I've said quite a few times that I don't have interest in the Eagles going after Julius. He's an incredibly gifted athlete, but is also a bit of a weird cat. He's quiet off the field. Some have said anti-social, almost. He wants out of Carolina for various reasons, but one is that he's tired of the "spotlight" of Charlotte.
That phrase may sound funny, but it does apply to him. Julius is from the area. He was a star at UNC. Steve Smith is the national star. Jake Delhomme is in more local TV commercials. Still, Julius might be under more scrutiny than anyone. He was brought in to be Superman. That has happened from time to time, but not the way it was hoped. Peppers was supposed to be their Reggie White. That level of greatness hasn't materialized.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=3530
The Eagles keep getting mentioned as a possible landing spot for Julius. I've been very dismissive of this notion, but I started wondering...am I being close-minded?
Peppers is the kind of rare athlete the Eagles love to go after when they can. We know they love DL. Victor Abiamiri is a promising LDE, but Peppers is the better player right now. The Panthers might take pick 28 (their own pick we got last year) in return for JP.
There are questions. He's talked about wanting to play in a 3-4. We can't give him that. He moved to RDE last year. We have Trent Cole and he's not moving. Julius would have to come here as the LDE. We could use him as the Joker and that might appeal to him. We do have a creative defensive coaching staff.
Should the Eagles be interested? Are you guys interested in him?
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Jamaal Jackson comment
At the Owners Meetings Andy Reid answered various questions about the team. Most of his comments were pretty mundane. I did fine one of them interesting:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090326_Eagles_-_Questions_and_answers_with_Eagles_coach_Andy_Reid.html
I was glad to read that. Jamaal had a solid year, but his career isn't headed in the right direction. He looked like a Pro Bowl candidate in 2006. He has been up and down the last two years. I'm not looking for us to replace him necessarily, but I want Jamaal to understand that he needs to play better.
Reid rarely says critical things publicly. I don't think he's being unreasonable with what he said. Jamaal can read that and focus on run blocking.
I'm also glad to see that Andy is focused on improving the run game. It shouldn't be that hard to fix, but it does require resources and attention. Adding Weaver and Stacy Andrews is a good start. Comments about run blocking are nice. We still need to see what they do at TE and RB, but I'm encouraged.
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* On center Jamaal Jackson: "I thought Jamaal did a pretty good job in the pass game. I think he can keep working on some stuff in the run game."
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090326_Eagles_-_Questions_and_answers_with_Eagles_coach_Andy_Reid.html
I was glad to read that. Jamaal had a solid year, but his career isn't headed in the right direction. He looked like a Pro Bowl candidate in 2006. He has been up and down the last two years. I'm not looking for us to replace him necessarily, but I want Jamaal to understand that he needs to play better.
Reid rarely says critical things publicly. I don't think he's being unreasonable with what he said. Jamaal can read that and focus on run blocking.
I'm also glad to see that Andy is focused on improving the run game. It shouldn't be that hard to fix, but it does require resources and attention. Adding Weaver and Stacy Andrews is a good start. Comments about run blocking are nice. We still need to see what they do at TE and RB, but I'm encouraged.
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Friday, March 27, 2009
Back to the Future
I haven't mentioned John Harbaugh's comments about Kevin Kolb. At the owner's meetings Harbaugh said some good things about Kevin.
That sounds pretty good, huh? I was happy to hear that. I'm a Kolb fan and have been since he was a Freshman at Houston.
Then I got to thinking. Those comments sounded eerily familiar. After some meditation, PBR, and shock therapy I recalled this nugget from the past.
Here is Ray Rhodes talking about Ty Detmer in March of 1996.
I also recall Ray saying that Ty was deadly at running the 2-minute offense in practice.
This doesn't mean that Kolb will turn out to be Ty Detmer, pt 2. I just thought it was funny to note the similarity of the situations and comments. Kevin is bigger and more athletic than Ty. I think Kevin's got about the same arm, but we'll know for sure when he gets on the field regularly. Maybe better, maybe worse.
