The week after the Super Bowl and before the NFL Combine is one of the biggest dead zones of the NFL calender. Still, football has become a 365 day/year obsession. Here's what they're saying about the Eagles.
Cosell weighs in on quarterback class: Tim McManus, Birds 24/7
“From what I’ve seen so far, I would say Winston has the most NFL traits. I would say Mariota is very talented and it will be in the eye of the beholder in terms of what you think he can be. Petty is intriguing to me but he is another guy that needs to be a fourth-round pick.
“I think Winston is a legitimate top five to top 10 pick based on film. Mariota is a talented kid, a quick-twitch athlete that you have to project whether the attributes and traits and characteristics that will be needed to play in the NFL, whether you believe he can show those. But he’s a talented kid.
"Chip’s going to think he’s a high pick. He knows Chip’s offense. He’s run that offense. The transition might not be as easy as people think, but it makes perfect sense.”
#JimmyNote: Good stuff here. Cosell talks Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Bryce Petty, and Brett Hundley.
NFL Rumors: Teams prefer Sam Bradford over Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston: Brandon Gowton, BGN (via Jason Cole of b/r)
"This is really fascinating because there are teams that are sitting at the top of the draft, according to executives that I’ve talked to, who would believe that they would prefer to have Sam Bradford, who’s 27 and coming off basically missing the last year and a half of his career — that they would rather have then take a chance on, say, somebody like Marcus Mariota or Jamies Winston because they have seen what Bradford can do. One caveat to this is: is Bradford healthy or not coming off of two ACL surgeries? But the belief is: take a shot with Bradford and save your first round draft pick and take somebody else."
#JimmyNote: If Sam Bradford shook free, it's worth noting that offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has brought up Bradford in press conferences more than once in the past, unprompted.
Marcus Smith sounds smart: Tommy Lawlor, IgglesBlitz.com
[Marcus Smith] became a hot topic when Tra Thomas recently criticized him for having a high school type of body. I was curious to see how Smith would respond to this. We got out answer the other day when he was interviewed on 97.5.
“What I’ll say is … Tra was right,” Smith said. “My body type has to change. I can’t look like a quarterback forever. That’s what I used to play. I’m still, during the season trying to look like that type. Right now I’m 265 [pounds], I’m really eating well, trying to maintain that weight … I’m running with that weight and I’m feeling really good right now.
“Everything that Tra has said, he’s already told me before. When he says that, it’s just the truth. I just have to get bigger and stronger and be productive at that weight so the coaches can be impressed.”
#JimmyNote: Tommy also has a video of former DE Chuck Smith, who now trains pass rushers. Marcus Smith is working with Chuck Smith this offseason.
NFL Power Rankings: New England Patriots reign, then what? Eliot Harrison, NFL.com
16th: Forgive me if I am rooting for Mark Sanchez to succeed. It might not be with the Eagles, but I don't think the free agent-to-be is as good as gone quite yet -- if Nick Foles were to be traded, as some have rumored, Philly would need a veteran around. Despite a poor finish, Sanchez definitely showed some flashes last season. Sometimes players need six or seven years to develop. And there is no question that Sanchez has taken more of a public beating than any beating he ever took on the field. As far as Foles is concerned, the starting gig would seem to be his, in theory -- yet fans can't help but wonder if his brilliant 2013 campaign was a mirage. The lanky quarterback missed a lot of throws early in the season. Having an offensive line with all five guys healthy would be a helluva start for whoever ends up under center. Will they draft someone? Matt Barkley? (Remember him?)
#JimmyNote: Eagles fans were disappointed with the 2014 season, but are the Panthers and Texans really better football teams? Really?
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski