Philly’s winners and losers in the Donte’ deal

By Os Davis  |   Thursday, August 31, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Philadelphia Eagles
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When the Philadelphia Eagles managed to score WR Donte' Stallworth from the New Orleans Saints, two things were certain to follow: headlines and repercussions. Since the McNabb-Stallworth teaming won't be seen until the regular season opens against the Houston Texans, let's look at those in Donte's Paradiso and those in the inferno.

Winner: Donovan McNabb. McNabb was all charming smiles in interviews about Stallworth, envisioning a Pro Bowling long-distance veteran threat. Donovan has already looked dandy in preseason, showing no signs of suffering from the hernia surgery that trimmed his 2005, going 23-for-31 for 283 yards. However, short routes have dominated the play calling and though McNabb has never been obsessed with the long ball (his career average per attempt is just 6.6 yards; by comparison, small-baller Tom Brady's is 7.1), this option will be necessary for the Philly offense.

Loser: Hank Baskett. Pity poor Baskett, who has already seen more ups and downs than Jon Gruden's EKG. The former University of New Mexico Lobo went from unknown quantity despite running up all-conference stats to an ESPN pre-draft ranking in the top 25 college performers in 2006. In the combine, Baskett recorded a slow 4.55 in the 40, enough for every NFL team to pass on him for seven rounds. Then, showing his four-time all-academic Mountain West Conference smarts, Baskett slowly worked his way into the lineup. Excellent play in the preseason got him media darling status and a penciled-in starting job. Enter Stallworth. Now Baskett figures to see far less playing time and that will most likely be heavily accented on blocking. Welcome, as they say, to the NFL.

Losers: Those who drafted Baskett early in their fantasy league drafts, figuring him to be Sleeper Of The Year. See above.

Winner: Stallworth himself. Most NFL pundits and fans will be stunned should Stallworth fail to turn 2006 into his first (really) Pro Bowl nod.

Winners: The rest of the Eagle receiving corps. The departed Terrell Owens accounted for 29 percent of Philly's passing yardage, 21 percent of the total offense, and a ridiculous 14 TDs in the Super Bowl season of 2004. That's a big mouth - I mean, big shoes - to fill. While this might have proved an impossible task for the likes of talented young 'uns like Jason Avant and Reggie Brown, Stallworth should keep opposing secondaries' hands full enough to allow these guys (and Baskett) more time to develop under less pressure.

Big loser: Todd Pinkston. Before camp started, Pinkston figured to be in the driver's seat in the Eagles' WR automobile. If he recovered from injury. He didn't. If Philly brass gave him a bit more time to recover from injury. They didn't. And since the reports on Pinkston are that he was cut due to the ankle problems, his future is entirely up in the air. It's a wonder if we'll see him in uniform anywhere in 2006.

Loser: Jason Chayut. The minutes are ticking away on the New England Patriots' permission to Deion Branch for seeking a trade. Another team out the mix can only hurt Tom Brady's favorite target's bargaining position.

Perpetual loser: The Eagles' running game, therefore...

Winners: New York, Dallas and Washington. The silver-and-green has finished 30th, 31st and 25th in rushing attempts in the past three years; they've finished 28th and 24th in yardage the last two. Philly was ninth in yardage in 2003, the last time both Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter were last seen healthy. This season, the running game will be led by, um, Buckhalter and, er, not exactly confidence-inspiring Reno Mahe and maybe Westbrook, who is probable at best for opening day. Oh, and Stephen Davis, another guy with a history of injuries whom we have yet to see in an Eagle uniform. Maybe the Eagles can become the first team to run a full-time five receiver offense; until then, this one-dimensionality of offense won't help in the ultra-competitive 2006 NFC East.

Keep an eye on Donte' Stallworth and his new Philadelphia Eagles playmates at Realfootball365.com.
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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