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"All I know is I saw Kevin Kolb every day in practice for a year when I was the secondary coach [in '07], where he was going against the defense as the scout-team quarterback," he said.
"When we did red zone, we couldn't defend him. I mean, he'd run the red-zone offense for the team we were going to play. We had the No. 1-ranked red-zone defense in the league 2 years ago. And we couldn't stop Kevin Kolb. Throwing to Mike Gasperson every day in practice. He picked us apart.
"[Eagles coaches] love him. He has all the tools. He's a leader. He's tough. He plays the game the right way."
That sounds pretty good, huh? I was happy to hear that. I'm a Kolb fan and have been since he was a Freshman at Houston.
Then I got to thinking. Those comments sounded eerily familiar. After some meditation, PBR, and shock therapy I recalled this nugget from the past.
Here is Ray Rhodes talking about Ty Detmer in March of 1996.
"You could see how crafty he was," says Rhodes, recalling Detmer's days on the scout team in Green Bay. "He'd be moving the ball on us and I'd ask my linebackers what he was doing, and they'd say, 'He's playing with us. He's staring us down, looking right at us and throwing in a different direction.'"
I also recall Ray saying that Ty was deadly at running the 2-minute offense in practice.
This doesn't mean that Kolb will turn out to be Ty Detmer, pt 2. I just thought it was funny to note the similarity of the situations and comments. Kevin is bigger and more athletic than Ty. I think Kevin's got about the same arm, but we'll know for sure when he gets on the field regularly. Maybe better, maybe worse.
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Couple of Things
New PE.com article is up. I did a mock draft for the Eagles.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=17579
LJ Sounds Off
LJ Smith told some reporters he wasn't happy with the way some of the coaches treated him in 2008. Boo frickin' hoo.
I can think of an organization and fan base that wasn't happy with the way you treated them in 2007 and 2008.
This is sorta typical of LJ. He's making some excuses for why things didn't work out. You have to love it when a chronic underachiever blames poor play on the coaches and the way they communicated with him.
I wish him well in Baltimore. I'm frustrated with LJ because making comments like this is just dumb. He's got a 1-year deal with the Ravens. He'll be on the market next March. Why do something like this? It won't help your prospects in the future and it doesn't accomplish anything in the present.
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http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=17579
LJ Sounds Off
LJ Smith told some reporters he wasn't happy with the way some of the coaches treated him in 2008. Boo frickin' hoo.
I can think of an organization and fan base that wasn't happy with the way you treated them in 2007 and 2008.
This is sorta typical of LJ. He's making some excuses for why things didn't work out. You have to love it when a chronic underachiever blames poor play on the coaches and the way they communicated with him.
I wish him well in Baltimore. I'm frustrated with LJ because making comments like this is just dumb. He's got a 1-year deal with the Ravens. He'll be on the market next March. Why do something like this? It won't help your prospects in the future and it doesn't accomplish anything in the present.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Trade Talk?
Yesterday it was reported that the Browns had talked about trading WR Braylon Edwards. That news excited Eagles Nation in a big way. It was about the same as me watching The Great Texas Dynamite Chase on HBO in 1977. Claudia Jennings was a very talented actress. I digress.
We all know the Eagles masses want a stud WR. Braylon might be that guy..."might" being the key word. He played like a Top 5 WR in 2007, but hasn't come close to that level in other seasons.
The argument for him is that '07 was the only year he got strong QB play. Braylon responded with 80 catches and 16 TDs. He looked the part of an elite receiver. He's only 26. He is big at 6'3, 215. He has pretty good speed. There is a lot to like.
The argument against him is that he's been inconsistent and he drops too many passes. People will point out that TO drops passes. Yes, he does. And for him to be productive an inordinate amount of throws have to go his way. In 2004 TO didn't seem to drop as many balls. He made big plays and the offense flourished. He was more erratic in 2005. Remember the season opener? Owens caught 7 passes for 112 yards. The numbers sound good, but he had about 15 passes go his way. The offense struggled (only 10 points), but TO got his catches and yards. They just didn't come in the flow of the attack.
