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It's a big week in the Kevlar business, as a Pennsylvania-based company called Unequal Technologies is working to help get Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick back on the field. The NFC East's two banged-up signal-callers are both hoping to play in their Week 3 games -- Vick on Sunday afternoon against the Giants and Romo on "Monday Night Football" against the Redskins. But Vick is recovering from a concussion sustained in Sunday night's loss in Atlanta while Romo is dealing with broken ribs suffered in his overtime victory Sunday in San Francisco.

Enter Unequal Technologies, which had representatives in Dallas on Wednesday to fit Romo (and tight end Jason Witten) for Kevlar vests, according to our old buddy Matt Mosley. Later in the day, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported that Rob Vito, the company's CEO, planned to meet with Vick on Thursday in Philadelphia "to re-fit his helmet with Kevlar padding."

"The 100-year-old foam everybody is using in helmets is antiquated," Vito told Sal. "Concussions are the injury of our age, and really they should not be happening anymore."

Vick has signed endorsement deal last year with Unequal Technologies after they helped fit him for a vest to provide relief and protection for his own broken ribs last year. He wears the company's shoulder pads.

So that's your Vick/Romo injury update for this morning. Sounds like there's a chance neither one of them misses a game, but we'll see.

Know what never misses a day? The links.

Dallas Cowboys

Romo himself says it hurts to laugh because of his injury. I guess that means he's watching tape of the fourth quarter of his Week 1 game instead of the Week 2 tape. What? Too soon?

Redskins outside linebacker Brian Orakpo has high praise for Cowboys rookie right tackle Tyron Smith after watching film of Smith in preparation for Monday night's game. Smith will get a good test from either Orakpo or, more likely, rookie pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan, who's off to a stellar start.

New York Giants

Remember that long, crazy, fourth-down sideline catch by Hakeem Nicks on Monday night? Shortly before his touchdown catch? Well, even though the officials said at the time, after the Giants had declined the pass interference penalty, that it was a catch, the game's official statisticians didn't count it as one, just gave the Giants the yardage via penalty. Well, they've corrected that, and it now goes in the books as a 23-yard catch, giving Nicks 38 receiving yards for the game instead of 15 and giving Eli Manning 223 passing yards instead of 200. Perhaps this helps some of you win fantasy football matchups you thought you'd lost. I am not among you. I checked.

Deon Grant said he didn't fake an injury to help stall out a Rams drive early in the game. Said he was really hurt. Said his body hurts all the time because he's been playing football for a long time. Whatever. I don't believe him any more than I did Monday night when he was faking an injury. But I also don't expect anything to come of this. The league sent out a memo Wednesday to say they'd crack down on flopping, but the league does that all the time -- reacts to something because it's become a big public issue. This is unenforceable and will not matter.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are shuffling their linebackers, moving Jamar Chaney from the strong side to the middle, Moise Fokou from weak side to strong side and overmatched rookie Casey Matthews from the middle to the weak side. It makes sense. Would have made sense to do it from the start, actually, since Chaney played very well in the middle last year after Stewart Bradley got hurt and said he wanted to play it again. But whatever. Remains to be seen whether Matthews can handle the starting weak side spot any better than he could the middle, but at least now he won't have to worry about making all the calls.

Vince Young participated fully in practice for the first time since injuring his hamstring in the preseason, but Mike Kafka took all of the first-team snaps. So who knows which would start if Vick can't? Not me. Not you. And not the Giants, which is part of the point, I'm sure.

Washington Redskins

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall said he planned to target Romo's ribs if he got a chance to get a hit on him. Couple of things on this. First, Hall is a cornerback, so unless he's blitzing, something's going to have had to go terribly wrong for him to get a shot at Romo. Second, this clearly wasn't a personal thing -- just Hall talking about the way defensive players think when facing players who have injuries. He was talking out of school, saying something everybody probably knows but isn't very nice or smart to say out loud. But at least he was being honest.

Stephen Bowen is excited to play his old team Monday night, but he's more excited about Friday, when his infant son will be released from the hospital. Bowen's wife gave birth to extremely premature twins in June. One of the babies died, but the other -- Stephen III, who weighed two pounds at birth -- is up to 6 pounds, 5 ounces and apparently ready to go home. Brings real tears to my eyes just typing it. All the best to the Bowens, seriously.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Call Andy Reid impatient if you want, but like most NFL coaches, the Philadelphia Eagles' head coach is no great fan of the walk-through practices that have taken the place of what used to be the second of his two training camp practices per day.

"It's like being stopped at a red light with a bunch of cars in front of you," Reid told me after Friday's walk-through. "You want to just hurry up and get where you're going, but there's nothing you can do about it."

The Eagles, you see, have big plans. Reid is in his 13th season as their coach, and although the first 12 have been mostly excellent, each has ended without a Super Bowl ring. The team's urge to change that this season is obvious and inescapable. It's on the ever-shifting roster, which added five Pro Bowlers during a wild first week of free agency that made the Eagles the talk of the league. It's in the eyes of quarterback Michael Vick, who knows last season proved he was good enough to deliver and therefore ratcheted up the pressure to do just that. It's all over the high-energy practices that have featured fights and trash-talking worthy of a Week 16 division matchup. The Eagles know what's at stake and what they must do, and they're eager to get to it.

"This town wants a Super Bowl," linebacker Jamar Chaney told me, referring of course to Philadelphia, not Bethlehem. "The Phillies win. The Flyers win. They want the Eagles to do the same thing. And not just win, like, have a good season. They want you to win a Super Bowl."

The players and coaches hear the fans and would like them to know they feel the same way. Juan Castillo, who's in his first season as defensive coordinator after 13 as the team's offensive line coach, has a cut just above his nose from where he actually head-butted linebacker Keenan Clayton while yelling at Clayton to make a point during practice last week. Yeah, Clayton was still wearing his helmet. Yeah, Castillo wants this pretty badly.

