The Philadelphia Eagles are surely going to pursue a free agent defensive end when the lockout ends, but chances are that the pass rusher won’t be older than 30 years of age. You know how the Birds treat players who are over the magical 30 year of age.
Former Eagle and current Tennessee Titans free agent defensive end Jason Babin says he might be 31 years of age, but he’s a young 31.
“I’m sure I’ll have a couple of knocks on me with last season being my first big year and my age, but I don’t have the mileage per se,” Babin told a reporter with the Detroit News. “I’ve been garage-kept for a few seasons and I’m now out of the box. I’m looking to get a three- or four-year contract. I plan to play the last few years on my terms.”
Babin who was let walk by the Birds a year ago, went to Tennessee and totaled 12.5 sacks under the guidance of new Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
Yeah, we all know how the Birds treat players who are over the magical age of 30 – they go easy on them in training camp – because you know, they have guys over 30…um…on the team.
The whole ‘hard rule’ thing is overblown. If there were 2 free agent DE’s, both coming of a 12.5 sack season, both former Washburn success stories, both healthy..etc. etc…. but one was 31 and the other 26, yeah, the Birds (or any team with a braiin) would go young. But to assume that the age thing is a deal killer seems silly to me – it’s reacting to a media myth, not a hard rule.
I say go for it, at worst it doesn’t pan out (like so many of our DE tries recently), at best, it could be a great move. With the DL suppossedly improving under Washburn anyway…. seems wise to me.
It all depends on what kind of $$$ he’s looking at.. I see Babin as an effective rotational type of DE in this Eagles Scheme but he is not so strong versus the Running game which you have to be playing in the NFC East versus the GIants,Cowboy & Redskins who all like to run the ball. I think it’s hard to pay him the type of $$$ he’s looking for when he’s really a rotational/part time player. I would rather pay that kins of $$$ to a Charles Johnsons who at 25-26 still is improving and has more up-side or go out and sign M Kiwanuka on a performance based deal (if he’s 100% cleared from his previous neck injury) but a 3-4 Year deal for big $$$ for Babin is just not going to happen from the Eagles (I bet the Falcons go after Babin who really need DE help)
I have jumped off the Nmandi bandwagon. I would rather sign Ike Taylor and Jason Babin. Nmandi is a better player than Ike Taylor but not by much then you add in Babin then this can be the best defense in the NFL along with our young prospects and returning freshmen. Trade Kolb for a #1 next year and this town will start to bleed green and red! making a brownish color if you mix em’ together! 😀
No thanks jason. He is going to get paid lots of money. I would rather have edwards from the vkes. Get me a right corner-STAT!! I really don’t understand y people want him here so bad.
Best D in the NFL is a stretch Vricchini no matter who signs with the Eagles. They are very young and inexpereienced at the Safety & LB positions..
I would take a Top #10 Ranking to be honest with you and with the current Eagles Offensive firepower, they should be a Playoff team and get 10-12 Wins in 2011 barring any major injuries to key players.. but this Defense is far from a Shut Down Defense like those in Pittsburgh,Baltimore, NY Jets,Packers
A #1 Pick in return for Kolb is very unlikley as well since most of the bad and rebuilding teams have already addressed their QB positions..
Stevo – you don’t think Edwards will demand more or similar money than Babin? I sure do.
