Rod Hood: The Eagles Got It Right Again

As much as Andy Reid and his front office staff have been criticized in the past for poor drafting, you have to hand it to them when it comes to knowing when to let go of players.

The latest example, cornerback Rod Hood.

Hood signed with the Eagles in 2003 as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn. He enjoyed some success as a nickel and part-time starter for the Birds through 2006. When he hit the unrestricted free agent market in 2007, the Eagles made little effort to resign him and he subsequently inked a 5 year, $15 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite some success in 2007, Hood regressed in 2008 and was released after the season as a cost cutting move. He signed on with the Cleveland Browns, but was released today after a poor training camp.

Granted, Hood had a good season in 2007, but the Eagles are excellent at knowing their own players. They knew Hood wasn’t worth what other teams were willing to spend on him, and wisely let him take the big dollars elsewhere rather than ponying up the money themselves.

The same went for players like Jeremiah Trotter, Lito Sheppard, Corey Simon, Ike Reese, Duce Staley, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Hugh Douglas, and Michael Lewis. All were more valued by other teams (or by their agents) than the Eagles, and all flopped when the left.

It’ll be interesting to see how the latest crop of vets—Brian Dawkins and Correll Buckhalter—who the Birds let sign elsewhere for big money fare away from Philly.

Say what you will about the drafts (which seem to be producing lately), the Birds know their pro personnel as well as any other team, and are masterful in knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.

More Philly sports coverage at Firedforwinning.com