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We live and die with our incremental updates because they're all we have, and I know some people wrote to express worry over the fact that the players didn't approve the new labor deal Wednesday. Breath deeply, people. We know where this is going and how it will end. Semantics and details are all that remain, and I still believe free agency starts next week. Meantime, at least we have links.

Dallas Cowboys

Charean Williams has a nice story about the lockout's impact on the friendship between Jason Witten and Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett, who do charity work together but haven't been able to really talk with each other this summer.

And Leon Lett is back! Yeah, he's going to be an assistant defensive line coach once training camp starts. When will that be? Well, if all goes according to plan with the labor deal, one week from today.

New York Giants

Giants 101 mulls offensive linemen, and suggests the Saints' Jermon Bushrod and the Colts' Charlie Johnson as possible options should the Giants want to add depth. That's what I'm talking about, really. Those kinds of pieces -- versatile, experienced, cheaper than Shawn Andrews. They don't want to invest in a new left tackle because they're already invested in the idea that Will Beatty can be that. If he's not, maybe they hit that position hard next year.

Tom Coughlin dropped in as a surprise guest speaker at a fifth-grade D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony in Park Ridge, N.J., on Wednesday. Maybe the kind of thing he wouldn't have been able to do in a normal offseason, right? Silver Lining Dept. on line one?

Philadelphia Eagles

You want an example of the difference a year makes? Michael Vick now has nutrition companies fighting with each other to use him to endorse their products.

Geoff Mosher weighed in on the possible outcomes for the Eagles' various free agents. Nothing too surprising in Geoff's predictions, though I find it interesting that he has Nick Cole leaving and Max Jean-Gilles staying. I kind of thought Cole was a guy they planned to keep, but apparently he and his belly don't fit Howard Mudd's mold of leaner offensive linemen.

Washington Redskins

Mike Jones' series continues with a look at Redskins with the most to prove on special teams. He thinks it's possible Graham Gano could get some competition in training camp if he doesn't show improved accuracy. The Redskins lost five games last year by a field goal or less, and Gano missed 11 field goals

And guess who's planning to be in training camp once it opens? That's right. Big Al Haynesworth. Get your stopwatches ready, folks. It's conditioning-test time!

Back with more later. I've got to go take a conditional vote on a proposed breakfast pending the resolution of some outstanding grapefruit.

As we hold vigil over Wade Phillips' career, let's take a spin around the NFC East and talk about Sunday's games. Michael Vick's talking about a Super Bowl, but the New York Giants might have something to say about that. Welcome back to our weekly Blitz Package:

Cowboys

• There's no point discussing anything that happened in that 45-7 loss to the Packers. The Dallas Cowboys were never in the game and they couldn't even challenge a call late in the first half because Wade Phillips had already squandered his timeouts on foolish decisions.

• I just flew back to Dallas from Philadelphia, but I was able to hear Wade Phillips' comments followed by Jerry Jones' thoughts. I know what Phillips was trying to say when he said he didn't know who the Cowboys are playing this week, but it just made him look even more clueless. At this point, it would cruel for Jones to leave Phillips in his current role. And to hint that Phillips' job status is somehow related to a potential lockout next season is just a joke on Jones' part. If you can cough up $750 mil for a stadium, I'm thinking you can pay Phillips to sit around and not coach. [insert joke].

• Packers safety Nick Collins' helmet-to-helmet hit on Roy Williams in the third quarter is being reviewed by the league and I'm sure he'll receive a fine. Collins was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit that totally could've been avoided. It wasn't even close.

• As I've been saying since last week, I think defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni will replace Wade Phillips as the Cowboys' interim coach. There's nothing Pasqualoni can do to earn the full-time job, but he can certainly try to light a fire into this lifeless team. Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall as Jones is meeting with his coaching staff today. There's really no way in the world he can stick with Phillips at this point.

