Ever since a certain Terrell Eldorado Owens left town a few years back, the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t been the same.
Yes, Brian Westbrook has broken out and become a premiere running back. But besides Westbrook, the team, and the offense, has either been stagnant or in a downward trend. Take last year’s pathetic red-zone production (45 percent, 24th in the league).
If not for Jeff Garcia’s Travolta-like rebirth and incredible drive to the playoffs (which of course ended when Andy Reid gagged and punted late in the game to a Saints team that had been running wild on them all day), this team may not have had an over-.500 finish since that glorious, ill-fated ’04-’05 season.
While Donovan McNabb’s health has been an on-and-off issue, his supporting cast continues to be a steadily confounding one. Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, LJ Smith...stop me when I mention someone that actually scares an opposing defense.
Last year’s up-and-down—ultimately down—year of 8-8 is just not good enough. The addition of Asante Samuel on defense will surely help the turnovers go up for the defense, a problem the last couple of years.
The other, more glaring problem is that Asante Samuel doesn’t play receiver. And that’s what they need. Desperately.
They tried with Larry Fitzgerald, but that didn’t work.
They tried with Randy Moss. Ha, that was funny.
They tried with Roy Williams, and apparently they weren’t able to out-fox that crafty receiver collector, Matt Millen.
They may still try with Anquan Boldin. Who knows?
Which leaves us with one real option: Mr. Cincinnati, Chad Johnson.
Johnson is the one guy out there, who if he sticks to his pledge, will be available at some point before the start of the season. Unlike promising rookie DeShaun Jackson, Johnson is a proven NFL commodity. A Pro-Bowl receiver who needs a change of scenery like Andy Reid needs a diet: real bad.
He helps this team right here, right now.
With Johson in the fold, this team is suddenly very dangerous. Curtis, Brown, and Johnson are a very good receiving corps. Curtis is a great, fast outside compliment to Johnson, who will go anywhere on the field. Add superstar Westbrook, a now healthy LJ Smith, and an (presumably) ecstatic, rejuvenated Donovan McNabb, and they can play with, and beat, anyone.
So here it is, a short list of why this will happen and, of course, why it won’t.
Will Happen: Andy Reid is not a dummy.
If the failed pursuit of Moss and Fitzgerald tells us anything, it’s that Reid is not a total idiot, living in a self-delusional bubble. He knows they need help, and he has tried to get it. He even drafted Jackson with a second-round pick, even though at this point his contribution is seen more in the return game. You have to believe if the Bengals give them any opening, they will look into it.
Won’t Happen: Marvin Lewis is a dummy.
5 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Aaron Meyer about 1 year ago
You touch on TO a bit in your article as a reason the Bengals won't go after Chad Johnson. This is the overriding factor I believe in the deal not getting done. The wound is too fresh in the minds of the front office and the fans in Philly.
And yes, you hit the nail on the head calling someone in the Bengals a dummy, but you were off the mark with Marvin Lewis. Unless I forgot something, Lewis is not the General Manager. The blame for Chad Johnson not being shipped for two first round picks belongs to the GM in this case, whomever it is. Lewis is the hitman to the media, but the guy who didn't pull the trigger is whoever runs the Player Personnel department. Seriously, two first round picks? You could completely change your team's future with those picks, a total of 6(!) in the first three rounds, where talent is packed deep. Imagine an entirely new defensive squad, bristling with young, hungry talent waiting to be molded by Lewis into the kind of defensive juggernaut that he had in Baltimore. It just goes to show, the well run teams stack up the draft picks and build from the bottom up.
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ryan none about 1 year ago
Cool article, but seriously if CJ comes to Philly...many coordinators in the NFL will be nervous.
Does AR use the Carolina pick for the trade?
www.betsuperior.com.
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Ryan Droege about 1 year ago
Don't forget, that $8 million cap hit can be spread over the next two years, which softens the blow a bit.
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Michael McGowan about 1 year ago
8 mill cap hit is if they make the trade before June 1st.. WHich is not going to happen!
So that is nothing to talk about. On draft day, Washington Offered a first and a third, not two firsts. Also, the Eagles will get this done with 2 position players and there first round draft pick. THey will not trade Carolinas, they believe they will be better than them.
Great Article.
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John Halligan about 1 year ago
good call on the picks, but it could be two first rounders, this from mort as espn:
The Redskins offered their first-round pick, No. 21 overall, and a conditional third-rounder in 2009 that could escalate to a first-rounder if Johnson and the Redskins hit certain performance levels, the sources said.
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