As in years past, the Phillies opened the 2008 season with justified optimism and legitimate playoff aspirations.
And as in years past, the Phillies opened the season with a loss, this time at the hands of the Washington Nationals.
If the pundits are correct, this game could represent a microcosm of the Fightin' Phils' 2008 campaign - decent starting pitching, a powerful run-producing lineup, and a leaky bullpen that will often render both of them irrelevant.
Brett Myers started well, tossing four scoreless innings before cracking in the fifth. All in all, Myers fared well in his second consecutive Opening Day start.
Trailing 6-2, the Phils rallied behind reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins and future award winner Chase Utley. Utley began the comeback with a solo home run in the sixth, Rollins finished it with a two-run job in the seventh.
Tom Gordon toed the rubber to open the ninth. He faced six batters, threw only 20 pitches, and in a flash, the Phillies were down five runs.
Gordon's line, if you can stomach it: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, and an Eaton-esque 135.01 ERA.
Lefty J. R. Romero, meanwhile, retired all three hitters he faced (two on strikeouts) in a scoreless eighth.
So why not leave Romero in the game to open the ninth? Hell, Jim Fregosi thought that was a bad decision.
The good news is that there are 161 more games in the season, and the Phillies have recovered from seasons-opening losses before. The bad news is that Gordon, and not Romero, figures to get the ball in plenty of late-game situations like today's, especially with closer Brad Lidge on the shelf.
March 31, 2008
March 26, 2008
Toss Up: Flyers or Sixers?
If their seasons ended today, both the Flyers and Sixers would qualify for the playoffs. Channeling my inner Tony Kornheiser, let’s play “Toss up: Flyers or Sixers?”
Who is a bigger lock to make the playoffs?
While I think both will make it, the Sixers are the bigger lock. The Flyers have five games remaining, three on the road and two at home. They face Pittsburgh twice, New Jersey twice, and the Islanders. The Penguins are a point out of the top spot in the conference, and the Devils have historically owned the Flyers. In theory, they could go 1-4 over their last five, and teams like Boston , Washington , Buffalo , Florida and Toronto are all within 8 points.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are five games clear of eighth place Atlanta and six ahead of the New Jersey Nets. There aren’t as many teams that can catch the Sixers, so I’d say they’re the bigger lock.
Who finishes with the higher seed?
Right now, it’s the Sixers, especially if they continue their torrid pace (17-6 over their last 23 games). At 36-35, they’re currently the sixth seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, only a half game behind the Wizards for the fifth spot and four behind Cleveland for the fourth. They’ve got more upward mobility.
The Flyers are the seven seed right now and trail the Rangers by a point for sixth, but the Rangers have a game at hand. If the Flyers were to win out, they could catch New Jersey and the Rangers and be the four seed, but given their track record with the Devils, that’s not likely to happen.
Who lasts longer in the playoffs?
This is a tough one, because the top of the Eastern Conference in the NHL is so fluid. The Flyers could face Montreal , Pittsburgh , Carolina or New Jersey in the first round. The Canadiens have a rookie goalie, Carey Price, who is obviously non playoff-tested. The Flyers beat the Hurricanes three out of four meetings this season but haven’t faced them since December. If they get the Devils in the first round, I don’t see them advancing, but against the Pens, Canes, or Habs, I’d say they have a chance.
The Sixers are looking at the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, or Cleveland Cavaliers, neither of which is a good match-up on paper. Detroit is an ideal post-season team, the Magic are 3-1 against the Sixers, and there’s no way LeBron James lets the Cavs get bumped in round one. So, I’m leaning towards the Flyers, but that’s subject to change depending on the opponent.
Who wins a championship first?
Let’s be honest – neither is bringing home the hardware this year. Last season, there were no playoff games at Wachovia Center , so the fact that both teams are in playoff contention shows that both are moving in the right direction.
The Western Conference of the NBA is so deep that if the Sixers were in the West, they’d be in eleventh place and looking at the Lottery. Plus, the East is top-heavy with the resurgent Celtics, the aforementioned Pistons and Cavaliers. Yes, the Sixers will have some cap space to add pieces next season, but they’ll have to get much, much better in order to be a championship contender.
The Flyers are generally a young hockey team, especially at the center and defense positions. Mike Richards was an All-Star this year, and it shouldn’t be long before guys like Jeff Carter and Braydon Coburn receive similar recognition. Throw in guys like Ryan Parent, Joffrey Lupul, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall and you can see the nucleus of this team for the next seven or eight years.
