Sheldon Brown Demands Trade [The 700 Level] — I’m so sick of pro athletes complaining over contracts.  You’re being paid 8 figures to do something you love.  When you sign a contract early in your career, you have to realize that your accepting financial security over giving up some money in the event that your talent hasn’t been fully reached.  It’s natural for the guy who signs a contract after you to get paid more money, especially if there is a high demand for that position.  Get over it.  Shut the fuck up, cash your $5 million check for one season, and play.  If you want to blame someone, blame your agent.

Now, I love Sheldon Brown.  I love his play on the field and I particularly love his blunt and candid interviews.  Good thing the Eagles said they will not entertain a trade whatsoever.  Asante and Sheldon could be the best CB tandem in the league.  Let’s hope this doesn’t blow up into a distraction this season.

Eagles Issue Statement On Sheldon Brown [The 700 Level] — Well said Eagles.

Eagles may trade up to draft Moreno [Bleeding Green Nation] — YES! Potential trading partners would be New Orleans at 14 or Houston at 15.  We need to make sure that we draft before the Chargers, Broncos, and Jets at 16, 17, and 18.  I’m wondering what the cost would be.  I don’t see the Eagles giving up the 21st and their 3rd-rounder to move up 6-7 spots to grab him.  Or maybe they would.  I would be extremely satisfied with Knowshon Moreno and Chase Coffman on Day 1 of the draft, but we’ll be without any 3rd and 4th round picks.  However, we will have 4 5th-rounders.  Would a deal of the 21st pick, a 2009 5th-round pick, and a 2010 4th-round pick be enough to move up to 14?  I don’t know.  Somebody go grab an NFL value chart and let me know what it would take to get a deal done with New Orleans at 14.

Possible Trade Bait [Inside the Iggles] — Could Juqua Parker, Omar Gaither, Reggie Brown be used in a deal?

Do we have to worry about Shawn Andrews? [Iggles Blog] — You know contracts are a bitch when you’re arguably better than your brother and your college roommate, but they’re both making more money than you.  Shawn Andrews signed a 10 year, $35 million deal back in 2006.  Do you think he’ll start speaking up about his contract?  When your undrafted college roommate (Jason Peters) is almost making twice than you and you’re a first-round pick, that could be pretty annoying.  Let’s hope Shawn is cool with it.

Nothing but praises for Peters from former NFL line coach and Peter’s mentor [Bleeding Green Nation] — The media also weighs in.

Walter Football DOES NOT like the Peters Trade [Walter Football] — The guy did give up 11.5 sacks in 13 games last year.  Let’s hope that’s because he missed some camp and was unhappy about his contract and that he returns to his 2006-2007 form.

“With the 21st pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select: Knowshon Moreno, Runningback, University of Georgia.”

That would be a dream come true, but it’s possible.  The only teams that may prevent that from happening are the Browns (5), Saints (14), Chargers (16), and maybe the Jets (17) or Broncos (18).  I doubt the Browns go RB so early at 5.  The Saints need to help out that defense first.  If the Saints go RB, let’s hope they opt for the Big Back in Beanie Wells to compliment Reggie Bush and act as Deuce McAllister’s replacement.  The Chargers may be thinking about LT’s replacement, but they worked out a new contract with their man. I doubt the Broncos go RB since they stockpiled RBs with Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, J.J. Arrington, and Selvin Young and they have needs just about everywhere in their defense (I see them taking a DE and LB with their two 1st-round picks).  Everyone seems to think the Jets will take QB Josh Freeman with the 17th pick or Beanie Wells.

NFL Draft Countdown has the Eagles taking Knowshon at 21 and so do NFL Draft Aces.  Plus, Walter Football doesn’t have him going until 31, so the odds are looking pretty good.

If the Eagles FO needs a little refresher on why they have to take this guy with the 21st pick (if available), here are some 2008 highlights:

All the speculation of whether the Eagles will trade into the top 10 to grab Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, or Andre Smith is over.  The Eagles have solidified their offensive line with Bills Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters.  The Eagles gave up the 28th pick, a second-day pick (presumed to be a 4th-round pick), and a 2010 late-round pick to acquire Peters.

