Mar 07 2009
Eagles add Jones to defensive flock
With the departure of starting free safety and seven-time Pro Bowler Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos, the Eagles were left with a major hole in their secondary. With the addition of former Cleveland Browns safety Sean Jones, the Eagles appear to have found Dawkins’s replacement. At least for now.
After missing four games with a right-knee injury last season, Jones didn’t receive a lot of interest on the free agent market. As a result, Jones agreed to a one-year worth $3 million with the Eagles in hopes of parlaying it into a more lucrative multi-year contract either in Philly or somewhere else next year at this time. If the 27-year-old safety shows that he is healthy and has a big year, it will definitely mean getting big money from somebody in 2010.
The Eagles have been through this dance before with former linebacker Shawn Barber, another Brian Mackler client. In 2002, Barber was coming off a knee injury and wasn’t generating a lot of interest on the open marker. Barber played well as the Eagles went to the NFC Championship Game and wound up getting rewarded with a more lucrative contract from the Kansas City Chiefs. I wouldn’t be shocked if Jones follows Barber’s template.
Even if Jones is only in Philly for 2009, as long as he’s healthy, it seems like the Birds landed a playmaker who will be a fantastic fit in Jim Johnson’s defense. On paper, the Eagles don’t look like they’ve lost much by replacing Dawkins with Jones. In fact, statistically speaking, Jones is somewhat of an upgrade. Since 2006, Jones ranks third among safeties behind Baltimore’s Ed Reed and St. Louis’ Oshiomogho Atogwe with 14 interceptions. He had four picks in Cleveland’s final six games last season. In 60 career games and 44 starts, Jones has 286 tackles, 14 interceptions, nine sacks and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, his production has declined each year since 2006, so that may be somewhat of a red flag. Who knows?
For comparison, since 2006, Dawkins only had six interceptions, with four of them coming in 2006. Overall, during the length of Jones’s career (i.e. since 2005), Dawkins has 290 tackles, nine interceptions, 7.5 sacks, and 15 forced fumbles. The numbers are pretty even. The one thing that cannot be quantified through statistics is Dawkins’s leadership, which will certainly be missed. However, this looks like a very good signing for the Eagles and Jones should provide at least similar production to Dawkins, even if it’s just for one year.
E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!
