Philadelphia Eagles (Last Year: 10-6).
Season Summary:
I thought the Eagles were doomed for another mediocre season. They were just 5-5 with Donovan McNabb, which is a horrible record when you consider that they beat San Francisco, Houston, Green Bay, Washington and Tony Romo-less Dallas, and lost to Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Tennessee. Jeff Garcia picked up McNabb's slack, leading the team into the playoffs. And now the Eagles are letting Garcia go? Why am I not surprised?
Unrestricted Free Agents:
QB Jeff Garcia, QB Koy Detmer, RB Correll Buckhalter, RB Reno Mahe, WR Donte' Stallworth, DE Juqua Thomas, OLB Shawn Barber, CB Rod Hood, S Michael Lewis, S Quintin Mikell.
Restricted Free Agents:
None
Potential Cap Casualties:
OT William Tra Thomas, DE Jevon Kearse, DE Darren Howard, OLB Dhani Jones, MLB Jeremiah Trotter.
Cap Status (as of 2/15): $3.6 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Outside Linebacker: The stubborn Eagles just don't get it; they've needed an outside linebacker for years now, yet they foolishly neglect to address the position. Lance Briggs would be nice, but Philadelphia will opt to go with Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong. Traded for Takeo Spikes; drafted Stewart Bradley.
- Safety: Prior to the 2006 season, Michael Lewis was considered one of the top safeties in the league. I'm not sure what happened, but he's likely on his way to another city. Look for Michael Griffin as a first-round selection. Drafted Rashad Barksdale.
- Quarterback: The Eagles cannot afford to let Jeff Garcia leave. First of all, they were only 5-5 with Donovan McNabb last year. Secondly, McNabb is unreliable, as he has failed to complete three of his previous five campaigns. Drafted Kevin Kolb; traded for Kelly Holcomb.
- Re-Sign Donte' Stallworth: This is a no-brainer. Donte' Stallworth stretched the field and consequently allowed everyone on the Eagles' offense to improve. Signed Kevin Curtis.
- Middle Linebacker: It seems like Andy Reid's sole purpose in life is to ruin Jeremiah Trotter's career. The big coach is now spreading rumors about Trotter's knees. Eagles fans, please don't listen to this nonsense. Is Trotter getting older? Absolutely. Should he be kicked off the team? Definitely not.
- Defensive Tackle: Memo to Reid: Stop drafting small defensive tackles! How about bringing Hollis Thomas back? Signed Ian Scott and Montae Reagor.
- Running Back: I'd like to see Philadelphia go after a power back like Michael Bush or Tony Hunt, who would be able to convert third-and-short situations. Drafted Tony Hunt and Nate Ilaoa; re-signed Correll Buckhalter.
- Defensive End: Depth is needed if Juqua Thomas leaves. Drafted Victor Abiamiri.
- Cornerback: Likewise if Rod Hood defects for another team. Drafted CB C.J. Gaddis.
Analysis: If Reid's stubborn tactics continue, Philadelphia is doomed to underachieve once again in 2007.
Dallas Cowboys (Last Year: 9-7).
Season Summary:
It's amazing that one simple play can ruin a 5-month season. If Tony Romo held on to the ball, allowing Martin Gramatica to kick the game-winning field goal against Seattle, the Cowboys may have advanced to the Super Bowl.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
OT Marc Colombo, C Andre Gurode, C Al Johnson, DE Kenyon Coleman, OLB Al Singleton, S Tony Parrish, K Martin Gramatica.
Restricted Free Agents:
WR Patrick Crayton, TE Brett Pierce, OLB Junior Glymph, ILB Ryan Fowler, CB Jacques Reeves, CB Nathan Jones.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Drew Bledsoe, WR Terrell Owens, G Marco Rivera, OLB Greg Ellis, CB Aaron Glenn.
Cap Status (as of 2/15): $18.2 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Safety: The Cowboys desperately need someone next to Roy Williams; the entire nation saw Drew Brees and Sean Payton expose their secondary. If Reggie Nelson slips to them in the first round, they won't hesitate to take him. Otherwise, they should try signing Ken Hamlin or Deon Grant. Signed Ken Hamlin.
- Center: Andre Gurode and Al Johnson, the team's only centers, are both free agents. Dallas needs to lock one of them up. Re-signed Gurode.
- Guard: Right guard Marco Rivera turns 35 just prior to the 2007 Draft. He may not be back with the team next year. If that's the case, the Cowboys will probably select Justin Blalock in the first round. Signed Leonard Davis.
- Re-Sign Marc Colombo: Marc Colombo came out of nowhere to play pretty well at right tackle last year. The Cowboys need to re-sign one of their more important free agents. Re-signed Marc Colombo; drafted James Marten and Doug Free.
- Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens drops more balls than Dick Clark, Terry Glenn is getting old and Patrick Crayton is a restricted free agent. Tony Romo needs a new downfield target.
- Inside Linebacker: Akin Ayodele, currently occupying one of the inside-linebacker slots, is playing out of position. I'd like to see Dallas pursue a veteran like Donnie Edwards to take Ayodele's spot.
- Cornerback: Wade Phillips will need some depth behind Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry. Drafted Courtney Brown and Alan Ball.
- Kicker: Martin Gramatica? C'mon... Drafted Nick Folk.