"Coach Reid has been to the playoffs nine out of 12 years," Castillo said. "That's tradition, but it's not good enough. Before we finish here, we want to win the Super Bowl. Because we don't want to be sitting around when we get older, watching ESPN and having them talk about how we were so close and we never got it done."

So yeah. If it's not too much trouble, the Eagles would like to get this thing going as soon as possible.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can you have too many cornerbacks? When the Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha the day after acquiring Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and they already had Asante Samuel, the first question everybody asked was whether they'd keep all three excellent cornerbacks. The answer, to this point, seems to be yes. Rodgers-Cromartie has made it clear he doesn't mind sitting behind either of the other two, and Asomugha has made it clear that he's happy to play slot corner when all three are on the field if the other two would prefer to play outside. So although there was some early talk about possibly dealing Samuel (and that remains a possibility if somebody blows them away with a great offer), the odds favor the Eagles' keeping all three and just making triple-sure that all the receivers they play against are covered.

2. Will Vick have his receivers? As exciting as things have been during the early practices, you can't escape that Vick is throwing to second-string and third-string receivers. Sure, Jason Avant has looked like a star. But he's supposed to be the No. 3 wideout behind DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Jackson just showed up Monday after missing the first week-plus in a contract dispute. Maclin has been in camp for a week but has yet to practice as he continues to recover from an illness that neither he nor the team will discuss. If the team can't get Jackson happy and Maclin healthy soon, their top two receivers run the risk of starting the season behind or maybe not on the roster. No matter how many new defensive players they've signed, that would be impossible to overcome.

3. Who are the linebackers? The Eagles have beefed up on the defensive line and in the secondary. They've even added a couple of starters on the offensive line and Pro Bowl backups at quarterback and running back. But they did nothing at linebacker except allow Stewart Bradley to leave via free agency. That means rookie Casey Matthews, the team's fourth-round pick in April's draft, is currently the starting middle linebacker with Chaney and Moise Fokou on the outside. The coaches have been saying very nice things about Matthews, but no pre-draft projection I know of had him as a 2011 starter -- especially on a team that expects to win the Super Bowl. Don't be surprised if the Eagles bring in a veteran to add a little depth and/or experience at the position. Matthews could start Week 1, but it's hard to imagine that the Eagles don't have a backup plan.

D-LINING THEM UP

For all the talk about the rotation at cornerback, the Eagles have put together remarkable depth on the defensive line as well. New defensive line coach Jim Washburn has been using Trent Cole and Juqua Parker as his starting defensive ends in early practices, with newcomers Cullen Jenkins and Anthony Hargrove at the defensive tackle spots. But one would have to think that Antonio Dixon, who has been missing practice with a knee injury, would start in Hargrove's place if healthy, which means Hargrove would join newly signed defensive end Jason Babin on the second-team defensive line. Add in Trevor Laws, Darryl Tapp and, if healthy, Mike Patterson, and Washburn has plenty of options on a line that will have a different mission this year than it has in recent seasons. "We used to do a lot of reading, and now we're attacking, getting after the ball a lot," Cole told me. "Go to the ball every time, get the quarterback every time. I think they took a lot of the thinking out of it. Just go play ball."

O-LINING THEM UP

The offensive line also has a new coach in Howard Mudd, and he has changed the way they play line on that side of the ball, too. "It's a whole new thought of blocking your man," guard Todd Herremans told me. "Instead of meeting him at a spot, you're going to get to them before they get to that spot. It's more of an aggressive approach." Herremans said he's working on changing his ways, and left tackle Jason Peters and center Jamaal Jackson must as well. Rookie right guard Danny Watkins and right tackle Ryan Harris are new, and rookie Jason Kelce could wrest the starting center spot from Jackson. So there's a lot going on with the offensive line, and it bears watching, because keeping Vick healthy is probably the key to the entire Eagles season.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Assuming Nate Allen's knee is healthy, he'll start at one safety spot, but it'll be interesting to see how the other one shakes out. It looks as though the Eagles would like to give rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett a chance to start, but it's tough to evaluate Jarrett during practices that don't allow hard hitting, because that's his thing. Also in the mix are Kurt Coleman, Marlin Jackson and newly signed veteran Jarrad Page.
• As many weapons as the Eagles already have on offense, and as good as Brent Celek is, it'd be easy to overlook the signing of tight end Donald Lee. But when I was there, they were lining Lee up one-on-one with defensive ends like Babin and having him block them without help. He did a pretty good job, and if you're wondering how he might be deployed, that could be your answer.
• Vince Young looks very much like a quarterback with a lot to learn about his new team's offense. So much so, in fact, that you wonder whether Young or Mike Kafka would be the starter if Vick were to suffer an injury early in the season.
• Fourth-round draft pick Alex Henery has a great big leg. But after all the work they did in free agency and everything that's riding on this season, it does seem a little odd for the Eagles to potentially leave the outcome of a big game in the hands (or on the foot) of a rookie place-kicker.
• Chaney played middle linebacker last season when Bradley was hurt. And when you ask which he'd prefer, he answers that he'd rather be back there than outside. But the Eagles think that his speed is his greatest asset and that having him on the strong side makes the best use of that. He could be the middle linebacker of the future or a fall-back option if Matthews can't handle it. But right now they appear to prefer him on the outside.

So this is kind of unexpected. Jonathan Tamari reports that the Eagles are planning to let all of their unsigned free agents leave town, "including starters such as Stewart Bradley, Quintin Mikell and Sav Rocca and backup running back Jerome Harrison."

Obviously, the first reaction to news such as this is that the Eagles are clearing room for a big signing such as cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. And that may very well be the case. Someone will pay Asomugha's price, the Eagles need a cornerback and he likes the East Coast. The move makes a ton of sense, no matter how many people tell me they'd rather have a worse player, such as Ike Taylor or Johnathan Joseph.

Obviously, this also raises questions, though. Such as...

