It was bound to come sooner or later, but since he's already been chastised for the comments comparing what NFL players are going through to slavery, it's hard to know if Leonard Weaver's apology is sincere or simply a public relations move, but it did come rather quickly.

Wednesday morning, Weaver took to Twitter in an attempt to explain himself.

"Now, that I have seen it, I will say that it was hard for me to watch and after thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that I represented my family, friends and organization the wrong way," Weaver said.  "I'm sorry for those words I used and if I offend anyone, please forgive me. To all my fans whom I've disappointed I'm sorry."

The initial comments surprised me because of the way Weaver usually carries himself, but I suppose he deserves the benefit of the doubt. It's entirely possible that, during the conversation, he simply got caught up in what he was talking about and said something he didn't really mean.

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First, it was Adrian Peterson trying to convince us that NFL players were going through something similar to modern-day slavery.

"It's modern-day slavery, you know?" Peterson told Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports last Friday. "People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money ... the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."

Now, one of our own is piggy-backing the ridiculous statement. Fullback Leonard Weaver went on CSNPhilly to talk to Derrick Gunn about the lockout and found a way to compare the situation to slavery.

"We as players want to make a statement that you know what, we love playing for you all, we love your owners, you know?" Weaver told Gunn. "We love you guys very much, but at the same time we need to see some equal opportunity here and stop treating us basically like Adrian Peterson said, like slaves..."

Weaver is not a dumb guy. In fact, in the brief amount of time I've had to speak with him, he came across as very bright. This, however, is not a shining moment.


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Schmitt will be given the task of replacing Weaver.


As everyone feared, Leonard Weaver is done for the season. Head coach Andy Reid labeled it a "severe" ACL injury and wouldn't say one way or another if the injury is career threatening.

"Well, they’re going to have to get in there and see exactly [what is wrong with it]," Reid told the media at a Monday press conference. "That’s why I just labeled it as I did. I think we all saw it, it wasn’t a pretty picture. So, from ACL standpoints it was severe. They won’t know the further damage, if any, until they get in there. But obviously, just from the look of things, it was severe."

Naturally the next step is to find a replacement. I figured they would simply do it in-house and rotate Eldra Buckley and Clay Harbor, but the team has announced they will sign former Seattle Seahawks fullback Owen Schmitt to replace Weaver who is headed to the IR.

Schmitt, you might remember, is the guy who bashed his own head in with his helmet during a pregame introduction last season.

The team also brought in Jason Davis for a workout, but his previous time with the team (2006-2007) clearly wasn't enough to beat out Schmitt. It's unclear how much time Schmitt will see on offense since he'll have less than a week to learn the playbook, but he could play special teams right away.

The other open roster spot, which will be opened up once Jamaal Jackson is officially placed on IR, will be filled by practice squad tight end Garrett Mills. Offensive lineman Fenuki Topou, who was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round in 2009 and spent Training Camp with the team this season, will be signed to the practice squad to take Mills' spot.

UPDATE: Weaver and Jackson have officially been placed on IR, and Mills is going to assume an H-back type of role.

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Mike Vick took full advantage of his time on the field.


-- Kevin Kolb looked lost. He looked lost throughout the preseason, and looked lost Sunday against the Packers. He was 5-10 for 24 yards and really could have had three interceptions. He showed no poise, no faith in himself, and in the end cost the Eagles a 1-0 start.

-- Michael Vick looked great. He threw the ball very well, even though he made some questionable decisions and had a couple balls thrown behind his receivers, but his biggest impact was clearly with his legs. He looked like the guy we saw in 2004 as he rushed for over 100 yards and evaded the Packers' defense several times, allowing himself to make big plays.

-- There is no replacing Leonard Weaver, but Mike McGlynn might be a fine replacement for Jamaal Jackson. He looked very good snapping the ball and making the line calls. The Birds will likely activate A.Q. Shipley as insurance, but I feel good about McGlynn as the guy.

-- I would have loved to see LeSean McCoy get more carries. I said in my previews write-up that I thought he'd get nine carries, and he wound up getting even loss. He had seven carries for 35 yards -- a 5-yard average -- and a touchdown. Hopefully he can see some more carries next week and really showcase his talents as a runner.

-- Mike Bell got the ball one time, ran for nine yards, had it called back on a penalty, and didn't see the field for the rest of the game. What in the hell is that about? Why is he on the roster if he's not going to get the ball?

-- Was it just me or did the receivers look uninterested? Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson each had a drop and looked lazy running their routes regardless of who was playing quarterback.

-- Brent Celek had a day to forget. He only had two catches and was absolutely terrible when he was asked to stay in as a blocker. If he would have gotten any push on Clay Matthews on that 4th-and-1 play, Vick probably falls forward for the first and the offense can at least continue their push at the endzone.

-- Special teams was just bad. The coverage team got spanked all day long and consistently gave the Packers a short field. Maybe it's about time Reid take an interest in special teams and keep guys like Kelley Washington and Tracy White around.

-- Why was Jorrick Calvin active? They didn't let him return a thing, and he obviously wasn't going to help on defense as he's only been on the team for a week. If he wasn't going to be the return man, it would have made more sense to activate a guy like Jamar Chaney or Keenan Clayton to help on the coverage team.

-- David Akers is still money. They need to keep him around as long as possible.

-- Overall, I thought the line played well. The sacks were mostly a result of holding onto the ball too long and there were usually good running lanes. The team still needs to find their final five and get some continuity going.

-- Nick Cole's individual play makes me believe Reggie Wells needs to get pushed into the starting lineup right away. He stopped his feet on several occasions and spent most of his time chasing tail — a cardinal sin for a lineman.

-- Ernie Sims was flying around and at least gets an "A" for effort, but Sean McDermott and the defense will still need a lot more out of him. He's got to make the big plays and be the difference-maker they envisioned or he won't be in Philly past this season.

-- Juqua Parker's play has to keep the young kid on the bench for a little longer. Two sacks in one game cannot be ignored. The "old man" has earned more playing time.

-- Brodrick Bunkley was strong against the run and was even able to get a push into the backfield on passing plays, but Mike Patterson was awful. He got stood up almost every play and was disrupting the flow of his linebackers. He must be better or the defense will suffer greatly.

-- Trent Cole is good. Just in case you hadn't noticed.

-- Ellis Hobbs looks very slow. Whether it was on defense or returning kicks. It's time to see what Calvin can do as a return man, but they're stuck with him on defense. Hopefully he will get quicker as he gets more confidence as a starter.

-- Asante Samuel missed his chance for a pick and still can't tackle, but all things considered played a pretty good game.