Analysis: With a year under his belt, Tony Romo may be able to lead Dallas to the Super Bowl in 2007. Of course, that's assuming that Jerry Jones will take care of most of his team's needs.
New York Giants (Last Year: 8-8).
Season Summary:
The Giants had the opportunity to send Tiki Barber off riding into the sunset. Instead, they melted down at the end of the season, losing six of their final eight games. If it weren't for Jake Delhomme's injury, New York wouldn't have even qualified for the playoffs. Now, Barber is gone, while Tom Coughlin is still the coach, simply because Giants management screwed up the paperwork.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
TE Visanthe Shiancoe, OT Steve Edwards, OT Lewis Kelly, C Shaun O'Hara, C Grey Ruegamer, OLB Brandon Short, CB Frank Walker, K Jay Feely.
Restricted Free Agents:
RB Derrick Ward, OLB Reggie Torbor, S Gibril Wilson.
Potential Cap Casualties:
RB Tiki Barber (retirement), WR Amani Toomer, OT Bob Whitfield, DT William Joseph, OLB Carlos Emmons, CB Sam Madison.
Cap Status (as of 2/15): $9.4 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Offensive Tackle: With Luke Petitgout gone, all the Giants have at left tackle is 83-year-old Bob Whitfield. Doesn't sound too great, does it? Drafted Adam Koets.
- Running Back: Hey, Eli Manning. How does it feel to lose your best weapon after a disappointing year in which you struggled mightily? Brandon Jacobs is a decent power runner, but I don't see him catching too many passes out of the backfield. The Giants need someone to complement Jacobs. Traded for Reuben Droughns; drafted Ahmad Bradshaw.
- Cornerback: Sam Madison was a bust as an offseason acquisition, which will prompt New York to select a cornerback in the first round of April's draft. Drafted Aaron Ross.
- Re-Sign Shaun O'Hara : If the Giants let Shaun O'Hara defect for another city, they'll need to find a new center. Re-signed O'Hara.
- Wide Receiver: When Amani Toomer went down with a season-ending injury, Eli Manning looked dazed and confused. Toomer, who turns 33 in September, is no longer a dependable weapon. Why not sign a solid receiver like Drew Bennett or Bobby Engram? Drafted Steve Smith.
- Safety: Will Demps needs to go. The Giants should sign someone like Ken Hamlin or Deon Grant. Signed Michael Stone; drafted Michael Johnson.
- Two Outside Linebackers: LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons were both cut in February. I'd like to see the Giants go after Lance Briggs and D.D. Lewis via the free-agent market. Signed Kawika Mitchell.
- Kicker: Jay Feely signed with the Dolphins. Traded for Lawrence Tynes.
- Defensive Tackle: As a first-round pick, William Joseph has been extremely disappointing. Regardless of whether he's back next year, New York needs depth at defensive tackle. Signed Marcus Bell; drafted Jay Alford.
Analysis: Perhaps what the Giants need most is for Eli Manning to mature. The probability of that happening without Tiki Barber is slim to none.
Washington Redskins (Last Year: 5-11).
Season Summary:
Sign overrated players. Hear about how much you've improved. Underachieve during the regular season. Cut old players to avoid cap purgatory. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
RB T.J. Duckett, TE Todd Yoder, TE Brian Kozlowski, G Derrick Dockery, C Mike Pucillo, OLB Warrick Holdman, OLB Jeff Posey, CB Kenny Wright, CB Ade Jimoh, S Vernon Fox.
Restricted Free Agents:
OT Jim Molinaro, DT Ryan Boschetti, P Derrick Frost.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Mark Brunell, WR Brandon Lloyd, WR David Patten, DE Phillip Daniels, DE Renaldo Wynn, S Troy Vincent, S Adam Archuleta.
Cap Status (as of 2/15): $4.3 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Defensive Tackle: Washington's atrocious run defense was exposed in the final week of the season when Tiki Barber ran all over them. Is there any way the Redskins don't take Alan Branch with the No. 6 overall pick?
- Defensive End: Pressure? What pressure? Washington registered a league-low 19 sacks in 2006.
- Safety: Think signing Adam Archuleta to a big contract was a stupid move? As bad as it was, I don't even know if it cracks Daniel Snyder's top 10. Drafted LaRon Landry; signed Omar Stoutmire.
- Survive Cap Cuts: The Redskins are just one of two teams that will be over the cap going into this offseason (Carolina). They'll undoubtedly lose a number of their key players. I just don't know where the substitutes are going to come from.
- Guard: Washington allowed its free-agent left guard to go to another team, so it'll have to fill a gaping hole on the offensive line.
- Cornerback: The Redskins are fine as far as their starting cornerbacks are concerned, but top backups Kenny Wright and Ade Jimoh are both free agents. Depth may be needed. Signed Fred Smoot and David Macklin.
- Trade Running Back: Thanks to poor cap management and the lack of first-day picks, Washington can't afford to keep Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts on the roster.
Analysis: Like the Giants, the Redskins need their quarterback to mature. If Jason Campbell makes strides in 2007, they have a great shot at qualifying for the postseason. If not, it'll be another long autumn in the Nation's Capital.
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West /
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
© 1999-2013 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
2 5 9