NFC East: Aaron Maybin
Anthony Spencer has mixed emotions over what will happen Monday afternoon.Spencer
The outside linebacker wants to stay with the Cowboys. But he'd prefer to do so with a long-term contract rather than the franchise tag the club is expected to use to prevent him from hitting the open market.
"It looks like they are going to put the tag on me,'' Spencer said. "That's a good thing and a bad thing.
"It's good because it shows how much they think of me. But you don't want to be playing on a one-year contract. You want a longer deal and the security that gives your family.
"But hey, I understand. It's a business.''
As David Moore points out in his story, the Cowboys have only used the franchise player designation twice under Jerry Jones, and both times they agreed with the player on a long-term deal before the start of that season. It's certainly possible they will do the same with Spencer. Heck, it's possible they'll do that with Spencer today, before the franchise deadline. But Spencer's an interesting and somewhat unique case, and it's not an open-and-shut deal for the Cowboys to lock him up long term.
Spencer is good against the run and in pass coverage, but he's not the pass-rusher the Cowboys would like to have at the outside linebacker spot opposite DeMarcus Ware. The man playing in that spot should be able to get to quarterbacks -- especially given the extra attention Ware draws from blockers. But Spencer is a disappointment as a pass-rusher, and his sack numbers aren't what the Cowboys hoped they would be at this point in his career.
Nonetheless, unless they're going to get into the Mario Williams market -- a market that's likely to result in Williams being the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history -- there are very few options at pass-rusher for the Cowboys in free agency, and it's hard to find one who'd represent a clear upgrade over Spencer. They could cut him loose and take their chances that they can find a pass-rusher in the draft or turn up a discarded potential gem the way the Jets did last year with Aaron Maybin. But they appear to have decided to hedge their bets and hold onto Spencer.
The question is: For how long? Locking up Spencer would seem to be equivalent to rewarding mediocrity, as several of our ESPNDallas.com writers have pointed out. Franchising him and letting him have one more year to bring the sack numbers up isn't a bad idea on its face, but it's going to cost them $8.8 million guaranteed to do that, and unless they do a long-term deal that lowers his 2012 number, that could hurt them against the cap as they hunt for the cornerbacks, safeties and guards they need.
It's a thorny situation, but it appears as though the Cowboys have decided the good with Spencer outweighs the disappointment, especially in light of other options. It's a tough business decision, and it's not likely to play well with the fans, but franchising Spencer right now is the right thing to do.
The good: Watkins generally looks strong enough to hold his blocks once he gets his hands on his man. He got good second-level push on one of Dion Lewis' runs on the second offensive series of the game. And he did an excellent job getting down field to make a block on a defensive back on the screen pass to Lewis on the play right before the Eagles' first touchdown. (Oddly, he appeared to be beaten on the touchdown play, but it didn't matter since Vince Young made the throw before the pressure got there.)
The not-so-good: There was a three-play sequence on the first offensive series where he looked very much like a rookie. On the first, his man beat him to the outside and got into the backfield. On the next play, he made some progress into the second level, as Howard Mudd is trying to teach his linemen to do, but got knocked to the ground quickly. And then on the next, he was kind of swimming around in the crowd, blocking no one and looking as though he didn't know where he was supposed to be. Two plays later, he failed to pick up a blitzing Aaron Maybin, who got to Young but was unable to sack him because he's Aaron Maybin and so Young completed the pass anyway.
Watkins is a rookie who didn't have an offseason, and as such he's a work in progress. He'll almost certainly be better by Week 4 and Week 9 and Week 17 than he will be in Week 1. The key is that he has to be good enough, consistently, from play to play, to keep Vick from getting crushed and help the Eagles' offense put points on the board early in the season. Because the Eagles are one of these teams, due to the offseason they had, that can't afford to get off to a slow start unless they're happy with the whole world jumping on their backs about it.
