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Apparently the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t gotten the league-wide memo calling a truce on free agent pickups.  The Eagles have now added former New York Giant WR Steve Smith.

The deal is reported to be a one-year deal for a “reasonable price.”  Smith met with his former team this week but there must have been concerns about the health of his injured knee.  Now he’ll be suiting up against the Giants (maybe).

Smith was off to a great start to 2010 following his spectacular 2009 season that saw him catch 107 balls, 1,220 yards, and 7 TD’s.  He will join a WR corps that is in a state of flux.  DeSean Jackson is undergoing contract issues, Jeremy Maclin is undergoing health issues, leaving Jason Avant and Riley Cooper as the “other options.”  Smith was expected to at least several games but looks to be on the field by mid-season.  Adding Steve Smith to DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, and Jason Avant will give Michael Vick one of the best WR corps in the NFL.  As if they needed anymore help.

As I wrote earlier today the Eagles still have $4 million and some change plus the possibility of trading away Asante Samuel’s contract.  And it appears they are dead set on spending that money.

The Philadelphia Eagles and free agent RB Ronnie Brown have agreed to a one-year deal.  Philadelphia was in need of someone to spell LeSean McCoy and Brown is more than capable of filling that role. 

Andy Reid has a history with versatile RB’s with Brian Westbrook most noteably.  Brown will bring that Westbrook-eque versatility that should be a major asset to an already stacked offense.  This is another solid move by the Eagles and another addition to the ‘Dream Team’.

With Philadelphia’s acquisition of Cullen Jenkins, Brodrick Bunley became expendable.  And they quickly expended him to the Cleveland Browns. With the Philly spending spree that has consisted of Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, and Jason Babin it is going to be imperative that they cast off some high priced baggage.

Brodrick Bunkley was the 14th overall selection in 2006 and hasn’t lived up to expectations.  So he was cast off for a 2012 5th round pick.  Bunkley lost his starting job in 2010 due to being hampered by an elbow injury.  He has flashed potential throughout his career but hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations placed on the 14th overall pick.

From a Cleveland standpoint, this was low risk, high reward.  They gave up a 5th round pick on a DT that is still young (27) and has shown the abilities to be a starter in the league.  Cleveland has Ahtyba Rubin and rookie Phil Taylor but very little for depth.  Bunkley will challenge Taylor for the starting spot next to Rubin and at the very least provide solid depth to spell the two mammoth DT’s.

In his five seasons as a pro, Bunkley has 144 tackles and 6 sacks in 76 games.

MICHEAL PROFETTA

As a Jets fan, it’s with a heavy heart that I report this breaking news…the Eagles have signed CB Nnamdi Asomugha to a 5-year, $60 million deal with $25 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via league sources). In the battle for the rights to the premier free agent on the market that saw the Jets, Texans, Cowboys, Buccaneers and 49ers take turns as major contenders, it was an unexpected, last-second pitch by Philadelphia that won out.

The Texans were proactive after bailing on the Scrabble Sweepstakes, signing CB Johnathan Joseph and S Daniel Manning to vastly upgrade their porous secondary, but teams like Dallas and the Jets, who’ve concentrated most of their efforts on the singular purpose of netting the best cornerback in pro football, are suddenly back to the drawing board with a thinned-out crop of free agent CBs. In the wake of today’s developments, look for the Jets to fall back on Antonio Cromartie or Chris Carr (if Cromartie isn’t too keen on his “second choice” status). The 49ers are expected to re-sign the recently released Nate Clements to a restructured contract. Expect the remaining free agent CBs to start coming off the board at a rapid clip in the next few days.

The Eagles have emerged from the 2011 offseason as clear winners with signings of Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Vince Young, Donald Lee, and Johnnie Lee Higgins.  Factor in the Kevin Kolb steal which gave the Eagles the rights to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 2nd round pick and you have 31 teams very jealous right now.  Congrats Eagles fans and enjoy your new toys.

We can all stop speculating on Kevin Kolb’s eventual landing spot.  With no football action for over four months the only thing we could talk about was where Kevin Kolb would land once football began?  Well that question has been answered and it where we all thought he would land.

Officially, Kevin Kolb has been traded to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  The Cardinals have given Kolb a five-year extension for $63 million with $20 million guaranteed.

Kolb’s has produced 2,082 yards, 11 TD’s, and 14 INT’s in 19 games.  These numbers don’t inspire the ground swell that has occurred over the last several months.  But if you are faced with the option of Max Hall or John Skelton, I guess you get enamored with an 11/14, TD/INT ratio.

Kolb does have upside and has shown the ability to move the offense if given the opportunity.  Unfortunately for him he has been stuck behind Donovan McNabb and eventually Mike Vick for his four year career. 

Time will tell on whether Kolb can be Matt Schaub or Jay Feely.  But Philly has a knack for turning backup QB’s into high draft picks.  From a Philly standpoint you run with this deal and never look back.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has amassed 136 tackles, 13 INT’s, and 3 forced fumbles in his 3-year career.   Cromartie will never be mistaken for Antoine Winfield as a tackler at the CB spot but is a ball hawk.  He was exposed last season but so was the rest of the Cardinal team.  He could be a Pro Bowler in Philly and learn under one of the best cover guys in the league in Asante Samuel.

In case it wasn’t blatantly obvious from my strong overtones in this article, I think Philly got a steal in this deal but it is one that Arizona had to make given their QB situation.

Jason Babin has said all along he would like to follow Jim Washburn to Philadelphia.  Today he follow through on his wish. 

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reported this morning that Jason Babin will join Philadelphia on a five-year deal (terms undisclosed).  Babin played for the Eagles in 2009 before heading to Tennessee in 2010.

The eight-year veteran has amassed 230 tackles and 30 sacks while playing for Houston, Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Tennessee, and now Philadelphia, again.  Babin is coming off a strong 2010 season for the Titans where he posted 58 tackles and 12.5 sacks. 

Philadelphia has solid starting DE’s in Trent Cole and promising but injured 2nd year player Brandon Graham.  They also have solid depth in Darryl Tapp and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim but they remained active in free agency for another addition to the DE position.  They were one of the favorites to land Ray Edwards but we’ll take them out of that mix for now.