Eagles look dreamy
Dan Pompei
Chicago Tribune
If they passed out a Lombardi Trophy to the team that added the most talent since veteran player movement began, it would go to the Eagles.
They added the best cornerback on the market in Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the second best cornerback to change teams in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, arguably the best defensive end on the market in Jason Babin, arguably the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in Cullen Jenkins, and a QB in Vince Young who has been to the Pro Bowl and has a 30-17 record as a starter.
Young called them "the dream team," and many have picked the Eagles to win the Super Bowl. But you don't win Super Bowls with checkbooks. Let's see what they can do with all this talent.
Ryans have the answers
Joseph Schwerdt
Sun Sentinel
To answer this question, just listen to what the Ryan brothers are saying.
In the AFC, Jets coach Rex Ryan called out the league to "find someone else besides the Jets" to beat the Patriots, who added receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.
In the NFC, Rob Ryan, the Cowboys' defensive coordinator, called the loaded-up Eagles the "all-hype team." The Eagles added cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and quarterback Vince Young to back up Michael Vick.
Clearly the Eagles and Patriots have been the most aggressive, while the Jets downgraded from Braylon Edwards to Plaxico Burress and the Cowboys — except for Rob Ryan — have made little noise.
The pressure is on Reid
Baltimore Sun
That, unquestionably, has to be the Eagles. They banished their longtime edict of not signing players 30 years and older and landed two of the league's top players at their positions — cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins.
The Eagles' defense is greatly improved in the back end, with Asomugha and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and the front end, with Jenkins and defensive end Jason Babin. That equates to pass coverage and pass rush.
On offense, the biggest move was getting Vince Young to back up Michael Vick at quarterback. Assuming the Eagles can make DeSean Jackson happy again, this is a potent offense.
Now the pressure is on Andy Reid to win it all.
Paper trail leads to Philly
Baltimore Ravens Insider
Athan Atsales
Los Angeles Times
The Eagles have made the biggest splash by far and still are thrashing around the pool, adding running back Ronnie Brown on Tuesday.
That after adding the prize of this year's free-agent class, Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin and two-time former Pro Bowl quarterback Vince Young. They also traded for former All-Pro cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and added defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins.
So, on paper, the Eagles have won the championship. But coach Andy Reid has been close before.
If the Eagles don't get to the big game this season, could the coaching staff be the next necessary improvement?