So much for being the heir apparent to Brian Dawkins.


If nothing else, there is certainly one thing no one can say about brand new Eagles general manger Howie Roseman: the man is not boring.

Roseman's first "cut day" as the Eagles' GM yielded two trades and releasing two former starters as well as keeping 10 draft picks and two more rookies not drafted by the Eagles. I was highly critical of the Eagles' decision to keep 13 draft picks because I figured there was no way more than seven or eight rookies actually made the roster.

Clearly I underestimated the youth movement in Philly as a grand total of 12 rookies make up the 53-man roster. That's an insanely high amount and it could result in more long-term success than anything immediate.

There were several surprises out of Philadelphia this past Saturday, but let's take a look at the five most surprising and intriguing.



Trading Stacy Andrews to Seattle

The move started to look inevitable on Saturday, but only a week ago no one would have guessed that Andrews would actually get traded. Some were calling for him to be released, but I doubt even they thought there was a chance he wouldn't be an Eagle.

In the end, the Eagles wound up getting peanuts for Andrews (a seventh-round pick), but the move saved them $5 million and with the addition of Reggie Wells from Arizona, keeping Andrews around was no longer necessary.



Trading for Antwan Barnes from Baltimore

About four hours before the roster is supposed to be trimmed down, the Eagles continued making moves and actually adding guys. Barnes, a guy who played outside linebacker in the Baltimore Ravens' 3-4 scheme, is actually someone Andy Reid has had his eye on ever since he came out of college back in 2007.

Reid has a way of eventually getting his guy, and he made it very clear he wanted Barnes. In Philly, Barnes will likely play more defensive end than linebacker, but his versatility could prove very valuable.

I had a hunch they might trade for a defensive end or linebacker, but Barnes was not a guy who ever even crossed my mind.



Cutting Macho Harris and Quintin Demps

Demps, we were told, was going to be the heir apparent to Brian Dawkins. But, unfortunately for us, that went down the drains after Demps proved he was a total blockhead during the 2008 NFC Championship game.

The next year, after Dawkins was allowed to walk to Denver, Demps was slated to take over at free safety, but couldn't hold on to the job and was replaced by Macho Harris, a fifth-round pick out of the 2009 draft, before the season even began.

Now they're both gone and there doesn't seem to be an Eagles fan in Philly or anywhere else ready to shed a tear for either of them. Good riddance, you both played like six-year-olds and never realized the potential everyone saw.



Keeping Kurt Coleman as the Lone Backup Safety

Originally I thought the Eagles could keep three safeties, but I figured the guy would be Demps due to the fact that the Birds were lining him up at both safety positions and were using him as the primary kick returner during the preseason.

I happened to be right with my first instinct about keeping only three safeties, but it turned out to be seventh-round pick Kurt Coleman who got the nod as the primary backup.

Roseman hinted that the Birds might still add a safety, but for now Coleman is the man should either Nate Allen or Quintin Mikell go down.



Keeping Hank Baskett Over Kelley Washington

I'm repeating myself at this point, but it's something that needs to be said. Reid must start paying more attention to the special teams, but he refuses to do so. Someone has to tell him that the best special teams coordinator in the league (which they have) is completely useless if he doesn't have guys to work with.

Sure, Baskett is a decent special teams player, but nothing like Washington who has turned it into a niche. Washington, along with White, made it seem like Reid was taking a renewed interest in the third phase of the game, but now they're both gone and the team will be relying heavily upon their rookie linebackers to step up.



Honorable mentions:

Keeping Rookie Corner Jorrick Calvin

I was actually less surprised by this than most, figuring there was little chance Reid cut the guy before getting to really see him some more. He was impressive enough against the Jets that keeping him just made sense.

Trading Tracy White to New England

White was a free agent for how long, so why didn't the Patriots just sign him when he was still on the street rather than sacrificing what will likely be a seventh-round pick in 2012? It's not much, but they could have had him for nothing about a month ago.

King Dunlap Sticks Around for One More Year

Why not just cut Dunlap and keep Kelley Washington around? Reggie Wells can play right tackle in a pinch and Nick Cole could slide in at right guard. Or, for that matter, Austin Howard likely would have little trouble making the transition.

Keeping Dunlap just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me and the only thing I can think is that Reid and offensive line coach Juan Castillo see too much raw potential in Dunlap to cut him loose just yet. But was it really worth sacrificing a guy like Washington or defensive tackle Jeff Owens?
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Barring a shocking move, MJG will be an Eagle again.


In case you hadn't heard, the Eagles traded Stacy Andrews to the Seattle Seahawks for a seventh-round pick. Okay, you probably heard, but what you might not have heard is the procedural garbage that went into making the trade work.

So, because the Seahawks and Eagles couldn't complete the Andrews trade before the 6:00PM deadline, Andrews counted towards the Eagles' final roster. Meaning that, right now, as far as the league is concerned, Andrews is still an Eagle.

It's a bit more complicated than that, but nothing worth going into.

That put the Eagles at 54 players. So, in order to get to the maximum of 53, they were forced to cut Max Jean-Gilles for the time being.

They have told Jean-Gilles and the media, however, that they have every intention of re-signing him once Andrews is taken off the roster and they drop to 52 players. Jean-Gilles is technically a free agent and can sign wherever he'd like, but all indications are that he'll stay on board as Todd Herremans' backup at left guard.

The team could still make a small move or two, but for now the breakdown is three quarterbacks, four running backs, two tight ends, five wide receivers, 10 offensive and defensive lineman, seven linebackers, nine defensive backs, and three specialists.

UPDATE: Per Les Bowen via Twitter: "Agent Drew Rosenhaus sez Max Jean-Gilles plans "on signing back with the Eagles in the a.m."
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Andrews wanted out, and is now very, very far away.


According to Adam Schefter, the Eagles have sent offensive lineman Stacy Andrews to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a late-round pick in next year's draft.

The trade allows the Eagles to get out of paying any money to Andrews and sticks the Seahawks with paying him at least $5 million this season, unless of course they convinced him to re-work his contract.

Apparently there is some concern from the league office that the trade was actually not completed before the 6:00PM EST deadline, but I don't see that actually affecting anything. At the very worst the league makes both teams do some quick roster shuffling and change a few timestamps.

