Odds 'n Ends

I've been asked by a few people whether the Eagles should have any interest in BYU RB Harvey Unga, who will be in the upcoming Supplemental Draft. The short answer is that I don't think the team will have interest and I don't think they should.

Unga is a talented player. He lists at 6'0, 237. That gives him good size and power. He is elusive for a guy his size. He runs hard and breaks his share of tackles. He's got some athletic ability. Unga is also a good receiver. There's plenty to like. The problem is that we have 3 players already in place with similar size/skill sets - Mike Bell, Charles Scott, and Leonard Weaver.

Unga would be a target if those guys weren't on the roster, but with them already here I can't see us using a pick and roster spot on Harvey. Also, we have a 13-player rookie class. Do we really want to add more rookies to the mix? There are a couple of other players that will be eligible for the draft.  I haven't yet checked them out.  I don't see us going for anyone that isn't so good that he'll clearly upgrade the team.  I don't think the other guys fit that description, but I'll let you know if I change my mind after doing more research.

I am curious to see where Harvey goes. I don't like him as much as Charles Scott. That doesn't mean he'll fall to the 6th round, but I could see that happening.

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I haven't weighed in on the Jammal Brown trade yet. Interesting move. Washington gets a talented OT, but one who hasn't been a really good starter for a couple of years. Brown was terrific in 2006 and '07. I thought his performance dipped in 2008. He missed last year due to injury.

Brown is a very good run blocker. If Mike Shanahan employs the same offense he did in Denver that will give Brown a chance to be at his best. The plan right now is for rookie Trent Williams to man the LT spot and have Brown play on the right side. Brown has some experience at RT from early in his career, plus he played there while in college at Oklahoma.

The Skins didn't have to pay a steep price for Brown, only a 3rd or 4th in next year's draft. Part of the reason for the low price is that Brown hasn't played at an elite level recently. The other key factor is that he will be a free agent after the 2010 season. New Orleans played without Brown last season and the offense didn't miss a beat. They weren't going to give him a huge contract. That made Brown expendable.

I have mixed feelings on the move. Brown makes the team better. There's no disputing that. At the same time, the Skins are going to be without their 3rd and 4th round picks next year (McNabb, Brown trades). At some point you have to quit trading away picks. The draft is the life blood of the team. Both McNabb and Brown will be FAs at the end of the year. The Skins must re-sign them or the picks were used just to rent the players.

I'm in no way saying the moves were dumb. I think there are some coaches and GMs who are too reliant on veteran players. Shanny is near the top of the list among coaches. Bruce Allen is up there as a GM. If these trades are the only ones in the next few years then I'd probably be okay with the moves. If we see the Skins going after veteran players every year I think the organization will continue to have problems. Loading up on older guys isn't the way to go in the NFL.

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For those who might have missed it, the great Bill Lyon reviewed Tom McAllister's book. It is one thing to have hacks like me and Derek writing about your book, but Bill Lyon...that's impressive.

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According to a recent Forbes poll, Michael Vick is the most hated man in sports. I wonder if he'll ever be able to be a starting QB again because of this type of label. Ben Roethlisberger also made the list, but he's got a pair of Super Bowl rings to show people. Vick is in a whole different situation. He was out of the game for 2 years while incarcerated. He was a backup for us last year and will have the same role this year. I don't know that Vick's talent and potential will ever outweigh his baggage. The old Vick was special. The current guy...not so much. I have heard that he looks infinitely better this year. And as far as his reputation on the team, I've not heard a bad word about the guy. Chris Clemons seems to be the most disliked Eagle of the last couple of years.

I just don't know that any coach / GM is going to be willing to take a chance on Vick as a starter.  That guy will have to explain to his fanbase how that is the right decision for the organization.  Fellow players can love Vick all they want, but the general public still has their share of issues with him.