Eagles Need to Make a Bold Move

If recent history is any kind of indicator, its safe to assume that anytime a wide receiver comes available, the Eagles will be listed as an interested party. Unsuccessful in their previous attempts to land a number one wide receiver through free agency (Randy Moss) or via trade (Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams), the Eagles should take a long, hard look at Arizona's Anquan Boldin, especially now with Kevin Curtis out for an indefinite period of time with a sports hernia.

Boldin formally requested a trade yesterday. The Cardinals inked Fitzgerald to a new four-year, $40 million contract, rendering Boldin underpaid and disgruntled. He also claims to have no relationship with Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Boldin has put up decent numbers through his first five NFL seasons, averaging 83 receptions, 1,096 yards, and 6 touchdowns a year (by comparison, Reggie Brown has averaged 50 catches, 722 yards, and 5 scores per season). Numbers aside, here's an excerpt of one independent scouting report:

"Boldin is a big, tough and competitive receiver...He is willing to do the dirty work like going across the middle or clearing an area for the other receivers. He lacks premier top-end speed, but is an excellent route-runner...He is fluid, athletic and has decent agility and quickness to separate from defenders. He runs good routes and does a good job of finding the soft spots in zones and settling into an area to provide a target for the quarterback. He has soft, natural hands that can reach out and pluck the ball away from his body or highpoint the ball in a crowd. He powers his way through the press more often than beating it with quickness and rarely allows himself to get re-routed by corners. He is a strong, competitive runner after the catch who will gain positive yards, but is not apt to take too many short passes all the way. He is a smart receiver who can read coverages and has a very good feel for the passing game. He is more than just a willing blocker and knows how to do the little things to take his game to the next level."

In other words, he's exactly the type of receiver the Eagles need to clear the underneath routes for Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, and Curtis whenever he returns.

Pairing Boldin with Jackson and Curtis suddenly gives the Eagles an offensive potency unseen in this town since 2004. It could also validate the assertions of owner Jeffrey Lurie and quarterback Donovan McNabb that this is a championship-caliber team.

Cardinals management has, of course, said they have no plans to trade Boldin, which in front office speak translates to "if we're overwhelmed with an offer, we'll consider moving him." Would Brown, Lito Sheppard, and one of their two 2009 first-round draft choices get it done? Hard to say. But if the Eagles are serious about making one more Super Bowl run before ushering in the Kevin Kolb era, they've got to, at the very least, make Arizona an offer.

Round-up: McNabb; Westbrook; Fightin's; Olympics

A few random thoughts from around the COBL:

Sure, the play-calling was vanilla, which was to be expected with the Birds and Steelers scheduled to face each other for real on September 15th, but I was impressed by Donovan McNabb last night in the Eagles 16-10 exhibition loss in Pittsburgh. McNabb went 10-13 for 97 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball around to six different receivers, none of which was named Reggie Brown or Brian Westbrook. A healthy McNabb could be the key to this team making the playoffs, so it was encouraging to watch.

Speaking of encouraging, the aforementioned Westbrook inked the new contract he was seeking yesterday, keeping him in the nest through 2013. Westbrook is an elite NFL back and McNabb's best weapon. Props to Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner for getting it done before the season and not letting this situation drag on and become a distraction.

Because I live outside the greater Philadelphia area, I was relegated to a local watering hole and the NFL Network's coverage of the game last night. I don't know if its standard operating procedure, but they showed the Steelers feed for the first quarter and the Eagles Television Network feed for the second quarter. The bright side to viewing the game in a loud bar? I couldn't hear Dave Spadaro slurping the players during his sideline interviews. Steve Coates thinks Spadaro is too much of a homer.

I was able to convince my man Troy the bartender to put the Phillies game on the flat screen next to the one showing the Eagles game. Glad I didn't sit there all night waiting for the Phillies to score. 23 consecutive scoreless innings for a line-up featuring Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard is unacceptable.

The Fightin's wasted a nice effort by Joe Blanton and lost a game to the Mets, who beat Florida. The three teams are now separated by a game and a half, and the pessimist in me doesn't see it ending well for the Phils.

One more note about the bar. They had the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics on a majority of the TV's and the sound system. It didn't seem to draw a lot of interest. Thought it was just me.

Welcome to the "Guys I Can't Stand Thanks to Overblown Media Coverage," Brett Favre! Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and David Beckham will show you to your room.

When I heard Jason Smith tore his ACL, I was concerned. Then I realized they were talking about the Sixers' Jason Smith, so I was relieved. Then I remembered the Flyers' Jason Smith is not a Flyer anymore, so I don't care if he tears his ACL.

Knowing that they have Carolina's first round pick next year, is there any chance the Eagles have someone fall on Jake Delhomme's legs Thursday night?