Anyway, some more stuff I saw in the Eagles' final preseason game:
1. Dion Lewis! Oh, I don't have any idea how much he can expect to play -- if at all -- in an Eagles offense that features as many dynamic options as it does. He's the No. 3 running back behind LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown in an offense that passes more than it runs. So we might not hear much more from him the rest of the year unless they're going to use him on kick returns as they did Thursday. But if we do, man, is he fun to watch. Good burst at the line. Doesn't need much of a hole to squeeze himself through. Fast. Shifty. Patient. Balanced. Tough to bring down. Yeah, against second-teamers. But he's got some obvious skills, and should be a nice option for the Eagles if they suffer an injury or two at that position.
2. Vince Young is the backup quarterback, and a very good one. The idea that Mike Kafka could beat out Young for the backup quarterback spot was rooted in the idea that Young would take a long time to learn the West Coast offense. And Young may not have it all down yet. But he looks more advanced by leaps and bounds than he did in the first preseason game and in the early training camp practices. And his pure athletic ability and experience as a quarterback making throws in the NFL puts him well ahead of Kafka in terms of being a guy the Eagles can put in, should Vick get hurt, and ask him to win them a game. Young did end up leaving this game with a hamstring injury (on a play that wouldn't have happened but for a botched field goal snap on the play before, incidentally), and Kafka with a rib injury, so there's no way to know what the depth chart looks like at quarterback for the opener. But if everyone's healthy, what Andy Reid said after the game about Young being the backup sounds obvious at this point.
3. Defensive backups. Linebacker Brian Rolle looked good, and defensive lineman Trevor Laws had some nice moments after missing the bulk of the preseason due to injury. Defensive end Phillip Hunt also had a sack, and he's an interesting guy as cuts loom, because he made a big-time name for himself in the CFL and is someone who obviously knows how to play the game and the position. But he's so small for his position that you wonder if he can have any impact at all in a real game against first-team offensive linemen. Hunt has been very good this preseason, but nothing is assured for him yet. The Eagles have to decide if his playmaking ability outweighs his measurables.
4. Alex Henery doesn't look great. And hasn't all month. And you do wonder if going with a rookie kicker is the wisest move in the world for a team with expectations as high as the Eagles' expectations are. Henery missed his first field goal attempt of the night -- a 43-yarder -- very badly. He made a 49-yarder late in the game, which is fine. But there's no doubt he can make a kick from almost any distance. What the Eagles would like to know about him is whether he's reliable enough to make every kick they need him to make. And the first-quarter miss is the kind of thing that makes you wonder. On the plus side, rookie punter Chas Henry looks excellent.
Anyway, four games, none of which mattered, and now the Eagles have a week and a couple of days before they need to beat the Rams in St. Louis or everybody starts yelling that the sky is falling. The spotlight -- and the bulls-eye -- will be on this team all year, and fun time is over.
A chance to mock the ESPN.com bloggers
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
Oh wait, you guys do that anyway! But we're providing another wonderful second-guessing opportunity with today's NFL blog network mock draft. We took a very scientific approach to this draft, which required NFC West blogger/database manager Mike Sando to spend most of his day Tuesday calling the other seven bloggers and demanding they make selections on the spot.
Unfortunately, things didn't turn out anything like the Beast mock draft, which is set to be released in Times Square at noon ET on Friday. Sando took Virginia left tackle Eugene Monroe at No. 2 for the Rams -- but that wouldn't happen. If the Lions go ahead and take quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams won't even flinch before taking former Baylor Bear Jason Smith.
In our mock draft, Sanchez falls all the way to Denver at No. 12. On Saturday, I'd bet at least three of my NFL draft magazines (purchased yesterday) that Sanchez doesn't make it past the Seahawks at No. 4. But since we're focused on the Beast, I thought linebacker Brian Cushing was a no-brainer at No. 13. He'll start immediately, and I think he'll give the team another pass-rushing threat. Yes, the Redskins were hoping that Brian Orakpo or Aaron Maybin slipped to 13, but Cushing should be an outstanding player for them.
