Eagles Signing of Samuel More for Show than of Substance

This just in, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed the top defensive Free Agent of 2008! Oh wait, they signed a cornerback? Didn't we have already have two starting cornerbacks under contract (although Lito Sheppard may have held out for more money)? After watching the 2007-08 Eagles play, did anyone walk away from that 8-8 season saying to themselves that this team really needed to go out and sign a starting defensive back that wasn't a Strong Safety? Let me preface this article by saying that I fully believe that Asante Samuel is a great cover corner. However, why did frugal birds management spend close to $50M on a position they already have filled? Let's examine just what the Eagles are getting for their efforts and dollars. By comparison Lito Sheppard has played 6 years (77 games and one Superbowl), Samuel 5 years (75 games and three Superbowls). Sheppard 205 tackles, Samuel 208. Sheppard 2 sacks, Samuel 0. Sheppard 17 INTs, Samuel 22 (credit two to A.J. Feely last year). Sheppard 3 TDs, Samuel 3. Sheppard 2 Probowls, Samuel 1. Sheppard 0 rings, Samuel 2 (credit Adam Vinatieri and Tom Brady for that stat). So that means for an extra 3 contract years and umpteen millions the Eagles have added, 3 tackles, 5 ints, 2 rings, and lost 2 sacks, and 1 extra probowl. By simple breakdown of course. As an Eagle in case some excited fans have forgotten, Lito is the only player in NFL history with two 100-yd. INT returns for TDs. They are the two longest INT returns in Eagles history (102T vs. Dal. 10/8/06, QB Drew Bledsoe; 101T at Dal. 11/15/04, QB Vinny Testaverde) and Of Sheppard's 17 career INTS? 3 have ended the game 4 have come in the 4th quarter of a ""close game"" 8 have resulted in TDs (3 returns) 8 have come in the 4th quarter (4 in the final 2 minutes) 10 have come in ""close games"" (+/- 7 points) 9 have come inside the Eagles 10-yardline (4 in the endzone) 12 have come while the Eagles are leading The real difference between the two players is that Samuel has never missed a game and Lito obviously tends to miss many more. In my personal opinion, the money spent on Samuel could have been better used for positions that actually were a need for this team (like DE, SS, WR, and KR/PR). But it is only two days into free agency and more than a month away from the draft, so the verdict is still out on this off season.