Eagles Transactions
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December 22
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The Eagles signed quarterback Rodney Peete to a three year
contract extension.
* - He's the backup quarterback for the next few years.
December 15
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The Carolina Panthers signed tight end Luther Broughton off the
Eagles practice squad to their 53-man roster.
December 9
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The Eagles released wide reciever Mark Seay and signed linebacker
DeShawn Fogle (2 year contract) from the practice squad.
The Bears signed running back James Allen from the Eagles
practice squad to their 53-man roster.
December 2
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The Eagles signed linebacker Al Wallace to a two-year contract.
* - Had been on Jacksonville practice squad.
The Eagles signed punt and kick returner Mel Gray to a one-year
contract.
* - Punt return help?
The Eagles released offensive guard Harry Boatswain and linebacker
DeShawn Fogle. The Eagles signed Fogle to the practice squad.
The Eagles released wide receiver Eric Matthews from the practice
squad.
November 20
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The Eagles placed linebacker Darrin Smith on injured reserve.
The Eagles signed offensive guard Harry Boatswain.
November 12
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The Eagles released offensive guard Mike Zandofsky.
The Eagles claimed cornerback Randy Kinder off waivers from
the Green Bay Packers.
November 5
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The Eagles released tight end Luther Broughton and then signed
him to the practice squad.
The Eagles signed offensive guard Sean Love.
November 4
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The Eagles signed wide receicer Russell Copeland and also signed
linebacker DeShawn Fogle. Fogle had been on the practice squad.
* - special teams tinkering.
The Eagles released kicker Lonny Calicchio and wide receiver Justin
Armour.
October 28
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The Eagles signed linebacker James Willis to a three year contract
extension worth $3.25M.
* - $750k of that counts towards the 1997 cap. Willis is now under
contract through the year 2000.
October 17
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The Eagles placed cornerback Bobby Taylor on injured reserve.
* - Really puts a hurtin' on the secondary. Dimry is a vet but
has been toast in the past, and all the other corners are
young guys with no starting experience, except Vincent.
The Eagles signed cornerback Tim McTyer from the practice
squad to the active roster (2 year contract).
* - Looked good in the Colts training camp, and is a hard hitter
if nothing else.
October 6
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The Eagles released defensive tackle Andy Harmon.
* - He was one of the best when healthy, but hasnt been the same
since his knee injury.
The Eagles activated safety Matt Stevens.
September 29
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The Eagles released Lonny Calicchio.
The Eagles re-signed Justin Armour.
The NFL reinstated safety Matt Stevens. The Eagles have a one
week roster exemption for him.
September 27
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The Eagles signed Lonny Calicchio from the practice squad to
the 53-man roster.
* - Kickoff specialist will help, hopefully.
The Eagles released WR Justin Armour.
September 23
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The Eagles signed former Bills WR Justin Armour and released
kick returner RB Derrick Witherspoon.
* - Spoon was looking miserable and making bad decisions so
far this year. Duce Staley will return kicks now.
September 22
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The Eagles signed kickoff specialist Lonny Calicchio to the
practice squad.
* - Expected to be activated for the Vikings game.
September 18
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The Buccaneers signed Damien Robinson from the Eagles practice
squad to their active roster.
The Eagles re-signed Tim McTyer to their practice squad.
September 17
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The Eagles released safety Tim Watson and signed safety Charles
Emanuel.
September 10
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The Eagles re-signed running back James Allen to the practice
squad. The Eagles released running back Deland McCullough from the
practice squad.
September 3
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The Eagles signed linebacker DeShawn Fogle and wide receiver
Gorey Simon to the practice squad.
September 2
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The Eagles signed defensive end Richard Dent and linebacker
Jeff Herrod to one-year contracts.
* - Veterans to help with the lack of leadership.
The Eagles released linebacker DeShawn Fogle and defensive back
Duante Brown.
* - Rookie part timers at best.
The Eagles signed running back Deland McCullough to the practice
squad. The Eagles released running back James Allen and cornerback Tim
McTyer from the practice squad.
August 27
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The Eagles signed linebacker DeShawn Fogle from the practice
squad to the active roster.
* - Looks like DeShawn is the choice for 6th LB.
The Eagles released safety Blain McElmurry.
August 27
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The NFL suspended safety Matt Stevens for the Eagles first four
games for substance abuse violations (steroids). He can practice with
the team starting on 9/29.
