No moves for Flyers, how about Eagles?

by Eric Schwartz

Wednesday March 3, 2010 

No moves for Flyers, how about Eagles? thumbnail

Wiht the NHL trading dealine now oast us it’s time to tunr our focus to the FL free agent market, which opens up at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. There is not as much out there this season as the uncapped year has forced many would be unrestricted free agents to become restricted. That means if teams want to aqcuire any of these players they must be willing to fork over mega bucks as well as draft picks.

Not every deal will be so difficult though. Player with more than six years in the league have the right to become free agents, meaning there is still talent in the free agent market.

SI.com’s Don Banks recently chronicled the top 10 free agents and where they will – and should – land. The Eagles were mentioned for two high profile players, defensive end Julius Peppers and running back Darren Sproles.

Bellow are exceprts:

Julius Peppers, defensive end

Where he will sign: Washington — The Redskins are poised to come after the ex-Panthers franchise player with their go-to combination of Daniel Snyder’s private jet and a Brink’s truck, which seems to work every time. Washington has been signing the biggest available fish in free agency for so long now we really can’t remember when the Redskins weren’t the market setters.

The Bears have money to spend too, and with no picks in the first two rounds of the draft (see Jay Cutler and Gaines Adams trades), they’re motivated to make something happen in free agency. The Eagles may not match dollars with Washington or Chicago, but if Peppers wants to play for a winner, Philly offers an opportunity the Redskins and Bears can’t dangle or duplicate.

Where he should sign: New England — If Peppers is serious about wanting to approach greatness and try his hand rushing the passer as a 3-4 outside linebacker, his best shot to realize those goals is with the Patriots. New England won’t throw the biggest contract at Peppers, but Adalius Thomas aside, its biggest free-agent acquisitions usually prosper from the move to Foxboro.

Darren Sproles, running back

Where he will sign: Washington — The Chargers came to the conclusion that as a situational back, Sproles wasn’t worth the $7 million-plus price tag he was in line for if they tendered him as a restricted free agent. But Mike Shanahan covets him from his days competing against San Diego in the AFC West, and the Redskins have been known to overpay for skill players in free agency (Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd come to mind).

Where he should sign: Philadelphia — The Eagles are reportedly interested, and if so, Sproles would fill the third-down back/return man role quite nicely. With no Brian Westbrook around to throw the ball to any more, the Eagles would let Sproles inherit the same role he enjoyed his greatest success with in San Diego. The Eagles have LeSean McCoy to carry the rushing load, and Sproles would add yet another electrifying young playmaker in Philly.

I think most Eagles fans would be happy with each player coming to town. The Eagles have long been searching for a stud end to put on the opposite side of Trent Cole and Peppers would do the job. The issue there will be the money.
As for Sproles, he would be a great compliment to McCoy, and would give the Eagles another dangerous return man to go with their already stacked unit. This will be an interesting free agency for sure.

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Comments

One Response to “No moves for Flyers, how about Eagles?”

  1. Ryan on March 3rd, 2010 6:13 pm

    Go get Peppers Rolle and Thomas Jones. Banner wont do it though.

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