By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

The Eagles slapped the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick and nailed kicker David Akers with the transition tag. While the move with Vick was expected, the move with Akers was a bit of a surprise and we wonder how happy the Pro Bowl kicker is with that.

As far as Vick is concerned, there is no way the Eagles would let the Comeback and Offensive Player of the Year walk. They ultimately want to sign the human joystick to a long-term deal if there is some sort of common ground the two sides can get to (i.e., Vick gives a discount to the team that gave him his second chance).

Eagles kicker David Akers laments the team slapping the Transition Tag on him today.

Vick had to know this was coming and will have no real issue with it. He knows he’s getting paid next year.

Akers, on the other hand, may be shaking his head. The Eagles have rarely used a transition tag. And, while the lack of a CBA plays into this, didn’t Andy Reid hang his kicker out to dry after the loss to the Packers last month. I seem to recall the line, “we can all count” being used by Big Red in reference to Akers’ missed field goals.

The fact that Reid criticized Akers knowing that his daughter had just gone through cancer surgery likely didn’t sit well with the kicker. Akers surely loves Philly and feels at home here. Still, part of you has to wonder if he wants to move on. While he’ll still have that chance if a team wants to overpay for him, the percentage just shrunk. The only way Akers leaves now is if a new CBA is reached soon and the Eagles lift the transition tag and go after another kicker.

Then again, who is better than Akers?