly.


About two hours before the final cuts, the Eagles swung a trade with the Baltimore Ravens for DE/OLB Antwan Barnes. The Ravens, in return, received a 2011 seventh-round pick and the praise for Barnes started rolling in hot and heavy from the front office.

We heard about how the team was looking at him during the 2007 draft and thought very highly of him. We heard how he was going to be great for the team on third down passing situations and that his athleticism would be a great addition for Sean McDermott's defense.

But less than a month into the season, he's been cut and signed by a different team (San Diego Chargers) and the team is out a seventh-round pick.

Initially, it's tough to get on Andy Reid and the front office because their trades hit more often than they miss, but what they're doing this year is almost inexplicable. The pick for Barnes has been wasted, the pick for Reggie Wells is being wasted as he undeservingly sits on the bench, and I'm still convinced they gave up far too much for Darryl Tapp.

Sure, he's been fairly impressive the past couple weeks, but a fourth-round pick and Chris Clemons was a hefty price to pay for a guy who might play 15 snaps per game -- if he's lucky.

I'm also still not sure what landed Barnes on the inactive list and eventually on the waiver wire.

To me, it seemed like he was getting good pressure when he was in the game. He appeared quick off the edge and seemed to have some decent secondary moves -- especially for a guy who hadn't played defensive end since college.

So after trading for a guy he knew would be a project Reid decides to cut him loose less than a month into the season? What in the hell is Reid thinking? He did the same thing a couple years ago when he traded a seventh-round pick for FB Luke Lawton. If memory serves me correctly, Lawton didn't even make it to the regular season.

But at least fullback was a position of dire need. Defensive end was one of the team's deeper positions and yet Reid thought enough of Barnes to sacrifice a draft pick for him. So again, why give the guy less than a month to transition into a new position?

Or perhaps the better question is why in the hell Reid is once again trying to move a guy from 3-4 outside linebacker to defensive end? How many times is he going to try this before he realizes it's not as easy as he thinks it is?

He already tried it once this year with Alex Hall (another busted trade), and has drafted guys better suited for the 3-4 like Chris Gocong and Ricky Sapp. Gocong is now starting in the Browns' 3-4 scheme and Sapp has been stashed away on IR because he was not ready to come in and play defensive end in this league.

I understand it's just a seventh-round pick, but this is getting ridiculous. Trading for Barnes in the first place was a head-scratcher, but the way they talked him up paired with a pretty decent showing early in the season had me thinking there was some potential in him.

And then, a few weeks later, he's clear across the country once again playing in the 3-4.

Clearly Reid is just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. That might have worked in years past when the team had a bit more glue to work with, but it's not working this year.

I've been a vocal Reid supporter, but perhaps it's time to reconsider my position.

UPDATE (sort of): The Eagles have signed defensive end Pannel Egboh to the practice squad, likely in an effort to replace Barnes. Egboh, if you recall, was picked up by the team before the final preseason game and had an impressive showing as he racked up one sack and forced fumble.

Egboh will take the spot left vacant by receiver Chad Hall.
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Yupp, Barnes is the guy who made this infamous tackle.


Quite honestly, I'm not sure why anyone tries to guess how Andy Reid's final roster will look. Just when you think you know what he's thinking, he throws a curveball like this and makes a trade about four hours before the deadline to finalize the roster.

Reid is clearly still chatting it up with his former special teams coordinator Jon Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, as the two teams have swung a trade that will send outside linebacker Antwan Barnes to Philly for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick.

Smart money says the pick is a conditional late-rounder, but the Eagles did just trade away their sixth-round pick next year to the Cardinals for Reggie Wells, so it could be a straight-up seventh-round pick.

Barnes played outside linebacker in the Ravens' 3-4 scheme, but is expected to play a hybrid role of linebacker and defensive end in Sean McDermott's 4-3 defense.

Now, I'm not saying Barnes isn't a good athlete who could help the team out, but hasn't Reid learned his lesson yet?

