Sal Pal: Eagles Exploring Boldin

I don't like my only posts to be plugs for my show – ah who am I kidding!!!!!

We had Sal Paolantonio on yesterday to talk about his life and fascinating career. Did you know that Sal Pal was an honored Naval ship driver?

"I was able to steer us around and pick up Vietnamese boat people at a time when they were being kidnapped for ransom by pirates. Well, not literally pirates, but guys who were on the high seas. Sometimes it would be oil tankers or somebody would pick them up and bring them back to the Vietnamese government and get paid for it."

Sal has done a lot in his career (HE FOUGHT PIRATES!) including writing a best-selling book on Frank Rizzo and two more books, including one that is due out soon on the history of American Football.

Sal Pal has a lot to say about the Favre situation, including getting scooped by Jay Glazer and getting caught up in the 24-hour news cycle at the WWL:

“it’s wild. ESPN never sleeps. It is a very demanding mistress.”

Oh yeah, the point of the headline...Sal thinks the Eagles have already been in talks about getting Anquan Boldin. And this was taped on Monday night...before the Curtis situation seemed so grim.

"I think that they already are exploring it. I think that they’ve already have explored other options and, I think, Anquan Boldin was an option that they were interested in. At this point, it’s so hard to bring in a guy and make him part of your team when you’re coming into the third preseason game and you’ve had all 38 practices together in training camp.

"I, for one, think it’s a good idea. I think it’ll be hard, but I think it’s a good idea. They way I look at this offense, they’ve only made two changes – three if you count LJ Smith coming back from injury. The two changes are Lorenzo Booker and DeSean Jackson. I, for one, have no idea why Lorenzo Booker is on this football team. He’s too light to play running back in the NFL. He’s about the same size as DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis. They already have two of those guys, and I’m not sure why they’re going in this direction."

Well I, for one, think it's a great idea. Just as long as he doesn't get a weight bench installed in his driveway (oh yeah, we talk about TO with Sal too).

If you have the time, check out the interview here. We have links to the full show, and present it all clipped up for you too. You can also get it on Philadelphia Weekly's site at http://philadelphiaweekly.com/onthedl

Comments

[Kulp]

This is the absolute least I believe the Eagles would need to give up to acquire Boldin:

A conditional 1st or 2nd round draft pick
4th or 5th round draft pick
Reggie Brown

[Kulp]

And, uh, the conditions of that 1st round pick would probably be rather easy to meet. Lead team in receptions, or play 50% of the snaps, or demonstrate the ability to tie shoes correctly.

[DLo34]

I don't care if we have to give up the Eagles 1st pick next year (which we will probably trade to a division opponent so we can draft a player who no one has even heard of). I'll throw in the Sixers, Phils, and Flyers 1st round pick to boot.

Bottom line, it would be irresponsible for the Philadelphia Eagles to start a football season with Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis, and DeSean Jackson as their wideouts. Hmm, I wonder why McNabb gets hurt every year? Could it be because no one gets separation? We throw the damn ball 60% of the time and our best wide receiver is a former #3. It would be a total disrespect to McNabb if the Birds don't acquire someone at the wideout position.

[Ian]

I am sure the Eagles would love to have Quan, but Arizona has already said that they will not trade him. Drew Rosenhaus is stirring up interest in Boldin, by giving bad info to the media.

I also don't get why Sal Pal makes stupid comments like the one he made about Booker. The Eagles are obviously not going to start Booker so it does not matter that he is undersized. Booker's weight is not written in stone either. He will be working out to get stronger, and will put on more muscle over time.

Brian Westbrook does not have great size, but he is one of the best RBs in the NFL. What about Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Warrick Dunn, and Priest Holmes? None of them had great size, and they all became very good to great running backs in the NFL.

I hate when somebody uses size alone to diss a player. If you want to knock his talent that is fine, but don't just say "he is too small". Guys like Brian Westbrook have been hearing they were too small since middle school.

[Scott]

Self-important, self-aware Sal Paolantonio

[will]

sal pal is a giant douche. i hate that people think he's a philly guy. he's a dirtbag new yorker.

[Ben]

wont' happen.
sal pal seems like an asshole self promoter (i work 24/7 at espn) i mean who cares? hes just another espn tool.

[Lenny]

"At this point, it’s so hard to bring in a guy and make him part of your team when you’re coming into the third preseason game and you’ve had all 38 practices together in training camp."

Those were my exact thoughts when hearing about The Quan coming to Philly. Adds to the already significant number of reasons why the Birds won't be getting him (i.e. Cards don't want to let him go; they need serious WR skillz with QB's like the struggling Leinart and aging Warner; he's a beast, etc., etc.)

[Bob Scott]

For the Sal Pal fans out there, Sal will be signing books and talking football Friday, October 3rd, at 7PM at the Rittenhouse Square Barnes & Noble.