Some Quotes from Philly's GM

[Monty]

February 11, 2006

Here are selected quotes from Part 3 of Dave Spadaro's interview with Eagles general manager Tom Heckert. This part examines the future of the Eagles roster:



On whether if he could go back in time, would he acquire T.O. again: "From what I know now, no, I wouldn't do it. If we came across a similar situation where we talked to the player and got his word we were going to do things a certain way, I mean you can't have a negative outlook on everyone. On where will T.O. end up: "He's going to end up somewhere. No one has ever questioned that he is a great, great football player. I think some teams are willing to overlook some things. It might work out somewhere else for him. It didn't work out here for whatever reason and if it works out for T.O., I'm happy for him."


On unrestricted free agent Jon Runyan: "Really there's nothing new. We just started meeting about that (two weeks ago) about all of that stuff. Coach Reid is going to come back and make that decision, but really there are no talks either way." On restricted free agent Rod Hood: "I think the comparison (to Al Harris' contract situation) is very good. I consider Rod as a third starter. Rod did a great job for us when he had to step in for Lito last year. We'll see what happens. He is a restricted free agent. He will not be traded, I don't think. We want to keep him around here for as long as we can. We'll have him for this year at least, hopefully, and we'll see what happens down the road."



On the current roster: "We've had some time to sit back and look at the big picture. It was an extremely disappointing season for everyone, but I do think we have a very good football team. You can say whatever you want, but last year is last year. We just have to get the guys back healthy that we're counting on and we have to improve some positions on our football team."

On Mike Patterson: "For us, we didn't learn a lot. We thought he would be a good football player and he turned out to be a good football player. I think Mike's going to help us, hopefully for the next 10 years.

"He's going to be a very good defensive tackle for us. He played a lot more than he probably thought, especially at the end when we got a little nicked up. He did a good job for us and that's what we expected." On Reggie Brown: "I think Reggie's going to be a No. 1 in this league. That's one guy we knew was going to be a good player, but we just didn't know it was going to be this quick. If things didn't turn out the way they did, he might not have played nearly as much. To Reggie's credit and this is why we liked him, his work ethic, maturity, effort - we knew he was going to be successful and for any young guy to come in and play and play the way he did is a credit to him."



On what does Trent Cole have to do to take it to the next level: "I think we do have to give him some help. We had so many injuries throughout the year with N.D. (Kalu) being nicked up, he just had to play too much. He played well, but playing 70 snaps a game you just start wearing down. We have to give him some more help and hopefully with Jerome coming back, we do get that."

On what was it that made the Eagles trade up for Todd Herremans: "We really made a concentrated effort to get bigger and tougher and we wanted smart, intelligent football players. He's 6-6, 340 pounds, he's got an unbelievable Wunderlic score. We did make a concentrated effort to get those guys."

On what is Herremans' role in 2006: "I think he is somewhere on the line, I'm just not sure exactly where. I think we're going to move him around this year to find out where that is."

On Matt McCoy: "I think so. Matt was another guy that we drafted to get more physical and a little more speed. Matt is a tough, son-of-a-gun. I think he was behind two guys who were here for a long time and played well for us. He didn't get an opportunity much this year, but I think he will next year and I think we will be happy to see what we get out of him."

On Jamaal Jackson: "Hopefully, a lot of good things. We went into last season thinking he had a chance to play either center or guard for us. Unfortunately, he got hurt in training camp early and we didn't get to see much of him. He finally did come back and we needed him to step in he did a heck of a job. Experience is only going to help him. He's a big center, so we'll see what happens."

On Jerome McDougle: "He's been around and he looks and he feels good. The two unfortunate things were when he got shot and when he had the infection after the surgery. He's supposedly healthy and we'll see. He hasn't been here for a year and he hasn't been healthy his whole career. We still think he's a super-talented player. He should come in and help us." On whether Donovan McNabb was ever healthy in 2005: "To be honest with you, no, he really wasn't. Donovan will be the first to tell you he was hurt at the beginning of the season. He was hurt, but but he wasn't injured. He played through it. Donovan is one of the toughest guys we have on this football team. He played through it for the good of the team. It got to the point where he was injured."

On whether McNabb will be an elite quarterback again in '06: "I don't think there is any question. He has a great mindset. He's in great shape. It's the first time in a year that he feels really healthy. I think that's a good start and we expect good things out of him."

