Look, like everyone has said, we did NOT cut St. Clair to add Eckel. Thats the first issue. Next, St. Clair was obviously not going to play this year. He is not young. He doesnt have promise. So why keep him on here if he isnt going to play and he has no long term value? Not to mention saving money... Why not add a guy who was just drafted in Berger? A guy with some great value down the road, a guy who can take this season to learn from Houck and we can see what we have and if it is worth keeping him on to develop him as our future center or guard... Remember- Nick desperately wanted more picks this year. We have added a 4th rounder (Gibson) and now a 6th rounder (Berger)- so what does it tell you? Nick is trying to inject youth, something this team sorely lacked when he came aboard and something Wanny neglected to address. You have to trust NS and HH and SL (Scotty Linehan) to evaluate the guys, and if they think St. Clair has no value, then absolutely you get rid of him. He is dead weight, when we could be developing a young kid with some ability.
As for Eckel, I dont see why you dislike the move. Who did we drop to grab him.. Kris Richard. Well, he has already been replaced. I havent seen him live, but from what I hear from NE fans and Navy fans, he is a real tough runner with some great ability for a big guy. He could be a big piece of our team in the future, and we basically picked him up for a ST CB we no longer need? And you oppose this deal why? Its not like he was called to the navy and now we lose him and we gave up a player for him... we still own his rights and he will play for the Fins at one point. Nick is building a team to win now, but also to win for the future. It is the second part of the equation that you dont seem to understand. Sure a known name like Mario Edwards seems like a solution at dime back, but he was playing lousy football and Nick obviously feels a combo of Eddie Jackson and Kiwaukee Thomas can replace him and even more, make us a better football team in other ways (in this case, likely ST coverage). Look, its been a long offseason and we are just days away- dont lose faith now. NS has a plan and every move he makes is calculated, analyzed and intended. He has a reason for everything. Try and be patient, and see where he goes with it. IMO he will lead us in the future with moves just like these two- picking up low risk high reward guys for nothing.