-- Nate Allen has some learning to do, but his future is definitely very bright.

-- Stewart Bradley has been one hell of a disappointment. He wasn't any good in Training Camp, didn't do nearly enough in the preseason, and wasn't any good against the Packers even before the concussion. He looks slow to the ball and can't shed a blocker to save his life. He might have a future as a SAM (his natural position), but might not be the MIKE the Eagles want.

-- Outside of Vick, Sav Rocca was the best player on the field. A 47.6 average meant the Packers were constantly starting drives deep in their own zone. If he can keep this up throughout an entire season, he could prove to be the Birds' secret weapon.
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Weaver's knee injury will sideline him for all of 2010.


Anyone watching couldn't help but see Leonard Weaver's knee injury. Needless to say, it didn't look good and didn't take a doctor to realize that the Eagles' official guess of a "sprained knee" was a bit more than optimistic.

Adam Schefter is reporting what we all feared: it's a torn ACL. And actually, that would probably be good news all things considered. Just a torn ACL puts him on pace to return next season without losing much if any of his athletic abilities. If it's multiple tears to the patella tendon, MCL, and PCL it could very well mean the end of Weaver's career.

Weaver either already has, or will soon have an MRI to confirm, but no one is holding out hope that he'll be available at any point for the remainder of the season. Expect to see him on the Injured Reserve list very soon.

In his absence, it's likely Eldra Buckley will take over at fullback. Clay Harbor, the Eagles' rookie tight end, could also see some time in an H-back role. Andy Reid could flirt with the idea of bringing back a guy like Dan Klecko, but that seems unlikely.

That should be the end of this write-up, but unfortunately I said there were two starters lost for the entire season.

The other, center Jamaal Jackson, tore his biceps on his right arm early in the game. Mike McGlynn came in to replace him and we saw the trainers checking out his elbow, but to hear it's actually a tear floored the entire fanbase.

After such a valiant effort that resulted in his return to the lineup for Week 1, Jackson will begin rehab yet again and this time will be forced to watch an entire season from the sidelines rather than just a couple games.

Jackson, like Weaver, should wind up on IR at some point this week and could be replaced by a guy like Kelley Washington and someone off the practice squad -- likely A.Q. Shipley.

Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley were also forced to leave the game -- each with a concussion -- and their status for next week vs. the Lions is currently unknown.

Needless to say, things aren't getting off to a great start the the new-look Eagles.
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Hopefully Mike Bell is as good as "Madden" thinks he is.


Moving forward in our position-by-position look at the Eagles' 2010 squad through the eyes of the "Madden" developers, we take a look at LeSean McCoy and the running backs.

Behind McCoy, the guys have Mike Bell as the primary backup and Eldra Buckley as the guy who wins the job of third running back. It's possible the developers, like myself, think Buckley's work on special teams will win him the job in the end. Of course, it could also just be a case of taking the safe route and going with the incumbent.

And as we take a look at the running backs, we'll also take a look at Leonard Weaver since a) he's a hybrid running back/fullback and b) giving him his own post would be hard to justify.



LeSean McCoy | Overall Rating: 79

Looking at the team as a whole, McCoy seems to have the fairest rating. My personal belief is that he's going to have a breakout season, but based on what he showed last year, an overall rating of 79 is more than fair.

And when we look at the other key ratings, like speed (93), acceleration (96), agility (96), catching (80), elusiveness (91), spin move (91), and juke move (94), it's clear the guys at EA are fairly high on McCoy and will likely make him very easy to progress.

They really knock him down in areas like strength (62), carry (70), trucking (58), and stiff-arm (60), but that's all warranted. He's not a bruising back that is going to punish defenders; He's going to juke them out of their shoes and run around them, so those ratings also make sense.

The one that I would dispute, however, would be his ball-carrier vision (79) and awareness (67).

Knocking down his awareness rating could just be because he's still very young, but he seems to see the field very well and can find a hole when it opens up. If a guy like Brandon Jacobs, who basically puts his head down and runs into people, has an 87 BCV rating, then McCoy should have a rating in that ballpark as well.



Mike Bell | Overall Rating: 77

Bell's rating is basically just the opposite of McCoy's, which should make him the perfect change-of-pace in Madden like the Birds hope he'll be here in reality.

His speed (85) , acceleration (87) , juke move (77), spin move (73), elusiveness (64), catching (62), and agility (78) all suffer a little, but his strength (78) , carry (87), trucking (88), stiff-arm (86), and awareness (77) ratings are right above average.

Essentially what the Madden guys are saying is if the Eagles could smash these two running backs together, they'd have one hell of a back on their hands. But since that's not possible that I know of, the Birds should be just fine if they'd actually implement a rotation and use both guys often enough.



Eldra Buckley | Overall Rating: 68

Buckley has been given all the attributes you'd expect from a guy rated so poorly. His best attributes -- both of which are an 88 -- are acceleration and injury prevention. Which, to me, sounds like everything a guy would need in order to cover kicks.

With Bell on board Buckley surely isn't going to see many goal-line opportunities and, even if McCoy or Bell were to go down, Leonard Weaver would likely see a pickup in carries before Buckley is given an expanded role on offense.

The Madden guys seem to know this and let the ratings reflect that. In fact, the 68 is probably a bit generous for Buckley but, since they don't give ratings specifically for special team players, it's a fair assessment.



Leonard Weaver | Overall Rating: 90

Weaver, who will likely see more of a traditional fullback role, got some love from the Madden developers and comes in at a 90 rating. From what I can tell, that's the highest rating given to a fullback, and is tied with Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain.

It doesn't take much of an imagination to figure out Weaver's attributes (but if you're curious, check here), and there's not a whole lot of them that jump out as being anything out of the ordinary, except a very high catch rating of 82.

Weaver did show soft hands all season, but there are some lower-level wide receivers who aren't going to get that kind of credit. Not to take anything away from Weaver, but he did haul in only 15 balls for 140 yards.

But, that did include two touchdowns and is an average of just over nine yards per reception, so perhaps it's a fair rating.

If the Eagles use Weaver to his full potential this year, we could see that rating be justified. The guy is a very good blocker and one hell of an athlete overall when everything he actually does for the offense -- run, block, and catch -- is considered.

And at 27 years old, he's only going to get better. For all you true football buffs out there who know your stuff, think Tom Rathman.



Final thoughts...

The developers over at EA went with Buckley as the third running back, but they also had Lorenzo Booker as the third guy last year, so it's looking like they just go with the safe pick.

