PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

Eagles' draft and Phillies..

* The Eagles took the safe pick when they selected DE Derick Barnett from Tennessee with #14 last night in the NFL draft. Barnett broke former Eagle great Reggie White's record for sacks (32) at Tennessee. He fills a need for a pass rusher on the defense. Putting increased pressure on opposing quarterbacks would help to cover any poor secondary coverage.

I think the Birds would've taken on offensive weapon at pick 14 if wide receivers Williams, Ross or Davis were still on the board. Running backs were gone. TE O.J. Howard was still there, but tight end isn't a priority right now. LB  DT Jonathan Allen.

By taking a defensive end the Eagles admit to making mistakes with that position recently, drafting Marcus Smith and signing Vinnie Curry to a contract extension.

Hopefully they get it right. A front four with Fletcher Cox could be imposing. Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz like to play the wide-9 on defense, and Barnett should fill in nicely.

Starting tonight, the team needs to select important cogs to the future. With upcoming pick 43 in the second round, the squad needs to address corner back. Getting 2 or maybe even 3 good defensive backs in this draft is a priority. Running back also needs to be addressed, with another Tennessee Volunteer, RB Alvin Kumara, still available. I would stay away from Joe Mixon because of his off-the-field problems. Another wide receiver- preferably one with speed who can stretch a defense- would be a help, giving Carson Wentz another weapon.So far, this is definitely a Joe Douglas draft. Hopefully he will show the same progress he has shown in the past at Baltimore and Chicago.

* Speaking of the Bears, what were they thinking by trading up one spot with San Francisco, trading away 4 draft picks, then taking a North Carolina QB who only played 13 career college games? What's with Andy Reid and Kansas City trading up form 27 to 10 and taking yet another  raw, project quarterback?  Most of all, Cleveland again screwed-up, having two first round picks, yet not taking a much-needed QB. The Browns finished 1-15 last season for a reason. They got cute and failed to take Wentz last year- thank goodness. They keep acquiring draft picks yet don't select a quarterback.

Philadelphia has so far been a star hosting the draft. The fans are enthusiastic and loud. Commissioner Goodell took the expecting booing with good humor, encouraging more. Dallas is supposedly getting the draft next spring. They will have to go aways to out-do Philly as a host city.

* The surging Phillies head west to play 3 weekend games with the Dodgers, riding a 6-game winning streak. They travel to Wrigley Field to take on the world champion Cubs for 4 games, before returning home next weekend. The Phils are getting just enough starting pitching, their bullpen is sometimes shaky, but is getting the job done, for the most part; and the hitting seems to be more consistent, with Franco coming alive on the recent home-stand.

Tommy Joseph and Cameron Rupp are struggling. Rhys Hoskins and Jorge Alfaro are hot in Lehigh Valley and will soon be ready to reach the major leagues. Both will probably stay with the Iron Pigs for most of the season. Once Alfaro comes up to Philly he must stay up. Joseph and Rupp deserve a full season to prove they either can or can't be regulars for the future. By the end of the summer the organization should have a clear picture as to who can play and where the team needs to go in free agency and in trades.

Even when Howie Kendrick returns from the disabled list-probably in mid-May the Philas need to continue to play OF Aaron Altherr. Kendrick is gone after this year anyway, along with fellow one-year signee Michael Saunders- so it's time to break the logjam in the minors and look to the future.

The Phillies looked good last May as well, even holding down first place for a day. So will the club continue to play good ball, and make the summer fun for the Philly fans? Time will tell. If the Phils are still in the playoff hunt around the all-star break ni July ( wild card, as it looks like Washington is head and shoulders the class of NL East division), the should stay the course, not become buyers at the trade deadline, and continue to build for the near future. Their key prospects are on the horizon. Don't surrender even the low-ball pitchers like flame-throwing Sixto Sanchez for a quick fix. Unless you are trading for Mike Trout, stay the course with the kids.

* Great to see the obnoxious Mets and their fans are troubled times, currently in last place in NL East. I wonder how New Jersey governor Chris Christie is feeling about now? Good to see fresh-faces such as the Diamondbacks, the Orioles and the Astros playing so well, at least for now.