Hint: It's one of the guys in this picture (not Trotter).


With Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid revealing that rookie safety Nate Allen will "struggle" to play this Monday against the Washington Redskins, the team is likely to start considering a safety to bring in for a week or two.

As it stands, the team has only two healthy safeties on the roster in strong safety Quintin Mikell and rookie Kurt Coleman, who stepped in for Allen after he was injured against the Colts.

Coleman played well and will get the start this week, but the team will need more than two healthy safeties.

The original plan was for Dimitri Patterson to kick back to safety, but he'll be starting in place of the injured Ellis Hobbs. Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton played safety for two years at Oklahoma, but he has seen minimal snaps this season and likely isn't ready to step in if such a situation would arise.

The team also has safety/cornerback Jamar Wall on the practice squad but, like Clayton, it's doubtful the team would trust him to fill in.

So, with the guys on the roster ruled out, the next step is the free agent pool. While it's a fairly thin market, it is worth noting that there are two familiar faces still floating around in NFL purgatory -- Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.

Demps and Harris both got the axe for essentially the same reasons. They played soft, showed almost no signs of improvement, and the team had more pressing needs they needed to address.

Had the numbers been closer, it's possible one or both would have stuck around simply for depth, but it would have required going thin on either line (which Reid would never do) or parting ways with one of the team's young linebackers.

It didn't take a lot of evaluation to see parting ways with Demps and Harris was the way to go.

But now that the team is in desperate need of depth, it would make sense that Demps or Harris would get the call. Both guys know the defense, both have seen a lot of time in Sean McDermott's scheme, and as backups looking to get maybe 10-12 snaps it would make sense to bring in a guy who already knows what he's doing.

If they bring in anyone else, it would mean cramming them with the scheme and hoping they pick it up in time. With Demps or Harris, that's a step they can skip entirely.

So, if the choice comes down to Demps or Harris, who do they take?

For my money, it's probably Harris. Demps is a guy who plays far too recklessly, gets himself wildly out of position, and seems to think he's more of a play-maker than he really is.

With Harris, the biggest gripe was that he just had no interest in tackling. I'm not sure if he thought he was too good to tackle or if he was scared or if he just couldn't do it, but bringing down a ball-carrier was certainly not his strong suit.

If it's either of the first two reasons, perhaps sitting at home for half the season has humbled him enough to the point that he'll be excited for the opportunity to tackle someone.

In addition to being able to play safety, Harris could step in at corner in a pinch. Because let's not forget, the team is also thin there as well.

Patterson and Asante Samuel are the starters with Joselio Hanson in the nickel, but with Hobbs injured the only reserve corners are rookie Trevard Lindley and Jorrick Calvin. Lindley has seen some time but is still very much in the developmental stage, and Calvin is about 99 percent special teams player and one percent corner.

I'm not even sure Calvin has seen any reps at corner in practice, much less in a game.

Of course, if the Eagles bring in a corner until Hobbs is healthy, Harris' versatility just becomes an added bonus for the team to keep in their back pocket for a week or so.

There's no guarantee the team will bring anyone in while Allen gets himself healthy, but if they should choose to do so, Demps or (preferably) Harris, are the only choices that make sense.

UPDATE: According NBC-KECI in Montana (yeah, Montana) the Eagles are prepared to sign safety Colt Anderson off the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad. He will take the spot of the recently-waived Joique Bell on the Eagles' 53-man roster.

The team also worked out free agent defensive back Cary Harris. Absent from the workouts were Demps or Macho.
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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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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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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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Allen could be the guy at FS over Harris or Demps.


While losing Marlin Jackson's versatility to play either safety or cornerback will hurt in the long-run, it doesn't mean the Eagles are out of options -- and viable ones -- at free safety.

Macho Harris, who was recently moved to cornerback, could be an option. He wasn't terrible last season as most of his mistakes were what you would expect out of a rookie. He'd wind up in the wrong place or, if he was where he belonged, he was a half-second too late.

However, Harris looks like a cornerback to me. Even with the added bulk he's still a below-average tackler and, as evidenced by the few times he returned kicks, he doesn't relish contact the way a free safety should.

