Barring a shocking move, MJG will be an Eagle again.


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

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

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

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

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

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

UPDATE: Per Les Bowen via Twitter: "Agent Drew Rosenhaus sez Max Jean-Gilles plans "on signing back with the Eagles in the a.m."
Continue Reading...

Andrews wanted out, and is now very, very far away.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue Reading...

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


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

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

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

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



Quarterbacks (3)

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

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

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



Running Backs (4)

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

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

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



Tight Ends (2)

1. Brent Celek, 2. Clay Harbor

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

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



Wide Receiver (5)

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

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

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



Offensive Line (10)

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

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

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



Defensive Line (10)

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

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

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

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



Linebackers (6)

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

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

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



Defensive Backs (10)

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

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

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



Specialists (3)

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

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

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

At worst, Wells adds great depth along the line.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
Continue Reading...

Is Justice ready to take his game to the next level?


With training camp the next big event of the NFL offseason, and not much else going on right now, let's take a look at the issues facing the Eagles for the upcoming season in no particular order.

1. Who starts at right cornerback?

Ellis Hobbs is supposed to be the front-runner heading into training camp, but Joselio Hanson is also seeing some reps with Asante Samuel. Hanson has proven himself to be a very good nickel corner, but probably doesn't have the speed or athleticism to play on the outside.

Hobbs has already played the right cornerback position with Samuel, and played it well, during the New England Patriots' undefeated season in 2007. Hanson, on the other hand, was considered a scrub before he moved inside in the nickel.

In other words, he's probably another Rod Hood -- very good in the nickel, but not great on the outside.



2. Who emerges as the third running back?

Last season it was Eldra Buckley, but he saw limited time as a running back and was mostly a special teams player. This season, however, the Birds have brought in some competition for Buckley in the form of a former league MVP and a sixth-round draft pick.

Martell Mallett, the reigning MVP of the CFL, was signed early in the offseason. He is probably a very long shot to make the team, but signing a guy who was voted as the best player in the entire league, even in the CFL, is worth the minimal amount of money it took to sign him.

Then there's Charles Scott, a sixth-round pick in this year's draft out of LSU. Scott doesn't seem to fit Andy Reid's mold of a running back at all at 5'11", 240 pounds, but there's a lot of buzz around this kid and he's probably the most likely to make the team.

However, if he can't play special teams, he will most likely find himself on the practice squad to make room for Buckley.



3. Who plays center while Jamaal Jackson rehabs?

Currently, there are three candidates for the center position: Mike McGlynn, A.Q. Shipley, and Nick Cole. McGlynn was a fourth-round pick in 2008, Shipley was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers last season, and Cole is a guy the Eagles have been moving around since he came to Philly as an undrafted free agent in 2006.

Cole played center last season once Jackson went down, but was unimpressive, to say the least.

It's believed that McGlynn and Shipley will battle it out to see who mans the position until Jackson is able to return, and it's likely McGlynn wins the job due to his size advantage (6'4", 315 over Shipley at 6'o", 300), and the fact that he was a fourth-round draft pick.



4. How will Jason Peters and Winston Justice progress?

Peters caught far too much heat last season, and Justice didn't get nearly enough praise. Peters, while he didn't play as well as the Eagles hoped, was still their best lineman, by far, and was often blamed for sacks that were actually the fault of Todd Herremans on the inside.

Justice suffered much in the same way Peters did, as several times Nick Cole/Max Jean-Gilles would block the wrong man on the blitz or on a stunt.

I firmly believe another year in the system will help Peters dramatically, he'll play like the best left tackle in the league, and Justice could have a Pro Bowl season if the guy playing next to him is better than last season.



5. Will Stacy Andrews prove to be worth the money?

The Eagles sunk a lot of money into Stacy Andrews last season with no results. Nothing. He played in the season opener, but that was it. From there he was relegated to special teams duty on the field goal team, but even that was taken from him as the season progressed.

He claims it had nothing to do with his recovery from a torn ACL the year prior, but that was obviously the issue as he looked timid moving forward to run-block or planting his leg to dig in and pass-block.