With that in mind, I’d say the Flyers are closer to the Promised Land than the Sixers, but they’ll both get there eventually.
Who is a bigger lock to make the playoffs?
While I think both will make it, the Sixers are the bigger lock. The Flyers have five games remaining, three on the road and two at home. They face Pittsburgh twice, New Jersey twice, and the Islanders. The Penguins are a point out of the top spot in the conference, and the Devils have historically owned the Flyers. In theory, they could go 1-4 over their last five, and teams like Boston , Washington , Buffalo , Florida and Toronto are all within 8 points.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are five games clear of eighth place Atlanta and six ahead of the New Jersey Nets. There aren’t as many teams that can catch the Sixers, so I’d say they’re the bigger lock.
Who finishes with the higher seed?
Right now, it’s the Sixers, especially if they continue their torrid pace (17-6 over their last 23 games). At 36-35, they’re currently the sixth seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, only a half game behind the Wizards for the fifth spot and four behind Cleveland for the fourth. They’ve got more upward mobility.
The Flyers are the seven seed right now and trail the Rangers by a point for sixth, but the Rangers have a game at hand. If the Flyers were to win out, they could catch New Jersey and the Rangers and be the four seed, but given their track record with the Devils, that’s not likely to happen.
Who lasts longer in the playoffs?
This is a tough one, because the top of the Eastern Conference in the NHL is so fluid. The Flyers could face Montreal , Pittsburgh , Carolina or New Jersey in the first round. The Canadiens have a rookie goalie, Carey Price, who is obviously non playoff-tested. The Flyers beat the Hurricanes three out of four meetings this season but haven’t faced them since December. If they get the Devils in the first round, I don’t see them advancing, but against the Pens, Canes, or Habs, I’d say they have a chance.
The Sixers are looking at the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, or Cleveland Cavaliers, neither of which is a good match-up on paper. Detroit is an ideal post-season team, the Magic are 3-1 against the Sixers, and there’s no way LeBron James lets the Cavs get bumped in round one. So, I’m leaning towards the Flyers, but that’s subject to change depending on the opponent.
Who wins a championship first?
Let’s be honest – neither is bringing home the hardware this year. Last season, there were no playoff games at Wachovia Center , so the fact that both teams are in playoff contention shows that both are moving in the right direction.
The Western Conference of the NBA is so deep that if the Sixers were in the West, they’d be in eleventh place and looking at the Lottery. Plus, the East is top-heavy with the resurgent Celtics, the aforementioned Pistons and Cavaliers. Yes, the Sixers will have some cap space to add pieces next season, but they’ll have to get much, much better in order to be a championship contender.
The Flyers are generally a young hockey team, especially at the center and defense positions. Mike Richards was an All-Star this year, and it shouldn’t be long before guys like Jeff Carter and Braydon Coburn receive similar recognition. Throw in guys like Ryan Parent, Joffrey Lupul, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall and you can see the nucleus of this team for the next seven or eight years.
With that in mind, I’d say the Flyers are closer to the Promised Land than the Sixers, but they’ll both get there eventually.
March 20, 2008
Welcome Home, A.I.
We Philly fans get a bum rap.
All anybody in the national media ever talks about is how we booed Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, how we chucked snowballs at Jimmy Johnson, and how tough we are on our athletes.
And while all of that is true, we don’t get any kind of credit in terms of the respect we have for the guys that wear the midnight green, orange and black, and red, white, and blue and bust it every time they hit the field, ice, or court.
Case in point: Allen Iverson.
“The Answer” made his first appearance in Philly last night as a member of the Denver Nuggets. Iverson was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation for the enormous crowd on hand at Wachovia Center .
Iverson was the prototypical Philly athlete – tough as nails, always gave 110% (unless we’re talking about practice), and played with a passion that could be fully appreciated by the equally passionate fans. Even though he wasn’t a Philly native by birth, he was one of us.
The respect was mutual. Iverson ran to center court and kissed the Sixers logo during warm ups, was almost overcome by emotion stirred from the ovation, and even spoke after the game about someday returning to the city, if only as a resident.
And that’s the difference – Iverson understood Philly fans and thrived here as guys like Bobby Clarke, Ron Hextall, Brian Dawkins, and the ’93 Phillies have before him. Them we love.
