Free agency won't help the Eagles

I have to be honest, I’m a junkie for the NFL offseason. I watch the NFL Network more during the offseason than during the regular season because I can’t get enough of free agency rumors and the build up to the NFL draft.

However, this offseason is different. On the Coffee with Kahuna show on WBCB 1490 AM last week, I broke down the Eagles’ potential moves when the free agency period begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday morning, and it does not look good.

Heading into free agency, the Eagles’ goals should be to re-sign Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas, find either a linebacker or a defensive end who can get to the quarterback, add a big running back, and bring in either a wide receiver or a tight end that can catch 100 passes.

That seems like a lot of work, but other than Dawkins and Thomas, who both will probably be signed between the time I write this and the time you read this, none of those things can actually happen in this free agent market. Those guys don’t exist this year because it is a weak class, and the only real talent has already been slapped with the franchise tag because of how lousy the rest of the free agents are this offseason.

The only available players who can get to the quarterback are Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs, and while either franchised player could be had for the hefty price of two first round picks and a big fat contract, neither are actually worth the price.

At wide receiver, everyone seems to be foaming at the mouth over Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s comments about wanting to play in Philadelphia. The only problem with Housh is that he’s not the answer! The last thing the Eagles need is another guy who has never been a number one receiver, and can’t make a big play.

Housh, who is 6-1, 199 pounds, hasn’t made a catch longer than 46 yards in the last four seasons, and his yards per catch has gone down every year since 2004, despite playing opposite Chad Johnson, who routinely drew double coverage during Housh’s best years. He also isn’t getting any younger, as he will be 32 next season, and the last thing the Eagles need is an aging possession receiver who averaged less than 10 yards per catch last season. Yes, he would be an improvement over Reggie Brown or Greg Lewis, but he wouldn’t be the go-to-guy that many fans are hoping the Eagles will find.

Moving to running back, the two best options are Darren Sproles, who is smaller than I am, and was franchised, and Derrick Ward, who is no bigger than Correll Buckhalter, and isn’t really a better option. A big running back will have to come through the draft or trade.

The only realistic free agent signing that would impress me would be adding Lorenzo Neal to play fullback. While no Baltimore Raven rushed for 1,000 yards in 2008, as a team, the Ravens rushed for 2,376 yards, which is nearly 700 yards more than the Eagles.It was the first time since 1996 that Neal didn’t lead a running back to more than 1,000 yards, but that clearly was the result of the Ravens using a three-back system, and not a diminishing set of skills.

After all of this analysis, I was ready to give up on free agency, because all rational thought was telling me that this offseason would be a dud for our Birds, but then, just days before the NFL spending bonanza was set to begin, published reports had Donovan McNabb telling the Eagles that they need to improve the weapons around him, or else!

And that would mean no contract extension, and potentially an angry trade request, which would usher in the Bobby Hoying, err...Kevin Kolb era.No matter how many denials are given in the days after I write this column, I will assume these reports are accurate because Superfive has to be tired of taking the blame for late game failures when his receivers aren’t getting separation or are looking for flags instead of hauling in key passes. He has to be tired of coming oh so close and falling just short.

So what does McNabb’s threat mean?

It means that suddenly, all of those Anquan Boldin and Tony Gonzalez trade rumors have a little more merit, because when McNabb actually talks, the Eagles’ front office listens.The last time he specifically asked for better receivers was after the NFC Championship game loss to the Carolina Panthers, and a few months later, the Eagles acquired Terrell Owens.Before the 2005 season, he told the front office that Brian Westbrook was the best player on the team, and the front office stopped dragging their feet and agreed to a contract extension with number 36. Before last season, McNabb asked for more playmakers, and in came Asante Samuel and DeSean Jackson.

This season, McNabb is hinging his future with the Eagles on their ability to improve on offense. I would bet that improvement happens, but not through free agency. The Eagles’ glut of draft picks and cornerback Lito Sheppard should be valuable enough as trade bait to make a splash this offseason.

Predictions: My guess is that the Eagles make only depth moves on defense after re-signing Brian Dawkins, but they add two players out of the following group: Tony Gonzalez, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Anquan Boldin, Kellen Winslow Jr., Braylon Edwards, Chad Johnson, and Michael Bush.

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Like the “On the Edge” Blog? Hear more of my opinions about Philadelphia sports every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on WBCB 1490 AM during the Coffee with Kahuna show, where, this week, we will talk about the first 15 hours of the NFL free agency period, as well as the rumors surrounding the Flyers as the NHL trading deadline approaches.