First off, the article can be read at the following link:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story?id=6999827&_slug_=nfl-philadelphia-eagles-far-dream-team&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fstory%3fid%3d6999827%26_slug_%3dnfl-philadelphia-eagles-far-dream-team
I've had some issues with Joyner's articles in the past and if he had just continued to follow what he titled the piece, I think I would have agreed with him. I thought it was ridiculous for sports' "analysts" to feed off back-up quarterback Vince Young's statement that his Philadelphia Eagles are a "dream team". They hadn't played a game as a team yet. We don't know how they're all going to play alongside one another. Let's hold off on the "dream team" talk until the season starts (and ends). So, if Joyner had just stuck to that, I would completely agree with the guy. However, he had to go the hyperbole route.
In the sixth paragraph of the article, Joyner states the following, "There is one notable problem. The acquisitions that brought along the 'Dream Team' comment from Vince Young may form the most overrated group of players in the NFL."
There we have it - the attention grabber or hyperbole. Let's look at this, shall we? In the off-season, Philly acquired the following players:
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
DE Jason Babin
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
QB Vince Young
DL Cullen Jenkins
RB Ronnie Brown
S Jarrad Page
WR Steve Smith
Asomugha and Cromartie were arguably the two most sought-after cornerbacks in the NFL. Jarrad Page is a very capable safety. The Eagles' Achilles heel last year was their pass defense. With two Pro Bowl corners added to the mix (one of whom is 25-years old) and a capable safety, I'd say Philly upgraded their secondary quite substantially and most every team in the NFL would be grateful to acquire such "overrated" players.
Jason Babin is also a Pro Bowl player on the D-Line and Cullen Jenkins is a veteran D-tackle to aid what is a very average front seven.
Tailback Ronnie Brown has not lived up to the hype coming out of college at Auburn, but is a big, powerful back whom compliments the speedy slashing-starting tailback LeSean McCoy quite well.
Quarterback Vince Young has had a rollercoaster of a career thus far, but with Michael Vick as the starter, Young presents a similar-styled quarterback to back-up Vick, whom is prone to get injured about once a year.
Finally, we have wideout Steve Smith. He's only 26, in his fifth season, and is a very good receiver, to go along with standouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Smith was banged up at the end of last season, but even in only playing 9 games a year ago, Smith has caught at least 48 passes for at least 529 yards in each of the past three seasons. Just two years ago, he played all 16 games for the New York Giants and caught 107 passes for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Are there some overrated players in this group? Sure. Young and Brown come to mind, but they are back-ups and very capable ones at that. If they were signed by the Eagles with plans on starting, then yes, I'd say that Philly paid more than they should have. However, that's not the case. The Eagles went from one of the poorest pass defenses in the NFL to potentially one of the best. They upgraded a very average front seven. They won't be dominant there, but will be improved from where they were at last season. They signed a Vick-like presence at quarterback, in case the starter got hurt. They signed a between-the-tackles back to back-up the very elusive McCoy. Finally, they signed one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL, to be the #3 man behind the before-mentioned Jackson and Maclin, to go along with the steady Jason Avant and Brent Celek at tight end.
Is it too early to refer to the Eagles as a "Dream Team"? Yes, of course. But, is it too early to claim their signees are the most overrated group of players in the NFL? Yes again. In fact, I think that latter question has already been disproven, given these players' track records. If only Mr. Joyner had continued on the reasonable route he seemed to be taking with the title of his article, he would have made a lot more sense and seemed much more credible in his "analysis". However, by going the hyperbolic route, his article lost a great deal of credibility and his statements are right on par with the "Dream Team" statement Vince Young made in how utterly ridiculous it is.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story?id=6999827&_slug_=nfl-philadelphia-eagles-far-dream-team&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fstory%3fid%3d6999827%26_slug_%3dnfl-philadelphia-eagles-far-dream-team
I've had some issues with Joyner's articles in the past and if he had just continued to follow what he titled the piece, I think I would have agreed with him. I thought it was ridiculous for sports' "analysts" to feed off back-up quarterback Vince Young's statement that his Philadelphia Eagles are a "dream team". They hadn't played a game as a team yet. We don't know how they're all going to play alongside one another. Let's hold off on the "dream team" talk until the season starts (and ends). So, if Joyner had just stuck to that, I would completely agree with the guy. However, he had to go the hyperbole route.
In the sixth paragraph of the article, Joyner states the following, "There is one notable problem. The acquisitions that brought along the 'Dream Team' comment from Vince Young may form the most overrated group of players in the NFL."
There we have it - the attention grabber or hyperbole. Let's look at this, shall we? In the off-season, Philly acquired the following players:
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
DE Jason Babin
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
QB Vince Young
DL Cullen Jenkins
RB Ronnie Brown
S Jarrad Page
WR Steve Smith
Asomugha and Cromartie were arguably the two most sought-after cornerbacks in the NFL. Jarrad Page is a very capable safety. The Eagles' Achilles heel last year was their pass defense. With two Pro Bowl corners added to the mix (one of whom is 25-years old) and a capable safety, I'd say Philly upgraded their secondary quite substantially and most every team in the NFL would be grateful to acquire such "overrated" players.
Jason Babin is also a Pro Bowl player on the D-Line and Cullen Jenkins is a veteran D-tackle to aid what is a very average front seven.
Tailback Ronnie Brown has not lived up to the hype coming out of college at Auburn, but is a big, powerful back whom compliments the speedy slashing-starting tailback LeSean McCoy quite well.
Quarterback Vince Young has had a rollercoaster of a career thus far, but with Michael Vick as the starter, Young presents a similar-styled quarterback to back-up Vick, whom is prone to get injured about once a year.
Finally, we have wideout Steve Smith. He's only 26, in his fifth season, and is a very good receiver, to go along with standouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Smith was banged up at the end of last season, but even in only playing 9 games a year ago, Smith has caught at least 48 passes for at least 529 yards in each of the past three seasons. Just two years ago, he played all 16 games for the New York Giants and caught 107 passes for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Are there some overrated players in this group? Sure. Young and Brown come to mind, but they are back-ups and very capable ones at that. If they were signed by the Eagles with plans on starting, then yes, I'd say that Philly paid more than they should have. However, that's not the case. The Eagles went from one of the poorest pass defenses in the NFL to potentially one of the best. They upgraded a very average front seven. They won't be dominant there, but will be improved from where they were at last season. They signed a Vick-like presence at quarterback, in case the starter got hurt. They signed a between-the-tackles back to back-up the very elusive McCoy. Finally, they signed one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL, to be the #3 man behind the before-mentioned Jackson and Maclin, to go along with the steady Jason Avant and Brent Celek at tight end.
Is it too early to refer to the Eagles as a "Dream Team"? Yes, of course. But, is it too early to claim their signees are the most overrated group of players in the NFL? Yes again. In fact, I think that latter question has already been disproven, given these players' track records. If only Mr. Joyner had continued on the reasonable route he seemed to be taking with the title of his article, he would have made a lot more sense and seemed much more credible in his "analysis". However, by going the hyperbolic route, his article lost a great deal of credibility and his statements are right on par with the "Dream Team" statement Vince Young made in how utterly ridiculous it is.
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