The acquisitions of Jevon Kearse,
Dhani Jones, and now Terrell Owens have all but overshadowed the loss of Duce
Staley, Troy Vincent, Carlos Emmons, and soon Bobby Taylor. As opposed to
the previous 2 years, this Free Agency has been a net plus. It is
important from a strategic perspective for the Front Office to understand that
Free Agency is a zero-sum game. One Team's loss is another Team's
gain. It is important to conclude Free Agency with a net plus in talent
and not to rely upon the draft to recoup Free Agency loses. All Teams
have a Draft. The Teams that end Free Agency better than they were last
year will just be adding to their gains in the Draft. Teams that end Free
Agency not as talented as they were in the previous year will be using the
Draft to try to get back to where they were.
Dhani Jones is an excellent
pick-up. Carlos Emmons was so good however that you can call this close
to being a wash. Terrell Owens, although 31 this year, will require
defenses to commit double coverage. I had misgivings about Owen's bad
attitude in Frisco as some others have had. But after listening to him in
press conferences and after gaining my sympathy in fighting the raw deal that
Frisco was trying to give him, I offer him a hearty welcome. After all,
Andy has had it pretty easy so far, it is about time that he started earning
those Cheese Steaks!
I know the Eagles are thinking that
the "WR problem" is fixed and may not want to use a high draft pick
for another WR. I disagree with this position. The WR crop this
year is so deep and talented that the best player available at the 28th pick
will be a WR. It is possible that Lee Evans or Rashaun Woods may be
available. Any other year they would be top 15 picks. The only other
picks that may be available that are even close to their talent level would be
Jon Vilma LB or Will Poole CB. The other WR who may be available is
Michael Clayton who, because of his lack of speed, is a step below Evans and
Woods. The other reason for picking a WR is to put the offense in the
best position possible to take advantage of opposing defenses' need to double
cover Terrell Owens.