While the free agency purge and the NFL Draft have come and gone, teams hold minicamps and continue to evaluate their rosters as they look to shape the club they will bring to training camp late this summer. While the premier free agents have been plucked from the market, many players -- mostly experienced veterans - remain available to provide key depth or injury replacements.

The Eagles are still looking for a premier WR. There a few WR on the free agent market right now that I think could come in and help out in the receving core even though the eagles are happy with the WRs that they have right now there are rumors going around that they are still trying to shop Lito around for a premier WR.

I want to know what you think. Would you rather keep Lito on the team and sign one of the WRs on the market right now or trade Lito for a vetern WR. Again I know the Eagles said they are happy with WRs they have right now. I came up with some WRs on the market right now. I know these guys are not the premier WR that we are looking but I think any of them could come in and help us.

Koren Robinson, WR: Just released by the Packers and young enough to still have a good career. He has return skills as well as being a big target. A team like Philadelphia should take a look at him.

Eric Moulds, WR: Played in all 16 games last year, including eight starts, with 32 receptions for 342 yards.

Keenan McCardell, WR: Put up 256 yards and one touchdown on 22 receptions with the Redskins.

Chris Henry, WR: Even though he may be the most talented free agent on the street, teams will be hesitant to sign the former Bengal because of his off-the-field issue.

McNabb looked great during the mini camp so I was thinking about what kind of a year he is going to have this year if he can stay healthy. I personaly think that he is going to have an MVP type season. I want to see what everyone else think about it?

Wow Kobe was outstanding last night. After reciving his MVP award Kobe said lets get this party started and went to work on the Jazz. They had no answers for him, they rotated five or six different defenders on him, but they couldn't slow him down one bit. he was going around them and making shots from all over the court. For all the people who still think that he didn't deserve that trophy or it was a lifetime award think again, he never fails to show up in the playoffs. Congrats KB24 you deserved the 07-08 MVP!!

The Lakers looked great in the first half of game one aginst the Utah Jazz but I think the Lakers could be in troulbe if they can't beat the Jazz tonight. If the lakers win this game tonight they will end this seirs in six games but if they don't this series could go to a game seven.

Out of all the defensive rookies that the eagles drafted this year I really like Trevor Laws a lot. I think this guy is going to step in and make a lot of tackles and be disrubtive. Another defensive rookie that I really like is Bryan Smith even though he is under sized I think if given a chance he can a heck of a player. Who out of the defensive rookie draft do you think is going to step up and play big for the birds this season?

I think Reggie Brown is going to have a big year this coming up season I think he'll end up leading the team with 80 or more reception. who ya think is going to lead the birds in receptions?

DENVER (AP)-- Denver Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony has been ticketed for speeding, three weeks after he was cited on a charge of driving under the influence. Police say Anthony was driving 15 mph over the speed limit. What else is knew with this guy he just can't keep out of trouble. Its bad enough they got swept by the lakers and he made comments that they gave up he went out and drawing more negative attention to his team.

Injured Lakers Center Andrew Bynum will seek another opinion on the left knee that has caused him to sit out since mid-January.

Team spokesman John Black informed the media that Bynum will seek the advice of Dr. Steven Gecha of Princeton, New Jersey.

Bynum was injured mid-way through the January 13th game against the Memphis Grizzlies and has not returned to action since. Andrew has followed a rehab regiment that has allowed him to work on the court, but not to the point that he would be ready to compete at an NBA level.

He recently told the LA Times, "I doubt there's going to be a comeback this year. I've got to get my knee straight. At this point, I'd have to train for a good month just to be able to go out there and play."

"It's frustrating because I can do everything but what pertains to basketball — running and jumping, defensive slides."

I haven't really talked much about the Eagles draft day acquisition of running back Lorenzo Booker. This actually might be the most exciting move the Eagles made this offseason, so I waited until I could devote a whole article to him. Let's take a look at Booker and the move.

Booker is 5-10, 191 pounds. That puts him two inches taller than Brian Westbrook and about 25 pounds lighter. He does not have the build to be a starting running back, but he's ideal as a third down back and role player.

I had Booker rated as a third-round prospect last year and the number six running back overall. I thought he would be a player the Eagles would target because of his ability as a receiver and his potential as a kick returner. He was long gone by the time the Eagles were on the clock in the third round last year, however I was quite happy to hear the Dolphins had sent him to Philly in exchange for a fourth-round pick this year. That's good value.

The question some skeptics raise is "if Booker is so good, why would Miami trade him?" Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano are building an offense based on power running. Booker was just smaller than what they were looking for. The lightest running back on Miami's roster now is 210 pounds. Booker also didn't offer them value in the return game because of the presence of Ted Ginn. The change in Miami's offense made Booker expendable. The friendship between Andy Reid and Parcells allowed them to work out a deal that helped both teams.

Some people wanted the Eagles to draft a running back with the 19th pick last month. Westbrook will turn 29 in early September. Correll Buckhalter will be 30 in October. Tony Hunt is a player we're all expecting to improve in 2008, but is still an unknown. Ryan Moats is still a gifted runner, but has an uphill battle to make the team. Booker is only 24 and has shown he can play at the NFL level. In some ways, he's actually a smarter addition than taking a running back in the first round. The investment is less. They have already seen him perform against pro competition, and he's a great fit for the offense.

You can see what an athletic runner he is. He's extremely elusive and makes dynamic cuts. Put him one-on-one with a defender out in space and he'll make the guy miss more often than not. Booker is quick and fast. He's got an excellent burst. He's one of those players who only need a small opening in order to create a big play. The one downside to his running style is that he will "dance" at times. On some plays a runner is smart not to try and make guys miss, but to just go north-south and get up the field.