Either way, Andrews will be on his way to Seattle and newcomer Reggie Wells is likely to take over as the starting right guard since Nick Cole is still not at 100 percent.

This is the best scenario for both sides. Andrews clearly wasn't happy with the move to right guard, but with Winston Justice's emergence there was no need for him at right tackle as they might have thought when they brought him in.

So, for the Eagles, there were really only two choices: either keep him on the roster as a starter or backup and hope he doesn't cause a problem, or trade him. There was no way they were going to cut him and pay him $5 million to either sit at home or play for a different team.

And for the Seahawks, they could be getting a quality right tackle for next to nothing other than Andrews' somewhat bloated contract.

But ask me to feel sorry for Paul Allen having to spend a little extra money and I might laugh until I fall over and literally split my sides.

Getting all they could for Andrews has got to have the Eagles pleased, but it better have them very worried as well. Right now, the only guys they have to step in are Wells and Cole, but Wells is brand new and Cole is dinged up.

Starting Wells might not be an option if he can't at least start grasping the playbook very, very soon, and Cole might not be healthy enough in just over a week to be the man. So even though one problem has been solved, another very big problem has arisen.

UPDATE: According to Chris Mortensen, the league has given both teams the green light and the trade is official.

UPDATE #2: Howie Roseman says Nick Cole is the starting right guard. For now.

UPDATE #3: The team was forced to cut Max Jean-Gilles to get the roster under 53, but say they want to resign him as soon as possible.

UPDATE #4: Eagles receive seventh-round pick for Andrews. Wow.

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For me, Kurt Coleman is a no-brainer type of pick.


By 6:00PM today the Eagles must have their roster down to only 53 players. As it stands, they have 65 after cutting 10 guys, placing Victor Abiamiri on the PUP, and trading for Arizona Cardinals guard Reggie Wells.

That means 12 guys must still get trimmed from the roster, and figuring out those 12 guys will be more difficult than most people think. Almost every year there's a surprise cut right around this time, and this year likely won't be any different.

We've also seen the Birds aren't afraid to swing a trade this year, so keep that in mind as well.

So let's take a look at who I believe will stay, who will go, and also how I would set up the roster if I was in Andy Reid's position.



Quarterbacks (3)

1. Kevin Kolb, 2. Michael Vick, 3. Mike Kafka

Obviously, nothing shocking here. The Eagles didn't even bring in a scrub fourth quarterback to push the third guy a little, so this has been set for quite some time.

How I Would Do It: Nothing changes. Well, I would still have Donovan McNabb on the roster, but that's neither here nor there at this point.



Running Backs (4)

1. LeSean McCoy, 2. Mike Bell, 3. Eldra Buckley, 4. Leonard Weaver (FB)

Weaver could actually wind up being the No. 2 running back if we judge the depth chart based on the carries distribution. Bell has caught some heat for his inability to stay healthy and was a guy a lot of fans wanted to see go so Martell Mallett could stick around, but if he can get to 100 percent and stay there he's a dangerous guy.

How I Would Do It: Again, I'm in agreement. It would have been great to see J.J. Arrington make a legitimate push for a spot, but Buckley is a guy who can be relied upon to a) play great special teams, and b) run like hell whenever he happens to get a carry.



Tight Ends (2)

1. Brent Celek, 2. Clay Harbor

Reid only kept two tight ends last season, and with the numbers game taking place on a few other positions this might be the best way to shave a roster spot. However, if something were to happen to Celek, this could catch the Birds in a real bind.

How I Would Do It: I'm probably keeping three tight ends. Most think Reid could go out and add a veteran tight end who can block, but the upside of Cornelius Ingram is too much for me to resist. I'm hoping they find a way to stash him on IR again, or at least the PUP with Abiamiri.



Wide Receiver (5)

1. DeSean Jackson, 2. Jeremy Maclin, 3. Jason Avant, 4. Riley Cooper, 5. Hank Baskett

The word around town is that Baskett is a lock. I'm not exactly sure why as I haven't seen a whole lot from him, but that's the word. Some believe Baskett and Kelley Washington could make the roster, but they're far too similar to keep both. It's one or the other.

How I Would Do It: Keep Washington over Baskett. Hank is the better overall receiver, but he's not far enough ahead of Washington to warrant keeping him and taking a step down on special teams play.



Offensive Line (10)

LT1. Jason Peters, LT2. Austin Howard, LG1. Todd Herremans, LG2. Reggie Wells, C1. Jamaal Jackson, C2. Mike McGlynn, RG1. Stacy Andrews, RG2. Nick Cole, RT1. Winston Justice, RT2. King Dunlap

Stacy Andrews could get traded at some point today which move Wells or Cole into the starting spot at right guard and perhaps open up a roster spot for one of the younger guys, but at this point I think Reid probably just holds onto Andrews as nothing will likely seem like a fair value to Reid at this point.

How I Would Do It: While I think Andrews has been much better than anyone will give him credit for, I would try to trade him. He seems unhappy at guard and would rather play tackle, and it would be nice to get off the hook for his $5 million salary. However, if they can't trade him, cutting him doesn't make any sense.



Defensive Line (10)

RE1. Trent Cole, RE2. Darryl Tapp, RE3. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DT1. Brodrick Bunkley, DT2. Mike Patterson, DT3. Trevor Laws, DT4. Antonio Dixon, LE1. Brandon Graham, LE2. Juqua Parker, LE3. Antwan Barnes

If you're looking for a surprise cut, you could find it in Parker. He's been a little dinged up and has looked slow at points during camp and the preseason. Being 32 doesn't help his cause on a very young team, either. The Birds could pick up a cheaper vet, or a guy off the waiver wire ala Antonio Dixon, to use in his place until Abiamiri is ready to return.

UPDATE: The Barnes trade means the Birds keep 10 here, and fill their need for a guy who can put his hand in the ground and play the "Joker" role they were grooming Ricky Sapp to fill.

How I Would Do It: Parker stays. I'm not even saying I think Reid will cut Parker, but it wouldn't be too terribly shocking to see him cut the oldest non-punter or kicker on the team. I would love to find a place for Jeff Owens, but that appears unlikely.