Alex Hall, Chris Gocong, and Ricky Sapp are all guys Reid has picked up to play either linebacker or defensive end in the team's 4-3 scheme, but are clearly best fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. I don't quite understand why he still thinks it's easy to transition from a pass-rushing outside linebacker to putting your hand in the ground or vice versa, but he just keeps trying it.

We keep hearing about this "Joker" position, but McDermott doesn't really employ a Joker often enough to swing a trade to specifically fill the aforementioned role.

The move for Barnes will likely push out someone like Tracy White or Moise Fokou, so all in all it seems like more of a lateral move than anything.
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Joe Mays is headed for the Mile High city of Denver.


Say what you will about the personnel moves and what not, but there is truly never a dull moment with this team.

The Eagles announced late Friday night that they've traded linebacker Joe Mays to the Denver Broncos for running back J.J. Arrington, or a conditional 2012 draft pick. What that likely means is if the Birds were to cut Arrington before the regular season, they'll get the pick instead.

But now, let me comment on the personnel move (and what not). I don't understand it. Sure, getting anything for a guy they would have likely released in a month or so is a good thing, but why trade for Arrington when they've already got three guys battling it out for the third spot?

Unless, of course, this is a way of putting Charles Scott, Eldra Buckley, and Martell Mallett on notice. But is there really any way the Eagles envision cutting all three guys?

Buckley is a guy the team likes on special teams, Mallett is a prime candidate for the practice squad, and Scott is a sixth-round pick who's showing an ability to quickly pick up the offense and appears hellbent on proving he's not a one-dimensional short-yardage guy.

Arrington, as he's shown throughout his career, is just a guy. He has decent hands out of the backfield, is an average blocker, and can contribute on special teams, but is that enough for the Birds to consider cutting loose two rookies and a guy they know in Buckley?

Like I said, I don't understand this. There had to be someone else Andy Reid, Joe Banner, and Howie Roseman could have squeezed out of the Broncos. Perhaps a corner or safety who could come in and make a push at a position much more shaky than running back.

But, even a late-round pick for Mays is a win, I suppose. That's where they drafted him, so three years later it's a wash and they can move on with the young linebackers they drafted this offseason in Keenan Clayton and Jamar Chaney.

UPDATE: We've learned the conditional pick in 2012 would be a sixth-round pick.
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Can the Eagles tap into potential the Lions didn't see?


In the Eagles fifth offseason trade, they acquired linebacker Ernie Sims from the Detroit Lions in a three-team trade that also included sending a fifth-round pick to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos, in turn, sent tight end Tony Scheffler and a seventh-round pick to the Lions.

"I'm just real excited, looking for a new beginning ... I'm ready to jump in," Sims said in a conference call with reporters. "I'm like a sponge right now."

Sims' role with the Eagles has yet to be determined, but it's possible he could play either WILL or SAM linebacker. Sims told reporters that he didn't have a set position in Detroit as they mainly played left or right outside linebackers, as opposed to weak or strong side.

Sims also said that he has and can cover tight ends, an obvious weakspot amongst the Eagles current linebacking corps.

"Ernie Sims is an impact player at the linebacker position," said head coach Andy Reid. "He brings a lot of energy to our already energized defense. We are looking forward to adding him to our team."

My immediate reaction is that the Eagles got a great bargain in this deal. They get a guy who was a first-round pick in 2006 because of his incredible athleticism, but who was probably misused and lost in the shuffle in Detroit, for only a fifth-round pick.

A pick, by the way, that the Birds acquired from Cleveland in the Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong trade (137th overall).

The Lions' new regime has been looking to move Sims for a little while now, so it's not a surprise that they decided to pull the trigger now when given the chance. Their move to acquire Scheffler, however, is a bit more perplexing considering they drafted Brandon Pettigrew in last year's draft.

But, we'll leave that to the Lions faithful to debate while we in Philadelphia get to feel good about pulling off a great trade for a guy with unlimited potential.

