CHIRPING BIRDS

The Eagles traded WR Jordan Matthews to Buffalo yesterday, also sending a third-round 2018 draft pick for CB Ronald Darby.

Darby  is only 23. He had a down year in 2016, but , as a rookie in 2015, he was rated as the second defensive player of the year in the AFC.

The Birds desperately needed a starting corner back. Darby isn't a washed-up, marginal player. You have to give something good to get something good. Darby is under contract for two more years. He gives the Eagles a young core of defensive backs, with Sidney Jones, Jalen Mills as well.

it was a move that GM Howie Roseman had to make. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he landed another DB before the season, with Jason Kelce and Mychal Kendricks as trade bait.

With a deeper wide receiver corps, the Eagles could afford to trade Matthews, especially since he will be a free agent after this season.

nelson Agholor needs to step up now, and take over as the slot receiver. But with Hollins, Treggs and Johnson also on the roster as wide outs, Agholor isn't assured that starting role if he continues to drop passes in games.

To me, the Eagles move a step closer to a playoff berth with this move. Another corner before Opening Day wouldn't hurt.

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Dallas running back Zek Elliot was suspended by the NFL six games for domestic abuse. He intends to appeal. Here are the Cowboys' first six games::

Sept 10 Giants
Sept 17 @ Broncos
Sept 25 @ Cardinals
Oct 1 Rams
Oct 8 Packers
Bye
Oct 22 @ 49ers

Dallas is a good road team, so with Flliot they would've gone 5-1 ( losing at Denver). Without Elliot, I can see the Cowboys going 3-3, maybe even 2-4 The opening game vs. New York will be tough, as will the road contest vs. Arizona in the desert. Green Bay, even in Dallas, isn't a piece of cake.

Good news for the Eagles. Wish the birds got Dallas early, but their two games against the Cowboys won't happen until the second half of the season.

Looks like ther eis no way now that Dallas wins 13 games again this year. Along with games against rivals in NFC East, games vs, Seattle, Kansas City and Oakland loom.

Plus, Elliot is one more arrest or violation away from stricter suspensions.  Couldn't happen to a better team or owner.

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Going to see Ray Didinger's play, Tommy & Me tomorrow. Can't wait. It's Eagles and it's Ray, so can't beat that..

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The one thing I'm most concerned about going into the 2018 season is the coach.

He seems unsure at times. I like his aggressiveness. I would rather him be aggressive than passive But he can't be stupid, either.

Take the Cowboy game last year in Dallas. Stupid was forgoing a field goal late in the fame to almost ice the history. Also dumb was a 3rd down play call to set-up the field goal, by calling a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage  for a loss of yardage.

I still don't trust Pederson. He is unknown, even after a year of coaching the Eagles under his belt.

Pederson has got to have a consistent running game. I don't want to see Carson Wentz throwing the ball 49-59 times a game. I understand that Pederson is a Andy Reid-disciple of the West Coast offense, which is throw-first. But having a running game controls the clock, especially in late game situations, and takes the heat off Wentz, and opens up the passing game.

If Doug Pederson fails badly, will owner Jeffrey Lurie make yet another change? He is getting impatient to win a Super Bowl so I wouldn't be surprised.

But it seems like Luire and Roseman like Pederson, partly because he hasn't challenged ownership and the front office like Chip Kelly did.

Pederson is controllable, happy to have a head coaching job in the NFL.  He's a company guy, a little of a puppet, so Lurie will think twice before giving Pederson the ax unless the team totally implodes.

So, even with the Birds improved offensive, pass rush and Wentz continuing to progress in his sophomore season, I'll be holding my breath each game that Pederson doesn't screw things up.

Keep it simple, Doug.

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What's wrong with Nick Foles?

Let alone not playing in the pre-season, he isn't even throwing in camp.

Was he hurt before the Eagles signed him as a back-up quarterback? If not, when did he hurt his arm? Idf he was hurt, why did the Birds sign him?  How long  will this be a concern? Will the Eagles need to find another back-up or even third-string QB?

I liked Foles when he was previously with Philly. I was happy when the front office signed him during the off-season. If Wentz goes down, the Eagles are screwed anyway. But Foles would be a good fill-in for a game or two.

Now, I'm not sure what to think.