Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
As soon as WR Jeremy Maclin went down for the season with a torn ACL during training camp, it seemed obvious that the Philadelphia Eagles would need to sign some decent wide-out talent for 2013 at some point during the off-season.
And then when newly acquired, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round draft pick WR Arrelious Benn was ruled out for the year with the same tragic knee injury, it was a bonafide guarantee that the Birds would need to ink-up a proven, veteran wide-out to aid QB Michael Vick in his new spread attack.
But, no, brand new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly seems to have decided that the Eagles will be just fine with the highly controversial character who is WR Riley Cooper as the squad’s number two receiver.
Well, Chip, it looks like I finally have my first major qualm with you.
Kelly came to Philly with a focus on re-energizing and completely reconstructing the Eagles’ organization from the ground up. He changed the cafeteria options. He changed the highly-prized music selection at training camp. He changed the entire outlay of practice. And most importantly, he chucked the conventional NFL playbook out the window and brought in his own, mile-a-minute, lightning-fast spread offense.
But he forgot to stock up his wide receiver arsenal with reasonable professional talent. Yes, All-Pro WR DeSean Jackson is a stud and will have a huge season this year, but he is the only true starter on the Eagles’ receiving depth-chart.
What Chip and the Eagles need to do is bring WR Brandon Lloyd in for a workout, and see if the ole vet has still got some gas left in his tank.
The 10-year NFL veteran has certainly been a journeyman throughout his NFL career and has only amassed over 1,000 receiving yards in one season. It took eight years, but in 2010, Lloyd absolutely went off with the Denver Broncos, amassing 1,448 receiving yards along with 11 touchdowns. But after two consecutive disappointing campaigns with the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots, Lloyd finds himself unemployed. And it’s not by choice I might add.
Hey, of course there’s a chance that Lloyd has lost his step, and those 32-year-old legs just don’t have the same burst as those 29-year-old legs did.
But the Eagles need to at least bring Lloyd in for a tryout because they’re desperate at wide receiver, and really have nothing to lose.
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