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We interrupt our regularly scheduled pre-draft hysteria to report a veteran player acquisition. Leave it to the New York Giants to treat this as a business-as-usual day, which they did by signing veteran defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers is a 33-year-old, 12-year NFL veteran who played every game last year for the New Orleans Saints.

The signing is interesting because of what it might say about the way the Giants feel about the younger defensive tackles they already had on the roster, including Linval Joseph and second-year man Marvin Austin, who missed his rookie season with an injury. Austin has been saying all the right things about working to get back on the field, but the Giants' recent hunt for a veteran at the same position (Mike Garafolo reports they were looking into Albert Haynesworth) indicates that they're not sure what they're going to get out of their holdover group.

Anyway, we all knew the Giants would find a way to come up with a defensive lineman today. It remains to be seen whether they'll draft one at 11:30 pm. As you know, they never believe they have too many.

Continuing our borderline relevant, hopefully fun and interesting look at the history of the specific draft picks our division's teams hold this year, we look at the Philadelphia Eagles, who have nine picks in this year's draft. Some interesting stuff you turn up in an exercise like this. For instance, some pretty good recent history at the Eagles' first two picks. And if you think the Eagles have to take a quarterback early if they're thinking about the future, scroll all the way down. They might be able to wait until their very last pick to find the next Bart Starr!

PICK 15 (15th pick, first round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Mike Pouncey, C, Dolphins

2010 -- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants

2009 -- Brian Cushing, LB, Texans

2008 -- Branden Albert, T, Chiefs

2007 -- Lawrence Timmons, LB, Steelers

Eagles' history of No. 15 picks

2003 -- Jerome McDougle

Hall of Famers picked No. 15

Alan Page (1967), Jim Taylor (1958)

Other Notables

Albert Haynesworth (2002)

PICK 46 (14th pick, second round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Orlando Franklin, T, Broncos

2010 -- Linval Joseph, DT, Giants

2009 -- Connor Barwin, DE, Texans

2008 -- Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals

2007 -- LaMarr Woodley, LB, Steelers

Eagles' history of No. 46 pick

1983 -- Jody Schulz

Hall of Famers picked No. 46

Jack Lambert (1974)

PICK 51 (19th pick, second round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Buccaneers

2010 -- Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings

2009 -- Andy Levitre, G, Bills

2008 -- Malcolm Kelly, WR, Redskins

2007 -- Steve Smith, WR, Giants

Eagles' history of No. 51 pick

None

Hall of Famers picked No. 51

Rickey Jackson (1981)

PICK 88 (25th pick, third round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Johnny Patrick, DB, Saints

2010 -- Andre Roberts, WR, Cardinals

2009 -- Ladarius Webb, DB, Ravens

2008 -- Bruce Davis, LB, Steelers

2007 -- Andy Alleman, G, Saints

Eagles' history of No. 88 pick

1984 -- Evan Cooper

Hall of Famers picked No. 88

Bob Hayes (1964)

PICK 114 (19th pick, fourth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars

2010 -- Dennis Pitta, TE, Ravens

2009 -- David Bruton, DB, Broncos

2008 -- Reggie Corner, DB, Bills

2007 -- Marvin White, S, Bengals

Eagles' history of No. 114 pick

1967 -- Bob Van Pelt

Hall of Famers picked No. 114

None. Closest I found was Steve Largent, who was picked 117th. Sorry.

PICK 153 (18th pick, fifth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Jeremy Kerley, WR, Jets

2010 -- Andrew Quarless, TE, Packers

2009 -- Cornelius Ingram, TE, Eagles

2008 -- Matt Slater, WR, Patriots

2007 -- Kevin Boss, TE, Giants

Eagles' history of No. 153 pick

2009 -- Cornelius Ingram

1967 -- Bob Hughes

Hall of Famers picked No. 153

None. No one at all in the 150s. Or the 140s, for that matter.

PICK 172 (second pick, sixth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Brandon Fusco, C, Vikings

2010 -- Brent Bowden, P, Buccaneers

2009 -- David Buehler, K, Cowboys

2008 -- Thomas Brown, RB, Falcons

2007 -- Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers

Eagles' history of 172nd pick

2005 -- Scott Young

1999 -- Cecil Martin

1984 -- Joe Hayes

Hall of Famers picked No. 172

None.

PICK 194 (24th pick, sixth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Markell Carter, LB, Patriots

2010 -- Ramon Harewood, T, Ravens

2009 -- Brandon Gibson, WR, Eagles

2008 -- Ryan Mundy, S, Steelers

2007 -- David Irons, CB, Falcons

Eagles' history of 194th pick

2009 -- Brandon Gibson

1996 -- Steve White

Hall of Famers picked No. 194

None. Closest I found was Shannon Sharpe, who was picked No. 192 in 1990.

PICK 200 (30th pick, sixth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Ross Homan, LB, Vikings

2010 -- Charles Scott, RB, Eagles

2009 -- DeAndre Wright, CB, Giants

2008 -- Joe Mays, LB, Eagles

2007 -- Melila Purcell, DE, Browns

Eagles' history of 200th pick

2010 -- Charles Scott

2008 -- Joe Mays

1984 -- Manny Matsakis

Hall of Famers picked No. 200

Bart Starr (1956)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Well, the New York Giants have the Philadelphia Eagles right where they want them.

An Eagles team that has held fourth-quarter leads in five of its six losses this year has a 10-3 halftime lead on a Giants team that has come back to win four times in the fourth quarter. There's still a third quarter yet to be played, but given the way the Eagles' season has gone, they'd be wise to build that lead a lot bigger between now and the fourth.

It's going to be tough, though. Vince Young, filling in at quarterback for the injured Michael Vick, looks extremely rusty. He's 8-for-18 for 89 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown while running back LeSean McCoy, who I thought was the Eagles' best chance to win this game, has just 11 carries for 36 yards.

The Eagles seem to be winning the physical battles up front against the Giants, so if I were them I'd go to a heavy dose of the run game when the second half starts. But if I were them, I'd have done that from the beginning. And in spite of leading the NFL in rush yards per game and not having their starting quarterback they opened the game with four straight pass plays.