* - Stevens took an off-the-shelf performance enhancing system that
he was told was clean and would not violate the NFL policy. The
Bills let him go and the Eagles jumped on him as a possible SS
of the future, despite the 4 game suspension.
The Eagles obtained CB Willie Clark from the Ravens as past
consideration for the Ben Cavil trade.
* - The 4th DB that the Eagles have been looking for.
The Eagles signed RB James Allen, C Patrick Augafa, LB DeShawn
Fogle, CB Tim McTyer and S Damien Robinson to the practice squad.
* - Fogle looked good in camp (for a free agent rookie) and
Robinson didnt live up to the coaches expectations.
August 25
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The Eagles released OG Sean Love and S Damien Robinson.
* - Robinson wasnt living up to expectations.
The Eagles claimed defensive back Matt Stevens off waivers
from the Bills.
* - Played well against the the Eagles last year, can play
safety or cornerback... will likely assume Robinsons spot.
The Eagles claimed safety Blaine McElmurry off waivers from
the Oilers.
* - Another young safety to look at.
August 24
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The Eagles released OG Harry Boatswain, WRs Russell Copeland
and Nate Singleton, linebackers DeShawn Fogle and Sylvester Wright,
and CB Eric Sutton.
* - Hmmm... released both Wright and Fogle? The Eagles only
have 5 LBs on the roster now.
The Eagles traded OG Ben Cavil to the Baltimore Ravens for
a 7th round draft pick in 1999.
August 22
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The Eagles placed QB Koy Detmer on the injured reserve list.
* - Tucked away for safe keeping until next year.
The Eagles received OG Sean Love from the N.Y. Jets for past
considerations (Ronnie Dixon trade before the draft).
* - Last minute competition at gaurd.
August 19
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The Eagles released WRs Freddie Solomon and Dialleo Burks, FB
Larry Jones, OT Jed DeVries, S Deral Boykin, CB Byron Capers, DE
John Duff, DT Michael Samson and LB Whit Marshall.
The Eagles placed OT Richard Cooper, CB Frederic Ford and RB
Corey Walker on injured reserve.
* - Now down to 60. Putting Cooper on IR was a surprise... he
should have been back by seasons end at the latest.
August 18
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The Eagles released FB Rudy Harris and placed TE Andre President
on injured reserve.
* - two down, twelve to go to get to the 60-man limit.
August 13
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The Eagles released FB Brad Baxter, HB Yonel Jourdain, WRs Alan
Allen and Kevin Knox, DT Stacey Dillard, DE Damion Cooper, SS Thomas
McGaughey and CB Anthony Rice.
* - first round of cuts... a bunch more to be made by next Tuesday.
July 29
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The Eagles released offensive guard Anthony Heyward.
* - a rookie free agent camp body.
July 28
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The Eagles signed Charles Dimry to a one year deal.
* - a veteran CB to provide some competition for the 3rd and 4th
CB spots.
July 23
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The Eagles released free safety James Fuller.
* - A surprise move since he was a good backup FS last year. Perhaps
Boykin or McGaughey has impressed so far. This roster move will
certainly remind the other players that no one is safe.
July 22
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The Eagles signed free agent defensive lineman Jimmie Jones to
a one year contract.
* - Maybe the veteran lineman to rotate with Harris at LDE.
July 20
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The Eagles announced the retirement of defensive end Sterling
Palmer.
* - The surgery on his right knee didnt heal properly, and he just
wasnt able to effectively participate in camp.
The Eagles released center Marc lamb.
* - Training camp body.
July 19
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The Eagles re-signed free agent WR Mark Seay and cut WR Steve Rhem.
* - Seay probably wont make it this year. Rhem was a camp body.
The Eagles re-signed offensice guard/center Joe Panos to a one year
contract worth $361k.
* - Panos has been a solid if unspectacular player. The Eagles likely
will want to talk contract extension during the season, but Panos
plans on becoming a UFA at the end of the season.
July 18
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The Eagles signed free agent WR Alan Allen and announced the
retirement of wide receiver Mike Caldwell.
* - another WR training camp body.
July 16
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For the third straight year, the Eagles have all draft picks
signed before training camp starts (July 17th)
The Eagles signed second round draft pick linebacker James
Darling to a three year deal worth $1.125M, which included a $450k
signing bonus.
* - Will press James Willis for (and is expected to eventually
take) the MLB job.
The Eagles signed sixth round draft pick defensive tackle
Edward Jasper to a two year deal.