While I think Buckley could and should win the third spot, it's going to be hard for Andy Reid to cut sixth-round pick Charles Scott out of LSU. He's a big, bruising type of guy who could help on the goal-line and in short-yardage situations, but he doesn't seem to fit Reid's offense and it's just as likely he winds up on the practice squad.

If he were to make the team, however, I would probably give him somewhere around a 61 overall, with all the attributes of a power guy, but the awareness and vision ratings of a rookie.

It's likely Scott could be added to the game and found in the first roster update.

*Next up: DeSean Jackson and the receivers.
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Hopefully Bell will do a lot of this in midnight green.


It has taken an entire week (or so), but Mike Bell is officially an Eagle heading into the 2010 season. He immediately takes a backseat to starter LeSean McCoy and will allow Leonard Weaver to focus more on being a fullback than a backup running back.

Weaver will still see his carries, but they'll be cut in half -- or more -- with the arrival of Bell. He's a good, young veteran who has had success in this league with the Broncos and the Saints. He's got a Super Bowl ring and will bring a Super Bowl-winning attitude to a team used to winning over the past decade.

He's a great downhill change-of-pace to McCoy who is more of a shifty running back. Bell is a guy who can punish a defense just enough to make McCoy that much more effective, and in turn make the offense that much more effective.

The Eagles thought they were going to have a good 1-2 punch last season with McCoy and Brian Westbrook, but with Westbrook missing even more games than usual, Weaver was forced into a backup running back role, once again leaving the Eagles without a true fullback.

Bell has been a reliable option in Denver and New Orleans, and should be able to make a significant impact in Philadelphia right away. He will probably see 8-10 carries per game and will be the guy in the redzone.

Put Weaver in front of Bell in the 'I' and you've got a legitimate power-running attack that the Eagles haven't had since Dorsey Levens made a short run with the Birds in 2004.

Unless, of course, you count Tony Hunt.

Either way, Bell is an Eagle for at least 2010. He's only on a one-year deal so he might not be back for 2011, but if he produces 500-600 yards on the ground and a handful of touchdowns it would be hard for Andy Reid to let him walk.
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Mike Bell is expected to be an Eagle by Wednesday.


Les Bowen of Philly.com is reporting that the Eagles are expected to make a move on Saints' restricted free agent running back Mike Bell. According to Bowen, contract talks have already begun and a deal is expected to get done later Tuesday night.

"Our understanding is that contract terms have been discussed," Bowen writes. "If he checks out physically...and shows an aptitude for learning Andy Reid's offense, he'll likely be signed to an offer sheet."

The Saints would then have seven days to match the offer sheet, but considering that he was only given a "right of first refusal" tender (the lowest available), the Saints don't appear to be in a position to fight for Bell's services.

They don't seem to have a need for Bell with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush ahead of him on the depth chart. Bell is too much like Thomas to keep around for anything more than the minimum.

Bell likely won't get much of a raise, but he would surely see more playing time in Philadelphia than in New Orleans. Even with Leonard Weaver getting his fair share of carries, Bell would be the backup to LeSean McCoy right away.

It's my belief that the Eagles would like to use Weaver as more of a traditional fullback rather than just a big running back, but they can't do that unless they can get a power back behind McCoy to take some of the pressure off Weaver.

With Weaver becoming more of a lead-blocker, the running game should be much more effective than it was last season when he was playing more of an H-back role rather than that of a traditional fullback.

Bell is only 27, falling in line with the age the Eagles like to sign free agents, is the change-of-pace style of back they need, and will come relatively cheap -- sounds like everything the Eagles were looking for.
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Did the Eagles make a mistake not taking the pick?


Speaking with Garry Cobb on 610WIP last night, Leonard Weaver revealed that the Cleveland Browns had offered him more money than the Eagles for his services. He didn't say how much, but the way he said it made it sound like it could have been substantially more.

If the Browns contacted Weaver and made him an offer, it would mean that they were willing to part ways with their second-round pick, which is the tender level Weaver was on for about 14 hours.

Weaver is a great weapon and a fan-favorite already in Philly, but would the Birds have been wise to let him walk for a second-round pick from Cleveland? The 39th overall pick is incredibly high for a fullback, and it's certainly something the Birds had to have at least considered.

Now I'm by no means an expert on the workings of restricted free agency. It's a new animal for most and learning the rules of it is going to be a process, so I'm not sure if Weaver has the right to reject an offer sheet and stay in Philly, or if he doesn't have a say in the matter.

If he has a say, he probably would have rejected the offer in the hopes of earning a contract from Philly next offseason -- but there's no way to be sure. If he doesn't have a say, a second-round pick for a fullback would be incredibly difficult to turn down -- even for a fullback of Weaver's caliber.

Don't take this the wrong way; I would not want to see Weaver leave, and would in fact love to see him retire as an Eagle, but if a team is willing to give up that much for him I'm just saying it would have been tough for me to turn down in the same position.

I had the pleasure of meeting Weaver last night when I joined Cobb on WIP and he's a very personable and just all-around good guy. He stood and talked to me and someone else for a good 10 minutes or so when he could have simply blown us off and rushed out the door.

He's exactly the guy this city needs and loves to have around, but business is business and a second-round pick is a tough business deal to turn down.
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Weaver and McCoy will be one hell of a backfield.


According to multiple sources, the Eagles have agreed to a three-year deal with fullback Leonard Weaver. The talks were that Weaver would have a deal done before the end of Thursday night, then the talks stalled and he was slapped with a second-round tender.

But apparently the talks never stopped and the tender was only a precautionary measure because Weaver is now locked down in Philly until 2012 -- as soon as he actually signs the deal.

The deal is reportedly worth $11 million with $6.5 million guaranteed. As everyone expected, the deal would make Weaver the highest-paid fullback ever, beating out Jacksonville Jaguars' fullback Greg Jones from two seasons ago.

Everyone knew this was a deal that the Birds had to get done. Weaver was far too important to this offense in the latter portion of the year and he figures to only be more involved throughout 2010.

Weaver fits Reid's offense perfectly and should be able to really make a name for himself in Philly. Something tells me there will be a few more Pro Bowl nods and he'll show up on a couple more All-Pro teams, as well.

This was one of the best signings Reid ever made when he brought him in last year, and it only gets better by locking him down long-term.

It also says something about the Eagles front office that no one wants to admit -- they will pay a player when they feel like that player is deserving. They had absolutely no pressure on them to resign him as they could have simply let him play 2010 on his RFA tender, but instead they stepped up and gave him the money he deserves.

It's great to know Weaver is locked up, now they can move on to more pressing issues.
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Sav Rocca is essentially an unrestricted free agent.


