Joe Banner

The Eagles appear well-armed to be aggressive in the NFL free-agent market, which opens at midnight tonight. The options are not what they once might have been because last week, a record total of 14 teams placed franchise tags on players who were eligible to become unrestricted free agents. Eagles president Joe Banner predicted that there would be a flurry of activity in the first few days of the free-agent signing period, but declined to say whether the Eagles would be part of it. "I think there's going to be a big rush the first three to seven days, where you'll see a bunch of very, very big deals," Banner said.

The NHL is going to a $39 million salary cap. And, as they have in the NFL, teams are designating personnel to fill the role of capologist. Barry Hanrahan, assistant to general manager Bob Clarke, has been given that task for the Flyers. Hanrahan met with Eagles president Joe Banner late in the 2003-04 NHL season, getting a four-hour crash course in managing a salary cap. Banner has been the Eagles' cap wizard for a decade and is considered one of the sharpest cap managers in pro football.

Chuck Banker was a scout with the Washington Redskins when Plan B, a limited form of free agency, was introduced into the NFL in 1989. At the time, the Redskins were in transition at the general manager's position, from Bobby Beathard to Charley Casserly. "The change didn't affect us," Banker said. "We were completely prepared; we knew who we wanted. When that (Plan B) list came out in February, we had a file on everybody. " That was how an effective NFL organization works.

Joe Banner offered a bold prediction about the two most pressing matters in the Eagles' world. "Corey Simon will have the first sack in the new stadium," Banner said at the end of a briefing with reporters yesterday. Call it gallows humor, because Banner wasn't encouraged about the progress being made on either the negotiations with Simon, the team's first-round pick, or with the city on a new stadium. "I'm not sure which one is going to get done first," said Banner, the team's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Last year, the Eagles remained silent right up to the moment then-Mayor Rendell pronounced a deal for new stadiums dead in the water. Now, getting that sinking feeling again, the team is taking a different tack. Eagles chief operating officer Joe Banner flew back from his family vacation yesterday, a day after City Council held a hearing dominated by opponents of new stadiums. "It's like instant replay," said Banner, the Eagles' point man on stadium matters. Banner said the debate over spending public money was well-meaning but misguided.

It's a good time to be selling anything Eagles, even if that something comes with a four- or five-figure price tag. That's what team officials are finding as they market the remaining season-ticket plans for next year and beyond at Lincoln Financial Field. These are the club seats that occupy the second deck of the soon-to-be-completed, three-level structure. And they're not for everybody. Depending on location, they go for $1,500, $2,100 or $2,900 for next season, a minimum of $150 per game for eight regular-season and two preseason contests.

YOUR article applauding big-hearted Joe Banner was a wonderful read. I especially enjoyed hearing about his "addiction to the feeling from helping other people. " I guess he kicked the habit when he fired a disabled employee for criticizing the loss of Brian Dawkins online. The Eagles president should rehire that young man. Perhaps then I'll find his extraordinary empathy more believable. Bryan Flannery, Chalfont

Inquirer staff writers Jeff McLane and Mike Jensen received national honors in the Associated Press Sports Editors contest for 2012. Each received a Top 10 award. McLane won in the breaking news category for his article about former Eagles president Joe Banner's resignation. Jensen won in the explanatory category for his Page One article on sneaking into sporting events and concerts.

The following is an excerpt from Eagletarian.com in a post by Daily News sports writer Les Bowen:   As Eagles coach Andy Reid arrived in Indianapolis yesterday, he told your Eagletarian he was unaware of team president Joe Banner's remarks last week. Banner expressed strong support for Reid and his ability to win a Super Bowl, but Banner also indicated Reid needs to win one to get another contract, after the one that expires after the 2013 season. "I haven't read anything about that," said Reid, who is attending the annual NFL scouting combine.

Inquirer Eagles writer Jeff McLane finished in a tie for fourth place in the Associated Press Sports Editors' breaking news category, it was announced Thursday. Staff writer Mike Jensen received honorable mention in the explanatory category in the over-175,000 circulation division, which included national websites. Both had previously been named top 10 nationally. McLane broke the news that then-Eagles president Joe Banner was leaving the team, and Jensen wrote an article about the Philly tradition of sneaking into big sporting and other events.