[rumormilltydomi]

Originally Posted by Monty

February 11, 2006

Here are selected quotes from Part 3 of Dave Spadaro's interview with Eagles general manager Tom Heckert. This part examines the future of the Eagles roster:



On whether if he could go back in time, would he acquire T.O. again: "From what I know now, no, I wouldn't do it. If we came across a similar situation where we talked to the player and got his word we were going to do things a certain way, I mean you can't have a negative outlook on everyone. On where will T.O. end up: "He's going to end up somewhere. No one has ever questioned that he is a great, great football player. I think some teams are willing to overlook some things. It might work out somewhere else for him. It didn't work out here for whatever reason and if it works out for T.O., I'm happy for him."


On unrestricted free agent Jon Runyan: "Really there's nothing new. We just started meeting about that (two weeks ago) about all of that stuff. Coach Reid is going to come back and make that decision, but really there are no talks either way." On restricted free agent Rod Hood: "I think the comparison (to Al Harris' contract situation) is very good. I consider Rod as a third starter. Rod did a great job for us when he had to step in for Lito last year. We'll see what happens. He is a restricted free agent. He will not be traded, I don't think. We want to keep him around here for as long as we can. We'll have him for this year at least, hopefully, and we'll see what happens down the road."



On the current roster: "We've had some time to sit back and look at the big picture. It was an extremely disappointing season for everyone, but I do think we have a very good football team. You can say whatever you want, but last year is last year. We just have to get the guys back healthy that we're counting on and we have to improve some positions on our football team."

On Mike Patterson: "For us, we didn't learn a lot. We thought he would be a good football player and he turned out to be a good football player. I think Mike's going to help us, hopefully for the next 10 years.

"He's going to be a very good defensive tackle for us. He played a lot more than he probably thought, especially at the end when we got a little nicked up. He did a good job for us and that's what we expected." On Reggie Brown: "I think Reggie's going to be a No. 1 in this league. That's one guy we knew was going to be a good player, but we just didn't know it was going to be this quick. If things didn't turn out the way they did, he might not have played nearly as much. To Reggie's credit and this is why we liked him, his work ethic, maturity, effort - we knew he was going to be successful and for any young guy to come in and play and play the way he did is a credit to him."



On what does Trent Cole have to do to take it to the next level: "I think we do have to give him some help. We had so many injuries throughout the year with N.D. (Kalu) being nicked up, he just had to play too much. He played well, but playing 70 snaps a game you just start wearing down. We have to give him some more help and hopefully with Jerome coming back, we do get that."

On what was it that made the Eagles trade up for Todd Herremans: "We really made a concentrated effort to get bigger and tougher and we wanted smart, intelligent football players. He's 6-6, 340 pounds, he's got an unbelievable Wunderlic score. We did make a concentrated effort to get those guys."

On what is Herremans' role in 2006: "I think he is somewhere on the line, I'm just not sure exactly where. I think we're going to move him around this year to find out where that is."

On Matt McCoy: "I think so. Matt was another guy that we drafted to get more physical and a little more speed. Matt is a tough, son-of-a-gun. I think he was behind two guys who were here for a long time and played well for us. He didn't get an opportunity much this year, but I think he will next year and I think we will be happy to see what we get out of him."

On Jamaal Jackson: "Hopefully, a lot of good things. We went into last season thinking he had a chance to play either center or guard for us. Unfortunately, he got hurt in training camp early and we didn't get to see much of him. He finally did come back and we needed him to step in he did a heck of a job. Experience is only going to help him. He's a big center, so we'll see what happens."

On Jerome McDougle: "He's been around and he looks and he feels good. The two unfortunate things were when he got shot and when he had the infection after the surgery. He's supposedly healthy and we'll see. He hasn't been here for a year and he hasn't been healthy his whole career. We still think he's a super-talented player. He should come in and help us." On whether Donovan McNabb was ever healthy in 2005: "To be honest with you, no, he really wasn't. Donovan will be the first to tell you he was hurt at the beginning of the season. He was hurt, but but he wasn't injured. He played through it. Donovan is one of the toughest guys we have on this football team. He played through it for the good of the team. It got to the point where he was injured."

On whether McNabb will be an elite quarterback again in '06: "I don't think there is any question. He has a great mindset. He's in great shape. It's the first time in a year that he feels really healthy. I think that's a good start and we expect good things out of him."

oh..the eagles will be right in the thick of things next year...IF they stay healthy...especially your qb..without him..well...you see what happened this past year..lets hope for the best..it will be interesting to see what positions they will draft at...maybe a strong saftey to replace Dawkins??..some Defensive ends?..and I would recomend some offensive line help ..to protect your franchise #5

[clarke]

Originally Posted by rumormilltydomi

oh..the eagles will be right in the thick of things next year...IF they stay healthy...especially your qb..without him..well...you see what happened this past year..lets hope for the best..it will be interesting to see what positions they will draft at...maybe a strong saftey to replace Dawkins??..some Defensive ends?..and I would recomend some offensive line help ..to protect your franchise #5

Offensive Linemen and Defensive Linemen. Those would be my priorities, along with resigning John Runyan to teach these young lads how to play with attitude. And if you cannot pick up 12 of those guys, then fill in a few positions with what you cannot find in free agency, like Special Teamers and a big RB that you can groom. Maybe a TE.

