What is this post for? Damn, people lighten up on the complaining and all of the rumor mongering and negative attitudes. There have been rumors about the Eagles making a run atnearly every number 1 receiver except TO posted. The EAGLES DON'T TIP THERE HANDS ON WHO THEY ARE AFTER, and they shouldn't. All fans want info and top players added to the team. Judging by what the Eagles try to do, whether it turns out right or wrong in the long run, they are always upgrading where they think it makes sense. We had Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, the stupid FO uses a number one and two on two more cornerbacks, Lito and Sheldon, that turned out pretty well. Look at how we sit at linebacker now, no one thought we had the talent in house that the Eagles brought in in the last two years, Kevin Curtis is a quality receiver, Reggie Brown had a down year after the previous one, but how much of that was the result of no Tight End and DMac being immobile. Unfortunately you can't have all pros at all positions, some positions are just going to be "good" players. They have a plan for what positions are the most important and they follow it, unless an opportunity presents itself to land a potential game changer, TO, Kearse, the run at Moss, and maybe Fitzgerald. Does anyone remember the Kotite and Rhodes years? Buddy Ryan never won anything as much as I loved the Defense he had. We've had more sucess under Andy Reid than anytime since the 1940s. Give the FO a little credit for what they've achieved and have a little faith that they will get us back to the promised land and finally win a Superbowl.

Written by Garry Cobb

Sunday, 02 March 2008

Randy Moss wants to stay with the New England Patriots but they have been dragging their feet in the negotiaitons according to a source close to Moss. He doesn't want to move too fast in the situation so he has decided to just sit on things for the weekend and weigh his options.

Moss is really frustrated with the fact that he gave the Pats a record-breaking season at a discount price, yet they don't want to step up to the plate and pay him what he's worth. I expect Moss to try to get Tom Brady involved in the situation.

Brady had called Moss right after the Super Bowl and urged him to stay with the Pats so they could make another run at a title. Randy was totally frustrated and dejected after getting so close to winning a Super Bowl and coming up short. He wouldn't leave his home for awhile and didn't want to talk to anybody.

Brady called him a few times and tried to cheer him up. Tom and Randy are very close and have built a close relationship over the last year. Brady has made very clear to Randy that he desperated wants him to stay with New England for the next season.

Moss is willing to stay put but he doesn't want to do that for the same discount price he did it for in 2007. He wants to be paid like the top receivers in the league.

Randy reached out to me last year through a mutual friend about whether the Eagles would be interested in signing him. A year ago, he said he liked Donovan McNabb and the Eagles franchise, and he let me know that he was interested in joining the Birds. He wanted know if they had any interest. It's much of the same situation right now.

Moss is going to weigh his options over the weekend but he knows he's going to have make a move before too long. I'll keep you posted because the situation is fluid.



Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 March 2008 )

Contract talks hit a snag with Moss

01:00 AM EST on Sunday, March 2, 2008

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

Journal Sports Writer

Randy Moss' fate with the Patriots has lately taken on a doubtful aspect.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

On day two of the NFL free-agency period, Patriots fans had one big question: What's up with Randy Moss?

When New England did not franchise the record-setting receiver by last week's deadline, there was a belief that Moss and the Patriots already had a verbal agreement on a contract extension, and that it would be announced Friday.

But Friday and now Saturday have come and gone, and Moss remains on the market.

Signing him became even more important when it was announced yesterday that the Pats No. 2 receiver, Donte Stallworth, had agreed to a seven-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

When Moss came to New England from Oakland via a draft-day trade last April, he contended that he had made enough money in his career. Now he wanted the chance to win.

The Patriots, and quarterback Tom Brady, certainly offered that chance, and continue to offer it despite the loss of players they have bid farewell to in recent days.

Neither Moss nor agent Tim DiPiero have said anything about Moss' situation, and the Pats certainly aren't talking. Yesterday, an NFL Network report cited individuals close to Moss in a story about Moss and Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre. Favre openly lobbied Packers' management to acquire Moss last offseason, before New England acquired the 6-foot-4 wideout. Now Favre is once again weighing his football future, and Moss may once again be available.

According to the NFL Network report, those who know Moss say he is becoming frustrated at the lack of progress being made in talks with New England for a new deal. Further, Moss is now willing to make free-agent visits and listen to offers from other teams.

The report continued that Moss feels the contract the Patriots have proposed is insufficient, and that while he gave New England a discount last year, he is unwilling to do so again.

