After nearly four months of uncertainty in regards to the status of the 2011 NFL season, it looks like the league-wide lockout is finally coming to an end. That is, at least, according to numerous reports stating that the framework for a potential deal is in place, and only a few hard line owners are against the terms of this proposed deal (No doubt Jerry Jones is one of them). Once a new CBA is in place, the lockout will end, and it will be business as usual in the NFL, albeit on a lightning paced scale. With training camps (presumably) set to open in late July, teams will only have about a month to get a preliminary roster together. This means that the next month will see free agency signings, trades, and releasing on an epic scale. What usually occurs over a five month span will be crammed into a 30 day period. This will be an exciting time frame in which parched football fans will be deluged with a substantial amount of significant news and events, and if a report by Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports is to be believed, the Eagles will be one of the primary participants in this spending bonanza.
According to Silver, sources close to the Eagles believe that "This is the year" Philadelphia will win its first Super Bowl, and that they are going to be "loading up and going for it". In other words, Howie Roseman, GM of the Eagles, is ready to follow what I call the "Reuben Amaro Model for Success". This refers to Phillies GM Reuben Amaro's massive and relentless spending sprees that would give the Tea Party a collective heart attack. In the sports world, however, spending a lot of money is almost universally regarded as a good thing, so long as the players you invest in produce at exceptional levels. Thanks to Amaro's loosening of the purse strings, the Phillies have been able to build one of the most prolific pitching rotations in history, and currently have the best record in baseball at 45-28. The Phillies' recent accomplishments and free spending have projected more criticism onto the Eagles' front office, which has developed a reputation of being cheap and uncommitted to winning. While that analysis is somewhat unfair, it is not totally without merit. During last season, which was an un-capped year, the Eagles ranked 11th in player salary spending. That's in the top 33% of all teams, but it also isn't what you would expect from a team that wants to win now. Granted, the Redskins and Cowboys were 1 and 2 respectively, and both of those teams were terrible last year. Unlike those NFC East rivals, though, the Eagles made it into the playoffs. If they had invested some more money in a year when there was virtually no restrictions on the amount they could spend, they might've gone farther than they did.
With the Eagles supposed new found commitment to winning now, the first question that comes to mind is: Can the Eagles win a Super Bowl through large investments only? Three years ago, the answer would've been no, but today it's a yes. Unlike three years ago, the Eagles have a young core of players that they gained through the draft. Guys like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Nate Allen, and Trent Cole will provide stability at their respective positions in the coming years. They also got lucky by stumbling into a surprising franchise QB in Michael Vick. Right now, the Eagles are only a couple of pieces short of a championship season, and those pieces can be adequately filled by free agency.
Silver mentions three free agents in particular that the Eagles are interested in signing: Albert Haynesworth, Plaxico Burress, and Reggie Bush. Each of these players would add an extra element to the team that they currently do not have, though with the exception of Haynesworth, I think that they should be exploring free agent options at other positions rather than wide receiver and running back. That notwithstanding, each of the aforementioned players certainly would be welcomed additions to the Birds. Haynesworth, a two time Pro Bowler, would give the Eagles defensive line the much needed size it needs. The 6'6'', 335 defensive tackle would easily become the biggest defensive lineman on the team, and would help improve the Eagles' run defense greatly. Burress, a once dominant wide receiver for the New York Giants who just recently finished up a prison sentence for illegal handgun possession, is looking for a second chance, much like Michael Vick was two years ago. Burress, who is 6'5'', would also add size to the team. Although the Eagles have two talented receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, they are undersized and tend to disappear in the redzone (especially Jackson). Burress, whose speed is probably limited now, should still make an excellent #3 receiver, and will give the Eagles the redzone target they have been sorely missing for the past two seasons. Reggie Bush, if signed, could potentially be another Brian Westbrook. Whereas LeSean McCoy is evolving into a natural runner, Bush is more of the speedy receiving back that Westbrook was. Adding Bush to the team would add yet another explosive offensive weapon to the team. Imagine being a defensive coordinator and having to plan how to stop Vick, McCoy, and Bush from running all over your defensive unit. That process would probably be headache inducing.