Sims is only 6'0, 230 pounds, so it's likely that he challenges Akeem Jordan at WILL, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them throw him in at SAM and hope for the best. It will definitely be a training camp scramble to keep an eye on.
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Gaither may have played his last game as an Eagle.


Of the nine guys the Eagles tendered as restricted free agents this offseason, only two of them, Jason Avant and Leonard Weaver, have received long-term deals, while Chris Gocong has already been moved to the Cleveland Browns.

The other six guys will be playing under one-year deals and don't figure to be in the Eagles' long-term plans.

Of those six players, Ellis Hobbs, Akeem Jordan, and Nick Cole figure to see substantial playing time as either backups or starters and are more-or-less untouchable. Cole could be the most likely to get moved given Andy Reid's ability to plug in linemen, or if Reid jumps on Maurkice Pouncey at 24th overall as many seem to believe.

Two others, Omar Gaither and Max Jean-Gilles, appear to be available to the same fate as Gocong -- traded to the first team willing to take them.

For those of you who can do math, you know I didn't mention one guy. Sav Rocca, the guy I didn't mention, isn't in the Eagles' long-term plans, but he's probably their best option for right now and is certainly not going to get them anything via trade.

The market for Gaither and Jean-Gilles doesn't figure to be vast, if one exists at all, so either player would most likely be used in a package so the Eagles can move up in the draft.

Jean-Gilles would be best suited heading to a downhill run-first team, as his run-blocking ability far outweighs his pass-blocking. He's a big body at 6'4, 350 pounds (give or take), so he could help any team looking to run right up the middle.

Gaither is much more intriguing guy. He's very versatile and has started in the middle and on the weakside at linebacker, but could probably even play the strongside in a pinch. Teams will love his versatility, as Reid does, so he could be much more difficult for teams to pry away.

He's not quite physical enough to be a starter on anything more than an average defense, but he's a very good backup for any team still running the 4-3. He could find some use as a 3-4 inside linebacker, but WILL is probably where he belongs.

It's a bit more sketchy with the other players, but I would be very surprised if either Jean-Gilles or Gaither are on this roster when the 2010 offseason camps really get under way.

I believe the Eagles will be looking to move up in almost every round of the draft, and Gaither and Jean-Gilles will be two pieces of ammunition in order to do just that.
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Love him or hate him, vote McNabb to the '10 Pro Bowl.


As many of you know, I was, and still am, of the thinking that moving Donovan McNabb was a terrible mistake -- especially moving him inside the division. However, I am an Eagles fan first, and a McNabb fan second.

Because of that, it is the duty of every Eagles fan to vote for Donovan McNabb when the Pro Bowl voting comes around.

Regardless of whether or not the Redskins are 8-0 or 0-8, whether he's thrown 20 touchdowns or two, every fan must vote for the new Redskins quarterback.

Why? Well, because if McNabb goes to the Pro Bowl in 2010, the fourth-round pick the Eagles are currently due to receive from the 'Skins turns into a third. The other way is if McNabb plays 70 percent of the snaps and the 'Skins win nine games, but that team winning nine games is still a bit far-fetched.

Outside of trading for McNabb and bringing in Mike Shanahan, the team is essentially the same and will have a problem scoring points. The defense is good, and looks to get better under Jim Haslett, but even McNabb won't be able to resurrect that offense.

The fan vote is only worth about 25 percent, but with McNabb's name he should only have to have a slightly above-average season to make it into the NFL's All-Star game -- especially if Brett Favre doesn't return to the Vikings.

So, Eagles fans, when the time comes make sure you vote McNabb into the Pro Bowl, even at the expense of voting for Kolb (fingers crossed he actually deserves it). You've actually got the chance to influence what draft pick the Eagles will take from the 'Skins, so make sure you do your civic duty!

But, just to be safe, don't tell the Redskins fans we're doing this. They're just gonna vote for him too and unknowingly further our cause... they're so stupid.
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Even the Redskins think his contract is ridiculous.


Per Adam Calpan of Scout.com, the Eagles were reportedly offered defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in the recent blockbuster trade of Donovan McNabb. The Eagles will receive a second-round pick in 2010 and either a third or fourth in 2011, but they could have had Haynesworth as well.