As for the Giants... a lot of their weaknesses have been exposed in this game: Poor run blocking, spotty coverage downfield (against below-average receivers, with Jeremy Maclin also out for the Eagles and DeSean Jackson looking like his head is 19 in different places), dropped passes and poor special teams coverage, mixed with an ill-timed penalty here and there. Many thought they'd win this game easily, what with the Eagles so beaten up, and the Giants certainly may win it yet. They've been a great second-half team this year while the Eagles have been one of the worst in history. But they're going to have to tighten some things up, and that starts in the trenches.

Some other thoughts on the ugly first half:

• The Eagles are absolutely crushing the Giants at the point of attack. Philadelphia's defensive line is dominating an overmatched Giants offensive line, cutting off the run game and limiting what time Eli Manning has to throw the ball downfield. People are hollering for more Da'Rel Scott in the Giants' backfield, but the fact is, whether it's been Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, D.J. Ware or Scott, the problem with the Giants' run game this year has not been the backs -- it's been an offensive line that absolutely can't open holes for them.
• I have no idea what happened on the Jackson taunting penalty that negated a 50-yard catch. I mean, I know why he got flagged. I just don't understand why the ball went all the way back to the previous spot. The officials said it was an offsetting penalty with Linval Joseph's, but to me it seemed like Jackson's was a dead-ball foul and the Eagles should have only lost 15 yards from the spot where he went down. And if the reason it wasn't called that way was because of the Joseph penalty, why wouldn't the Eagles have just been able to decline that penalty and get the ball up the field? Seems like somebody screwed up on that one. But it was that kind of first half.
• Jackson nearly had his first punt-return touchdown of the year just before halftime, but punter Steve Weatherford forced him out of bounds at the 14-yard line. That just made the pain worse for Giants fans, though, as Young hit former Giants receiver Steve Smith for a touchdown pass on the next play.

The NFC East All-Division Team debuted last week, but no one had played any real games yet. So the rankings were based on career accomplishments, preseason evaluations and a variety of the kinds of things that just don't mean as much as on-field performance in compiling lists like this one.

Now, with one regular-season week in the books, we do it again. And I struggled a little bit with how to handle this week's rankings. Initially, I thought it should be like a college football or basketball pool, in which we'd work off of the initial rankings, moving people up and down based on performance. But I had an epiphany and decided that the only fair way to do this would be to base it on actual 2011 game performance, which basically means last week's team is irrelevant and this week's will be based entirely on the way these guys played Sunday.

That means Justin Tuck, the best defensive end in the division, isn't on this week's All-Division Team, because he didn't play Sunday. If he comes back from his neck injury and tears it up the way he always does, he'll surely reclaim one of those two defensive end spots. But he can't have it this week because those spots are being awarded based solely on 2011 performance, and so far he doesn't have any.

Now, that said, here's current NFC East All-Division Team. Last week's team is listed, position-by-position, in parentheses, and I'll offer some explanations below:

Quarterback: Michael Vick, Eagles (Last week: Vick)

Running back: LeSean McCoy, Eagles (McCoy)

Wide receiver: Hakeem Nicks, Giants; DeSean Jackson, Eagles (Nicks, Jackson)

Tight end: Jason Witten, Cowboys (Witten)

Fullback: Darrel Young, Redskins (Mike Sellers)

Left tackle: Doug Free, Cowboys (Jason Peters)

Left guard: Kory Lichtensteiger, Redskins (David Diehl)

Center: Jason Kelce, Eagles (Kevin Baas)

Right guard: Chris Snee, Giants (Snee)

Right tackle: Kareem McKenzie, Giants (McKenzie)

Defensive end: Trent Cole, Eagles; Jason Babin, Eagles (Justin Tuck, Cole)

Defensive tackle: Cullen Jenkins, Eagles; Linval Joseph, Giants (Jenkins, Jay Ratliff)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys, Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins (Ware, Brian Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; Greg Jones, Giants (London Fletcher, Bradie James)

Cornerback: Asante Samuel, Eagles; Mike Jenkins, Cowboys (Nnamdi Asomugha, Samuel)

Safety: Jarrad Page, Eagles; Kenny Phillips, Giants (Antrel Rolle, O.J. Atogwe)

Kicker: Alex Henery, Eagles (Lawrence Tynes)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Steve Weatherford)

Kick returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Dez Bryant)

• Okay, on quarterback, yes, Rex Grossman's passing numbers were better than Vick's. But Vick won the game with a couple of big throws and with his legs, and it's impossible to overlook the overall package here. I honestly wrestled with this (and truthfully, Tony Romo looked like the winner until... well, you know), but I gave it to Vick by a hair for the same reason I ranked him No. 1 in the division before the season began -- because he can and does make winning plays other quarterbacks can't. This doesn't mean he's got the spot for the year, but his overall game Sunday gave him the edge, for me, over Grossman even though Grossman was the better passer Sunday.
• One of the things that really upset people last week was the selection of Weatherford over Mat McBriar at punter. While I love that people get so excited over punter, I don't think you guys really understand how good Weatherford is. As for this week, which is what this vote was about, the two were very close across the board. I thought it was more or less a tie between the two of them. And because of that, I would the spot to the guy who didn't have one blocked. But Rocca, with four punts inside the 20 and two fair catches, was better than both of them, even if he was a couple of yards per punt behind them.
• Offensive line thoughts: I still think Peters is a monster, and that he played very well Sunday. I just think Free played an exceptional game, especially in pass protection... Truly remarkable was Kelce's performance, especially in light of the fact that the Eagles' first-round pick, Danny Watkins, struggled so much with the offensive line schemes that he was inactive for the first game. Kelce, the sixth-rounder, started at center and excelled, especially in the run game.
• Strong honorable mention for Washington's Fred Davis at tight end, yes. No idea how the Giants kept letting him get that open.
• Kerrigan snags an outside linebacker spot basically by virtue of the one play, but (a) it was an incredible play -- tipping the pass, intercepting the pass and running it back in for the touchdown and (b) I thought he looked better in coverage than he had in the preseason. If he's effective there and as good at rushing the passer as he clearly is on raw talent alone, my Rookie of the Year pick is looking good.
• Banks gets both return spots because he's really the only one who returned anything. I do think DeSean Jackson is better at punts, yes, but since we're basing this on Sunday's games only, Jackson offered us nothing on which to grade him. There really wasn't much on which to base kicker either. Henery made his only chance. Some of these will obviously be helped by further results and evaluation.