Paulman’s Plan of Action for Free-Agency for Eagle Defense
#1) Sign CB – Carlos Rogers from Redskins– Physical, Good in the Red-Zone and knows the NFC East and NFC Conference very well
#2) Sign OLB – Steve Tulloch from the Titans – Big,Fast, Physical & durable and has played in Wahsburn’s system. Excellent in Pass Coverages and can play inside or out and a natural leader.. (let S Bradley walk and build the LB Corp around him with the young players in Chaney,Fokou,Matthews,Rolle)
#3) Sign DE – M Kiwanuka from the GIants (If 100 % Healthy) and use as a Pass-Rushing specialists to play opposite T Cole and to spell J Parker
#4) Sign DT – B Mebane from the Seahawks – An excellent run stuffer and pass rusher from the DT position with some size and explosion.. Him and Dixon would make a nice DT Tandem for the next 4-5 Years.. (then Trade M Patterson to Panthers/Seahawks/Broncos who all need help at the DT postiion for a 4th Round Draft pick in 2012 Draft)
Paulman’s Plan of Action for Free-Agency for Eagles Offense
#1) Sign a Big WR (Burress,Malcom FLoyd or Needau or James Jones)
#2) Sign a Big back-up RB for Short-Yardage/Red-Zone tough yards and to spell McCoy (T Hightower from Arizona, or a M Tolbert from Chargers and let J Harrison walk)
#3) Sign back-up Offensive Interior Lineman C Pollard from the Colts, he knows OL Coach’s R Mudd’s system and could play either Guard position in the event that Herremans/Watkins have to slide out at Tackle in the event of injury to Peters or poor performances by Justice and let N Cole,MJG, R Wells all walk
Paulman’s 54 Man Roster for Eagles for Opening Day
Special Teams (3 Spots) Kicker – Henerey, Punter – Rocca, LS – Donebros
Offense (25 Spots)
QB – Vick, Kolb & Kafka ( I would keep Kolb as insurance for a Vick Injury)
RB – McCoy, Hightower, Lewis
FB – Schmitt and Havilli (L Weaver retires due to injury)
WR – D-Jax,Maclin,Avant,Cooper, & Free-agent Burress or Nanee or J Jones
TE – Celek, Harbor
OT – Peters, Justice, Dunlap, Howard
OG – Herremans,Watkins, Pollard, Vandervelde
C – Jackson & McGlynn
Defense (26 Spots)
DE – Cole,Parker, Kiwanuka,Tapp, Hunt and either Teo or Sapp (Graham starts the Season on the PUP list and if he’s able to return would take the roster spot of either Teo or Sapp )
DT – Dixon,Mebane,Bunkley, Laws
ILB – Chaney, Matthews
OLB – Tulloch,Fokou,Jeantry,Rolle & Clayton
CB – Samuel,Rogers,Hanson,Lindley & Marsh
S – M Jackson, Jarrett,Coleman and C Anderson (Nate Allen starts the season on the PUP list and is eligible to return after week 5)
That’s it for now
No- I think edwards will get paid too but he is a much better player. I would love to add edwards. The birds are loaded and they HAVE to use that money. I just don’t want them to blow it on a 1 hit wonder who did nothing while here.
Pman- y would u keep kolb? If vick were to go down for a week, you think Kolb is the best answer? I don’t get that- kolb is a guy you start over with. He’s a guy who will make mistakes and grow as the starts add up. We need a vet who can jump in and go.
Pman I like some of the players u added but they have WAY tooooo much cap space to add a few backups. They need top flight starters. There is NO WAY they go into the season without adding a player who makes us say wow. Mark my words… A DE, CB or both will be added that blows us away. Also think they land 1 more O weapon (might be overkill).
I like C Johnson or Ray Edwards. Babin is one hit wonder and mediocre against the run. Here’s the thing. In a 4-3 D, LDE and RDE are as different as SAM and WILL. Graham and Babin are not good LDEs Graham will be good RDE when Cole leaves. They need a young LDE to team with Cole now and Graham in the fiture. Edwards or C Johnson are no brainers from where I see it. I thought they may go after Babin because they are cheap and they would be able to sign for two years with small bonus. But to my delight it sounds like he doesn’t plan on coming cheap. So he is out of the running because the Eagles will never give him big dollars and multiple years.