"The Redskins actually offered - I'm told by two league sources - Albert Haynesworth, the oustanding defensive tackle, but Albert Haynesworth has an enormous contract," Caplan said before sneaking in that Jim Zorn and his staff couldn't stand Haynesworth.

Apparently, the Eagles do not believe (and neither does the rest of the league) that Haynesworth is worth the ridiculous money the Redskins paid him. And if the Danny Snyder thought he'd get lucky enough to have a team like the Eagles take on the burden, he's crazy.

Despite the need for a playmaker along the defensive line, the Eagles still didn't think the money was worth having an underachiever who plays when he wants to.

It will probably upset a lot of fans in Philadelphia, but I'm with the Eagles on this one. There was absolutely no reason to pick him up for the sole fact that he's not worth the money he's being paid.

Add in the fact that he's a crybaby and an underachieving locker room cancer and it doesn't take a lot of thought to figure out why the Eagles turned that down.

There's absolutely no doubt that it would be great to have Haynesworth on your team, but only if he's in a contract year and thinks he has some incentive to play well. Simply playing to win is clearly not good enough for him and the Redskins are starting to realize that.

I've always joked that the only way Hayneworth would be on my team is if I could just keep signing him to one-year deals. That's the only way anyone will get any real value out of him.

But now that the 'Skins have paid him, they're stuck with him. Outside of releasing him and admitting right out that it was a huge mistake, they're stuck paying his ridiculous salary for the next six years.

In the whirlwind of trading for McNabb, I almost forgot what a hilarious trainwreck the Redskins have been under the ownership of Snyder.

I'm not exactly sure what McNabb was thinking, perhaps it was just the opportunity to stick it to the Eagles and the fans who made the last 11 years of his life a living hell, but if it were me I'd have been on the first plane to Buffalo.
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Reid already knows who he'll be selecting in the draft.


Before they traded away Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong, I thought the Eagles would simply sit at the 24th pick and take the best player available. They would, of course, make a move if a player would begin to slip as was the case of Jeremy Maclin last year, but that would be the only way they made a move.

Now, with the two extra draft picks, I have a funny feeling the Eagles have a certain player in mind for the first round and will move up in order to acquire him.

It's not out of the ordinary for Andy Reid, who has moved up to acquire the likes of Shawn Andrews, Jerome McDougle, and Jeremy Maclin. Andrews and McDougle, of course, haven't worked out due to injuries, but Maclin looks like he's going to develop into an elite player.

There are several holes on the Eagles' defense, including defensive end, linebacker, free safety, and cornerback. Reid knows that as well as we do, so it's possible that the Eagles trade up for someone like Jason Pierre-Paul, Rolando McClain, Earl Thomas, or Kyle Wilson.

My guess is that the Eagles have one of those guys in their sights, and will move up to acquire whomever it might be. All four of these guys are expected to be selected in the first 15 picks, so it would probably take a third and/or fourth-round pick to move up high enough to take the player they want.

Back in 2004, when Reid drafted Andrews, he had to give up a second-round pick to move from the 28th to the 16th pick, so it could take even more than a third or fourth.

But the Eagles have already identified what they feel is their most pressing need, have identified the guys who would fill that certain need, and will not be afraid to pull the trigger if the price is right and the opportunity presents itself.

So, in other words, make sure you watch the entire draft and don't just turn it on to see the Eagles pick at No. 24. If you try that, you will probably have missed their selection by about eight picks or so.
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What do the Eagles do to fill the void left by Brown?


With the Eagles trading cornerback Sheldon Brown and outside linebacker Chris Gocong to the Cleveland Browns, the list of questions for the Eagles heading into 2010 just got a lot longer.

In return, the Eagles acquired a fourth and fifth round pick, as well as third-year outside linebacker Alex Hall. Hall was a seventh-round pick of the Browns back in '08 and, like Gocong, is a bit of a defensive end-outside linebacker 'tweener.

