I have officially decided to stop trying to figure out what exactly it is the Eagles are up to this season.
Except for this thought. I keep getting this vision of Andy Reid sitting at a poker table with a big stack of chips in front of him. He surveys the other players, looks at the bets, then slowly pushes all his chips into the center of the table. “All in,” fellas, he grumbles. Time’s yours.
It wasn’t enough to part ways with both of his starting offensive tackles and rebuild an offensive line, all the while counting on Shawn Andrews to return to his All-Pro status.
It wasn’t enough to see the team’s reputation dragged through the mud in the Brian Dawkins’ debacle.
Then the team decided to roll the dice again in August when they stunned just about everyone by bringing in Michael Vick, who had been away from the game for two years while doing time for running a dog-fighting operation.
The Eagles may be 2-1, but they lead the league in signing guys who have been out of the game for two years.
First it was Vick, with visions of “Wildcat” formations dancing in Andy’s head.
Now it’s the other side of the ball.
Welcome back, Trotter.
Yes, the Eagles are bringing back Jeremiah Trotter. When last seen in these parts (not counting when he’s sitting behind a microphone on sports talk radio), Trotter was limping into the sunset (and to Tampa
Bay) after being released by the Eagles in training camp 2007.
The move stunned Eagles fans, and maybe Trotter as well. It was his second go-round with the Birds. He had left of his own accord once before when he and the team could not agree on salary. Trotter went to D.C., didn’t play especially well, then returned as the Prodigal Son.
This is an Instant Replay. Back in 2007, Trotter was basically shot. His chronically bad knees simply would not let him be the player he once was, especially when it came to pass protection. The Eagles decided to cut their losses, and dropped the ax on “The Ax Man.”
But Trotter, who somehow is only 32 even though it seems like he’s been around forever, had surgery on those knees and says he feels better than ever. The Eagles worked him out twice and seem to agree.
Reid also looked at a defense, already minus Dawkins, that saw starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley blow out a knee during a Linc practice in the summer, and sees a unit that might lack a bit of leadership, as well as a stud run-stuff in the middle.
Of course, I don’t think anyone has asked Omar Gaither his opinion on all this. Gaither happens to be the guy who started – and played very well – Sunday against the Chiefs.
Enter Trotter.
Hey, weirder things have happened. In the Eagles case they already have.
Trotter joins Vick in stories you never thought would happen.
It only reinforces one thing. When it comes to this season, Reid and the Eagles are “all in.”
They want to win. Now. And they’re apparently willing to do just about anything to reach that end.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Welcome back, Trotter.
Except for this thought. I keep getting this vision of Andy Reid sitting at a poker table with a big stack of chips in front of him. He surveys the other players, looks at the bets, then slowly pushes all his chips into the center of the table. “All in,” fellas, he grumbles. Time’s yours.
It wasn’t enough to part ways with both of his starting offensive tackles and rebuild an offensive line, all the while counting on Shawn Andrews to return to his All-Pro status.
It wasn’t enough to see the team’s reputation dragged through the mud in the Brian Dawkins’ debacle.
Then the team decided to roll the dice again in August when they stunned just about everyone by bringing in Michael Vick, who had been away from the game for two years while doing time for running a dog-fighting operation.
The Eagles may be 2-1, but they lead the league in signing guys who have been out of the game for two years.
First it was Vick, with visions of “Wildcat” formations dancing in Andy’s head.
Now it’s the other side of the ball.
Welcome back, Trotter.
Yes, the Eagles are bringing back Jeremiah Trotter. When last seen in these parts (not counting when he’s sitting behind a microphone on sports talk radio), Trotter was limping into the sunset (and to Tampa
Bay) after being released by the Eagles in training camp 2007.
The move stunned Eagles fans, and maybe Trotter as well. It was his second go-round with the Birds. He had left of his own accord once before when he and the team could not agree on salary. Trotter went to D.C., didn’t play especially well, then returned as the Prodigal Son.
This is an Instant Replay. Back in 2007, Trotter was basically shot. His chronically bad knees simply would not let him be the player he once was, especially when it came to pass protection. The Eagles decided to cut their losses, and dropped the ax on “The Ax Man.”
But Trotter, who somehow is only 32 even though it seems like he’s been around forever, had surgery on those knees and says he feels better than ever. The Eagles worked him out twice and seem to agree.
Reid also looked at a defense, already minus Dawkins, that saw starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley blow out a knee during a Linc practice in the summer, and sees a unit that might lack a bit of leadership, as well as a stud run-stuff in the middle.
Of course, I don’t think anyone has asked Omar Gaither his opinion on all this. Gaither happens to be the guy who started – and played very well – Sunday against the Chiefs.
Enter Trotter.
Hey, weirder things have happened. In the Eagles case they already have.
Trotter joins Vick in stories you never thought would happen.
It only reinforces one thing. When it comes to this season, Reid and the Eagles are “all in.”
They want to win. Now. And they’re apparently willing to do just about anything to reach that end.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Welcome back, Trotter.
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