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If you follow the New York Giants regularly, you can't honestly sit there and say you're surprised they didn't take a linebacker in this year's draft. Whether you agree with them or I agree with them or any other team agrees with them is immaterial. They just don't think it's that important of a position.

What the Giants do like -- and what they were after in this year's draft -- is size and toughness on the lines, both offensive and defensive. They used their first three picks on linemen a month after their owner spoke publicly about needing to toughen up on the lines. And while it's entirely possible that no one from this year's draft makes a significant impact in 2013, the Giants don't generally draft for immediate impact anyway. They use the draft as part of their perpetual commitment to a deep roster, especially at high-priority positions.

So they used their first-round pick on Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh. He's likely not going to come in and start right away at right tackle, as some may have hoped the Giants' first-round pick would. By pick 19, those guys were gone. Pugh played tackle in college but is more likely a guard (or maybe even a center) at the NFL level. With Kevin Boothe on a one-year deal and Chris Snee showing some signs of age, Pugh is likely more of a factor in 2014 and beyond. Yes, he could push for playing time at one or more spots this year. And yes, he could turn out to be a good NFL tackle. But the Giants took him because they like the player and person and believe he has the ability to fill more than one role. Since they don't know yet what their specific offensive line needs will be after 2013, he's a nice fit because he can help them go a number of different ways.

Second-round pick Johnathan Hankins, the massive defensive tackle out of Ohio State, could well be a part of the interior defensive line rotation this year. But again, he doesn't have to be. The Giants signed veterans Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson and Shaun Rogers and have returning starter Linval Joseph, among others, to fill those roles if the rookie isn't ready to play right away. But all of those new veterans come with question marks, and Joseph has one year left on his deal, so Hankins is yet another hedge against future needs at an important position. He's a run-stopping defensive tackle, and the Giants' run defense was near the bottom of the league last year.

It's easy to see what the Giants like about Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, and why they were so pleased to find him still sitting there when their turn came in the third round. He was a sack machine in college, and with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck coming off a disappointing year, they need to be thinking about the future of their pass rush. Moore dropped due to some off-field and character concerns, but he's 20 years old and the Giants believe strongly in their program and their coaching staff when it comes to developing and getting the best out of young players. He could produce right away in the pass rush if the attitude and work ethic concerns turn out to be overblown or immediately correctable, and if he does he could be one of the steals of the draft.

I didn't personally love the trade-up to get Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib in the fourth round. But quarterback is in the eye of the beholder, and as Mike Shanahan and the Redskins will tell you, the chance to get one you like in the fourth round is worth taking even if you feel set at the position. No quarterback in the league is as durable as Eli Manning, but should the unthinkable happen the Giants feel they have a quality young backup behind him in addition to David Carr. And even if Nassib never plays for the Giants, quarterbacks are valuable commodities in this league.

Fifth-rounder Cooper Taylor is a small-g giant as well as a capital-G Giant, a tweener-kind of player who's kind of a safety, kind of a linebacker and could develop into a useful piece in three-safety looks. Seventh-round guard Eric Herman is a seventh-round guard with a reputation for an on-field mean streak, and seventh-round running back Michael Cox is a worthwhile flyer for a team that just parted ways with a very successful seventh-round running back in Ahmad Bradshaw.

All in all ... well, it's generally hard to get overly excited about a Giants draft, because of the way the Giants draft doesn't lend itself to big dreams and excitement about how much better it made the team right away. Giants fans tend to trust GM Jerry Reese, and while they might have felt better this weekend if a linebacker or a top-flight cornerback had been one of the early-round picks, you have to respect the Giants for doing things their way. They contend every year, and once in a while they mix in a Super Bowl title. They must be doing something right.

On Thursday night, the New York Giants added a big piece to their aging offensive line with first-round pick Justin Pugh. On Friday night, in the second round of the NFL draft, they did the same for their defensive line, selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins with the 17th pick of the round (49th overall).

Hankins is a run-stuffing defensive tackle who likely projects as a rotational player of the kind the Giants like to use on the interior of their defensive line. They are undergoing a transition of sorts in there, as Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard have left and been replaced by guys like Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson. Linval Joseph remains as a reliable performer at defensive tackle, and they brought back Shaun Rogers and still like Markus Kuhn, so Hankins joins a deep stable of interior defensive linemen in New York. As is the case with the first-rounder Pugh, this is a guy who could contribute right away if he shows enough in the offseason and training camp but doesn't have to. If he needs time to develop in their system, they have enough bodies at his position to allow him that.

Giants owner John Mara said earlier in this offseason that the team needed to get tougher and meaner on both lines, and with their first two picks of this year's draft, they appear to be paying attention to their owner's mandate.

