If you were to evaluate the linebacker groups throughout the National football League, you would probably rate the San Francisco 49ers group amongst the very best. That may have something to do with why the Birds decided to sign a linebacker off their practice squad.
Today the Eagles announced the signing of linebacker Monte Simmons.
Simmons was signed by the Niners in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He’s (6-3, 226) spent his rookie year on the Niners practice squad.
I don’t know that he fits the Birds 4-3 defense because he was a defensive end while in college at Kent State. It seems he would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, who can rush the passer. He had 21.5 sacks while in college.
Another Signee on a hope and prayer who will be playing out of Position, and in a brand new scheme.. Maybe he can play, time will tell.. If this is the answer to get some veteran LB’s added to the Eagles Corps… It looks like another 8-8 Season.. I love how the Eagles continue to get smaller at the postion of their biggest need…
Adam Shefter reports the Lenny Dykstra was not the driver of the Eagles Limo who picked LB Monte “Hall” Simmons from the Airport…
This Howie Roseman and Juan Castillo fast ball clocks in at a blistering Jamie Moyer 78mph pace
Lets start the campaign for the new Eagles GM……..GMCliff!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeffrey Lurie you will not win a SupeBowl until you hire me….I promise you, and the city of Philadelphia, that you will not be sorry.
gmcliff, stop smelling yourself, & come back to reality. You are an armchair GM like Paul, myself & the rest of the posters on here. Cut it out already, you haven’t come up with anything of creativity. LMFBO! Just messing with you. This is a fun time of year, isn’t it? But do you have any faith in this front office? I don’t! I just pray they make good FA signings, when free agency opens next week & they MUST have an impact with their first 3 rounds this year. It is imperative that they get at least 3 impact players in this draft, AT LEAST 3!
Now the eagles have an excuse not to take a LB in the first round.. this is the shit they pull
larrwd, I hope your wrong. But nothing surprises me, with this bunch of incompetent @$$clowns anymore. I have ZERO faith in them making the proper, necessary moves to build a Super Bowl winning team. Ain’t going to happen!
Dcar you know how they operate .. Im thinking now they will take a DT or trade down … You know,the usual..
If they can get Brockers or Poe, I’m all for it. Both are the monsters that we need on the D-line. But we better come out of this draft with at least 2 good quality LB’s!
I like Devon Still the best.. he had the most tackles for loss and sacks and is the best on tape.. if we could get Still and Mychael Kendrick that would be perfect.
Another bum who is small and would be playing out of position. The same thing over and over and with nothing but failure. I cant take this anymore! I have 0 faith in this GM, coach and owner. WTF.
Wow, and the haters eat up the bait like pathetic gullable little lemmings…
Stay away from Brockers who may end up being a bus tin the NFL..
He did very poorly at the Combin in RUnning, Lifting and agility Drills.. Apparently he id not do all that well with the INterviews also.. HE’s young and immature and alreay “Soft” before getting a big contract.. I would seriously worry about this guy’s lack of motivation and condtioning to make an impact at the NFL Level..
I COULDN’T BE MORE SERIOUS DCar…………..I wish there was a reality show for something like this to challenge Howie Roseman, and Andy Reid vs GMCliff, and his choices for Head Coach next year, Eric Mangini, or Josh McDaniels.
But it would have to continue over a 4 yr period, to prove who the winner ,and most successful would be. I think Philadelphia, would love GMCliff. And I would hire the GCobb.com family as executive counsel, ….everybody except Birdo. This would be a dictatorship on Super Bowl Championships, not playoff appearances, I’ll tell you that cuz. Believe that !!!!!
Killed 2 Birds with 1 stone…
Undersize Guy…..check
Out of position Guy….check
On Deck
Torn ACL Guy
High Motor Scrub Guy
Back Surgery Guy
Boy,
Does this surprise anyone?
pathetic
Yeah I don’t understand this move, but there’s a reason for the madness….But Simmons may be on the Eagles practice squad all of 2012 also, and if he isn’t the other option is he is playing and being productive…so Eagles fans don’t panic! There are still cuts that can be made, trades…Relax fellas! Eagles had 6 LB’s on their active 53 man roster this past season. Eagles can cut Fokou, I wouldn’t miss him, nor would I miss Greg Lloyd, cant miss what you haven’t seen. I like Chaney, Rolle, Jordan, Matthews, Clayton in that order…
The Eagles will have to cut/move some LB’s to make room for the additons at LB Kuechly possibly Dan Connor
Paulman, whats your opinion on Dan Connor from Carolina? Read an article saying the Eagles were interested. I haven’t seen much of him, but looking at stats he seemed to be productive….Read that he received playing time because of injuries on his team though? could he be a LB that the Eagles can depend on to lift the production of the group?
Dan Conner is a solid LB, I would not state that he’s a game changer or a dynamic player.. He’s been on the Panthers for few Seasons now and is that kind of a “Jack-of-all Trades” type of player that does everything well, but nothing really outstanding .. He can play all 3 Positions as well as Special teams.. He’s smart, headsy and a good locker room guy and versatile but I don’t really see him helping the Eagles a great deal.. He’s 6-2 231lbs and has played 42 Games in the NFL in his 4 Year Career netting 156 Tackles with 1 Sack, 0 Int’s and 1 Forced Fumble and the Eagle need a bigger, more explosive LB who can help win the Turnover Battles and create some havoc and Dan COnner is not this type of players.. He’s a good system, technician LB but not a Playmaker.. .
Monte Simmons is the best thing since cheese steaks!!!!!! our F.O. sure knows how to pick em. I trust Andy and his “high motor” thinking. Guys stop being so hard on Andy and the front office. Year after year they always show us how hard they want a SuperBowl too. Stop hating on A R and the F O. Castillo will have a break out season as a D-coord with training camp to work with and all. Dave Spadaro also said that this was a great pick up and he’s always on point and trusts Andy also. I enjoy drinking this “green machine” to the fullest; as a matter of fact, I’m intoxicated with my trust in Andy and Roseman getting the right guys in the right place to bring us a championship home. We don’t need to draft a LB in the first round because we can get a “high quality” Lb in the late 2nd or 3rd round. Woohoo!!!!…All Hail to the Monte Simmons pick; WHAT A HELLUVA PICKUP!!!!!! DO YOUR THING FRONT OFFICE, US LOYAL FANS ARE WITH YOU WOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIMES YOURS!!!!!!!!!!
Not saying that Simmons is gonna be a good linebacker or anything that obviously remains to be seen but when the hell did 6’3 and 226 become small for a linebacker? How many 6’5 and 6’6 Lbs are there? He’s got solid size and I guarantee hes bigger than all of you calling him small…
SCHILLER – Whats wrong with all these haters buddy? Go and get em tiger! You’re always on point also; just like Spadaro. Schill you’re right, the haters are eating up the bait like pathetic gullible lemmons LOL!!!!!!!
Paulman – Your insight is 2nd to none! Screw all these haters who think your predictions are plenty assinine and ridiculous. You’re always on point from whoever you get your info from that has inside info on each teams and their moves in the NFL. Hell you ought to be a GM with your knowledge. Go and get em guy. Dont’ let people make you think you sound like a “nut bag” with your predictions! WooHoo!!!!!!!!!! Keep on fightin!!!!!!!!!
@Paulman – I thought so..thanks for the report..
Rocko, this signing is as significant as the 34th glass of water you drank in your lifetime. To comment either way on it is foolish.
this pickup is pointless…another Alex Hall…a body for mimicamps
Eagles targeting Dan Connor! Am I late?
Put another one on the belt of BirdoBeamen.
Make it happen!
WOOHOO…SB HERE WE COME WITH THE BEST PICK SINCE HIRING REID. MONTE SIMMONS THE 6’3 226 Lb LINEACKER. WHAT A STUD SIZE FOR OUR NEW BACKER. BET YOU’RE JUST AS SURPRISED TOO GANG HUH? ALL HAIL TO REID AND THE f.O. PICKS. ROONEYS AND BELICHECK DONT HAVE NOTHING ON US. GO GET EM SCHILLER AND PAULMAN, YOU 2 ARE THE CREAM OF THE CRAOP HERE !!!!!!WOOHOO!!!!!
Schiller, I actually like that metaphor you just used. I’m going to work that into my lexicon. I also agree with your point, this move isn’t meant to improve the starting lineup or to be a blockbuster move. This is hardly a story people. Lets see what they do come March 13th when free agency starts.
Dan Connors is 6’2 231.. Hes a good player and has been one of the best back up MLBs in the league, playing behind Jon Beason. Panther fans are happy for Connors and hope he can land a starting MLB job and have appreciated all hes done in carolina.. With the eagles putting this report out theyre trying to let Dan know without incurring tampering fines, that they have interest in him…
Don Connors? the former ACL tear guy?
Yeah, he’s definitely on the Eagles radar.
“Time’s Your’s”
***REPORT***
According to SI.com’s Peter King, the Philadelphia Eagles are the Darkhorse to trade up and Draft QB RG3…
see this is what i been telling everyone. You keep getting your hopes up high and believe things will be different in the 14th year of this crap. First was The QB Edwards now this guy. Why wouldn’t they go get someone proven to push these players. That was the problem last year with them, the offence looked great because the defense sucked so no one got better. why do you think teams like Green Bay get good, look at the defense they practice against. Vick has NO REAL competition at QB to challenge him. He did better when he had Kolb wanting his job back now he has no comp. They keep bringing others peoples trash thinking thats an up grade. Well if this guy is a upgrade what do they think about the talent here? Why not bring in a Proven veteran not someone who either didnt know the plays well enough to start or wasnt good enough to take someones position. They let go of talent and didnt replace it with equal or better. You have 8 lb’s how imbarrasing is that? and to think you might draft a rookie at that. Who in the hell can teach these players on the field, you need someone out there. I will never belive the Eagles will win a super bowl with lesser left over talent or a Head coach who has proven 13 years straight he has a very low chance of out coaching a coach with a above .500 record. Plain and simple YOU DON’T PLAY SUB .500 TEAMS IN THE PLAY-OFFS GUYS. Reid can rack up all the sub .500 wins all he wants he will not win a super bowl coaching his way and bringing in players who have to learn a NEW SYSTEM INSTEAD OF ONE WHO PLAYED IN IT. AND THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE PLAYERS WHO ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO TEACH HIM, SO HOW DOES THIS WORK AGAIN? You need better talent to push these guys and you bring in a skinny practice squad LB ?? WTF ARE YOU THINKING.
Latest update on who the Eagles are looking for in their LB search, one which i Dont like.
A week before teams can publicly declare their interest in free agents from other teams, the Eagles are privately declaring their interest in soon-to-be free agent linebacker Dan Connor of the Panthers.
Geoff Mosher of the News Journal, citing unnamed league sources, reports that the Eagles are interested in Connor.
The Eagles directly telling Connor or his agent that they’re interested would be tampering, which of course no NFL team would ever do. But letting word get out that they’re interested, without anyone on the Eagles giving a direct quote saying so, is a way to make sure Connor knows they’re interested without getting in trouble with the league office.
But the Eagles’ interest in Connor is nothing new: They reportedly approached the Panthers during training camp last year about a trade, but the Panthers didn’t want to let him go. Connor grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and played at Penn State, where he won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football in 2007. So signing with the Eagles would be a homecoming for him.
A third-round pick of the Panthers in 2008, Connor has been troubled by injuries, including a torn ACL in his rookie season. But last year he played 15 games. If the Eagles were to sign him, he would likely become their starting middle linebacker.
LB Connor is just not a difference maker at all, my suggestion is to pass on him and go after a bigger LB who can create/cause turnovers which is not Dan Connor’s game or it hasn’t been thus far in his 4 year NFL Career….
We need a bigger body for the MLB spot and a more athletic OLB for the SAM Spot and Conner is neither, A nice 4th LB for any team and some spot starting duty, but the EAgles need 2 Thumpers.. 1 at MLB and 1 at SAM in my opinion..
No songs, not Dan Connors, former ACL tear guy……
DAN CONNOR (no S), former 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award winner, graduate of Linebacker U, and a man that the Carolina Panthers didn’t want to let go. The ONLY reason, and I repeat, the ONLY reason he didn’t play more was because ALL-PRO, ALL-WORLD, ALL-GALAXY middle linebacker Jon Beason was in front of him on the depth chart.
I hope the Eagles make the move. Bring home the hometown kid.
why do some of you SETTLE for someones player who couldnt start? you get excited about Connor who is a back up, THEY ARE BACK UPS FOR A REASON FELLAS. YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THESE NON SUPER BOWL HAVING COACHES AND GM’S THAT YOU NOW GET EXCITED FOR TRASH. WHEN YOU HAVE TRASH IT MEANS YOU WILL STINK. SINCE WHEN YOU EVERY WENT TO A TRASH DUMP AND IT DIDNT STINK?
WE NEED PLAYERS WHO HAVE PROVEN THEY CAN START AND FINISH A GAME. BACK UPS ARE BACKUPS BECASUE THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO START BUT SERVICEABLE JUST IN CASE. I HEAR THAT WORD A LOT ABOUT EAGLES PLAYERS. ASK YOURSELF CAN ANY OF OUR LB’S START ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE LEAUGE? I THOUGHT NOT. SO WHY ARE YOU BELIEVEING A BACKUP IS BETTER THAN OUR STARTERS. THEY ALL ARE LATE ROUND PLAYERS. AND THEY ARE LATE ROUND PLAYERS FOR A FREAKIN REASON NIT JUST BECAUSE. SO 5TH 6TH AND BEYOND PLAYERS WILL EVENTUALL YPLAY LIKE LATE ROUND PLAYERS. AND YOU GUYS LIKE IT.
AND THESE TWO ARE LIGHT IN THE ASS AT THAT. NOTHING CHANGES THIS YEAR, NO SUPER BOWL, US ON HERE NEXT YEAR SAYING WE NEED A LB, SAFETY, AND A REAL QB. TRASH PLAYERS ONLY WIN IN THE MOVIES…… MAYBE THATS IT. WE HAVE A MOVIE GUY WHO OWNS THE TEAM AND MAYBE HE IS THINKING LIKE THIS A MOVIE. SOMONE NEED TO TACKLE HOWIE AND BANNER.. ASK BANNER AGAIN WHAT INSANITY IS AND THEN ASK HIM IF THE EAGLES ARE ANY BETER THAN THE YEAR HE SAID IT AND WHAT DID THEY DO DIFFERENT TO SHOW THEY ARE NOT DOING THE SAME THING>……
DAN CONNER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
I would not be surprised to see Panthers release LB Jon Beason (who has missed 3 of the last 4 Seasons with major knee/achilles injuries) and
OLB Thomas Davis who has missed the last 3 Seasons with Knee/Ankle Injuries in a Salary Cap move.. (maybe the Panthers will ask Beason to restructure his big deal that he signed a year or 2 ago and hasn’t been able to fulfill it with his injuries)
I also expect the Saints to release MLB Jon Vilma in a Salary Cap move.. The Siants are up against it and will need to free up $$$ to sign all their Free-agents besides Brees (Coltson,NIcks,Meachem,etc,etc)
One thing to keep in mind is the heatlh status of Eagles LB J Cheney after having the back/neck procedure done back in January.. Who knows when he is able to go at 100% again and probably won’t know utnil SUmmer Camp and the Eagles would be foolish to count and wait that long to see if he’s good to go.. Replace him now, and if he comes back, then let him compete at the WILL Spot and play Special Teams and be that 4th LB for the Eagles..
Checking the Free-Agent list at LB this Off-Season and it’s not an impressive list to be honest…
The big Names S Tulloch, C Lofton, L Fletcher, and then your down to players like D Connor, Manny Lawson, Rockey McIntosh and believe it or not former Eagle Joe Mays, who I actually like as Run-Stuffer,Short-yardage MLB and then take off the field on passing downs.
Here are a couple of under-the radar names to keepa track of..
Jo-Lonn Dunbar from the Saints 6-0 226lbs and can play all 3 LB positions
De-Andrey Levy from the Lions 6-1 238lbs and could play SAM/WILL
Eagles are not going to spend alot of money at the LBer position. It has never happened and it never will happen, period. Get over it.
Dan Connor is a talent that will come relatively cheap and fill the hole.
For those of you who have no knowledge of Penn State football, Sean Lee and Navarro Bowman came from the same group of LBers Connor is from.
