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While Jets head coach Rex Ryan has been busy getting chummy with his MLB New York neighbors (and possibly farting on live TV, if you believe some New York radio personalities), NFL teams have been "hard" at work with Organized Team Activities. The NFL allows each team a maximum of 14 OTA workouts each off-season, and those days are winding down quickly. Nine teams will exhaust their OTA allotment this weekend, ...
While the off-season is busy for those adjusting to life in the NFL, it’s a bit slow for those of us who cover it. That means that sometimes, a little research is necessary to come up with good ideas…and I think this is one of them. You know how every draft pick gets labeled as “the next Player X,” or gets unfairly compared to guys who were drafted in years past? Well, ...
In part one of this series, we looked at the Eagles’ offensive depth chart. Now, we’re going two-deep on a defense that got a new assistant in Dick Jauron and a near-total overhaul—with 18 new faces and at least three new starters among the 38 guys in camp vying for jobs. With a new attitude and a new look, how will Philly’s vaunted defense shake out?Begin Slideshow
Through the first two days of the NFL Draft, there have been 18 trades. The carnage has been almost equally represented, with seven each in the first two rounds and four in the third. While it’s way too early to distinctly declare “winners” and “losers,” these six teams get the awards for the most recognizable set of moves on Thursday and Friday. Begin Slideshow

Nate Allen the Newest Philadelphia Eagle: 2010 NFL Draft Results

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Lou DiPietro in NFL
With the fifth pick in the second round—No. 37 overall, or as you may know it, the “Donovan McNabb pick”—South Florida safety Nate Allen is the newest Philadelphia Eagle. Allen, a 6’1”, 207 pound free safety, is certainly one hell of an athlete. He was recruited as a quarterback, and his father, Jackie, was star basketball player in Europe. His Combine numbers were fairly spectacular as well. Allen ran a 4.52 40, ...

2010 NFL Draft: 10 Guys Who Will Slip Out of the First Round

Posted: 21st April 2010 by Lou DiPietro in NFL
Earlier in the week, I presented a list of five guys making a late surge for first-round consideration (which you can read here). Now, I’m flipping the script. Simple physics says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So naturally, for every player that does “sneak” into the Top 32, there has to be one that falls out. But there are other factors in play, and the draft ...
Only 32 men per year can call themselves first-round draft picks. That man you see on the left will likely be the first of the 2010 class come this Thursday. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more than 32 who are “worthy” per se, but for those near the cut it sometimes comes down to the luck of the draw. Even after all the Combine activities, Pro Days, and private ...
April 15 isn’t just tax day—it’s the deadline for NFL teams to sign restricted free agents to an offer sheet. That deadline has now come and passed, meaning that any dreams Eagles fans had of landing a player like O.J. Atogwe or D’Qwell Jackson are now relegated to trade fantasies. Oddly enough, with all of the hubbub surrounding restricted free agency and its blockbuster potential, the Birds’ signing of Mike ...
It’s often said that the best umpires, referees and officials in sports are the ones that fans don’t notice. Apparently, no one gave Major League Baseball umpire Joe West that memo. Earlier this week, West, who was crew chief of the crew that worked the season-opening Yankees versus Red Sox series, gave quotes to Bergen Record reporter Jeff Roberts that basically criticized the two teams for their pace of play. "They're two of the ...
If you’ve been scouring the sports newswires today, you’ve undoubtedly by now seen the latest gem regarding the Donovan McNabb trade. According to ProFootballTalk and NBC Sports (among other sources), ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter is allegedly floating a theory that can be at best described at highly conspiratorial and at worst considered absolutely insane. Schefter is saying that he has talked with multiple NFL executives who firmly believe that the Eagles ...