Howie Roseman: Best Week Ever?

Did Howie Roseman just have the best week of his life?

Whether it’s sales commissions, political polls, the creation of the universe or the Philadelphia Eagles’ offseason outlook, it’s amazing how much can change in a week.

And thanks to likely the most productive seven days of his life, Howie Roseman has forced me to put his mug on the front of my second consecutive column!

Turns out, he had a trick up his sleeve after all, thus accomplishing Theory No. 3 in my last piece.

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That said, in the span of less than 96 hours, Roseman clearly put his fingerprints on the newest incarnation of this roster, making it known to the football world that he is back with a vengeance — literally.

By dropping the gauntlet on several high-profile players hand-picked by Chip Kelly – the man who happened to supplant Roseman as the ultimate decision maker, only to be re-supplanted by him just one year later – he has made it crystal clear who is now calling the shots, and sent a message that previous offseason’s flurry of activity needed to be redone.

The new-old GM perfected the art of addition by subtraction. Goodbye, Byron Maxwell, he of the inflated contract and deflated coverage.

Peace out, DeMarco Murray and your inability to avoid tacklers and conceal your tattle-telling.

Bon Voyage, Kiko Alonso. We have enough undersized and over-injured guys already on the roster.

Fairwell, Mark Sanchez. Enough said! (Though it boggles the mind that Sanchez could get value back but DeSean Jackson couldn’t)

However, where his week went from good to great is when Roseman also added by, well, adding a solid if not spectacular group of free agents who each filled a glaring need on the roster:

Leodis McKelvin may have seen his best days, but he is a proven and versatile talent that also happens to cost far less than watching Maxwell stare at the back of receivers’ jerseys.
Rodney McLeod at free safety may be the closest thing to Brian Dawkins since Dawk left town: Smallish, but fierce and highly intelligent.
Brandon Brooks, on the other hand, is anything but small. Lining the veteran 340-pound guard up alongside either massive Eagle tackle will go a long way to make any quarterback look a little more competent.
Chase Daniel remains a mystery at QB, but Doug Pederson, his former offensive coordinator – the man who knows his potential better than most – is now his head coach.
Similarly, Nigel Bradham — like McKelvin — was at his best under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwarz while in Buffalo. You can’t discount the value of comfort in a system.
Lastly, Ron Brooks and Donald Stephenson both add depth to the secondary and offensive line positions where one can never have enough.

Rather than follow the Tankadelphia Method so popular in town right presently with franchises like the Sixers and Phillies, the Eagles now look to be focused more on reloading, as opposed to rebuilding. Which makes perfect sense in an NFL that encourages parity.

So Mr. Roseman, allow me to extend a sincere mea culpa for doubting you. Like underestimating a tax refund, it’s this type of circumstance where I enjoy being wrong.

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To be sure, the Eagles are still nowhere near favorites to compete for a Super Bowl. Jettisoning a running back just a year removed from leading the league in rushing for only a swap of 4^th round picks seems to be underselling him a bit. And the overspend on Daniel seems to create more questions than answers.

However, Theory No. 3 now seems to be just getting started. Regardless, it’s hard to discount the mantra of living a life of progress, not perfection. Last week was stagnancy. This week is absolutely progress.

It’s now anybody’s guess what happens come draft day, as nothing but a kicker or punter in the first round would seem shocking.

But the needle is finally be trending upward, and, in just seven days, a team that once looked destined for status quo has ramped up to status “go.”

And, as we’ve all seen lately, much can happen in just a little time.

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