It’s the guys like J.D. Drew, Scott Rolen, Eric Lindros, and Ricky Watters who go through the motions but never really buy in then talk their way out of town (or never get here to begin with) that we boo. Vociferously, at that.
We’re not alone in that sentiment either. Other cities treat their athletes the same as we do, if not worse, but it’s always Philly that gets the negative publicity.
I guess that’s a burden we’ll continue to bear.
One more thing on Iverson. I gained a new respect for Iverson the man a few years ago. A friend of mine from high school named Tim was killed in an automobile accident. He was the manager of the car wash where the Sixers brought their cars for detailing. In fact, they used to ask for him by name.
Shortly after he died, Iverson was at the car wash and asked for Tim. Upon hearing what had happened, Iverson scratched a $25,000 check on the spot to his daughter. To Iverson, the money is insignificant. To the little girl who no longer has a father, it’s life-changing.
I have no real way to confirm the story, but I certainly believe it to be true. I’m also not sure how many athletes have that kind of heart. But if A.I. the Man is like A.I. the Basketball Player, heart isn’t something that should ever be questioned.
All anybody in the national media ever talks about is how we booed Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, how we chucked snowballs at Jimmy Johnson, and how tough we are on our athletes.
And while all of that is true, we don’t get any kind of credit in terms of the respect we have for the guys that wear the midnight green, orange and black, and red, white, and blue and bust it every time they hit the field, ice, or court.
Case in point: Allen Iverson.
“The Answer” made his first appearance in Philly last night as a member of the Denver Nuggets. Iverson was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation for the enormous crowd on hand at Wachovia Center .
Iverson was the prototypical Philly athlete – tough as nails, always gave 110% (unless we’re talking about practice), and played with a passion that could be fully appreciated by the equally passionate fans. Even though he wasn’t a Philly native by birth, he was one of us.
The respect was mutual. Iverson ran to center court and kissed the Sixers logo during warm ups, was almost overcome by emotion stirred from the ovation, and even spoke after the game about someday returning to the city, if only as a resident.
And that’s the difference – Iverson understood Philly fans and thrived here as guys like Bobby Clarke, Ron Hextall, Brian Dawkins, and the ’93 Phillies have before him. Them we love.
It’s the guys like J.D. Drew, Scott Rolen, Eric Lindros, and Ricky Watters who go through the motions but never really buy in then talk their way out of town (or never get here to begin with) that we boo. Vociferously, at that.
We’re not alone in that sentiment either. Other cities treat their athletes the same as we do, if not worse, but it’s always Philly that gets the negative publicity.
I guess that’s a burden we’ll continue to bear.
One more thing on Iverson. I gained a new respect for Iverson the man a few years ago. A friend of mine from high school named Tim was killed in an automobile accident. He was the manager of the car wash where the Sixers brought their cars for detailing. In fact, they used to ask for him by name.
Shortly after he died, Iverson was at the car wash and asked for Tim. Upon hearing what had happened, Iverson scratched a $25,000 check on the spot to his daughter. To Iverson, the money is insignificant. To the little girl who no longer has a father, it’s life-changing.
I have no real way to confirm the story, but I certainly believe it to be true. I’m also not sure how many athletes have that kind of heart. But if A.I. the Man is like A.I. the Basketball Player, heart isn’t something that should ever be questioned.
March 15, 2008
Another Missed Opportunity
There's been a lot of talk about the difficulty of the Flyers' remaining schedule, and the growing doubt about their playoff prospects.
It seems as though the Flyers have been listening.
The team with a propensity for blowing late leads did it again this afternoon, squandering a chance to leap-frog the Bruins in the standings and remove the bull's eye from their backs, at least temporarily.
The loss drops the Flyers' record to 25-1-3 when leading after two periods, with two of the three losses coming in the last five days.
A 3-0 third period lead over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Toronto wasn't big enough.
Today, they couldn't hold a 2-1 lead with :33 seconds to go.
In case you haven't been paying attention, the Flyers remain in eighth place in the East with 80 points, three clear of the Buffalo Sabres and four ahead of the surging Washington Capitals. They have ten games remaining and will need somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 points to qualify for the post-season.
Ten points in the remaining ten games? Doesn't sound too daunting...until you look at the schedule.
Two games left with the Devils, against whom the Flyers are 1-5.
Two more with the Rangers, whom the Flyers have only beaten once.
Three with the fourth-seeded Penguins, including tomorrow afternoon's tilt at the Igloo.
