Ike Reese: Love Shady, But 'I'm Not Upset' About Trade
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- As a former Eagles Pro Bowl linebacker, an avid LeSean McCoy fan, an admitted critic of Chip Kelly, and the reigning champ of 94WIP's 8th Annual Great Birds Debate, there was no opinion on the reported McCoy trade that we were clamoring for more, than Ike Reese's.
"Say it ain't so! Say it ain't so!" Reese exclaimed at the top of the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show on Wednesday morning, alongside co-host Michael Barkann.
Listen: Ike Reese gives his opinion on the reported LeSean McCoy trade
Shockingly to some, myself included, Reese was content with the trade.
"Let me just say this," Reese said. "I'm not upset about deal. I'm not unhappy about the deal. I'm not outraged by the deal. I'll just say this, there's been a lot of cap space created by this move. You're looking at 45-plus million dollars the Eagles will have available to them to spend, I'm assuming here, once free-agency starts next week. I will hold my judgement as far as how I view this overall move."
Reese believes this was mostly a money move, as the Eagles saved $18.3 million in cap space over the next two seasons by making this move.
"This could turn out to be a very good move for the Eagles," Reese admitted. "Listen, nobody loved Shady as much as I did. I think he was a fantastic runner, one of the best to ever wear midnight green, spectacular player that still has good football left in him---I believe at least three more years of good football left in him, maybe more depending on how much he's used over the next few years---but this happens with running back. This happens with players that have this type of a salary cap hit to a team's cap."
"And Kiko Alonso, whom they've received in the trade that's reported, is a good linebacker if he's healthy. He's a good linebacker if he's healthy, a good young linebacker."
Reese also admitted that he wasn't completely surprised McCoy was dealt.
"Listen, I can't sit here and tell you that I was 100 percent surprised yesterday," Reese said. "I was a little surprised. I thought maybe it would go to the draft and he could get through the draft that he would be here this year. Always thought there was a slight possibility with this rumor floating out there, how much Chip wants to move up to get Marcus Mariota that Shady would be a part of that deal, possibly.
