Notes From Lombardi

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

DOES THE SIGNING OF KURT WARNER MEAN FREE AGENCY IS OVER?

For the most part, it’s virtually over.  Once the contract of Baltimore’s Ray Lewis is done, then it will really be over.  However, the interesting question is what restricted free agent becomes the next target?  Everyone knows I love Lance Moore.  Here are Moore’s numbers last season, compared to Wes Welker’s numbers in 2006:

                                                           G      REC   YDS   Y/GAME    AVG    LG    YAC   1ST TD   

2006   Wes Welker (Miami)                 16       67     687       42.9       10.3     38      4.3      33    1

2008   Lance Moore (New Orleans)     16       79     928       58.0       11.7     70      3.7      40   10

I realize it will cost a second-round pick, but Moore is a talent and a great slot wide receiver.  He’s only 26 years old, he can make people miss with the ball in his hands, and he’s the kind of player who forces teams to double him on third down.  With the Saints’ signing of Devery Henderson today, this might be the time for a team to make a move. 

If you need a defensive lineman, consider Stephen Bowen of the Cowboys.  He was tendered a second-round pick, but he has size and power and might be a great addition to a team trying to find some five techniques.  The draft is not normally deep in defensive linemen, and if a team is picking near the bottom of the second, Bowen could be a better option than any player you might find there. 

WIP CALLS ME OUT...

I had a few friends from the Philadelphia area (all Eagles fans) call to tell me that the WIP radio morning show ripped me for my comments the other day regarding Brian Dawkins.  They could at least have let me defend myself because I didn’t mean to be insensitive to Dawkins.  Bill Parcells used to remind me all the time, when something bad happens, there’s no sense complaining.  He also used to say, “Stop kicking the dog; the dog is already dead.”  I respect Dawkins’ game and his career, but I really believe the Eagles have bigger issues to fix right now.  I think the key for them is to focus on how they’re going to improve the team and whom they might be able to spend all that cap money on. 

LIGHTEN UP, FRANCIS, I MEAN DAVE FROM YAHOO...

I love all the reader comments, I really do, but I don’t have any house favorites in the NFL.  I do respect and admire the work of Bill Belichick, and I rarely believe he is off course.  However, I think the same of Mike Tomlin, and I don’t even know him.  Belichick might not be a media favorite, or a favorite of Jets fans, but if you love the game, there’s a lot to learn watching him work his craft. 

SOMETHING TELLS ME BRADY QUINN IS NOT THE STARTER IN CLEVELAND ... SORRY, MICKER...

I know things have been quiet on the shores of Lake Erie in terms of free agency, but the word I’m hearing is that Brady Quinn will have to win the job in Cleveland.  Don’t be surprised if the Browns make a play for one of the quarterbacks in the draft. As they make over their facility, they might be making more changes with the roster.  Quinn is too inconsistent with his accuracy, as is former starter Derek Anderson.  The Browns might fit into the category of what John Madden used to refer to as “having a lot of something means you have nothing.” 

(And the Micker I’m referring to is my son, who happens to be the biggest Brady Quinn fan in the world.  This won’t make him happy.)

IF BRIAN CUSHING IS THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE DRAFT, WHY CAN’T I FIND HIM ON THIRD DOWN?

This bothers me considerably, and so far, all the tape I’ve watched on Cushing makes me wonder what his role will be on third down in the NFL.  I’ll keep searching for an answer, but I’m getting frustrated.  The best linebacker in the draft?  Really? 

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