Eagles

• Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson made some huge plays in Sunday's 26-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts, but the defense won this game in my mind. I was really impressed with the way cornerback Dimitri Patterson played in his first start of the season. Peyton Manning tried to go at him constantly in the first half, but Patterson was up to the task. Reggie Wayne simply couldn't get much separation from Patterson, who replaced Ellis Hobbs in the lineup. "They wanted to be productive on my side," Patterson said per the Daily News. "They wanted to see results. I was excited about that. I was looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to it the rest of the year." There's no way Reid can put Hobbs back in the starting lineup after that performance.

• And rookie safety Kurt Coleman also deserves a ton of credit for how he played when Nate Allen was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a neck strain. Coleman admitted to being nervous at first, but he quickly calmed down and played really well. I was in San Diego last season when the secondary had a meltdown because of injuries and poor play. But against the great Peyton Manning, the secondary held up well.

• Vick hasn't thrown an interception in his past 154 passing attempts. He made a couple questionable throws Sunday, but for the most part, he has made wise decisions with the ball. The Eagles should ask the Phillies to work with Vick on sliding, though. The man refuses to shy away from contact for the most part, but he did race out of bounds in the second half, much to the delight of coach Andy Reid.

• I think Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg are doing an excellent job scripting plays at the start of games. The Eagles have scored touchdowns on their first possession in three of the past four games. This team places a ton of emphasis on scoring early in games. And that camera shot of Manning following the Eagles' quick touchdown said it all. He had this disgusted look on his face, which I took to mean, "Thanks a lot, fellas."

• It's unlikely that Allen will play next Monday against the Skins, so Coleman will get his first chance to start. Judging by his performance Sunday, I think he'll be ready to go. Nick Cole did a pretty nice job filling in for Max Jean-Gilles (consussion) at right guard, although his false start in the fourth quarter prevented the Eagles from being able to seal the win on offense. The Eagles had to overcome 14 penalties in this game.

Giants

• Sorry I took up so much space on the blog talking about the Seahawks' home-field advantage. It didn't mean anything in the Giants' 41-7 win at Qwest Field. With apologies to Falcons and Packers fans, I think the Giants are the best team in the NFC right now. Here's what Barry Cofield said about his team per ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk: "I feel like if we play our best football and we don't make mistakes, we can beat anyone in the NFC," said Cofield. "I am not saying we are the best team, we haven't always played the best. But if we play our best football at those times, I think we are the best."

• Tom Coughlin had so much confidence in former Eagles Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews that he let him start at left tackle in perhaps the loudest stadium in the league. Andrews was thrilled to get his first start and he played well in the game.

• The Giants have one of the most balanced offenses in the league right now. Eli Manning threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns and three running backs combined for 197 yards. The Seahawks hadn't lost a game at home before the Giants rolled into town. Now, the Giants will host the 1-7 Cowboys. Tom Coughlin will spend the entire week talking about how much talent the Cowboys have on the roster. Hakeem Nicks is a top-five receiver in this league. There, I said it.

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles starting safety Nate Allen and guard Max Jean-Gilles have both left the game with injuries and will not return. Allen had X-rays on his neck and back, but they were negative. Jean-Gilles is suffering from a concussion. Nick Cole replaced Jean-Gilles at right guard and Kurt Coleman took over for Allen at safety.

There have been some brutal hits in this game. Indianapolis Colts receiver Austin Collie was carted off the field after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Coleman, but he's now alert and has full movement. The Colts said Collie has a concussion.

Let's a look at quick look at how the Philadelphia Eagles lost this game, 37-19 to the Tennessee Titans:

What it means: It means the Eagles coughed up a game they had under control in the third quarter. The Eagles had a 16-7 lead and were moving toward the Titans' goal line when Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones caused a fumble and gave his team new life. Neither center Mike McGlynn nor right guard Max Jean-Gilles attempted to block Jones, so it's hard to say who blew the assignment. The play completely turned this game around and the Titans drove down and made it 16-10.

The goats: The Eagles had no chance at covering Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt after he missed part of the first half as punishment for a night club altercation last week. Safety Nate Allen allowed an 80-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter when he let Britt race right past him. Titans quarterback Kerry Collins badly underthew the ball, but Allen couldn't recover in time. It was the rookie's worst game of the season. And he didn't get much help from cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who allowed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Britt to give the Titans a 27-19 lead. Britt had seven catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns against the Eagles' secondary. He was brilliant in the second half, but the Eagles also gave him a hand by completely blowing coverages. And just so we don't leave anyone out, what a sad effort by Asante Samuel when Chris Johnson broke his tackle attempt to run for a first down late in the game.