Good Thursday morning to you all. Here are some links.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins signed two quarterbacks Wednesday -- former West Virginia read-option quarterback Pat White, who's been out of football and suing the NFL for the past couple of years, and perennial backup Rex Grossman. With starting quarterback Robert Griffin III recovering from knee surgery, the Redskins need bodies at the position for the offseason program and likely training camp.

The Washington Post ponders what role White might play with the Redskins. I have to think the point here is that he can run read-option stuff in the preseason while Griffin gets healthy so that the other aspects of that part of the Redskins' offense don't get rusty while they wait for Griffin's return.

Dallas Cowboys

DeMarcus Ware says he has faith that Tony Romo is the quarterback who can take the Cowboys where they need to go, and he believes Romo deserves the contract extension he got last week. Say what you want about the Cowboys, but there hasn't been a whole lot of locker-room discord over the past couple of seasons.

You can expect the Cowboys to look for a running back in the latter rounds of the draft later this month. Also in that notebook, word that they re-signed wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, who was cut last week for cap room prior to the Romo extension.

New York Giants

The Giants apparently love them some former Eagles defensive tackles. A few weeks after signing Cullen Jenkins, they have added Mike Patterson, a former Eagles starter who underwent brain surgery last offseason.

Former Giants wide receiver Domenik Hixon signed with Carolina, but the Giants are already at work on a plan to replace him. They're looking at former Patriots receiver (and emergency defensive back) Julian Edeleman. He could also help in the return game.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had a lot of top draft prospects in for visits Wednesday, and while we don't like to read too much into the visits because every team gets 30 of them and most teams only have seven draft picks (the Eagles have nine), Reuben Frank thinks it's likely that one of the players the Eagles had in Wednesday will turn out to be their pick at No. 4 in the first round of the draft three weeks from tonight.

DeSean Jackson believes he can accomplish great things in the Eagles' offense with Chip Kelly as its new coach.

Good morning. Bit of a different kind of Wednesday this week. I have to go up to Bristol for meetings with the bosses and some of the other bloggers to talk about coverage plans for the coming year. So because I'll be in meetings all day, I won't be posting to the blog as regularly as I usually do. If big news breaks, you'll have to wait until this evening or maybe even tomorrow to find out what I think about it. Hopefully, you'll find a way to get by. Maybe you can save some of the links until later.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles left tackle Jason Peters, who missed the 2012 season after tearing his Achilles tendon twice during the 2012 offseason, says he's 100 percent and looking forward to playing for new coach Chip Kelly. Peters was the best left tackle in the league in 2011, and what was especially valuable about him was his ability to block his man at the line and then get out and block upfield at the second level. Assuming Kelly's offense is going to be speed-based and up-tempo, Peters' athleticism will be highly valued.

Whether he's lining up on the line or at outside linebacker, Brandon Graham's game is going to be all about rushing the passer.

Washington Redskins

Re-signing DeAngelo Hall didn't end the Redskins' interest in veteran free-agent cornerback Antoine Winfield, according to Mike Jones, though it could get tricky for them to fit him under the salary cap. A lot of people on Twitter have suggested the Redskins could cut cornerback Josh Wilson to make room for Winfield, and that would accomplish that goal, but I don't see it happening. Wilson is eight years younger than Winfield, and the Redskins like him. I think they see Winfield as a killer slot corner and would love to be able to put him on the field with Wilson and Hall, whom they view as starters.

The Redskins have retained more of their 2012 players than any other team in the NFL, according to Rich Tandler. An impressive accomplishment considering the cap problems they had to overcome.

Dallas Cowboys

Todd Archer thinks team owner Jerry Jones faces more pressure than quarterback Tony Romo does now that Romo is signed long-term. I get Todd's point, but I just don't think billionaire sports team owners really face pressure the way the athletes do. As Todd points out, it's not as though Jones is in danger of losing his job as GM.

It's easy to get frustrated and want change when the team isn't succeeding the way you hoped it would, but Blogging the Boys does a good job here of looking at the importance of organizational continuity, especially at head coach and quarterback.

New York Giants

In an effort to keep adding depth on the defensive line, the Giants are looking at former Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who had brain surgery last offseason but is still only 29 and likely could help if he's healthy.

Could Victor Cruz's new agent actually turn out to be rapper Jay-Z? Don't laugh. It's possible.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Monday that they have released defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, who was one of the significant free agents they signed in their famous 2011 offseason spending spree. Jenkins was set to cost $5.5 million against the salary cap this year and leaves just $1.5 million in "dead money," so he clears some room for the Eagles under the cap. But the Eagles already were projected to be under the cap, so the move likely is about not wanting to pay a 32-year-old defensive lineman that much money at a time when a new coach and defensive coordinator are coming in and changing the plan drastically on defense.