This season, he's got to take the right guard spot from Cole and play well. With a young guy likely to take over at center for the majority of the season, he and Herremans will be counted on even more to man the interior of the line.

If he's unable to play up to the Eagles' expectations, don't expect him to be around in 2011.
Continue Reading...

Laws is only one of several guys who must step up.


Since the free agent class was very weak this offseason, the Eagles are going to have to do most of their improving internally. They will have to squeeze everything they can out of a few guys who have not lived up to their billing as either high draft picks or high-priced free agents.

And it's not just guys like Trevor Laws, Stacy Andrews, and Victor Abiamiri. They're the obvious bunch to point to because Laws and Abiamiri were second-round picks who haven't panned out yet, and Andrews was given a heft payday to bring him to Philadelphia.

(By the way, I recently found out that Laws and Abiamiri were roommates at Notre Dame. Both second-round picks, both from Notre Dame, both are disappointments, and they were roommates. Maybe they need to find someone else to bunk with?)

But guys like Stewart Bradley, Todd Herremans, Chris Gocong, Brodrick Bunkley, and Mike Patterson must all be better than they've been in previous seasons. Bradley is of course a special case because of his injury, but he is going to have to battle through it and be the linebacker he was in '08 so this defense can get better around him.

Gocong is an obvious guy as well. He looks poised to be in a training camp battle with last year's seventh-round pick Moise Fokou for the SAM linebacker position and, while it's good to see Fokou make the team as a late-round pick, everyone is hoping that Gocong can win the job.

He hasn't really taken his game to the next level like I thought he would a couple seasons ago, but maybe on a contract year he'll have the extra bit of motivation to play up to his obvious athletic ability.

Bunkley and Patterson are guys who regressed last season after the duo had a Pro Bowl-caliber season in '08. It could have been the lack of sufficient talent around them in the front seven, but they appeared to lose the hard-nosed attitude that had some calling them one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the league.

Neither guy is a great pass-rusher, but they've got to be more stout against the run. The Cowboys offensive line man-handled those guys, and with Bradley likely playing at less than 100 percent behind them, they're going to have to eat up blocks and allow him to roam free behind them.

Herremans got thrown around by Albert Haynesworth and the rest of the defensive tackles he faced, and will have to increase his upper-body strength if he wants to keep his spot. He can't keep getting pushed back into McNabb and expect to keep his job, so a few more reps on the bench press will go a long way.

The Eagles will of course look to make moves in the draft, but a class of rookies is only going to do so much. If this team wants a legitimate shot at taking the next step in 2010, they're going to need the young veterans on this team to take their game to the next level.
Continue Reading...

After two years of uncertainty, the Big Kid is gone.


It's certainly difficult to fault the Eagles for doing so, but from where I'm sitting, releasing Shawn Andrews doesn't seem to make much sense.

He has missed the past two seasons with back injuries, both of which required surgery, but by all accounts he's finally healing up the way he should be and has a legitimate shot at coming back full-strength in 2010.

He was also only scheduled to make just under $2 million -- a number more than reasonable even for a backup, much less a two-time Pro Bowl guard who, at certain points, has been the best guard in the league. Keeping him would not have had a huge impact on the wallet, so I'm not sure I see the point in cutting the troubled lineman loose right now.

The release comes at a point when the Birds are facing huge question marks on the interior of their line with Jamaal Jackson rehabbing from a torn ACL and Stacy Andrews, Shawn's brother, looking to rebound from an incredibly disappointing 2009.

The potential that Andrews could return to even half his Pro Bowl form is reason enough to keep him around, but the added insecurities along the interior line make this move, and its timing, incredibly perplexing.

Andrews says he has yet to speak with other teams, and is first trying to get himself back into playing shape, but my best guess is that he will wind up somewhere like Baltimore, St. Louis, or Minnesota where there are extensions of the Andy Reid coaching tree, and guys who have interacted with Andrews.

He could be a huge catch for a team if he can come back healthy, but that remains to be seen.
Continue Reading...