Linebackers (6)

WILL1. Ernie Sims, WILL2. Keenan Clayton, MIKE1. Stewart Bradley, MIKE2. Omar Gaither, SAM1. Akeem Jordan, SAM2. Moise Fokou

UPDATE: With the trade for Antwan Barnes, Tracy White loses a numbers crunch. This could mean the end for Fokou rather than White, but I think the team likes Fokou's upside too much to cut him loose after only one season. Since Barnes can play SAM in a pinch, there's no need to keep seven linebackers.

How I Would Do It: Tracy White would definitely stay. Special teams has been ignored for far too long, but letting go of Jamar Chaney hurts. He's a physical guy who likely won't get through waives, or I'm placing him on the practice squad.



Defensive Backs (10)

CB1. Asante Samuel, CB2. Ellis Hobbs, CB3. Joselio Hanson, CB4. Trevard Lindley, CB5. Dimitri Patterson, FS1. Nate Allen, FS2. Macho Harris, SS1. Quintin Mikell, SS2. Kurt Coleman, FS/RS. Quintin Demps

Depending on how much Reid likes the guy he traded for, Jorrick Calvin, Harris or Demps could get the boot. Reid can be loyal to a fault, however, so it wouldn't surprise me if both guys are back. Five safeties looks like a lot but if Reid believes Harris is a viable option at corner as well, he could be convinced to keep all of them.

How I Would Do It: I would keep Jorrick Calvin and cut Harris. I might consider dumping Demps as well, but he does hold extra value as a kick returner. If I cut Demps, his roster spot would likely go to Jeff Owens.



Specialists (3)

K. David Akers, P. Sav Rocca, LS. Jon Dorenbos

As soon as Ken Parrish was released this was set, although I don't think Akers or Rocca really ever feared for their jobs.

How I Would Do It: I haven't been a fan of Rocca and would have considered getting him more serious competition early on, but he's been great in the preseason so keeping him is a no-brainer.
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At worst, Wells adds great depth along the line.


As the Eagles were hard at work today deciding who would be the first 10 players to get the axe, they were also in the middle of swinging a trade for Arizona Cardinals left guard Reggie Wells.

A sixth-round pick for a guy who hasn't missed a game in four years seems like a no-brainer, but what are the rippling effects of the move? Clearly the fanbase seems very unhappy with Stacy Andrews at right guard, and the Eagles organization doesn't appear thrilled with him either.

It's not so much that's he been bad, but he's certainly not living up to his paycheck. I'm one of the few people defending him, but even I can't say with a straight face that's he been worth the money he's making to this point.

But, if we back up for a second, you'll see that I said Wells is a left guard. That's what he's always played during his seven-year NFL career, so it seems unlikely they'd move him to the right side and part ways with Andrews.

Andy Reid loves versatile linemen, but if Wells has the versatility necessary, he hasn't been asked to show it too often.

He has played some right tackle for the Cardinals, but probably not enough to breed any confidence that he could step in, build a rapport with the other guys along the line, and perform any better than Andrews could at guard.

Instead, this looks like an indictment of Max Jean-Gilles. He has done everything he can this offseason to get in shape, including undergoing lap-band surgery, but he's been inconsistent during the preseason and still doesn't show that he truly grasps the blocking scheme.

There were a few times he would get caught up combo-blocking with whomever happened to be playing center at the time, only to stand there and watch as a linebacker came flying past him and untouched into the backfield.

Jean-Gilles was a guy who got caught as a restricted free agent under the rules of an uncapped season, so it wasn't surprising to see the Eagles bring him back. Had he hit free agency, it's likely he wouldn't even have been on their radar.

There is definitely a chance Wells could have been brought in to take over Andrews' spot, but only if the Eagles are confident they've found a trade partner for Andrews. They owe him $5 million this season if he's on the team or cut, so it would at least make sense to keep him for some depth at the very least should they not be able to move him via trade.

Finding a team to take Andrews and his lofty contract would certainly be difficult, but his versatility to play right guard or tackle could be attracting enough for a bad team to take a leap and hope he can get back to the level of football he was playing in Cincinnati.
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Could a poor performance mean the end for Stacy?


This is it. The preseason is just about over and we're only about a week from the first game that means something. But before then, every team, including the Eagles, must cut their roster from 75 to 53 players.

In case you're mathematically challenged, that's 22 guys who must be let go by 6PM on Saturday, September 4th. You could field an entire team -- offense and defense -- with 22 guys, so it goes without saying just how difficult cutting loose that number of guys can be.

These are guys who have been a part of the locker room since March, April, or for some guys even earlier than that. Some of the guys who will be cut have been with the team for years. And if you're lucky enough to have seen any of the episodes of Hard Knocks, regardless of the team, you understand what these teams go through when they let these guys go.

The players must show everything they can every time they touch the field, and Thursday night will be the very last time some guys wear an Eagles uniform. Let's take a look at five guys who absolutely must make the most of their final opportunity.



Jorrick Calvin, CB

Calvin just came over from the Arizona Cardinals, so he probably has the most difficult job of any guy who will hit the field tonight. They've obviously seen what he can do on film, but there is no substitute for seeing what a guy can do with your own two eyes.

The rookie corner will play, obviously, corner against the Jets and will likely get an opportunity to return kicks and perhaps some punts as well. Chad Hall has been handling the punt return duties during the preseason, but his time might already be up.

There is a Mt. Everest sized mountain between Calvin and a spot on the final roster, so he's going to have to show something that makes Andy Reid and company believe he's got the potential to be a star in the near future.



Macho Harris, FS

Now that he's back to safety, I think there's a good chance Harris' time with Philadelphia is already up, but that doesn't have to necessarily be the case. I can't think of a time Reid has ever had a rookie starter he released the next season. In fact, I'm sure that's an incredibly rarity anywhere in the NFL.

Harris, however, has shown absolutely nothing in camp or the preseason. He'd been playing corner, which is his natural position, and couldn't get anything going there, either. He proved last year he doesn't have the hitting ability to play free safety and must have a huge game against the Jets if he wants any shot of sticking around.



