In one corner: Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jasin Babin, Vince Young, Cullen Jenkins and the Arizona Cardinals’ 2012 second-round draft pick. In the other corner: Albert Haynesworth and Chad Johnson, two Pro-Bowlers in the twilight of their careers ready for one final championship run.
The Philadelphia Eagles went hard and heavy in the first official week of the 2011 NFL offseason, while New England picked up two of the biggest names in the league. But which blockbuster week is more likely to translate into a Super Bowl win, that of the Philadelphia Eagles or the New England Patriots? AFRO Sports Writers Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley debate.
Riley: New England had the better Thursday but Philly had the better week. When you add two Pro-Bowl cover corners in the prime of their careers, two legitimate defensive ends, one dynamic backup QB and a second-round pick in next year’s draft, how can you not be the Super Bowl favorites? Both Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha hover around the 6-foot, 2-inch mark, giving the Eagles the biggest set of corners in the league. Don’t forget about Asante Samuel, who’s a Pro-Bowler in his own right and could either stay and be a part of what could be the best secondary ever, or be moved for another asset. The Eagles are now playing with house money and are sitting on the best secondary in the league, by far. The offense was already set with Michael Vick and his band of speed merchants but acquiring Rodgers-Cromartie, Asomugha and two disruptive defensive ends should make them the favorites going into this year.
Green: Signing top free agent corner Asomugha may give the Eagles the best potential secondary in the league, but at what cost? I wonder how Philly’s top receiver DeSean Jackson feels about his front office signing a slew of players that weren’t even supposed to be on the team’s radar. The explosive 24-year-old receiver hasn’t reported to training camp yet because he wants a new deal that will pay him more than the $560,000 he’s expected to earn this season, and I don’t blame him. He’s one of the reasons Philly was a successful team last year, and he deserves to be paid far more. But how will they pay him, if they’re giving out mega-deals to players they don’t even need?
Riley: Well, Jackson is going to get paid, you can count on that. Philadelphia is obviously treating 2011-2012 as a Super Bowl or bust campaign, meaning that they’ll cut the check to make Jackson happy. Regardless, Jackson and Asomugha are two different players; Jackson is only three years into his pro career, with a handful of big plays. Asomugha, however, has been locking down receivers for seven consecutive seasons now and is clearly in the discussion as the best at his position. Neither Jenkins nor Babin’s deals are too rich to make Jackson unaffordable and while the youngster is very explosive, his next deal won’t be a bank-breaker.
Green: Jackson has only played three years in the league, but two of those seasons he played well enough to earn Pro Bowl honors. So, why not pay him a handsome contract now and not risk him skipping town for another team in the future? My advice would be not to throw all your coins into players you don’t need; instead, use it to invest in areas that you actually need improvement in. That’s what the Patriots did when they traded for Haynesworth and Johnson. Not only did they pick up two well-proven impact players for both their offense and defense, but they did so without giving up much in return. Johnson will shore-up their receiving corps, while Haynesworth will be used to rush the passer, just as he wanted all along during his tenure in Washington. Once you add in Brady, who’s coming off another record-setting year, and a steadily-improving defense, you have to pick the Pats to host next year’s Super Bowl championship party.
Riley: What did the Eagles give up besides money? Your argument is contingent on Jackson being a malcontent—but let’s say he gets his money, then what? We’re talking about players in the prime of their career, not on the downside like Haynesworth and Johnson. And we haven’t even talked about the baggage those two are bringing to the team—Haynesworth is lazy and these days Johnson is a Hollywood star disguised as a receiver. But answer this, what quarterback is capable of dissecting this Eagles secondary? And when you factor in the heat Jenkins and Babin will provide, things could get scary in the City of Brotherly Love next year. And again, if they decide to keep Samuel, look out.
Green: It’s not just Jackson’s money that will come into play. The Eagles will eventually need to sign other contracts in the future, but a ton of money will be tied up with Asomugha’s deal as well as those of Jenkins and Babin, and they’ll have to rework a deal for Rodgers-Cromartie. And again, these deals didn’t need to be made. Philly didn’t sign Asomugha based on needs, they broke the bank to add to a position that didn’t need any improvement. The Eagles’ secondary was already pretty good with Asante Samuel, and Rodgers-Cromartie made it better, so why are they fixing something that wasn’t broken?
The Patriots went after players that were needed to help their roster. They may not be the youngest, but Belichick didn’t win three Super Bowls with young talent. He dominated most of the 2000s with a roster filled with smart, experienced veterans. Chad Johnson leaves Cincinnati in the same fashion that former star running back Corey Dillon did back in 2004, when he came to New England to help the Pats win a Super Bowl. Belichick knows how to get the best out of any player he gets his hands on, and these two star-caliber players will be no exception.
Riley: Did you watch the Eagles last year? Their secondary was atrocious. Show me a game where they were “pretty good,” please. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers dissected them in the postseason. Rodgers sliced and diced a lot of teams last year, if I’m not mistaken, I think he’ll be around next season as well. So what if they’ll have money tied up in Asomugha for years to come? It’s not like he’s a marginal talent and the money is well spent. You can have the disgruntled aging vets, give me two Pro Bowl corners, two disruptive defensive linemen, a proven winner in Young, Vick and that offense and I’ll play any team, anywhere. Eagles for the Bowl in 2012.
