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Tom Heckert was on with Jody Mac today...caught it on the ride home from a client meeting. You can listen to the podcast below or just enjoy my memory-driven recap.
http://www.gmppodcast.com/WPEN/JodyM...9/Default.aspx
Recap:
1. Jody asks, on a scale of 1-10, how happy Heckert is with the Eagles off-season so far? Heckert said he is very happy since the goals were to re-sign the guys they wanted to keep and on top of that they got Curtis who they like
2. Jody says lets talk about some of those guys you re-signed. Will Mikell be given the chance to compete for a starting job? Heckert said yes Mikell will challenge for a starting job and offers great value for the team since he can play both safety positions
3. Jody asks what convinced them to bring back Buck? Heckert said Buck was their preference all along if they could agree on terms with him. They brought in some other guys to evaluate since they were not sure if they could bring Buck back, but is happy they got the deal done. He said Buck proved last season he could be healthy again and worked his a** off.
4. Jody asked if re-signing Thomas lessens the pressure to bring in another DE? Heckert said yes it probably does, but if they see a DE they value they will go after him. (see below draft position questions). Likes Thomas, thinks he is good depth and good pass rusher.
5. Jody asked if the Eagles were still actively looking at FA and may make more moves? Heckert said they are still looking and talking to some FA...some guys are waiting to make decisions and so the Eagles may not act until later
6. Jody asked how likely was Stallworth coming back here? Heckert said it was better than average and the Eagles wanted him back. Stallworth was their first choice, but things did not work out and they are very happy with Curtis.
7. Jody followed up and asked if they had signed Stallworth, would they have pursued Curtis? Heckert said probably not, Curtis was someone they targeted early in FA and have liked for a while, but they probably would have been done at WR if they signed Stallworth.
8. Jody asked what in FA this year suprised Heckert and the Eagles? Heckert said not much...they knew there were teams with money to spend and that they would spend it. They are never huge players in FA and knew they would not be this year, but that the teams they assumed would spend big did...referenced the 49ers specifically.
9. Jody asked if an unexpected star or good player came free, could the Eagles free money up by converting roster bonuses or having players re-structure contracts? Heckert says yes they can convert bonuses and that would be their preference out of those two choices, but yes can free up money to deal with that possible situation.
10. Jody asked what part of the pre-draft process Heckert likes best? Heckert said the time right now after the combine and workouts are over and the team can fine tune their draft board and really finalize the players they want to target. They make their initial board before the combine once the scouts come in, they visit schools and watch the available tape. Some changes occur due to the interviews and workouts, but not drastically. He really likes the discussions about the players and how to rank them.
11. Jody asked what draft positions he thought had quality and consistent depth? Heckert stated DE, DT, CB and Safety.
12. Jody followed up and asked what draft positions did not have depth? Heckert said QB and WR stood out for him.
13. Jody asked if they had any compensatory picks this year and when they find out from the league? Heckert said they find out next week at the league meetings, but the Eagles do not expect to have any picks this year. Next year they will have several due to the FA they lost.
14. Jody asked how working with Reid during his time away went and when he plans to be back full-time? Heckert said he and Reid talked 3-4 times daily and his time away had zero effect on their plans or execution. Said Reid planned to be back full-time very soon, but did not know a specific date.
http://www.gmppodcast.com/WPEN/JodyM...9/Default.aspx
Recap:
1. Jody asks, on a scale of 1-10, how happy Heckert is with the Eagles off-season so far? Heckert said he is very happy since the goals were to re-sign the guys they wanted to keep and on top of that they got Curtis who they like
2. Jody says lets talk about some of those guys you re-signed. Will Mikell be given the chance to compete for a starting job? Heckert said yes Mikell will challenge for a starting job and offers great value for the team since he can play both safety positions
3. Jody asks what convinced them to bring back Buck? Heckert said Buck was their preference all along if they could agree on terms with him. They brought in some other guys to evaluate since they were not sure if they could bring Buck back, but is happy they got the deal done. He said Buck proved last season he could be healthy again and worked his a** off.
4. Jody asked if re-signing Thomas lessens the pressure to bring in another DE? Heckert said yes it probably does, but if they see a DE they value they will go after him. (see below draft position questions). Likes Thomas, thinks he is good depth and good pass rusher.
5. Jody asked if the Eagles were still actively looking at FA and may make more moves? Heckert said they are still looking and talking to some FA...some guys are waiting to make decisions and so the Eagles may not act until later
6. Jody asked how likely was Stallworth coming back here? Heckert said it was better than average and the Eagles wanted him back. Stallworth was their first choice, but things did not work out and they are very happy with Curtis.
7. Jody followed up and asked if they had signed Stallworth, would they have pursued Curtis? Heckert said probably not, Curtis was someone they targeted early in FA and have liked for a while, but they probably would have been done at WR if they signed Stallworth.
8. Jody asked what in FA this year suprised Heckert and the Eagles? Heckert said not much...they knew there were teams with money to spend and that they would spend it. They are never huge players in FA and knew they would not be this year, but that the teams they assumed would spend big did...referenced the 49ers specifically.
9. Jody asked if an unexpected star or good player came free, could the Eagles free money up by converting roster bonuses or having players re-structure contracts? Heckert says yes they can convert bonuses and that would be their preference out of those two choices, but yes can free up money to deal with that possible situation.
10. Jody asked what part of the pre-draft process Heckert likes best? Heckert said the time right now after the combine and workouts are over and the team can fine tune their draft board and really finalize the players they want to target. They make their initial board before the combine once the scouts come in, they visit schools and watch the available tape. Some changes occur due to the interviews and workouts, but not drastically. He really likes the discussions about the players and how to rank them.
11. Jody asked what draft positions he thought had quality and consistent depth? Heckert stated DE, DT, CB and Safety.
12. Jody followed up and asked what draft positions did not have depth? Heckert said QB and WR stood out for him.
13. Jody asked if they had any compensatory picks this year and when they find out from the league? Heckert said they find out next week at the league meetings, but the Eagles do not expect to have any picks this year. Next year they will have several due to the FA they lost.
14. Jody asked how working with Reid during his time away went and when he plans to be back full-time? Heckert said he and Reid talked 3-4 times daily and his time away had zero effect on their plans or execution. Said Reid planned to be back full-time very soon, but did not know a specific date.
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