Hot Read: Competing Values on Heisman Winner

On Wednesday, Tommy Lawlor discussed the possibility that the Eagles could sign likely free agent Reggie Bush. The idea is fun to think about, especially from a video game all-star team perspective. But the debate over Bush actually raises an interesting dichotomy of Eagles front office philosophies.

First, there’s the motivation to bring in dynamic, multi-dimensional offensive players. Especially at running back the Eagles show little interest in anyone who can’t catch the football as well as they can run it. And when they do, often the results aren’t pretty (see: Hunt, Tony).

And yet, there’s also the guiding conviction not to overpay for second-string players. You can see this all over the field, where the Eagles look for bargains and/or young players to fill in as back ups, but especially at running back. Correll Buckhalter never required a large investment before the team let him walk away for four years, $10 million last offseason.

When the Eagles signed Chad Hall — the poor man’s Reggie Bush — these two strategies came together perfectly. But with Bush himself, those values would clash and I tend to think frugality would win out.

* * *

Recently I’ve seen a couple of positive remarks about Trevard Lindley, and how we shouldn’t count him out for an increased role in 2011. I hope he can improve and make a significant contribution in year two, but in limited snaps last season his numbers were ugly. Just compare him to Dimitri Patterson, everyone’s favorite whipping boy:

Patterson — Target Rate = 19.4%, Catch Rate = 62.8%, Pass Defensed Rate = 7.7%

Lindley — Target Rate = 19.1%, Catch Rate = 65.8%, Pass Defensed Rate = 0%

* * *

Kevin Kolb rumors all converge on Arizona, where the latest analysis examined the possibility that the Cardinals could offer a deal similar to what Houston sent Atlanta for Matt Schaub: a first round swap and two second round picks. Just for the record, that kind of deal would be perfectly in line with Kolb being worth a mid-to-late first rounder. According to the draft trade value chart and accounting for one of the second rounders being a future pick, that 2007 deal assessed Schaub’s value as equal to the 21st overall selection.