Apparently my assessment of the Eagles-Leonard Weaver contract talks was off. I assumed, quite confidently, that the Eagles would resign Weaver based on what Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, had been saying throughout the week.

However, it looks like he will now play the 2010 season on a second-round tender.

News of talks had gone quiet, so it was assumed that the two sides were close to getting a deal done, but it must have meant quite the opposite. The two sides could still come together in the next few hours, but it's not looking likely now that he's been tendered.

I guess I should learn to stick to my gut instinct.

I surfed Twitter earlier and was relaying the reports of who was being tendered and at what level, and it looks like a few were off.

There were some mixed reports about Ellis Hobbs specifically, with some saying he'd receive an original-round tender and others saying he'd receive a second-round tender.

Well, as it turns out, it was neither.

Hobbs received a whopping first-round tender from the Eagles, which shows that the Birds really want to keep Hobbs around and are making sure that he doesn't go anywhere. There may have been a team or two out there who would have taken a shot at Hobbs for a third-round pick, but no one will give up a first round pick for a guy who played in the dime last season.

Here's the full list of the restricted free agents and how they were tendered via PhiladelphiaEagles.com:

• WR Jason Avant - Second-round level
• FB Leonard Weaver - Second-round level
• CB Ellis Hobbs - First-round level
• LB Chris Gocong - Original-round level (third round)
• LB Omar Gaither - Original-round level (fifth round)
• OL Nick Cole - Second-round level
• G Max Jean-Gilles - Original-round level (fourth round)
• LB Akeem Jordan - Second-round level
• P Sav Rocca - Right of First Refusal (no draft pick compensation)
• TE Alex Smith - Did not receive tender, will become unrestricted free agent

I thought Sav Rocca would receive a second-round tender -- I would have thought he would have gotten an original-round level tender, but since he was an undrafted free agent, that wouldn't make much sense -- but apparently the Eagles aren't real worried about him leaving.

Now, all they are able to do is match any offer he receives. But if Rocca walks, they won't receive any compensation.
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Weaver should have a long-term deal in a few hours.


The Eagles have applied tenders to most of their restricted free agents, but there is one glaring omission in that Leonard Weaver has yet to join the likes of Jason Avant, Akeem Jordan, and Nick Cole in the highly-tender club.

That could, however, be because the Eagles and Weaver are getting into the home stretch of their contract negotiations.

Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, told Geoff Mosher that the two sides were talking at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and that he felt a deal would be done by the end of the week. Guys like Weaver are in short supply and his closest comparison, Le'Ron McClain, just received a first-round tender from the Baltimore Ravens.

The first-round tender is usually only applied to guys who other teams might value as being worth giving up a second-round pick, so obviously the Ravens felt pressured into such a high tender.

I've said that I believe about $4 million per season is probably what Weaver and his agent are going after, but he could get closer to $3.5 million. Even the best fullback in the league isn't worth the big bucks that other guys are getting -- at least not in the eyes of the NFL's decision-makers.

The Birds will have to make him the highest paid fullback in the league, but coming off a season in which he was voted to the Pro Bowl and beat out McClain for the All-Pro team, he's earned his money.

He proved too vital a piece to let go, so I expect something to be done with Weaver in the next few hours. The two sides obviously want to get something done so they don't have to worry about it next year, but if they can't come to an agreement Weaver will get a first-round tender.

But when the Birds want to sign a guy, it usually gets done. Unless Weaver is asking for a ridiculous amount, he'll have a long-term deal in place by midnight tonight.
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Weaver is a guy the Birds must keep beyond 2010.


According to Geoff Mosher of DelawareOnline.com, the Eagles and Leonard Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, are making good use of their time in Indianapolis to talk about a contract extension for the All-Pro fullback.

"Hopefully, we can get something done that works for everybody," Lewis told Mosher in Indianapolis at the scouting combine.

Weaver will be a restricted free agent absent a new CBA.

Instead of just slapping him with a tender and trying to squeeze him into a long, but underpaying, contract next season, it would be in everyone's best interest if the Eagles simply pay him right now and get it over with.

That way they can turn their attention to another guy who needs a long-term deal in wide receiver Jason Avant. Like Weaver, he's not the flashiest or best-known player the Birds have, but he's incredibly important to their offensive success and letting him leave would be a disaster.

The biggest question, of course, is going to be how much Weaver wants and how much are the Eagles willing to pay?

From where I sit, he was the best fullback in the league last year. He's a young guy, and he's got the potential to be the very best fullback for several years to come. With that said, he should be paid like the best fullback in football.

Ovie Mughelli was the highest paid fullback last season with a base salary of $2.5 million, so a four-year deal worth about $12 million would make Weaver the highest paid at his position.

Give him a few million in guaranteed money and not only will he be happy, but the Eagles will be able to keep a key player from last season for years to come -- at a very reasonable price.

Lewis said talks with the Eagles will continue again toward the end of the combine, and it's expected that a new deal will be in place around that time. If they don't come to an agreement before they leave the combine it could put talks off for a little while, so it's likely that a deal is done by the end of the week.
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Avant is the most underrated guy on the team.


Because of the lack of a CBA heading into the 2010 season, Eagles' fullback Leonard Weaver, along with seven others, are restricted free agents instead of hitting the open market. As a result, these players are going to lose a lot of money.

Instead of hitting the market and potentially getting long-term deals with some good up-front money, these guys are all looking at one-year tenders that will keep their careers on hold rather than allowing them to either move on, or get that long-term deal from the Eagles.

Most of the Eagles' RFA's are backup guys who the Eagles probably would not have brought back were they to hit the market (Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong, Max Jean-Gilles, Alex Smith, etc.), but guys like Weaver, along with Jason Avant, Nick Cole, and Ellis Hobbs all at least faced the possibility of getting long-term offers.

The Eagles probably won't spend the money before they have to, but they would be wise to show some loyalty to Weaver and Avant by giving them long-term deals anyway. They certainly did enough in '09 to earn it, and showing them some good faith looks good to potential free agent signings this season and beyond.

It shows that the team is willing to take care of their players when the situation is called for, and not just when they've exhausted all penny-pinching options.

Not only that but both players, regardless of their good seasons, will be fairly cheap. Weaver is a fullback, the lowest-paid position other than kickers and punters, and Avant is only a slot receiver. Somewhere between $3-4 million per season for both players, probably closer to three, for three or four years would have both doing backflips.

They both clearly want to stay in Philly and both have paid their dues. It's time to start taking care of the guys who have earned it instead of making them feel unwanted and waiting until they're sufficiently pissed off to start negotiations.

The Birds need both players, so let's not take any chances and make sure that they're wearing midnight green for at least a few more seasons.
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Was Eagles' loss to Dallas really a blessing in disguise?


While I believe that an uncapped season in 2010 would be an overall bad thing for the NFL, it could turn out to be a great thing for our Philadelphia Eagles.

Because of the "top eight rule," which says that the teams playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs cannot sign a free agent without first losing a player, the Eagles will face much less competition for anyone they decide to target in free agency, restricted or otherwise.

Think about it. If a free agent has a choice of somewhere to go, especially with teams like New Orleans, Indianapolis, Dallas, Arizona, San Diego, and Minnesota off the table, the Eagles would become the next obvious choice for someone looking to play for a contender.

On top of attracting free agents, the Eagles will not have to offer contract extensions to keep key players like Leonard Weaver, Jason Avant, or Nick Cole. Instead, they will have a bevy of restricted free agents that will be of interest to other teams around the league.

And if those teams want one of the Birds' eight restricted free agents, it will take a draft pick or two.

So, if we want to look at the cup as half-full, the loss to the Cowboys during Wild Card weekend could actually turn out to be the best thing for the Birds.

They're already on par with, or better than, the four NFC teams mentioned, and all-but eliminating them as competition for free agents should be able to help them pull ahead or widen the gap for 2010.
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Weaver will remain an Eagle without a new contract.


Because it's "virtually certain" that the 2010 NFL season will be uncapped, according to commissioner Roger Goodell, the Eagles will be in no rush to sign eight of their players who will become restricted free agents absent a CBA rather than unrestricted free agents if a CBA were in place.

Leonard Weaver, as well as Jason Avant, Nick Cole, Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong, Max Jean-Gilles, Ellis Hobbs, and Alex Smith all fall under that category. Because the Eagles will still technically retain their rights with a simple "tender" contract, it is unlikely that Weaver, Avant, Cole Gaither, Gocong, or Hobbs will be going anywhere.

That is, unless of course a team is willing to give up some draft picks and sign them to a contract that the Eagles are unwilling to match. And for those interested, restricted free agency will work the same way it has in years past, except the number of RFA's is about four times greater (from 55 in 2009, to 212 in 2010).

Jean-Gilles and Smith would probably get tendered, but the Eagles would not fight very hard to keep them around.

But how much will a team be willing to give up to actually sign a restricted free agent? A draft full of underclassmen loaded with talent will make giving up draft picks an unattractive option, and the understand that a salary cap will be in place in no less than two years will temper outlandish spending by guys like Al Davis and Danny Snyder.

Not only that, but the top eight rule will essentially make it a 24-team field for any free agents.

The "top eight rule," for those who do not know, says that the top eight teams (teams playing in the divisional round) will not allowed to sign a free agent without first losing a player; Which is actually a silver lining for the Eagles considering the Cowboys, thanks to their victory over the Birds, will be a part of that group.

So unless something miraculous happens between now and March 5th (deadline for a new CBA to avoid an uncapped 2010), don't expect the Eagles to offer contract extensions to any of the eight players mentioned.
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Sean Jones will most likely not be an Eagle in 2010.


It's not a move that I would make were it up to me, and it's certainly not a move that I will endorse, but I believe that the Eagles will allow free safety Sean Jones to leave via free agency.

With two of Reid's draft picks, Quintin Demps and Macho Harris, both vying for the job of free safety, and with guys like O.J. Atogwe hitting the free agent market, I just can't see the Eagles' front office seeing Jones as a priority.

He didn't play all that well in '09, so it's hard to fault them, but I have been and continue to be a firm believer that, with an offseason as the starter, Jones can be a very good, borderline elite, free safety.

He showed that he had the ability in Cleveland with the Browns' awful defense, so coming over to a top five unit and failing as he did was a peculiar site. The word around the team is that Jones just could not seem to grasp Sean McDermott's system quickly enough, which would explain why he didn't start until the middle of the season.

There were still times, however, when Jones appeared to be a bit lost and out of position. But his athleticism still allowed him to make some plays throughout the season, including what should have been an interception against the Cowboys in the Wild Card round of this season's playoffs.

He was only here on a one-year deal, so he probably had to do more than what he did in order to earn a second contract from the Eagles. Leonard Weaver did three times what Jones did, and I'm still a bit worried that the Eagles could get outbid by another team and lose him this offseason.

I'm not guaranteeing that Jones will be allowed to walk. It's entirely possible that the Birds realize that Demps is not a starter and that Harris still has a year or two before he's ready to step into that role (although he will eventually be ready for that role), and give Jones a very cap-friendly deal for about two years.

I give it a 35 percent chance that Jones is back next season.
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The Eagles have signed a fullback. Fingers crossed...


The Eagles went out and signed a fullback today, just like everyone hoped they would do.

Unfortunately, that fullback was not Leonard Weaver and Philly is still on pins and needles waiting to find out what will happen with the Eagles' Pro Bowl fullback.

Instead, the Eagles signed former Buffalo Bills' fourth round pick, fullback Dwayne Wright, to a two-year deal. At 5'11 and 228 pounds, Wright seems to fit more as a power running back rather than a fullback, so his signing doesn't mean that the Eagles will now let Weaver walk.

With Howie Roseman now on board, I expect that Leonard Weaver will be a top priority, if not the No. 1 priority, of the Eagles for this offseason.

After an offseason last year in which it looked like Weaver would definitely sign with the Eagles, then talks broke down and it took a little while, then the Eagles ramped things up and brought him in, nothing would surprise me this offseason.

The big difference this year, however, is that the Eagles have seen what Weaver can do, and Weaver has seen how good this team can be. It's a match that only seems to make sense, so I have to believe that Weaver will be back.

However, I also believed that Brian Dawkins would be back. I know, I know, it's a situation no one wants to talk about, but if the Eagles believe there is a better option out there, or if the price isn't right, don't be surprised to see Weaver playing elsewhere next season.
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Would the Eagles have beaten the Saints with McNabb?


The 2009 season ended for Philadelphia Eagles' fans as it has every season since the good old days of Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Bednarik: in total disappointment.

But this is a new feeling for Eagles fans. After winning 13 of 18 games against the Cowboys during the decade of the 2000s, by scores such as 49-21, 44-13, 44-6, and 41-14, the Eagles had the Cowboys' number, especially in December, the most important month of the NFL season.

However, two scores can practically define the Eagles' season: 24-0 and 34-14. For the first time since the Ray Rhodes coaching days of 1996, the Eagles' suffered an early exit from the postseason.

