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This and that, tit and tat
Not too much updating here because I've been spending all my waking hours in real estate classes. This will continue until Saturday. A quick update.
The Birds are supposedly shopping Winston Justice. That is absolutely hilarious to me. With Runyan and Thomas hitting the free agent market, the Eagles literally have no starting tackles on the roster. Maybe Herremans or Andrews can move over. Maybe. So as a general manager, wouldn't you just walk the Eagles through the motions?
GM: Who are your starting tackles in 2009?
Banner: We don't really know at this time.
GM: With no current starting tackle prospects, you're willing to deal Winston Justice, a former 2nd round blue chip prospect?
Banner: Yep.
GM: Wow, he must be awesome.
Banner: Well, you know, Winston...CLICK.....hello? Hello?
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Jordan Gross was signed to a long term deal today. Now there are no elite starting tackles on the market.
Julius Peppers was franchised by the Panthers today. So much for my breaking story last week.
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Just an opinion here. If I here from one more talking head that Quintin Demps was a draft bust, my head is going to explode. Yesterday morning I heard incumbent clowns Rhea Hughes and Angelo Cataldi both say that Demps "sucks." Nick Fierro of the Express Times wrote that, Demps play gave absolutely no indication that he could play starting safety in the NFL.
Demps fell down trying to cover the best receiver in football (Larry Fitzgerald) on a trick play in the playoffs. I guess that's the nail in the coffin, just disregard his ability to get on the field in crunch time as a rookie (doesn't happen very often with Jim Johnson) and his performance as an elite kick returner during the 2008 season. Let me be the first to exclaim that Quintin Demps does not suck. Actually, I think Quintin Demps is going to be a very good football player. Demps contributed immediately on special teams and worked his way on the field regularly by the close of the season. Demps played generously during the playoffs, and in Dawkins, has the best mentor of any free safety prospect in the league. I'm on the bandwagon, mark that shit down.
Demps?! His rookie season went exactly the way you'd want a rookie season to go: He contributed on special teams and earned more PT over the course of the year. If any pick this year must be labeled a bust, which is completely brainless after only one season (Justin Tuck and Mario Williams looked like busts at this point too), it's Bryan Smith. Demps made a bad adjustment on the ball against the best WR in football and he got beat. It happens. The good thing is that a rookie safety from UTEP recognized a trick play and ran step-for-step with Larry Fitzgerald for 50 yards. To write him off now is utterly stupid.
That is what I cannot stand about the morning show idiots. First, they have no ability to take a step back from a few plays and really evaluate a player's performance. No sane football person would consider Demps a bust. He did a terrific job returning kicks this year, which was a gaping hole on the team a year ago. Also, they seem to assume that EVERY draft pick should be awesome and contribute, or well, the Eagles just suck at the draft. This is nonsense. NO ONE hits on every pick. If they did, teams wouldn't have enough room on their rosters for players. If you get 2 or 3 guys every draft who contribute, you've done a nice job. The Eagles haven't won this many games over the last ten years because they suck at the draft. For instance, the top 5 defense which carried them this year? Oh yeah, loaded with draft picks and undrafted free agents. Cole, Patterson, Bunkley, Bradley, Gocong, Jordan (UFA), Ambimiri, Brown, Mikell (another UFA), even Demps. Yeah, they suck.