1. Who will play linebacker? If Bradley goes, they can play Jamar Chaney in the middle, as they did last year when Bradley was hurt, and start Moise Fokou and Keenan Clayton at the outside spots. Or they could sign a linebacker, middle or otherwise, from the large pool of available free-agents. Or they could get one in exchange for Kevin Kolb. Options are there, though I'm a little surprised that they're letting Bradley walk. They do like his talent, but they must be sick of the injuries.

2. Who will back up LeSean McCoy? Well, there will be veterans available for that spot. Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, maybe even old friend Brian Westbrook, in addition to many others, are out there. Harrison is very good, though, and a better viable starter should something happen to McCoy than any of those others guys are at this point in their careers. The Eagles will be in the running back market.

3. Who punts? I don't buy that they drafted Alex Henery to punt. I think he's David Akers' replacement at kicker and they'll find a punter. Punters kind of come and go, right?

4. Are they really going that young at safety? Yeah, the Mikell move isn't unexpected, but it does leave them with Nate Allen and rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett as the most likely starting safeties. Kurt Coleman and Marlin Jackson may yet be heard from on that front, but Mikell is a leader who will be missed.

The Eagles said they'd be busy, and it looks as if they'll be in a position to fulfill that promise.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson examines the linebackers of each NFC East team. Today: Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles have two starting linebackers scheduled to be up for free agency in Stewart Bradley and Ernie Sims. Maybe neither will be brought back. Bradley is a very solid player, but his durability has to be a major stumbling block when discussing a long-term deal after a severe knee injury in 2009 and a serious elbow injury last season. He started in the middle and did a nice job, although I tend to think this big-bodied linebacker would be best suited on the strong side. But when right, Bradley can be a force -- so Philadelphia has a tough choice with him. And its team doctors surely will have a lot of input in that football decision.

As a rookie, Jamar Chaney did a pretty nice job as Bradley’s replacement in the middle, but is probably only a two-down player. As for Sims, watching him play can be maddening. He is athletic, but plays with very little recognition or discipline. So adding starting-caliber linebackers might be in order for the Eagles. But they have some interesting guys to go along with Chaney in Moise Fokou, Akeem Jordan, Omar Gaither and Keenan Clayton.

Fokou can play either outside linebacker spot and is an exceptional special-teams player. Although he might not be the ideal starter, Fokou has a lot of value to Philadelphia and isn’t a liability in any phase on defense. Jordan also can hold his own at linebacker, but isn’t special in this regard. Gaither and was much better in 2009 than last season and there is still hope for his career. Like Gaither, Jordan did play quite well in 2009, though. Clayton has great speed and can be a factor on throwing downs, but probably isn’t suited to handle the pounding of an every down backer. But Clayton is intriguing for sure. Maybe he could thrive on the weak side if given ample opportunity.

A difference-maker added at linebacker could do this defense a lot of good, but I don’t consider it a move that absolutely must be made.

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

Well, at least Michael Vick doesn't have to worry about any Vikings asking for his autograph after this game. Here are some thoughts following a 24-14 loss and a lackluster performance by the Philadelphia Eagles:

What it means: The Eagles didn't look all that interested in playing this game. After a 48-hour delay because of a snowstorm, it was the Vikings who acted as if they had something meaningful on the line. A rookie quarterback named Joe Webb came out and showed a great deal of poise and ability in sticking it to the Eagles' defense. Philadelphia (10-5) had an opportunity to stay in contention for a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, but now they won't have a playoff bye. There were conspiracy theories that the Eagles wanted to wait for the snow to clear because they thought a slow field would help the Vikings. But in a rare Tuesday night game, the Vikings ran circles around Vick and his dynamic wide receiver DeSean Jackson. It was remarkable to watch the Vikings cornerbacks simply bully Jackson (two catches, 32 yards) at the line of scrimmage and then lock him down when he tried to go deep. The Eagles are still a dangerous team, but Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier showed just how vulnerable this team is to the blitz.

What happened to Vick? I think it's safe to say that Tom Brady now has the MVP in hand. Coming off a brilliant comeback against the Giants, Vick was running for his life against the Vikings. They came at him in waves, and when he escaped the first blitzer, he usually encountered a huge defensive tackle. I zeroed in on Eagles Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters in the second half. He didn't have a chance against defensive end Jared Allen and he could've been called for holding several times. But it was Vick who made the key mistake in the game. With the Eagles attempting to add to a 7-0 lead just before the half, Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield blitzed off the corner and poked the ball away from Vick. He scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown to tie the score. Vick was 25-of-43 for 263 yards and one touchdown, an interception and two fumbles lost. The Vikings did a brilliant job of surrounding him throughout the game. Vick ran for 63 yards and a touchdown, but he was limping around the field in the fourth quarter. Frazier knows Andy Reid as well as anyone because he coached for the Eagles. You could see the influence of the late Jim Johnson with several of those blitz calls. And Frazier may have earned himself the full-time gig in Minnesota with the way his team performed.

Broken record alert: Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg are so enamored with the passing game that they go long stretches without feeding the ball to running back LeSean McCoy. The Vikings didn't have to respect the play-action game when they know McCoy is rarely going to touch the ball in the running game. He was probably the Eagles' best option in this game, but he only touched the ball 17 times.

Gashed by the run: The Eagles had held teams to an average of 89.1 rushing yards per game, but the great Adrian Peterson had 22 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. And on the game-clinching drive, Peterson toyed with the Eagles' defense. When rookie safety Kurt Coleman took the wrong angle toward Peterson on a counter play, the running back exploded outside for a big gain. Then he bulled his way into the end zone.

What a tangled Webb: You'd think the Eagles would be used to mobile quarterbacks after seeing Vick in practice, but Webb baffled defenders with his legs. On a touchdown run in the second half, he froze defensive end Juqua Parker with a nice move and then he made linebacker Moise Fokou look silly before waltzing into the end zone.