Given the magnitude of the losses, this was one of the most painful six days in Philadelphia Eagles history.

Yet despite the absolute humiliation in the season's final two weeks, the Eagles still managed to turn in a season that would have Rams, Lions, and Raiders fans on an absolute high.

The Eagles won 11 games, including a six-game winning streak, and became the first No. 6 seed in NFL history to clinch a postseason berth after 14 games.

Throughout the season, there were 10 critical plays that defined the season, including a No. 1 play that will always make me think... What if?



10. McNabb Injured -- Again

In 2008, McNabb played a completely injury-free season for the first time since the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2004, and it seemed that maybe injuries were a thing of the past for unquestioned leader of the Eagles' offense.

Think again.

The Eagles dominated the reigning NFC South champion Carolina Panthers in the first game of 2009, and with a commanding 31-10 lead in the middle of the third quarter, McNabb rolled out and ran in for a three-yard touchdown.

A late hit (which went uncalled) by defensive tackle Damione Lewis broke one of McNabb's ribs. McNabb missed the next two games, and returned to the Eagles for the team's fourth game.

Fortunately, the absence of McNabb didn't seem to affect the Eagles' record, as the Eagles suffered a blowout loss to the eventual NFC-champion New Orleans Saints and won a blowout at home against the inept Kansas City Chiefs.



9. Playmaking Backup Quarterback?

The Eagles had drafted Kevin Kolb in the second round of the 2007 draft, with the hope that the former University of Houston quarterback could eventually replace Donovan McNabb.

Kolb played very sparingly for two seasons, and did just about nothing right. He lost a fumble on his second NFL snap back in 2007. He threw four interceptions on just 34 passes in 2008, one of which was returned an NFL-record 108 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed.

And he fumbled in two of his first seven pass attempts at the end of the 2009 season opener. He played so poorly, in fact, that Eagles' fans were convinced that Mike McMahon had been cloned and brought back on the team.

So when McNabb suffered a rib injury in the season's first game of 2009, there was plenty of reason to panic. Kevin Kolb was forced into the starting quarterback role for two games.

Trailing 7-0 early in the first quarter against the powerful New Orleans, the Eagles decided to let Kolb throw his first deep ball, and he hit DeSean Jackson in stride for a game-tying 71-yard touchdown.

Kolb ended the game with 391 passing yards and two touchdowns. He threw 327 yards and two touchdowns in his other start, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in his first two starts.

More importantly, Kolb showed the Eagles that his two-plus years on the bench had seemingly paid off.

If six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb is not welcomed back for the 2010 season, the Eagles at least have a quarterback who has shown that he is capable of making big plays.



8. Miles Austin's game-winning touchdown

The Eagles were locked in a 13-13 defensive battle in the middle of the fourth quarter of their first game against the Cowboys.

Then Miles Austin burned Sheldon Brown for a 49-yard touchdown catch with 8:04 remaining, giving the Cowboys a 20-13 lead and an eventual 20-16 win.

The play epitomized the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry during the season, as the Cowboys dominated the Eagles in the regular season finale and the wild-card round to become the first team in the history of the rivalry to win three times in one season.

It also helped Miles Austin turn into one of the top receiving threats in the entire league, as he led the entire NFC in receiving yards in his first full season as a starter.



7. DeSean Jackson Answers Back

The Eagles were 8-4 and in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC. The Giants were 7-5 and struggling to save a season that had began with five consecutive victories.

A Sunday night battle turned into a classic NFC East shootout, highlighted by a DeSean Jackson 72-yard punt return touchdown that probably will go down as the Eagles' best play of the season.

But after poor tackling led to a Domenik Hixon 61-yard touchdown reception, the Eagles trailed for the first time, 31-30.

On the sideline, DeSean Jackson told Andy Reid to get the ball in his hands. Reid agreed, and one deep pass and a backwards walk into the end zone later, the Eagles had regained the lead, 37-31, sending the Meadowlands into a state of absolute shock.

The Eagles ended up winning 45-38, and clinched a playoff berth the following week. Jackson's 60-yard touchdown reception tied the NFL single-season record for 50-yard touchdowns (8) and cemented his value as the most explosive wide receiver in the National Football League.



6. Another Stud Receiver

The Eagles' fourth game of the season marked the return of Donovan McNabb from a rib injury suffered in the season opener. It also marked the emergence of a new stud wide receiver to complement DeSean Jackson.

The Eagles dialed Jeremy Maclin's number on their first pass of the game, and McNabb hit the 21-year-old rookie for a 51-yard touchdown catch, his first NFL touchdown.

Maclin added a 40-yard touchdown reception later in the game, and finished the game with 142 yards and two touchdowns.

He totaled 146 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card round, setting an Eagles' single-game postseason receiving record.



5. Jamaal Jackson Knee Injury

During the 2009 season, quarterback Donovan McNabb was asked to name the most valuable player on the team's offense. He selected center Jamaal Jackson.

Jackson had started 76 consecutive games until a torn ACL injury against the Denver Broncos sidelined him for the season finale, a rematch with Dallas for the division title.

The Eagles lost that game 24-0, and lost to Dallas again in the playoffs to end the season in the most disappointing fashion possible.

Donovan McNabb spent the majority of the final two games, especially the wild-card game, running for his life from the Cowboys' defensive linemen.

Without protection from his offensive line, a quarterback doesn't even have a chance to make plays. And the most important member of the Eagles' offensive line is future Pro Bowl center Jamaal Jackson.



4. Leonard Weaver's 41 Yard Touchdown

Heading into the seventh game of the season against the first-place New York Giants, the Eagles had used Leonard Weaver sparingly.

The big fullback had carried just four times in his first seven six games in an Eagles' uniform, but with the loss of former All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook to a concussion suffered in the previous game, the Eagles needed another play maker on the ground.

On Leonard Weaver's first carry of the game, he scampered 41 yards for a touchdown, which was 14 more rushing yards than Eagles' fullbacks have compiled over the past four seasons.

In fact, until the emergence of Leonard Weaver as a superstar, many Eagles fans were unfamiliar with the position of "fullback."

Weaver averaged almost seven carries per game for the remainder of the season, establishing himself as arguably the best fullback in the National Football League (a position that Eagles' fans had only heard about until 2009).

His season total of 323 rushing yards almost doubled the total amount of rushing yards by Eagles' fullbacks over the last decade and for the first time in the Andy Reid era, the Eagles were using all 11 offensive players on a single play.



3. Bearly a Comeback

The Eagles were 5-4 and trying to rebound from two very painful losses, which prompted quarterback Donovan McNabb to call the Bears' game a must-win, something the five-time Pro Bowler had never done in his 11-year career.