It also is not likely the last such move the Eagles will make. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who was thought to be the prize of that year's free-agent class, is carrying a huge cap number for 2013 after two mostly disappointing seasons in Philadelphia. If he doesn't agree to a pay cut, Asomugha is likely to be released as well. Whether the Eagles need cap room or not, the Jenkins move shows they're willing to make veteran cuts for other reasons.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was acquired via trade that same offseason, is an unrestricted free agent, and it remains to be seen whether the Eagles will try to bring him back. It's unlikely they'll get themselves into a bidding war to keep him if he hits the open market.

Perhaps the least heralded of the 2011 acquisitions has been the best. Guard Evan Mathis, who signed a new free-agent contract with the Eagles last offseason after a superb first season in Philadelphia, was an afterthought amid the big signings and trades in August of '11, but it's entirely possible that when the dust settles on this offseason's moves, he'll be the only one left standing. Defensive end Jason Babin was released during the 2012 season.

Jenkins likely could have made the switch from 4-3 defensive tackle to 3-4 defensive end in the scheme the Eagles appear to be installing. He had experience playing in a 3-4 in Green Bay prior to his time in Philadelphia. But the Eagles have other options for those spots, including Mike Patterson and 2012 first-round pick Fletcher Cox, and likely decided Jenkins was a luxury.

Because I know people will ask, yes, I think Jenkins is still a good player who can help someone. And I think he'd be a fine fit for the New York Giants or the Dallas Cowboys, who run 4-3 defenses and could use someone of Jenkins' versatility and pass-rush ability. Whether those teams will agree with me remains to be seen, but, yes, I think he could help either of them.

UPDATE (4:32 p.m. ET): The Eagles announced later Monday that they also have released Patterson, which saves another $3 million in cap room and obviously eliminates him as a replacement option for Jenkins. The Eagles' starting defensive line at this point projects to be Cox, Cedric Thornton and Antonio Dixon, although they're likely to look for upgrades in free agency and in the draft.

New York Giants

Justin Tuck, who is apparently something of a Nervous Nellie, would like David Wilson to stop doing backflips after he scores touchdowns. Eli Manning, who's more of a bottom-line kind of guy, likes the backflips because it means there's been a touchdown. Maybe we'll do a poll on this. Are you pro-backflip or anti-backflip?

Paul Schwartz thinks the Giants need their Super Bowl-quality pass rush to return if they want to get back to the Super Bowl or, heck, even the playoffs. I think Paul is right, and I may just have some more thoughts on this later today if you want to hang out and see.

Washington Redskins

I know everybody wants to hear what Robert Griffin III has to say about his injured knee, but there's a lot about this guy that's very interesting, and apparently after practice Wednesday he did some talking about race, what it means to him to be an African-American quarterback and what he understands about its meaning to the particular community in which his team plays. Dave Sheinin has the synopsis. There's a great deal of depth to this young man, and he's going to be fascinating to follow for more than just what he can do on the field.

As for that knee, Griffin felt encouraged after he was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, and we continue to await word on whether he'll start Sunday. Linebacker London Fletcher did not practice Wednesday, as that ankle continues to bug him. But it's Fletcher. Got to believe he'll play Sunday whether he practices all week or not.

Dallas Cowboys

Some of the veteran leaders in the Cowboys' locker room hope that the players on the team can learn something from the accident that took the life of teammate Jerry Brown and landed teammate Josh Brent in jail for intoxication manslaughter.

If Dez Bryant has to miss time because of his broken finger, the receiver most likely to pick up his snaps is Dwayne Harris, who's already been working toward a larger role in the offense anyway.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles placed defensive tackle Mike Patterson on the non-football injury/illness list due to viral pneumonia. This infuriated Patterson's agent because that designation apparently gives the Eagles the right to withhold $150,000 of Patterson's salary. So the agent is fighting for his client, which is what he should do, on the grounds that Patterson got sick as a result of football-related activities. I have no idea what the truth is (because you never really do when dealing with teams or agents), but my guess is there'll be some sort of settlement.

In nearly unrelated news, the Eagles have a game tonight against the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year, their December Thursday night game against the Seahawks was maybe their worst game of the season. This year, Andy Reid has changed up the way the team prepared on the short week. Not having to fly to Seattle may actually be the most significant change.