Hit me up with questions, which I'm happy to take, and criticisms, which I know you're happy to offer!

Morning. As some of you know, I've been taking a semi-vacation this week with my family, sightseeing in Washington, D.C. The earthquake was a nice touch. Fortunately, nothing can derail the links.

Dallas Cowboys

Unimpressed by the options they already had there, the Cowboys have signed Shayne Graham and added him to the kicker competition. You may remember Graham as the guy the Redskins signed about a month ago to create a kicking competition with their guy, Graham Gano. You may also remember than Graham looked utterly awful in the Redskins' first preseason game, missing two field goals, and getting cut the next day. But kicker is a fickle position, and you never know. A guy can be rotten in one place and great in the next. Graham is the most accurate kicker in league history, statistically, and his competition is David Buehler and Dan Bailey.

Interesting thoughts from Cowboys linebacker Bradie James on why recent Dallas teams have disappointed. "I think the entitlement kills us," James told FoxSports.com. "Our alumni, our former greats have made us America's Team and we reap benefits that we haven't earned — all the way around, as individuals, as a team. Those guys earned it. We just think we deserve it." Now, that could be James' own conclusion. Or it could be something head coach Jason Garrett is saying behind closed doors and the players are parroting back to the media, as happens often. Regardless, it's good. And if James is the one who came up with it, the Cowboys would benefit from him saying it behind closed doors, too.

New York Giants

Giants fans have to be wondering what their team did to deserve this injury curse. Rookie defensive tackle Marvin Austin has a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the season, which means even more will be expected of second-year defensive tackle Linval Joseph and veteran Jimmy Kennedy, who was recently signed for depth at the position. If you count Osi Umenyiora's knee surgery from last week and (obviously) Terrell Thomas' season-ending knee injury in Monday night's preseason game, that's three significant injuries on defense in less than a week's time on a team that already lacked depth.

But here's a bit of good news, Giants fans: Mike Garafolo writes that new center David Baas showed a lot of improvement from the first preseason game to the second and that he "feels like he's beginning to turn a corner mentally." That's Baas who's turning the corner, not Garafolo, who remains exactly as mental as ever.

Philadelphia Eagles

Three weeks after suffering a seizure on the practice field due to an arteriovenous malformation in his brain, Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson is expected to play in Thursday night's preseason game against Cleveland. The doctors have cleared him, they say, and he can play without risking a serious brain injury, so that's good. Everyone's obviously hoping for the best for the guy. From a football standpoint, if he can play, it just deepens the already very deep Eagles defensive line rotation.

Interesting take here from Bob Grotz, who wonders if all of the offseason player acquisitions the Eagles made could be done in by the fact of so many new faces in key places on the coaching staff. I think it's tough to judge Juan Castillo (or any coordinator, no matter how experienced, on either side of the ball) off of a couple of preseason games. It's always possible the other team had done some game planning and he hadn't. Happens all the time in preseason, and it's the main reason these games have little predictive value. But Bob raises a good point -- as defensive coordinators go, Castillo is a rookie, and if he's not up to his new job, things could get ugly in Philly.

Washington Redskins

Speaking of coordinators, the Redskins did not change theirs, and Santana Moss thinks that continuity at the offensive coordinator spot will be a help to the Washington offense as it looks to exceed very low outside expectations. The offense has indeed looked very good in each of the first two preseason games, but remember what I said like an inch and a half above here about the predictive value of that. Moss' theory is sound, but it's going to come down to how well the quarterback plays and how well the line protects him. No matter who the coordinator is.

Dan Daly looks at O.J. Atogwe and where he ranks among the best safeties in the league. Atogwe was indeed a very good under-the-radar signing the Redskins made before the lockout hit (and before the market for safeties took off), and it doesn't hurt that he's played under Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett when both were in St. Louis. Atogwe is a strong, quiet leader (of which this Redskins' defense has several), and is one of those players who can help the others understand what the coordinator is saying as the team moves into the critical second year of 3-4 installation.

I'll be back home this afternoon and back up to normal posting speed and reliability either tonight or certainly no later than tomorrow morning. That assumes no frogs or locusts, of course. Thanks for bearing with me. Kids had a blast at the Diamondbacks-Nationals game.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It's funny to say this about a team that plays where they play, but the New York Giants like it when nobody notices them. They like being forgotten, underestimated, treated as an afterthought. They're OK with the Jets getting all the back-page-tabloid attention and the Eagles being the big offseason story because of their free-agent shopping spree. The Giants believe in their own way of doing things, and if that means lying in the weeds while people on the outside are distracted by other teams that are hot at the moment, that's fine with them.

"We believe in our organization, and we believe in our coaches," said ninth-year offensive lineman David Diehl, who has moved from left tackle to left guard as part of the Giants' offensive line shuffle. "We're not running around doing the free-agency fiasco and all that stuff. Yeah, you hope that, if an opportunity arises, you bring in guys that fit holes. But at the same time, we've got guys that have been here, guys that are a part of this team, guys who know the system."

That's why, even though they lost tight end Kevin Boss and receiver Steve Smith in free agency and didn't sign new guys the way the Eagles did, the Giants say they're not worried. They have a different way of doing things here. They build through the draft and groom their own players to replace the ones who leave. And they have a few guys they think can fill the holes created by their cuts and free-agent defections. It remains to be seen whether they're right, of course, but the vibe at Giants training camp is clear: Go ahead, underestimate us. We'll see how it turns out in the end.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. The new offensive line. When they cut longtime center Shaun O'Hara and guard Rich Seubert on the first day of free agency, the Giants signaled a decision to change an aspect of their team that hadn't changed much over the past six or seven years. They signed free-agent center David Baas from San Francisco, moved Diehl inside, and gave the starting left tackle job to 2009 second-round draft pick William Beatty. So there are questions that must be answered about how quickly the newly configured group can jell, how smooth the relationship between Baas and quarterback Eli Manning will be and, perhaps most importantly, whether Beatty in his third NFL season is ready for the responsibility of protecting Manning's blind side.

