Eagles continue signing rampage, now exploring top NHL, NBA free agents

Philadelphia--Howie Roseman hasn't slept in over a week. Well, perhaps a few hours here and there, but the Eagles' hard-charging general manager has been on a mission to make the Birds into a viable Super Bowl contender this season. The 36-year-old has declared war on the NFL free agent market, shortened due to the lengthy lockout, flanking left, right and all over the place.

Obviously, the biggest addition the Eagles made was cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. If that was the only signing by the club, the offseason still could have been declared a success. Asomugha was considered the top free agent available, and the Eagles came out of nowhere to land him. However, they didn't stop there, as Cullen Jenkins, Ronnie Brown, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jason Babin, to name a few, were also added via trades or signing.

So dominant has the team been in player acqusitions that they are beginning to explore free agents in other sports. The Eagles have contacted several NBA and NHL players within the past 48 hours.

"Brad Richards was signed by the New York Rangers in early July, so he's off the market, that's disappointing, but we are honing in on the longtime New Jersey Devil John Madden," Roseman said. "That would be a big addition."

The Eagles brass are behind Roseman's decision to branch out to other sporting leagues in an effort to really emphasize how serious the team is this season about winning ... and, winning big.

"Heck, at this point I just feel like we're on such a roll that we should keep shoveling coal into the engine," said head coach Andy Reid, who was shoveling some m&m's into his own engine. "We're currently in talks with the Orlando Magic for a trade involving Jason Richardson. And, who knows, we could turn around and package Jason to another NFL or NHL team. It really is like Thunderdome these days."

Owner Jeffrey Lurie added, "We've shown that we can dominate an NFL free agent signing period. That's great. Really, it is. But I want to think bigger. What will it say about our NFL franchise if we can bring home top NHL, NBA, MLB or, even, NASCAR free agents? I think it would make a statement. It would say, 'Hey everybody, look at us. We can sign top athletes that don't even play our sport.' I want to be aboard the crazy, crazy train that embarks on this mission."