But I want Olinemen and Dlinemen first, second, and last.

[rumormilltydomi]

Originally Posted by clarke

Offensive Linemen and Defensive Linemen. Those would be my priorities, along with resigning John Runyan to teach these young lads how to play with attitude. And if you cannot pick up 12 of those guys, then fill in a few positions with what you cannot find in free agency, like Special Teamers and a big RB that you can groom. Maybe a TE.

But I want Olinemen and Dlinemen first, second, and last.

Runyan is a free agent isn't he?..yea..I would make him a priority if I were the eagles..oh boy...I would hate to watch the eagles offense without big John protecting Mcnabb...ugg..hurts thinking about it

[Monty]

Originally Posted by clarke

Offensive Linemen and Defensive Linemen. Those would be my priorities, along with resigning John Runyan to teach these young lads how to play with attitude. And if you cannot pick up 12 of those guys, then fill in a few positions with what you cannot find in free agency, like Special Teamers and a big RB that you can groom. Maybe a TE.

But I want Olinemen and Dlinemen first, second, and last.

Never ageed with or liked drafting OL in the 1st or 2nd rounds. I think most good OL were taken in the later rounds. We need playmakers on this team now. Impact players, players who can come in and make plays now. Westy is a ? mark going into 2006. If I was drafting for the Eagles I would be looking OLB,RB and DL in that order. Filling in with FA's some OL and signing Runyan.

[Monty]

February 20, 2006
By DAVE SPADARO



Will The Eagles Use A Tag?



Thursday is the deadline to use the franchise and transition tag on players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on March 3, so the question will be answered soon. Last year, the Eagles used the franchise tag on defensive tackle Corey Simon and then, after Simon refused to sign the tag and, in subsequent months, the Eagles were unable to trade him, the team pulled the tag and released him.

This year, the most logical candidate to tag is offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who would cost roughly $7 million as a franchise player and approximately $6.4 million as a transition player. The Eagles have given no indication one way or the other of their plans with Runyan, or of any of the players they have to make decisions on this week.

One of the more intriguing restricted free agents is cornerback Roderick Hood, who could be a candidate to be signed by another team if the Eagles make it possible with a low tender. Hood was not drafted, so it would take a high tender offer from the Eagles to prohibit another team from taking the plunge on Hood. The Eagles, of course, could simply allow another team to sign Hood and match the offer, thereby retaining Hood. Clearly, Runyan and Hood are the main issues this week as far as the use of any of the tags and of the tricky tender offers. There have been no reported talks with Runyan and his camp, and the clock is ticking. The Eagles have a promising group of young offensive linemen waiting for more playing time, but Runyan has been a rock at right tackle since he joined the team in 2000 as the high-profile free agent signing that year.

[clarke]

Originally Posted by Monty

February 20, 2006
By DAVE SPADARO



Will The Eagles Use A Tag?



Thursday is the deadline to use the franchise and transition tag on players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on March 3, so the question will be answered soon. Last year, the Eagles used the franchise tag on defensive tackle Corey Simon and then, after Simon refused to sign the tag and, in subsequent months, the Eagles were unable to trade him, the team pulled the tag and released him.

This year, the most logical candidate to tag is offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who would cost roughly $7 million as a franchise player and approximately $6.4 million as a transition player. The Eagles have given no indication one way or the other of their plans with Runyan, or of any of the players they have to make decisions on this week.

One of the more intriguing restricted free agents is cornerback Roderick Hood, who could be a candidate to be signed by another team if the Eagles make it possible with a low tender. Hood was not drafted, so it would take a high tender offer from the Eagles to prohibit another team from taking the plunge on Hood. The Eagles, of course, could simply allow another team to sign Hood and match the offer, thereby retaining Hood. Clearly, Runyan and Hood are the main issues this week as far as the use of any of the tags and of the tricky tender offers. There have been no reported talks with Runyan and his camp, and the clock is ticking. The Eagles have a promising group of young offensive linemen waiting for more playing time, but Runyan has been a rock at right tackle since he joined the team in 2000 as the high-profile free agent signing that year.

Is Michael Lewis a restricted Free Agent this year, or does his original contract end after next season?