I think adding a Starting CB (Carlos Rogers) , Starting OLB (S Tulloch) ,
Starting DT (B Mebane) and a Pass-Rushing DE (M Kiwanuka) is a pretty productive Off-Season to improving the Eagles Defense (that 4 new players out of 11 Positions)
I would Keep Kol for 2 Reasons
#1) What happens if Vick misses 3-4 weeks out of a 16 Game Regular Season which is very possible, who would be the back-up since Kafka is not ready yet and those 3-4 games would be the difference of making the playoffs or missing them entirely
#2) Another reason is I don’t think the Eagles will get offered much in return, since most teams that were in need of a new QB have already addressed those needs via the Draft asnd there will be some Free-Agents out there like a Hasselbeck,McNabb,V Young, M Bulger, J Delhomme,M Moore,T Jackson,and others who won’t cost a Team any Draft picks to sign, if you are in the market for a short-term QB until a younger Draft pick is groomed..
And back on the Salary Cap issue, when the Eagles sign these above 7 Free-Agents and also resign Schmitt/Rocca/ and then offer new deals to Vick,D-Jax and Maybe McCoy, that will end up eating most of that $$$ of the Salary-Cap..
Paulman, I don’t have a problem with C Rodgers since Nnamdi will be way too expensive and we have multiple needs on D. However, I find your other D moves rather odd. First, someone who has respectable knowledge such as yourself should know Tulloch will 1) be very pricey FA and not on our radar, 2) will not play outside because inside pays more and 3) LB is third on the need list and Tulloch will go fast. Both myself and ESPN like Manny Lawson or Rocky McIntosh to land here and Stewart Bradley to stay. Lets face it, with Cole and Samuel being weak on leadership and Q Mikell being gone, we really need Stew to stay put. He is our only experienced leader.
Paulman, also Kiwi will not be interested in being a back up. He is too good for that. So that’s kind of a dunb idea. B Mebane is not a bad choice but DE and RCB will not be filled cheaply. There won’t be money left for Mebane. And I will be pissed if we sign Mebane in lieu of DE help because Cole has only two years left here and we need to think about DE for the future since we have no idea how Graham will pan out after ACL and we have no other DE talent on the roster aside from Cole and an injured Graham. At DT I would sign inexpensive veteran back up and wait on Haynesworth. His contract makes him untradable and Skins have to let him go sometime. And this will be the first number his agent calls. Trust me on this.
On offense I have been thinking a lot about Brad Smith. He is a very good return man that returns both kicks and punts. We have bad options at both. No one for kicks and one of our key players for punts is the only ‘good’ option. Also we have all those cute WC plays we can no longer run and he is a good WC QB. We don’t need a lot on offense and will not spend significantly unless it is for another lineman. Smith addresses return game and provides another minor weapon on offense.
I would look at Yanda for RT. Justice and Dunlap are not exactly thrilling prospects for a TC battle. One of these two mediocre players will be proetecting the $18M man’s bilndside. Yanda allows you to put either himself or Herremans at RT because Yanda can play LG if Herremans has to move to RT.
I agree w/Jbird about Free-Agent Brad Smith of the Jets..
Talk about one of the NFL’s most versatile and underrated players
A Pro-Bowler type of Return Player on SPecial Teams, A nice 3rd 4th WR and even a a good solid WIldcat/Emergency QB, a good locker room guy right in the prime of his career.. The only reason the Jets won’t re-sign him is the $$$, Jets already have WR’s B Edwards, S Holmes, LB D Harris and CB Cromartie-Rogers all
As far as Kiwinuka, If he’s 100% Healthy I would make him the Starting LDE and release J Parker.. and then end up with a DE Tandem of (Cole/Tapp on one side and Kiwinuka/Hunt on the other side).. I am not counting on Brandon Graham being healthy enough to contribute this 2011 Season
At DE – like at CB – I’d be happy with a number of guys who are on the market, I just want the hole adequately adressed. And I am willing to bet that while some have favorites and wish lists (clearly), that’s pretty much the same for most people.
But seriously, for those (and it’s many, including the media) calling Babin a “one hit wonder” – yeah he may turn out to be, but it’s presumptuous and ignorant to use that term at this point. A one hit wonder is someone who when you look back after their career has fizzeled out, ended up only being successful once. We’re still in that ‘hit’ period for him until proven otherwise so it’s just plain dumb (or arrogant) to assume we know.
