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Eagles Acquire Takeo Spikes
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:36 pm
by Jake
Eagles send DT Walker to Bills in deal for LB Spikes
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
PHOENIX -- In a deal that addresses Philadelphia's offseason priority for adding a playmaking linebacker, ESPN.com has learned that the Eagles acquired veteran Takeo Spikes from the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
The Eagles also acquired veteran backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb as part of the trade package. In exchange, Buffalo received seven-year veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who had become extraneous in Philadelphia because of the team's depth, and an undisclosed draft choice, believed to be a late-round pick.
Officials from both teams, here for the annual NFL meetings, spent much of Monday hammering out the details of the trade. The basic parameters were agreed to earlier in the day, but it took into the evening to come to an accord on what Buffalo would receive.
The Bills had discussed Spikes trade scenarios with other clubs as well, but none of those had progressed on Monday as far as the talks with the Eagles. Contrary to reports, the New York Giants were not suitors for Spikes' services.
Spikes, 30, has quietly been seeking a change of scenery and the Bills, who feel that he is in the early stages of decline and prefer to go with younger players at the position, were ready to accommodate those wishes.
The Eagles have been trying to upgrade at linebacker for much of the offseason. Spikes probably will replace Dhani Jones as the starter at strongside linebacker. The Bills are expected to elevate second-year veteran Keith Ellison, who started seven games as a rookie in 2006, into Spikes' spot in the lineup.
A nine-year veteran, Spikes has played in 126 games. He has 878 tackles, 21½ sacks, 12 interceptions, 33 passes defensed, 12 forced fumbles and 14 recoveries. In 2005, Spikes ruptured his right Achilles tendon and appeared in just three games. He returned from the injury in 2006, and played in 12 games, but missed time with a hamstring injury.
The former Auburn star was the first-round choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1998 draft, then signed with the Bills as a transition free agent in 2003. He has one season left on his contract, at a base salary of $4.5 million, and then an option year in 2008, at a base salary of $5 million. The contract has not been altered.
Holcomb, 33, is an 11-year veteran who has played in Indianapolis (1996-2000), Cleveland (2001-2004) and Buffalo (2005-2006). He has appeared in 34 games, with 21 starts, and has completed 523 of 810 pass attempts for 5,401 yards, with 37 touchdown passes and 37 interceptions, for a passer rating of 79.9.
The former Middle Tennessee State standout joins A.J. Feeley on the depth chart as a backup to starter Donovan McNabb.
That the Eagles would part with Walker, even though he has been a starter at a premium position, was not surprising. Philadelphia used first-round choices in consecutives years to add young defensive tackles, taking Mike Patterson in 2005 and Brodrick Bunkley in '07. Philadelphia is very deep at tackle and last week added another veteran interior defender in free agent Montae Reagor, a move that prompted rumors Walker might be traded.
In seven NFL seasons, Walker, 29, has 170 tackles, 27½ sacks, five forced fumbles, five recoveries and 11 passes defensed. The former University of Tennessee star has played in 88 games.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2813818
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:10 pm
by Justice Hog
That's not good news. Spikes is gonna help that team, I think.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:20 pm
by SkinsJock
Justice Hog wrote:That's not good news. Spikes is gonna help that team, I think.
or, maybe the Bills let him go because he's on the downside
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:20 pm
by Jake
Justice Hog wrote:That's not good news. Spikes is gonna help that team, I think.
If he stays healthy.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:25 pm
by air_hog
I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:29 pm
by HailSkins94
Spikes is coming off of a pretty significant injury so it still remains to be seen if he can get back to his old pro bowl form from a few years ago. The only bad thing is if he does, it will be against us.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:26 am
by Chris Luva Luva
SkinsJock wrote:Justice Hog wrote:That's not good news. Spikes is gonna help that team, I think.
or, maybe the Bills let him go because he's on the downside
He want to the Eagles, not the Redskins.
air_hog wrote:I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Hush now, don't diss Danny. It's unpatriotic.
*99% of this post is sarcasm
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:23 am
by PulpExposure
Spikes was once a tremendous linebacker, but after the Achilles injury, he's not the same. It's like Sam Cowart was....amazing linebacker pre-achilles injury, average after.
I'm not sure at this point that busted Spikes is an upgrade from Dhani Jones, really.
air_hog wrote:I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
They do. But this wasn't a great move imho.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:07 pm
by SeanTaylorJr.
Hate to say it but great move by the eagles, IF HE STAYS HEALTHY AT ALL, (big if)
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:20 pm
by jazzskins
air_hog wrote:I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
PulpExposure wrote:They do. But this wasn't a great move imho.
Its true! They routinely have more than 7 picks in every draft and they have tons of cap space.