Stacy Andrews, RG

For all the talk, Andrews really has not been that bad. He hasn't been great, but he's done well enough that the talk of cutting him is simply ridiculous. Even if he had been playing as poorly as what most are saying, he's making $5 million off the Eagles in 2010 whether he's playing in Philadelphia or elsewhere, so cutting him makes zero sense.

However, there is concern that Andrews could be outplayed by Nick Cole if Cole was actually healthy and on the field. I'm not a huge fan of Cole outside of his versatility and value as a backup on the interior of the line, and still believe Andrews will show up with the same sort of talent he displayed in Cincinnati.

UPDATE: I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I should have known Stacy wasn't going to play against the Jets. That could actually be a good thing for him. Had he played, it might have meant the team was thinking about cutting him.


Hank Baskett, WR

Surprisingly, most people believe Baskett will be the choice over Kelley Washington to be the fifth receiver. I'm not exactly sure what they're basing that on, but I just don't see it.

No matter which when makes the roster, neither will be asked to play receiver all that often unless an injury takes place. Baskett likely is the better athlete and receiver, but the fifth guy must be able to play special teams and Washington is the clear-cut better play in that aspect.

For me, Washington's ability to play special teams makes him indispensable to a team that will clearly struggle in the third phase of the game all season long.



King Dunlap, T

The Eagles look poised to keep undrafted rookie Austin Howard and appear ready to move on without Dunlap. So if King wants to stay in this castle, he's going to need a monster preseason finale and really turn some heads.

Dunlap is actually underweight and seems a bit soft, so he must find a bit of a nasty streak if he's going to convince the team he's worth keeping and a guy they could trust were something to happen to either Jason Peters or Winston Justice.


Guys who could still earn a job include...

Tracy White, Moise Fokou, Kurt Coleman, Jeff Owens, Cornelius Ingram, Martell Mallett

Guys inevitably getting the boot include...

Eric Moncour, Boo Robinson, Jordan Norwood, Dobson Collins, J.J. Arrington, Dallas Reynolds
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Sapp probably won't the be last guy stashed on IR.


Ricky Sapp, the Eagles' fifth-round pick out of Clemson, has been placed on Injured Reserve and will apparently need knee surgery. Whether or not he really needs knee surgery is irrelevant, however, since the Birds were going to find a way to stash him on IR anyway.

In Sapp's place, the Eagles picked up defensive end Pannel Egboh off waivers from the Houston Texans as a roster filler for the final preseason game.

Sapp was a guy who was being talked about as a late first, early second-round talent, but fell all the way into the fifth round for obvious reasons if you've been paying attention to the preseason.

It's been a tough go for Sapp, but what's more puzzling is that no one can seem to put a finger on what exactly the issue is. The best I can guess is that he just doesn't have the motor needed to get around an NFL-caliber tackle -- right or left.

He seems to have a good first step off the line, but is continuously just getting ridden past the quarterback and clear out of the play. Adding to this theory is the fact that teams have seemed to run right at him in the preseason, and with great success.

Usually, that means the tackle is coming back to the huddle and telling his quarterback -- who is in turn telling the offensive coordinator -- that the end over top of him is taking an outside path to the quarterback every time and not even attempting an inside move.

Even standing up in Sean McDermott's "Joker" role gave Sapp trouble. Everyone talks about the difficulty for a defensive end to stand up and make plays that way, but he wasn't being asked to play linebacker. He was only being asked to be able to move around and create mismatches along the line of scrimmage, and he couldn't even do that.

I personally believe Sapp can turn into a player one day, but he made it fairly obvious early on that he wasn't ready for the speed and intensity of the NFL. But that should come with time and eventually give the Eagles a very good pass-rushing option.
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Scott will be given an opportunity to start in Arizona.


It's not exactly a surprise to see Charles Scott on a different roster, but to see him get there via trade was certainly not expected.

The big, bullish fullback/running back did not fit Andy Reid's system. He tried as hard as he could to show that he could be an option out of the backfield and even split out and run some patterns, but it just was never enough to have Reid convinced.

The move to fullback spelled the end for Scott one way or another since keeping him around as a short-yardage back was never truly an option with Leonard Weaver more than capable of filling that role and some.

In exchange, the Eagles received rookie cornerback Jorrick Calvin. At this point, I don't know a whole lot about Calvin, so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some film of the Arizona Cardinals' preseason games. Once I get my hands on some, I'll make sure to watch Calvin and formulate an opinion, but odds are he doesn't make the final roster.

He'll be asked to quickly pick up Sean McDermott's defense and show something Thursday night in the Eagles' final preseason game, so the odds are definitely working against him.

Scott, on the other hand, has a great chance to not only make the roster, but become a starter.

The Cardinals' starting fullback, Nehemiah Broughton, went down with a knee injury in the Cards' most recent game and it might be a bit more serious than we know. The trade for Scott would seem to mean they're looking for a guy to take over and must like what they've seen from Scott on film.

Of course, I'm not sure what that could be, since Scott has seen minimal time.

It's going to be interesting to keep track of Scott because he looks like he could have a career as a short-yardage, change-of-pace back if a team will give him that chance. As a fullback, however, I don't see the blocking ability required.

So welcome to Philadelphia, Jorrick Calvin. We truly hope you enjoy your stay, just make sure you hold off on signing that lease.
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Could Harris go from starter to cut in only one year?


The first roster cut-downs came and went without any surprises, but the final cut-down is definitely going to feature a few surprise cuts. Some fan favorites will have to be let go for the good of the team, and some moves will have fans scratching their head until it bleeds.

Outside of the starters, there are a few backups with solidified spots such as Juqua Parker, Riley Cooper, Nick Cole, and others. But there are also plenty of guys who will be fighting until the very end just to remain employed.

All of these guys will have a chance to shine in the fourth and final preseason game as the starters likely won't see the field, so they'll all have an opportunity to change the minds of Andy Reid and Howie Roseman -- for better or worse.

Let's take a look at the fate of some select bubble players as it stands so far through three preseason games.



Charles Scott, RB - Out

After a move to fullback, things became very shaky for a guy who came into camp as a fan favorite. But as I said when the Eagles drafted Scott, he just doesn't seem to fit Reid's offensive scheme at all. There's no way the Birds keep two fullbacks, and Scott just isn't a viable option at running back at this point.