"In the case of William Beatty, it's time," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "We've had him here. He's talented. He's had an opportunity to learn. He's practiced against some of the best. We've had some defensive ends around here that can play. So it's time. It's his turn."

Beatty started four games in his rookie season and two last season as he was being groomed for this opportunity. He's perhaps the best example of the Giants' belief in their ability to groom their own replacements for departing veterans rather than having to hit the free-agent market to do so. Now, he must prove that their faith in him was justified.

2. Can Osi Umenyiora be happy? Upset about his contract, the Giants' star defensive end has sat out practice and demanded that the team rework his deal or trade him to a team that will. Neither of those things appears likely to happen, though the Giants have offered an olive branch in the form of some 2011 incentives depending on the number of sacks Umenyiora gets this year. He had his knee checked out last week and there's a sense he could return to practice Monday. The way Jason Pierre-Paul played in Saturday night's preseason opener only helped the Giants' leverage in this situation. They believe Pierre-Paul, their 2010 first-round pick, can be a capable replacement for Umenyiora at the defensive end spot opposite Justin Tuck. Of course, if Umenyiora wants to come back and play, they'll be thrilled to be able to rotate three such weapons at the defensive end spots. It would also enable them to put Mathias Kiwanuka at linebacker and leave him there.

3. Manning's safety valves. As the Giants' passing game evolved over the past couple of seasons, Manning relied heavily on Smith and Boss as targets when things broke down. Both are gone. The Giants hope that 2009 third-round pick Travis Beckum is ready to replace Boss. Beckum is a good receiver, but he doesn't have Boss' size or blocking ability. And they're trying everyone from Mario Manningham to Domenik Hixon to Victor Cruz in Smith's old slot-receiver role in the hopes that someone can play the position the way Smith did. Top receiver Hakeem Nicks appears poised to have another big year, and the Giants can use Manningham on the outside as they did last season. But Manning is justifiably concerned about who will be there for him when a play inevitably breaks down, and tight end and slot receiver are positions that need to be sorted out before camp ends.

"When we've gotten in trouble in the past, we always had Steve in the slot, and that's kind of all we worked on -- Steve's in the slot, there you go, he's got it down," Manning said. "And so last year, when he got hurt, we were in trouble. No one else really knew how to play it. So this year we're putting everybody -- Hakeem is in there, Manningham's getting in here, we're getting a lot of people in there to get them to learn some of it, so that'll probably create some more opportunities for us to move guys around and get some mismatches."

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Linebacker has been a weak spot for the Giants the past couple of years. Unable to add outside free agents because of cap concerns, they'll address it by moving Kiwanuka there for first and second downs. But much will still fall on the shoulders of Jonathan Goff, who enters his second season as starter at middle linebacker in the Giants' 4-3 defense. "I'll have better composure this year," Goff said. "Last year, being my first year, was a little bit of a learning experience for me. This year, I think we're all on the same page to move forward as a defense and get better. It's just natural now." Goff is responsible for communicating the calls from the sidelines and for making any front-seven checks. (The coverage checks are the responsibility of the safeties.) He knows he'll need to take a stronger on-field leadership role for the defense to play more consistently this season.

AN 'EXPLOSIVE' PHILLIPS

Two years ago, Kenny Phillips was on the verge of breaking out as one of the top safeties in the NFL. But he lost his 2009 season to a left knee injury, spent the 2009-10 offseason rehabbing the knee and wasn't the same player when he returned in 2010. This year, Phillips said, he was able to condition himself the way he normally would for a season, rather than have to rehab, and believes it has made a huge difference. "Just being more explosive," Phillips said. "Last year, just seeing the field, it was kind of difficult at times, because I'd been away from the game, to be able to break on the ball -- to actually see it and then be able to get to it. But this year, now, everything is just fluid. My technique and everything is sound. I just feel good about everything this year." Phillips said he learned a lot last season playing and working with veteran safety Deon Grant (who remains an unsigned free agent), and that, with his physical ability fully restored, he believes he'll be a better player.

OBSERVATION DECK

Hixon could be a very important player for the Giants if he's recovered from his knee injury. He showed ability to play that slot receiver position when he was healthy, and will get a chance to show it again, though it seems clear the Giants would like to have multiple options there in case something goes wrong.

Linval Joseph, the 2010 second-round pick, would seem to have the playing-time edge at defensive tackle over 2011 second-round pick Marvin Austin. But each brings impressive size and agility to the position, and between them the Giants should be able to capably replace Barry Cofield, who signed with Washington.

The starting secondary of Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster looks excellent in practice. The question is whether there's enough depth behind those guys if there's an injury. Cornerbacks Michael Coe and Brian Witherspoon and safety Tyler Sash have a chance to earn playing time with Prince Amukamara hurt and Grant not re-signed. Witherspoon has been impressive on special teams and looked good in Saturday's game. Sash appears to be very athletic, but he needs to play with more discipline.

Kiwanuka at linebacker is a work in progress. No question he has the ability to play it, but he overpursued Saturday at times the way a defensive end might.

Even before he left Saturday's preseason game with a thigh injury, kicker Lawrence Tynes looked as though he might be cause for concern. Having missed a few practices as he recovers from knee surgery, Tynes was unable to boot kickoffs out of the back of the end zone the way it seems every other kicker in the league has so far this preseason. And he missed a couple of field goals (though the first was a 56-yarder he shouldn't have been asked to try). Worth keeping an eye on to see how he looks the rest of August.

As for punters, Matt Dodge has looked better than he did in his difficult rookie season, but it's going to be tough for him to beat out Steve Weatherford, who's just better at the job.