What's next? Andy Reid will have the opportunity to rest Vick and some of his other starters against the Dallas Cowboys, but I think he'll try to play them for at least a half. I heard one broadcaster suggest late in this game that the loss to the Vikings could be a good thing for the Eagles because it would open the door to Reid resting some of his players. But I assure you Reid would rather not have that "luxury." The Giants were actually rooting for the Eagles to win this game because it meant the Bears might try harder to beat the Packers next Sunday. I received the following text from Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield in the fourth quarter: "It looks like Philly is gonna [hurt us] even when we aren't playing them."

Maybe Eagles fans can find something positive out of Tuesday's game, but I'm at a loss right now.

The Philadelphia Eagles have made veteran defensive end Darryl Tapp inactive for this afternoon's game against the Green Bay Packers. Tapp and third-round draft pick Daniel Te'o-Nesheim will not be in uniform. I thought the Eagles would try to come at Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in waves, but it looks like Trent Cole and rookie Brandon Graham will have to do the heavy lifting.

The fact that Tapp and Te'o-Nesheim aren't huge factors on special teams probably played a role in Andy Reid's decision. Moise Fokou's a proven special-teams player and he'll also be able to contribute as a pass-rusher. Does this mean the Eagles have already soured on Tapp?

No one from the Eagles has said anything to that effect, but you know that old saying about actions speaking ...

In case you haven't been following the Beast on Twitter, now's a good time to start. We've been tweeting and blogging throughout cutdown day. We should have some official news start to roll in at 6 p.m. ET, but we've already seen some interesting developments. Here are some nuggets and observations:

• As we reported today, the Eagles sent a seventh-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for defensive end Antwan Barnes. The Ravens have had a ton of success hitting on players in the fourth round, and Barnes was a nice player for them as an outside linebacker. He'll be a 251-pound defensive end for the Eagles. He'll immediately step into the rotation with Trent Cole and Brandon Graham. The rookie Graham will remain a starter and Barnes will likely be used as a pass-rushing specialist. A league source told me today that Moise Fokou and Daryl Tapp are safe. We'll see if that holds up.

• Our friends at ESPNDallas.com are predicting that rookie center Phil Costa, fullback Chris Gronkowski and safeties Barry Church and Danny McCray will all make the 53-man roster. The Cowboys have released guard Travis Bright, according to Calvin Watkins. They should have no trouble getting Bright onto the practice squad.

• In other Cowboys news, former SMU cornerback Bryan McCann has been informed that he'll be released. The Cowboys hope to sneak him through to the practice squad, but it will be tough. One team from the NFC and another from the AFC have already told me today that they have interest in McCann.

• Update: The Giants just made it official that second-year running back Andre Brown has been released. We'll see if they can get him through to the practice squad. I loved what he was doing during training camp, but he's been banged up in the preseason. Also the workaholic tight end Bear Pascoe has been released.

SAN ANTONIO -- Greetings from the world-famous Alamo, where tourists are biding their time before heading over to the Dallas Cowboys' first training camp practice at the poorly lit Alamodome. The NFC East blog aka The Beast will be there to cover all the action, but first, let's see what's going on around the division:

Cowboys

• Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com says the Cowboys are embracing Super Bowl talk.

• Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com talks about the kicking game and Spanish captain Hernando Cortes, one of Jerry Jones' favorite historical figures. MacMahon also had a blog item on how Dez Bryant's early arrival has given the Cowboys a lift.

• Tim Cowlishaw of ESPN's daytime TV lineup thinks that Jerry Jones has good reason to be optimistic about this team.
  

• One of our nation's top NBA writers, David Moore, says we're only 147 days away from the Super Bowl.
  

• Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys aren't shopping defensive end Marcus Spears.

• After stumping Jerry Jones with a Gene Michael question, Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News focused on Wade Phillips becoming a grandfather.

Eagles

• Mike Jensen and Ashley Fox say the Eagles aren't afraid to say goodbye.

• The Daily News' NFL reporter Paul Domowitch has the Cowboys and Chargers meeting in the Super Bowl. Domo also has some information regarding Donovan McNabb's contract status in Washington.

• Jonathan Tamari from the Inquirer says that Moise Fokou has been quite impressive this offseason.

• Les Bowen has a report on 1 AD (after Donovan).

Giants

• Terrell Thomas tells the Star-Ledger that he wants to make the Pro Bowl.

• I wonder how much longer Eli Manning will be the highest-paid member of his family.

• I may have forgotten to link to Andy Benoit's preview of the Giants on the New York Times Fifth Down Blog.

Redskins

• Matt Terl points out that Mike Shanahan doesn't want fans to temper their expectations for this year's Redskins.

• Mike Wise of the Post thinks that Shanahan should give Albert Haynesworth a shot at redemption.

• Bruce Allen says you shouldn't worry about Donovan McNabb's contract status.

PHILADELPHIA -- How much can one man overreact to a single OTA session? Well, we're about to find out. I've spent the past several hours observing and talking to Eagles players and administrators. You can read about my conversation with quarterback Kevin Kolb in Thursday's column. I also spent time with first-round pick Brandon Graham and general manager Howie Roseman. Tight end Brent Celek is next on the agenda. Now, here are some quick-hit observations after a day with the Eagles:

• It doesn't take long to realize which team the Eagles are gunning for in the NFC East. On one wall in his new office, Roseman has the Dallas Cowboys' depth chart posted. (Looks like Doug Free and Alex Barron are co-starters). Roseman says the Eagles aren't obsessing with the Cowboys, but those last two losses aren't far from his mind. For the record, he has the Saints' and Colts' depth charts posted next to the Cowboys'. "That's who we have to go through based on last season," said Roseman.
• Rookie safety Nate Allen looks a lot bigger than what I imagined. He's listed at 6-1, 210 pounds. And I'm told that he's beefing up as we speak. Roseman and coach Andy Reid love the fact that Allen played quarterback in high school and they believe he has the aptitude to make an immediate impact. Roseman expressed disappointment over Marlin Jackson's season-ending injury, but he added, "We didn't take a guy at No. 37 to be on the sideline. We drafted him there so that he could play immediately." Still, Roseman was watching film of a veteran safety who's currently on the street when I entered his office. The Eagles aren't planning to sign anyone immediately, but they'll be ready if someone else is injured.
• Former Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram, who is returning from an ACL tear, is an impressive looking player. He's been a little shaky with his hands, but he could be an enormous target for Kevin Kolb. When he opened up on one play down the seam, he appeared to have pretty good speed. I think having a second tight end to go along with the talented Celek would help the Eagles. Right now, the Redskins appear to have the best tandem in the division with Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
• Former Florida standout Riley Cooper doesn't look like a fifth-round pick. He was plucking throws from Kolb no matter where he put them, and he and Hank Baskett had excellent days. I'm told, though, that Jeremy Maclin put on a show Monday. He's added some muscle to his lanky frame and people within the organization believe he's about to make a similar leap to what DeSean Jackson did in his second season.
• Roseman headed me off at the pass before I could ask about Jackson's absence. He would only say that Jackson's had an excellent offseason and that this week's workouts were "voluntary." Kevin Kolb was very complimentary of Jackson, but he did note that his absence allowed a couple other receivers to flash this week. I asked Kolb if he knew Jackson was planning to skip this week. He paused and said, "I had an inclination." He added that he was sure Jackson had "a good explanation." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Jackson's absence wasn't related to concerns about his contract. But we haven't been given any other explanation.
• I had no clue it was this gorgeous in Philly in early June. If Reid could've guranteed Jackson this 78-degree weather, perhaps he wouldn't have retreated to Southern California, where's he reportedly spending the week.
• Baskett was the MVP of today's session. He made several tough catches in traffic, including an acrobatic play along the sideline with three defensive backs in the area. Kolb simply threw it up high and Baskett made a play.
• Speaking of Kolb, he's been remarkably sharp this week. He and Celek are close friends, and they've brought that chemistry to the field. He fired a pass down the middle of the field that Celek collected without ever having to break stride. There are going to be throws that Kolb doesn't make as well as Donovan McNabb, but he's showing excellent touch on passes in the middle of the field. And the fact that he's hitting his targets in stride will give them an opportunity to make plays. Kolb said he's never been a position before in which he had this many reliable targets. By the way, Jason Avant might be one of the most underrated players in the game. He catches everything, and he's capable of making the spectacular play as well.
• Former LSU running back Charles Scott has good quickness, but he'll have to work on his concentration. On a screen pass, he was looking upfield and dropped the ball.
• I still have my doubts about Moise Fokou as a starter at linebacker, but he was excellent in coverage Tuesday. He raced down the center of the field and broke up a pass to Celek 25 yards from the line of scrimmage. It was a big-time play and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was the first to rush over and congratulate him. Keep your eye on seventh-round pick Jamar Chaney out of Mississippi State. That's the one guy Roseman kept bringing up. The Eagles couldn't believe they were able to get him at that point in the draft. And so far, he looks like he belongs.
• The Eagles have made first-round pick Brandon Graham a highlight tape of some of the top defensive ends in the league who share his relatively small frame. He's become a big fan of Denver's Elvis Dumervil and he's trying to take some of his moves to the practice field. Graham already knows how to get leverage, but he's used to offensive tackles taking angles against him. He said it's been adjustment to face tackles who are dropping straight back. It's made it more difficult to turn the corner, so he's trying to refine his inside moves. Graham's calling his new move the "chop, dip and rip."
• With Asante Samuel absent this week and Ellis Hobbs sitting out team drills because of a neck injury, Dimitri Patterson and Joselio Hanson were the starting cornerbacks. Macho Harris also received plenty of reps at cornerback. And if you're looking for a darkhorse in training camp, check out the redemption of safety Quintin Demps. He was in the dog house with Reid last season, in part, because of his mouth. Now, he's taking a much more mature approach and I think he could earn some playing time. Former secondary coach Brian Stewart told me last season that Demps had immense potential, but he didn't take advantage of his opportunities. At this point, he's saying all the right things. And Roseman and Reid have both taken notice.
• This is my first time to attend an Eagles practice when Donovan McNabb wasn't present. Very strange to look out there and see Kolb running the show with the first team. But he doesn't seem fazed by all the hoopla surrounding the trade. You can sense how much respect he has from his teammates as he walks around the facility. Some of the rookies actually seem a little nervous around him, which is a bit odd given his lack of experience. But he sort of has a swagger to him that suggests he's ready for this challenge. I'll have a lot more on Kolb in Thursday's column. His college coach, Art Briles, dropped by to see him last week and gave him a few pointers on throwing to his right. Much, much more to come.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

Dallas Cowboys' offensive line: Obviously, there's a big question mark at left tackle with Doug Free taking over for Flozell Adams. Free did an excellent job at right tackle when Marc Colombo went down with a leg injury. But his only experience at left tackle came in an emergency situation against the Vikings in the playoffs. I actually think Free will be a solid left tackle, but it's not going to happen overnight. And no one's talking about the fact that Leonard Davis had a poor season at right guard by his standards. Throw in the fact that Colombo's returning from a serious injury and you have the makings of a shaky offensive line.

Now that Free's starting at left tackle, who's supposed to be the "swing" player who backs up both tackle spots? I posed that question to offensive line coach Hudson Houck recently and he sort of struggled for an answer. Pat McQuistan might be in the mix, but he's never really mastered any position. And Jerry Jones has been throwing out Montrae Holland's name. Good luck with that. There's also the scenario where Davis would move to one of the tackle spots if necessary.

The Cowboys have been incredibly fortunate with injuries the last few years, but they should not count on that trend to continue. Right now, the depth along the offensive line is a major issue.

Rising

Stewart Bradley, Eagles middle linebacker: I'm not sure we truly appreciated Bradley's immense talent until the Eagles were embarrassed in back-to-back games at Cowboys Stadium last season. He's the rare player who can take on enormous blockers and also match speedy tight ends and running backs in space. Bradley was on his way to becoming a perennial Pro Bowl player before his knee injury in last year's training camp. But by all accounts, he's not suffering any lingering affects from ACL surgery.