Martell Mallett, RB - Out

Mallett has shown a lot in the preseason. He's a quick, shifty guy who seems to fit what Reid looks for in a running back, but he has come up short on special teams. And if Reid is going to keep a third running back, he had better be able to play special teams.



J.J. Arrington, RB - Out

Joe Mays was sent to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Arrington and, so far, the move has not exactly panned out for Philly. But, even if Arrington gets cut, the Broncos will still have to give up a sixth-round pick in next year's draft.



Eldra Buckley, RB - In

If the other three are out, then Buckley is obviously in. He's shown he's a good north and south runner and is a guy the team cannot afford to lose due to his ability to play special teams. If Bobby April has any say in the final roster at all, Buckley is already a lock.



Hank Baskett, WR - Out

DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Kelley Washington, and Riley Cooper all seem like locks to make the team and make up the receiving corps. Baskett has seen little time in the preseason and isn't a good enough special teams player to warrant making room for him, especially with an ace like Washington on the roster.



Chad Hall, WR - Out

This is a damn shame, but there's just no room and he has not shown enough as a receiver to keep him around. With every punt return I was rooting for Hall to somehow find the endzone, but his efforts were lackluster at best. Hopefully another team finds a spot for him somewhere because it would be nice to see a good guy like Hall get a break.



Jeff Owens, DT - Out

With Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, and Antonio Dixon all looking like locks before Training Camp even started, there was only one spot at defensive tackle left. And now, with Trevor Laws' emergence during the offseason, all the spots are gone. Owens could be a prime candidate for the practice squad, however.



Dimitri Patterson, CB - In

With the way he plays, it's not difficult to root for Patterson. He's a hard-nosed guy who is clearly just doing everything and anything he can to make the roster. He's pushed a few guys off to the side with his impressive play, and will likely be the fifth corner.



Macho Harris, CB/S - Out

When guys start getting moved all around to different positions, it usually means bad things for the aforementioned player. Harris spent all of his rookie season as a safety, and then was moved to corner during the offseason, and is now being moved back to safety. That says the team doesn't like what they've seen so far, and Harris could go from starter to cut in one year.



Moise Fokou, OLB - Out

It's a true sign of the times when Harris and Fokou -- both starters at certain points in the 2009 season -- find themselves looking for work only one season later. Like Harris, Fokou has been moved around (from linebacker to defensive end) and has seen limited snaps in the preseason.



Jamar Chaney, OLB - In

Chaney has shown a quickness and tackling ability that cannot be ignored. He's not only a viable option as a backup, but has looked good playing special teams as well. Cutting Chaney would simply be too hard to justify as he's clearly outperformed Fokou.



Kurt Coleman, SS - In

Like Chaney, Coleman has made a mark on special teams. Combine that with the way he's been able to pick up the defense and the Birds have their second seventh-round rookie on the roster.
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Scott will be in a serious fight for a final roster spot.


Anyone who tuned into the Eagles' preseason game against the Jaguars this past Saturday so they could see sixth-round rookie running back out of LSU Charles Scott run the ball had to turn the game off feeling a bit cheated.

Despite being a fan-favorite to make the final roster in early September, Scott has been moved to the role of backup fullback and didn't receive a single carry in the Birds' first preseason game.

Instead, even with backup running back Mike Bell and recent acquisition J.J. Arrington unable to play, Eldra Buckley and Martell Mallett saw the majority of the carries once LeSean McCoy called it a night.

The Eagles will most certainly not carry two fullbacks, with Leonard Weaver already on board as the clear-cut starter, so Scott could be in serious trouble.

Making matters worse for Scott is the fact that Mallett played well. He had 15 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, and showed the quick step that made him the CFL's Rookie of the Year last season.

Mallett is a cut-and-go type of guy who can catch out of the backfield very well. Scott is a big bruising running back with, at best, average hands. If you've been watching how Andy Reid puts his rosters together over the past 11 seasons, it's fairly obvious who he'd prefer on the team.

I would expect Scott to make it through the first round of cuts when the roster is trimmed from 80 to 75 at the end of August, but the final 53-man roster could, and most likely will, be a different story.

Scott could be practice squad candidate, but it's more likely a power running team falls in love with his size and scoops him up before the Eagles get a chance to stash him away.
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Every year, Reid has a few surprise keeps and cuts.


With about two weeks of Training Camp behind us, the 53-man roster is already beginning to take shape. It's easy to see the guys who are locks to make the squad, and it's easy to see the guys who are simply warm bodies at this point.

The interesting part, however, comes with the guys on the bubble. Every year there are a couple surprise cuts, and every year there's a guy making the final roster who shouldn't have been anything more than a guy holding the bags.

And this year, more than years past, we're seeing a lot of those bubble players.

So let's just hop right into everyone's favorite guessing game at this point of the NFL season, play Andy Reid, and try to figure out who will be on the roster when the Birds face the Green Bay Packers on September 12th.



Quarterbacks (3)

1. Kevin Kolb

Fairly obvious. The Birds traded away a potential Hall of Fame quarterback so that Kolb could take the reigns, and even the worst of training camps wasn't going to change that.

2. Michael Vick

Again, this isn't exactly rocket science. Vick has looked very good throwing the ball so far in camp, but he's got to work on the chemistry between him and the receivers. If he could get a better read on where they were breaking, he could look even better.

3. Mike Kafka

He's be impressive throughout camp. He's a big guy with a good arm, a high football I.Q., and will be more than ready to become the backup next season.

Just Missed Out: N/A.

Running Backs (3)

1. LeSean McCoy

I said all of last season that I thought McCoy was a fantastic value in the second round and that he could prove to be more productive than Brian Westbrook ever was.

And I stand by that.

He's a much better runner than Westbrook, and if he can become a better pass-blocker he's going to become a superstar sooner rather than later.

2. Mike Bell

Bell is a good change-of-pace to McCoy. While McCoy makes himself small and finds seems that allow him to cut through the heart of a defense, Bell will do it by lowering his shoulder and plowing through people.

Although, he does have the speed to make some people miss, as well.

