QUOTE: “I am imperfect in many things, nevertheless I want my brethren and kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive my soul's desire.” -- St. Patrick
More trades...busy day in Philadelphia
The Eagles got busy Tuesday, signing Saints running back Mike Bell and trading for defensive end Darryl Tapp of the Seahawks. The Saints have the right to match the offer to Bell as he was the first, but surely not the last, restricted free agent to be signed this offseason.
Will the Saints match? My sense is they won’t because they have to re-sign Pierre Thomas and have $8 million tied up in Reggie Bush. Bell is a straight-line back who runs with power and is very tough. He’s not always the smartest back, but he knows how to pass protect and will not back down from a physical confrontation. He will not run to daylight, but he will run hard north and south and will never, ever go around a would-be tackler – he’ll go through him.
I think the sound bite of Saints head coach Sean Payton from the Super Bowl sums up Bell perfectly. When Bell came off the field after slipping and failing to get a touchdown, Payton -- after lecturing the team all week on wearing the right shoes -- asked Bell what kind of spikes he was wearing. He looked at Bell’s shoes and just said, “It figures.” Bell is a hard runner and can be hard-headed at times. What makes him good on the field makes him tough to deal with off the field.
Bell gives the Eagles a tough runner with some ability to enhance their passing game. He is not the kind of back that wears down an opponent, needing more reps to be effective. In fact, less of Bell is might mean a more productive back. He’s a good piece that fits into the Eagles offense and gives them a versatile third runner.
The other move the Birds made was to acquire defensive end Tapp from Seattle. Tapp has never been a consistent rusher or pressure player coming from the edge. He has good quickness, but he lacks overall size to win against the bigger tackles. When he can win with his quickness, he’s effective, but when he does not win right away, he struggles to have a counter move.
Tapp has 18 career sacks and needs to be matched up against the right player to be effective. Watching Tapp play, I always felt he was an “in-between” player, which means his quickness was best inside against guards, but he played outside at end. His style of play fits the Eagles’ on-the-move style of defense, and I’m sure the Eagles feel he can be as effective as Juqua Parker has been for them.
Less of JaMarcus
I tend not to get overly excited about which players are in offseason programs and which players choose to skip them. I care more about the right players being in the offseason and the right players working hard to prove to their teammates they’re committed.
JaMarcus Russell of the Raiders reported a day late, but he finally showed up looking trimmer. Russell must win back his teammates, and the first step is proving to them he’s committed to working hard -- and more important that he’s committed to being committed. As Bill Parcells once reminded his team, “Don’t confuse routine with commitment.” Russell must commit, not just routinely show up.
Tim Tebow
Today is the pro timing day at the University of Florida, which means it’s a huge day for quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow will display his new throwing motion and work out for the many coaches and scouts who have come to Gainesville, Fla. The real key will be which coaches and scouts come back for a private individual workout with Tebow. That’s the list to monitor. Not all teams are for Tebow, but he’s appealing to some teams. So we need to know when Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa, Denver or Jacksonville return.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
What does the Darryl Tapp trade mean for Victor Abiamiri? Find out in this article from Bleacher Report.
So he's trimmer, so what? He can't read defenses, doesn't work hard in the film room, doesn't demonstrate any leadership abilities. Being trimmer only means he can sprint faster to the sidelines to get that stupid touque after he fumbles or tosses an interception or a 3 and out. If the Raiders cut this guy tomorrow nobody would pick this guy up except for the Bills wh have taken Langston Walker and Cornell Green. How did that Walker acquistion work out for you?
I saw the interview on NFL network (ESPN?) as Russell was pulling into his off-season workout at the facility.
He looked like he was more worried about his fashion sense than football. And he had two of his croonies in the car with him. He didn't look like his head was into football at all. I know that's reading a lot into a brief snap shot, but it just confirms everything else you hear about the guy.
I'm not ashamed to admit I fell in love with his cannon arm and size coming out of college. Nor the fact I had him ahead of Brady Quinn in my QB rankings that year.
But the guy just doesn't get it and the money and empowerment he gets from that organization hasn't helped one iota. He looks stuck in the mud with regards to growing up and developing his skills. Too bad. Reminds me more and more of Jeff George all the time.
Tebow is NOT coming to Tampa. Mark Dominik had not done many things well, BUT, the one thing I love him for, is taking Freeman last year. It's not Freeman I'm so enamored with, although I think he will be a very good NFL QB, but its the fact that we Buc fans don't have to face the horrid thoughts of hearing about Tebow coming to Tampa every day. Thank you, Mr. Dominik.
Mike, Where is your criticism of your beloved Eagles on this Tapp deal? Does your lack of objectivity come back to haunt you again? When your beloved Eagles signed Chris Clemons 2 years ago after an 8 sack season to a lucrative contract yiou praised that move as a wise move. Subsequently, after only 7 sacks in 2 years with the blitzling Eagles he and a 4th round pick are traded for Tapp who had 2.5 sacks last season. Wonder what you would've said had the Raiders made this move since you ripped them on the Wimbley deal and he at least had 6.5 sacks last year which last time I checked wasn't such a bad number.