Suddenly, the two games against the Islanders and one versus the Thrashers are critical. Given their struggles with the Rangers and Devils, the Flyers need all six of those points.
If they're going to gain any points from the other seven, they'll need to play a lot better than they have of late.
And do so for a full sixty minutes.
It seems as though the Flyers have been listening.
The team with a propensity for blowing late leads did it again this afternoon, squandering a chance to leap-frog the Bruins in the standings and remove the bull's eye from their backs, at least temporarily.
The loss drops the Flyers' record to 25-1-3 when leading after two periods, with two of the three losses coming in the last five days.
A 3-0 third period lead over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Toronto wasn't big enough.
Today, they couldn't hold a 2-1 lead with :33 seconds to go.
In case you haven't been paying attention, the Flyers remain in eighth place in the East with 80 points, three clear of the Buffalo Sabres and four ahead of the surging Washington Capitals. They have ten games remaining and will need somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 points to qualify for the post-season.
Ten points in the remaining ten games? Doesn't sound too daunting...until you look at the schedule.
Two games left with the Devils, against whom the Flyers are 1-5.
Two more with the Rangers, whom the Flyers have only beaten once.
Three with the fourth-seeded Penguins, including tomorrow afternoon's tilt at the Igloo.
Suddenly, the two games against the Islanders and one versus the Thrashers are critical. Given their struggles with the Rangers and Devils, the Flyers need all six of those points.
If they're going to gain any points from the other seven, they'll need to play a lot better than they have of late.
And do so for a full sixty minutes.
March 11, 2008
Do We Have a Plan B?
So much for a knight in midnight green armor riding into town this season.
The Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald agreed to terms on a restructured contract today that will keep the receiver in Arizona for the next four seasons.
I guess I shouldn't be completely surprised, as receivers of Fitzgerald's caliber don't come available too often. But now that the door is closed on the possibility of Fitzgerald coming to Philly, the Eagles can turn to Plan B.
They must have a Plan B, right?
Here are three guys who could possibly fill the Eagles' number one receiver vacancy, and the pros and cons of each.
Roy Williams (no, not the horse-collar cheap shot artist in Dallas)
Why He Makes Sense: Williams will be a free agent at the end of the season and will command a Javon Walker-type contract, which Detroit is unlikely to offer. The Eagles appear to be building for the short-term to try and cash one in before the end of the Donovan McNabb era, and one season of Williams fits with that philosophy. In his four seasons in the league, Williams has averaged 61 catches for 912 yards and seven touchdowns.
Why He Doesn't: His touchdown numbers have decreased each year (8-8-7-5). He's also been injury-prone during his first few seasons, having only played in all 16 games once in his career. If he knows he's a short-term rental, he could play the entire season with an eye on the door. And, he could play tentatively trying to avoid a major injury in a contract year.
Torry Holt
Why He Makes Sense: Holt has had an electrifying career - 805 catches, 11,864 yards, 71 touchdowns. He's been to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. He's very much like Marvin Harrison in that he steps out of bounds or dives to avoid contact, which explains his durability (only two games missed in nine seasons).
Why He Doesn't: He's 31 years old and can't play at this level forever (see Harrison's injury that cost him the better part of 2007). The Rams are rumored to be interested in Lito Sheppard, but they also cut Isaac Bruce last month, and trading Holt would leave them extremely short-handed at receiver.
Chad Johnson
Why He Makes Sense: The talk has died down some, but Ocho Cinco is clearly not happy in Cincinnati and would undoubtedly like to move to a better situation. His stats have been great (at least 90 catches, 1,274 yards, and seven scores in each of the last five seasons), and he comes to play every day. Despite his boisterous antics, he hasn't been a divisive force in the locker room, as the Eagles wouldn't want to go down that road again.
Why He Doesn't: He's got a great relationship with Carson Palmer, who would more than likely raise hell in Cincinnati is his top target was sent packing. The O.C. has had some reported issues with coaches and been fined countless times by the league for his touchdown celebrations.
Of the aforementioned, I think Holt makes the most sense. He's a great receiver and a model citizen. He's also a two or three year solution, which coincides with McNabb's window.
So would the Rams bite on Sheppard and a receiver (Jason Avant?) for Holt? Does a receiving tandem of Holt, Kevin Curtis, and Reggie Brown put the Eagles over the top?
The possibility remains, of course, that the Eagles will trade not Sheppard, draft a few more linemen and special teamers, and attempt to make McNabb win a Super Bowl without a true number one receiver.