3. Charles Scott

Something tells me the Eagles want J.J. Arrington to win this job, and will give him every opportunity to do so, but he's looked bad at camp and will have to be spectacular in the preseason if he's going to get back in the coaches' good graces.

Scott, on the other hand, has been drawing praise from everyone. He doesn't have the greatest hands out of the backfield, but they're not bad. He has also shown an ability to split out wide and run patterns very well, which is something Andy Reid obviously loves, and is big enough to be one hell of a blocker.

Just Missed Out: Martell Mallett, J.J. Arrington, Eldra Buckley

Mallett is a guy who could stick with another team unsure of their running back situation. He hasn't gotten a whole lot of reps in camp, but when he has it's easy to see why he ran all over the place in the CFL. He's a very good cut-and-go type of guy, and could flourish elsewhere.

Buckley, in the end, gets pushed out because of the talent ahead of him. His forte is special teams,



Fullback (1)

1. Leonard Weaver

For the first time in a long time, this position is set. Weaver is probably the best fullback in the league, let alone on the roster. In fact, he's the only fullback left on the roster. So if this wasn't obvious before, it surely is now.

Just Missed Out: Dwayne Wright

Wright got cut very early on, but was never a threat to Weaver's job anyway.



Tight End (3)

1. Brent Celek

Celek will be the starter again in 2010, and could become a starter in the Pro Bowl as well. He's looked very good in Training Camp and seems to have gotten even smarter with his route-running and is doing all the little things it takes to be great.

2. Cornelius Ingram

Ingram has been a bit inconsistent thus far in camp, but I expect that to go away as he gets more comfortable with his knee and the system. He still looks a bit hesitant, but that will go away with time and we'll begin to see the freakish athlete we saw while he was at Florida.

3. Clay Harbor

He's got strong hands, isn't afraid to stick his nose in the middle of field, and is versatile enough to play fullback in a pinch, so there is no way Harbor doesn't make this team.

Just Missed Out: Martin Rucker

It's a shame that Rucker gets caught up in a numbers game, but the Birds can't keep four tight ends and, even though he might be better than Harbor at the moment, it's pretty clear that won't last for very long.

He'll find a job elsewhere pretty quickly after he makes a few plays during the preseason.



Wide Receivers (6)

1. DeSean Jackson

As of now, Jackson is the best weapon the Eagles have regardless of position. He's a threat to score every time the ball is in his hands and, as long as he can stay healthy and make some plays in the Birds' new-look timing offense, he should have another Pro Bowl-caliber year.

2. Jeremy Maclin

In a few years, Maclin might actually be the best receiver the Eagles have. He plays a lot bigger than he is, and is deceptively fast. He has a great nose for the ball and has shown, even in camp, that he's not afraid to go over the middle.

3. Jason Avant

It's a crime that when people start talking about the best hands in the league that Avant is always left out of the conversation. Next to a guy like Larry Fitzgerald, he might have the strongest hands in the league and will be a huge factor on third downs this season.

4. Riley Cooper

I'm not quite as high on Cooper as everyone else is. I think his lack of maturity is going to get in the way of his progression, but his size will certainly allow him to make plays. I would expect to see Cooper every time the Eagles get into the redzone.

5. Kelley Washington

Washington is mostly known as a special teams player, but another big body (6'3, 220) won't be a bad thing. Hopefully he can get into the endzone a few times so we can see his ridiculous dance.

6. Chad Hall

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, but I don't see the Eagles keeping Hank Baskett around when he serves basically the same purpose as Washington, but isn't quite as good on special teams.

Hall truly does move like Wes Welker and could contribute in the passing game as well as on special teams.

Just Missed Out: Hank Baskett, Dobson Collins, Jordan Norwood, Jared Perry

Collins and Norwood spent time on the Eagles' practice squad last year, and could wind up there again, but neither has a real chance of making the roster. Perry, a former teammate of Maclin's at Mizzou, is a camp body.



Offensive Line (9)

LT1. Jason Peters

Peters has looked very good in camp, even man-handling Trent Cole at times. He certainly wasn't great last year, but I believe 2010 will show the tackle the Eagles thought they were getting when they traded for him last season.

LG1. Todd Herremans

I'm not a huge fan of Herremans, but he's the best option they've got and will definitely be the starter Week One, unless his foot injury takes a turn for the worse.

C1. Nick Cole

This could change as Mike McGlynn becomes more acquainted with the offense, but for now it looks like Reid is playing it safe and keeping Cole as the No. 1 guy. Cole, I think, is a guard and should stay there whereas McGlynn is a natural center and probably fits the bill better as far as size goes.

RG1. Stacy Andrews

Last season was definitely disappointing. No one is denying that. But the talks that Reid no longer likes him as a starter or that he's just not a good player is typical media "I don't know what I'm talking about" nonsense.

RT1. Winston Justice

Justice was another guy I said last season would play very well. And I don't believe it's a stretch to say he was the Eagles most consistent lineman. With a year as a starter under his belt, I think Justice will quickly make it into the Pro Bowl conversation.

OL6. Mike McGlynn

McGlynn is versatile in that he can play both guard positions and center, so Reid is going to find a way to keep him around for as long as he can. We all know Reid loves youth and versatility, and McGlynn has both.

OL7. Max Jean-Gilles

He has shown he'll go to great lengths to get himself into shape with his offseason lap-band surgery, and the dropped weight has led to a much more athletic MJG. He's moving much better and has been taking first-team reps at left guard while Herremans recovers.

OL8. Fenuki Topou

Topou spent his rookie season on the injured reserve, but it seemed more like a tactic to keep him around without using a roster spot or taking the chance of putting him on the practice squad and having another team scoop him up.

He's got the versatility (there's that word again) to play guard or tackle, and that is what will ultimately earn him a job

OL9. Austin Howard

Unless you've been to camp or have been following the reports religiously, you probably have absolutely no idea who this guy is. But you'll most likely know it soon enough. He's already pushed King Dunlap from backup left tackle to backup right tackle, and seems to be the guy Reid has picked out as his annual undrafted project.

PUP: Jamaal Jackson

Even though Jackson believes otherwise, it's unlikely he's able to play Week One and will most likely wind up on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which makes him ineligible to play for the first six weeks of the season. Once he returns, it's likely McGlynn could be the guy to get the axe.