The Eagles will most likely accept Andrews' offer.


In light of the report that the Eagles would cut Stacy Andrews if he was unwilling to re-work his contract (which I doubt is the case), he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he would be would "do a minor restructuring" of his contract.

"They want to do an adjustment and we're willing," Andrews told the Inquirer over the phone. "Hopefully, we can come to an agreement."

Andrews did make sure to point out, however, that he "wouldn't mess with the roster bonus."

Which leads me back to my original conclusion: Stacy Andrews is not going anywhere. The biggest problem the Eagles would have is that huge roster bonus ($4.1 million), not his modest base salary of just under $3 million.

And yes, I understand reworking the base salary could level things out, but "minor restructuring" means he'd be willing to, at most, lop $1 million off that number. That's even a bit of a stretch as he's got absolutely no incentive to re-work his deal.

If the Birds cut him, he cashes in big in free agency due to the very thin market, or, and more likely, the Birds simply keep him at his current cap number and hope that he plays up to it.

They knew this could be an issue when the signed him, so it's not like they were blindsided when he wasn't 100 percent.

Andrews did say, however, that the knee "didn't hinder" his play and instead it just "took a while to get comfortable at guard and get a new system down."

But as I said before, he was behind on learning the system because he was unable to dive in and learn the intricacies of the offense. Reid doesn't exactly run a simple offense, and it's nearly impossible to learn from the sideline or in the training room. He would have had to be out on the field at practice running it repeatedly, and the knee injury just didn't allow that.

So while the Birds may take him up on his offer, I still don't believe it will be, or ever was, a case of "do it, or else."
Continue Reading...

Despite speculation, Stacy will be an Eagle in 2010.


Philly.com is reporting that sources close to the Eagles are telling them that there is a possibility right guard Stacy Andrews could be released barring a willingness on his part to accept a pay cut.

Andrews made about $5.5 million last year while sitting on the bench and fighting his way back from a torn ACL at the end of the '08 season. That number will inflate to about $7.6 million, with $4.1 million of that coming from a roster bonus he'll receive on April 4th.

Because of that roster bonus, several people think the Birds could approach him about restructuring his deal, and if he refuses, could simply release him before they're due to pay him said bonus.

It sounds logical on the surface, but if we take a minute to think (a seemingly lost art these days), it makes absolutely no sense for the team.

Yes, the Eagles would save money, but why in the world would they cut the guy only one season after signing him to a big-money deal in free agency? They understood that he wasn't even a year removed from tearing up his ACL and that the process would be long for him.

It's a risk they knowingly took from the second they even thought about signing him.

He was limited during the offseason because of the injury and therefore unable to delve into the nuances of the playbook that one can only learn through repetition, and then when he was finally at 100 percent (or close, he may never have actually been 100 percent), not being able to fully execute the way Reid would like came back to bite him.

Reid even come out to defend Stacy, saying that he believed a good portion of his problems was his injury. So to think that the Eagles will cut him loose is nothing more than looking for some traffic during a slow news period.

This is all without even acknowledging the fact that Andrews, right now, is the best guard on the roster. For them to cut a guy like Andrews when the talent on the interior line is lacking, at best, would be an absolute meltdown in judgment.

Is this the kind of talk we're going to hear about Jamaal Jackson when he's not ready to play in 2010 because of his knee injury? It's the same injury at about the same time in the season, and could have the same effect on Jackson.

Jackson would, of course, not have to deal with learning a brand new system, but he could very well be on the bench for the first six to eight weeks. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he starts out the season on the PUP list.

A torn ACL is hard enough to come back from if you're 200 pounds, much less 300 pounds and over as is the case with Andrews and Jackson.

All this talk is nonsense and it's not going to happen. We've seen over the years that Reid will stick with a guy when he believes he can rebound. How many years did we sit around and wonder why David Akers was still the kicker? How many people wanted Jamaal Jackson cut because his '07 and '08 seasons were less than stellar only to see his impact after his injury?

