The Eagles’ Newest Weapon Could Turn The Tide In The NFC East

On Monday the Eagles filled a vital gap in their offense, acquiring 25-year-old wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth from the New Orleans Saints for backup linebacker Mark Simoneau and a conditional fourth-round draft pick. One of the most noticeable blemishes on the Eagles roster was the lack of a legitimate number one receiver. With the injury to Todd Pinkston and the hole that Terrell Owens left, the position of number one receiver left much to be desired in the Eagles offense.

Stallworth helps fill the gap of the new Eagles’ go-to guy. He was the number two receiver behind Joe Horn with the Saints but had better numbers and he is clearly going to be the most proficient receiver on the Eagles team with 70 receptions for 945 yards last season. In comparison, the Eagles top receiver Reggie Brown recorded only 43 receptions for 571 yards last year.

Donte’ Stallworth is a big play receiver with 12 of his 23 career touchdown receptions worth 20 yards or more. He was traded as a result of this being his last year under contract with the Saints, who are relying on developing younger talent at the receiver position and sought to get something in return for Stallworth whose value is at its highest point before the season officially starts.

This is a great deal for the Eagles who were alleged to be looking closely for a receiver in Denver’s Ashley Lelie, and as of late, New England’s Deion Branch. It is rumored that the exchange for 2004 Super bowl MVP Branch would require a number one draft pick to the Patriots, which is a hefty price to pay for any player regardless of how their receiving corps has been depleted.

With Stallworth changing the face of the Eagles receivers, eyes will now be placed on which current receiver will be cut from the team by Saturday, September 2nd (the NFL’s final cut day for teams to make the mandatory roster size of 53). Despite Andy Reid’s love affair with Todd Pinkston — the long time notoriously fragile Eagle is made to be the odd man out since the role of speedy number one receiver has been filled by Stallworth. It is reported by ESPN.com that Pinkston and his agent Joel Segal were given permission to seek a trade to another team. Another option is cutting third-year Eagle Greg Lewis who proved to be a capable third receiver but couldn’t make the grade last year when he was put into a larger role in the offense.

Training camp standout rookie Hank Baskett and rookie Jason Avant will either be on the bench or assigned to the Eagles’ practice squad while Darnerien McCants and Jabar Gaffney will likely become bench players and be rotated in according to the receiver sets.

If Donte’ Stallworth works out to his potential, and Donovan McNabb continues his great play into the regular season; the Eagles will again be making a run at the top of their division. With the New York Giants looking inconsistent and the Washington Redskins playing terrible football in the preseason, a fading rivalry buried deep in the skin of every Eagles fan could be renewed with vigor.

Looking excellent without Terrell Owens, the Dallas Cowboys could easily be the only factor keeping the Eagles from another division title. Either way, Eagles’ fans will be waiting with their new weapon Donte’ Stallworth and a new found confidence in their ‘sleeper’ team.

Edited by L. Olivia Piotti

Photo by AP Photo/George Widman