DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Why do the Eagles want to trade Sheppard so badly, anyway?

This is one of those thoughts around the league that has bugged me all offseason.

The Eagles broke the bank for Asante Samuel, which I didn't understand AT ALL because the Eagles were set at corner with Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. Sheppard is very good and Brown is more than solid. They're the reason they can blitz so much and play so much man coverage.

So they go out and sign Samuel then bench...Sheppard? The two-time Pro Bowler? It doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't Sheldon Brown be the one being shopped?

And even then, it doesn't add up to what I thought the Eagles' original strategy was...more NFL offenses are employing 3 or more WR's. 3 GOOD WR's nonetheless, much like the Bengals' receiving corps of '05. Wouldn't it make sense for the Eagles to keep all three corners for that reason?

I figured it was going to start a trend in the NFL where the nickel package becomes as prominent to a defense as the base 4-3 or 3-4 front, if not moreso. Maybe even seeing a hybrid nickel/base front with three safeties instead of three corners (for run D purposes).

Just something I've been thinking about.

no idea, but i know one thing, i'd welcome him here in cleveland with OPEN ARMS

I believe it's because Sheppard wants a new contract as well.

They can't afford to keep both of them and Brown.

So why sign Samuel in the first place?

I wish we could get Sheppard with a 2nd rounder but I don't think we can afford his huge contract, especially with several of our stars' free agencies looming.

A) How much does Sheppard make?

B) Could we afford him for 1 year?

Hasn't he shown to be injury prone the past couple years

Quote:

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A) How much does Sheppard make?

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He's due to make $2 mill this year plus he gets a $ 1.5 mill from a pro-rated signing bonus.

The scuttlebutt on the radio here in Philly is that his skills have declined and he's lost favor with the coaching staff. Seems nuts to me, but I avoid Eagles games with religious fervor.

I guess the same reason we were willing to part ways with Leigh Bodden....
...he has become injury prone, and that caused his skill set to diminish. And he wanted a new fat contract on top of that.

In the end, Sheppard's value has already declined to a point where the team will be trading him for peanuts at this point. Sheppard wants out but he negotiated his way out of a trade with Tampa Bay because of his contract demands. For as good as he is, he's hardly on the field. Plus he gets overhyped because of his ball skills. Sheldon Brown is more reliable, IMO.

My prediction is Sheppard plays out the season then is released.