According to STATS, Inc. here are some 2008 numbers for Braylon:
Target - 138
Caught - 55
Drops - 16
Pct Caught - 39.9
Pct 1st down - 30.4
Here is DeSean:
Target - 121
Caught - 62
Drops - 6
Pct Caught - 51.2
Pct 1st down - 35.5
I'm not saying Braylon is a bad player and the Eagles should avoid him. I'm simply trying to point out the whole picture. There is a lot to like, but there are concerns as well. If this was Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Calvin Johnson...I'd scream for us to make the deal. Those guys look special. Braylon had a great year in the middle of 3 solid seasons.
One of the keys is value. I would not give up one of our 1st round picks for Edwards. The report is that the Browns talked to the Giants and wanted a 2nd, 5th, and Steve Smith. NY offered Hixon in Smith's place and Cleveland said no thanks.
If we could do the deal for a 2nd, 5th, and Reggie Brown, that would be awfully tempting. I don't know if the Browns would be interested. They aren't just looking for a WR + picks. They turned down Hixon. They obviously want the right guy. Reggie might or might not fit the bill.
One thing does bug me about Braylon. He got mad at some point and said he wanted out of Cleveland because the fans wouldn't accept him. He thinks they hold the fact he's a Michigan guy against him. Cleveland is the heart of Ohio State country so I'm sure he gets razzed somewhat, but gimme a break. That is a lame excuse in my mind. Eagles fans had no problem accepting Jerome Brown. He was from hated Miami, but became a beloved figure because he played well. Is Edwards mentally and emotionally tough enough for Philly?
He has spent 4 years in Cleveland, a highly dysfunctional organization. That kind of situation can bring out the worst in you. The Eagles are a solid organization. Edwards would have a structured environment here. That might bring out the best in him.
I'm sure the Eagles will feel the Browns out to see what the asking price is. The Eagles do like to know what's going on. If the price is reasonable, you could see some talks going on. Don't count on anything. The Browns may decide at some point that Edwards is too good to get rid of. The Eagles could also get outbid by a team that is desperate for a WR. We have solid starters in DeSean and Curtis. Teams like Oakland, Jacksonville, and the Jets could all make a strong play feeling like they need a starter and not just an upgrade.
One thing to be sure of is that the Eagles will do their research. They'll check out Edwards, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Peters, and any other veteran players rumored to be on the block that fit holes on our team. The Eagles will only pull the trigger if they feel the price is right. Speaking of which...something tells me Joe Banner would be good in the Showcase Showdown. He's very good with assessing value.
* In a previous post I mentioned the Eagles not spending a 5th round pick on a Fullback because of the Weaver signing. I went back and checked and in 2004, with Jon Ritchie as the starter, we did spend a 5th (#162) on Thomas Tapeh. Based on that, we could spend a mid to late 5th on a FB. I don't know if Quinn Johnson or Tony Fiametta lasts that long. I'm certainly not objecting to adding a FB. I'm just looking back at previous drafting patterns for a reference point. The lack of good FB play could cause the team to be more aggressive than usual in addressing the spot.
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We all know the Eagles masses want a stud WR. Braylon might be that guy..."might" being the key word. He played like a Top 5 WR in 2007, but hasn't come close to that level in other seasons.
The argument for him is that '07 was the only year he got strong QB play. Braylon responded with 80 catches and 16 TDs. He looked the part of an elite receiver. He's only 26. He is big at 6'3, 215. He has pretty good speed. There is a lot to like.
The argument against him is that he's been inconsistent and he drops too many passes. People will point out that TO drops passes. Yes, he does. And for him to be productive an inordinate amount of throws have to go his way. In 2004 TO didn't seem to drop as many balls. He made big plays and the offense flourished. He was more erratic in 2005. Remember the season opener? Owens caught 7 passes for 112 yards. The numbers sound good, but he had about 15 passes go his way. The offense struggled (only 10 points), but TO got his catches and yards. They just didn't come in the flow of the attack.