And a good morning to you all. Lovely one here in northern New Jersey as I head back to Giants camp for another day of interviews there. When I arrive, I expect to find the team ... looking pretty much the same as it did Wednesday.

Yeah, Steve Smith left to sign with the Eagles. No, that's not a good thing for the Giants, who'd hoped to re-sign him. But they were already preparing for life without him, since they didn't expect him to return from his knee injury and contribute right away. It's a tough break for the Giants, who haven't had a very successful free-agency period. It's another score for the Eagles, who have had the most successful one of any team in the league. But I think it's easy to lose sight of the fact that not every team has to kill it in free agency in order to be a good team.

I get called out here very often for being only negative/never positive about the Giants. This criticism is unfair and inaccurate, of course, and I fully expect this missive to be forgotten the next time a Giants fan wants to get on me for writing something about the team that isn't 100 percent positive. But the Giants, remember, won 10 games last year. Their starting lineup is loaded with very good players on offense and defense. Eli Manning is a top-10 quarterback, Hakeem Nicks is emerging as a top young receiver and they remain stacked in the running game. The defensive line, led by Justin Tuck, is also deep and talented, and the starting secondary looks stellar in practice. If they keep their key guys healthy, the fact that they couldn't get anything done in free agency shouldn't stop them from being a playoff contender.

Are there concerns? Of course there are. There are unknowns at tight end, and No. 3 receiver, and left tackle and linebacker. There's little depth behind that starting secondary and in other key spots on the roster. It's entirely possible that the cap concerns that cost them Smith, Kevin Boss, Plaxico Burress and anyone else they were hoping to get rise up and hurt them at some point in the season.

But that's not what's guaranteed to happen. The Giants believe in grooming and developing their own players. And if they've done a good job of grooming William Beatty, Jason Pierre-Paul, Travis Beckum, Linval Joseph, Domenik Hixon and guys like that, then that'll mean they didn't have as much work to do in free agency in the first place. It's a lot to count on, but that's where the Giants are right now. Some of the young guys who've been working their way toward starter's roles have to be ready to take them on. If they're not, the Giants could have problems. But if they are, there are enough established good players on the team to shake off an unsuccessful summer and still have a successful autumn.

More Giants

Ralph Vacchiano continues to believe that Osi Umenyiora's visit to a knee specialist today portends an end to his contract dispute with the Giants. Ralph could be right, but as he points out, there's a chance the specialist backs up Umenyiora's claims of a knee injury, in which case the stalemate continues and things get uglier before they get better. Umenyiora is without a leg to stand on in this dispute, and it's possible he has come (or is coming) to the realization that it's time to let it go and get back on the field. But we'll see what the doctor says.

There is opportunity in the Giants' receiving corps right now, and Darius Reynaud had the best practice of anyone Wednesday. Mike Garafolo spoke with Reynaud about what drives him. (I mean what drives Reynaud, not Garafolo. It's rage that drives Garafolo. Pure rage. And coffee.)

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have a game tonight! A preseason opener against the Broncos. Expect the rookies on the offensive line to get more snaps than the rest of the starters, and expect David Buehler and Dan Bailey to alternate kick attempts as Jason Garrett works to sort out that sticky-but-important issue.

And while several key players will miss the game with injuries, it sounds as if the Cowboys expect to get Jay Ratliff, Mike Jenkins, Andre Gurode, Keith Brooking, Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray back when they resume practice Saturday in Dallas. Terence Newman is the only one of the critical injuries that seems long-term at the moment, as he's out through the preseason at the very least.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have a game tonight! That's right, after all of this they still have to play. All eyes will be on the starting cornerbacks, at least while the starters are in the game. Paul Domowitch writes that the Eagles would do best to keep all three of the trio of Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and to use Asomugha in the slot while all three are on the field. Based on the conversations I had while in Eagles camp last week, it sounds as though Paul will get his wish.

As for the Philly side of the Steve Smith signing, Jeff McLane writes that it had nothing to do with the health of Jeremy Maclin, who still hasn't practiced or said why not. And I'm sure Jeff's sources are telling him the truth. But the fact is, whether it was part of their motivation or not, having Smith on the roster will, once he's healthy, give the team some coverage if Maclin does have any health issues. It also will give them some increased leverage in their contract talks with DeSean Jackson -- or coverage if they can't come to an agreement with him and he walks after the season. Depth is good and useful for many reasons, and the Eagles clearly have a great deal of depth right now -- at receiver and elsewhere.

Washington Redskins

One of the places where the Redskins have a little depth is at tight end, which is good, because this Chris Cooley knee injury is starting to sound like a serious concern. Cooley won't play Friday night, and it sounds as though quarterback John Beck's groin injury will keep that particular rocket from launching right away as well. So you'll see Rex Grossman throwing to Fred Davis. Among others.

I wrote about this a week or so ago and people were aghast, but yes, there is a chance that the Redskins don't start first-round pick Ryan Kerrigan at outside linebacker in the first week of the season. Why? Well, in case he's not ready, simple as that. They do still have Lorenzo Alexander, who played the position last year and can handle it while Kerrigan gets up to speed. They're deep at linebacker as well as tight end. So it would make more sense to take advantage of that, than to rush a kid who might not yet be ready, right?

Anyway, going to be a long day, folks. Final camp interviews at Giants include, I am told, some head-coach time with Tom Coughlin. Got a column running this afternoon on new Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and the nutty way he carries himself at practice. And I'll be up late watching the Eagles and Cowboys games and writing those up for you here. So right now I'm going to go for a run and get some coffee so we can get this thing started off the right way.

Good morning to all. Your links are piping hot and ready. Come and get 'em.

Dallas Cowboys

I'd say at this point that Kevin Ogletree has an opportunity to be a factor in the passing game. And if that's the case, you'll surely want to know about his 30 tattoos, including the one of his grandfather, and which 'Entourage' character he'd like to be. Don't worry. Got you covered.

Clarence Hill thinks Tashard Choice's injury and Lonyae Miller's strong early showing could mean Choice's spot on the roster is in trouble. I'm a little bit skeptical on that, as is Choice, if you read his tweets on the matter. Could be a case of somebody trying to light a fire under Choice and get him on the practice field. Or it could be true. We shall see.

