Vick & Akers Get Tagged, Former Eagle News

In the background of the Eagles' defensive coordinator saga was the Michael Vick franchise tag saga. The new year rolled around and there was speculation. A week and a half ago there was talk of it. Then today there was a "this week" timetable, and that's when Reid, Banner, and Lurie decided to pull the trigger, franchising Vick and giving a transition tag to kicker David Akers. While there is still uncertainty about whether or not the franchise tag will have an analogue in the (eventual) new CBA, for the time being Vick is locked in to Philly, and will quadruple last year's salary. Not bad for the Comeback Player of the Year, but Aker's agent is not happy with the move. It gives the Eagles the right to block another team from interviewing Akers, and is a tactic the Eagles haven't used since 1998, according to ESPN's Matt Mosley. This could mean the Eagles will prolong contract negotiations with the five-time Pro Bowl kicker.

On the topics of the Eagles in the '90s, Ray Rhodes was just picked up by the Cleveland Browns as the senior assistant on defense. Rhodes coached the Eagles from the 1995 playoff run that ended against the Cowboys to the disastrous 3-13 1998 season, after which he left to coach the Green Bay Packers. Rhodes joins Eagles coaching alum Dick Jauron, the Browns newly-hired defensive coordinator.



In other former-Eagles news, Cris Carter (no 'h' there, kids) was passed over (again) for the Hall of Fame. the former wide receiver was drafted by the Eagles in 1987, and led the team in TD catches in 1989. Unfortunately, substance abuse led then-coach Buddy Ryan cut Carter from the team. Carter shone in the mid-90s with the Minnesota Vikings, ending his career in 2002 with the Miami Dolphins. And Cris, like the Eagles, will have to wait and see if a new year will bring better chances.

While Akers' agent wasn't happy with the transition tag, one person who won't be happy about Vick's franchise tag is Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. Last week, Buehrle said in an MLB.com interview that he hoped Vick would get hurt in his 2010 comeback season. I'll give that a moment to sink in for everyone. An athlete hoping another athlete gets hurt while playing is a VERY rare thing for one reason: it's douchey. This is just another case in the pattern of people who decide they can prove they're an animal lover or otherwise morally above the rest of us by ripping on Vick. Meanwhile, the puppy-loving Chase Utley, one of if not the most popular athlete in Philly, and his wife Jen have said nothing about Vick, outside Jen's comments that Philly's SPCA should have been informed of the signing. See that folks? It's called class. Meanwhile, NBC Sports' Rick Chandler interviewed the bear Buehrle shot. With an arrow. Apparently Jim Thome was in attendance.

In player news, defensive end Trent Cole underwent elbow surgery yesterday. Players should cash in those benefits before March 4th, just in case the owners play hardball.

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