The Philadelphia summer is known for a few things: the occasional heat wave (like right now), hot days, warm nights, and a serious lack of football. The USFL just completed its first season with Birmingham Stallions defeating our Philadelphia Stars in the championship game, 33-30. Congratulations to the Stars on a very good season after a rough start. Though, I will say that since all the games during the season were played in Birmingham, AL, (with the playoffs being played in Canton, OH) the Stallions had an advantage with their games always being the most populated. The XFL doesn't debut (again) until 2023 and the USFL has stated that it will return in 2023, as well. The CFL is the only league (that is easily watched through television) that is available right now for viewing. So, what does the Philadelphia Eagles fan do in the meantime until we wait for September 11th?
Unfortunately, not much.
All we can do is review the things that have happened so far. Whether it's the debut of the alternate helmet...
Or take in the news that the Kelly Green unis will return in 2023...
Or be mad at the fact that the wording on the logo is being changed...
I mean, the current logo is nice but the OG logo, that I haven't seen since my childhood, was still one of my favorites....
We could only review what has happened so far with the team.
The signing of Haason Reddick is a big one and a very good one. At 27 years old (turns 28 about two weeks after the season starts), he's in his prime and signed for three years and $45 million to bolster the team's pass rush. Since 2020, he's 5th in the league in sacks, only trailing some guys you may have heard of:
1. T.J. Watt: 37 1/2
2. Myles Garrett: 28
3. Trey Hendrickson: 27 1/2
4. Aaron Donald: 26
5. Haason Reddick: 23 1/2
Good company to be in. Couple that in with his ability to force fumbles over the past few seasons, he's a big pickup for the team and will immediately be an impact player on defense. As a side note, he is from Camden and went to Temple. Think he's not excited to play for his hometown team?
I admit that I was super excited about this signing. Let me get out first that I was very happy with the way Steven Nelson played last year opposite Darius Slay. But, with James Bradberry signing on from the Giants because they cut him due to the fact that they couldn't pay/trade him was very neat and an upgrade. He's only here on a one year deal so, if he plays well, he's likely gone after this season for bigger money. He's only going to be 29 (in August) at the start of the season, putting him in his prime. Slay seems to be looking forward to playing opposite him and he, along with Bradberry, makes up a one-two cornerback combo that has 15+ INTs and 80+ PBUs EACH since 2016.
The trade of the 18th and 101st picks in April's draft for A.J. Brown sent waves across the NFL being that it was done during the draft AND that the Titans were willing to trade him after stating repeatedly that they did not want to. Brown was extremely productive in Tennessee at the number one receiving option. While last year was a down year, 63 caches for 869 yards and 5 TDs are solid numbers. He also had surpassed 1000 yards in the two seasons before that. It comes down to money as Brown, who was on the last year of a rookie deal with the Titans, wanted a certain amount and the Titans did not want to pay it. The Eagles did, and now Brown, who turned 25(!) in June, will be here for the next four years at $100 million with $57 million guaranteed. It is also known that starting QB Jalen Hurts, who is close friends with Brown, pushed for this trade. Now Hurts has two legitimate receiving options in Brown and Devonta Smith, who is coming off a great rookie campaign.
The picks that weren't dealt by Howie Roseman were spent on the above picks. Jordan Davis is likely to learn from a future Hall of Famer in Fletcher Cox (he also could be on his last year here) and be a huge (literally and figuratively) piece of the defensive line. The possible steal of the draft in Nakobe Dean projects to be an immediate impact player if all the reports are true that he is healthy. Cam Jurgens was handpicked by another future Hall of Famer in Jason Kelce and will learn from him to eventually replace him once Kelce hangs them up. Kyron Johnson and Grant Calcaterra project to be rotational pieces at this point but will be battling for a roster spot during the summer. Davis, Dean and Jurgens were all good picks and gives the team some youth to groom to eventually replace the older vets.
With head coach Nick Sirianni going in to his second season after a 9-8 campaign that ended with a road playoff loss to Tom Brady in Tampa, he is looking to improve and lead the team not just back to the playoffs, but on a deep playoff run. This blogger and Eagles fan believes the team can do it. At the very worst, the team is second best in the division behind Dallas. At best, the Eagles are looking at being probably 12-5 or 13-4 based on their schedule, making them a 3 or 4 seed in the NFC. Now, this is the NFL and "Any Given Sunday" is very real. The games have to be played. The team has to execute. Injuries can occur. But, I do believe the team can do it.
September 11th can't get here soon enough.
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