Nick Piccone
Um, what?
Roster Move: #Eagles acquire 2019 7th-round pick from New Orleans in exchange for LS Jon Dorenbos. pic.twitter.com/jXfxEegm6U
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 29, 2017
More from Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman:
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 29, 2017
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 29, 2017
I need to collect my thoughts.
UPDATE: Dave Spadaro gave some insight on the move on the Eagles’ website.
The hope for the Eagles is that Rick Lovato, who played three games at the end of 2016 when Dorenbos went on Injured Reserve, can slide in and the special teams unit won’t miss a beat. Lovato snapped in games against Baltimore, New York, and Dallas and the Eagles clearly saw the ability he brought to the table, and at the same time asked him to improve in his protection game.
Lovato has had plenty of work in the preseason, alternating with Dorenbos. Nobody thought much of it at the time, not with the Eagles returning their kicking setup intact – placekicker Caleb Sturgis, punter Donnie Jones, and Dorenbos.
But Lovato did his job, even if nobody on the outside noticed. On the inside, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and the coaching staff paid attention. In Lovato, they have a chance to, again, transition seamlessly at the position with a player who is 12-plus years younger than Dorenbos and, at this time, on his rookie contract.
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