This former GM that is responsible for drafting Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Chris McAlister, Adalius Thomas, Terrell Suggs, Todd Heap, and Ed Reed. Yes, it is the person you are thinking of: Phil Savage is now with the Eagles! From the Eagles official website.
The Eagles on Thursday announced they have named Phil Savage as a Player Personnel Consultant for the 2010 draft. In this role, Savage will work with Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman and Director of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson in their draft preparations, specifically in the evaluation of draft prospects in the Southeast portion of the country.OMG I just wet myself.
"I've always admired the work Phil Savage has done," said Roseman. "And after spending time with him this past year, I realized how well we could work together. Phil is an excellent talent evaluator and having an extra set of eyes for us to utilize will definitely help our scouting staff as we prepare for the draft. He's spent time working on the 2010 draft class already, so Ryan and I thought it is was a slam dunk when the opportunity was there for us to add him to our staff."
Said Savage, who served as the radio color analyst for the Crimson Tide Sports Network in 2009: "This is a great opportunity for me to get back in the NFL. I'm really excited about the role the Eagles have afforded me and I'm ready to help Howie and the rest of their scouting staff in the best way I possibly can."
The 44-year-old Savage spent four seasons as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08. In his four years with the Browns, the team acquired five Pro Bowl players (three through the college draft) and won a franchise-best 10 games in 2007. That year, the Browns had six players selected to the Pro Bowl (Derek Anderson, Joshua Cribbs, Braylon Edwards, Ryan Pontbriand, Joe Thomas, and Kellen Winslow), which was the most by the franchise since six players were chosen in 1995.
Prior to his stint with Cleveland, Savage enjoyed a nine-year run with the Baltimore Ravens. He was hired as the Director of College Scouting by Vice President of Player Personnel Ozzie Newsome in 1996 and held that position for seven years. He was elevated to Director of Player Personnel in 2003. In that time period, the Ravens acquired 11 Pro Bowl players through the college draft, including Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, who helped Baltimore to a victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.
Savage will be mainly focusing on the southeastern portion of the country in his draft scouting. This guy has a talent for finding future NFL stars, especially late in the draft. And look at all the defensive studs he has found in the draft. One can argue that he Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are two of the best defenders of the past decade and the Eagles have just brought in the man that decided to draft them. And at this stage what is one thing that the Eagles desperately need? Defensive studs.
Good move, Eagles. Good move. And if ever there was a time for Phil Savage to locate the next Ed Reed, that time is now.
I would say that Savage was also responsible for giving the Ravens Haloti Ngata for Kamerion Wimbley, but I'm afraid he'd get ahold of my email address to F-Bomb me.
ReplyDeleteVery, very true RJBO.
ReplyDeleteOh and he wasn't picking those players JFein, Ozzie still had the final call. Savage was recommending them.