* - might figure in DT rotation
The Eagles signed unrestricted free agent defensive end Sterling
Palmer to a one year, $275k deal.
* - could either be a training camp body, or a vet to press Harris
for the LDE job.
The Eagles re-signed defensive end/linebacker Darion Conner.
* - more speed-rushing competition.
July 15
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The Eagles signed fifth round draft pick defensive end Ndukwe
Kalu to a three year deal... presumably minimum with a small signing
bonus.
* - Could be part of the DE rotation as a mostly pass-play speed
rushing end.
July 14
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The Eagles signed fifth round draft pick tight end Luther Broughton
to a two year deal... presumably minimum with a small signing bonus.
* - Will compete for 3rd TE, and possibly FB/H-back, as well as
special teams duty
July 8
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The Eagles signed fullback Brad Baxter and offensive tackle
Marc Lamb to two-year contracts, presumably veteran minimum. They
also signed offensive tackle Jerry Crafts to a one-year contract.
* - Baxter could be a backup to Turner, but probably these are
simply veteran training camp bodies not likely to make the
final cut.
The Eagles released offensive tackle James Butler, center Dan
Hoover, offensive guard Kireem Swinton, running back Corey Croom,
fullback Maurice McGreggor, wide receiver James Thrash and cornerback
Keita Crespina.
* - Training camp bodies, one and all.
July 1
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The Eagles signed 6th round draft pick Antwuan Wyatt to a two
year contract.
* - Expected to compete for the kick and punt returner job
The Eagles re-signed exclusive rights free agent running back
Derrick Witherspoon to a one year contract.
* - Has been a solid kick returner, but is in jeopardy of making
the team this year with competition for return duty from
several other players who fill other roles too.
June 17
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The Eagles signed restricted free agent Charlie Garner to a one
-year deal worth 450k plus incentives.
* - They'll negotiate a longer deal or no deal during the season
based on his performance.
June 13
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The Eagles signed exclusive rights free agent Hollis Thomas to
a four year, $1.35M contract.
* - The free agent from Northern Illinois was a major contributor
his rookie year, Thomas has moved past Hall to be the starter
at RDT this year.
June 12
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The Eagles signed third round pick Duce Staley to a three
year contract worth $1M.
* - Should see some playing time... but behind Watters and Garner
it might be tought to get a lot of time barring an injury.
The Eagles re-signed center/long-snapper Morris Unutoa to
a one year deal.
* - As a rookie last year, did a reasonable job. Only one really
bad special teams snap.
June 10
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The Eagles sifned first round pick Jon Harris to a five year,
$5M contract. The $5M includes a %1.5M signing bonus.
* - Hopefully the rest of the picks will be signed soon too. A
2, 3 two 5s and two 6s remain to be signed. Overall the Eagles
have signed 5 of 11 draft picks so far.
Ex-Eagles place-kicker Gary Anderson signed a one-year deal
with the 49ers for 275k.
June 4
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The Eagles signed free agent guard Ian Beckles to a two-year
contract.
* - Could mean trouble for Panos. Beckles is a regular starter
and has allowed only 5 sacks in his last 45 games. Worst
case scenario Beckles and Zandofsky will fight it out at RG.
The Eagles signed fourth round draft pick Damien Robinson to
a three-year contract for the rookie minimum all three years, plus
a $214k signing bonus.
* - Projected as the strong safety of the future, replacing Zordich
either during the season in 1997 or for 1998.
The Eagles signed seventh round picks QB Koy Detmer, CB Byron
Capers and CB Duante Brown to two-year contracts. All will make the
rookie minimum + approx 70k in signing bonus.
* - These guys are all projected as projects, not much impact
this year unless on special teams, or maybe as a nickleback
for the CBs...
June 2
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The Eagles signed free agent wide recievers Michael Timpson and
Russell Copeland to one-year contracts.
* - Timpson will be the third WR... Copeland will compete with
Burks and Wyatt for the 4th and 5th WR spots.
The Eagles re-signed free agent tight end Jimmie Johnson to
a two-year deal.
* - Valuable veteran leadership, and a solid player.
The Eagles cut WR Jasper Strong.
* - Just a warm body for camp.
May 17
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The Oakland Raiders signed ex-Eagles free agent guard Lester
Holmes to an undisclosed contract.
* - The Eagles had given up on him recovering fully from his
injury. Showed a lot of promise at one time, but it never
fully showed on the field.
