Eagles Trimming Fat

Yesterday, I wrote a column that I planned to use today. It was about the Eagles trimming fat from the roster to reduce the salary cap. Free agency was starting in a week and I believed the Eagles wanted to mole-hole as much cash as possible so they could go on a shopping spree for some high-priced free agents.

First, I mentioned that the Eagles had already released tight-end James Casey, starting guard Todd Herremans, and controversial cornerback Cary Williams. With those cuts, the Eagles opened up around $33-million in free cap space.

Then I mentioned four more players who were in jeopardy of being cut or traded to open up even more cap space. Those three players were Trent Cole, Shady McCoy, DeMeko Ryans, and Brandon Graham.

Trent Cole sat atop my list because his cap number was $11.265-million. That was just way too much for a 32-year-old defensive end, or linebacker, or whatever he’s supposed to be in the 3-4 defensive alignment that he’s been shoe-horned into by Billy Davis for the past two seasons.

There was no way the Eagles were going to keep Trent Cole.

Shady McCoy came next for five reasons:

(1) – Shady took a step backward last season.

(2) – Shady started the downhill slide to his career last season.

(3) – Shady prefers the Dancing With the Stars running technique instead of running straight ahead – and Chip Kelly favors the straight-ahead approach.

(4) – Shady has a close personal relationship with DeSean Jackson that rubs Chip the wrong way.

(5) – Shady’s cap hit was going to be $11.95-million – way too much for a running back in today’s NFL.

The way I saw it, Chip was going to move Shady because he already has straight-ahead runner Chris Polk and flashy Darren Sproles on the roster. Plus, the Birds also have Matthew Tucker tucked away on the practice squad. Tucker played so well during preseason last summer that I was surprised when the Eagles didn’t keep him on the active roster.

Plus, the Eagles can find a running back in the draft to fill in the blanks.

DeMeko Ryans was the third name on my list because he’s 30 years old and coming off a ruptured Achilles. The fact that Chip really likes DeMeko made it a coin-toss from where I sit.

But can DeMeko Ryans play back to his pre-injury level?

At 30, he’s not a kid anymore. With a history of two torn Achilles, he’s definitely a risk. His cap hit is $6.9-million.

Fourth on my list was Brandon Graham. The way I saw it, Graham wanted to be a starter and he wanted to get a maximum paycheck via free agency. I assumed he’d be gone from around the middle of the season on.

But, now, with the release of Trent Cole, I’m no longer 100% sure that he’s a goner. I’m now only about 80% sure.

That was it for my list, but I found someone else in an article by CBS Philly’s Andrew Porter that I never even considered: Nolan Carroll.

Nolan Carroll would most-likely be a backup cornerback and special teams player this season. Personally, I like him. In fact, I believe that, if given the chance, he would’ve played better than Bradley Fletcher last season. Plus, he’s playing in the second year of a two-year $3.65-million contract – not that much.

But, if I understand Andrew Porter correctly, Carroll’s contract is structured in such a way that the Eagles could cut him and not be left with any dead money on the salary cap.

But can you find an adequate replacement for less?

I don’t know – I’m not Howie Roseman – but I see the Eagles keeping him.

But then somewhere after six o’clock last night all hell broke loose:

Shady McCoy was dealt to Buffalo in exchange for Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso and Trent Cole was released. Just like that almost everything I wrote about went down the drain. But I must say this – I was one helluva good prognosticator in targeting Trent Cole and Shady McCoy as being on hot-seats.

It’s now wait and see with DeMeko Ryans, Brandon Graham, and Nolan Carroll.

But for the first time since this Marcus Mariota charade began at season’s end, I’m now afraid that Chip really is maneuvering to grab Mariota. What makes it real for me is the fact that Nick Foles is a perfect fit in Tampa or Tennessee.

After yesterday’s wheeling and dealing, the Eagles suddenly have in the neighborhood of $50-million in open cap space. With that much money available, several openings can be filled via free agency – which would mitigate losing some of this year’s draft picks that would be required to move up to get Mariota.

Chip could now trade Nick Foles to Tampa or Tennessee and satisfy his heart’s desire. If Chip pulls it off, I will officially declare him a genius – because it seemed like moving up to get Marcus Mariota just wasn’t possible. But I’ll withhold my judgement on whether or not he can evaluate talent until I see whether or not Mariota can play in the NFL.

Well, we’ll see what happens in the next seven days when free agency begins – and then we’ll wait and see what happens on April 30 in Chicago.