Eagles Rumors

Yeah, the last week has been kind of slow.  A couple of minor pieces for your consumption, though.

You might have read by now that Nick Cole signed a new one-year deal with the Eagles.  He was a restricted free agent who the Eagles tendered at the second round level.  Now he’s “officially” an Eagle, no one else will be making him offers.

Negotiations in Arizona continue for Karlos Dansby, but it doesn’t sound like much is happening for Anquan Boldin.  The Cardinals continue to make Dansby and Adrian Wilson top priorities.

Torry Holt will visit the Titans this week.  All of that lobbying Keith Bullock has been doing may pay off.

Fox Sports has Jay Glazer out at the NFL owner’s meetings.  He comments here on the Browns quarterback situation, then moves on to a discussion of Braylon Edwards.  Glazer apparently spoke with Eric Mangini, who has stated he wants Edwards back.  On the other hand, he also states the the Browns front office is open to offers.

Glazer also claims to have spoken to Edwards, who stated he’d love to play for the Giants.  The Giants reportedly remain interested (and apparently are not interested in Anquan Boldin, despite the NY media obsession with the guy).

UConn held it’s pro day yesterday.  RB Donald Brown, who will have a private workout with the Eagles early next month, limited his workout to some position drills and reportedly looked excellent catching the football.

UConn has never had any player drafted in the first round, but Brown is likely to change that.

Pieces of an interview that Cardinals’ Head Coach Kent Whisenhunt did today with the media are being made public via Kent Somers’ blog on azcentral.com.

In it Whisenhunt states that there is nothing new (or good) to report on the Anquan Boldin front.  Boldin and Drew Rosenhaus met with Cardinals officials weeks ago but no offers were exchanged and no details have been released.

Of interest, however, was Whisenhunts thoughts on what the Cardinals need to address in terms of team weaknesses.  Specifically he stated the outside linebacker position — a position the Eagles have talented, starting-level youth in excess.  Could Omar Gaither, a player who will only be 25 when the season starts, be a part of a trade package?

It could make sense for both teams.  Gaither has been rumored to draw interest from other teams, but the Eagles have hung on to him.  If the Eagles could put together something like Gaither and a reasonable draft pick, perhaps the Cardinals would be interested.

Update:  We’ve received a few emails that share a “yeah, right” tone.  Look, this is pure speculation that was just for fun.  But if you think Gaither and a pick for a disgruntled Boldin is a far-fetched idea you don’t understand the players or the dynamics of NFL trades.

First, Boldin isn’t young any longer — he’ll turn 29 this year.  And he has a pretty extensive injury history.  Yes, he’s a very, very good player.  But he’s still got some serious negatives.  Two, Gaither has shown the ability to play as a starter in the NFL.   He’s 25 and he can get better and have a long career.  He’s not just fodder.

Giving up Gaither, when he’s very inexpensive in 2009 and still under team control after that (RFA) is something the Eagles would be very careful about doing.

On top of that, if Boldin and Rosenhaus take this situation to places the Cardinals don’t wish it to go (which is probably the only way he gets traded anyway) — the organization isn’t going to have much leverage.  You rarely get even money for disgruntled players.

We reported yesterday that Chiefs executive Clark Hunt stated in no uncertain terms that the Chiefs were no longer interested in trading Tony Gonzalez.  Despite his attempts to turn the page on this subject, thanks to a “source close to Gonzalez” the speculation will not end soon.

That source says that Gonzalez still wishes the Chiefs to trade him if the right deal can be made.

“If the right deal can be made, Tony very much wants the Chiefs to trade him,” the person said. “Tony is not demanding a trade. Tony cherishes the time he’s spent with the Chiefs and he loves the way he’s always been treated by the fans there. But he knows of some other teams that would be interested in him and if the right deal can be made, he wants it to be made.”

Gonzalez caught 96 passes last season for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is 33.

Rumor Value:

Cardinals GM Rod Graves is turning his attention to players already on the Cardinals roster.  The biggest priorities for the Cardinals continue to be extensions for Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson, with the Anquan Boldin situation simmering in the background.  Graves, quoted by Kent Somers, says the Cardinals are open to everything with Boldin:

“We still recognize him (Boldin) as a core player and one that we would like to extend,” General Manager Rod Graves said, “but I think we have to remain open at all times to possibilities. To this point, we have not made any considerations for a trade, and we’re focused primarily on trying to make this relationship beneficial for our team.”

Rumor has it that Boldin doesn’t wish to surpass Larry Fitzgerald’s compensation (we would hope not). Drew Rosenhaus is his representation. Any new team would need to sign Boldin to the new contract, probably in the $8-$9 million a year range.

Browns beat writer Toni Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports from the NFL Owners Meeting that there are rumors and chatter that the Eagles have contacted the Browns and expressed interest in Braylon Edwards.

Edwards had a breakout year in 2007 — tallying 16 touchdowns in the process.  But he had a tumultuous one in 2008 that included leading the league in drops and drawing the ire of many Browns fans.

Nonetheless, Edwards is a physical receiver with a desirable combination of size and speed.

It was reported on Monday that the Giants are also interested in Edwards, and had even engaged in initial negotiations.

Rumor Value:

The premier tight end of the last decade is not going to be traded, at least if you believe the Chiefs’ chairman Clark Hunt.

The future hall of famer was thought to be available to a team looking to add an impact tight end (know any?) — but it appears the window to attain him closed at last season’s trading deadline.

The Eagles have reportedly scheduled a workout with Maryland cornerback Kevin Barnes for early April.  Barnes spent much of his senior season injured (shoulder), but he did impress at the combine.

Additionally, Philadelphia recently held a private workout with DeAngelo Willingham from Tennessee.

What do these two have in common?  Both have decent size for a cornerback (both are a touch over 6 feet), and both are projected as middle to late round picks.

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According to Ralph Vacciano of the NY Daily News (via The Giants Insider) the Browns at least entertained the notion of trading Edwards to the Giants — but the two teams could not come together on the Browns’ compensation.

TGI states that the Giants offered two draft picks (a 2nd and a 5th) for Edwards, but the Browns wanted those picks and Steve Smith.  The Giants refused, and the Browns let the talks die.

If this is true, consider the following.  The Eagles have two first round picks.  The Eagles have three 5th round picks.  The Eagles have Jason Avant, who we could easily argue is the same receiver Steve Smith is (and did you read what Andy Reid said about him being “basically unstoppable” last week?  Talking him up for a trade, Andy?).

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[Updated]:  Fixed the error with draft picks.  Thanks, guys.