Moss' contract with the Raiders was to pay him $9.75 million last season, but when he came to New England, he signed a one-year contract that paid him $3 million in base salary plus incentives.

The top receivers in the game make far more than what Moss pulled in last season: Dallas' Terrell Owens made $9.67 million last season, while the Colts' Marvin Harrison earned $8.4 million. Torry Holt of the Rams and Chad Johnson of the Bengals each made over $7 million.

It would seem that keeping Moss is crucial to the Pats, in large part to keep Brady happy. The reigning league MVP said during Super Bowl week that he feels as though he has a decade of games left in him and would like Moss to be with him for as many of those as possible.

There also is no further word on the talks between New England and agent Drew Rosenhaus on a contract extension for Jabar Gaffney. At the NFL Combine last week, Rosenhaus said talks were "ongoing."

After losing out on linebacker Zach Thomas to the Cowboys, New England will reportedly host another free-agent defensive player, former Bills cornerback Jason Webster, tomorrow. Webster broke his arm in the first game of the season last year and was placed on injured reserve.

Yesterday, cornerback Randall Gay visited New Orleans, and as of last night was still scheduled to visit the Buccaneers on Monday.

Six Teams Are Interested In Sheppard

Written by Garry Cobb

Saturday, 01 March 2008

Profootballtalk.com is reporting that there are six teams that have shown interest in acquiring the services of the Eagles backup left cornerback Lito Sheppard. Those teams are the Texans, Saints, Buccaneers, Browns, Rams and Jets.

Personally I'm suspicious of this report because a lot of times the source of the story winds up being the agent of the player. It's in the player and agent't interest to have a lot of teams interested in acquiring their services.

I also saw report about 10 teams being interested in former Packers and Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker. 10 teams doesn't sound like a true number.

Here's the story about Sheppard which was in Profootballtalk.com.

SEVERAL TEAMS INTERESTED IN SHEPPARD by Michael David Smith

It's only been 24 hours since the Philadelphia Eagles signed cornerback Asante Samuel, but they're already hearing from teams interested in trading for the cornerback Samuel replaced in the starting lineup.

A league source tells PFT that several teams are showing preliminary interest in trading for cornerback Lito Sheppard. Those teams include the Texans, Saints, Buccaneers, Browns, Rams and Jets.

A team can never have too many good cornerbacks, and the Eagles could choose to keep Sheppard, especially if they move right cornerback Sheldon Brown to safety. But given how much interest there is in Sheppard, it seems more likely that he'll be shipped elsewhere.

Written by Garry Cobb

Sunday, 02 March 2008

I think the Eagles are continuing to work on the Larry Fitzgerald deal, but while they're working on it, wide receivers are being signed. Donte Stallworth is no longer available because he just signed a deal with the Cleveland Browns,.

The Eagles must sign a top level wide receiver if they want to improve their offense. A quality wide out would make the guys they already have in place, much better. The Birds have to make a move within a few days or they're going to find themselves without a seat when the music stops.

The Fitzgerald deal is defintiely their first option. I don't know who the second option is but Randy Moss is on their some where. Javon Walker is on that list. Bryant Johnson is probably on there as well.

Remember that this is a game of musical chairs and nobody want to get caught standing when the music stops.

3:08 p.m.

It's official: The Eagles have signed Chris Clemons to a five-year contract. He meets the media at 3:30 p.m.

Moss Could Sign With Eagles Or Cowboys

Written by Garry Cobb

Saturday, 01 March 2008

There's an outside chance that the Eagles could acquire the services of free agent wide receiver Randy Moss. I don't know that they're interested in him, but Moss and the New England Patriots are getting no where in their negotiations. I"ve learned that the Eagles are one of the teams which Moss would like to play for.

I've also been told that the Cowboys and Jaguars have shown sincere interest in signing Moss. The Eagles can't let the Dallas Cowboys sign Randy Moss. I don't know that a team which included both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss could win but I know I wouldn't want to be the defensive coordinator who had to design a plan to stop them.

The contract negotiations between Randy Moss and the New England Patriots has been going very slow. The Pats aren't showing an appreciation for Moss who broke the NFL all-time touchdown reception record in NFL history.

He wouldn't mind playing for the Eagles and had expressed that last year. like to play for New England again in 2008 but he wants to be compensated for his ability and production. He wants to play for a good team which has a chance to win a championship.