The final nail: The Eagles would have had the ball back with 3:49 left in the game trailing by eight, but Jorrick Calvin fumbled during a punt return. He didn't appear to field the punt cleanly, and then he complicated matters by fighting for extra yardage during the return. It's not like he was going to escape the players who had him in their grasp. It was a back-breaking mistake, but on this day, Calvin had plenty of help.

What's next: The Eagles will have a week off to think about what may have been. This loss could haunt the Eagles the rest of the season as they now fall into a second-place tie with the Skins with a 4-3 record. And remember that the Skins have wins over the Cowboys and Eagles. The Titans absolutely own the NFC East with wins over the Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys. The Giants sit alone in first place in the division at 4-2.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Redskins stunned the Eagles by scoring on their first three possessions and held on for what could be a season-changing win. Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb received a standing ovation from Eagles fans, but then he treated his former teammates rudely with some big-time throws in the first half. Let's take a look at some of the highlights -- and Andy Reid's lowlights -- from this game.

What it means: The NFC East is in a complete mess. The Redskins looked dead in a 30-16 loss in St. Louis last Sunday, but now they're tied with the Eagles for the division lead. The Dallas Cowboys are sitting pretty at 1-2. They were helped by not having to play because of the bye. It's a great win for McNabb, but it's bigger for the Redskins. A 1-3 start would've been tough to overcome. Now they have a legitimate shot at staying in this thing for a little while with a 2-0 record in the division. Those wins will pay off down the road.

The Vick Factor: Just when Michael Vick made his first truly special play of the game late in the first quarter, he was knocked out of the game with a rib and chest injury. He was sandwiched by two Redskins defenders while trying to cross the goal line following a 23-yard run. Vick headed for the locker room and the play was negated because of a holding penalty on right guard Max Jean-Gilles. Kevin Kolb had his moments in the second half, but the Eagles had dug themselves too much of a hole.

The Goat: Eagles coach Andy Reid embarrassed himself at the end of the first half. After a long delay to see whether LeSean McCoy crossed the goal line for a touchdown, the Eagles had a fourth-and-goal at the Redskins' 1-yard line. Reid didn't have a play ready and the Eagles had to burn a timeout. Then they were flagged for a delay of game after the timeout. It forced the Eagles to settle for a short field goal and a 17-6 deficit. Redskins defenders raced off the field pumping their arms after the field goal, realizing they'd been offered a gift.

What's next? The Skins will host the Green Bay Packers next week and the Eagles will go on the road against the 49ers. With these teams, there's no way of predicting what will come next. Everyone will say that the outcome would've been different had Vick remained in the game, but I'm certainly not convinced of that. The Skins raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and I think they were by far the most physical team. Now we'll wait and see how long Vick's out. I'll be back with a postgame column a little later this evening.

With the loss of center Jamaal Jackson for the season, the Philadelphia Eagles will be forced to take more offensive linemen to the game. As the Inquirer points out. Guards Reggie Wells and Max Jean-Gilles, both inactive last Sunday, will dress against the Lions.

If Mike McGlynn runs into trouble at center, Nick Cole will move from his right guard spot and likely be replaced by Jean-Gilles. Because of the offensive line situation, veteran defensive end Darryl Tapp is having trouble finding a uniform on Sundays. And we're still waiting to see third-round pick Daniel Te'o Nesheim take the field in the regular season.

The Eagles and Cowboys are both one loss away from full-out panic mode. I'm in Arlington, Texas, for Bears-Cowboys, but I'll have one eye on Eagles-Lions.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said Sunday he expects Jamaal Jackson to start at center against the Green Bay Packers unless there's a "setback." Jackson has made a remarkably quick recovery from a serious knee injury and Reid talked about what his return means to the Eagles.