April 25
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The Eagles re-signed restricted free agent safety James Fuller
to a one-year contract.
* - Backup free safety, and sometimes .5 or .10 back.
The Eagles signed rookie free agent offensive tackle James
Butler from Western Carolina.
* - At 6'3", 278... another training camp body.
April 23
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The Eagles signed Falcons free agent offensive guard Mike
Zandofsky to a one-year contract.
* - Should start at right guard, leaving LG for Panos
The Eagles signed rookie free agent tight end Chad Lewis
from BYU.
* - Will compete for backup TE spot.
April 22
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The Eagles released kicker Gary Anderson and cornerback Don
Griffin.
* - Both to be replaced by younger guys... Anderson by Boniol
and Griffin by one of the draft picks, or a free agent.
The Eagles signed the following nine rookie free agents:
running backs Corey Walker and Maurice McGreggor, wide receiver
James Thrash, offensive guards Kirrem Swinton and Anthony Heyward,
center Dan Hoover, defensive end Damion Cooper, linebacker DeShawn
Fogle and defensive back Anthony Rice.
April 19-20, 1997
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The Eagles drafted the following players:
Rd Pos Player hgt wgt College
-- ----- ------------------ ---- --- ---------------
1 DE Jon Harris 6- 8 287 Virgina
2 MLB James Darling 6- 1 247 Washington St.
3 RB Duce Staley 5-11 220 South Carolina
4 S Damien Robinson 6- 2 214 Iowa
5 DE Ndukwe Kalu 6- 3 247 Rice
5 TE/FB Luther Broughton 6- 1 248 Furman
6 WR Antwuan Wyatt 5-10 196 Bethune-Cookman
6 DT Edward Jasper 6- 3 295 Texas A&M
7 QB Koy Detmer 6- 0 185 Colorado
7 CB/S Byron Capers 6- 1 202 Florida St.
7 CB Deaunte Brown 5-11 195 Central St.(OH)
April 19, 1997
---------------
The Eagles signed Cowboys outside linebacker Darrin Smith to
a one year deal with a base salary of 1.6M. Incentives could add
up to another 1.5M to the value of his contract.
* - An indication that Farmer isnt playing up to expectations
at OLB?
The Eagles signed exclusive rights player Michael Samson to
a one year deal.
* - Expected to be part of the DT rotation this year.
April 18, 1997
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The Patriots match the Eagles offer sheet to Ferric Collons.
The Eagles traded defensive tackle Ronnie Dixon to the Jets
for a 7th round draft pick.
* - With young tackles Thomas, Samson and likely to draft a
tackle the Eagles got some return on Dixon.
April 14, 1997
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The Chargers signed Eagles free agent defensive end William
Fuller to a two-year, 4.4M contract.
* - Fuller turned down a one year 3.0M offer from the Eagles
for that? Good riddance. This is the same guy who thought
anything less than 3.5M/year was insulting a few weeks ago.
The Eagles signed Patriots restricted free agent defensive
end Ferric Collons to a two-year, 1.25M offer sheet.
* - The Patriots have until Friday to match the offer.
April 4, 1997
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The Eagles signed 49ers free agent wide receiver Nate Singleton
to a one-year, 260k contract.
* - knows the system, will compete for 3rd WR spot. Has been a
a solid player when helathly.
The Eagles signed free agent runing back Corey Croom to a one
year contract.
* - will compete for backup-halfback and special teams duty
April 1, 1997
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The Eagles re-signed quarterback Rodney Peete to a one year
conract. The base deal is worth 700k but increases up to $2M with
playing incentives if Peete ends up playing a lot.
* - Really the only choice for both parties. Peete provides
valuable depth/starting competition at a great price.
March 25, 1997
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The Eagles re-signed linebacker/defensive end Sylvester Wright
to a two-year deal.
* - Stand-out on special teams, and situational linebacker
and defensive end.
The Eagles signed 49ers free agent wide receiver Mike Caldwell
to a two year deal.
* - the Eagles are bringing a lot of 6-foot plus receivers to
camp.
The Eagles re-signed wide receiver Freddie Solomon and
safety Deral Boykin to one year contracts.
* - Solomon saw some punt return and third WR duty, Boykin
was a good special teams player and saw limited coverage
duty late in the year. Both are young players that may
develope with playing time and practice.
The Eagles signed cornerbacks Keita Crespina and Akili Johnson,
defensive tackle Stacey Dillard, running backs Yonel Jourdain, Rudy
Harris and Larry Jones, and wide recievers Steve Rhem and Jasper
Strong to one year contracts.