Alright, I know I’m a broken record with my ‘use your brain, don’t assume/think you know the future” rap, but it’s true and many fans think foolishly quite often.
And don’t go watching Babin this year to point out that I was wrong if he doesn’t succeed – I’m not saying he’s not a one hit wonder, I’m saying it’s literally impossible to correctly label him that right now.
Paulman, you live in a fantasy land (ok, yes, I am restating the obvious). You’re writing in an unknown (NFL) comodity in Hunt over a vet who has proven consistently that he can contribute in spot duty on a regular basis. That sir, is dumb. I agree with everyone that we don’t want Parker starting and/or being the only viable option at LDE – we want a better guy to start and hopefully be a dependable solution there. But to ditch the guy who definitely can and probably will do the job of spot duty well, for unkonws is illogical. You just love new names/predicting the departure of veterans. Heck, I think you like predicting the departure of vets more than anything else! You know Paulman, there’s a viable chance that Mike Patterson is on this team for years to come, and even a chance that he plays well…but I’m convinced that your head will explode if that happens.
I think the Panthers will end up re-signing C Johnson
R Edwards and C Jenkins will be out there but will cost big $$$ to sign them
and J Babin will ride the 1 big year he had last year and M Kiwanuka is coming off a neck injuruy so there is a risk in signing him..
Herramans could not protect Vicks Blind side as a RT, with his Herrammans recent ankle,foot injuries over the last 2-3 years, he no longer has the mobility to play the Tackle Position in th NFL on a full time basis. He could slide out in a pinch, but not as a everydown OT at this stage of his career..
I have stated since DL Coach Washburn was named a coach for the Eagles that Mike Patterson is not a good fit for his attacking, up the field scheme..
Time will tell, but Patterson has been a stand and hold your ground type of player and a Gap 2 type of DT ever since being with the Eagles, He’s gained weight like they’ve asked him to over the years and now fast-forward to 2011 season, he simply does not have the explosion or quickness to be an effective Starting DT in Washburn’s Scheme…Maybe he will prove me wrong and I hope he does, But I just think this scheme is not good for Mike Patterson and I would not be sorry to see him go, if they can get a 4th Rd pick, then move him out…
Paulman..I agree Patterson will go and since he is a decent DT and they are not easy to come by, a 4th round pick does not sem like a reach to me. And for that reason I think there will be changes at DT. My linemen for 2011 would be DTs: Dixon, Fat Albert, Bunkley and Laws. DEs: Cole, Edwards, Parker, Tapp and Hunt with Graham on PUP. Then Hunt better knock their socks off by week five or he’s gone. I expect he will be gone because he is too small to play at this level. But if he impresses, they would probably cut Parker or maybe even put Graham on IR if he is still struggling to get right.
LBs will be Chaney, Bradley, McIntosh, Mathews, Clayton, Fokou, Rolle. I don’t think Jeanty makes the team. Doubtful he will ever play again. But he could beat out Fokou or Rolle if he can play STs. Secondary I’m looking at Samuel, Rodgers/Taylor, Lindley, Marsh, Hanson, M Jackson/ Atari Bigby, Nate Allen, J Jarrett and Coleman.
j and paul – what makes you think hunt makes the team? I’m just curious?
If the Eagles do sign a RT, Justice will be released due to his decent sized contract that would be too much money for a back up when they have Dunlap. I see O line as Yanda, Peters, Herremans, J Jackson, Watkins, McGlynn, Dunlap, Howard, Vandervelde. Only nine guys this year with the versatility of the back ups.
Schill…I stated that I doubt it unless he is impressive. He’s too small.
I think they are very high on Hunt and probalby wouldn’t have signed him to a decent 3 year Contract if they didn;t think he could play at the NFL Level..
