God help me, I want to believe Joe Banner.
After the Eagles traded for left tackle Jason Peters last week, a lot of people figured that would take the Birds out of the Anquan Boldin sweepstakes. ESPN's John Clayton repeatedly said the Eagles almost certainly gave up on Boldin as a result. I don't know Clayton, but he sure looks smart. If he weren't covering the NFL, I'd totally let him do my taxes.
But over the weekend, Banner was asked whether the Peters trade - which cost the Eagles the 28th pick, along with a fourth-rounder and a second-day pick in next year's draft - would prevent the Birds from going after Boldin. Banner didn't mention the Arizona wide receiver by name, but his response was awfully interesting.
What he told Bob Brookover made my heart skip. It skipped again when ESPN picked up Brookie's story. And I nearly went into cardiac arrest when ESPN.com spun Banner's words into a headline that read "Strong chance Boldin flies to Philly."
"We're always looking for players that we think can make us better," Banner told Brookie. "I think we've proven many times that we'd be willing to do what it takes, whether it be a trade or do something with somebody's contract in order to get them here."
Always looking? Make us better? Willing to do what it takes?
That kind of language will make an Eagles fan go weak in the knees and abandon all his chaste vows to dislike and distrust Banner. The question, of course, is whether Banner is simply being a football tease or if the Birds might actually swap their remaining first-rounder for Boldin.