The Eagles had won just one of their last 11 games decided by one score or fewer. And they had suffered a painful loss to the Chicago Bears in each of the last two seasons, the first of which saw Brian Griese lead the Bears on a 11-play, 97-yard drive in just 1:43, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad with just nine seconds remaining.

So after LeSean McCoy scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 24-20 lead with 5:31 remaining, the Eagles knew the game was far from over.

When the Bears took over at their own 21-yard line trailing by four with 1:50 remaining, it appeared to be deja vu for the Eagles.

But after a fourth-down completion to Johnny Knox, Jay Cutler whipped a pass over the middle, which was batted into the air by linebacker Tracy White. Safety Sean Jones made a diving interception to secure a much-needed victory for the Eagles.

It was the second straight season in which the Eagles had been involved in a 24-20 nail-biter on the road with the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.

And it propelled the Eagles to win three more one-score games before the season's end, improving Donovan McNabb's career record in one-score games to 33-30-1.



2. Failed Flight Night

Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley was named to the Sports Illustrated's All-Pro team after the 2008 season and, with the departure of future Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins, was poised to become the team's defensive leader in 2009.

But everything changed when Bradley suffered a torn ACL during, of all things, Eagles' Flight Night in early August. Bradley missed the entire season, and essentially the Eagles never recovered from his loss.

They started six different players at middle linebacker during the season, including 34-year-old Jeremiah Trotter, who was brought back for his third stint with the team.

None of the linebackers could defend both the run AND the pass, like Bradley, and things got ugly.

The image of Oakland Raiders' tight end Zach Miller rumbling 86 yards down the field for an easy touchdown led to one of the biggest upsets of the NFL season, and it stands as the signature play provided by the Eagles' ineffective rotation at middle linebacker.



1. Sean Jones Phantom Interception

The single most important play of the Eagles' 2009 season came in the wild-card game against the Cowboys.

Trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter, the Eagles' offense hadn't scored a point in almost six quarters. Then Michael Vick hooked up with rookie Jeremy Maclin for a phenomenal 76-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7.

On Dallas' first play after the kickoff, Tony Romo lobbed an errant pass over the middle intended for his new favorite target, Miles Austin. Sean Jones made a diving interception at the 34 and raced down to the 14-yard line.

Just like that, the momentum of the game had completely shifted toward the Eagles. Old Tony seemed to be back, the same Romo who had lost two playoff games for the Cowboys with turnovers in the final two minutes of play.

The Eagles were on the brink of taking a 14-7 lead, and seemed to have finally cured their disastrous play over the previous five quarters.

But Wade Phillips challenged the call... And won... And Dallas drove down the field and scored a touchdown.

And that was it. The Eagles never recovered. I truly believe that the game would have resulted in an Eagles victory if the Sean Jones interception had not been overturned.

Sometimes one play can turn around a game, or even a season. It's not always a fourth quarter Brian Westbrook punt return touchdown against the New York Giants.

It can be a Robert Meachem fumble recovery touchdown late in the second quarter. And it was one challenge away from being a Sean Jones interception, a play that could have propelled the Eagles into the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints.
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Will Leonard Weaver be back after a Pro Bowl season?


Free agency is a part of life in the NFL. Some years players stay on, to the delight (or dismay) of the local fanbase, and some players move on to the dismay (or delight) of that same fanbase.

That time of year is rapidly approaching, and this year presents some difficult challenges for the Eagles' front office -- namely, Andy Reid. After all, he is the guy with the final say in who stays and who goes, so this has got to be almost as stressful as the season itself.

And while you may not win a Super Bowl in March, it certainly will make that road a whole lot easier if the right calls are made along the way. So, with all that said, let's take a look at what the Eagles should do, and might do, with each player approaching free agency this offseason.

Note: This is with the assumption that a CBA will be in place for the 2010 season. I don't believe that the league, players or owners, will allow an uncapped season. Am I optimistic? Maybe.



Sean Jones, FS

Personally, I'm a big fan of Jones. He's a guy who, with an entire training camp and offseason as the starter, could come in and make big plays for this defense. He did it in Cleveland on a terrible offense, so imagine the impact he could have on a defense with some other pieces around him?

Macho Harris and Quintin Demps are not starting material. Not right now, and from the looks of it, they may never be. Give Jones another contract that would be friendly to part with but give him a shot to show what he can do.

Unless the Birds intend on getting a guy like O.J. Atogwe in free agency, or drafting a guy like Taylor Mays in the back-end of the first round, there's no other option.



Jeremiah Trotter, MLB

It's difficult to let Trott walk after such a valiant effort on two busted knees, but there just doesn't seem to be much of a place for him on this team. While he did have some plays, and even a couple games, where he looked like the old Axe Man, he's still a liability in pass protection and immediately puts the defense at a disadvantage.

With Stewart Bradley returning and most likely retaking his spot in the middle, Trotter would be on the outside looking in. Maybe he can parlay this past season into a spot on a team desperate for defensive help, but there just doesn't seem to be a spot for him in Philly.

Reid may keep him on speed dial in case of an emergency, but keeping a 33-year old linebacker with knee problems around just doesn't seem like something the Eagles are prepared to do.



Jason Babin, DE

Babin is a guy who most didn't even expect to make the team this year, but did and was a contributor throughout the season. I thought he should have been used a lot more than what he was, but perhaps there was something going on in-house that we on the outside didn't see.

Maybe he didn't understand the defense all that well or perhaps McDermott just felt more comfortable with the other guys, but Babin didn't see as much time as his skill-set warranted.

With Chris Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, Darren Howard, and Juqua Parker all returning next season, it doesn't seem likely that Babin gets a second contract from the Eagles. However, don't be surprised to see him getting a shot for some substantial playing time elsewhere.



Tracy White, LB/ST

If the Eagles don't resign White it would be an absolute travesty. Of course, I said the same thing years ago when Ike Reese wasn't resigned and allowed to head off to Atlanta, so I'm not holding my breath on seeing White as an Eagle in 2010.

He's exactly what the Eagles had in Reese earlier this decade and what they were lacking until White came on board during the middle of last season. He's a guy who obviously likes playing special teams, and plays it fearlessly, but can also contribute when called upon for spot duty on defense.

His spot duty turned into some decent playing time with all of the injuries this season, and he showed that he's a guy who will fly around at 100 miles an hour and make plays that you wouldn't expect from a special teams ace.

Or, in other words, he's Ike Reese. It's redemption time, Reid. Sign this man.