My immediate reaction is that the Birds got fleeced. Brown hasn't been to any Pro Bowls (although he reportedly turned down an offer last season), but he also hasn't missed a single game in his eight-year career and has always been a staple on this defense.

In Sean McDermott's scheme there has to be guys who can be left out on an island, and Brown was certainly one of those guys. His replacement, Ellis Hobbs, is more of a zone-coverage type of guy and might not be able to handle the same responsibilities Brown handled.

Hobbs, by the way, will become Brown's replacement barring a first-round selection at corner.

Right now, I'm failing to see the Eagles' plan. They continue the exodus of veteran players, but aren't getting a whole lot in return other than some extra cap space and, in this case, a couple draft picks and a guy who may or may not be good enough to start at SAM.

"We're trying to win. We're always trying to win," GM Howie Roseman told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "For us, this is a football decision. We're excited about some of the players on our team and we're excited about the quality of the draft."

Apparently the plan is nothing more than to find some starting talent in what is perceived to be the deepest draft in the last quarter-century. Most drafts are touted as the deepest in however many years, but this year seems to be different as several teams are buying into the notion.

But now instead of just needing a defensive end, linebacker, and free safety, the Eagles also need a cornerback. I'm a fan of Hobbs, but I'm just not sure if McDermott's system will bring his strengths to the forefront. Instead, I'm worried the system could expose the flaws in Hobbs' game.

The word is that the Eagles intend to move Macho Harris back to his natural position of cornerback and stick with Marlin Jackson as the starter and Quintin Demps as his backup, but that has yet to be confirmed or denied by the Eagles.

For now, cornerback is a position low on depth and thin on talent. It will most certainly be addressed in the early rounds, but I'm still a proponent of taking a defensive end. If the draft is really as deep as everyone says it is, the Birds should be able to find a starting-caliber cornerback in the second round.
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Is Michael Vick worth keeping around as a backup?


Jeff McLane, who has made his name known when he jumped on a clearly fabricated story about Donovan McNabb being traded to the Rams, is apparently breaking out more of his "sources" for another "bombshell" that has most of Philly snickering.

Apparently, according to McLane who cites "team sources," the Eagles have decided not to take any more calls for Michael Vick and intend to keep him around for 2010.

"Vick is currently third on the quarterback depth chart and is slated to earn $5.25 million in total salary," McLane writes. "That salary would be an exorbitant amount for the Eagles to pay a third-stringer. But if he were to be the backup, Vick's salary would not be significantly more than what other NFL backup quarterbacks earn."

So again, McLane is trying to say he thinks McNabb will get traded. We get it McLane, you looked stupid with your off-the-mark (to put it nicely) Rams story and now that you've got the whole country in a fervor, you've got to stick to your guns.

That's fine, but excuse me if I'm not exactly buying this report either.

Team sources may have actually said this, but he (and everyone else) has to be smart enough to see that they're clearly posturing. Vick showed last season that he still has something left, but it's not what Reid wants out of his quarterbacks and he's all-but useless to him as a backup.

Reid, regardless of what he says, sees Vick as a gadget player and not a whole lot more. If he saw him as a legitimate option in his system, he would have allowed Vick to throw the ball a whole lot more than what he did in 2009.

The Eagles are simply playing hard-to-get with Vick in the hopes that a team will lose out in the draft, not be able to grab any of the guys they want, and feel more confident tossing a third-round pick to the Birds for Vick rather than investing it in a guy like Jevan Snead or Tony Pike.

Personally, I'm a fan of Pike (not so much Snead), but it might make more sense for some teams to get a veteran if at all possible rather than gambling with a mid-round quarterback.

The team understands that enough teams are starved for quarterbacks, and that a guy with starting experience and was once the most popular athlete in the country will become more and more attractive as the days go on.

I could see the Birds having to hold onto him until after the draft, but I think that's something they're prepared to do. I also believe the talks could seriously heat up after the draft is over.

Teams will be much more willing to give up a third-round pick in 2011 rather than this season.

