Thursday, March 25, 2010

Oakland in the Lead

***

The latest reports I'm getting are that the Raiders are the frontrunners.  ProFootballTalk is saying the same thing.  The Jaguars remain interested, but it seems as if the Raiders are being more aggressive with their offer.  I don't have any firm details, but the 8th overall pick in the 2010 draft is being talked about.  Jacksonville may try to come up with a counter-offer, but it doesn't seem like they want to get into a bidding war. 

The Buffalo Bills were the primary focus in yesterday's talks.  I don't know what is happening with them.  Maybe McNabb refused to sign an extension.  Maybe the Bills and Eagles couldn't agree on compensation.  I don't have good info on this angle right now.  Don't count Buffalo out, but they are no longer in the lead. 

As for Donovan going to the Raiders...this move makes some sense when you think about it.  They have a pair of talented RBs in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.  They have a good TE in Zach Miller.  They have 3 talented young WRs - Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.  DHB could turn out to be a Sidney Rice type player with McNabb throwing him the ball instead of Bruce Gradkowski or JaMarcus Russell. 

Also, wearing the Silver and Black doesn't mean much to younger people, but those of us who watched football in the 70s and 80s loved the Raiders.  They won games, played a wild brand of football, and were a lot of fun to watch.  Being a Raider still means something to people over the age of 30.  Since 2003 the organization has fallen on hard times.  Adding a Pro Bowl QB might be a great way to change that. 

I think McNabb might be more open to going to Oakland than many people think.  It would give him a great opportunity to prove how good he can be.  Kurt Warner solidified himself as a Hall of Fame player by leading the Cardinals to consecutive division titles and the Super Bowl.  McNabb could do a similar thing if he could restore the Raiders to glory. 

Stay tuned. 
___

31 comments:

Baloophi said...

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Tommy Lawlor said...

Ouch.

Well played, sir.

Unknown said...

"I don't have any firm details, but the 8th overall pick in the 2010 draft is being talked about."

Do you think we could get that high of a pick for McNabb straight up or do you think it would involve us trading other picks as well?

Tommy Lawlor said...

I think it would be straight up. That's just my opinion, though.

Unknown said...

Tommy

any chance Nnamdi Asomugha is being involved in the McNabb trade talks as well?

And what would you personally prefer:

the 8th overall or Nnamdi?

Cheers
GermanEagle

T_S_O_P said...

Tommy, McNabb is the ultimate franchise QB, moreover he has been a hand in glove fit for the Lurie owned, Banner Reid led Eagles in regards of "The way we do things around here". I think you agree. So as we approach closer by the day or even by the hour to a time that this figurehead of our franchise in this sportsmad city leaves, what consequences will it have in the locker room?

Along with loss of both Brians, that is a lot of company assets to lose in terms of leadership in "the way we do things around here".

My first concern would be Vick. Backing up McNabb, that's fine. Backing up Kolb, not so much. I hope he would be dealt too. I also have a feeling that Peanut could get quite cancerous as a result of this too. However, that is true of any ubertalented player who has an ego.

I want 1st round comp, Eric Berry will at least make me feel better. Taylor Mays in the 2nd wont! I'd prefer the Don for one more year.

Tommy Lawlor said...

I haven't heard a word about Namdi being talked about.

Asomugah vs #8???

Tough call. Namdi is a dominant CB. Those guys are rare and I would probably grab him. My only hesitation is the thought that I'd hate to pass on #8 and see Eric Berry fall that far.

Can I have 'em both?

T_S_O_P said...

Katrin, Alexander made an excellent point why that wouldn't happen in the previous topic

Tommy Lawlor said...

TSOP...

Short answer...The Eagles are a machine that will keep rolling along. One of Reid's strengths is the fact he gets everyone to focus on the group. He has developed a relatively self-less culture. Obviously no team will ever be completely self-less. The key is to get as many guys as possible to think and act "team first".

Think of the guys we've lost over the years. Troy was a great leader. Sheldon took over for him. Trot was a great leader. Stew is ready to handle that roll. Westy took over for Duce. And so on. We'll be okay.

You can argue that Reid's system is too rigid and keeps us from getting over the top. I don't fully buy that, but an argument could be made.

Belichick did a phenomenal job with veterans during the 2001-07 run. Andy errs on the side of youth, preferring to look long term. Bill erred with experience, preferring to worry about the next game. I'm generalizing of course, but there is some truth in the philosophies.

Unknown said...

Tommy, is this just conjecture? Are you going off of Jason La Confora's and Yahoo's report that the Raider's are the "hottest team involved?" Or do you have other sources? Are you hearing things through the grapevine?

Also do you think McNabb holds more value than Nnamdi? Or Nnamdi holds more value than McNabb? I'd love to get Nnamdi and a 2/3/4th round pick, but I'm not so sure that wouldn't be the other way around.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks for the input. Keep up the good work.

Unknown said...

The Raiders would really trade the #8 overall pick straight-up for McNabb?

It seems like a swap of first round picks would be more likely -- that would essentially give the Eagles the equivalent of another pick at #24 (according to the draft value chart).

Tommy Lawlor said...

Josh,

This is info I've received. I heard this independently of LaConfora.

When I'm basing a post on someone else's ideas I'll always go out of my way to make that clear.


RE: McNabb's value

Confusing subject. We're talking about the Raiders. They do things unlike any other NFL team. Al Davis could decide that he hasn't won squat with Asomugha and deal him straight up for McNabb. Namdi is a great player, but QB is the most crucial position. I think that evens their value, or possibly tilts it in our favor just a nod.