According to STATS, Inc. here are some 2008 numbers for Braylon:
Target - 138
Caught - 55
Drops - 16
Pct Caught - 39.9
Pct 1st down - 30.4
Here is DeSean:
Target - 121
Caught - 62
Drops - 6
Pct Caught - 51.2
Pct 1st down - 35.5
I'm not saying Braylon is a bad player and the Eagles should avoid him. I'm simply trying to point out the whole picture. There is a lot to like, but there are concerns as well. If this was Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Calvin Johnson...I'd scream for us to make the deal. Those guys look special. Braylon had a great year in the middle of 3 solid seasons.
One of the keys is value. I would not give up one of our 1st round picks for Edwards. The report is that the Browns talked to the Giants and wanted a 2nd, 5th, and Steve Smith. NY offered Hixon in Smith's place and Cleveland said no thanks.
If we could do the deal for a 2nd, 5th, and Reggie Brown, that would be awfully tempting. I don't know if the Browns would be interested. They aren't just looking for a WR + picks. They turned down Hixon. They obviously want the right guy. Reggie might or might not fit the bill.
One thing does bug me about Braylon. He got mad at some point and said he wanted out of Cleveland because the fans wouldn't accept him. He thinks they hold the fact he's a Michigan guy against him. Cleveland is the heart of Ohio State country so I'm sure he gets razzed somewhat, but gimme a break. That is a lame excuse in my mind. Eagles fans had no problem accepting Jerome Brown. He was from hated Miami, but became a beloved figure because he played well. Is Edwards mentally and emotionally tough enough for Philly?
He has spent 4 years in Cleveland, a highly dysfunctional organization. That kind of situation can bring out the worst in you. The Eagles are a solid organization. Edwards would have a structured environment here. That might bring out the best in him.
I'm sure the Eagles will feel the Browns out to see what the asking price is. The Eagles do like to know what's going on. If the price is reasonable, you could see some talks going on. Don't count on anything. The Browns may decide at some point that Edwards is too good to get rid of. The Eagles could also get outbid by a team that is desperate for a WR. We have solid starters in DeSean and Curtis. Teams like Oakland, Jacksonville, and the Jets could all make a strong play feeling like they need a starter and not just an upgrade.
One thing to be sure of is that the Eagles will do their research. They'll check out Edwards, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Peters, and any other veteran players rumored to be on the block that fit holes on our team. The Eagles will only pull the trigger if they feel the price is right. Speaking of which...something tells me Joe Banner would be good in the Showcase Showdown. He's very good with assessing value.
* In a previous post I mentioned the Eagles not spending a 5th round pick on a Fullback because of the Weaver signing. I went back and checked and in 2004, with Jon Ritchie as the starter, we did spend a 5th (#162) on Thomas Tapeh. Based on that, we could spend a mid to late 5th on a FB. I don't know if Quinn Johnson or Tony Fiametta lasts that long. I'm certainly not objecting to adding a FB. I'm just looking back at previous drafting patterns for a reference point. The lack of good FB play could cause the team to be more aggressive than usual in addressing the spot.
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Sunday, March 22, 2009
Random Stuff
* Dave Spadaro of PE.com said that the addition of Weaver at FB definitely moves Dan Klecko back to DT. That makes me like the signing that much more. Klecko gives us a good #4 DT.
* Leonard Weaver isn't a top shelf blocker, but he is an upgrade on what we had in the 2008 season. When you mix in his ability as a runner and receiver the lack of special blocking skills is more acceptable. And it isn't as if he's terrible.
Weaver played TE in college. You see that in his blocking. He will engage a defender and block him. He's just not a downhill guy that runs through his target. We want all FBs to block like Moose Johnston, Lorenzo Neal, or Tony Richardson. There is a reason you see 35-year old fullbacks still bouncing around the league. It is hard to find really good lead blockers these days.
He signed a 1-year deal, but it sounds like Weaver and his agent are open to a long term agreement. Check out this blurb:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/
* Our draft needs just got adjusted. I've had us taking a DT and FB in the 5th or 6th rounds in recent mocks. I doubt we go for either spot in the 5th at this point. We now may go 6th, 7th, or UDFA.