New York Giants

Paul Schwartz writes of young defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin, who are tasked with replacing Barry Cofield in the middle of the Giants' defensive line. Both are large, talented young men who were drafted in the second round. They are an example of the Giants' 2011 plan/hope that the depth they've developed within their system at certain positions on both lines can sustain them in a year in which they weren't able to be active in free agency.

I didn't personally see Steve Smith at the Giants' facility Monday, but multiple reliable sources said he was there, and Zach Berman writes that he'll be back Tuesday for an examination of his surgically repaired knee. Sounds as if the Giants and Smith are inching closer toward a contract agreement, but it also sounds as if Smith won't be ready for the start of the season even if that happens, which means Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden & Co. have an opportunity if they want one.

Philadelphia Eagles

Bob Ford makes the very good point that, while DeSean Jackson's holdout can be (and apparently has been) fixed by something as simple as Jackson deciding to show up and practice while they work out a new contract, Jeremy Maclin's absence is not so easy a problem to fix.

The Eagles didn't sign Ryan Harris to hold a spot for Winston Justice while Justice got healthy. They signed him because they felt uncertain about right tackle and that Harris could be the solution. So the fact that Harris is running with the first team while Justice works his way back from injury is significant, and if Harris is starting at right tackle on Sept. 11, it's not going to be a major upset.

Washington Redskins

Nice story by Carla Peay on new Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson, who used to work the concession stands at FedEx Field and now will play for the team on Sundays. Money quote: "It's going to be a great feeling not having to serve fries."

If there's a position of strength on the Redskins' offense, it's tight end, where Chris Cooley and Fred Davis believe they should be on the field together more than they have been. And yes, it makes sense to give an unproven quarterback such as John Beck the ability to rely on reliable tight ends. But I asked Mike Shanahan about this when I was there last week, and he kind of hedged, which means either he didn't want to to tell me about specific offensive sets he's planning to run or that he expects his tight ends to have to do a lot of blocking since the line and the rest of the offense are such major question marks. Or both. I actually think it may have been both.

We'll chat at noon ET, since it's Tuesday, and the Giants are off today so no training camp for me. Just a normal day in front of the computer, enjoying the day's NFL news with all you good folks.

The Giants are having a busy day, even though they didn't get their sit-down with Plaxico Burress yet. They picked up a new center this morning, and the afternoon has seen a flurry of interesting activity:

" The team announced a one-year contract extension for coach Tom Coughlin, who is now signed through 2012. Coughlin is turning 65 at the end of August and has missed the playoffs two years in a row, so a long-term deal isn't in the cards. And extending him one year allows him not to worry about being a lame duck while not completely taking him off the coaching "hot seat" should the Giants miss the playoffs again. If that happens, I think there's as good a chance of Coughlin walking away on his own as there is of the team deciding to replace him.

" Adam Schefter reports that the Giants and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard were unable to negotiate a restructuring of Bernard's deal, and Bernard will be cut. Hours after Barry Cofield left to sign with the Redskins, this puts even more pressure on young defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin to perform sooner rather than later.

" As they continue to discuss a new deal for free-agent running back Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants have spoken with running back Brandon Jacobs about restructuring his deal to help them keep Bradshaw in the fold. This is not unexpected, and Jacobs has said in the past that it's something to which he'd be open. It could turn bad and Jacobs could get cut if they have to do it to bring back Bradshaw, but I think that would qualify as a surprise if it happened.

" There was an NFL Network report that Kevin Boss had re-signed with the Giants, but the free-agent tight end is tweeting that it hasn't happened yet: "Setting the record straight, I have not agreed to terms with any team yet ... thanks for all the support," Boss tweeted. Still could happen, but apparently it's not done yet. Or Boss doesn't want us to know it is.

Of all the Giants' free agents, the most likely to leave was always Barry Cofield, for whom they believe they have procured young replacements in each of the past two drafts. And on the first day he could, Cofield did in fact decide to leave the Giants ... for the division-rival Redskins.

Rich Campbell of the Washington Times tweeted this morning that Cofield's deal in Washington is for six years and $36 million, with $12.5 million guaranteed. He wanted a big contract, the Giants told him they didn't want to pay him what he wanted and Washington did.

So he jumps. I'm not totally clear on how Cofield, who was a 4-3 defensive tackle in New York, fits into the Redskins' 3-4 defense. They need a nose tackle and a defensive end, and I imagine he could play either or both. I remember Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett telling me last year that he planned to use Albert Haynesworth (another former 4-3 defensive tackle) in both roles depending on the situation, and so maybe he has a similar plan for flexible usage of Cofield. The Redskins' next defensive line move is likely to tell us more about how Cofield fits in -- i.e., if they get a nose tackle, he can expect to play a lot of end, and if they get Cullen Jenkins, Cofield can probably expect to play the nose a lot. My guess is it's the latter, and that this takes Washington out of the hunt for a guy like Aubrayo Franklin.

Cofield will help, there's no doubt. Washington will get plenty of pass rush from outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan, but it can't hurt to have somebody on the line who knows how to get into the backfield from the interior. More work to do on that defense yet, but Washington has procured a good player it can use in a variety of ways. Time will tell if it overpaid or if the Giants were right to let him walk. Linval Joseph and/or Marvin Austin will have to step forward to replace Cofield in New York.

Football Outsiders has an Insider post up about the five teams in the most danger in terms of potential personnel losses once free agency begins. (And yes, I do find it ironic that the "Outsiders" are an "Insider" feature.) The only NFC East team on the list, at No. 5, is the Giants.

Rivers McCown agrees with the prevailing opinion that Ahmad Bradshaw is an important player for the Giants to re-sign and describes Steve Smith and Mathias Kiwanuka as potential "buy low" options for other teams, though I'd argue that their injury status makes it more likely they stay in New York. As for the other potential losses:

Five-year starter Barry Cofield will almost certainly find a new team after New York spent back-to-back second-round picks on Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin. Tight end Kevin Boss and reserve safety/linebacker Deon Grant might also draw interest from other teams, though Grant would almost certainly have to be a system fit. There isn't much for-sure talent here, but the Giants do have a number of interesting players available.

