Is It Brilliance Or Ineptitude?
The NFL Pre-Season starts later tonight with the Hall Of Fame Game starring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders. Both a blessing and a curse: Football is just around the corner, so don't get used to the weather.
The Eagles wide receiver situation has been widely reported and ridiculed. And tomorrow's game will not help. Starting as the number one wide receiver is Reggie Brown. He is already and unquestionably the second best wide reciever on the Eagles since Andy Reid took over as head coach, even after as little as one full season. That in and of itself doesn't say much, but everyone from Donovan McNabb to Andy Reid to even Michael Irvin believe he will eventually be a Pro-Bowler. How soon is of critical importance to the Eagles.
But that's not where the problem is, because starting opposite Brown at wide receiver will be......... Hank Baskett.
Hank Baskett.
"Yeah, hi, this is Hank."
He's an undrafted free agent from New Mexico. The Eagles didn't even initally sign him, having to trade a random useless warm body to Minnesota to acquire his services.
He wouldn't be starting if Todd Pinkston was recovered from last season's knee injury. But, according to everyone who has seen Baskett in training camp, he is impressive. Damn impressive.
Which leads to the question? Is the Eagles wide receiver situation really so dire that a glorified walk-on can jump in and be the number 2 receiver immediately, placing higher than even off-season signing Jabar Gaffney? Or have the Eagles found an undrafted gem?
Philly has had legitimate success with undrafted free agents. It seems every year they find someone who can contribute long-term. Roderick Hood is an undrafted cornerback who stepped in last year when Lito Sheppard was injured for the season and played so well that he got offers to be a starter elsewhere. Philly thought so much of him that they re-signed with a kingly reward for a nickel cornerback.
Greg Lewis is a solid number three receiver. Sam Rayburn is a solid defensive tackle. Both undrafted, both signed long-term by the Eagles, both solid contributers.
So what to make of this Hank Baskett? Is his starting merely a sign of the Eagles ineptitude at the position? Or have they really hit the jackpot this time, finding a legitmate impact player outside the draft? The answer is likely somewhere in between, and probably somewhere closer to the answer this Eagles fan doesn't want to hear.
The Eagles wide receiver situation has been widely reported and ridiculed. And tomorrow's game will not help. Starting as the number one wide receiver is Reggie Brown. He is already and unquestionably the second best wide reciever on the Eagles since Andy Reid took over as head coach, even after as little as one full season. That in and of itself doesn't say much, but everyone from Donovan McNabb to Andy Reid to even Michael Irvin believe he will eventually be a Pro-Bowler. How soon is of critical importance to the Eagles.
But that's not where the problem is, because starting opposite Brown at wide receiver will be......... Hank Baskett.
Hank Baskett.
"Yeah, hi, this is Hank."He's an undrafted free agent from New Mexico. The Eagles didn't even initally sign him, having to trade a random useless warm body to Minnesota to acquire his services.
He wouldn't be starting if Todd Pinkston was recovered from last season's knee injury. But, according to everyone who has seen Baskett in training camp, he is impressive. Damn impressive.
Which leads to the question? Is the Eagles wide receiver situation really so dire that a glorified walk-on can jump in and be the number 2 receiver immediately, placing higher than even off-season signing Jabar Gaffney? Or have the Eagles found an undrafted gem?
Philly has had legitimate success with undrafted free agents. It seems every year they find someone who can contribute long-term. Roderick Hood is an undrafted cornerback who stepped in last year when Lito Sheppard was injured for the season and played so well that he got offers to be a starter elsewhere. Philly thought so much of him that they re-signed with a kingly reward for a nickel cornerback.
Greg Lewis is a solid number three receiver. Sam Rayburn is a solid defensive tackle. Both undrafted, both signed long-term by the Eagles, both solid contributers.
So what to make of this Hank Baskett? Is his starting merely a sign of the Eagles ineptitude at the position? Or have they really hit the jackpot this time, finding a legitmate impact player outside the draft? The answer is likely somewhere in between, and probably somewhere closer to the answer this Eagles fan doesn't want to hear.
posted by Hbox at 11:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home