Then there's third-year man and enigma Quintin Demps.

For the first 16 (or so) games of his rookie season, it looked like they might have found the heir apparent to Brian Dawkins. Demps was flying around, making plays, and showed the speed that Dawkins now lacked.

Then came the playoffs and a kid who clearly was far too high on himself. He was no longer playing within the scheme, he thought he knew better than Jim Johnson or any veteran on the field with him, and it wound up making him look incredibly foolish.

We won't even delve into the NFC Championship Game, which just happened to be one of the worst games I've seen played by an individual on this Eagles team since the days of Bobby Hoying.

Demps has some growing up to do and likely won't be able to get back into the Eagles coaching staff's good graces over this offseason. He's most likely a role player/kick returner in 2010.

Second-round pick Nate Allen appears to be the guy who will step in and take the spot.

Allen is everything the Birds are looking for in a free safety. Not only can he cover if left on an island, but he is more than willing to lay a lick on somebody.

He was nursing a quad injury early on OTA's, but he appears healthy and ready to go now. In fact, it wasn't Harris or Demps who stepped in for Jackson (who was running with the first team) after his injury, it was Allen.

Andy Reid is always reluctant to start rookies, but I have a feeling Allen will impress too much in training camp to keep him on the bench. He's the starter for now, and as long as he doesn't suffer an injury and can continue to learn the playbook, he should be the guy when the season opens against the Green Bay Packers.

This battle will go through training camp and into the preseason, but I'm putting my money on Allen to show why he was considered by some to be the second-best safety in this draft ahead of Earl Thomas.
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Macho should have a smooth transition to corner.


It happened a year too late, but the Eagles finally realized their mistake and have moved Macho Harris back to cornerback. And more specifically, they've moved him to right cornerback, where he is seeing significant playing time during mini-camp.

Macho started several games at free safety last season, and was penciled in as the starter heading into mini-camp, but it was obvious to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention that Harris is not a safety and is clearly a natural corner.

But the interesting part of this is that he's seeing time at right cornerback -- the position vacated by Sheldon Brown and currently being filled by Ellis Hobbs. The move could signal that the Birds aren't as sold on Hobbs as they'd like everyone to think.

Hobbs was the guy across from Asante Samuel in 2007 with New England when the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season before being defeated in the Super Bowl, but that was in a completely different system.

With New England, Hobbs was able to play the zone and simply react whereas in Sean McDermott's system he'll be asked to play man and press his receiver. His height (5'8") will make that very difficult.

Harris, on the other hand, is 5'11" and better suited to be the type of corner McDermott wants for his system. However, Harris will have to show that he's capable of sticking with the speedier receivers as he was consistently burnt at safety.

That, however, could also simply have been a case of his ignorance not allowing him to be in the proper position rather than a lack of physical ability.

In other Eagles news, it appears as though the Eagles' interest in former Houston Texans offensive lineman Chester Pitts is minimal. He said recently the Birds told him they'd have a spot for him on the roster, but sources within the organization are saying it's exploratory more than anything.

Shawn Springs will also not be joining the team anytime soon, contrary to ESPN and Boston Globe reports. The Eagles were interested last season, but that was only if he would accept a move to free safety. That's no longer an option the Eagles have to explore after drafting Nate Allen and signing Marlin Jackson.
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Harris, not Allen, could be the guy at free safety.


Even though he lost his job halfway through the season and the Eagles used a second-round pick on a guy they expect to one day be a starter, Macho Harris is still set to be the man at free safety.

He has been running with the first-string defense beside Quintin Mikell, and by all accounts is finally looking the part. He probably played around 185 last season, but is apparently over 200 pounds now and is hellbent on fighting off Nate Allen.

Allen, for the time being, has been working as the second-string strong safety behind Mikell, but he's unlikely to stay there. He pulled his quad a couple months ago, but rather than rest it he continued his pre-draft workouts, which hasn't worsened the injury, but it has prevented it from properly healing.