There's no doubt the Giants belong on this list. They'll be over the cap and will need to make cuts and/or restructure contracts no matter what they do in the free-agency period. But the most important thing for the Giants, as we've said here before, is to prioritize their own free agents. They have to decide who's important to keep and who's not as important to keep, because there's no way they're keeping everyone.

My guess? If they have three days before the market opens to sign their own free agents, they work hard on getting Bradshaw and Boss signed, hope Smith and Kiwanuka are happy with their offers (or that their health scares off other teams once the market opens) and bid good-bye to Cofield and Grant, since they seem to consider Cofield expendable and the addition of Prince Amukamara makes it less likely that they'll employ as many three-safety sets (and need Grant as much) in 2011.

But the point here is that we don't know what's going to happen. We don't know who's going to like their offers and who isn't. We don't know whether Bradshaw and Drew Rosenhaus are set on testing the market no matter what the Giants offer in those first three days. Free agency is about the unknown, and the Giants might well have to stay flexible and come up with some Plans B, C and D, because it's hard to believe their (or anyone's) Plan A is a sure thing to hold up.

Our weekly chat was affected but not eliminated by the technical issues that plagued our site Tuesday. We still managed an hour of questions and answers, and some of them came out all right. Here are some highlights.

Mike from Statesboro, Ga. wondered if signing free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha would hurt the Eagles' chances of effectively addressing their other defensive needs, including defensive end: "Basically, do you think the Birds are putting all their eggs into Nnamdi's basket?"

Dan Graziano: "No, but I think they would do better to sign Nnamdi and get a second-line guy for defensive end than to sign the best DE and get a second-line CB. For instance, if you can get Nnamdi and, say, Andre Carter, isn't that better than spending a bunch of money on Jason Babin and having to settle for a cornerback who's not as good as Nnamdi?"

Dan from Harrisburg, Pa. asked if I really believe "Dan Snyder would give Shanahan a whole year to toy around with Grossman and unproven Beck knowing the draft could be good next year or are they actually planning on going after somebody like Hasselbeck?"

DG: "This comes up a lot. I think, if the Redskins don't see a better long-term option than Beck right now, it makes sense to see what he can do knowing there are going to be better long-term options available in next year's draft. Now, some people say that means "tanking" the season for a good draft pick. That's not what I'm advocating, nor is it what I think the Redskins will do. But why commit resources (and maybe years) to Hasselbeck when you know you need a long-term answer and might need those resources to secure it in 2012?"

Ricky Ross from Scottsdale, Ariz. wanted to know if the Cowboys might bring in David Akers to push David Buehler for the kicker job, since he doesn't think Kris Brown is the answer either.

DG: "I think they brought in Brown to push Buehler, motivate him to be better. If that doesn't work, you may be right that they look for a better upgrade than Brown."

Ryne from Peekskill, NY wondered whether recent Giants draft picks Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin, both defensive tackles, will be "rocks in the middle or high round busts?"

DG: "It takes time to develop at that position in the NFL, so it's far too early to know. But I'll say that those guys are in a great position, playing as they do for a team that provides a good environment for growth and development of defensive linemen."

Thanks to all who hung with us through the technical difficulties. We'll be back next week and, as Mike & Mike say, better than ever.

See, to me, this can only be a good sign. The fact that the NFLPA would ask commissioner Roger Goodell -- and that he would agree -- to speak to rookies at the rookie symposium the NFLPA is having in lieu of the one the league canceled because of the lockout heralds a new level of trust between the two parties. It gives you reason to believe the optimism that the latest round of talks will lead to a new labor deal and an on-time start to the season may not be misplaced.

What I'm interested to see is this: If there's no actual deal -- i.e., a signed document establishing the work rules for the league for the next three, five, eight, however many years -- within a couple of weeks, but during that time the two sides make significant enough progress that they know what those rules are going to be and all that remains are formalities, could the league year start anyway? The owners, theoretically, have the ability to lift the lockout any time they want to. Could they do that in the absence of a formal, finalized contract with the players and just hold free agency under rules to which they mutually agree as part of their settlement talks?

It sounds easy, but it may not be. Remember, these are not collective bargaining-talks that are going on right now. These are settlement talks on the antitrust suit the players filed against the league. If the owners were to lift the lockout and have free agency, even under mutually agreed-to rules, they'd have to be 100 percent sure they weren't putting themselves at risk of being guilty of an antitrust violation. I imagine they'd have to get a promise in writing from the players that the players wouldn't pursue legal action against them as a result of anything that happens during the free-agent period.

So it may be that they need to dot all I's and cross all T's on the new labor agreement before free agency and the league year can start. But if that's not the case -- if they can get close enough to a finalized deal that they feel they can start the league year and training camps on time -- at least now it looks as if there's a decent enough relationship between the two sides that they could work that, and eventually all of this, out.

In the meantime, as ever, we link:

Dallas Cowboys

Calvin Watkins and the gang at ESPNDallas.com have been looking at potential free-agent targets for Dallas. Today, Calvin brings up Eagles guard Nick Cole as a potential Kyle Kosier replacement. His theory is that he's younger and versatile and might be more worthy of a long-term deal than will Kosier. Calvin knows the Cowboys. Even if he is really a baseball writer at heart.

Oh and Gerry Fraley has this item about former Cowboys coach Barry Switzer's foray into the wine business. Love the part about him describing his rural Arkansas childhood home on the label. Priceless.

New York Giants

Lots of people ask about Barry Cofield, and the Giants have a number of free-agent concerns once the lockout ends. Cofield himself doesn't sound like a man who expects to be back in New York. "I think they think I'm a good player," Cofield told the New York Post. "Obviously they don't view me as indispensable. They place a premium on certain positions. Let's be honest, defensive end is the name of the game in New York." He's certainly right about that, but that doesn't mean they don't appreciate a defensive tackle who can get to the quarterback. The question is whether the Giants feel they have enough in guys like Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin to replace Cofield if they focus on other concerns. He seems to feel as though that's the idea.