A good Monday morning to you, and welcome to a new week in the NFC East. As most of you know, we do the links in order of division standings, and that means the Giants are going to be listed first for at least the next two weeks after they escaped Sunday with a victory over the Redskins. Should the Giants beat the Cowboys in Dallas next Sunday, they would start to look as though they were in control of things in this wacky division. Of course, that's a long way off and predictions don't even come out until Friday, so let's just go ahead and have some links, shall we?

(Note: The Eagles are listed ahead of the Cowboys due to the common-opponents tiebreaker, since they're both 1-0 in the division. Their common opponents so far are the Giants and Ravens. The Eagles are 2-0, Cowboys 1-1.)

New York Giants (5-2)

The Giants tend, usually, to be somewhat aggressively unimpressed with their opponents. They feel, in general, as though the outside perception of their competitors is often too positive and that, as a result, the outside perception of themselves is insufficiently respectful. All of that said, the players on the Giants' defense came away extremely impressed by what they saw from one Mr. Robert Griffin III.

Chris Canty started the game and said the knee injury that kept him out for the first six games of the season gave him no trouble at all. A positive development for the interior of the Giants' defensive line, which has played well in Canty's absence but could, like any line, use reinforcements as the season goes along.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

Jeff McLane looked back at a wild bye week for Eagles coach Andy Reid -- a week that included the firing of his defensive coordinator and learning the cause of death of his son. The Eagles get back to work this week and things should feel more normal.

The Eagles' defensive line could get a boost from the surprise return of defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who's expected to practice today and would, if he can return to game action following offseason brain surgery, add another starting-quality talent to the Eagles' defensive line rotation.

Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

The Cowboys won Sunday, which is really all that matters, especially on the road against a team coming off its bye week. But the general feeling among those who saw the game was that they weren't all that impressive. Tim Cowlishaw explains.

This was an odd one: Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs gave the Cowboys their Saturday night pep talk at the team hotel in Carolina. I think what's weird about it is that the speech seemed designed to help the Cowboys feel better about screwing up the clock management at the end of the previous week's game in Baltimore, which means it seemed aimed at coach Jason Garrett, which means I wonder why all of the players had to hear it. But Jerry Jones is an odd cat. Also interesting in this anecdote is that Jones seems to indicate that Gibbs was the one who gave him the idea that the head coach should be one of the coordinators.

Washington Redskins (3-4)

With Fred Davis out for the season following a torn Achilles injury in Sunday's game, the logical thing for the Redskins to do was bring back former tight end Chris Cooley. And they are. Cooley should help, even though he doesn't offer what Davis offers as a big-play receiving threat at this point in his career. He knows the offense and loved his role in training camp helping bring along young guys in new roles like Niles Paul. The Redskins will benefit from his return.

Dan Daly writes that, while the Redskins' offense looked Sunday as though it could hang with anyone in the league, the issue is that the team remains incomplete, and the defensive weaknesses remain glaring.

The Philadelphia Eagles on Monday put defensive tackle Mike Patterson on the reserve/non-football illness list as he continues his recovery from offseason brain surgery. That delays their decision on Patterson until at least Week 7 of the regular season and answers one of the questions regarding their numbers game at defensive line, where they may have too many quality players to keep. But it doesn't answer them all. As Bob Grotz writes here, there are still decisions to make in advance of Friday's roster cutdown deadline, and one of those decisions could end up being a trade or release of defensive end Darryl Tapp:

"There's going to be a job somewhere," Tapp said with a grin. "We're all focused on getting better right here."

Tapp is one of six defensive ends with a strong case to make the Eagles' roster. Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are locks, and Philip Hunt has played too well in preseason to cut. They also have a glut of defensive tackles, even if you don't count Patterson. Cullen Jenkins, Fletcher Cox and Derek Landri are all pretty sure things, and Cedric Thornton has outplayed Antonio Dixon so far in camp. Based on performance, Dixon could be the most likely defensive lineman cut, but he does still have potential to be a prolific run-stuffer even if he doesn't contribute what the others contribute to the pass rush.

So that's 11 guys, and they can't keep more than 10 and probably have to get to nine. Jenkins' ability to play end as well as tackle means they could ditch or trade Tapp if they wanted to, and they'd get some cap relief from his $2.6 million salary, which obviously matters. I would think they could find a market for him if they decide he's not going to make their team.

The guys at the Birds 24/7 blog are playing at 53-man roster projections these days, and after Thursday night's preseason opener it's worth asking how many of their excellent defensive linemen the Philadelphia Eagles are planning to take. Sheil Kapadia has them keeping 11, one of which is not Mike Patterson, whom he projects on the PUP list as he continues to recover from offseason brain surgery. Tim MacManus has them keeping 10, with Antonio Dixon the odd man out. But as Tim admits in his post, that seems less likely after Dixon was one of the starters Thursday night.