Last Updated ( Saturday, 01 March 2008 )

OK here is what nfl.com just posted about moss.

[Those who know Moss say he is inching closer to the point of frustration at the lack of progress he has made for a new deal with the Patriots. The longer the Patriots wait to sign him, the more they invite other teams to begin recruiting Moss.

Moss is, at the very least, now willing to take free-agent visits and listen to other offers, according to sources. The contract the Patriots have proposed is not enough for Moss to sign now. The record-setting wide receiver believes he gave New England a discount last year and is unwilling to do the same this year.]

this would shead some light on why he hasnt signed with new england and why he hasnt visited other places. to me it sounds like typical moss.

we can only hope that the eagles are waiting for him to recive calls and when he does the eagles can swoop in offer him the 10 mill he wants and still have about 13 mill left for the draft

11:10 a.m.

Now it's completely absurd. ProFootballTalk.com is "speculating" that because the depth chart on this web site, the UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART, did not contain Takeo Spikes, that means Spikes could be on the way out. OK, so this is dumb. Spikes was on Injured Reserve at the end of the season and hasn't been added back to the depth chart, which really hasn't been updated all that much.

Hey, there is no Sean Considine on the depth chart. Kimo von Oelhoffen is an unrestricted free agent, yet he is on the depth chart. Here is the upshot: We are likely to disable the depth chart because of stupid speculation like this. It just is not worth this kind of nonsense.

Anyway ... on to real news ...

I pay attention to all of the deals signed by players and I read about the dollars in the deal with great interest. For example, Justin Smith signed what is reported to be a six-year, $45-million deal with San Francisco. Those are just numbers to me. I don't know how contracts are structured, so a lot of those dollars could be dead dollars or backloaded figures. What matters is when I see that Smith is to receive a guaranteed $20 million. That's a lot of bread.

At the same time, we are in a new age here. The numbers are so inflated. It really is incredible how much money is being spent.

Anyway, nothing new late on Saturday morning. Hang in there.

POSTED 10:42 a.m. EST, March 1, 2008

SPIKES OUT IN PHILLY . . . MOSS IN?

On Friday night, an eagle-eyed reader in Philly pointed out to us that the Eagles' depth chart shows Asante Samuel as the starter at left cornerback, and Lito Sheppard as the second-stringer.

So we shared that info with PFT Planet, and several members of the Philly chapter pointed out that nowhere on the depth chart are the words "Takeo" or "Spikes."

And that is prompting speculation that Spikes and his $5 million base salary are on the way out. Since 2008 is the final year of his contract, cutting him would give the Eagles an immediate $5 million in cap space, with no acceleration.

The possible departure of Spikes and the arrival of receiver Randy Moss on the open market has prompted speculation that the Eagles might make a run at Randy.

The wild card in all of this is Samuel. He's in a position to greatly influence the Eagles, one way or the other, on the value of Moss. Samuel was with the Pats for four seasons before Moss, so he's in a great position to provide the powers-that-be with the inside look at the "before" and the "after".

Stay tuned. Prior to signing Asante, the Eagles were coy about trading Sheppard, likely because they didn't want a repeat of the LeCharles Bentley episode in their quest for Samuel. The wheels might quietly be in motion as to Spikes because the Eagles hope to soar under radar if they decide to try to reel in Randy.

Hey, if T.O. and Moss can't play on the same team, the next best thing is having him in the same division.

POSTED 12:58 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008

SAMUEL VISITING EAGLES

Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports that free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel will visit the Eagles on Friday.

On Thursday night, it was reported that Samuel already has a deal in place with the Eagles.

Samuel is looking for at least $10 million per year.

On Rotoworld from John Clayton

As free agency began Friday at 12:00 AM ET, the Patriots had no deal in place with Randy Moss, according to ESPN's John Clayton.

The 6'4 wideout with 4.3 speed and a 40'' vertical who scored 23 TDs last season is officially open to the highest bidder. The Patriots shouldn't be out of the picture, but the 31-year-old may as well look around. Feb. 29 - 12:08 am et

POSTED 12:25 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008

START THE INSANITY

Free agency officially is opened.

Looks like they want to make everyone think the rules are being followed...

And, as far as we can tell, no players have changed teams yet.

In past seasons, deals have gone down not long after the launch of the signing period. We suspect that the league office has asked teams not to consummate multi-million-dollar deals in the 60 minutes or so after the signing period opens. The obvious implication in such situations is that there were discussions before discussions were technically permitted.