Booker is also a gifted receiver. He caught 114 passes at Florida State and 28 last year with the Dolphins. All of those 28 catches came in the last five games of the 2007 season, meaning he averaged almost six receptions per game in that stretch. He is very dangerous on screen passes, which makes him perfect for the Eagles offense. Booker is gifted enough to catch balls downfield as well.

Now the question is what Booker's role will be in 2008. How does he fit in and how will the coaches use him? He comes in with two key roles - offensive weapon and insurance policy. As I said earlier, Booker will be a role player here. He's not coming in to get 20 touches. I'm sure Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg are excited about the possibility of getting Booker and Westbrook on the field at the same time. Neither guy can play the traditional role of fullback. This would be a pair of running backs playing together. Reid has paired Westbrook and Buckhalter a few times, with some success.



Tommy Lawlor, goeagles99 on the Discussion Boards, is an amateur football scout and devoted Eagles fan. He's followed the team for almost 20 years. Tommy has been trained by an NFL scout in the art of scouting and player evaluation and runs www.scoutsnotebook.com.

The reason to get Booker and Westbrook out there together is to put pressure on the defense. Both players can split out wide like a receiver. They can both catch screen or swing passes. Both can run draws or quick-hitting running plays. Westbrook certainly is the better player, but Booker is too dangerous for teams to ignore. Booker also is a threat when he is on the field as the only back. The Eagles can put three receivers and a tight end on the field with him. They could even put four receivers on the field with him. That would spread out the defense and allow Booker to get isolated with only one or two defenders, whether a run or pass play.

I mentioned Booker as an insurance policy. Take away Westbrook and the Eagles offense has to change. Neither Buckhalter nor Hunt has the ability to be much of a factor in the passing game. Buckhalter had 12 catches last year and Hunt has yet to catch a pass in the NFL. Each guy has been effective on screen passes in the past, but neither is the kind of receiver that Booker is. Not only is Booker better at catching the ball, but he is more explosive after the catch. Last year, Buckhalter had three receptions of more than 11 yards while playing in the Eagles top-10 offense. Booker had three receptions of more than 18 yards while playing for the Dolphins mediocre offense. Get him the ball in space and he will make things happen.

Special teams coach Rory Segrest said that Booker will also get a chance at returning kickoffs. I think this would be a very wise move. Booker cuts well enough to make the initial tackler miss and then has the speed and acceleration to turn the play into a big gain. Booker is one of those players who you want to get touches because of his big-play ability. The Eagles struggled last year in terms of average starting field position. Taking advantage of Booker's speed in the return game makes a lot of sense.

It occurred to me that the addition of Booker is also a compliment to the development of Westbrook as a runner. Westbrook came into the league as a mid-round pick who would primarily be a role player and punt/kick returner. He has developed into one of the top running backs in the entire NFL, a bona fide superstar. Booker now joins the team to take the role that Westbrook was brought here for back in 2002. That isn't an insult to Westbrook, as some reporter insinuated the other day. The Eagles can now feed the ball to Westbrook as much as they want on first and second down, knowing they have another player to come in and spell him in some passing situations.

I'm curious to see what Booker can do in 2008. I think the team would like to get him 10-12 touches a game, including kickoff returns. Reid loves versatile players and Booker is definitely that. He'll create some tough match-ups for opposing defenses. He also offers the kind of big-play ability off the bench that the Eagles have lacked since Westbrook became the go-to guy in the 2003 season. Fast, elusive players are always a welcome addition to an offense that needed help with big plays and scoring touchdowns. This was a really good move that has somewhat flown under the radar, but will pay big dividends in the upcoming season.

At the end of his rookie season, linebacker Stewart Bradley provided a spark to the Eagles defense and showed enough of his ability to impress the coaching staff.

His mental and physical attributes caught their eye as well.

"He's tall," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. "He's big - 245 or 250 - but he's got good height. He's smart. He's picked things up. He did a great job in the offseason. He was here almost every day, learning things. So he's done a good job."



LB Stewart Bradley

Last year, Bradley finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 17. In his first and only career start at middle linebacker, Bradley recorded a sack, an interception and a game-high 10 tackles in a late-season win over the New Orleans Saints which diminished their chances of making the playoffs and avenged a loss in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

The Eagles will be asking Bradley to take on a larger role in 2008 as the starting middle linebacker and signal-caller on the field.

"I like it a lot," he said in regards to his assignment. "I'm getting more and more comfortable out there and I like the responsibility."

In order to be successful in his first full season with this significant role Bradley said, "I'll stay with my playbook and keep mentally focused so I'll know what I'm doing out there."

Another interesting detail about the Eagles linebackers this year is that they are devoid of a major veteran presence such as Takeo Spikes or Jeremiah Trotter as in previous seasons.

Bradley acknowledges that there are some benefits and disadvantages of having such a young group of linebackers. All of the linebackers have two years of NFL experience or less - with the exception of Rocky Boiman who is entering his seventh professional season, but first as an Eagle.

"We're young so we can gel together," he said. "I think we have good chemistry, we are all around the same age, and we get along well. Obviously, we are not terribly experienced but I think we are a fast, athletic and a hard working group so I think we'll be ok."

This past weekend at the post-draft mini-camp meant working on the small things which can go a long way, according to Bradley.

"Making sure your drops are clean, making sure you're communicating well, that the calls are right, that everyone is on the same page," Bradley said. "This is the kind of stuff we can work out in training camp, before the season starts and it will help make next season a lot easier."

Understanding Johnson's complicated defense, through repetition and preparation, will not only help Bradley, but the rest of the team, achieve great success.