Thursday, March 28, 2013

Eagles trade FB Havili

New Eagles DE Clifton Geathers
PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles have acquired journeyman defensive end Clifton Geathers from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for fullback Stanley Havili.

A traditional FB like Havili is not needed in a Chip Kelly offense while Geathers, who is 6-foot-7 and weighs 325 pounds, is the prototypical size for a 3-4 defensive end, a key component of the deal since Philadelphia is moving away from its traditional 4-3 look.

Originally a sixth round selection of Cleveland in the 2010 draft, Geathers  has spent time with the Browns, Dolphins, Seahawks, Cowboys and Colts in his three-year career, appearing in 15 total games. He played in eight games for Indianapolis in 2012, recording five tackles and a sack.

Geathers starred collegiately at South Carolina, where he played in 36 career games and finished with 72 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles.

The 25-year-old Geathers comes from a football family as his brother, Robert, has played nine years as a defensive end with the Bengals. His father, Robert, Sr., also a defensive lineman, was a third round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1981. In addition, his uncle, James "Jumpy" Geathers, enjoyed a 13-year NFL career, won two Super Bowls, and recorded 66 career sacks with the Saints (1984-89), Redskins (1990-93), Falcons (1994-95) and Broncos (1996).

The Colts general manager, Ryan Grigson,  was the Eagles director of player personnel before moving to Indy and had a hand in drafting Havili, who was a seventh round pick in 2011 out of Southern California.

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