Seeing things such as Mark Sanchez bringing together Eagles players to practice before the start of training camp would normally be a good thing, if he was their starting quarterback. The Eagles have essentially doubled down on a poor Ram's decision and the results will be swift and loud.
A lot of analysts have lauded Chip Kelly as the NFL's second coming of Bill Parcells, but this more than likely is not the case. Kelly started off with a ton of talent, but has proceeded to replace that talent with injury prone players instead of the stars that struck fear into the hearts of the NFC East. Kelly first started to play Jenga with the Eagles roster when they released offensive guard Todd Herremans.
Herremans started just about every game while he was on the Eagles and was the longest tenured player on the team. Herreman's $5 million cap hit was just too much to bear, but the Eagles would need that cap relief the release of Herreman's provided. But that was just the beginning.
The Eagles then went on to release Trent Cole the second longest tenured Eagle of the bunch. Cole had a great career with the Eagles and was one of the instantly recognizable players of the defense. He was the Eagles leader of the defensive side of the ball and had the second most sacks in Eagles history. The Eagles saved 8 million dollars by releasing him which everyone was sure was to be allocated responsibly.
The Eagles traded their star running back LeSean "Shady" McCoy for a recovering Kiko Alonso. McCoy was the 2013 NFL rushing leader and much like DeMarco Murray and the Cowboys, the Eagles made a somewhat smarter move in trading him. It was who they got in return that's a head scratcher; Kiko Alonso who tore both of his ACLs at some point in his career, most recently tearing the ACL in his left knee in 2014. Alonso does barely hit the cap, but trading away a healthy rushing champion for a banged up linebacker does not scream advantageous.
The Eagles then let Jeremy Maclin the lone, proven, play maker on this squad jump shit to the other former Eagle, Andy Reid. The Eagles made another startling choice in trading Nick Foles for Sam Bradford straight up. I could understand if the Eagles gained at least some draft picks through the process but a straight up deal makes absolutely no sense.
Nick Foles 3 seasons for the Eagles absolutely trump anything Bradford has done in his time with the St Louis Rams. Bradford has never even cracked 100 as a quarterback rating; Foles did in 2013 finishing his year with a passer rating of 119.2. Bradford has double the interceptions that Foles has and Bradford has only been in the league for one year extra. Bradford is a year older and one more ACL tear away from his career being over especially if it's the same one he tore previously while Foles is just hitting his stride. The Eagles also had the best record with Foles in the last 2 years than with any other quarterback in recent memory.
Now we have the Eagles starting to sign free agents, Walter Thurmond a corner back who is returning from a torn pectoral muscle in 2014. Resigning Mark Sanchez was a must because the Eagles have to have someone who can take over when Sam Bradford eventually gets injured. The Eagles picked up two corner backs in free agency in 2013 under Kelly in Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher and both of them were released to help pave way for Byron Maxwell and the previously mentioned Walter Thurmond.
Maxwell was the third corner back during Seattle's runs to the Super Bowl but let's be honest, when your team has guys like Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas covering the opposing teams top players it is easy to do your job, now Maxwell isn't just a piece of the Eagles secondary, he is the Eagles secondary.
The Eagles then followed up that signing and the release of Shady McCoy with the unlikely acquisition of two expensive running backs. When the Eagles got rid of McCoy, Kelly equated it to money and positional value, McCoy is not a north south runner like Kelly likes, but the guy has done a great regardless. Now the Eagles have spent pretty much what they would spend on a long term deal for McCoy on two injury prone running backs in DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.
I was all for giving up Shady McCoy but only if the Eagles were going to move up in the draft and take one of the younger, healthier rushers available. Instead they over paid for two backs who will likely not impress anyone in 2015. Now Kelly must make do with his army of misfit toys and analysts are actually saying they could be the best team in the NFC East; of anything the Eagles took a dramatic step backwards in all phases of the ball, offense, defense, and probably special teams. If the Eagles find themselves with a losing record this season don't be surprised to see Chip Kelly on the hot seat.