We're now 5 deep at DT. We've got the big 3 + Klecko and Amon Gordon. We need at least one more body. They may go UDFA at this point. I'd still like to see a big body added to the mix.
With Kyle Eckel and Weaver leading the group at FB I just can't see us taking one before the 6th or 7th. We have several options in terms of how we go at FB. We could keep both Eckel and Weaver. We could go with a rookie and Weaver. We could keep just Weaver and then have the rookie on the Practice Squad.
I should also mention that I think we'll use at least a couple of the 5th round picks in trades to move up. I don't think you want four 5th round picks on a team that is a SB contender.
Back to the notion of carrying 2 FBs on the roster. That has happened before. We had Cecil Martin and Kevin Turner in 1999. We had Thomas Tapeh and Jon Ritchie in 2004. Ritchie got hurt and Josh Parry took over. And of course last year we had Eckle and Klecko. It isn't ideal, but factor in that Weaver also plays the role of a big back and it makes some sense.
* Have we made a commitment to running the ball more? Adding Weaver gives us mixed signals. We did seriously address the position of fullback. We didn't add a great blocker. The problem is that we didn't have great choices in terms of blockers to go after. Very weak FB group. Weaver was the best FB on the market.
I think letting Tra Thomas go was a good sign. He was never a good run blocker. No matter who we add or play at LT, the run blocking will be better.
We still need to see what happens in the draft. If we add Knowshon Moreno, a blocking TE and another FB, then there will be no doubt. Let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic at this point.
* WR Hakeem Nicks scored an 11 on the Wonderlic. This is a concern. The Eagles have a complex playbook. You must be able to master it.
The Eagles won't rely just on the Wonderlic. We all know that some people don't test well. Reid met with Nicks at the Combine to get a feel for him. If the Wonderlic bothers them, they might bring Nicks in for a visit. They can test him on football matters or give him an oral exam. The goal is to find out if a player is just a poor tester or if he isn't very bright.
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* Leonard Weaver isn't a top shelf blocker, but he is an upgrade on what we had in the 2008 season. When you mix in his ability as a runner and receiver the lack of special blocking skills is more acceptable. And it isn't as if he's terrible.
Weaver played TE in college. You see that in his blocking. He will engage a defender and block him. He's just not a downhill guy that runs through his target. We want all FBs to block like Moose Johnston, Lorenzo Neal, or Tony Richardson. There is a reason you see 35-year old fullbacks still bouncing around the league. It is hard to find really good lead blockers these days.
He signed a 1-year deal, but it sounds like Weaver and his agent are open to a long term agreement. Check out this blurb:
"I have a hunch he's going to be an Eagle a long, long time," Lewis said. "He always thought Philly was the perfect place."
Lewis acknowledged the Birds had drifted out of the picture over the past week or so, until they suddenly drifted back in again.
"I was looking at a three-horse race with Seattle, Tampa Bay and Houston," Lewis said. "Then I got a call from Andrew Brandt [who recently joined the Birds' front office]. We started goofing around . . . and shortened the gap," presumably with the incentives.
Lewis said they took less than Weaver could have gotten elsewhere, because they felt this was the best fit for Weaver's long-term earning potential.
"We're taking a little haircut now and hoping for a wonderful 'weave' later on," Lewis said.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/
* Our draft needs just got adjusted. I've had us taking a DT and FB in the 5th or 6th rounds in recent mocks. I doubt we go for either spot in the 5th at this point. We now may go 6th, 7th, or UDFA.
We're now 5 deep at DT. We've got the big 3 + Klecko and Amon Gordon. We need at least one more body. They may go UDFA at this point. I'd still like to see a big body added to the mix.
With Kyle Eckel and Weaver leading the group at FB I just can't see us taking one before the 6th or 7th. We have several options in terms of how we go at FB. We could keep both Eckel and Weaver. We could go with a rookie and Weaver. We could keep just Weaver and then have the rookie on the Practice Squad.