The Eagles watched their guy Knowshon Moreno go to the Lions at No. 20, so they panicked and took the next best running back in Chris "Beanie" Wells. In reality, I would've tried to trade down a few slots and selected tight end Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State. Tremendous, tremendous player. The Eagles may say that Brent Celek's The Man, but that would change once Pettigrew showed up on the club's South Philly campus.
I have the Giants taking Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt at No. 29. There will be a run on wide receivers right before this pick, and Britt's a guy the Giants have liked for a long time. What happens if the Giants trade for Braylon Edwards? We may find out. Everyone assumes the Giants will have to give up a ('09) first-rounder for him. But general manager Jerry Reese has some other options. Trust me. Just this once.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
If you're looking for a good way to kill two or three hours of your workday, let me suggest the ESPN.com 2009 NFL Draft Machine. With the help of this interactive slice of heaven (am I reading that right?), I've been even more unproductive than usual this afternoon.
After a slow start (the Lions accidentally took Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar No. 1 overall), I produced my very own mock draft, which will be posted on the Beast later this week. Once you submit your mock draft by clicking -- of all things -- the red "submit" button, your draft will become part of SportsNation lore. You'll also be able to taunt Todd McShay (from afar) if your mock draft turns out better than his.
Here's a nice little draft nugget from "Tuesdays with Mel" for you Redskins fans:
This draft isn't about replacing Campbell, who is still the man in Washington. Instead, it's about helping him. Last year, the Redskins drafted Michigan State receiver Devin Thomas in the first round, but he has not been productive thus far. Also, second year receiver Malcolm Kelly needs to step it up, too.
This year, they may opt to get help on the offensive line. A good pick would be right tackle Andre Smith out of Alabama, who was once projected by some as the top player in the draft. But Smith tumbled down draft boards after off-field problems.
However, if they choose to address their defense, the Redskins will look to find help at defensive end and outside linebacker. A great pick at this spot would be DE Aaron Maybin from Penn State, a defensive end.
Big Brian B. from Gainesville, Va. writes: Matt! How's life treating you? Just grinding it out in my 9-5 cube. Either way, I'm a 'Skins fan desperate for some good news. So tell me, do you have a good read on who the 'Skins are expected to cut? Hook a brother (or just me) up!
Mosley: Brian, when he's not on the radio, your personnel chief Vinny Cerrato has been burning the midnight oil. The Redskins didn't have much to show from their three second-round picks last April. They have faith that those guys will eventually come around, but right now, they're all feeling a lot of pressure. That's what happens when an organization lays about 40 people off.
The Redskins have to focus on their offensive and defensive lines. I talked to at least one man at Redskins Park who has watched a ton of film on Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher. When Chris Samuels went down with a season-ending injury, the team's running game virtually disappeared. You have to create some more depth on the offensive line. On defense, you can't afford to go into '09 with aging pass rushers. The Jason Taylor trade turned out to be a bust. There's no way you bring him back. I think the Redskins are spending a ton of time identifying the top pass rushers in the draft right now. Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo is a guy the Redskins really like. I'm also hearing that Penn State OLB/DE Aaron Maybin is someone the Redskins have spent a ton of time on.
Adam wrote to ask: Assuming the Giants end up getting rid of Plax, where do they go from there? Do they draft a receiver at the end of the first round or go after one of the big available veterans (Boldin, TJ)?
Mosley: I think there's a great chance they go ahead and move on without Burress. For starters, the guy could end up in jail. GM Jerry Reese has been very up front about the fact that the club is operating as if it won't have Plaxico Burress. I think there's some definite interest in Anquan Boldin, but it would surprise me if Reese was willing to part with the picks that Arizona will be asking for. I think it's more likely the Giants could go after North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks or Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey. If you're asking me who's more like Burress, it would be Nicks.
OK, I've read through hundreds of your questions. Over the next few days, you'll be reading my answers on the NFC Beast. Thanks for your overwhelming response.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