Marlin Jackson is also working in at free safety, but is learning the defense at cornerback as well, which could mean the Birds are axing that project before it gets going. They need help at corner, so Jackson will likely be looked at to provide depth behind Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel.

Most of us assumed Allen would come in as a rookie and make an impact, but once we stop and think, it shouldn't be surprising -- historically speaking.

Andy Reid, up until a few years ago, has always gone with the philosophy that rookies should sit for a season, see limited time, and then step in and contribute when he feels they're ready. Even the guys who have started have really only been as a final resort.

DeSean Jackson only started because Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis were both down, Maclin only started because Curtis went down (even though Reid insists he would have taken the job anyway), and Harris only started because Quintin Demps was injured and Reid felt there was no other viable option at the time.

Although he proved it was only a last resort when he pulled Harris as soon as they felt Sean Jones finally had a grip on the defense.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Allen come on strong in training camp and the preseason and overtake Harris, but don't be surprised if Harris gets another shot beside Quintin Mikell if Reid and Sean McDermott aren't 100 percent positive Allen won't hurt them with his inexperience.
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Jackson will immediately become the starter at FS.


Earlier today, the Eagles and defensive back Marlin Jackson agreed on a two-year deal. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but it's probably somewhere around $7-8 million. I'd be surprised if the Birds shelled out any more than that.

Jackson will immediately be penciled in as the starter at free safety (regardless of what the Eagles say) and will only lose his job if he's absolutely atrocious. Sean McDermott saw what Macho Harris and Quintin Demps can do, and it's not a whole lot.

Many Eagles fans and outsiders alike wonder about this move, but it makes perfect sense from where I'm sitting. He played free safety during his junior year at Michigan and started about half the season as a free safety during his second season in Indianapolis.

He has had some issues with his knees, and is currently rehabbing from a torn ACL, but that actually just makes the decision to move him to safety even better.

The injuries will slow him down, but they will slow him down to the speed of a safety. Pair that with the cover abilities of a cornerback and you have exactly what the Birds are looking for.

They have wanted a guy who can play "center field," if you will, for a few years now. Brian Dawkins was never that guy, and it's the reason why Demps was drafted and why Harris was given a shot to take the job.

McDermott's defense calls for someone who can go sideline to sideline, if need be, and be able to tackle in the open field. That wasn't Demps or Harris, but it could be Jackson.

Jackson's best season came in 2007 when he started all 16 games, had half a sack, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, five passes defended, and 112 total tackles -- 76 solo.

The number of tackles is the most impressive because it shows that he can make a tackle in the open field when he needs to. He's an instinctive and tough guy who is used to winning and will carry that mentality into a team also familiar with winning.

Jackon is certainly not the marquee name that fans were looking for, but his presence could have a significant ripple effect.

Quintin Mikell will not longer feel like he must play two positions, which will allow him to roam around the box and make plays around the line of scrimmage -- something he was unable to do last season. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel will also feel more confident in breaking on a pattern because they known Jackson is back there to clean up any mess they leave.

The Birds still need a left defensive end who can rush the passer on a consistent basis, but signing Jackson is certainly a move in the right direction for this defense and for this team.

At the very least he adds great depth to this secondary, so it's a signing that has very little risk involved and certainly looks to pay off in the end.
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Expect Ellis Hobbs to return to Philadelphia in 2010.


After spending two fifth round picks to bring him to Philadelphia, the Eagles, in my humble opinion, don't have an option but to at least make an effort to keep Ellis Hobbs.

All they would have to do is offer him the lowest tender, pay him a couple million, and would receive a third round pick (based on where he was drafted) if another team were to try and sign him.

Hobbs is a good corner, but after coming off a season in which he didn't start and got injured in the latter portion of the season, no team is going to give up a third round pick for him.

It's win-win for the Eagles. They get to keep a guy who has started in this league for what amounts to peanuts in the NFL and stand to gain a third round pick if a team were desperate enough to target Hobbs.

Not only does Hobbs give the Birds excellent depth in the secondary, but he's also an effective kick returner. He's not a guy who's a threat to take it the distance every time he touches it, but he's not going to pull a Macho Harris and fumble at the absolute worst time.

