Eagles Look to Make a Splash in Free Agency

When the players and owners of the NFL decide to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, which looks to be before the fourth of July, the chains on the NFL can finally be unlocked and free agency can begin for teams looking to add firepower or depth.  

The Philadelphia Eagles look to be one of those eager teams that are willing to make a splash in free agency.  Rumors are circulating about possible players they may acquire. The following are the possible pick-ups the Eagles are hoping to make: 

1.  Acquiring Reggie Bush: Bush is on the free-agent market list and is looking to land with a contending team. The Eagles love running backs who are quick, small and can catch passes out of the backfield.  Bush fits the Eagles offense perfectly, yet Lesean McCoy is the starter.  Bush wants to be a starter, however, who would say no to an already explosive offense.  I am sure a tandem of Bush and McCoy would look pretty intimidating to opposing defenses.  Bush could add his talents to kick and punt returning as well, giving Desean Jackson a break and reducing his chances of getting injured.  The Eagles also have to think about their fifth round draft pick, Dion Lewis(Univ of Pitt), and his opportunities of becoming a part of the one-two punch.  According to Yahoo Sports, Bush has also received interest from the Dolphins, Steelers, Seahawks and Giants.  

2.  Acquiring Plaxico Burress: Burress is looking to rebound and mimic Michael Vick's path to recovery after recently being released from jail because of several gun charges.  He might have the chance to do that in an Eagles uniform.  The Eagles are not new to giving players a second chance; just ask Michael Vick.  Burress could provide a spark in the red zone for the Eagles, creating a new threat at the receiver position.  Jackson is an explosive, down-the-field type receiver, while Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant are possessive type receivers who will take a hit in the open-field for the first down.  Burress will compliment these receivers and give them another weapon to their collection.   

3.  Acquiring Albert Haynesworth:  Haynesworth caused a lot of havoc in Washington from his complaints about the Redskins defensive scheme to not being able to pass the team's conditioning test.  However, with newly acquired defensive-line coach Jim Washburn, the Eagles may take a risk on the run-stuffing abilities of Haynesworth.  Washburn, who was Haynesworth's former defensive line coach at the Tennessee Titans, wants Haynesworth and feels he can make him into the dominant player he was when he was with the Titans.  Ranked 15th in the NFL in run defense, the Eagles look to fix that issue by adding a plug into the hole of their defense.  Ryan Starks of the Green Bay Packers exposed it, now will Haynesworth be the one to stop it?  

Other possible acquisitions: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB/Oakland Raiders) and Ike Taylor (CB/Pittsburgh Steelers) 

MAV-TASTIC

                     Dirk Nowitzki: 1                LeBron James: 0

After last night's game six finale, Nowitzki earned a step over James in the championship ring category.

The Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA title in franchise history, beating the Heat 4-2 in a series that contained both drama and class. (For once, I was rooting for a Dallas team.  I guess for basketball it is different.)    

The drama was started by none-other-than the duo of James and Wade.  Cameras caught them mocking Nowitzki before game five by faking their coughs and laughing as they walked into the stadium.  This came from a guy (Wade) who had to get wheel-chaired off the court because of a shoulder injury and another (James) who whines to the refs for a foul every time he drives to the basket.

Before James came to Miami, Wade never was criticized for his controversial actions.  Wade was a soft-spoken man who played and acted with class.  James' demeanor has now caught on to Wade as well as Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat.  This may be a reason why they are considered the villains of the NBA.    

Nowitzki was upset to find out about the mocking and thought of it as immature and disrespectful.  His response, however, was not to get caught up with the drama and just let his play do the talking; now that's class at its finest.  

Nowitzki's play set the tone for the series.  This series will be remembered in the NBA films memorabilia as Nowitzki hitting huge shots in crunch time and propelling his team to their first NBA title.

With a possible NBA lockout looming in the off-season, the Heat may not have the luxury of having the big three together for another year.  So for James, it is either finding a new team with an All-Star squad or staying in Miami and trying to win a championship in order to keep his Michael Jordan comparisons alive. On the other hand, Nowitzki's Larry Bird correlations are certainly still in tact.