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ARLINGTON, Texas -- As we've already told you, Michael Vick is active for tonight's game and I would expect for him to play a fairly significant role in the game plan. The Cowboys spent more time in the film room preparing for Vick this week because they felt like the Eagles would be in more of a desperation mode in this game. Now let's take a look at the inactives for both teams:

Cowboys: QB Stephen McGee, S Pat Watkins, CB Cletis Gordon, LB Jason Williams, G Montrae Holland, C/G Duke Preston, T Pat McQuistan, LB Curtis Johnson

Eagles: QB Kevin Kolb, CB Geoffrey Pope, FS Quintin Demps, T King Dunlap, C Dallas Reynolds, WR Kevin Curtis, TE Martin Rucker, DT Trevor Laws

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (quad) will serve as the emergency quarterback today against the Broncos. Kevin Kolb will replace Vick as the backup to Donovan McNabb.

The rest of the Eagles' inactives: CB Geoffrey Pope, S Quintin Demps, G/T Stacy Andrews, G Mike McGlynn, WR Kevin Curtis, TE Martin Rucker, DE Trevor Laws

Broncos inactives: Emergency QB Tom Brandstater, WR Eddie Royal, CB Ty Law, RB LaMont Jordan, S Vernon Fox, ILB/FB Spencer Larsen, G Seth Olsen, DL Chris Baker

Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins will be introduced last for the Broncos. I'm sure there will be a huge roar from the crowd, but the Eagles haven't planned any formal ceremony to honor their former star.

The death of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry this morning has shocked and saddened players and coaches across the league. Two of Henry's former teammates in Cincinnati, Geoffrey Pope and Stacy Andrews, expressed their feelings to reporters in Philly.

"I know he was a changed man, so this hurt me," Andrews said. "I know there were some negative things in his past, but he did an amazing turnaround in the last year and a half. Once the team signed him back, you could see it in his face that he was glad to be back and ready to restart his career and do the right things for his family and the team."

Added Pope: "It's just kind of hard to believe. Contrary to what everybody believed, he had a good heart. Everybody wants to judge people, but everybody gets into trouble in your life. He genuinely made a conscious effort, not only for himself, but also for his kids, to turn his life around. Cincinnati stuck with him and he was really doing that."

Obviously, there are a lot of folks in the Redskins organization who can relate to what the Bengals are going through today. The shocking death of Sean Taylor two years ago is still fresh in the minds of his former teammates. I remember how former coach Joe Gibbs allowed his players time to grieve in the weeks after Taylor's death. It's not like he'd ever prepared for something like that, but Gibbs made a huge impact on his players by grieving in front of them. This thought that football coaches and players have to remain stoic and tough at all times was dismissed and the Redskins bonded like never before.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For the first time this season, Giants coach Tom Coughlin has decided to sit down his former starting defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. The Giants signed Bernard to a lucrative free-agent contract last March but he hasn't performed up to expectations.

The Giants will also have rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks starting ahead of Mario Manningham. That's a move that could've happened several weeks ago. Nicks is becoming a big-play receiver and he's more consistent than Manningham at this point in their careers. Aaron Ross will start this game at strong safety instead of C.C. Brown. That was another move that Coughlin hinted at this week in practice.

The rest of the Giants' inactives: WR Ramses Barden, DB D.J. Johnson, RB Gartrell Johnson, T Adam Koets, T Guy Whimper, WR Sinorice Moss, TE Bear Pascoe.

The Eagles' inactives: Emergency QB Kevin Kolb, CB Geoffrey Pope, RB P.J. Hill, RB Brian Westbrook, G/T Stacy Andrews, G Mike McGlynn, WR Kevin Curtis, DT Trevor Laws.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Pope

Giants practice squad cornerback Geoffrey Pope was called up to the "bigs" Tuesday -- if you consider the Bengals in that level. He was in demand because former first-round draft choice Johnathan Joseph is injured.

And just so you know the process, the Giants could counter the move if they wanted to activate Pope to the 53-man roster. But that would be a luxury move, and the Giants are already crowded at Pope's position. When Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters are both healthy, it's a tough choice for head coach Tom Coughlin to make regarding who stays up. The club also brought in veteran safety Sammy Knight in free agency, but rookie Kenny Phillips has turned Knight into an insurance policy.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Biggest surprise: Can't say that I noticed any huge surprises. I know that GM Jerry Reese had high hopes for rookie quarterback Andre' Woodson when he took him in the sixth-round, but maybe they'll try to put him on the practice squad. Cutting that extra quarterback gives the Giants a little more flexibility. Honestly, I think Wallace Gilberry is the one who surprises me the most. When I stopped by training camp a couple of weeks ago in Albany, Gilberry's teammates were raving about him. Justin Tuck thought the kid had a chance to help the team immediately. I'm sure the Giants will try to add him to the their practice squad.

Wide receiver Brandon London had a spirited competition with Sinorice Moss for that last receiver spot. But remember that Moss is a former second-round draft pick. They say that stuff doesn't matter, but it sure seems like it does. In Moss' defense, he did have a nice camp, and unlike several teammates, remained healthy. Hated to see Digger Bujnoch get hurt late in the preseason. From what I've heard, he had a great chance of making the practice squad. Maybe the biggest news is that the Giants found a way to keep veteran cornerbacks Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters on the roster.

No-brainers: The Giants have plenty of competition at safety, so there was no reason to keep Stuart Schweigert around. Schweigert has now been released by half the teams in the NFC East this preseason. He started out at Washington, but coaches said he wanted to do everything like he did with the Raiders. Some of you might recall that Geoffrey Pope played in a couple of playoff games last season, but now he'll probably end up on the practice squad. The Giants decided to go with age over a guy who could've helped them more on special teams.

What's next: The Giants will be scouring the waiver wire for help at defensive end, and they'll take a look at some linebackers. If the Eagles cut defensive end Jerome McDougle, who's had a nice preseason, the Giants might try to strike quickly. This team is stacked at running back right now. A team (like the Packers last year) should be looking at all these running backs. Somehow the Giants manage to keep four or five tailbacks every season. And again, that's where cutting that third quarterback can create some room.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger is reporting that the following Giants have been released today:

QB Anthony Wright
QB Andre' Woodson
FB Robert Douglas
WR Marcus Monk
WR Brandon London
TE Eric Butler
TE Jerome Collins
OL Kurt Quarterman
OL Na'Shan Goddard
OL Andrew Bain
OL Digger Bujnoch
DE Wallace Gilberry
DE Alex Morrow
DT Jeremy Clark
DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo
LB Tank Daniels
LB James Terry
CB Geoffrey Pope
S Stuart Schweigert
OL Cliff Louis
CB Darren Barnett

Once the list is official, I'll provide some analysis. I assume the Giants will try to add Woodson to their practice squad, but another team looking to develop a young quarterback (the Cowboys) might swoop him up. The biggest surprise I see is defensive end Wallace Gilberry. Defensive end Justin Tuck was raving about Gilberry when I talked to him in Albany two weeks ago. I thought he made a pretty big impression on the Giants' coaches. Now, the Giants will try to sneak him onto the practice squad.