By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com

Ernie Sims may turn out to be a very productive player for the Eagles. He may even put up near Pro Bowl numbers like he did before injuries derailed his career in 2008. However, he will not prove to be worthy of the ninth overall pick in the draft as he was in 2006.

The Eagles acquired Sims, a former playmaker at Florida State, in a three way trade that sent their fifth round pick to Denver, and TE Tony Scheffler and Denver’s 7th rounder to the Lions.

Ernie Sims hopes to resurrect a promising NFL career in Eagles green next year.

Andy Reid and little Howie Roseman see Sims as a starter in their defense, presumably taking over the spot that Chris Gocong couldn’t nail down last year. Sims can’t wait to join the Eagles ballhawking defense.

“I’m just real excited, looking for a new beginning … I’m ready to jump in,” Sims told Les Bown and others this afternoon. “I’m like a sponge right now.”

While we like the idea of trading the fifth round pick you got in the Sheldon Brown-Gocong deal for Sims, we’re not ready to pencil him in as the starter. The value is definitely there and worth the gamble of a pick you likely would cut in two years anyway.

Having said that, there’s a reason a team like Detroit gave up on Sims. While he started every game his first three years in the league, he managed just eights starts in 11 games last year thanks, in part, to hamstring injuries. More importantly, he had just 2.5 sacks and one interception in four years as a Lion. He did prove he could tackle, registering 420 so far in his career.

The bottom line is I’m not doing cartwheels down Pattison. However, Sims adds depth to a depleted linebacking corps. For a fifth round pick, that’s all you really need at this point. Anything above average play should be considered a bonus.