The late Jim Johnson loved Bradley because he was able to quickly diagnose what opposing teams were trying to accomplish. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott tried his best to patch together a defense last season, but without Bradley, the Eagles were in trouble from the start. There's a swagger that the former Nebraska player brings to the field. Everyone talks about the Eagles' youth movement, but Bradley's sort of an old soul.

His return should provide a huge boost and he'll make young players such as Moise Fokou feel a lot more comfortable. I know that safety Quintin Mikell felt all alone at times last season. With Bradley on the field, the Eagles' defense gets an automatic upgrade.

In addition to not having a suitable answer at safety, the situation at linebacker played a prominent role in the Eagles being overwhelmed by the Cowboys in back-to-back games at the end of last season. To be more specific, there was no one on the field capable of running with Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.

Now, the Eagles have gone a long way in addressing their immense needs at linebacker. The return of middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who was emerging as a star in the league before tearing his ACL in last year's training camp, should have a huge impact. His ability to cover tight ends and running backs in space gives the Eagles a much better shot against talented players such as Witten and Felix Jones.

For now, former seventh-round draft pick Moise Fokou is the starter at strongside linebacker, and former Lions first-round pick Ernie Sims is penciled in on the weak side. Fokou has reportedly added several pounds to his frame in an attempt to hold up against the run. Sims received praise from second-year defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for his approach to the recent minicamp.

"There's a shark in the water right now, and that's Ernie Sims," McDermott told reporters over the weekend.

The Eagles will also work rookies Ricky Sapp and Keenan Clayton into the mix. But let's not confuse all these bodies with quality depth just yet. The only proven talent at linebacker is Bradley, and we still need to see how he responds to the knee injury once everyone is in pads. Fokou was a pleasant surprise last season, but we haven't seen him perform as a starter on a consistent basis.

And then there's Sims. I think he'll be a much better fit in McDermott's defense than Jim Schwartz's in Detroit. Schwartz prefers bigger linebackers who can shed blocks. The Eagles prefer smaller, quicker players who can avoid blockers and make tons of tackles (or at least it appears that way to the naked eye). Sims will have an opportunity to reclaim his promising career. The good thing is that he was considered an excellent leader for the Lions. He simply was a better fit in the previous regime's scheme.

If Bradley's 100 percent after the injury, which we believe he is, the Eagles automatically receive an enormous upgrade. But I'm still a little worried about Fokou and Sims as the other starters. Anyone else share that concern?

Please let me know in the "comments" section, where I spend "hours" each day.

The Eagles are stockpiling undersized upfield defensive ends at an alarming rate this offseason. It started with the trade for Darryl Tapp, a deal in which they shipped out a player with the same skill set in Chris Clemons, though they clearly upgraded in the process. They also added a relative unknown in Alex Hall, who fits this mold as well.

But in the draft, it got a little bit crazy. The Eagles paid a premium price to move up in the first round to select Brandon Graham, a tremendous pass-rusher who many thought could play outside linebacker in an odd front. Obviously the Eagles are expecting a lot from Graham, and I see him as one of the most NFL-ready players in this draft class. He should pay immediate dividends. But the Eagles didn’t stop there. They selected Daniel Te'o-Nesheim in the third round and Ricky Sapp in the fifth. All three of them are edge players who are a little light to play a traditional 4-3 defensive end spot, but have upfield ability. How all these players will specifically fit in is pretty much an unknown at this point, but there are plenty of options.

The Eagles are a diverse defense that loves having versatile players with speed. Their previous strongside linebacker, Chris Gocong, was a defensive end in college and fit this mold. But now they are looking for more of a dynamic playmaker at that position and are hoping that someone from this large group steps up. Moise Fokou is a pretty solid outside linebacker but doesn’t offer the potential as a pass-rusher that the newly acquired defenders do. Plus, I would think the Eagles want Fokou to move to the weak side to compete with newly acquired Ernie Sims, which would be a better fit for Fokou.

Trent Cole fit a similar mold coming out of college and many projected him as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Now he is a fixture at right defensive end in Philadelphia and frankly, one of the most underrated players in football. At left defensive end, the Eagles have preferred to use a heavier player -- more of a true 4-3 base end, such as Juqua Parker and Victor Abiamiri. But they are not limited to that. In essence, there are three positions in the Eagles’ base defense in which players such as the ones we are referring to can contribute -- and quite possibly thrive. Graham very well could take over the starting left end spot by opening day.

Also, having so many players with pass-rushing ability on the roster gives the Eagles a lot of personnel options on third down. They can bring in several of these players and confuse an offense’s protection schemes by keeping them all mobile pre-snap in two-point stances. This type of player can be very valuable in all facets of special teams as well.

While Philadelphia may have gone a little bit overboard with their recent acquisitions of smaller defensive end types, it is hard to be overly critical of having an abundance of young pass-rushers with the potential to develop. And this is a team that has shown that it knows how to use such defenders quite well. The Eagles’ run defense was stellar last season, but now this heavy-blitz scheme needs to get back to wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The late Jim Johnson would be proud of what Philadelphia has done with its roster to make that happen and it surely was done very much in his lasting image.

» NFC Recent History: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Recent history.

Dallas Cowboys

One of the reasons the Cowboys don't have any glaring needs (other than place-kicker) is that they hit on some picks in '07 and '08. And of course, you can't discount what Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland accomplished in stocking this team with talent from 2003 to 2006. Owner Jerry Jones has spent a lot of his money on defense, and in the first round in '07 he turned to Purdue outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, who was brilliant down the stretch in '09. In 2008, the Cowboys found a running back and a cornerback in the first round. Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins could both be stars in the league for years. Because of the Roy Williams trade in '08, the '09 draft was pretty much a wash. The Cowboys tried to land special-teams standouts who could hopefully play their way into larger roles. Other than kickoff specialist David Buehler, the '09 draft is still a mystery. With the 27th pick in next month's draft, the Cowboys don't have to reach for any position. I know they're hoping to see a couple of cornerbacks slip in the first round and it would be nice to add a linebacker. But there are no glaring needs heading into the draft, and that puts Dallas in an enviable position. But if you study trends over the past seven years or so, you'd have to expect the Cowboys to go with a defensive player in the first round.

