Lito News

It's no secret that Lito Sheppard is now being shopped around to the likes of Tampa Bay. He would be a decent fit there. However, I just don't approve of the trade value being offered, namely a second rounder and Michael Clayton.

I just don't see it. Clayton had one good year 3 years ago when he was a rookie. Since then, guvna, as my grandmother would say.

It's also being reported now that St. Louis wants to get in on this hot action. Meh-they really don't have any players worth it, unless they are willing to give up their first round pick, which I doubt is going to happen.

Or maybe, just maybe, I am overestimating the trade worth of an All-Pro corner with injury/toughness problems.

Personally, I kind of would like to see how the trio of Brown, Samuels, and Sheppard would perform together. Hell, we get a good safety, and we might have a pretty formidable defense.

Speaking of draft picks, tomorrow is the first day of the NFL Draft, which is right in my wheelhouse for things I so do love. Classify it under the "flesh market", right next to strippers. My opinion of my Iggles' needs are as follows:

1rst round, 19th pick-need here is either OL or S. Phillips, the All-Conference S from Miami, looks like the best bet right now. He looks great on paper, but I just don't like football players from Miami. Except for Jerome Brown.

However, in looking at his stats and bio, he can cover, hit, catch, and blitz well. He would be a great fit for us.

Otherwise, I say go with Jeff Otah, out of Pitt. Big and nasty, but we will most likely have to offer trade bait at this point ot get him. He will not be available at 19. However, I would be just as happy with Chris Williams out of Vandy.

If none of the above are available, we could go for value with Rogers-Cromartrie. Guy's got all the tools, and he would be learning from all-pros. Or we could trade him away. Whatever they do, the Eagles had best not pull that shit from last year where they trade away the 26th pick to the f'n Cowboys. Who did the Cowboys get? Anthony Spencer, the man two top-5 draft picks (Joe Thomas and Levi Brown) called the "hardest DE to stop". But hey, we got some guy named Kolb.

My final thought is that I cannot believe the amount of people that are stating that the Eagles will be taking a WR with their first round pick. More often than not, first round WR are busts. Ol' Andy tried this once with Freddie Mitchell, with horrible results.

uh-oh

Figure 1-1: Don't say "blood". It only gets him excited.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3362701

To be brunt, the man is a beast. The good? The Eagles made a legitimate bid for him, which is nice to see given that the offseason usually revolves around who we are NOT trying to pick up. Still we didn't get him. Funny how the littlest offerings can mean so much when the bar is set that low.

The bad? Jared Allen is now in the NFC, which means there is a distinct possibility that we will play him. Further, the Vikes' d-line was pimp to begin with-having Allen just ups the "oh-shit" factor.

As for the Vikes: did they make the right choice? Let's see: the Vikings give up the 17th pick of the draft, and had to restructure his contract to 6 years, 74 million, 31 of which is guaranteed. Besides the massive cap hit they are going to have to deal with when purple Jesus comes up for negotiations, it could prove deadly. Further, the Vikings still do not have a consistent quarterback.

So, I guess the game plan here is to rely on defense and running the ball while NOT developing a quarterback. Where have I heard that before?

Have the Vikings improved? Yes. Have they improved where they really need to? I am not sure-I perceive them as being a little short in the OL as well as QB and WR: losing their first round pick means they will not pick up a pricey first rounder, but also risk the lack of redundancy that multiple first and second round picks provide.

So yes, they have gotten better-New York has fully proved that even a competent QB can win the super bowl provided their defense dominates. Let's just hope for the Vikes sake that ol' Jared can stay away from the booze. 3 DUIs in 4 years = Jared on the short leash of the commissioner.

EDIT: if Jared stays out of trouble until September, two of his strikes are going to be erased. If I was in any way dependent on him, I would have taken his keys away a long time ago. Probably while he was passed out.

As for the Chiefs-look for them now to bolster their lines in the first round. Losing Allen is going to kill their line, so DE at 5th pick, OL at 17th. Should work out.