I think the Eagles are expecting at least pick 8 in a deal. The question is likely whether anything else is on the table between the teams.

I wish I could give you a solid answer on compensation, but I'm doing some guessing based on the tidbits of info I've heard.

I'll let you guys know anything the minute I hear it.

eagles nut said...

#8 straight up for McNabb. I don't think even Al Davis is that crazy. I could make a halfway valid argument that top 10 picks are overpaid and it's better to invest that money in a veteran than a rookie. However based on past trade history, that's overpaying. I could see a swap of 1st round picks, a middle round pick(3-4) and a player maybe.

I don't think the contract will be a problem. Yes, McNabb might not want to play there but money talks. Davis has a history of overpaying players(Javon Walker, Gibril Wilson) so I'd expect him to make McNabb a lucrative offer.

eagles nut said...

Tommy, with your relationship with the Eagles organization a lot of people will probably assume that your sources are within the Eagles organization. I realize that is not necessarily the case.

Regardless though, how do you differentiate when your source is giving you accurate information and is merely using you for their own means.

T_S_O_P said...

Sheldon could be gone too. Stew is not a certainty to play a full role. Celek looks to have leader written all over him, Avant is a team guy too. I hear you. I understand that we have high character players, that is why this time of year is usually so much fun. But the franchise QB is differnet to all players everywhere else, isn't that why they get paid so disprotionately? Who (Sheldon apart) is next in seniority in that locker room? Who has the players ear? Asante?

How much coverage will this move (should it happen) get? More than all the other moves mentioned combined, for sure. Our young team will be fielding those questions. A press QB controvesy? You can bet. They just love (to hate on) Philly. Maybe that builds the team. Particularly if they become a winning team. On the other hand a losing season... That machine may lose its operator. Surely? Unlike any of those other moves, this one carries that risk more than any other.

This is why it has to be a top 10 pick. Now tell me that can turn into Berry.

Unknown said...

Give me #8 Overall & Michael Bush and I'm a happy guy. I

I'd also take Asomugha and a 2nd (Best Case Scenario).

--

Great news hearing that McNabb is likely to be dealt

Unknown said...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/25/first-rumbles-of-mcnabb-to-raiders-trade-terms-emerge/

No way in hell. No way.

Unknown said...

No way possible. That would nevrr happen

Unknown said...

Focker unavailable for comment

Cliff said...

That PFT blurb is missing "Asomugha and the #8 pick."

I hope.

Matt said...

Alexander's post from the previous thread needs to be repeated I think:

"Nnamdi would be nearly impossible I think because the Raiders have paid him about 16mm of bonus money since March 5th. So how can they justify doing that and then trading him?

If you are trading a great player to save that much money that's one thing, but now they would have paid him over 28 million since the end of the 2008 season, got 1 season of play out of him and then trade him for another player who will take a large contract?

Raiders are crazy, but that could be a new level"

Myron said...

Good God. Trading for Nhamdi alone would be an awful move. He's a good corner, but he's 29 years old. Come on.

You cannot trade McNabb away without AT LEAST getting a high second round pick in return.

Myron said...

WHOA. Very interesting tidbit, Tommy, what do you make of this:

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Eric-Berry-to-visit-Browns-three-others-5187.html

"University of Tennessee top-ranked safety Eric Berry is scheduled to visit the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles, according to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation."

Hmmmmm. Browns, Chiefs, Bucs, OK, that makes sense --- but the Eagles too!??!

Eric Berry in midnight green? I'm wetting myself!

Please Al Davis, make it so!

Danyo said...

Don't get too excited Myron. As Tommy has pointed out, the Birds routinely scout players they have no chance of drafting. You never know when a player might become available in the future.

Even if we get the #8 pick, it seems a longshot that Berry would fall that far. I wonder who we'd target that early in the draft. I wouldn't be surprised if we traded down from that spot for more picks.

Netherman said...

Thomas Howard + Oakland's 2nd rounder?

arby said...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/25/report-eagles-want-a-top-42-pick-for-mcnabb/

Now a story about the price going down. I hope Tommy's right about Oakland's 1st rounder but I'm confused why Reid said he'd love to have pick 33. That points toward trying to create a market at the top of the 2nd round.

Unknown said...

I've been saying it all along, deal mcnabb for a high first rounder and get Berry. He's the second coming of Brian Dawkins!

Netherman said...

off topic...well recent topics anyhoo...is there a limit to the number of private draft visits a team can have?

Tommy Lawlor said...

@ Netherman...

Yes. However, there are quirky rules. Guys who are from your area or went to college in your area don't count against your visit total.

I'll be writing some thoughts on that subject and the other topics in a morning post. Hopefully I'll have a QB update, but everything is all quiet on the Western Front right now.

Cliff said...

@ arby

I think the Andy Reid and 33rd pick thing was taken out of context. I think Reid was asked about the new draft format (2nd round begins on the 2nd day) and Reid said with this format, it'd be nice to have the 33rd pick because you can go home, sleep on it, and regroup.

Of course, the media (and pretend media... PFT) took that quote and recent STL trade speculation and ran with it.

arby said...

@Cliff - Thanks. Yeah, I never did see the entire interview so like everyone else here, I'm just trying to piece it together. I'm also remembering something Tommy said in response to someone else that the demand of a 1st round pick for Donovan was incorrect, which was counter to everything we'd heard up to that point and a big surprise to me.

It's all a silly and futile exercise on our part to try to figure this thing out with such scant info yet we all try nonetheless. Part of a being a fanatic I guess...