New York Giants

The Giants can't rest on their laurels of that outstanding class of '07. When you land a quality running back such as Ahmad Bradshaw in the seventh round, you're on a roll. And general manager Jerry Reese will always be remembered for a class that included Aaron Ross, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss. It was an immediate impact draft, and the Giants need another one in April. In '08, the Giants took a safety and cornerback with their first two picks. Safety Kenny Phillips out of Miami has the talent to become a Pro Bowler if he can recover from a serious knee injury, and cornerback Terrell Thomas was one of the few defenders who played well in '08. The Giants selected wide receiver Mario Manningham in the third round, but the '08 draft was about creating depth on defense. It's hard to nail down a trend with Reese and his scouting staff because they're pretty patient about waiting for the right players. They rarely get obsessed with a certain position, although linebacker is certainly a big need in April. I expect the Giants to stay right where they are at No. 15 and select a talented player. But I promise you that Reese hasn't committed to taking a linebacker.

Philadelphia Eagles

In the 2007 draft, the Eagles drafted their future (presumably) quarterback in Kevin Kolb. Then they landed starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley in the third round and superb tight end Brent Celek in the fifth. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri has never really lived up to his second-round status and running back Tony Hunt was an outright bust from the start. The Eagles tried to bolster their defensive line in '08, but Trevor Laws has been a disappointment and Bryan Smith is nowhere to be found. The draft was saved by a wide receiver out of Cal named DeSean Jackson. He's become one of the most feared offensive players in the game. The Eagles continued to covet speed and quickness on offense in '09 by drafting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. They also hit on late-round pick Moise Fokou, who could emerge as an outstanding special-teams player -- if he'll stop getting penalties. The Eagles haven't done enough in the draft to bolster their secondary over the past three years. It's time to start drafting cornerbacks and safeties a little earlier. Macho Harris and Quintin Demps have been decent finds, but you can't just throw them out there as starters. It's time for the Eagles to use premium picks on the defensive side of the ball if they want to close the gap with the Cowboys. To be clear, it's time to find someone who can cover Jason Witten and Miles Austin.

Washington Redskins

With new coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen, this organization is headed in a different direction. We haven't seen any of the splashy moves in free agency that owner Dan Snyder loved. In the past, the Redskins rarely had a lot of picks in the draft. They took safety LaRon Landry in '07, but he's never really met expectations. He obviously has a lot of physical gifts but his habit of biting on double moves gets the Skins in big trouble. In '08, Snyder and Vinny Cerrato turned to the offensive side of the ball and spent their three second-round picks on two receivers and a tight end. The verdict's still out on the '08 draft, but tight end Fred Davis emerged as a consistent threat when Chris Cooley was injured last season. And Devin Thomas has rare speed and quickness as a wideout. Now, he needs to continue showing maturity. With the addition of pass-rusher Brian Orakpo in '09, the Redskins landed a Pro Bowl player. Now it's time to start drafting offensive and defensive linemen. That's the trend that stands out over the past decade. The Redskins didn't build in the trenches, and they've paid the price. With the No. 4 pick, Shanahan will be tempted to take a left tackle. Especially if Sam Bradford's already gone. And it's hard to go wrong with either Russell Okung or Bryan Bulaga.

» NFC Busts/Gems: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Busts and late-round gems.

Dallas Cowboys

From a bust standpoint, let me offer up the '09 draft class. But that's not completely fair because the class was pretty much wiped out by injuries last season. The one unquestionable gem is USC kickoff specialist David Buehler. Some of us laughed when the Cowboys spent a sixth-round pick on a player who wasn't supposed to compete for the place-kicking job. But Buehler led the league in touchbacks and participated on the punt and kick return units. Another gem is 2008 fourth-round pick Tashard Choice. When offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has gotten him on the field, Choice has produced in a big way. In 2008, he appeared to be the most complete back on the roster at times. From a bust standpoint, go back to the '07 draft and look at third-round pick James Marten out of Boston College. You could tell pretty quickly that Marten wasn't a player. And in the fourth round of that same draft, the Cowboys got cute in taking former University of Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback to play wide receiver. Stanback was a shoulder injury waiting to happen and he didn't take advantage of numerous opportunities.

New York Giants

They'll be talking about the '07 draft for years. The Giants have four starters from that class and they found the ultimate gem in seventh-rounder Ahmad Bradshaw. The former Marshall running back had some off-the-field issues that caused him to plummet in the draft, but he was a valuable part of the Giants' march to the Super Bowl in '07. The Giants also landed cornerback Aaron Ross (first), wide receiver Steve Smith (second) and tight end Kevin Boss (fifth) in that draft. And don't forget about starting safety Michael Johnson (seventh). That's the draft that put new general manager Jerry Reese on the map. In '08, the Giants were able to land starting safety Kenny Phillips late in the first round and Terrell Thomas late in the second. Phillips appeared to be on his way to stardom but a season-ending knee injury in '09 has tempered those expectations. Thomas was forced into a starting position in '09 and performed admirably. We're still waiting to find out what mid-round picks Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff turn out to be. Those guys aren't really gems or busts. The verdict's still out on 2009 second-round pick Clint Sintim. Certainly not a bust, but he needs to show something this season. And for all the time we spent bragging on Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden, the guy couldn't get on the field. If he can't get on the field in 2010, he'll be trending toward bust status. North Carolina State running back Andre Brown had gem potential, but he suffered a season-ending injury in training camp.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles found two gems in the '07 draft. Stewart Bradley is a quality starting middle linebacker who was selected in the third round and the Eagles took Pro Bowl-worthy tight end Brent Celek in the fifth round. The two players have become close friends and they're a huge part of the Eagles' future. In fact, Philly has already signed Celek to a contract extension. From a bust standpoint, the Eagles wasted a pick on Penn State running back Tony Hunt in '07. It's hard to believe that they took Hunt in the third round. And it's not as if Victor Abiamiri has been some type of standout second-round pick. Obviously, we're still waiting to see what becomes of the Eagles' top pick in '07, Kevin Kolb. In '08, the Eagles landed DeSean Jackson in the second round. But two picks before Jackson, they selected defensive tackle Trevor Laws. So there's your boom and bust scenario. The rest of that class is pretty forgettable. Fourth-round selection Quintin Demps has been serviceable, but I wouldn't refer to him as a hidden gem or anything. From the '09 class, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy were excellent value picks. They should both be a huge part of the offense for several years. Moise Fokou was a gem in the seventh round. He has the potential to be a special-teams standout and he eventually cracked the starting lineup, although that was predicated by a string of injuries. Still, it's obvious the Eagles like Fokou. He's constantly around the ball.