Just Missed Out: Zipp Duncan, Greg Isander, King Dunlap, A.Q. Shipley, Jeraill McCuller, Dallas Reynolds

Dunlap is the most notable cut here, and it's possible he earns his job back before the end of the preseason. Other than that, these guys are camp bodies and seeing them wind up on the chopping block isn't overly surprising.



Defensive End (6)

RE1. Trent Cole

Cole is the clear favorite here as he's not only the best defensive end, but probably the best overall defensive player.

After a Pro Bowl season in 2009, Cole should be even better in 2010 with a better pass-rush coming from the other side. The extra help should be enough to significantly cut down on all the double-teams he's been facing over the past few seasons.

So even though Cole has never had more than 12.5 sacks in a season, we'll likely see this year that it's always been a matter of a lack of a pass-rush from the other side rather than Cole reaching his ceiling as an individual.

LE1. Brandon Graham

As has been the case for the Eagles this offseason, youth wins out over experience. Graham, the 13th overall pick in the draft, has been very impressive at Training Camp and is making a very strong push to take this spot.

Graham has a fantastic burst off the edge and his low center of gravity makes it very difficult for taller right tackles to handle him. That, along with an obvious understanding of how to use his hands and manipulate the guy across from him, should lead to an impressive rookie season and a great partner for Cole on the other edge.

DE3. Juqua Parker

Parker most likely loses his starting job to Graham, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing a whole lot of him in the rotation. He's talented and experienced enough to play other side of the line and will likely be the primary backup at both spots.

DE4. Darryl Tapp

Acquired in a trade with Seattle, Tapp figures to see a good chunk of time. He'll not only be a key figure in the rotation at defensive end, but he'll also be one of the guys kicking inside in nickel situations to get the Birds an inside pass-rush.

DE5. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim

Like Tapp, Te'o-Nesheim (or T.O.) will get kicked inside in the nickel package. And at 6'4", 265 pounds, they expect T.O. to be a force shooting the A and B gaps. He'll also see some time at defensive end, but he's most likely going to see most of his time on third down in the nickel.

DE6. Ricky Sapp

Sapp is a huge wild card. He's very good with his hand in the ground, and is a great speed-rusher, but being limited to playing the edges could hurt his playing time. He'll most likely see a few snaps in a relief role, but his main contribution will probably come on special teams.

Just Missed Out: Victor Abiamiri

It's going to kill the Eagles to do it, but they simply cannot wait around for Abiamiri to decide he's going to get serious about his career and stay off the injured list. A guy with this many injuries usually isn't as unlucky as he is lazy. He's been an underachiever even when healthy, so it's likely the Birds cut ties with this former second-round pick and move forward.



Defensive Tackle (4)

RDT1. Brodrick Bunkley

Bunkley has been very good in the starting role since seeing almost no time during his rookie season, and figures to only get better with time. He seems stronger and quicker this offseason than he has in previous years and figures to have a big season because of it.

LDT1. Mike Patterson

Patterson, like Bunkley, has been on the verge of a Pro Bowl year for the past couple of seasons, but can't seem to take that next step. He's emerged as a very good run-stuffer and, if he can learn to work his hands a bit better, could take the next step into being a Pro Bowl player.

RDT2. Antonio Dixon

A waiver-wire pickup last year, Dixon came out and played like a seasoned vet. If he can progress in season two, he could see a lot of time and really turn into one of the best under-the-radar moves this team has made in the Reid era.

LDT2. Trevor Laws

It's now or never time for Laws. He's looked good in camp, but he's going to have to carry that over into the preseason and the regular season if he doesn't want 2010 to be his last as an Eagle.

In fact, if he disappears in the middle of the season this year like he did last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get cut in favor of a practice squad guy.

Just Missed Out: Jeff Owens, Boo Robinson

Robinson is a camp body and hasn't even seen a lot of time in camp. There's no chance he makes the final squad, and I don't see him as a true practice squad candidate.

Owens, on the other hand, could get stashed away on the practice squad and be the guy called upon if Laws does his usual mid-season disappearing act. Owens was a late-round draft pick, but the Eagles seem to like him and are probably looking for a reason to keep him around.



Linebackers (6)

WILL1. Ernie Sims

The Eagles feel like they got a steal when they traded a fifth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for the former ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft. And so far, it looks like they were right.

Sims has been flying all over the field, hitting people, playing the run well, sticking with guys in coverage, and showing why he was a top-10 pick. He got lost in the crowd a lot in Detroit due to the putrid defense around him, but with some talented guys around him Sims just might flourish and make a significant impact for the Birds.

MIKE1. Stewart Bradley

Anyone who was worried about how Bradley would look after tearing his ACL one year ago can put their worries to bed. Bradley looks like he hasn't missed a beat.

At one point in camp, during a seven-on-seven, Kevin Kolb stood around for a good eight seconds before trying to dump the ball over the middle to Brent Celek. Bradley, however, had Celek blanketed -- even after all that time -- and knocked the ball away.

If he can stick with a Pro Bowl-caliber guy like Celek, he should be able to stick with most of the tight ends the Eagles will face this season.

SAM1. Akeem Jordan

I'm going out on a limb here, but I think Jordan will be the starting strong-side linebacker when all is said and done. He's far too fast and physical to keep off the field. He's plays much bigger than his size (6'1", 230), and would be able to better handle the added blockers that a SAM will see more so than anyone else on the roster sans Stewart Bradley.

WILL2. Keenan Clayton

Clayton, a fourth-round pick, has been running with the second-team defense throughout camp at almost every linebacker spot. But with Jordan, the former backup WILL, being moved to SAM, Clayton has seen, and will see, most of his reps on the weak side.

MIKE2. Omar Gaither

There's been a lot of talk that Gaither could be the odd man out in this linebacking corps, but I believe his versatility and willingness to play special teams will save his job. If Bradley were unfortunate enough to go down again, the Eagles believe Gaither can fill in well enough.

He appears fully healed from his Lis Franc sprain and could actually wind up being the backup at MIKE and WILL depending on how much Sean McDermott likes Clayton.