Andy Reid and company clearly doesn't trust Quintin Demps anymore, they shouldn't trust Harris, and Jeremy Maclin has shown that he's too afraid of contact to ever return kicks in this league.

Hobbs has three kick returns for touchdowns in his career and will average anywhere between 24 and 28 yards per return -- not spectacular, but it's certainly solid enough to warrant keeping him around.

He's also got nine interceptions, 41 passes defended, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five fumble recoveries, and a touchdown in his five-year career on defense.

Reid loves having guys who can not only contribute on offense or defense, but also pitch in on special teams, so keeping Hobbs around just makes too much sense to ignore.

He instantly becomes, by far, the best dime corner in the league with the skill set to step in were Sheldon Brown or, more likely, Asante Samuel were to go down.

Cheap and effective is exactly what this franchise looks for, and taking into account the two picks that were given up to acquire him, I'd be very surprised if the Birds let Hobbs walk.
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Hopefully Harris will use his newly-acquired bulk.


At the most recent weigh-ins, running back LeSean McCoy and free safety Macho Harris both bulked up from their 2009 weights, something that will help out both guys next season as they are expected to step up and earn more playing time.

McCoy bulked up from 198 to 210 pounds, while Harris went from 187 to 195 pounds.

While the extra 12 pounds will help McCoy withstand the beating he's going to take as the main ball-carrier next season, it's Harris' weight-gain that could have the biggest impact.

Perhaps the extra eight pounds will make him more willing to attack the man he's tackling, rather than attempting to simply arm-tackle everyone. The way he seemed to play afraid of getting hurt was enough to drive me insane and call for his job on more than one occasion.

Hopefully McCoy becomes more willing to block and take on tacklers, as well.

Two brand new Eagles were also weighed in. Former "Most Outstanding Rookie" of the CFL, running back Martell Mallett weighed in at 200 pounds and 5 feet 11 inches tall, while fullback Dwayne Wright weight in at 234 pounds and also 5 feet 11 inches tall.

It's a slow day in Eagle-land, folks. I bring the news as it comes.
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Demps first return touchdown in preseason of '08.


It appears as though the Eagles have figured out what everyone else in Philly has been screaming since last Sunday: Macho Harris is not a kick returner.

Quintin Demps, who is returning from an ankle injury, will take over once again returning kickoffs, giving the Eagles an advantage on special teams and in the field position battle. With Harris, it was seemingly a miracle if he actually got back to the 20. With Demps, however, the threat of taking it all the way is at least there.

Demps is simply better at attacking the hole when it presents itself. I've been vocal about my disappointment with Demps as a safety, but as a kick returner he's the best the Eagles have to offer since Ellis Hobbs' season-ending neck injury.

It's a bit curious that the guy who does everything he can to avoid contact as a safety will welcome it while he's returning a kick. He doesn't seem afraid to try and sneak through even the most narrow of running lanes, even when he knows it could get him killed if he can't sneak through the other side.

If he could incorporate that toughness into his play on defense, he may just be able to make a good safety in this league -- at some point.

Right now, however, he can be a weapon on special teams. And in a game that will most likely come down to winning the turnover and field position battle, having a fumble-prone Macho Harris returning kicks was simply not an option.

Like Demps, Michael Vick will also be returning from injury. After sitting out last week because of a quad injury he suffered against the San Francisco 49ers, he's going to return to this week against the Cowboys.

Vick will most likely remain a third-down option in his Wildcat package with some sporadic playing time in between. Vick wasn't very effective the first time the Eagles and Cowboys met, but with Andy Reid and company finding better ways to utilize Vick, the Cowboys will once again have to prepare for the former Atlanta superstar.
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Hear this, Macho: You stink as a kick returner.


First, Macho Harris shows us that he's not ready to be the starter at free safety. His tackling is, let's say, lacking at best, and he didn't show a grasp on Sean McDermott's defense. Now he is showing us that he is not a kick returner.

However, that's not going to stop Andy Reid from stubbornly sticking with the rookie safety out of Virginia Tech while Quintin Demps nurses a sprained ankle.