I should also mention that I think we'll use at least a couple of the 5th round picks in trades to move up. I don't think you want four 5th round picks on a team that is a SB contender.
Back to the notion of carrying 2 FBs on the roster. That has happened before. We had Cecil Martin and Kevin Turner in 1999. We had Thomas Tapeh and Jon Ritchie in 2004. Ritchie got hurt and Josh Parry took over. And of course last year we had Eckle and Klecko. It isn't ideal, but factor in that Weaver also plays the role of a big back and it makes some sense.
* Have we made a commitment to running the ball more? Adding Weaver gives us mixed signals. We did seriously address the position of fullback. We didn't add a great blocker. The problem is that we didn't have great choices in terms of blockers to go after. Very weak FB group. Weaver was the best FB on the market.
I think letting Tra Thomas go was a good sign. He was never a good run blocker. No matter who we add or play at LT, the run blocking will be better.
We still need to see what happens in the draft. If we add Knowshon Moreno, a blocking TE and another FB, then there will be no doubt. Let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic at this point.
* WR Hakeem Nicks scored an 11 on the Wonderlic. This is a concern. The Eagles have a complex playbook. You must be able to master it.
The Eagles won't rely just on the Wonderlic. We all know that some people don't test well. Reid met with Nicks at the Combine to get a feel for him. If the Wonderlic bothers them, they might bring Nicks in for a visit. They can test him on football matters or give him an oral exam. The goal is to find out if a player is just a poor tester or if he isn't very bright.
____
Friday, March 20, 2009
Leonard Weaver Signs in Philly
The Eagles added an interesting weapon on Friday. Leonard Weaver signed a 1-year, $1.75M deal. His addition makes the backfield that much deeper and more versatile. The only thing keeping me from getting really excited is the fact he's not a great lead blocker.
Weaver is a gifted receiver. He was a star TE in college at Carson-Newman. That receiving ability has carried over to the NFL. In the last 2 seasons he had 59 catches for 535 yards and 2 TDs. Eagles FBs have 58 catches...in the last 5 years. That should give you an idea that Weaver is an upgrade in terms of his receiving skills.
Go watch his highlights from the second SF game. Click on the link and choose SEA as the team. Go to Week 8 highlights and choose the 3:43 clip. You'll see a really impressive run and 2 long TD catches.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?categoryId=teams
He only signed a 1-year deal. He isn't a great blocker. I tend to think the Eagles will keep another FB/RB type on the roster. It could be Dan Klecko, but I don't know if that would be smart. I'm of the mind to move him back to DT. Let Weaver, Kyle Eckel, and a rookie fight for the two jobs.
This was another solid signing. It isn't great because of Weaver's blocking, but it does make us better in the short term. I still hold out hope that we'll add Quinn Johnson or Tony Fiametta in the draft. That would make me feel really good about fullback.
Weaver's stats:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9297
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Weaver is a gifted receiver. He was a star TE in college at Carson-Newman. That receiving ability has carried over to the NFL. In the last 2 seasons he had 59 catches for 535 yards and 2 TDs. Eagles FBs have 58 catches...in the last 5 years. That should give you an idea that Weaver is an upgrade in terms of his receiving skills.
Go watch his highlights from the second SF game. Click on the link and choose SEA as the team. Go to Week 8 highlights and choose the 3:43 clip. You'll see a really impressive run and 2 long TD catches.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?categoryId=teams
He only signed a 1-year deal. He isn't a great blocker. I tend to think the Eagles will keep another FB/RB type on the roster. It could be Dan Klecko, but I don't know if that would be smart. I'm of the mind to move him back to DT. Let Weaver, Kyle Eckel, and a rookie fight for the two jobs.
This was another solid signing. It isn't great because of Weaver's blocking, but it does make us better in the short term. I still hold out hope that we'll add Quinn Johnson or Tony Fiametta in the draft. That would make me feel really good about fullback.
Weaver's stats:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9297
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