SAM2. Moise Fokou

Personally, I thought the hype surrounding Fokou was a bit much. Sure, he played well last season when he replaced Chris Gocong, but it wasn't good enough to anoint him the starter. Now, with Jordan taking over at SAM, Fokou will be relegated to role player and special teams guy until he takes the job for good.

LB7. Tracy White

Perhaps my desire to see White back on this team is overriding my better judgment, but I really think the Eagles don't have any choice other than to keep White around. New special teams coordinator Bobby April has to love that this guy is around, and will likely fight tooth and nail to keep him here for good.

White also has the added bonus of being able to play linebacker in a backup role, and has the speed and athleticism to play in the nickel package. Overall, he has far too much value for the Birds to dump him.

Just Missed Out: Simoni Lawrence, Jamar Chaney

As an undrafted rookie and a seventh-round pick respectively, Lawrence and Chaney were facing uphill battles from day one. They both have seen respectable time in Training Camp, and both have had their moments, but they're going to lose a heavy numbers game.



Cornerbacks (5)

LCB1. Asante Samuel

There's no doubt Samuel is the most talented corner on this roster. He drives the fans and coaching staff crazy when he freelances and refuses to tackle, but when it comes to one-on-one covering the best receivers in the game, Samuel has shown an ability to shut guys down.

He hasn't had a great Training Camp, often getting beat by the duo of speedsters in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, but Samuel rarely brings his A-game in August. It's going to be interesting to see if he'll make more of an effort to tackle and play within the scheme, but regardless he's this team's top corner.

RCB1. Ellis Hobbs

As a big fan of Sheldon Brown and the way he plays the game, I was very unhappy to see him go for what essentially amounts to peanuts. I thought it was ridiculous to let him go without a viable option behind him, but if camp is any indication, I might have been underestimating Hobbs.

He's been very physical at the line of scrimmage -- even leading to getting popped in the head a few times by Riley Cooper -- and has had an overall great camp to this point. If he keeps that up into the season, he could be one of the pleasant surprises.

CB3. Joselio Hanson

Since being picked up off the scrap heap back in 2006, Hanson has progressively gotten better and is now an integral part of Sean McDermott's defense.

The Eagles' scouting department gets an 'A' for finding Hanson, who played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europa before the Birds scooped him up. He is now the team's nickel corner and backup at both positions were Samuel or Hobbs to go down.

CB4. Victor "Macho" Harris

Harris is a very intriguing guy because, quite honestly, I could not even make a prediction on what kind of season he'll have. He was a cornerback at Virginia Tech, but started at free safety during his rookie season last year. It was a train wreck, and I was yelling the entire time that they should move him back to corner and see what he can do.

But now that he's at corner, he has not impressed me in camp. He doesn't seem to read his receiver very well and often allows catches that would have you pulling your hair out wondering how in the world he could be right over top of the guy and still give up the reception.

It's going to be an interesting year for the man they call Macho.

CB5. Trevard Lindley

As a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, Lindley is a guy the Eagles are going to count on to progress quickly and have a role on this team sooner rather than later. He's looked alright in camp -- good, not great -- but can't seem to avoid the typical rookie mental error.

Something as simple as thinking too much rather than just reacting has killed Lindley all camp and will continue to hurt him during the season if he can't get over it. Football is about reaction, and Lindley knows that, but just like every other rookie he's too worried about screwing up.

If he can get over that fear and rely on his instincts, he could have a very good year.

Just Missed Out: David Pender, Dimitri Patterson, Geoff Pope

Were it not for Lindley being drafted, Patterson would most certainly make this team. He's a guy the coaches seem to like, but there's no way they cut a fourth-round pick to make room for him.

However, if Tracy White would wind up being cut, Patterson could be the guy the Eagles peg to take his roster spot. That's certainly a possibility at this point, but White seems to hold a bit more value than Patterson -- although it wouldn't surprise me if the Eagles disagreed.

Pope hasn't stuck out to me (or anyone else) at all, and Pender was expected to be a camp body.



Safeties (3)

FS1. Nate Allen

With Marlin Jackson on Injured Reserve and Macho Harris moving to cornerback, Allen becomes the only viable option at free safety.

The team has made it clear they don't trust Quintin Demps as the starter, and seem to feel comfortable turning it over to the second-round pick.

Allen is going to be a guy everyone keeps an eye on throughout the season, because he's the guy who the Eagles took with the draft pick they received from Washington for quarterback Donovan McNabb. He's always going to be linked to that trade, so he better come up big and make the team and the city feel like it was a wise decision.

SS1. Quintin Mikell

If Allen can turn into the type of safety the Eagles think he can, it should make life a lot easier for Mikell at strong safety.

Last season he was pressing and trying to play two positions at once because he obviously didn't trust the guy next to him, no matter who it was. He always felt like he had their responsibilities as well, and it really showed on the field as his production dipped severely.

With Allen on board I think we see Mikell go back to the caliber of play that had him landing on a lot of All-Pro teams in 2008.

S3. Quintin Demps

They might not trust him as a starter, but there's no reason Demps can't be a very good backup and possibly the kick return guy, as well once they decide using a starter like Hobbs is not exactly a good idea.

Demps has been learning both safety positions, so he's likely the primary backup for both guys.

Just Missed Out: Kurt Coleman, Ryan Hamilton, Antoine Harris

Coleman is a guy who could wind up making the team depending on how they shift the numbers, but it's likely the team keeps only three safeties because they view Macho Harris as a guy who can provide depth at corner and safety and save them a roster spot.

Hamilton and Harris were only camp bodies and have seen little time even in camp.



Special Teams (3)

K. David Akers

It's been this way for over a decade, and it doesn't look to be changing anytime soon.

P. Sav Rocca

Until someone takes the job, it's Rocca's to lose.

LS. Jon Dorenbos

The Birds were lucky to have him after Mike Bartrum retired, and I wouldn't be surprised if they held onto him until he decides to call it quits.

Just Missed Out: Ken Parrish

For the second straight year, Parrish is just a camp body. It was expected that he would really push Rocca for the job, but there doesn't seem to be much of a competition. Unless Parrish looks phenomenal in the preaseason, it appears as though he'll be sent packing once again.
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