Perhaps Spikes won't stay healthy, but what did they really give up? even if he's average it seems like an OK move, and if he comes back healthy then it was a genius move.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:45 pm
by fredp45
The Eagles are taking a real chance but they don't care because they wanted rid of DL Walker- not sure why...anyone know?
In my mind Spikes is a lot like Kearse...has been a good player but injuries make him a part time player. It's not worth it.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:40 pm
by jazzskins
fredp45 wrote:The Eagles are taking a real chance but they don't care because they wanted rid of DL Walker- not sure why...anyone know?
In my mind Spikes is a lot like Kearse...has been a good player but injuries make him a part time player. It's not worth it.
I thought that the word on Walker was that he was a lazy underachiever?
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:55 pm
by Fios
fredp45 wrote:The Eagles are taking a real chance but they don't care because they wanted rid of DL Walker- not sure why...anyone know?
In my mind Spikes is a lot like Kearse...has been a good player but injuries make him a part time player. It's not worth it.
This is contract motivated so it is understandable from that standpoint but I agreed about his injury history. The Eagles require their linebackers to do quite a bit, seems like there were better fits out there. Then again the Eagles seem to have this down to a science.
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:44 pm
by SkinsFreak
Too bad Portis is going to juke him right out of his shoes only to tear that Achilles again.
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:55 am
by tcwest10
They're pretty familiar with each other anyway. Portis has nothing new to show Spikes, trust me.
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:00 am
by cleg
air_hog wrote:I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Yeah, it looks like they have the best FO in football but they really don't. If you are not one of their "chosen ones" they treat their players like crap. Plus, for as much arrogance as that front office has and the amount of butt kissing the media gives the Iggles - they still have not won a Super Bowl so until they do they can consider themselves the "gold standard" or on par with the Pats but they are just deluding themselves.
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:44 am
by SkinsFreak
cleg wrote:air_hog wrote:I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Yeah, it looks like they have the best FO in football but they really don't. If you are not one of their "chosen ones" they treat their players like crap. Plus, for as much arrogance as that front office has and the amount of butt kissing the media gives the Iggles - they still have not won a Super Bowl so until they do they can consider themselves the "gold standard" or on par with the Pats but they are just deluding themselves.
Right on, Cleg. One of my best friends is a huge Philly fan. He has been so pissed regarding the FO for the Iggles. For example, letting Stallworth and Garcia go, resigning Buckhalter when he's been injured every year he's been with them, the trade for Takeo Spikes (Achilles), especially giving up DT Darwin Walker, and the signing of WR Kevin Curtis to a 6 year deal. The Iggles FO is far from perfect.
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:45 pm
by wonker
Good post. Philthy has a good Front Office, but they ain't perfect.
In fact, I can't think of one infallible FO in the entire league. I'd love for Dan to get a little more like Philthy though, maybe not spend so ridiculously and build more through da draft.
HTTP
wonker
SkinsFreak wrote:cleg wrote:air_hog wrote:I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Yeah, it looks like they have the best FO in football but they really don't. If you are not one of their "chosen ones" they treat their players like crap. Plus, for as much arrogance as that front office has and the amount of butt kissing the media gives the Iggles - they still have not won a Super Bowl so until they do they can consider themselves the "gold standard" or on par with the Pats but they are just deluding themselves.
Right on, Cleg. One of my best friends is a huge Philly fan. He has been so pissed regarding the FO for the Iggles. For example, letting Stallworth and Garcia go, resigning Buckhalter when he's been injured every year he's been with them, the trade for Takeo Spikes (Achilles), especially giving up DT Darwin Walker, and the signing of WR Kevin Curtis to a 6 year deal. The Iggles FO is far from perfect.
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:45 pm
by wonker
Good post. Philthy has a good Front Office, but they ain't perfect.
In fact, I can't think of one infallible FO in the entire league. I'd love for Dan to get a little more like Philthy though, maybe not spend so ridiculously and build more through da draft.
wonker
SkinsFreak wrote:cleg wrote:air_hog wrote:I don't get it? How do the Eagles pull this stuff off?
Darwin Walker and a late round pick for Takeo Spikes and a legit backup QB in Kelly Holcomb.
I hate to admit it, but personally I think the Eagles have one of the best FO's in all of sports.
Yeah, it looks like they have the best FO in football but they really don't. If you are not one of their "chosen ones" they treat their players like crap. Plus, for as much arrogance as that front office has and the amount of butt kissing the media gives the Iggles - they still have not won a Super Bowl so until they do they can consider themselves the "gold standard" or on par with the Pats but they are just deluding themselves.
Right on, Cleg. One of my best friends is a huge Philly fan. He has been so pissed regarding the FO for the Iggles. For example, letting Stallworth and Garcia go, resigning Buckhalter when he's been injured every year he's been with them, the trade for Takeo Spikes (Achilles), especially giving up DT Darwin Walker, and the signing of WR Kevin Curtis to a 6 year deal. The Iggles FO is far from perfect.