In an article exploring how the Eagles can replace the production of Sheldon Brown, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns on Friday, head coach Andy Reid told Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News that Pro Bowl left cornerback Asante Samuel would have to pick up some of the slack.
"I think Asante knows he needs to have a better year than what he had, even though he was a Pro Bowler," Reid said. "As good a player as he is, he can be even better. And I think that's the way he's handling the off-season."
Samuel responded by texting Comcast SportsNet's Derrick Gunn that improvement is needed in all levels of the organization.
"The whole team needs to improve from the front office, to the head coach to the players," Samuel said. "And when that happens, things will be better."
Samuel has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two years with the Eagles and was tied for the league-lead with nine interceptions last season. Samuel was signed by the Eagles as the big-ticket free agent prior to the 2008 season after spending his first five years in the league with the Patriots.
In Samuel's last year in New England, he started alongside Ellis Hobbs as the Patriots became the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season. Hobbs is the front-runner to replace Brown on the right side after the trade.
Linebacker Chris Gocong was also involved in the deal which brought linebacker Alex Hall and two draft picks in return.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 3:00 p.m., April 4