He’s not that much smaller than when T Cole,B Graham and D Tapp and probably bigger than Teo and Ricky Sapp and you give him 1-2 Years in the Eagles System and workout and diet regimen, he end up around that 260-265lbs range. I think Hunt is strictly a situational Pass Rusher that they were hoping to find last year in Teo Neishsham/Ricky Sapp but were very disappointing in both of these Draft Picks from last year.. I think Hunt is a 10-15-Plays per game type of player and will end up with about 4-5 Sacks and contribute on Special Teams at this stage of his career ..
Remember that J Parker is making somewhere in the $4-$5 Million range for the 2011 Season. I think if they sign any big name player, then Parker and his contract are a goner or even if they can replace his production and snaps between 2 younger less expensive players (Tapp & Hunt for example) …
there is NO WAY I am paying a 31yr old DE who had 1 good year $7-8m per season for 3-4 yrs
I would give Babin a 1yr $4m deal and thats it!
@Paulman – i think Kiwi would be a perfect fit for the Eagles at DE…remember how well he played DE for the Giants then they moved him to OLB because they had Tuck and Osi…. he could be a gem in the FA market.
Noooo!!! to the one wonder. There are too many other options out there, than to waste alot of cap on him. Even though I salivate over Asomugha, I would question him too. Both, I believe are 30+, correct me if i’m wrong.
My very do-able/ hopeful wish list–
CB’s Ike Taylor & Brent Grimes.
DE Charles Johnson.
DT Fat Albert (when/ if released; No trade).
Trade Kolb to Cards for LB Daryll Washington & 2nd rounder.
Trade Asante “I can’t tackle a dead man, over paid” Samuels to Texans for 2nd & 3rd rounders.
Trade Mike Patterson to Carolina for picks.
Sound good to you guys? They are going to have $45 M to spend before additional roster cuts ala J. Parker, M. Jackson, J. Hanson?
Sounds good to me.
Come on! Settle this Bull s#!t, already!!!
Schill, I agree, Pauls head will explode, & Hunt is a training camp body. Andy ain’t giving up on Sapp & Teo. He’s going to give them every opportunity first, before Hunt. He’s too stubborn to admit his picks were wrong. They still have Tapp too.
To me, Hunt, Parker, Patterson, Abiamiri are bye bye, good ridance, don’t let the door spank you on the way out. Let the kids play & add good quality FA’s. C. Johnson, B. Mebane, R. Edwards, C. Avril, B. Cofield, Fat Albert, C. Jenkins.
DD, sorry man you lost ALL credibility when you suggest getting rid of Asante. That’s just plain dispicable. He is flat out one of the best corners in the game. He’s not top 3, and he certainly has a reluctancy to tackle – but he did prove last year that he can tackle when it counts (seriously, if you deny that then you are just that – in denial). The man is an interception machine and forces QBs to throw the other way – you just cannot argue that. I’m not saying they wont throw his way if we get Nnamdi, but the man make game changing plays on a consistent basis and forces the opposing offense to adjust their game plan around him. We lost games last year because of the secondary – but not because of Asante’s play – at all. That’s just the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard.
And I think they keep Parker. I don’t see any reason to cut him unless the numbers truly don’t work out. But if anyone is going to tell me right know that they have a clue what the numbers situation will be when cuts/decisions are made, I say you’re full of bullcrap because that’s the whole crux of this lockout geniuses….
Schill, I agree. Asante is a ball hawk, but if you noticed last year, he seemed to lose a step, getting beat alot & missing alot of tackles. Especially in the red zone. I was just thinking in terms of money & quantity of good free agents, anyway. The Birds have a fantastic chance to get younger & better at the same time. This a unique off season. I don’t think they should tie up that much money for two corners, when they have holes like swiss cheese on the Defense. Parker wears down every year, & he has to go, especially if they upgrade in free agency. Graham will be back by mid season, hopefully he can contribute this year, but that injury takes about two years to fully recover from, so Andy will probably keep Parker for insurance. Who knows.
That’s why I called it a hopeful wish list. That’s just what I want them to do.