I’m extremely happy about the move.  They’ll have to end up paying Peters whatever money they would had to have spent on a rookie LT like Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe so it makes sense to trade for the 27-year-old with experience and still get to hang onto the 21st pick, which many think will now be used on a RB.  Knowshon Moreno, if he slides that far, would be a dream come true and I wouldn’t have any complaints with Donald Brown either.  I’m not bummed out about losing out on the chance of getting Anquan Boldin.  I’m confident going into the season with a healthy Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson, especially with that all-star line with the Andrews Brothers and Peters.  Maybe Reggie Brown can even return to his 2006-2007 form after letting the hammy recover.  The Eagles will likely add TE phenomenon Chase Coffman in the second round.  It’s all coming together for the Eagles in 2009.  The secondary is set, the linebackers are set, and defensive line is set.  The offensive line is fixed.  Now let’s get us some weapons in the draft.  Hopefully those weapons come in the form of Knowshon Moreno and Chase Coffman.  My Plan B if the Eagles don’t take a RB at 21 and opt for a defensive player like Robert Ayers or Vontae Davis, Mike Goodson in round 3.

I’m certainly glad the Eagles addressed their issues at FB instead of ignoring that position for another season.  With a look at their depth chart, you can see how the Eagles offseason plans are coming into fruition.  What’s interesting to see there is that Todd Herremans has been moved to the starting LT and Max Jean-Gilles has moved into the starting LG.  I love Jean-Gilles.  He plays with a mean streak and he just wants to go out there and hit people.  He was having a tremendous season taking over for the injured Shawn Andrews before he was injured himself.  Let’s hope that he will come back strong next season.

Assuming Shawn Andrews and Max Jean-Gilles come back healthy, maybe the Eagles offensive line isn’t in as bad of shape as some of us assume.  I have no objections to the starting line of: Todd Herremans (LT), Max Jean-Gilles (LG), Jamaal Jackson (C), Shawn Andrews (RG), and Stacy Andrews (RT).  The Eagles have two promising prospects that they drafted last year to act as reserves this year: LT King Dunlap and LG Mike McGlynn.  And they also have Nick Cole.  He looked questionable early in the season, but ended strong.

It would be great to add a player like Eugene Monroe in the draft, but that’s just not going to happen.  I doubt the Eagles would consider or even be able to find a team to trade into the top 10 to get him and Monroe won’t be going any later than 6 to the Bengals.  After looking at the Eagles offensive line a bit more, maybe OL isn’t the #1 priority.  Maybe the Eagles should just stay put at 21 and 28 in order to take a TE and RB.

With pick 21, I would try to package that with a 4th or 5th-round pick to move up a few spots to secure Brandon Pettigrew.  Pettigrew may go as high as 11 to the Bills, but if they pass on him, Brandon Pettigrew should be around for the Eagles.  Assuming that Pettigrew is taken, the Eagles could then target Michael Oher.  And if both are taken, you have to go with Darrius Heyward-Bey.  If the Eagles don’t land Pettigrew, the Eagles may be looking at Florida TE Cornelius Ingram with a later pick.  Ingram was injured last season, but he had a tremendous Pro Day.  At 6’4″ and 245 pounds with good speed, he would be a great pick.  Check out Ingram’s draft profile.

With pick 28, I’m going after a RB.  My boy Knowshon Moreno may go as early as 16 to San Diego or he may fall down the draft board and be drafted in the late first-round.  Beanie Wells may be around as well and although the Eagles need a big back, he doesn’t really fit the Eagles style. For some reason I just think Wells has bust written all over him.  A guy the Eagles should take a hard look at is Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy, who should certainly be available at 28.  McCoy is a bit small at 5’10″, 205 pounds, but he is very LT-esque with his tremendous vision and insane cuts.  Check out LeSean McCoy’s draft profile.  36 TDs in 2 seasons, that’s impressive.

Watching Material: