
On the one hand, you got the good Howie Roseman, the quick-witted, smart-thinking, work-outside-the-box de facto GM who has the sense and wherewithal to realize that unloading dead weight such as Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso and DeMarco Murray is in the best interests of the organization, even if it does mean somewhat of a money hit and, theoretically, holes at certain positions.
On the other, you got the bad Howie Roseman, the dim-witted, non-thinking, stuck-inside the box de facto GM who fell prey to the weakest argument in professional sports when determining a player’s worth – well, we can’t find anyone better – as he worked a “like ya, well, kinda, sorta” deal with Sam Bradford that, theoretically, secures the team’s quarterback position for exactly one season.
Throw in some of his trademark team-friendly/player-happy contracts, a few rumblings about moving the team’s best running back last season, too, and the always in question abilities to target positions of need and then draft for them, and you’re left to wonder these days …
What the hell is going on in South Philly?
Seriously, it is hard to get a read on this method to Roseman’s madness.
Are the Birds gonna build through the draft, rely on free-agent acquisitions or just Band-Aid this baby in a way that just screams “mediocre for a while” yet again?
The weirdest thing about all this is bringing back Bradford … on a two-year deal that the Birds certainly could walk away from after one if they chose to do so.
It was a dumb move to begin with … if the objective was to get good or bad really quick, and not waste a bunch of money in the process. The only tangible qualities he offers to the club are familiarity and the knack for guiding teams no further than .500 ball. That’s it. His supporters can spin-doctor things all they want, but that’s it.
Everything else is hope and conjecture based on the fact he was a No. 1 draft pick six years ago, not anything he’s actually done on an NFL field.
So, Bradford got done last week. Combined with other signings, it seemed to symbolize almost an easing-in process being set up for new coach Doug Pederson, where he’d had have some veterans to sustain some level of respectability, even at a mediocre level, while the team could pitch that it would be fielding a contender.
Sounds good … go with it.
Now, with Roseman getting right into it the first day of “legal tampering” in the NFL on Monday, it looks like the plan is to strip things bare, acquire as many draft picks as possible and go with a youth movement, all under the mostly untested eyes of Pederson.
Ummm … huh?
Makes no sense.
Although there is some good news. Bradford, once again, will have no pressure on him. The ready-made excuses (odd moves, bad picks, new system, etc.) are piling up fast.
Thanks, Howie. Didn’t wanna burden the guy. After all, you know, he’s only two years removed from knee surgery, and he’s had so many dropped passes.
- Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com