"This is what we have. We have good depth, so it allows Jamaal to get back in there and give it a shot here," Reid said on Sunday. "As long as he feels strong and good about it and the doctor feels good about it, then we go that direction. Again, if he tires or fatigues at all, we’ve got Mike McGlynn, who’s taken great snaps in there and we feel very confident that he could step in and play. Nick hasn’t played in the preseason, so if he were to get fatigued, we’ve got Reggie [Wells] there, we’ve got [G] Max [Jean-Gilles] there. We’ve got people that have played in positions that we feel very comfortable with to step in and play."

Reid was complimentary of Stacy Andrews, but he indicated that Nick Cole was always going to start at right guard if Jackson made it back to play center. That's a nice thing to say about Cole, but I think the Eagles expected Andrews to win the job in training camp. Obviously that didn't pan out.

If they can stay healthy, the Eagles appear to be in pretty good shape on the offensive line.

Update: For no apparent reason, I had the Eagles opening with the Cowboys in this blog entry last night. My apologies.

Check here for a full list of the Philadelphia Eagles' roster moves.

Biggest surprise: At the last minute, the Eagles were able to move Stacy Andrews and his reduced (but still too large) salary to the Seahawks for a seventh-round pick in 2011. Andrews had been a huge disappointment for the Eagles and now they feel fortunate to receive anything in return for him. Of the cuts, safety Quintin Demps was probably the biggest surprise. He ended up in Andy Reid's doghouse last season, but he made strides this offseason in having a better attitude. But with rookie Nate Allen claiming the starting safety spot, Demps apparently became expendable. He was a decent return man, but not good enough to warrant a roster spot. Guard Max Jean-Gilles was released, but he'll be brought back Sunday. The Eagles missed the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Andrews, so that's why that happened with Jean-Gilles.

No-brainers: I lot of folks were pulling for Chad Hall as a return man, but he simply didn't have enough success in the preseason. Wide receiver Jordan Norwood catches everything, so he'll be a good practice squad candidate. Tight end Cornelius Ingram will probably make it through to the practice squad as well. You knew it was a bad sign for Macho Harris recently when he was bouncing between positions. Looked like a player at this time last year but he never took the next step.

What's next: General manager Howie Roseman will be on the hunt for safeties and cornerbacks. I like the trade for defensive end Antwan Barnes from the Ravens. He was an excellent fourth-round pick for the Ravens in '07 and he has a lot of explosion coming off the edge. He'll be a good fit in the Eagles' up-the-field pass-rush, according to some AFC scouts I spoke to Saturday. Unlike the Cowboys, I think the Eagles will continue to churn the bottom of this roster. We'll keep you posted throughout the rest of the holiday weekend. It's interesting that the Eagles kept six cornerbacks and the Cowboys three. The Eagles only kept two tight ends, so they'll be looking around for help at that position.

The Beast is currently operating out of our Albany, N.Y., bureau, but we're still keeping an eye on the rest of the division. The Philadelphia Eagles had two more players carted off the field Sunday, both due to hamstring injuries. Cornerback Asante Samuel and running back Mike Bell suffered hamstring injuries the day after Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson went down with a back injury.

By the time we make it to Lehigh on Tuesday, coach Andy Reid may have to shut things down. This is the second straight year the Eagles have battled injury problems early in camp. But I will say that Samuel provided one of his most memorable quotes when asked when he might return.

"I'm not a mad scientist," Samuel said after practice. "I might be out there tomorrow."

And for those of us who rushed to judgment about Samuel perhaps being a "mad scientist," I think an apology is in order. Samuel rarely addresses reporters, so it's helpful that he brought some clarity to the situation. In other injury news, guard Max Jean-Gilles (dehydration) and center A.Q. Shipley (ankle) also left practice with injuries. Without a mad scientist on hand, it's unclear how much time they will miss.

The Beast will continue to monitor this situation from Albany.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Should the Eagles have done more to fortify their offensive line?

Somewhat surprisingly, despite a wealth of draft picks, Philadelphia didn’t make any major additions to its offensive line. The Eagles must feel quite comfortable with what they have despite Jamaal Jackson’s injury situation and the release of Shawn Andrews. So, let’s examine this situation more closely.