* - mostly training camp bodies, but some could be diamonds
in the rough.
March 21, 1997
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The Eagles signed N.Y. Jets free agent guard/tackle Harry
Boatswain to a two year contract.
* - May compete for a starting guard spot... will provide good
depth in any case.
March 20, 1997
--------------
The San Diego Chargers signed ex-Eagle cornerback Johnny
Thomas.
* - Was a great special teams player, but not much else.
Coverage ability on punts & kicks will be missed.
March 17, 1997
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The Eagles signed Dallas place-kicker Chris Boniol to a
four year, $2.45M dollar deal.
* - Immediate upgrade over Anderson, and it hurts the
Cowboys special teams who also lost punter John Jett.
The Eagles hired special teams coach Joe Wessel who had
been with the Bengals.
* - Had really good special teams in 1995. Cant do any worse
than Smith has the last two years.
The Eagles hired QB coach Sean Payton.
* - Will spend more time with Bobby Hoying than Gruden could.
The Atlanta Falcons signed ex-Eagle tight end Ed West.
* - Good blocker, but the Eagles are moving towards youth.
March 6, 1997
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The Eagles signed Baltimore center Steve Everitt to a
five year, $11.5M dollar deal.
* - Best free agent center, will anchor offensive line
for the next 5 years at least. Another young, talented
player locked up during his prime.
The Eagles signed safety Tim Watson, offensive tackle Jed
DeVries, wide reciever Kevin Knox and cornerback Eric Sutton.
* - some training camp bodies, Watson was a Rhodes picks in
Green Bay in '93.
March 3, 1997
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The St. Louis Rams signed ex-Eagle quarterback Mark Rypien.
* - The Eagles are expected to re-sign Peete. Rypien was an
emergency replacement last year.
February 20, 1997
-----------------
The Eagles signed tight end Andre President who had been
on the Patriots practice squad.
* - a warm body for mini-camp
Former Eagle Raleigh McKenzie signed a two-year contract with
the San Diego Chargers.
* - The Eagles are pursuing young FAs to put on the line.
February 13, 1997
-----------------
The Eagles declined to excercise the 1997 option on quarter-
back Rodeny Peetes contract making him an unrestricted free agent.
* - The option would have paid him $1.7M. The Eagles hope to
sign him for less now that Detmer has shown his stuff.
The Eagles tendered exclusive rights offers to defensive
tackles Hollis Thomas and Michael Samson, center/long-snapper
Morris Unutoa, wide receiver Freddie Solomon running back/kick
returner Derrick Witherspoon and defensive end/linebacker
Sylvester Wright.
* - All young guys who played last year. Unutoa, Wright and
Witherspoon were major players on special teams and
Thomas saw a lot of action in the DT rotation.
The Eagles tendered qualifying offers to the following
restricted free agents: Defensive tackle Ronnie Dixon, saftey
James Fuller, running back Charlie Garner, and offensive guard/
center Joe Panos.
* - Panos is a must keep for the OL. Garner may leave depending
on Eagles running back FA moves. Dixon was a mjor part of
the DT rotation and Fuller played well as the backup at
free safety.
The Eagles declined to tender offers to linebacker Marc
Woodard and linebacker/defensive end Terry Crews.
* - Woodard got beat out by Farmer and Crews was year-end
injury insurance. Woodard may be back.
February, 1997
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The Eagles signed offensive guard Ben Cavil, cornerback Frederick
Ford and safety Thomas McGaughey from the practice squad to the active
roster.
* - Ford and McGaughey were then assigned to the World League.
McGaughey plays for the Barceloa Dragons and Ford is on
the Scottish Claymores.
The Eagles re-assigned the duties of three assistant coaches:
Danny Smith was moved from special teams to defensive backs, Ted
Williams was moved from tight ends to running backs and Juan Castillo
was moved from offensive assistant to tight ends.
* - The Eagles are searching for a special teams coach to replace
Smith and are also looking for a quarterbacks coach to add
to the staff.
The Eagles hired Mike Lombardi as a "consultant". He will handle
free agent and college scouting duties.
* - Could be taking over for Dick Daniels after the 3 month trial
period is over.
January, 1997
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Eagles running backs coach Dick Jamieson left the Eagles to become
the offensive coordiantor for the Arizona Cardinals.
* - Hate to lose an assistant to a division rival