http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/1213 Recent articles about Shawn Barber en-us In 1995 Gunther Cunningham was hired as defensive coordinator for the Chiefs. In his four seasons as DC the Chiefs gave up 16.4 points per game. They were +30 in turnover margin. Was that more great players like D.T. and Neil Smith, Dale Carter and James Hasty or more Gunther? I would like to believe it was a happy medium but since his return in 2004 the D has not made huge strides. The have got progressively better every year but they were so horrible when he took over that right now they are just a middle of the pack defense. Every year there has been a reason why the defense has stunk, Offensive minded head coach, not having "your guys", new system. Granted when he took over the talent level on defense was horrendous. Now the defense has been completely over hauled. 2004 Defensive line: John Browning, Ryan Sims, Lionel Dalton, Junior Siavii, Eric Hicks, Vonnie Holiday 2008 Defensive line: Tamba Hali, Turk McBride, Tank Tyler, Glenn Dorsey, Alphonso Boone, Brian Johnston 2004 Linebackers: Mike Maslowski, Monty Biesel, Shawn Barber, Keyaron Fox, Kawika Mitchell 2008 Linebackers: Derrick Johnson , Napoleon Harris, Donnie Edwards, Demarrio Williams, Nate Harris 2004: Cornerbacks: Eric Warfield, Dexter Mcleon, William Bartee, Julian Battle 2008: Cornerbacks: Patrick Surtain, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Tyron Brackenridge 2004 Safety: Greg Wesley, Jerome Woods 2008: Safety: Jarrod Page, Bernard Pollard The one position that has not been completely upgraded is safety but it is not that much of a drop off. He clearly has players with abilities now. If the Chiefs D struggles early it will be blamed on the youth movement. And that is understandable but this unit has to show major improvement in 08 Gunther was not a Herm Edwards selection and you can only imagine that Herm could bring in one of his own "Tampa Two" coaches. I will be rooting for Gunther but the clock is ticking and the Chiefs will be expecting results this season. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:44:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292066 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292066 In 1995 Gunther Cunningham was hired as defensive coordinator for the Chiefs. In his four seasons as DC the Chiefs gave up 16.4 points per game. They were +30 in turnover margin. Was that more great players like D.T. and Neil Smith, Dale Carter and James Hasty or more Gunther? I would like to believe it was a happy medium but since his return in 2004 the D has not made huge strides. The have got progressively better every year but they were so horrible when he took over that right now they are just a middle of the pack defense. Every year there has been a reason why the defense has stunk, Offensive minded head coach, not having "your guys", new system. Granted when he took over the talent level on defense was horrendous. Now the defense has been completely over hauled. 2004 Defensive line: John Browning, Ryan Sims, Lionel Dalton, Junior Siavii, Eric Hicks, Vonnie Holiday 2008 Defensive line: Tamba Hali, Turk McBride, Tank Tyler, Glenn Dorsey, Alphonso Boone, Brian Johnston 2004 Linebackers: Mike Maslowski, Monty Biesel, Shawn Barber, Keyaron Fox, Kawika Mitchell 2008 Linebackers: Derrick Johnson , Napoleon Harris, Donnie Edwards, Demarrio Williams, Nate Harris 2004: Cornerbacks: Eric Warfield, Dexter Mcleon, William Bartee, Julian Battle 2008: Cornerbacks: Patrick Surtain, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Tyron Brackenridge 2004 Safety: Greg Wesley, Jerome Woods 2008: Safety: Jarrod Page, Bernard Pollard The one position that has not been completely upgraded is safety but it is not that much of a drop off. He clearly has players with abilities now. If the Chiefs D struggles early it will be blamed on the youth movement. And that is understandable but this unit has to show major improvement in 08 Gunther was not a Herm Edwards selection and you can only imagine that Herm could bring in one of his own "Tampa Two" coaches. I will be rooting for Gunther but the clock is ticking and the Chiefs will be expecting results this season. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:44:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292066 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292066 This was a great game. In a season full of turmoil, the week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs was an all time classic. It is a very enjoyable game to watch despite the fact that TO was still an Eagle. Hollis Thomas was starting at DT, Keith Adams was the WILL Linebacker, Michael Lewis [...] Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:48:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291436 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291436 There are still around two dozen quality players from the defensive side of the ball that remain on the free agent market. Defensive Tackle Albert Haynesworth (franchise player) Rod Coleman Darwin Walker Larry Tripplett Anthony McFarland Grady Jackson Bryan Robinson Ellis Wyms Keith Traylor James Reed William Joseph Ethan Kelley Ian Scott Antonio Garay Kimo von Oelhoffen Ted Washington Russell Davis Nick Eason Defensive End Jared Allen (franchise player) Terrell Suggs (OLB) (franchise player) James Hall Kevin Carter (DT) Mike Rucker Greg Spires Josh Thomas Orpheus Roye ND Kalu Darrion Scott Renaldo Wynn Al Wallace Inside Linebacker Karlos Dansby (franchise player) Lemar Marshall Jeremiah Trotter Brian Simmons Rob Morris (SLB) Caleb Miller Outside Linebacker Takeo Spikes Ian Gold Rosevelt Colvin Victor Hobson Clark Haggans Brandon Chillar Kendrell Bell Keith Adams Rocky Boiman Shawn Barber Donnie Spragan Matt Stewart Safety Ken Hamlin (franchise player) Kenoy Kennedy Chris Crocker Terrence Holt Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:58:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/203017 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/203017 hhhhhhhhmmmmm interesting, this guy blogs in my local morning paper!! It has been a busy weekend for the Eagles. One player is arrested while another is just moments away from getting his walking papers. In news that went unnoticed yesterday, NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Eagles are going to release Jevon Kearse. Kearse's agent confirmed this over the weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine. On January 3 I wrote a blog about Jevon's preemptive move of putting his house up for sale. According to Schefter, the Eagles offered Kearse a salary cut to stay. If Kearse stayed at his current salary, his base would be $6.46 million for the 2008 season. That would be a risky cap commitment at this stage in Jevon's career. Considering Kearse registered 3.5 sacks in his last two seasons, it is safe to say an improvement at his position is desperately needed. In some other news that relates to the Eagles, the Chicago Bears signed Rex Grossman to a 1-year deal. I think that puts to rest the McNabb to Chicago rumors for at least another year. The Bears will put the position up for grabs between Grossman, Orton, and a likely rookie. I would be surprised to see Brian Griese return to the team. As horrible as Grossman was this last season, he did take his team to a Super Bowl a year ago and I am glad to see the Bears give him another chance. A few ex-Eagles were released over the last few days which could fill some of the team's needs. The Pittsburgh Steelers released Allen Rossum on Friday. Rossum played two years for the Eagles, one under Andy Reid. Call me crazy but don't the Eagles desperately need a return man? Rossum also gives the team depth at corner. I can't think of a player released in the offseason thus far who fits an immediate need better than Rossum. Bring Allen home! The Texans released Shawn Barber. I always thought that getting rid of Barber was one of the few bad personnel decisions that the team has made over the last few years. Barber was always a productive Eagle and it was great to see him back two years ago. He is always an injury risk, but I would love to see the team bring him back for a one-year deal. The Bears also passed on Darwin Walker's option who could now be another free agent possibility for the team. The Pats have passed on Donte' Stallworth's option and he will become an unrestricted free agent. I placed Stallworth at the top of my wish list a few weeks ago. Stallworth was great here and seemed to have good chemistry with McNabb. Stallworth already knows the system which is huge when signing a free agent. Unlike most free agent pickups, you already know what you are getting in Stallworth. He isn't an upgrade to Curtis, but more of an addition and a compliment to a struggling offense. Am I the only one who gets excited at the prospects of a starting offense featuring Brian Westbrook, Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, and Donte' Stallworth captained by Donovan McNabb? The Eagles have a lot of decisions to make this off season. The spin from the team is exactly what I was afraid of after the Giants won the Super Bowl. Joe Banner is quick to point out the Giants lack of free agent activity last season which is true. However, he and others are quick to forget the acquisition of Plaxico Burress and what that has meant to the team and the quarterback. Hey, draft eight players who are going to start next season and we won't have to worry about free agents. The other spin I heard from Eagle came is that the team could have went 10-6 with a few lucky breaks. Unfortunately the breaks came to teams like the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. Could this team get to 10-6 and make a playoff run with a lucky fumble and a bad coaching move from the opposing coach? Sure, but give me a team that I can count on to get there on their own merits and not a team that counts on someone else's mistakes. Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:24:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/164378 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/164378