There are three more preseason games and weeks of practice still to go, and the Eagles will have time and a lot more basis for making these decisions. What's clear is that they are very strong and very deep on the defensive line. Assuming Jason Babin, Trent Cole and Cullen Jenkins all make it back from their various soft-tissue injuries in time for the regular season, first-round picks like Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox could find themselves coming off the bench. Andy Reid told me when I was at their camp last week that the plan is to rotate eight defensive linemen and "throw fastballs at the offensive line" by making sure the four they have out there at any given time are as fresh as possible. Thursday offered at least some evidence that the plan can work.

I'm intrigued by the idea Tim raises of trading Darryl Tapp and his $2.6 million salary. The Eagles are projecting themselves to be over next year's cap by roughly as much as they're under this year's, so a little extra room (you can roll it over from year to year) might not be a bad thing -- assuming Tapp is the odd man out or all else is equal.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- So yeah, I will be heading home tonight to spend a few days with the family before jetting off to Oxnard on Sunday to see the Cowboys. But before I go, I have another fun and productive day planned at Eagles camp. We also have Redskins Camp Confidential running this morning, and believe it or not I still have more in the notebook from my time with the Giants in Albany last week. I am out here cranking it up for you guys, and I'm having fun doing it. Now, before I head out there today, what should I have? Bacon? Ham? Corned beef hash? Oh no, that's right. I almost forgot. Links.

Washington Redskins

John Keim writes that "the Redskins have a running game; they just don't have their running back," and he goes on to explain that in a way that makes sense and takes a look at the various strengths and weaknesses of the backs in the mix to be Washington's starter. I'm thinking the preseason games help everyone sort this all out.

The players in the mix at the safety position for the Redskins all have something in common -- they're all trying, in some way or another, to recover from some past trouble or resurrect their careers.

Dallas Cowboys

Since it was a day that ended in "Y," Jerry Jones had something to say, and this time he was talking about Dez Bryant. While the Cowboys organization has said several times that it's supporting Bryant in spite of his recent arrest on family violence charges, Jones has been making it clear the past couple of days that he's mad at Bryant for getting in trouble again and that his patience won't last forever. Tough love, I think this is called. Or something.

Running back DeMarco Murray says it's "definitely unacceptable" that the Cowboys only had five rushing touchdowns last year. It suffices to say that Murray will seek to raise that number in 2012.

New York Giants

Our Adam Schefter reports that injured Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas may yet be able to play again this season. Adam says the doctors who have seen Thomas so far don't think his ACL is torn again. He's going to have Dr. James Andrews look at it next week, and obviously everybody's hoping for the best. But the Giants haven't been speaking optimistically about this at all, and they announced it not as a knee injury, but as an ACL injury when they put out a release on it Monday night. So we'll see.

With Thomas (and many other Giants cornerbacks) out last year, safety Antrel Rolle had to move up and serve as the team's nickel cornerback. Rolle has said he's been looking forward to leaving that behind and just playing safety this year. And even if Thomas' injury isn't as severe as it first appeared, they may not need Rolle to do that again this year. But it remains a possibility.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles do have a ton of depth on the defensive line, but it's unlikely they wanted to test that out as much as the first two weeks of training camp have. Projected starters Trent Cole and Cullen Jenkins have joined projected starters Mike Patterson and Jason Babin on the sideline due to injuries now, and while none of the injuries (other than Patterson's situation, which is that he's still recovering from brain surgery) appear to be long-term or serious, it's startling to think that all four defensive line starters are already hurt. It's also pretty startling, though in the other direction, to realize that two of their replacements are first-round picks.

Mat McBriar was at practice Wednesday, and he talked about his situation last year in Dallas and why he wanted to come to the Eagles. McBriar has a good chance to beat out Chas Henry and be the Eagles' punter this year if his foot can get healthy.

As Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com reported Tuesday, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin has a strained calf muscle and could miss the entire preseason. Now, if he can get back in time for the regular season, this isn't devastating. Babin's role in the defense isn't overly complicated -- he lines up wide and tries to sack the quarterback -- and so the missed practice time isn't going to be a major issue for him. They will want and need him back, of course, but they won't rush him and risk further injury.

In the meantime, Sheil Kapadia writes that defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and defensive end Brandon Graham have been getting the reps at left defensive end in place of Babin. Two different cases that speak to the type of depth the Eagles have on their defensive line.