Let's call that Plan C.
The Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald agreed to terms on a restructured contract today that will keep the receiver in Arizona for the next four seasons.
I guess I shouldn't be completely surprised, as receivers of Fitzgerald's caliber don't come available too often. But now that the door is closed on the possibility of Fitzgerald coming to Philly, the Eagles can turn to Plan B.
They must have a Plan B, right?
Here are three guys who could possibly fill the Eagles' number one receiver vacancy, and the pros and cons of each.
Roy Williams (no, not the horse-collar cheap shot artist in Dallas)
Why He Makes Sense: Williams will be a free agent at the end of the season and will command a Javon Walker-type contract, which Detroit is unlikely to offer. The Eagles appear to be building for the short-term to try and cash one in before the end of the Donovan McNabb era, and one season of Williams fits with that philosophy. In his four seasons in the league, Williams has averaged 61 catches for 912 yards and seven touchdowns.
Why He Doesn't: His touchdown numbers have decreased each year (8-8-7-5). He's also been injury-prone during his first few seasons, having only played in all 16 games once in his career. If he knows he's a short-term rental, he could play the entire season with an eye on the door. And, he could play tentatively trying to avoid a major injury in a contract year.
Torry Holt
Why He Makes Sense: Holt has had an electrifying career - 805 catches, 11,864 yards, 71 touchdowns. He's been to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. He's very much like Marvin Harrison in that he steps out of bounds or dives to avoid contact, which explains his durability (only two games missed in nine seasons).
Why He Doesn't: He's 31 years old and can't play at this level forever (see Harrison's injury that cost him the better part of 2007). The Rams are rumored to be interested in Lito Sheppard, but they also cut Isaac Bruce last month, and trading Holt would leave them extremely short-handed at receiver.
Chad Johnson
Why He Makes Sense: The talk has died down some, but Ocho Cinco is clearly not happy in Cincinnati and would undoubtedly like to move to a better situation. His stats have been great (at least 90 catches, 1,274 yards, and seven scores in each of the last five seasons), and he comes to play every day. Despite his boisterous antics, he hasn't been a divisive force in the locker room, as the Eagles wouldn't want to go down that road again.
Why He Doesn't: He's got a great relationship with Carson Palmer, who would more than likely raise hell in Cincinnati is his top target was sent packing. The O.C. has had some reported issues with coaches and been fined countless times by the league for his touchdown celebrations.
Of the aforementioned, I think Holt makes the most sense. He's a great receiver and a model citizen. He's also a two or three year solution, which coincides with McNabb's window.
So would the Rams bite on Sheppard and a receiver (Jason Avant?) for Holt? Does a receiving tandem of Holt, Kevin Curtis, and Reggie Brown put the Eagles over the top?
The possibility remains, of course, that the Eagles will trade not Sheppard, draft a few more linemen and special teamers, and attempt to make McNabb win a Super Bowl without a true number one receiver.
Let's call that Plan C.
March 7, 2008
Wishful Thinking?
The restructuring of the Eagles defense continued yesterday, as the Birds TKO’d starting weakside linebacker Takeo Spikes, ending his 14-game tenure in midnight green. In his entire nine-year NFL career, Spikes has played in as many playoff games as I have.
The move means your projected starting linebackers in 2008 are Omar Gaither at Will, Stewart Bradley at Mike, and Chris Gocong at Sam. Akeem Jordan will also get a look in training camp.
It also saves the Eagles about $5 million against the salary cap.
Allow me play connect the dots for a minute. The Eagles signed Asante Samuel as a free agent, making Lito Sheppard expandable. They made a play for Randy Moss only to watch him re-sign with the Patriots, and expressed a mild interest in Javon Walker, who got a ridiculous contract from Oakland. Then, out of the blue, they release Spikes.
Translation: We need a number one receiver and were unable to land one through free agency, but we have a trading chip and significant cap space, thus we have the means to acquire one via trade.
At the same time, the Arizona Cardinals are trying to rework wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s contract to fit him in under their cap. If they can’t come to some kind of accord, they may be forced to trade him (perhaps to a team with a surplus of defensive backs and, as of yesterday, an extra $5 million to work with).
Maybe it’s foolish optimism on my part, but the moves the Eagles have made this off-season all point to them making one final serious run at a Super Bowl before they exile Donovan McNabb.
Hopefully that run will include Fitzgerald.