Jackson is the best option at center, but he just recently started running and it wouldn’t be a shock if his knee injury landed him on the physically unable to perform list to start the season. Jackson was on the verge of establishing himself as one of the better centers in this league, particularly as a run-blocker, but this looks like Nick Cole’s job for the time being. Mike McGlynn has the ability to play center as well, but his best fit is at guard. Cole moves well and is good in protection, but isn’t nearly the pile-mover that Jackson is in the run game. But as backup centers go, you could do much worse than Cole until Jackson returns.

Stacy Andrews has been tough to count on of late, but if healthy, he will start at right guard. He also could move to right tackle if Winston Justice struggles at the position where Andrews’ brother Shawn used to play. Even if Andrews can’t be counted on, the guard depth is pretty strong with McGlynn and Max Jean-Gilles backing up Andrews and left guard Todd Herremans. Herremans is another player who, in a pinch, could slide over to right tackle, but he is quite sound at left guard. McGlynn is a potential up-and-comer who could surprise this year if needed.

Like Cole at center, Justice is better in protection than as a run-blocker. But that isn’t much of a problem in this pass-happy offense and overall, Justice was impressive in 2009. As noted above, there are backup plans in place if Justice struggles, but I fully expect him to hold down the fort at right tackle.

At left tackle, Jason Peters has caught a lot of heat since his arrival in Philadelphia, but I think he is still one of the very best tackles in the business. He has taken too many penalties and does have to be more consistent, but doing battle with the blindside edge-rushers in this division is no easy task. I have no concerns about Peters.

So, all in all, I am in the Eagles’ corner with their decision not to dedicate heavy resources to adding to their offensive line. There are some questions, but there are also some fallback options. I think this group will be fine.

Dallas Cowboys

Potential unrestricted free agents: G Montrae Holland

Potential restricted free agents: NT Junior Siavii, WR Miles Austin, DE Stephen Bowen, CB Cletis Gordon, DE Jason Hatcher, WR Sam Hurd, T Pat McQuistan, C Duke Preston, G Cory Procter, S Gerald Sensabaugh, DE Marcus Spears, S Pat Watkins, K Shaun Suisham.

What to expect: Anything is possible with Jerry Jones in charge, and the Cowboys could make a big splash after an underwhelming offseason a year ago. But in terms of team needs and what is required to take the next step, Dallas really doesn’t need much. A big-time impact safety makes some sense and could make a very good defense great, but that might be a project for the draft in a trade-up scenario for someone like Earl Thomas. But Darren Sharper might pique their interest. They also need to get younger along the offensive line, particularly at tackle, but that seems like a draft-day project, too. Maybe Jones gets real aggressive in the wide receiver market, as Roy Williams certainly is not living up to his billing, but the Cowboys are still rather stacked with pass-catchers. All in all, this is a team that is sitting pretty and doesn’t have a prominent unrestricted free agent who is poised to leave.

New York Giants

Potential unrestricted free agents: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, P Jeff Feagles, DT Fred Robbins

Potential restricted free agents: WR Domenik Hixon, TE Darcy Johnson, DE Dave Tollefson, G Kevin Boothe, S C.C. Brown, DT Barry Cofield, CB Kevin Dockery, WR Derek Hagan, WR Sinorice Moss, T Guy Whimper, LB Gerris Wilkinson.

What to expect: Big things could be in the works here, as there are already rumors swirling that New York could be a prime suitor for linebacker Karlos Dansby. An impact linebacker is certainly near the top of their wish list and Dansby fits the bill. Plus, he is extremely versatile. Getting faster on defense is a huge priority with new coordinator Perry Fewell stressing the ability to cover a lot of ground. However, Dansby isn’t really the thumper they need in the middle and is more of an outside linebacker for this system, although he would be great on passing downs. This is a group of decision-makers who might be starting to feel some heat, so do not rule out a big move or two.