Connor was better than both.
dan connor was a very good college football player, but average pro, is he even an upgrade over what we have, if he is than that is pathetic, the eagles should sign tulloch, draft one of the big dts, scramz, excellent post, why covet second stringers, practice squad players, fill those needs late in the draft
birdo – same thing was said about the WR position. You still think the Eagles are predictable even after they’ve proven otherwise? Why be so simple minded?
Remember last year when people were expecting little spending from them?
birdo…Connors is not better than both now.
This is the NFL…..not college.
Lofton/Tulloch will fit nice…i think your off on them never inking a nice FA backer.It’s a glaring need and theres studs that fix it right away.I realize soem might think differently but they might be self reflecting on there lack of draft picks panning out. They need a young FA to come in and hold it down for 5 years and be a leader. Cant win a p-off game with 7th rounders in the backer core.
Dont know much about Connor….run stuffer/coverage guy or both? He did go to Backer U.Just get soemone who is angry and doesnt like offensive players. Babythor stays on teams until he can beef up and handle a rb outta the backfied.Jacobs just scored again.
Schiller, to expect last year to happen AGAIN is asinine. They saw the results to all their spending and what did it get them? An 8-8 record, no playoffs.
I see them taking a step back this offseason and not looking to spend alot of money in free agency. It’s just asinine to think that they will when they have their own to worry about right now.
They may do something big in the draft, but as for free agency, I don’t see them going big this year. Like I said, they did that last year and look what it got them.
I would love the Dan Connor pick-up because he’s a guy that is just looking for an opportunity to be “the man” somewhere. There are reports that Dallas wants him as well.
I don’t want it to be like the draft in which we had a chance to draft BOTH Sean Lee OR Navorro Bowman. We passed on both and look how they turned out for their respective teams.
Connor is a tackling machine and a run-stopper. I don’t need a highlight reel play-making LB to be the anchor of my defense. I need a guy that is going to stick his nose in every play and not get bull-dozed, Connor is that guy.
Songs, we don’t know if Connor is better because he has played sparingly. Your inability to comprehend football, how its played, and the intangibles it takes to become a great football player makes me not want to talk to you.
Be gone.
Birdo – to expect anything from any NFL teams is foolish. And I’m not saying they’ll do last year all over again – I’m saying they surprised everyone. So expecting that you know what they WONT do now, is foolish.
They might sign 1 big FA LB. Heck, ‘look where last year got them’ – it got them Jenkins, Mathis, and Nnamdi, all of whom were major upgrades and made an impact. Yes, other free agent signings were less successful, but I do not think that they will shy away from any significant spending in free agency just because of last year’s results. That’s shortsighted.
The Eagles had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league until Juan moved to Defense and then they had one of the best once he left — now they have one to the worst 4th quarter defenses in the league — Juan could have Butkus, Ray Lewis and Jack Ham and still screw up the linebacker play— kind of like having 3 pro bowl cornerbacks last year
Your really hanging the inneffeciancy of the rush attack on Juan. Dude in 10′ Mccoy was so under used it was patheticI coulda coached the o-line last year and gotten a g outta Shady.
Asante- played soft and was a shell of his ball-hawking self last year.Goodbye…thansk for the picks in the Giants and Minny game in 08′ . Later…not JAUNS FAULT
DRC….if you watched the games and were defensive minded …you woulda seen one of the worst performances by a gifted athlete in sports….didnt finish tackles…lacked technique on routes.I dont care who’s the coach…NOONE coulda gotten more.
NA…..i thought he played well for being in a new system….this is partyl Andy as well…he shoulda told him…Nam+ right corner+press tech+all game=PRo bowl..maybe one more win….so ill give ya Juan mismanaged him a bit.
but in the end….there vets…MAKE A FRIGGIN PLAY.
Running Juan under the bus is old and is a weak argument. Check the d’s stats and look at the offensive ineptitude thoughout the year.Fumbles…pathetic play calling and a qb using the ball as a sword.
You can only coach pro’s so much dude…make a play.
***REPORT***
According to SI.com’s Peter King, the Philadelphia Eagles are the Darkhorse to trade up and Draft QB RG3…
Erock brings up a good point about DRC; does anyone think this guy is going to amount to anything? He seems like he just doesn’t give a shit about playing football. I wonder if the Cardinals knew this and were as equally happy to get rid of him as we were with Kolb.