In this arms race, Birds' stockpile may not be enough
by Gordie Jones
March 26, 2008
We are in the dying days of the NFL's free agency period, and the Eagles' approach, like that of many teams at this stage, is of the Popular Mechanics variety: They are tinkering with the roster's undercarriage, bringing in a Dan Klecko here, a Rocky Boiman there -- serviceable guys who will very likely function well within the larger framework.
Meanwhile, down south, the Dallas Cowboys are employing the People magazine approach. Every other day, it seems, there are breathless reports linking them to Chad Johnson (or Pacman Jones, or Darren McFadden).
So far, it's all talk. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters at last month's scouting combine that he wanted to add a ''wow'' factor to his team. And he amplified that in a recent interview with Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway: ''I can assure everyone our pursuit of talent is far from over.''
A wise course, given (for one thing) the rings the Cowboys' NFC East brethren in New Jersey will soon be wearing. Also given the fact that Jones is opening a glittering new stadium in 2009, and no doubt wants to have a palatable product to put on the field.
The Eagles would do well to take heed of all this very public scheming. They were, you might remember, last in the division last year. And if the East-winning Cowboys manage to finagle any of the deals in which they are rumored to be involved, the Birds' prospects for the coming season don't look all that much brighter.
Slow and steady might not win this race. Something bigger and bolder might be required. And if you believe what you have read the last several weeks, the Eagles seem to realize that.
They made a pitch for Randy Moss. They had some interest in Larry Fitzgerald, and perhaps Detroit wide receiver Roy Williams. But as it stands now, they have only Asante Samuel, Chris Clemons, Klecko and Boiman in their shopping cart. That doesn't seem like enough to sustain them through the fall and winter months. Not when the Cowboys are talking about stocking up.
The rumor that seems to have the most legs is the one involving McFadden, the best running back in the April 26-27 draft. Like Jones, he played at Arkansas, and the Dallas owner has long said how much he covets him. The question is whether the Cowboys will be able to trade up to get him; they have two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 28 overall) to offer.
Johnson, meanwhile, is pouting -- so much so that he skipped the start of the Bengals' offseason conditioning program Monday. And that's because, he has said, he feels unappreciated; a columnist ripped Ocho Cinco for his self-aggrandizing antics last year, and the fans came down on him as a 7-9 season drew to a close.
(Just a wild guess here, but perhaps money is involved on some level. His agent is Drew Rosenhaus.)
But coach Marvin Lewis told the NFL Network that the Bengals are not going to trade Johnson, who has four years left on his contract. Check back tomorrow on that one, though.
As for Pacman, he has been suspended since last April for violating the NFL's conduct policy, his six arrests apparently having hit the ''over'' on the knucklehead scale. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he will review that suspension at some point before the start of training camps, and if Jones is in fact reinstated, the Cowboys reportedly have the most interest.
A late-round draft pick will apparently be enough to get him from Tennessee, and Dallas then would likely rework his contract, giving him an incentive-laden deal with lots of clauses related to personal conduct.
This is all very speculative, of course. But the Cowboys could have McFadden and Marion Barber alternating at running back, Johnson and Terrell Owens teaming up at wide receiver (and wouldn't it be interesting to see how they might coexist?), with Pacman manning a corner and returning kicks.
That would give Dallas the ''wow'' Jones is seeking. It would also demand a bold response on the part of the rest of the division, the Eagles very much included.
March 26, 2008
We are in the dying days of the NFL's free agency period, and the Eagles' approach, like that of many teams at this stage, is of the Popular Mechanics variety: They are tinkering with the roster's undercarriage, bringing in a Dan Klecko here, a Rocky Boiman there -- serviceable guys who will very likely function well within the larger framework.
Meanwhile, down south, the Dallas Cowboys are employing the People magazine approach. Every other day, it seems, there are breathless reports linking them to Chad Johnson (or Pacman Jones, or Darren McFadden).
So far, it's all talk. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters at last month's scouting combine that he wanted to add a ''wow'' factor to his team. And he amplified that in a recent interview with Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway: ''I can assure everyone our pursuit of talent is far from over.''
A wise course, given (for one thing) the rings the Cowboys' NFC East brethren in New Jersey will soon be wearing. Also given the fact that Jones is opening a glittering new stadium in 2009, and no doubt wants to have a palatable product to put on the field.
The Eagles would do well to take heed of all this very public scheming. They were, you might remember, last in the division last year. And if the East-winning Cowboys manage to finagle any of the deals in which they are rumored to be involved, the Birds' prospects for the coming season don't look all that much brighter.
Slow and steady might not win this race. Something bigger and bolder might be required. And if you believe what you have read the last several weeks, the Eagles seem to realize that.
They made a pitch for Randy Moss. They had some interest in Larry Fitzgerald, and perhaps Detroit wide receiver Roy Williams. But as it stands now, they have only Asante Samuel, Chris Clemons, Klecko and Boiman in their shopping cart. That doesn't seem like enough to sustain them through the fall and winter months. Not when the Cowboys are talking about stocking up.
The rumor that seems to have the most legs is the one involving McFadden, the best running back in the April 26-27 draft. Like Jones, he played at Arkansas, and the Dallas owner has long said how much he covets him. The question is whether the Cowboys will be able to trade up to get him; they have two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 28 overall) to offer.
Johnson, meanwhile, is pouting -- so much so that he skipped the start of the Bengals' offseason conditioning program Monday. And that's because, he has said, he feels unappreciated; a columnist ripped Ocho Cinco for his self-aggrandizing antics last year, and the fans came down on him as a 7-9 season drew to a close.
(Just a wild guess here, but perhaps money is involved on some level. His agent is Drew Rosenhaus.)
But coach Marvin Lewis told the NFL Network that the Bengals are not going to trade Johnson, who has four years left on his contract. Check back tomorrow on that one, though.
As for Pacman, he has been suspended since last April for violating the NFL's conduct policy, his six arrests apparently having hit the ''over'' on the knucklehead scale. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he will review that suspension at some point before the start of training camps, and if Jones is in fact reinstated, the Cowboys reportedly have the most interest.
A late-round draft pick will apparently be enough to get him from Tennessee, and Dallas then would likely rework his contract, giving him an incentive-laden deal with lots of clauses related to personal conduct.
This is all very speculative, of course. But the Cowboys could have McFadden and Marion Barber alternating at running back, Johnson and Terrell Owens teaming up at wide receiver (and wouldn't it be interesting to see how they might coexist?), with Pacman manning a corner and returning kicks.
That would give Dallas the ''wow'' Jones is seeking. It would also demand a bold response on the part of the rest of the division, the Eagles very much included.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:28 PM
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