Philadelphia Eagles

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Jason Babin, S Sean Jones, LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Tracy White

Potential restricted free agents: LB Akeem Jordan, P Saverio Rocca, WR Jason Avant, C Nick Cole, LB Omar Gaither, LB Chris Gocong, CB Ellis Hobbs, G Max Jean-Gilles, TE Alex Smith, FB Leonard Weaver.

What to expect: There are questions on the offensive line, but overall, the Eagles are in a prime situation to improve their defense, particularly up front and at safety. Remember, they have quarterbacks to dangle as trade bait and really do not have any unrestricted guys that they need to bring back. This is a possible landing spot for Julius Peppers and he would be terrific on the opposite side of Trent Cole, who is among the most underrated players in the game and could blow up with someone taking pass protection attention away from his side. Count on the Eagles being aggressive in the free-agent and/or trade market. It might just be enough to get them that ever elusive Lombardi trophy. Stranger things have happened.

Washington Redskins

Potential unrestricted free agents: LS Ethan Albright, DE Phillip Daniels, T Levi Jones, C Casey Rabach,
P Hunter Smith, T Mike Williams, DE Renaldo Wynn, TE Todd Yoder.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Lorenzo Alexander, T Stephon Heyer, LB Chris Wilson, QB Jason Campbell, S Reed Doughty, DT Kedric Golston, LB Rocky McIntosh, DT Anthony Montgomery, C Will Montgomery, CB Carlos Rogers.

What to expect: This is a difficult team to get a grasp on in terms of what they might do in free agency, but I think it is safe to say that ownership will not hold Mike Shanahan and company back from opening up the check book and signing (and even overpaying) players whom they desire. It would be wise for Washington to have an excellent idea of what they are going to do with the fourth overall draft pick in terms of going quarterback or offensive tackle before really devising a free-agency plan. Rebuilding the offensive line is a must and Shanahan needs lighter, quicker (and younger) linemen than are on the roster. A running back they can trust wouldn’t hurt either, although it looks as though Clinton Portis will return, which they may regret. But don’t forget, this is a team that -- unwisely in my opinion -- is switching to a 3-4 scheme, so inside linebacker help is required, as are defensive linemen who fit the new scheme. The Redskins have a long wish list, but also have the ownership to endorse big spending when free agency opens.

One of the first things you learn when covering the Senior Bowl from 642 miles away is to always have a phone number handy for ESPN Stats & Information guru Alok Pattani. On Wednesday morning, I commissioned a study on how many players drafted by NFC East teams over the past five years participated in the Senior Bowl.

The numbers have obviously dipped in recent years because of all of the underclassmen coming out, but the Senior Bowl is still an important part of the evaluation process -- especially for the Philadelphia Eagles. Here's the breakdown from 2005-09:


In 2005, the first six players selected by NFC East teams were all on Senior Bowl rosters. In 2009, only three of the first 11 players picked by NFC East teams participated in Senior Bowl week. As we've already stated, this probably has a lot to do with the spike in underclassmen entering the draft. These players are not eligible for the "Senior" Bowl. We're also seeing some of the big-time seniors sit out the Senior Bowl because they feel like there's more to lose than to gain. That's why I admire a player like USC safety Taylor Mays showing up and competing in Mobile, Ala., this week.

For a somewhat unheralded player such as Idaho offensive lineman Mike Iupati, the Senior Bowl can provide a rare opportunity to compete against athletes from larger schools. Iupati has had a breakout week and some draft experts, including our own Todd McShay, think he could go in the first round.

Over the past five seasons, nine of the 17 first-round picks in the NFC East were on the Senior Bowl roster. That list includes DeMarcus Ware, Jason Campbell, Brodrick Bunkley, Mathias Kiwanuka and Anthony Spencer. Over the past few years, the Eagles have been pretty shrewd when it comes to identifying and tracking players who participated in the Senior Bowl:


Here's a great Excel spreadsheet if you're interested in finding out which players from the NFC East have participated in the Senior Bowl over the past five years. In 2009, the Giants selected linebacker Clint Sintim (Virginia) and offensive tackle Will Beatty (Connecticut) in the second round and Ramses Barden (Cal Poly) in the third. All three players participated in the Senior Bowl. And at least two of the players -- Beatty and Sintim -- could be starting in 2010.

