Dozens of you have alerted us to something on the Eagles’ website that could be interpreted as indicating that a deal that would send quarterback Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is done.
The Eagles are selling Rodgers-Cromartie jerseys on their website.
It’s not a front-page thing. Instead, the name appears under the “Select a Player” option when purchasing an authentic jersey.
We’re skeptical on this one, for a couple of reasons.
First, we’ve seen this kind of thing before. The folks who run the web operations usually don’t know what’s going on. Our guess is that someone assumed, based on the rampant media reports, that Rodgers-Cromartie will be joining the team.
Second, it’s not as if the Eagles’ website generally conveys the impression that the right hand has an inkling as to what the left hand is doing. The official roster, for example, still includes the team’s 2011 unrestricted free agents, even though the Eagles have said that none of them will be back. Hell, even safety Quintin Mikell, who has agreed to terms with the Rams, still appears on the roster page.
So while the deal may still happen, the ability to purchase a Rodgers-Cromartie jersey probably doesn’t represent some advance plan by the front office to be ready for the crush (eye roll) of orders that would be placed for the item.
UPDATE: And, of course, the Eagles already have removed the Rodgers-Cromartie jersey option. Mikell remains on the official roster.
SECOND UPDATE: The guy who runs CrossingBroad.com claims to have discovered it, and apparently wants credit. So here it is. All we know is that we got over 50 e-mails about it, and we’re in no position in the middle of the free-agency frenzy to figure out who spotted it first. Or to care.