The point is that Reid knows what he's doing better than the rest of us playing armchair General Manager, as it were. He understands that Stacy's upside is far greater than the downside of potentially wasting nearly $8 million on him next season. If he can come into camp at 100 percent and stay that way, he's well worth the money.

This isn't to say that the Birds won't attempt to rework the deal, but the notion that they'll cut him if he refuses is pure lunacy. They understand the market is slim, and they have a huge need on the interior line.

Stacy isn't going anywhere. If he were to fail to live up to expectations again next year, then we can talk about Stacy getting cut. Until that happens, there's nothing left to talk about.
Continue Reading...

2010 is a make-or-break season for Stacy Andrews.


Over the past few seasons, the Eagles have been a team making a splash in the early-goings of free agency. Last offseason, that splash was made in the form of former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman, and brother of Shawn, Stacy Andrews.

He was immediately slated to take over the right guard position, with his equally disappointing brother slated to play next to him at right tackle. He started the first game against the Carolina Panthers, but it quickly became evident that something just wasn't right with Stacy.

He didn't seem to be going full-force. He seemed timid when planting on that surgically-repaired knee and it was affecting his game in every facet. Andy Reid then made the decision to play him only sparingly, then not at all.

It was a very bad way to get started in Philadelphia, especially considering the emotional roller coaster that his brother Shawn has put this city through. The Andrews name was also a bit stained coming in, so he's done himself no favors with the Philadelphia media or fanbase.

His poor season even has some people ready to get rid of him right now, even though he signed a lucrative six-year deal with the Birds less than a year ago.

Of course, anyone talking about getting rid of Stacy already are either speaking out of anger and frustration on the part of the Andrews brothers, speaking out of ignorance, or just trying to heat up an angry fanbase and gain some readers. Or it could be a combination of the three.

And since we don't beat around the bush here at 2M2MG, I'm of course talking about Jeff McLane's article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, in which he discusses players who should "stay" or "go."

In which, he says that it's time for Stacy Andrews to be shown the door. Really? After only one season recovering from major knee surgery you're ready to get rid of the guy? Let me just say that I'm incredibly thankful that this clown does not have a say in the Eagles' personnel.

It's people like McLane who give Philadelphia a bad rep as an ignorant bunch who are more interested in learning new methods of torturing visiting fans than actually learning anything about the sport they're watching/covering.

He's also the guy who gave us such gems as, when discussing whether or not Jeremiah Trotter should stay: "Proved he can still play. Maybe backs up Bradley. Just not here."

He might back up Stewart Bradley, just not here? Where else is he going to be Bradley's backup? My guess is that when he says "here," he means his article. Okay, but it's still poor writing. Of course he's not going to be the backup for Bradley if you have him walking in free agency.

Is it nitpicking? Maybe, I don't believe so, but maybe.

It's just another example of the ignorance that plagues a lot of the people in the Philly media. I don't want to list the ones who aren't morons and actually know what they're talking about because I might leave someone out, but the readers know who I'm talking about.

Anyway, enough of my tangent.

Stacy is a high-quality player who can certainly help this team if he's able to come back healthy and stronger next season, which I believe he will.

I think Reid puts a lot of blame on his strength and conditioning coaches for not having guys like Stacy, as well as his brother Shawn, Victor Abiamiri, Quintin Demps, and others, ready to go before the season or during the season.

Hence their firing.

It's going to be an interesting offseason watching the Andrews brothers and their fight to get back into the starting lineup for this team, and I believe it will have a positive outcome for both players. And if one or both of these guys can start full-time for the Birds next season, we could once again be talking about the Eagles as having one of the best lines in the league.

Unlike my gut feeling for guys like Victor Abiamiri and Quintin Demps, I believe that Stacy's story will have a positive outcome and he will become the starter that the Eagles envisioned when they brought him to town.

Will he be shown the door if he can't produce in 2010? Probably not, but it will certainly cause the team to lose faith in him. So, in that sense, 2010 is a make-or-break season for Stacy.
Continue Reading...

2010 is a make-or-break season for Shawn Andrews.


Due to his immense talent, Shawn Andrews has been given chance after chance. He's blown the last two, and now a lot of people in the Philly area are calling for Shawn's head. It seems as though he's officially worn out his welcome in this city, and could be on the way out.

But then that issue of his immense talent creeps back up. There's not a doubt in anyone's mind -- or my mind, at least -- that if Shawn can come back healthy for 2010 that he instantly becomes not only the Eagles' best lineman, but one of the best in the league.

He's phenomenal run and pass blocking, and brings an attitude that ripples through the rest of the group.

The other thing helping Andrews keep his name above a locker on the NovaCare complex is that he's not making much money in 2010. About $1 million is all the Eagles will have to shell out to keep Shawn on the roster and just hope he returns to his old form.

If he can, it's well worth the money.

However, if Andrews is once again hurt -- mentally or physically -- and unable to contribute to the team, he will most certainly find himself in a different uniform in 2011. The Eagles fans seem to already be losing, or have lost, their patience with Andrews, and the Eagles coaching staff is only a few steps behind.

He's only played in two games over the past two years, and each year has left the Birds scrambling to find his replacement at the last minute, so it's no wonder that the fans and coaching staff are beginning to turn on him.

The team brought in his former college roommate and teammate from his days at Arkansas, and then also went out and signed his brother to play next to him on the line. Those guys come with the added benefit of being very good football players, but a key motivator was the relationship those guys have with Shawn.

Of course, Stacy has been a disappointment in his own right, and will certainly have his day in this series.

He has said that he would like to produce, if for no other reason than to thank Andy Reid for believing in him as long as he has. It's good that he's got some motivation, but he's also got to know that Reid's loyalty and belief in him can only go so far.

Shawn has been the subject of some heavy debate amongst the fans, and I'm sure the coaching staff as well, but if he doesn't produce in 2010 it's safe to say that there won't be much debate as to whether or not to keep him around for 2011.
Continue Reading...

Nick Cole will have big shoes to fill with Jackson out.


After taking a fall that didn't look to be all that serious, center Jamaal Jackson had to be helped off the field and was walking rather gingerly on the sideline before heading off to the locker room.

Jackson probably knew it as soon as it happened, but we all only got to find out today that Jackson tore his ACL and will miss the rest of this season. Nick Cole will replace him at center while Max Jean-Gilles will step in at right guard. Andy Reid said that Stacy Andrews is "in the mix" with Jean-Gilles.

Reid went on to say that the problem with Stacy is having trust in his knee. He's afraid to stick his leg into the ground and push off of it which is affecting his technique and quickness. Until he can trust in his surgically-repaired knee, Andrews is all but useless.

Mike McGlynn, a 6'5 320 pound Pittsburgh product, will be Cole's backup at center and could see some time at guard as well in an emergency situation.

Losing Jackson definitely hurts. He is the glue that has held together this patchwork offensive line since day one. Without him, the line would have had a much more difficult time coming together and playing the way they have.

That being said, the line has been together long enough that this shuffle should not cause an issue. With an entire week of practice, Cole should be just fine running the line and working on his timing with McNabb.

Jean-Gilles, I believe, can be an upgrade for the Eagles in terms of run-blocking. He's not great in pass protection, but the guy is a road grater who can move even the biggest of defensive tackles with seeming ease.

Cole and Jean-Gilles have worked together before, but they're really going to have to buckle down and get on the same page this week if they're going to stop Jay Ratliff. If they can't, it's going to be a long day for McNabb and the rest of the offense.
Continue Reading...

Two of the most disappointing players this season.


Well, maybe the chopping block.

With Winston Justice signing a four-year extension to keep him in Philadelphia through the 2013 season, the other disappointing Andrews brother (Shawn) finds himself at a real crossroads for the 2010 season.

It's now become unlikely that he will ever play as an Eagle again, and he could just be playing a waiting game until he finds out which one of the other 31 NFL teams wants to be severely disappointed by an immense amount of talent just floating around their practice facility.

The problem the Eagles will run into is finding a trading partner for a guy who has played a total of two games over the past two season. One game per year is not a good enough workload to warrant a trade for any other team.

So, what the Eagles may wind up doing is simply keeping him on the roster and holding out hope. There are rumors that he's embellishing the injury to his back, so maybe having Justice entrenched as the starter will force him to wake up and start playing.

And if he doesn't, the guy is only making $1 million next season, which is cap-friendly enough to keep him as a backup plan.

So far, both Andrews brothers have been extremely disappointing, but at least it appears as though Stacy will be ready to go next year after his knee injury has hobbled him a bit longer than anyone expected.

There you go, NFL, there's a guy on the trading block with as many Pro Bowl appearances in his career as games played over the past two seasons.

Anyone willing to part with a draft pick? No? I didn't really think so.
Continue Reading...

Herremans got handled in his first game of 2009.


Jason Peters is a Pro Bowl left tackle, Todd Herremans is a guy who has played on the fringe of a Pro Bowl nod at certain point, Jamaal Jackson came from an undrafted free agent to a full-fledged starter, Stacy Andrews was a high-priced free agent, and Winston Justice was a second round pick.

Sounds like a pretty decent unit to have together, right? Well if you just watched the games this season, you'd be shocked to find out how highly touted these linemen are. Honestly, they've looked like a bunch of scrubs who can't seem to get out of their own way.

Trent Dilfer said it best, and may have pointed out the obvious, when he said on ESPN that he believes if a team can shut down Jeremy Maclin and, more importantly, DeSean Jackson, that the Eagles would struggle mightily.

Dilfer has already been proven correct in his assesment of this offense based on the Oakland game. The Raiders shut down the speedy receivers, and the line completely crumbled on the rare occassion that Andy Reid attempted to run the football.

A lot of the blame could be put on Reid for his lack of running. Many, including myself, would say that it is difficult for an offensive line to get any real momentum going when they don't run-block very often. It's all about the mentality of running the football, and Reid doesn't let them acquire that mentality.

However, their job is to block when called upon. It's really as simple as that. When Reid actually does call a running play, they should be salivating for the chance to move forward and pop someone in the mouth. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen, and instead they throw a half-hearted block or completely whiff on their assignment altogether.

Personally, I would have liked Reid to rip all five of them out of the game last night. If you tear them out of the game and make them watch a series from the sideline while their backups give it a go, maybe they'll decide that they actually want to hit someone in the mouth.

Again, it may be Reid's playcalling that is to blame, but when it comes down to it these guys just have to do their jobs.

And one more thing, Andy, get rid of the right guard rotation. It doesn't work in the NFL. You paid Stacy Andrews a boatload of money, so let him earn it or keep him out completely.
Continue Reading...

Stacy Andrews will be playing backup to MJG.


Coach Reid has announced today, and Stacy has confirmed, that Stacy Andrews will not be the starting right guard this Sunday when the Eagles play the Saints. Apparently Stacy is not comfortable with the system yet, and the coaches feel as though a rotation with Stacy and Max Jean-Gilles will yield the best results.

It's not a surprise that Stacy doesn't have a firm grasp on the offense yet as he missed a good portion of training camp because he was still rehabbing from a torn ACL last season.

The Eagles were actually doing this last week, but with Nick Cole and Jean-Gilles before Jean-Gilles got hurt and had to go to the locker room. It's unclear whether or not Jean-Gilles and Cole will be playing left and right guard in a rotation, or if it was only be Andrews and Jean-Gilles rotating at right guard.

While it's not a surprise, it is a huge disappointment. The Eagles invested a lot of money to bring Stacy to Philadelphia, and the fact that he has not picked up the offense completely cannot have them very happy.

If Stacy doesn't pick up the offense soon, it wouldn't be a surprise for a frustrated Reid to just bench him entirely until he gets it.
Continue Reading...

Stacy Andrews may need to step in for his brother.


You aren't living under a rock. You read the Internet, read the papers, and watch the games. As Eagles fans you know the teams' biggest worry right now is the Offensive Line. And these worries are justified.

Donovan and Desean can't make TD magic without #5 having time to throw the ball. B-West, Weaver, and McCoy can't break through holes without there actually being a hole.

There are two preseason games left and then the games count. And with the Eagles gunning for the division title and home-field advantage in the playoffs every W and L matters.

So does the OL have time to jell? Of course they do. And the most recent news from Eaglesville is that Stacy Andrews will play this Thursday and Peters is making his return to the practice field.

That gives the Eagles 3 starters on the OL. Sure having Herremans would be nice but he is an Eagles OL vet and Cole and Maxie showed last season that they are starting caliber. The Herremans injury or absence doesn't worry me. So with a glass of the Eagles kool-aid one could say 3+ starters should be available for the remaining weeks of preseason.

The one question mark continues to be RT. Shawn Andrews got good news in LA on his back. Mr. Bro Hawk even got himself a few shots for the pain. Unfortunately for the team and fans a timetable for his return is still unknown.

This fan thinks enough with the drama. Time to start making plans for life without the Bro Hawk. If Andrews does indeed play, well what a bonus. But as a football fan how can you be confident that Andrews will make it through a full season of contact when a training camp run sidelined him?

And as much as we love the Iron Man and his blue collar attitude Runyan is not the answer. Sure big John will give you his all but as far as ability his best days are long behind him.

So what is plan B? Sure I've been impressed with the play of Justice this preseason. If I recall correctly I don't think the man has let up a single sack and has only been called for 1 holding penalty. But it's still the preseason and I don't believe it's possible for RT to change his wings in one off season. Once the regular season begins the defenses are no longer vanilla. Blitzes will be coming and Justice starting scares me.

My suggestion would be to slide the other Andrews outside. Stacy was a pretty damn good RT with the Bengals. He has the size and ability. He has the experience. And sliding him outside opens up a position where the Eagles have starting caliber back-ups.

A line of Peters, Herremans, Jackson, Cole/Jean-Gilles, and Stacy Andrews is still pretty damn good. The explosiveness of the offensive will not be hindered with these 5 leading the way.

So let's stop the Shawn drama. Let's get these 5 guys practicing together. Let's get out of the gate quickly this season. And most importantly let's not endanger the health of #5 with a questionable starting RT.

Just start Stacy.
Continue Reading...

Todd Herremans (middle) with Westbrook and McNabb.


In the latest string of injury news, Todd Herremans apparently has what is called a "stress reaction" in his left foot, which could lead to a stress fracture if he doesn't get off of it, and stay off of it.

The injury will put him out of commission for probably the next four weeks, which means he's likely to miss all of the preseason. Even if he would be able to come back for the fourth game, the starters only play about a series in the final preseason game, if they even play at all.

Reid could put Herremans in there for the first quarter, but he runs the risk of having him hurt the week before Week 1, and probably wouldn't take that chance.

It's not a real surprise to see Herremans injured considering he hasn't left the field at all during camp. Because of Peters lengthy absence due to some injuries, Herremans was playing constantly out at left tackle, and only had a couple practices inside at his guard position.

The biggest thing about this is that Herremans is only one of three starting offensive linemen who will not be playing tomorrow against the Patriots. The others joining him on the sidlines are the Andrews brothers, Stacy and Shawn.

With those three guys riding the pine, the starting line will probably consist of Jason Peters at left tackle, Max Jean-Gilles at left guard, Jamaal Jackson at center, Nick Cole at right guard, and Winston Justice at right tackle.

While it's by no means a terrible line, it's certainly not the line I want to see Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. The chances are very good that Herremans will be back at his left guard spot by then, and that Stacy Andrews will take over at right guard. However, the right tackle position still remains a mystery with Shawn Andrews hurt, and Jon Runyan still in free agency.

Juan Castillo doesn't think it's a problem, so I'm not real worried, either.
Continue Reading...

Shawn and Stacy Andrews are apparently "100 percent."

The biggest training camp story continues to be the absence of first-round pick Jeremy Maclin.

According to Andy Reid the talks are continuing, but nothing has been signed or even agreed upon at this point. Right now, all he's missing is meetings. However at 8:45 tomorrow morning it gets real and he officially starts missing valuable time.

Reid pointed out how vital the camps are and how being there on time last year helped DeSean Jackson immensely with learning the playbook, getting his timing down, and everything else. A lot goes into an NFL training camp; missing is not an option for a young player with lofty expectations like Maclin.

The only thing that could be causing a delay at this point is the length. He waited to sign so the Eagles are limited in what they can spend on their last rookie. They may be bickering about a few tens of thousands of dollars, but my guess is that the Eagles want to give him a six-year deal like was originally reported a month ago, but he wants a four-year deal.

Again, that's just a guess. We'll hear more once something is agreed upon, I'm sure.

Brian Westbrook, Victor Abiamiri, and Andrews Bros. Injury Updates

On the injury front, it appears as though Brian Westbrook and Victor Abiamiri will be ready to return by mid-August. For those of you saying, "Um, when did Abiamiri get hurt?" it was apparently a few days ago. He was benching and strained his pec.

The best news is Westbrook. Some people were questioning if he'd be able to make it back for Week 1, but the news now is that he may even see some time in the third game of the preseason just to shake off some rust before Week 1.

Abiamiri's injury is costly for him. If he doesn't return until mid-August it means that he's probably missing all of camp, and most certainly won't be a starter, at the least at the beginning of the year.

This gives Juqua Parker a great shot to keep his job, but is just another knock against Abiamiri. He just can't stay healthy long enough to try and win this job. I'm sure the coaches are frustrated with him at this point.

Some more good news is that the Andrews brothers are good to go. Someone asked Dave Spadaro if the brothers were ready to go and all he said was, "Yes, 100 percent."

Good to hear, hopefully it stays that way

Pinkston Returns to the Eagles

Relax, not as a player.

The Eagles have brought Pinkston in as a coaching intern. I would assume he's going to be shadowing David Culley, the Eagles' wide receivers coach. However, there is no word on what exactly Pinkston will be doing.

Pinkston caught a lot of heat as a player, some deserving and some not, but he always seemed to at least be a smart guy. Even if you don't think he was a very good player keep in mind the old saying, "Those who can't do, teach."

John Madden and Bill Cowher are Hall of Fame coaches (Madden is in already, Cowher will be one day) but were just awful players.

Interesting sidenote: John Madden was actually drafted by the Eagles in 1958 out of Cal-Poly. Maybe you learned something today.
Continue Reading...

Jon Runyan looks to make a block.


The Eagles are still kicking around the idea of bringing Jon Runyan back to the team for his 10th season as an Eagle. Runyan started for the Birds last year but was banged up throughout the season. Runyan is anything but unreliable with the second-longest active starting streak in the NFL.

The move would make sense, especially if the Eagles aren't completely sold on Shawn Andrews being in the right frame of mind.

If Andrews has a breakdown, or gets injured again, having Runyan there to step in would be the best thing for the Eagles. Runyan has started for the Eagles, he knows the guys, he obviously knows the system, and he's still a great player.

This move makes far too much sense. If Andrews were to go down, either of them for that matter, the Eagles would be on the phone with Runyan anyway.

If Stacy isn't ready to play and Shawn has to play right guard, Runyan could step in at right tackle until Stacy is ready to go.

The point is that the Eagles benefit from having Runyan there. Even just having him on the sidelines is beneficial for the team.

The only questions are A) Will he accept coming back as a backup?, and B) Are the Eagles willing to throw him enough money to make him feel like it's worth his time?

I don't think Runyan wants to end his football career, so I believe he would come back anyway because he knows that he's just one snap away from playing. He's taken a pay cut from the Eagles before so that he could stay in the Philly-area. He lives in South Jersey with his family and would rather not uproot them for a one-year deal with a different team.

Keep an eye on Runyan's movements, and don't be surprised if he's an Eagle again before training camp.
Continue Reading...