Graham is the most interesting potential beneficiary of Babin's missed practice time. The Eagles' first-round draft pick in 2010, Graham has been kept off the field by injuries for nearly all of his brief career. If he is finally healthy, more time with the first team defensive line should give him a chance to show what he can do and give the Eagles a chance to figure out what they can expect to get from him as part of their defensive line rotation once Babin returns. He was believed to be the most polished pass-rusher in that year's draft, and while others have clearly surpassed him while he's sat out injured, there's no reason to believe he can't contribute if he can stay on the field.

Jenkins is, of course, one of the Eagles' starting defensive tackles. But his remarkable versatility is one of the main reasons the Eagles signed him as a free agent last year. During his time in Green Bay, Jenkins played defensive tackle and end in a 4-3 as well as defensive end and even some outside linebacker in a 3-4. If Graham can't handle the work of being Babin's replacement and rookie Vinny Curry isn't ready for those reps, the Eagles can feel very good about sliding Jenkins outside and replacing him inside with someone like Antonio Dixon, Derek Landri, Fletcher Cox, etc. The Eagles' depth on the defensive line, even with defensive tackle Mike Patterson still recovering from offseason brain surgery, is one of the strengths of their roster.

» NFC Camp Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Dates

Three thoughts as training camps open around the NFL:

One thing of which I'm certain: The Eagles will dazzle in camp. You're going to hear and see a lot of stuff about how great quarterback Michael Vick looks, how focused DeSean Jackson is now with the contract stuff behind him, how healthy and explosive Jeremy Maclin looks. You're going to hear and see a lot about how much depth there is on the defensive line and how the defense is so good it's making it tough on all of those offensive stars to shine. Camp practices will feature breathtaking catches and interceptions, lightning-quick LeSean McCoy runs and reports of Vick doing near-impossible things at the quarterback position. The Eagles don't just look good on paper -- they look good in practice.

The question about the Eagles this year isn't about the caliber of talent on the roster -- it's about whether they can make good on that talent this year. And we won't know that until the regular season gets under way and we find out whether they can stop the run better, turn the ball over less and play tougher in the fourth quarter than they did in 2011. One thing of which I am certain, however, is that training camp will do nothing to tamp down expectations for this year's Eagles. They will spend the coming weeks looking exciting and getting their fans even more excited for the season than they are now.

One thing that might happen: Two rookies could win themselves a job as defensive starters. The camp-opening news that defensive tackle Mike Patterson is still recovering from his offseason brain surgery and isn't yet cleared to practice opens up an opportunity for first-round pick Fletcher Cox at that position. The Eagles do have some veteran depth at that spot, and Antonio Dixon and Derek Landri won't be easy competition. But the Eagles moved up in the draft to select Cox because they believe he fits their scheme well and can help generate pressure on the quarterback right away, and he should get enough reps with the first team to get a shot at starting Week 1.

Second-round pick Mychal Kendricks has more than just a chance to be the starting strongside linebacker. He's already working as the starter at that position and would need to play and practice poorly this preseason to lose the spot. The Eagles like Kendricks for his speed, which is a must for a linebacker playing behind the "Wide 9" defensive line alignment the Eagles use because he needs to cover as much ground as possible. He also could be an asset in blitz packages on the rare occasions when the Eagles use those. He's a rookie, so you never know, but the Eagles are proceeding as though he's going to be one of their starting linebackers. An Eagles team with Super Bowl aspirations could well come out of camp with two rookies starting on defense.

One thing we won't see: Asante Samuel. The veteran cornerback was known for livening up camp practices with his relentless and loud trash talk. The Eagles traded Samuel to the Falcons just before the draft in April, and practices will be a little bit quieter for his absence. The real impact, though, will be on the coverage schemes the team implements this summer. The conventional wisdom around the Eagles now says that they played a lot of zone last year to try to minimize the impact of Samuel's deficiencies in man coverage, and that with him gone they can use starting cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in man coverage, which is their strength.

That puts a lot of pressure on those two starting cornerbacks, of course, to deliver on the promise of the 2011 offseason in which they both arrived. But it's what they want, and the Eagles expect them to thrive in their return to their old, more comfortable roles. So if you show up to Eagles training camp and you're watching the defensive backs, don't expect to see a lot of zone.

And a fine good morning to you here in the East. We lost power for a few hours yesterday in my house. Kind of went out one room at a time over a period of about three hours, then all came back on at once. I don't know why you needed to know that, but I didn't have anything else to say in today's intro. So, links.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins face serious questions along the offensive line, where left guard Kory Lichtensteiger and right tackle Jammal Brown are returning from injury, left tackle Trent Williams is returning from a drug suspension and the whole gang is charged with the task of protecting a quarterback on whom the team just spent three first-round picks (and a second). My guy to watch here is third-round pick Josh LeRibeus, who could be a factor at center or at left guard depending on how quickly he develops and how slowly Lichtensteiger's recover goes.