Giving up a pick in 2011 doesn't seem like as much of a burden because it will be a year away as opposed to giving up a pick this year and feeling the repercussions immediately.

Perhaps a surprise team, like the Jaguars, could enter the mix and bring him in to challenge a floundering David Garrard. The Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills would also make a lot of sense.

So while Vick might not get moved for another month or so, I do believe that he will eventually get moved to a team hurting for a legitimate quarterback.

Not only that, but even after being out of football for two years and playing for a season as a backup, Vick will still bring a lot of attention to a franchise that needs it and put some people in the seats.

Like, uh, the Panthers, Jaguars, and Bills.
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Would McNabb really sign an extension in St. Louis?


According to the great prophet Jeff McLane, the Rams have an offer on the table to acquire quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Per McLane, the offer is the 33rd overall pick (the first selection in the second round) and free safety O.J. Atogwe for McNabb. McLane also says that a source close to McNabb tells him that the quarterback would be willing to sign a contract extension with the Rams -- likely where he would finish his career were this deal to go through.

McLane adds that McNabb would not, however, be willing to sign a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills or Oakland Raiders, were he to be traded to either team, because the franchises are in such poor shape.

But if he thinks those teams are poor and not a place where he can win a Super Bowl, why in the world would he believe that St. Louis can get the job done before his body gives out on him?

At this point, the Raiders and Bills are far and away better than the Rams. The Rams, outside of Stephen Jackson, have absolutely no talent. The Bills and Raiders aren't exactly contenders either, but they've got a lot more talent than what is being put together in St. Louis.

They've not made any improvements in the offseason and, even with McNabb, are no more than a five-win team in 2010 -- and won't be more than that any time soon.

Apart from the fact that the first pick in the second round and Atogwe is a lot less than what the Eagles are asking for McNabb (they want at least a first-round pick), I don't believe McNabb would actually sign an extension with the Rams.

He wants to win a Super Bowl before he hangs it up, and simply reuniting with his former quarterbacks coach, Pat Shurmur, wouldn't be enough for him to deal with losing for the rest of his career. Then again, I've never believed that McNabb would become a Ram.

I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now.

UPDATE(1): ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that a source within the Rams have told them that there is "zero truth" to this rumor. Expect this to be completely ignored by the ignorant Philly media that wants McNabb gone.

UPDATE(2): According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Dispatch, Rams GM Billy Devaney called the rumor "absolutely false."

UPDATE(3): Another Rams source added: "They may have a trade offer, but not from us. Why would we trade for McNabb and then go watch Bradford throw on Monday (at Bradford's Pro Day)?"

UPDATE(4): Atogwe currently cannot be traded anyway as he has not signed his restricted free agent tender. He can sign it at any time, but he's currently not under contract and therefore cannot be included in any trade.

UPDATE(5): Jason La Canfora just backed up the reports that there is no truth to this rumor according to his own sources. He says that there are three or four teams pursuing him heavily, but that the Rams are not one of them.
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Welcome Brand New Eagles Linebacker, Will Witherspoon.


News just coming in that the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams.

To clear the roster spot for Witherspoon, the Eagles have shipped Wide Receiver Brandon Gibson, along with a 5th round pick in the draft to St. Louis.

Witherspoon, an 8 year veteran from the University of Georgia, will add much needed depth to the Eagles weak linebacking corps. The same linebacking corps that all but cost the Eagles the game this past Sunday.

Witherspoon can play all threee linebacking positions. We know how much Andy Reid loves his versatile linebackers, and Witherspoon fits that mold to a T.

The linebacking group has been lacking since the loss of starter, Stewart Bradley, early in the pre-season at a charity event, and his absence has been painfully obvious.

The Eagles attempted to fill the hole with former Eagle and fan favorite, Jeremiah Trotter, but that experiment didn't quite work out. He should still be safe on the roster, but no longer get the quality minutes that he has been since signing.

Witherspoon has 33 tackles, 29 solo, 2 safeties, and a forced fumble for the hapless Rams.

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