I've spent a good part of the morning combing over the Eagles' list of unrestricted free agents. Most of these players will become restricted free agents if 2010 becomes an uncapped season. And there's a pretty solid chance of that happening. Here's a look at the Eagles' unrestricted free agents:

• Jason Avant, WR, 26
• Jason Babin, DE, 29
• Nick Cole, G/C, 25
• Omar Gaither (IR), LB, 25
• Chris Gocong, LB, 26
• Ellis Hobbs (IR), CB, 26
• Max Jean-Gilles, G, 26
• Sean Jones, S, 27
• Akeem Jordan, LB, 24
• Sav Rocca, P, 36
• Alex Smith, TE, 27
• Jeremiah Trotter, LB, 32
• Leonard Weaver, FB, 27
• Tracy White, LB, 28

Of those players, Jordan and Weaver are the only ones I'd be truly concerned about getting an extension done. You'd definitely like to get something done with Cole, but he'll likely be a restricted free agent because of the uncapped season. We'll keep you posted on all of the developments in free agency.

AFC: Ravens-Patriots: Graham | Walker » Jets-Bengals: Graham | Walker
NFC: Cowboys-Eagles: Mosley » Packers-Cardinals: Sando | Seifert

Three nuggets of knowledge about Saturday's Eagles-Cowboys wild-card playoff game.

1. The Eagles are going to try to hit some underneath routes early. Philly has become so enamored with the big play that players get frustrated if they go too many plays without hitting one. I think you'll see Andy Reid attempt to get Brian Westbrook or LeSean McCoy matched up against a Cowboys linebacker. I also think you'll see more short crossing routes. The Eagles want to establish some rhythm to the offense early. They need to find a much better tempo in this game. Don't be surprised if Reid stays with the run a lot more early. If you can have a little success in the running game, it could freeze one of the safeties when you try to hit DeSean Jackson deep on a play-action pass.

2. The Eagles' offensive line will look better this week. It's tough to throw Nick Cole in at center and then drop Max Jean-Gilles at right guard. The Eagles' offensive line wasn't on the same page from the start last Sunday. You'll see them play with a lot more confidence Saturday night. It's hard to imagine Donovan McNabb having back-to-back poor games. He has a knack for bouncing back, and it wouldn't surprise me if he puts up some big numbers.

3. Tony Romo must remain patient in this game. There's a good chance Sean McDermott will try to bring the house on defense early in this game. Romo may need to bide his time and simply protect the ball early. He'll have his opportunities. Cornerback Asante Samuel will try to bait him into making a mistake. Romo has done a tremendous job of protecting the football this season, and I think he realizes that possessions become even more precious in the playoffs. You'll see him stay in his comfort zone early as he tries to get the ball to tight end Jason Witten. The Eagles don't have anyone who can cover Witten outside of Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel. If they try to cover Witten with Will Witherspoon or Jeremiah Trotter, he'll have at least seven receptions. The Cowboys came out last Sunday and pounded the ball with Marion Barber and Felix Jones. They should stay with that approach.

There have been times that Week 17 hasn't had much to offer in terms of competitive games, but this should be a superb matchup. The Cowboys haven't forgotten about being embarrassed by the Eagles, 44-6, in Week 17 last season. This time around, both teams have already qualified for the playoffs but they are each playing for the right to host at least one playoff game. I've spent hours in the Beast film room this week and I'm prepared to offer five key matchups that will prepare your hearts and minds for Sunday's big game:

Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff vs. Eagles C Nick Cole and RG Max Jean-Gilles: For the Eagles to sustain drives, they'll have to account for Ratliff on almost every snap. He has the rare combination of speed and power that makes it difficult to control him for prolonged periods of time. As you've probably heard by now, Cole's making his first start at center for the Eagles. Of course, he's started at left and right guard this season, but that's different than having to call out assignments to teammates. Fortunately for the Eagles, the Lawton, Okla., native is an intelligent player who does a nice job of adjusting on the fly. As long as Cole and quarterback Donovan McNabb have ironed out their snap-exchange issues from last Sunday, I don't think Cole will be much of a downgrade from Jamaal Jackson. Andy Reid would never say this publicly, but I believe there was a time this past offseason when he thought Cole might challenge Jackson for the starting center job. Now that Jackson's hurt, it seems like everyone in Philly is making him out to be some type of elite offensive lineman. He's certainly been effective and durable, but it's wrong to say he's irreplaceable. My bigger concern would be with Jean-Gilles. He and Cole have to be on the same page at all times. The Cowboys like to run a lot of slants with Ratliff, who's capable of jumping the snap and being in the backfield before a guard can get out of his stance. Jean-Gilles is somewhat of a mauler, but on Sunday he'll need to play under control. Ratliff's a highly intelligent player with a nonstop motor. If the Eagles can somehow neutralize him, they'll have a much better chance of moving the ball.

Cowboys LT Flozell Adams vs. Eagles RDE Trent Cole: These two players have had some pretty good battles over the years. Cole's relentless motor and his ability to get underneath Adams' pads gives him the advantage at this point in their careers. Adams is a false start waiting to happen, but he certainly does a better job at staying focused when the Cowboys are playing at home. When he wants to, Adams can still dominate an opposing player. But from game to game, you never know which player's going to show up. I look for Cole to go right at him with the bull-rush early in Sunday's game in order to set him up for some outside moves. I'm glad to see that players and coaches recognized Cole's ability and put him in the Pro Bowl. It's not like he needs to have two or three sacks to be effective. He simply needs to get as many knockdowns or hurries on quarterback Tony Romo as possible. If Romo starts thinking about the rush too much, the Eagles will have succeeded. I think this will be a matchup that folks are talking about Monday morning.

Tony Romo vs. Sean McDermott's blitz package: Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett had no clue how to protect Romo against Jim Johnson's blitzes in last season's 44-6 loss. It was another masterful performance by Johnson and it was a game that haunted Romo throughout the offseason. He and Garrett have done a much better job this season of taking advantage of pressure. In the first matchup between the Eagles and Cowboys, Romo was sacked four times. But he also beat the Eagles on a 49-yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin that changed the game. If you don't get to Romo right away, he'll find Austin streaking across the middle. And with the way the Eagles' secondary tackles, that's a dangerous proposition. McDermott loves to line up nickel cornerback Joselio Hanson in the slot and send him on blitzes. He had some success against the 49ers and Broncos with that approach. McDermott doesn't blitz as much as Johnson, but he does seem to choose his spots well. And don't forget that former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart is coaching the Eagles' secondary this season. Stewart has a great feel for the Cowboys' offensive personnel, so that could be a factor on Sunday.

Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Eagles defense: Witten absolutely loves facing the Eagles. For whatever reason, Jim Johnson never really found an answer for the Pro Bowl tight end. He has 70 catches for 835 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games against the Eagles. He's the master at setting up routes and he always did a nice job of exposing middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who now rotates with Akeem Jordan at middle linebacker. The Eagles will try a variety of things against Witten. They may try to figure out how to get Hanson on Witten or they may even chip him with a linebacker before passing him off to safety Quintin Mikell. McDermott has a ton of respect for Witten and that's where a lot of his preparation will be leading up to the game.

Eagles TE Brent Celek vs. Cowboys defense: Celek arrives in Arlington, Texas, with a chip on his shoulder after not making the Pro Bowl team even though he has seven more touchdowns than Witten this season. It's not like he begrudges Witten, though, because he's studied and learned from the Cowboys tight end ever since he entered the league three years ago. Celek is an extremely intelligent and physical player. He caught a touchdown pass against the Cowboys in the last game but he only had three catches for 39 yards. Last week, he had three catches of 30 yards or more and he's averaged 19.1 yards per catch over the past three games. If the Cowboys focus too much on DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, Celek will make them pay. And since I brought up Jackson's name, I think the Cowboys will play him straight up and not have Mike Jenkins follow him around the way Champ Bailey did last week. Jackson didn't have a big game against the Cowboys earlier this season, but he's obviously capable of going off at any moment.

Happy New Year! And enjoy the game.