Eli Manning worked out with Hakeem Nicks and rookie receiver Jerrel Jernigan last week at Duke University, according to The Star-Ledger. Priceless time with QB1 for Jernigan, who could theoretically be asked to do more if he shows something and if Steve Smith isn't fully healthy.

Philadelphia Eagles

In light of the recent news on Terrell Owens, Sheil Kapadia wonders if Andy Reid's biggest football regret would be not finding a way for Owens and Donovan McNabb to coexist after their relationship blew up in the wake of their Super Bowl appearance -- if the magic that landed them in the big game could have been extended if Owens' stay in Philly had been as well.

The Eagles' team site breaks down the running backs, wondering as we all are whether Jerome Harrison will return as LeSean McCoy's backup. They do agree, however, that if he doesn't, Dion Lewis isn't the answer there. Expect the Eagles to re-sign Harrison or find a veteran replacement.

Washington Redskins

Rookie Ryan Kerrigan spoke about the challenges he's facing transitioning from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL -- especially with no coaches around to tell him if he's doing it correctly.

Redskins.com takes a gander at the right guard spot and whether Will Montgomery looks like the starter there this year. Montgomery also would seem to loom as an option at center should the team decide to part ways with Casey Rabach. Upshot is, Washington may be looking for interior line help.

Go get 'em.

Our position-by-position series on potential four-year unrestricted free agency in the NFC East took the weekend off, but it's back, baby, and better than ever with a look at the defensive tackle position.

NFC East teams in need

Redskins: Not sure if you heard or not, but Albert Haynesworth balked last year at the idea of playing nose tackle in Jim Haslett's new 3-4 defense. And since they weren't able to find a non-Haynesworth answer in 2010, the Skins remain on the lookout for someone who can fill that crucial role on their defensive line. Haslett's scheme puts a premium on versatility, which means he likes to be able to shift the defensive linemen around depending on the play and the responsibilities it requires. But that said, a big, dominant nose tackle would be a nice anchor for the pieces that are still being put in place.

Giants: Linebacker remains a bigger need, but if the Giants don't bring back free agent Barry Cofield, they may need to add someone at this spot. Linval Joseph (2010 draft pick) and Marvin Austin (2011 draft pick) represent (the Giants hope) their future at the defensive tackle spot. But unless you're Ndamukong Suh, it takes a little while to develop into a top-flight NFL talent on the interior of the defensive line. If Cofield leaves, the Giants cold use some veteran help there.

Eagles: Antonio Dixon is an emerging star, and the team believes new defensive line coach Jim Washburn will coach improvement out of Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson and Trevor Laws. I don't get the sense that Philadelphia considers this a position of need, though there has been some noise about Washburn wanting to reunite with Haynesworth, who was a star for him when both were in Tennessee.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent defensive tackles.

1. Aubrayo Franklin. The top available 3-4 nose tackle in this class, Franklin would be a perfect fit for Washington and is almost certainly at the very top of its wish list. The 49ers will attempt to keep him, but the Redskins have money to spend.

2. Cofield. It's unclear what the Giants intend to do about Cofield, who believes the drafting of Austin is a sign that they plan to move on. It could be, or it could have been just a way to give them coverage in case he leaves and some leverage in their contract negotiations. With Mathias Kiwanuka and offensive keys such as Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss needing new deals, the Giants will have to make some tough choices, and parting ways with Cofield could be one of them.

3. Brandon Mebane. A 4-3 run-stopper who showed enough as a pass-rusher to play on three downs in Seattle last year, Mebane will have to prove his legs are fully healthy. But assuming he does, he'll be right there with Cofield as 4-3 teams look to beef up inside.

4. Anthony Adams. He might not be on the open market for very long. The Bears' decision to cut teammate Tommie Harris in March was likely tied to their efforts to re-sign their best run-stuffing defensive lineman.

5. Pat Williams. He's 38 years old and this time last year was talking retirement. But there's no doubt that the longtime Vikings star could help a contending team that could put him into a rotation that would ease the burden on his body. You also have to think he could help as a mentor for young defensive linemen. At the right cost, he might fit what the Eagles or Giants are looking for, if those teams do end up looking for defensive tackle help.

Predictions that mean nothing: Redskins sign Franklin, Giants bring back Cofield, Eagles add a cheaper veteran such as Williams (if he's cheap) or Remi Ayodele.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson examines the defensive lines of each NFC East team. Today: New York Giants.

Although the Giants could lose Mathias Kiwanuka and Barry Cofield in free agency, this is a great defensive line. Because Jason Pierre-Paul has such vast abilities -- and flashed them as a rookie -- Kiwanuka probably will leave. But Cofield, even though he might be expensive, is someone Big Blue needs to hold onto. He is in the prime of his career and has proved to be an every-down player, even though he fought a shoulder injury last season. If he plays like he did in 2010, many will start to consider him among the best at this position.

But Justin Tuck is the heart and soul of this defensive line and its best player. Tuck does everything well and is extremely consistent. Stats don’t tell the whole story, but he did record 11.5 sacks last season and recovered five fumbles, which led the league. He should always be mentioned among the best defensive linemen in the league.

But Tuck’s counterparts at defensive end are not too shabby either. Pierre-Paul looks like a superstar-in-the-making. His natural ability is off the charts. Pierre-Paul can be great. But Osi Umenyiora probably isn’t going to step aside. He also played great last season despite fighting a serious hip injury. This threesome of ends might be the best in the league, and Tuck’s ability to move inside on throwing downs, makes them extremely difficult to deal with.

Including Cofield, the group of defensive tackles is pretty strong as well. I am a believer in Chris Canty's game. He has a lot of versatility to his skill set and can line up in several different spots. His role could expand next season, although he did seem to wear down as the season progressed. Rocky Bernard also was a very solid two-way tackle last season. The Giants used a high draft pick on Linval Joseph, who hardly saw the field but does have a lot of ability. Joseph’s role would really expand if Cofield left town.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.