I can’t wait for this bulls#!t, lockout to end, so we can get excited from the free agent frenzy to come. It’s gonna be very interesting. If the Eagles are lying to us about their aggressive plan, they should all be run out of town immediately.
Paulman’s thoughs on Injured players
#1) I think B Graham ends up missing the entire 2011 Season as the Eagles and Team doctor’s are careful to protect their big investment and not rush him back
#2) I think Nate Allen will begin year on the PUP list and be eligible after week #5 to get back on the Active Roster and will play the 2nd Half of the Season
#3) I think FB L Weaver will annouce his Retirement after a medical settlement is worked out, I think he will remain as “Coaching Intern” with the Eagles and continue to be a positive influence around the NovaCare Complex and the Philly Community
#4) TE C Ingram will be given 1 more shot but unable to stay healthy to take advantage of the opportunity as his Eagle playing days come to an end
#5) DT J Owens will be placed on IR and miss the entire 2011 Season
#6) DE V Abriami will be given every opportunity to perform but will be unable to do so and will be an early camp casualty as the Eagles finally move on
#7) CB E Hobbs will not be offerered a Contract by the Eagles and will end his playing days in Philly, He will get contacted by other teams to sign a free-agent deal but has a hard time clearing Physicals and receiving Medical Clearances to do so..
#8) CB/S — My surprise player on the Eagles Roster for 2011 and bounces back nicely in camp and lands the starting FS Position while Nate Allen is recovering.. Will provide depth at athe Safety/CB positions and has a nice bounce back year getting 4-5 Int’s and plays well along the back line of the Defense
That’s it for now
That should have been Marlin “Billie Jean” Jackson as my surprise player at
#8) for the Eagles in 2011…
DD, I hear you. And I’m 100% with you, trust me, about there being holes on the defense. I just am very certain that by droping Asante, you’re creating another huge whole that you don’t need to create. Last year showed very clearly that a weak secondary cannot get the job done. You and I both want them to add an RCB (duh) but if you do that, and then weaken yourself at LCB, um, that’s taking a step back or just staying the same. We need to have 2 strong corners, and lindley/Marsh/Hanson/Patterson (or whoever the ‘next teir’ is) can compete for the #3/nickle spot. That’s the goal, not plug one whole and create another.
Schill, thats why I had them signing 2 CB’s. Ike Taylor & Brent Grimes. Come on! Let a guy dream… 😀
DDCar
CB B Grimes is about 5′-8″ and plays a lot like Champ Bailey does, makes great reads and has a real knack on timing his deflections and Int Opportunties, The Problem is that he’s so small and not very Physical which would give the Eagles 2 “Light Hitting” CB’s.. SOmebody has to help in RUn SUpport and down in the Red-Zone which has been this Eagles Defense biggest issues the last few Season.. Th Back 4 as a group are Soft (and have been that way since Samuels signing and Dawkins leaving) The Eagles Def Secondary was always a strength of the good Eagle Defenses in the 90’s & 2000’s. The ylost that physical prescence which is magnified in the Red-Zone and that bring that hammer mentality over the last couple of Seasons and until they get players that bring that back, this Secondary will get picked on and especially with a so-so pass rush that fades the last 1/2 of every season and literally disappears every Playoff Season.. Mediocre Secondary and a fading Pass Rush late in the Season and especially against solid Playoff Teams and Good QB’s spells doom and early exits from the Playoffs. This my friends has been one of the biggest problems with the Eagles in recent years and now hopefully with a change of Philosophy and Personnel in key positions (CB/S/DE) maybe things will change for the good
But as of Today, right now looking at this Eagle Defense, Does anyone really think this Eagle Defense can stop the Packers,Saints, and even the Giants & Falcons,TB Bucs, Cowboys from Scoring their share of points.. This Eagles Defense has to improve and not incrementally, but big time to get over the hump..
One last Paulman Prediction,
The Beach will be crowded this weekend..
“Watch the tram car please, watch the tram car please”.
Man, I hate that down the shore. LOL!!