How about this as an article idea , Mike? How many sacks did Tyson Jackson have for the Chiefs last year? How many did Dorsey have ? (answer none and 1). Yet , when KC and your man Pioli reach and use the 3rd pick on Jackson when he's thought to be 15-20 you and the media say nothing but when Heyward-Bey goes 8th instead of early 20's tha's all you talk about. Where's the objectivity?
I'm getting increasingly skeptical whether Tebow, who's been King of Gainesville since he got there, can adjust to being an H-Back who's expected to carry luggage for his veteran teammates and to shut up until spoken to in the locker room. It'd be interesting to see how he responds today if he's asked to do a lot of drills that have more to do with non-QB positions.
Doug Flutie and Warren Moon did a pretty good job using the CFL to prove themselves to the NFL -- if Tebow really wants to be a a quarterback, this might be the best option.
Here's a guy that should be fighting to keep his job. And he shows up a day late for off-season training. Did he have something better to do than build goodwill amongst his teamates and coaches let alone get, and stay, in better shape? That says it all for me.
@Scott
Seriously dude are you able to read and comprehend above level of a six year old? Please point out to us in what way Mike ripped the raiders on the Wimbley deal?
Well,
Lombardi, I love Mike Bell, he was one of my favorite Broncos and he will do well with the Eagles even as he did with the Broncos and New Orleans.. Darryl Tapp is interesting to me, we'll have to see what happens. Personally, I don't think Tim Tebow's up to snuff but again, time will tell. Thanks again, Lombardi, tomorrow, it's March Madness!
pc_oz a.k.a. "Dude"
He called the price the Raiders gave up as "steep" but then explained that since they have
"awful drafting ability" it might make sense. The whole point of my comment is Mike holds the Raiders way more accountable than teams he likes, i.e. Chiefs, Eagles, etc) Also, the Raiders drafted Trevor Scott in the 6th round two years ago in the Chris Long , Gholston draft and has outproduced both with 12 sacks in 2 yrs, Gholston zero.. Also, last year they picked Matt Shaughnessy in the 3rd round 4 sacks his rookie year. Are those awful picks? By the way, if
you're going to attack someone's intelligence because you disagree with them, you might want to leave out the "dude" in your comments.
@Scott
If your club has drafted so well why have you stunk up the joint for the last 7years?? I have lived in Australia for the last 10 years and I travel around Asia and Europe a lot for work..and everybody knows who the raiders are..I see more raiders gear than any other team and it is sad what has happened to a once proud club..I have said it before on this site but why dont the raider zealots direct your anger towards the incompetent fools in your front office who have destroyed the franchise rather than an ex-employee? and maybe Mike holds the raiders to a higher standard because well they should be..its the raiders DUDE!
Way to skip the Seattle side of the deal entirely, Michael. Reeks of East-Coast bias. Last time I checked, any 'trade' involves two teams, regardless of what is involved or how much it may favor one team over the other. Telling half the story is poor, lazy journalism.
"...Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa, Denver, or Jacksonville return." Tedy Bruschi & Eric Allen think that a better place for Tebow would be either New England or Indianapolis. That way he could apprentice behind an established QB like Brady or Manning. All reports seem to indicate that Tebow, while MUCH improved, still has a way to go. A team like Jacksonville would be detrimental to his development due to the possibility that he would be thrown into action before he's ready to fully take over as a starter.
Plus let us not forget Belichick's predilection for versatility. Tebow could wind up being a jack of all trades for the Patriots (wildcat RB, QB, receiver, etc.).
Who really gives two *hits about Seattle? They are in MAJOR rebuilding mode. I live in Seattle and the fans are INSANE. If I had a nickel for every time a fan sad they would be 14-2 last summer.
Hey DUDE! I mean Scott...can I call you DUDE; my man?
Tyson Jackson was not thought to be 15-20. Most people had him going after the top 5 but noway lasting until 15.
People will reach a bit on the interior D-Line as impact there is so hard to find. 300 lb athletes are very rare. WR's who can run fast? Not so rare.
That was probably not the right comp to use.
Al Davis has been known to chase down writers and ask them when they're going to write something nice about the Raiders. The obvious answer is "like what?" If writers start writing nice things; then all will be well for the Raiders? Crazy thinking.
pc_oz is exactly correct. Direct your anger at the management of the Raiders and you'll start getting better press. It's going to get worse before it get better no matter what Lombardi writes.
It's getting tedious listening to all these Raider fans blaming Lombardi for their trouble. Very old.
It's like being forced to listen to "9/11 was an inside job" over and over again.
You know the people droning on and on just don't get it; but nothing will reach them. Nothing.
Umm, tell me the difference between "right" and "which":
I tend not to get overly excited about which players are in offseason programs and which players choose to skip them. I care more about the right players being in the offseason and the right players working hard to prove to their teammates they’re committed.
"which" means which 'specific players', whereas "right" means 'specific players who need to'. And you can't say talk about the right players if you can't talk about which ones are the right ones.
I am curious to know how the Eagles fans feel about the departure (release?) of Westbrook? Bell is a different kind of runner but will he fill the gap? Eagles were looking pretty good for the second year in a row coming into the playoffs only to be beaten badly.
The eagles have a lot of work to do. They lost a lot of players and have to replace them. It all starts with the quarterback.
The eagles are definitely loading up which i love to see. I am definitely a big fan. I just love the moves that they made.
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Mar 17, 2010
10:45 AM
Good stuff as usual, Michael.