Leonard Weaver, FB

Is there really a single person out there who believes resigning Weaver would be a mistake? If so, please comment with your home address so I can sit down across from you and look into the eyes of a crazy person.

Weaver is the perfect fullback for Reid's system, and he knows it. He can run the ball like a running back, catch it like a tight end, and block like a fullback. Outside of Le'Ron McClain in Baltimore, Weaver is the best fullback in the league -- an opinion finally validated with the trip to the Pro Bowl he'll be making in a few weeks.

If Reid and company decide that they're going to only resign one player this offseason, please let it be this guy.



Jason Avant, WR

Remember what I said about Weaver and if they're going to resign one guy, make it him? Well, Jason Avant may give Weaver a run for his money and could make that a very, very difficult decision.

Avant may have the surest hands of any receiver I've seen in this league. That includes guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, and the rest of them. He doesn't have the freakish size or speed that the others possess, but when it comes to simply catching the football Avant must be at least mentioned in the same breath.

His hands are phenomenal, his concentration is spectacular, and better yet is the fact that he doesn't run his mouth or make a spectacle of himself the way other receivers will. He makes the clutch third down reception, flips the ball to the ref, and heads back to the huddle.

Here's to hoping Reid will resign more than one guy.



Ellis Hobbs, CB

While I'd love to see Hobbs come back because of the uncertainty surrounding Sheldon Brown and his added value as a kick returner, his return to the team seems highly unlikely. He's looking for a role as a starter, but it's most likely not a role he'll acquire as a member of the Eagles.

Until he moves to safety or is traded, Brown will be the starting cornerback on the other side of Asante Samuel. There's no way around that -- it's just not going to happen. However, I would be all in favor of starting the same duo that took the Pats to their 16-0 record with Brown as a free safety, but Sheldon may not be on board with that just yet.

The only way Hobbs comes back is if he finds out that there's not really a market for him elsewhere, and even then his price tag may be a bit too high. Smart money says Hobbs is elsewhere when 2010 kicks off.



Nick Cole, OL

If it's me, I would be very tempted to let Cole walk. Reid seems to like him, but I don't believe he's a starting-caliber lineman and will probably be too expensive to keep as a backup given that he now has an entire season of starts under his belt -- and at three different positions, no less.

To me, Cole looks lazy on the field and his footwork is lacking. He doesn't have the speed or agility necessary to get out in front for the screen or the experience necessary to make the line calls while playing center.

If he will come back for a discounted price, then by all means resign him as he's not a bad fill-in if something were to go wrong. He is not, however, a legitimate starting option.



Alex Smith, TE

He didn't do a whole lot, but he was good for the role the Eagles wanted him to play. Like Babin on the other side of the ball, I don't believe that Smith was given an adequate opportunity to showcase his talents. I think he could have been another weapon for this offense, but he was given very few chances.

With Brent Celek having a breakout season, Cornelius Ingram returning from injury, and Martin Rucker developing on the practice squad in the latter portion of the season, Smith will most likely not be back in 2010. It's probably best for him and I can't say that I blame the Eagles for letting him walk in favor of Ingram -- a guy they really like.

Smith should get a shot on another team in 2010, and could even find himself back in a starting role sooner rather than later.



Omar Gaither, LB

Gaither is a guy who seems to have fallen out of favor with the Eagles front office, so it's unlikely that he will be back. Apparently the Eagles tried to offer him an extension a year or two ago that was well below market value, as they usually do, but unlike the others Gaither turned it down.

The Birds don't like to be messed with, then add that onto his sub-par play and you have the makings of a guy who will most likely never wear Eagle green again. However, if he finds out that there's no market for him, he may be willing to accept whatever the Eagles offer.

At this point he's a good guy to have because of his versatility, but has shown that he's probably not a full-time starter in this league. It would take a lot of pieces falling at the right time for Gaither to stay an Eagle.



Max Jean-Gilles, RG

Don't expect Jean-Gilles back in 2010. He doesn't possess the versatility to even swap from one side of the line to another, much less play multiple positions. And to play on Andy Reid's offensive line, you better be versatile. Jean-Gilles is not, and didn't even perform well at the one position he does play.

I give it about a 20-30 percent chance that Jean-Gilles is back next year, and that's being optimistic for him. He just does not fit Reid's philosophy of offense or offensive linemen and probably wasted his final opportunity to stay in Philly. He might be able to stick on a run-heavy team the way Bobbie Williams did in Cincy, but not with the Eagles.

Besides, Reid would be much more comfortable drafting a guy in the sixth round instead of sticking with a guy he's convinced doesn't fit his system.



Chris Gocong, SLB

Gocong is a guy who came into the league and immediately was thrown into the mix as a starter. For a rookie he looked pretty good, and he was, but the problem was that he never got any better. He's hit a plateau since day one and in fact seems to be headed downhill now.

He lost his starting spot to a rookie drafted in the seventh round and didn't even see much time in spot duty. He played special teams almost exclusively for about the last month of the season and didn't even make enough of an impact there to warrant more time.

I give it a 50-50 shot that Gocong is back because the Birds will like him as a backup, but that's all he'll be if he even comes back at all.


Sav Rocca, P (Restricted Free Agent)

Rocca was very inconsistent all season long, but he did seem to pick it up near the end. It seemed like Ted Daisher, the Eagles special teams coordinator, was trying to refine his kicking too much and only made it worse. Rocca seemed to be going through the motions like a robot, rather than just booting the ball as he did in his first season in Philly.

Towards the end of the season, it looks like someone figured that out and allowed him to go back to whatever he was doing before. He was consistently punting the ball over 50 yards and helping the Eagles win the field position battle. In fact, were it not for him, the Cowboys may have made those last two weeks far more humiliating with better field position.

Thanks to him, however, they only beat the Birds by a combined score of 58-14.

Expect a middle-of-the-road tender for Rocca, as punters aren't really a hot commodity.



Akeem Jordan, LB (Restricted Free Agent)

Jordan is another guy who fell way out of favor with the coaching staff in the latter portion of the season. His playing time was dwindling as the weeks went on, but then he was back starting for the Eagles' playoff game at Dallas -- at the MIKE position.

It was odd seeing him give that a go, but it shows that the Eagles obviously have faith in him to some degree and will most likely give him a middle-of-the-road tender, if they don't just resign him right off the bat.

Jordan is a big, physical guy who can make plays when he's put in the right position. However, it looks like no one is quite sure what that position is. Whether it's as a starter of coming off the bench, he's a guy who can still help this defense and will probably stick around and get to prove that to the coaching staff and to the fans.
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