Let's put aside his bottom-of-the-barrel return average for a second, because it doesn't really matter if he was averaging 90 yards per return if he can't hold on to the ball. Two fumbles against the Denver Broncos nearly cost the Eagles the game, but for some reason he's keeping his job.

One of his fumbles was a direct result of being afraid of contact. He showed that same fear while playing safety, so it wasn't a shock to see him brace for the impact of the tackle. But what happens when an NFL player is afraid to get hit?

He gets hit harder.

That's what happened to Harris who could then do nothing as the Broncos recovered his fumble and turned it into a touchdown. Then, on another kickoff, he had the ball poked out again. This time, fortunately, Victor Abiamiri was close by and, thanks to being taller than the Bronco diving at the ball, was able to fall on it and keep possession.

Were it not for Abiamiri, it would have been disaster. The Broncos would have gotten the ball in great field position with a field goal almost guaranteed and a good shot at getting into the endzone.

So, remind me again why in the world Harris is keeping his job.

This is not the week to be stubborn in your ways, Andy. Too much is at stake for it to be fumbled away by some rookie who doesn't like to get hit. At the very least, put someone back there who can withstand the impact and hold on to the football. I don't even care if he gets to the 20 and falls down at this point.

Eldra Buckley seems like a guy who could accomplish this. He's a guy looking to make an impact and, who knows, may just break one. However, what I am certain of is that Buckley is a guy who's not afraid of impact and I'd lay a bet would not put the ball on the ground.

Harris, on the other hand, needs to find his way to the bench.
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If Macho can't play, he'll hear the calls for Jones.


After practice today Andy Reid said that there is a chance that safety Macho Harris will play. He has been practicing and didn't appear to be hurting too much, but game speed could put added pressure on that ankle and prevent him from cutting properly.

Sean McDermott and the rest of the coaching staff isn't too worried about it, however, because of the new-found confidence in first-year Eagle Sean Jones. If Harris sits out, Jones would most likely start with Quintin Demps active as the third safety.

Personally I'm not worried if Harris has to sit out. He's been okay this season, but nothing more than that. His coverage has been good and he's tried to be a physical presence, but he misses too many tackles and is far too inconsistent.

A veteran like Sean Jones could bring the consistency to the position that the Eagles need.

I was a big proponent for Jones to win the starting job over Quintin Demps at the beginning of the year, but he was unable to grasp the system and eventually was even asked to take a pay-cut or be released from the team. He's stayed and contributed on special teams and should now get his shot to show what he can do.

Brian Westbrook is in a shaky position with a concussion, and will most likely not play. He's listed as questionable officially, but the more honest status would probably be "doubtful." I give it a 25 percent chance, and maybe even less than that, that Westbrook plays this Sunday.

He has to pass a test before he can even begin excercising, and even if he passes the test it may be a bit too late. He's got to pass an excercise test before he can be cleared to play after a concussion, and it would take a lot of work for him to get to where he needs to be before Sunday.

Chris Clemons was also held out of practice with an illness, and is probable for Sunday.
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Rookie Free Safety Macho Harris will be the starter in Week 1.

Good news all around for the Eagles and of course us fans. 6 days until the season opener and the Eagles will have 4/5 of their stud offensive line in place and they will have a starting Free Safety that can actually hit!


When the Eagles take the field against the Panthers this Sunday (football is back!!) the Eagles will have both of their Pro Bowl Tackles in place. Peters may not have shined this preseason but the man must have some talent to earn 2 pro bowl selections. The man is a GIANT and I can't wait for the holes he will be opening for B-West.

As much as I criticized Shawn Andrews this off-season I am ecstatic that my complaining didn't become a reality with Shawn starting the season on the bench. The kid has All-Pro talent and I can't wait to see him and his brother holding down the right side of the line this season.

You need an established veteran at center and the Eagles have that with Jackson. Herremans will be back within the first quarter of the season. At that point look out. The offense has so many weapons this season. The talent all along the OL will pave the way for Pro Bowl seasons from McNabb, B-West, and DeSean.

