This applies much more to the other major sports than it does the NFL where early picks are often expected to come in and contribute immediately. If you're the Packers and you draft a QB late in the first round, you've made a huge mistake no matter where he ranks on your draft board. If there is demand for that player you can simply trade back and add draft picks. Obviously QB is a more extreme example since you can only start one at a time, where as you can never really have enough good corners or defensive lineman, but I don't think there is anything wrong with drafting based on need as long as the value is there. I mean, if you're sitting at pick #20 and there is a TE and defensive lineman ranked slightly higher than a WR that you like who can come in and be an immediate starter, its' perfectly fine to do that. Rigidly sticking to BPA or need are both silly in their own ways.

You're making a drastic leap though in assuming that they didn't draft any offensive lineman because when it was their turn to pick, they didn't have one at the very top of their draft board. There's nothing to suggest they approach the draft that way (Marcus Smith, Josh Huff anybody?). Further, they never addressed the OL in any way in free agency so it's pretty clear that Chip was content with the OL situation. So when the OL has major issues and Chip's handprints are all over it, he deserves plenty of criticism. No rational person should disagree with that.

Cutting him without making an attempt to replace him was dumb, especially when the writing was on the wall for the last year that they were going to do it. Your use of "the market" is cringeworthy, btw.The Eagles cut him almost two months after the draft and free agency. Most of the teams who would have been bidding on his services had already signed or drafted somebody else to be their starter. I don't really know or care whether Mathis was underpaid or not. He was an all pro player when he was here who fit Kelly's system perfectly. I was okay with various things they did this offseason, but the way they handled the OL is indefensible.

this is a terrible example. drafting on best player available isnt about taking a QB you have rated slightly higher than a WR when you have A-A-Ron Rodgers at the helm. it's about having a #20 pick and there being an overall top 5 player available, who is a DE and your team already has 2 very good DEs.

in short BPA drafting is taking a dramatically better player despite lack of need over a much worse overall player that fills a need

and using your example or Rodgers, how many teams would have been better off taking the best player available (Rodgers) over a need? CBS had Rodgers as the #5 prospect. i couldnt find Mel Kiper's pre draft list, but he had him going to cleveland at 3, so he must have had him high. but look at 6-23...

week 1 QBs
6. Titans: Kerry Collins / Vince Young
7. Vikings: Brad Johnson
8. Cardinals: Warner
9. Skins: Brunell
10. Lions: Kitna
11. Cowboys: Bledsoe
12. Chargers: Rivers
13. Saints: Brees
14. Panthers: Delhomme
15. Chiefs: Trent Green
16. Texans: David Carr
17. Bengals: Palmer
18. Vikings (AGAIN!)
19. Rams: Bulger
20. Cowboys (AGAIN!)
21. Jags: Leftwich
22. Ravens: McNair
23. Raiders: Aaron Brooks / Andrew Walter

pretty sure at least 50% of these teams should have taken Rodgers, regardless who they took. you can't fault teams like the Titans, who just drafted a QB they year earlier, but teams like the 18-23, they should have taken him regardless of who they had

I don't think anybody would dispute that, but he basically implied that we didn't draft an offensive lineman the last two years because we were going BPA instead. Unless they were just drafting the exact top guy on their board on each pick, that explanation makes no sense. Who were these consensus studs that we were drafting instead?

Semantics. BPA means something different to everybody and encompasses many more situations than just those where the consensus top ranked player falls into your lap. But I would agree in the sense that every draft pick doesn't necessarily have to be BPA or based solely on need.

Most of those teams had a legitimate need at QB. Teams for whatever reason just didn't believe in Rodgers. The example with the Packers was just to illustrate that you need an actual pathway for that player to contribute outside of injury if you're going to spend a first or second round selection on them.

BPA is a draft strategy that sounds good but is ultimately flawed. Team needs, positional scarcity, etc. should all be significant influencing factors in your decision making. That's all I'm really trying to say. There's no way anybody can claim that the reason the Eagles didn't draft an OL over the last two years was because they were too busy going BPA. That logic fails under even the slightest bit of scrutiny.

Gross that Peters hasn't practiced all week. Mathews might not play. This could be an ugly one. Dallas should have trouble moving the ball, hopefully the Eagles don't.

Yeah, looks like Peters is out. Kelly at Right Tackle is worrying! Hopefully lots of 2 TE sets. Mathews out or in isn't a big deal. Be great to see a serious improvement on offense after the bye.

Looks like the same ****ty team to me

Can we bench Maxwell yet?

11/8/2015 8:59:34 PM PST (about 31 minutes ago)

Hand #47: Joe McKeehen


Joe McKeehen raises to 1,000,000 from under the gun, winning the blinds and antes.

Joe McKeehen - 77,125,000 (154 bb)

As McKeehen is raking in the pot, he asks his friends on the rail if the Monday Night Football game is into overtime or not. They loudly start cheering "Eagles!", as they have just won their night game against the Dallas Cowboys. McKeehen, who is sporting the jersey of Eagles player Connor Barwin smiles as his whole cheering section starts chanting for the team.

Maxwell played well tonight I thought. Those PI calls were terrible. Refs were screwing the Eagles all night.

Maxwell is really what you bring up after this game? Gtfo.

I still have hope the offense can get better.

I hope Hicks is ok. Such a warrior.

I know he's a Philly boy but can we not post WSOP hands here? I'm gonna be behind watching them.

TIA

I hope that post didn't come off dickish, I've finished tonight's play so I now see that it wasn't even spoilery I just saw

And snap scrolled down.

Agreed on all counts. Maxwell actually played a very good game overall, and Hicks is my new favorite Eagle. What a stud.

Road win against a division opponent. How can you not be happy?

totally

I should have just posted the bottom 3 lines

heh rocking the connor barwin jersey

I'm still pretty happy this morning.

next three opponents: dolphins, bucs, lions

I was worried about the Peters-less line vs Hardy. They came through.

Lane and Kelce said they tried to put a little extra mustard on Hardy blocks.



Hoping this team can turn into the opposite of last year... dumpster fire early, good late.

Uh oh. How bad?

IR. ****

Pft says out for year, torn pectoral.

****

that sucks

I mean "falling back" on Kendricks ,alonso, Ryans is nothing to cry about, but where would this team be right now without Hicks? He's going to come back stronger, with a full nfl off season. Legit sad about it - he's so much fun to watch. You can't even say "for a rookie" because it devalues his performance - impressive for any LB.

totally agree Hicks exceeded expectation by a wide margin this season and it sucks to see his season end this way, but the entire LB situation underscores why the Eagles had what was some people thought was too many LBs on the roster this season. LB is a position that historically is prone to injury based on the job they are asked to do, and just when key players have to leave the roster due to injury, other players that were previously hurt are getting healthy and back onto the roster.

Had to rep it guys. I tried to get them to move day one to later on, or a different day, so I wouldn't miss the game. I am happy they got the victory and I look forward to (hopefully) being 7-4 with the way the schedule is lined out.