Brandon Banks has been told he's got to win one of the reserve wide receiver spots to make the Redskins this year -- that he won't be able to make it as merely a kick/punt returner. And while it's nearly impossible to envision Banks pulling this off, he says he's up for the challenge.

Dallas Cowboys

First-round pick Morris Claiborne has signed his contract and will be in camp for the Cowboys when rookies report to Valley Ranch on Wednesday. As is the case with all of these first-round deals, it was always certain that Claiborne would sign and only a question of when. The team is also expecting him to practice for the first time, as a recovery from wrist surgery kept him out of OTAs and minicamp practices. No offset language, of course, in the Claiborne deal, which once again seems like a moot point. They used their first two draft picks on the guy. If they have to cut him in the next four years, the offset money will be the least of their problems.

And guess who else will be in camp Wednesday when rookies and injured veterans report. Yeah, disgruntled cornerback Mike Jenkins, according to our man Calvin Watkins. Remember when Jenkins was the controversial offseason Cowboys story? Miss those days, Cowboys fans?

New York Giants

The Giants' biggest concern heading into camp has to be the offensive line. I believed this before I read Ohm's camp preview, in which he lists as the line's "potential strength" the hope that it will be healthy this year, and I believe it still. We don't know if Will Beatty is healthy, or if he can be a reliable starting left tackle even if he is, and that's not the only issue. They survived with poor line play last year, but it's a lot to ask a team and a quarterback to keep having to do that, IMHO.

Speaking of the offensive line, guard Chris Snee says he believes the Giants will play with more consistency this year, in part because last year's playoff run showed them the kind of team they could and should be. "To have an up-and-down season we had last year would be a surprise to me," he tells The Star-Ledger. That does seem to be the Giants' priority -- to stay away from the peaks and valleys of last year's regular season and ideally do better than 9-7.

Philadelphia Eagles

A lot of people ask me about the competition for the Eagles' backup running back spot, but the fact is we don't yet know enough about the two newest options, seventh-round pick Bryce Brown and undrafted Chris Polk. Les Bowen has the rundown on those two, as well as second-year back Dion Lewis, who will not face charges on the fire-alarm thing from a couple of weeks ago.

First-round draft pick Fletcher Cox says he's determined to be a starter at defensive tackle right away with Mike Patterson sidelined after offseason brain surgery. He also says he's finding out it won't be so easy.

Good morning, and welcome to a week for which we've been waiting quite a long time. The Eagles' rookies reported for training camp Sunday, and by the end of this week each of our teams will have held at least one training-camp practice. I begin my tour of the division's four camps with a stop in Albany to see the Super Bowl champion Giants on Friday and Saturday. It is a sign that the long, dull summer is nearing an end and that real NFL football looms around the next couple of corners. You are welcome to be excited. And to enjoy your links.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had hoped to have defensive tackle Mike Patterson back for the start of camp, but his recovery from January brain surgery is being watched closely by doctors, who have recommended he skip training camp and possibly sit out a few months for the sake of his own health. Obviously, the team wouldn't rush him anyway, since we're talking about potential brain injury here, but the Eagles have the luxury of being loaded at defensive tackle and can start Antonio Dixon, Derek Landri or first-round draft pick Fletcher Cox in Patterson's place.

Michael Vick isn't backing off last week's comments about the Eagles' potential to build a dynasty. Heck, he's not backing off of Vince Young's ill-advised "Dream Team" comment from last summer. Hey, look, you guys know how I feel about this, but I also think it's good that a team and its leaders don't care what the outside world thinks. Vick gets points for that. And while the only thing that matters now is whether he delivers on the big talk, he seems to know that, too.

Washington Redskins

One of the areas on which we'll have our eye when the Redskins open camp later this week is the tight end position. Mark Maske breaks down the questions facing Fred Davis, Chris Cooley and Niles Paul.

Another such area is the wide receiver position, where the Redskins have a few guys coming off of injuries and looking to use the coming weeks to show how healthy they are and convince the coaches they can be starters. Rich Campbell breaks down the questions facing Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan.

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo made it clear last week that he was standing behind troubled receiver Dez Bryant and would do what he could to support him. Tim MacMahon thinks that should put to rest any questions about Romo as the Cowboys' team leader. The Romo-Bryant relationship is an interesting one. Bryant speaks of Romo in reverent tones, as though he'd follow him anywhere. Romo seems to understand the way the young players in the locker room view him, and that a guy like Bryant wants and needs to be led by him.

