How to Fix the Eagles

The Eagles are running a feature on their website (www.philadelphiaeagles.com) called "You Be The GM," whereby Eagles fans can e-mail what they would do to return the Birds to prominence. Since I honestly feel sometimes that I missed my true calling and should be running a sports franchise, I took the time to lay out my restructuring plan. Here is a transcript, and should the website respond or print my plan, I'll be sure to inform you...

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Despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 1999 (and contrary to the opinion of some media outlets), I don't think the window of opportunity for the Eagles to win a Super Bowl has passed. I personally think the Eagles can add a few players at key positions and re-emerge as the NFC's elite team. If I was calling the shots, here's what I would do:

1) Address the wide receiver position via free agency - While the biggest name currently available is Reggie Wayne, I'm not sold on him being a #1. Remember when Atlanta overpaid for Peerless Price? Same kind of situation. Assuming Buffalo cuts Eric Moulds, I'd bring him in. He doesn't possess the size or speed of a Terrell Owens, but he's a solid NFL receiver. Prior to Reggie Brown, the Eagles haven't had much luck drafting receivers, and this draft is not exactly stacked with talent at the position anyway.

2) Do not overpay for John Abraham or Julian Peterson - Both are good NFL players who would likely be upgrades at their respective positions. Both, however, would also come with pretty high price tags. If only one of the two is in the mix, it should probably be Peterson. The Eagles need the most help at outside linebacker, and Peterson would be a good coverage guy to stay with the good tight ends (Witten, Shockey, Cooley) in the NFC East.

3) Draft for Defense and Depth - The Eagles top two positions of need are on the defensive side of the ball - outside linebacker and defensive tackle. The best players at those positions (Ohio State's A.J. Hawk and Oregon's Haloti Ngata) will likely not be available to the Eagles at #14. The name thrown around in most of the mock drafts is OLB Chad Greenway out of Iowa. I like Greenway, but if they were to sign Peterson I'd be alright with them trading down and taking a tackle like Miami's Orien Harris late in the first round. Outside of the first round, depth should be addressed at the following positions:

a. Defensive End - Trent Cole and Jevon Kearse are good as starters, but what's behind them? Can you count on Jerome McDougle and/or N.D. Kalu?

b. Offensive Line - Jon Runyan will likely be gone, so they either need to draft a tackle or two or Shawn Andrews needs to move from guard to tackle and they draft a couple of guards.

c. Tight End - L.J. Smith is a good pass-catching tight end, but they could use more of a run-blocking guy.

d. Running Back - The Eagles need a big, bruising back for short yardage and goal line situations.

4) Bring in a competent back-up quarterback - As we all witnessed this past season, neither Mike McMahon nor Koy Detmer is capable of being a productive starter for an extended period of time. There has to be someone available that, should the worst case scenario occur again and the Eagles are forced to play without Donovan McNabb, can come in and manage the offense effectively.

These moves should not only address their most glaring issues, but would still leave them some salary cap flexibility for future needs or emergency situations that might arise. The bottom line is that the Eagles are still in decent shape to make a run at the Super Bowl.