As great as it would be to sign Burress and Bush, though, I think the Eagles should direct their investments towards the defensive. If I was Howie Roseman, I would try to fill the gaping hole at cornerback by signing the superstar Nnamdi Asomugha. I would also look into further bolstering the offensive line. Like the Phillies, the Eagles have built up a powerful homegrown team. The only thing left for them to do now is dive into the market and find their Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
If they do so, there may be two parades down Broad Street in the coming months: One in November 2011, and another in February 2012.
According to Silver, sources close to the Eagles believe that "This is the year" Philadelphia will win its first Super Bowl, and that they are going to be "loading up and going for it". In other words, Howie Roseman, GM of the Eagles, is ready to follow what I call the "Reuben Amaro Model for Success". This refers to Phillies GM Reuben Amaro's massive and relentless spending sprees that would give the Tea Party a collective heart attack. In the sports world, however, spending a lot of money is almost universally regarded as a good thing, so long as the players you invest in produce at exceptional levels. Thanks to Amaro's loosening of the purse strings, the Phillies have been able to build one of the most prolific pitching rotations in history, and currently have the best record in baseball at 45-28. The Phillies' recent accomplishments and free spending have projected more criticism onto the Eagles' front office, which has developed a reputation of being cheap and uncommitted to winning. While that analysis is somewhat unfair, it is not totally without merit. During last season, which was an un-capped year, the Eagles ranked 11th in player salary spending. That's in the top 33% of all teams, but it also isn't what you would expect from a team that wants to win now. Granted, the Redskins and Cowboys were 1 and 2 respectively, and both of those teams were terrible last year. Unlike those NFC East rivals, though, the Eagles made it into the playoffs. If they had invested some more money in a year when there was virtually no restrictions on the amount they could spend, they might've gone farther than they did.
With the Eagles supposed new found commitment to winning now, the first question that comes to mind is: Can the Eagles win a Super Bowl through large investments only? Three years ago, the answer would've been no, but today it's a yes. Unlike three years ago, the Eagles have a young core of players that they gained through the draft. Guys like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Nate Allen, and Trent Cole will provide stability at their respective positions in the coming years. They also got lucky by stumbling into a surprising franchise QB in Michael Vick. Right now, the Eagles are only a couple of pieces short of a championship season, and those pieces can be adequately filled by free agency.
Silver mentions three free agents in particular that the Eagles are interested in signing: Albert Haynesworth, Plaxico Burress, and Reggie Bush. Each of these players would add an extra element to the team that they currently do not have, though with the exception of Haynesworth, I think that they should be exploring free agent options at other positions rather than wide receiver and running back. That notwithstanding, each of the aforementioned players certainly would be welcomed additions to the Birds. Haynesworth, a two time Pro Bowler, would give the Eagles defensive line the much needed size it needs. The 6'6'', 335 defensive tackle would easily become the biggest defensive lineman on the team, and would help improve the Eagles' run defense greatly. Burress, a once dominant wide receiver for the New York Giants who just recently finished up a prison sentence for illegal handgun possession, is looking for a second chance, much like Michael Vick was two years ago. Burress, who is 6'5'', would also add size to the team. Although the Eagles have two talented receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, they are undersized and tend to disappear in the redzone (especially Jackson). Burress, whose speed is probably limited now, should still make an excellent #3 receiver, and will give the Eagles the redzone target they have been sorely missing for the past two seasons. Reggie Bush, if signed, could potentially be another Brian Westbrook. Whereas LeSean McCoy is evolving into a natural runner, Bush is more of the speedy receiving back that Westbrook was. Adding Bush to the team would add yet another explosive offensive weapon to the team. Imagine being a defensive coordinator and having to plan how to stop Vick, McCoy, and Bush from running all over your defensive unit. That process would probably be headache inducing.
As great as it would be to sign Burress and Bush, though, I think the Eagles should direct their investments towards the defensive. If I was Howie Roseman, I would try to fill the gaping hole at cornerback by signing the superstar Nnamdi Asomugha. I would also look into further bolstering the offensive line. Like the Phillies, the Eagles have built up a powerful homegrown team. The only thing left for them to do now is dive into the market and find their Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
If they do so, there may be two parades down Broad Street in the coming months: One in November 2011, and another in February 2012.
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