Tom Orsborn, taking his cue from Michael Irvin, thinks the Cowboys' priority needs to be helping Bryant, not deciding whether to cut ties with him just yet. Hmmm. Interesting take. Feels familiar ...

New York Giants

Veteran safety Deon Grant told his hometown paper he expects to re-sign with the Giants at some point during training camp. We have discussed this possibility here, and it obviously makes sense. The question is not whether the Giants would like to have Grant back, since they like him a great deal, but rather what role they have for him in their 2012 defense.

And no, this isn't about football, but I got a kick out of ESPNNewYork.com's interview with Michael Boley about his Call of Duty obsession. I guess who among us hasn't played a video game until the sun came up, and sometimes it's fun to see these guys as great big kids.

Whenever I do this, I think of Strong Bad. No one ever did it better than him. But we try nonetheless.

Matt from RI/Mass area had two questions, but the one you guys will care about had to do with Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackles. Matt thinks the team has several players who could fit the description of "starter" at that position and wonders whether, "with this lineup, there might not be a true starter or even a true consistent player at the position for three downs, or even two out of the three every series."

Dan Graziano: I agree, Matt, with your premise. As you noted, I listed Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson as the projected starters at defensive tackle when we looked at the Eagles' defensive line in our position-by-position series. And I think Jenkins is the No. 1 guy there. But the Eagles would prefer and plan to use a rotation at defensive tackle, with guys like Fletcher Cox, Antonio Dixon and Derek Landri working there as well. Defensive line coach Jim Washburn loves the depth he has on the line this year, and plans to take full advantage of it by rotating guys in to keep them all fresh. I think you will see a lot of substituting at those positions. In answer to your other question, no, no relation to Steven Graziano.

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Jug from Seattle asks whether Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather's April arrest on drunk driving charges could cause him to miss time, and who would step in at strong safety if it did.

DG: If it's Meriweather's first violation, it should not cause him to miss any time. DUIs are, I believe, covered under the substance abuse policy and not the Roger Goodell-run discipline policy, and there are specific guidelines for punishments that can and cannot be imposed. For instance, New York Giants lineman David Diehl was arrested on DUI charges this offseason as well, but it's been reported that he's not facing a suspension, just likely a fine. As for replacements, my guess is Reed Doughty would be the short-term fill-in if one were needed.

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Mark from Fort Worth Texas asks whether I think Dallas Cowboys first-round draft pick Morris Claiborne will be able to hold up at the NFL level and generate turnovers.

DG: I do, Mark, yes. The criticism I had of the Claiborne trade was that I thought the Cowboys had enough needs on defense that they should have drafted two players with their first two picks rather than just one. But the player they picked is, I believe, going to be excellent. We can't know for sure how he'll react to the speed of the NFL game, and the adversity he'll face when he realizes (as all NFL rookies do) that he's not the most talented guy on the field anymore. Every player who's ever been great in the NFL has had to adapt to the immense skill level of the players around them in the pros, and Claiborne is no exception. But as long as he's the kind of guy who understands that and is willing to work to overcome it (which he so far seems to be), then yes, I believe his ball skills and his speed and his coverage instincts will translate well to the NFL level. I think he's going to be a great player, and I would not be surprised if he developed quickly. Might see some growing pains early in the season, but my sense is that, by December, people will be talking about this guy as a star.

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And finally, Scot from Philadelphia was in the chat Tuesday (Thanks, Scot!) and noticed that my answer to a question about who was the best player in the division was Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Scott asks, "if you are basing it on last year alone wouldn't you have to rank Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul ahead of him?"

DG: I mean, (a) not necessarily and (b) why on earth would we base it on last year alone? Pierre-Paul was fantastic last season, and sure, you could argue that he had a better season than Ware had. But you could also argue that he didn't, since Ware had 19.5 sacks to Pierre-Paul's 16.5. Also, as great as Pierre-Paul was, he was playing on the same team as Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, a couple of guys that get a fair amount of attention from opposing blockers. Very often, the second-best sack threat on the Cowboys after Ware is the possibility that the quarterback just falls down on his own. So Ware sees more double-teams. But the best answer is that Ware's done it for years. He's averaged 14.2 sacks per year over the last seven seasons, and has totaled 35 over the past two. I think the world of Pierre-Paul, and I believe he has the ability to be as good as any defensive player in the game. But if you asked him whether he's better right now than Ware is, I believe Pierre-Paul would laugh. Ware is the player he aspires to be. He could get there. He could be even better. But I don't think one year is enough to change the pecking order in the division.

Hey, folks. I'm on vacation. No mailbag next week. Nothing from me next week, actually. Be back soon enough, and I'll catch you then.