On to today's news of Macho Harris winning the starting free safety spot over Demps. If you are going to play safety in this league you need to be able to hit. And Harris can hit (take a look at the game film...Demps cannot). Just look at this Harris scouting report...

"Reliable open-field tackler who flashes explosiveness as a hitter. Willing to dirty his jersey against the run. Good lateral agility to elude blockers and will come up aggressively in run support."

True this was a report from college, but regardless these are all qualities I want in a safety. And with a defensive backfield filled with top-notch veterans (Brown, Samuel, and Mikell) I am not worried about starting a rookie (also shows trust in your draft scouting).

Way to rebound from the Feeley move Andy!
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At this point, Quintin Demps has no business as the starter.


I've stood by the fact that I don't believe Quintin Demps should be a starter, but that he may eventually turn into a starting-caliber player. However, Thursday's preseason game against the Jaguars has me thinking a bit differently.

Overall, Demps didn't play a terrible game. However, one particular play really sticks out from that game, and has me 100 percent convinced that Demps is not ready to start this year, and may never be the starter that the Eagles want and expect him to be.

Without going back and looking, I don't remember the exact situation of the play. From what I recall, the Jaguars were headed into the redzone from about the Eagles 25 yard line (or so). David Garrard used the play-fake to freeze the linebackers and hit Marcedes Lewis about ten yards down the field on what I believe was just an out pattern.

Demps comes flying into the screen, lunges at Lewis and simply bounces off of him. That doesn't sound so bad, but it gets a whole lot worse when you see that he bounces off because at no point does he extend his arms to wrap Lewis up, or even just simply lower his shoulder into him as Dawk would do from time to time.

Then I thought back to the NFC Championship game when he just gave a slight shoulder check to Tim Hightower on the goal line and I realized then that Demps is afraid of contact. Now I don't mean that he's going to turn and run away, but when push comes to shove, he doesn't want to lay his body on the line to make that tackle.

(He will, however, take a shot at a quarterback who's not looking and who threw the ball several seconds before he got there. It's cheap, and it's cowardly. However, it seems like it's the only time he'll hit somebody.)

As a fan, as a former player, as a coach, and as a man, it's absolutely unthinkable that this kid has made it all the way to the ranks of being a starter in the NFL when he obviously does not like contact. What exactly are the Eagles thinking putting him out there on the field?

Not only does it put the team at risk to be playing a kid that won't hit anybody, but it puts him at risk as well. The guys who are afraid of contact are the ones who get injured the most often. They don't know how to give a hit, and they don't know how to receive a hit, which of course leads to things like broken collarbones (i.e. Roy Williams) and other injuries of the like.

Now, this would not be a big deal if he were a corner, a wide receiver, or even a quarterback. I think it's terrible that such players make up the NFL today, but it's something that has become the norm. However, if you want to play free safety, you have better have the reckless abandon of a Banshee warrior.

Dawkins had, and has, that. It's what made, and makes, him a great safety, and a great overall player. Demps, on the other hand, apparently learned nothing under his time with Dawkins the way that Quintin Mikell did. You can see Dawkins in the way that Mikell plays because he took that same type of mentality. Demps is just another finesse kid that the Eagles don't need.

What's even more maddening is that they have a guy in Sean Jones sitting on the bench who would gladly sacrifice his body to take someone else's head off just for the sheer joy of hearing the pop. That's a football player, that's what a safety must be willing to do.

If Demps wants any kind of career in the NFL, he better start learning how to play in man coverage against a receiver, because cornerback is the only position on defense where it's acceptable (to a degree) to not want contact. Hell, Deion Sanders had about four or five tackles over his entire career, yet he's remembered as one of the best ever.

Macho Harris isn't afraid to hit, start him. Sean Jones isn't afraid to hit, start him. Quintin Demps will avoid contact if at all possible, and quite frankly he's not someone I want stepping into the shoes of Brian "Weapon X" Dawkins. Jones or Harris might suplex somebody, and at this point I'd be surprised if Demps would be man enough to give them a friendly hug.

Ride the pine, son. This is the NFL.
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