The move means your projected starting linebackers in 2008 are Omar Gaither at Will, Stewart Bradley at Mike, and Chris Gocong at Sam. Akeem Jordan will also get a look in training camp.
It also saves the Eagles about $5 million against the salary cap.
Allow me play connect the dots for a minute. The Eagles signed Asante Samuel as a free agent, making Lito Sheppard expandable. They made a play for Randy Moss only to watch him re-sign with the Patriots, and expressed a mild interest in Javon Walker, who got a ridiculous contract from Oakland. Then, out of the blue, they release Spikes.
Translation: We need a number one receiver and were unable to land one through free agency, but we have a trading chip and significant cap space, thus we have the means to acquire one via trade.
At the same time, the Arizona Cardinals are trying to rework wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s contract to fit him in under their cap. If they can’t come to some kind of accord, they may be forced to trade him (perhaps to a team with a surplus of defensive backs and, as of yesterday, an extra $5 million to work with).
Maybe it’s foolish optimism on my part, but the moves the Eagles have made this off-season all point to them making one final serious run at a Super Bowl before they exile Donovan McNabb.
Hopefully that run will include Fitzgerald.
March 1, 2008
And For An Encore...
A few weeks back in this space, I pondered whether the Eagles would dip a toe in the free agency pool or dive in feet first.
The answer came yesterday in the form of a cannonball from the high dive.
On the first day of free agency, the Birds inked all-pro cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year deal. A Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Samuel leads the NFL with 16 interceptions over the last two seasons and should prove to be a welcome addition to a defense that only forced 11 turnovers a season ago. He's a shut-down corner that will match up with Plaxico Burress and that guy in Dallas.
In my mind, the move is reminiscent of the Jevon Kearse signing in 2004. At the time, the Eagles were coming off an NFC Championship game loss, opened free agency by signing "The Freak," followed that up by trading for a wide receiver who shall remain nameless, and the team responded by winning the NFC.
Which begs the question: What's next?
Signing Samuel creates something of a logjam at corner, with Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard already in the mix. Speculation is that Brown could be moved to safety, and the Eagles still have a need there. Potential target Gibril Wilson landed in Oakland yesterday for $39 million, and the rest of the market at safety is Calista Flockhart thin.
Another rumor has Sheppard being traded as part of a package to Arizona for Larry Fitzgerald (a move which I would make in a heartbeat).
Adding a defensive end (like Cincinnati's Justin Smith) is still a possibility, but the position could also be addressed early in the draft. Outside of a Fitzgerald deal, which I'm not really expecting to happen, there are some intriguing wide receivers out there. Denver released Javon Walker yesterday, and he and Donovan McNabb are represented by the same management group.
Oh, and Randy Moss remains unsigned. Given how their last big wide receiver acquisition turned out, I doubt Jeffrey Lurie would take a gamble like that again.
Either way, you get the feeling there's something else brewing.
The answer came yesterday in the form of a cannonball from the high dive.
On the first day of free agency, the Birds inked all-pro cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year deal. A Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Samuel leads the NFL with 16 interceptions over the last two seasons and should prove to be a welcome addition to a defense that only forced 11 turnovers a season ago. He's a shut-down corner that will match up with Plaxico Burress and that guy in Dallas.
In my mind, the move is reminiscent of the Jevon Kearse signing in 2004. At the time, the Eagles were coming off an NFC Championship game loss, opened free agency by signing "The Freak," followed that up by trading for a wide receiver who shall remain nameless, and the team responded by winning the NFC.
Which begs the question: What's next?
Signing Samuel creates something of a logjam at corner, with Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard already in the mix. Speculation is that Brown could be moved to safety, and the Eagles still have a need there. Potential target Gibril Wilson landed in Oakland yesterday for $39 million, and the rest of the market at safety is Calista Flockhart thin.
Another rumor has Sheppard being traded as part of a package to Arizona for Larry Fitzgerald (a move which I would make in a heartbeat).
Adding a defensive end (like Cincinnati's Justin Smith) is still a possibility, but the position could also be addressed early in the draft. Outside of a Fitzgerald deal, which I'm not really expecting to happen, there are some intriguing wide receivers out there. Denver released Javon Walker yesterday, and he and Donovan McNabb are represented by the same management group.
Oh, and Randy Moss remains unsigned. Given how their last big wide receiver acquisition turned out, I doubt Jeffrey Lurie would take a gamble like that again.
Either way, you get the feeling there's something else brewing.
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