Washington Redskins

The '07 draft was pretty much a waste of time. The Redskins barely had any picks, but they did manage to select safety LaRon Landry sixth overall. The tragic loss of Sean Taylor meant that Landry had to become the main man at safety. He wasn't ready for that type of responsibility and he's never really lived up to his immense potential. We'll see if Jim Haslett can help him reach the next level. In the second round of the '08 draft, the Skins took wide receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. Neither player has really distinguished himself, although Thomas took some important steps in '09. Kelly won the starting job coming out of training camp, but he didn't do anything with it. Sandwiched between those two picks was former USC tight end Fred Davis. He came on strong in '09 once Chris Cooley was lost to injury. It looks like Davis will be a player. Thomas and Kelly could go either way. Unless there's a dramatic change this offseason, third-round pick Chad Rinehart will be a bust at guard. Seventh-round pick Chris Horton was a great story early in 2008, but his star has faded a bit. Until he reclaims his starting safety spot, it's hard to call him a gem. The '09 draft was another one-hit wonder. It looks like first-round pick Brian Orakpo will be a perennial Pro Bowler. He's an excellent pass-rusher and I think he'll flourish in Haslett's 3-4 scheme. No one else in the class stood out.

It's been more than a month since the Eagles' season ended in Arlington, Texas, but we've been able to mention the Donovan McNabb situation on a daily basis. It's one of the most compelling storylines of the NFL offseason, but it's not the most important issue the organization is facing.

If the Eagles don't fix their defense, it really won't matter whether it's McNabb or Kevin Kolb behind center. I've already ruled out Michael Vick as the starter despite at least one report that the Eagles are just dying to pay the man his $5 million in 2010. (Since Vick is hosting at least seven NBA All-Star parties in Dallas this weekend, I'll try to catch up with him.)

The Eagles failed spectacularly in December and early January, in part, because they had no answers for Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Jason Witten and Felix Jones. You can blame it on the departure of Brian Dawkins, a season-ending injury to middle linebacker Stewart Bradley or the death of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. But the Eagles weren't the only team in the league to face adversity in '09.

The club can't afford to obsess about the quarterback position this offseason at the expense of the rest of the roster. There's simply too much work to be done on defense. Eagles president Joe Banner told the club's Web site earlier this week that he didn't think the gap between the Eagles and Cowboys was as wide as those final two games indicated. And that sort of sentiment should scare the hell out of Eagles fans.

Sean McDermott's defense had no hope against the Cowboys because there was not a single player who could match up with Witten. Assigning linebackers such as Will Witherspoon and Moise Fokou to cover Witten is an absolute farce. Even if the Eagles accounted for Witten, it just opened things up for Austin and Crayton across the middle.

The return of Bradley will certainly help the Eagles' cause but this defense isn't one player away from making noise in the playoffs. Everyone wants to talk about letting Dawkins get away, but I'd argue that the lack of depth at cornerback is just as big of an issue. You have to admire Sheldon Brown for playing through pain on numerous occasions, but that doesn't cancel out the fact that he was a liability at times.

Asante Samuel will always go to Pro Bowls based on his gaudy interception totals -- and those are important. But Samuel's reluctance to make contact with ball carriers will continue to be a sore spot with coaches and fans. Let's not act like Samuel's a so-called shut-down corner. I'm pretty sure Deion Sanders was the last man to fulfill that role. Samuel is one of the biggest gamblers in the game, which makes the Eagles susceptible to the big play (Austin on the sideline).

I know it's fashionable to talk about taking the "best player available" in the draft, but the Eagles better make sure that player can cover a wide receiver. Who do you guys trust in the Eagles' secondary? I still think Quintin Mikell's a quality player, but he was exposed when he had to line up next to inferior talent.

I think the Eagles would be wise to either trade for a veteran safety or find one in free agency, like the Cowboys did with Gerald Sensabaugh last March. Sean Jones certainly wasn't the answer last offseason and Quintin Demps is firmly entrenched in Andy Reid's doghouse. I think it's extremely difficult to ask a rookie to make an immediate impact at the safety position because of its complexities.

The Eagles were so desperate in the secondary at one point this season that they signed a former Mr. Irrelevant who couldn't stick with the Detroit Lions. I would identify the best two or three cornerbacks in this draft and try to get one of them at No. 24. I know you're not exactly set along the offensive line but teams such as the Colts (and even the Eagles) have shown that you can find starters in the later rounds.

Then there's this little thing about finding another pressure player to take some heat off defensive end Trent Cole. And for the record, I don't think it would be wise to dump a bunch of free-agent money into signing Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who might be asking for Albert Haynesworth money, which sounds ludicrous to me. Haynesworth, who is a couple years younger than Peppers, signed a contract that included $41 million in guaranteed money.

There's no chance I'd make that type of commitment to Peppers, who had 10.5 sacks for a bad Panthers team in '09. The Eagles spent roughly $30 million on defensive end Jevon Kearse before finally cutting their losses following the '07 season. Kearse was younger than Peppers when he arrived in Philly and he was an enormous disappointment even before a season-ending knee injury in 2006.

The ubiquitous scout turned broadcaster/writer Mike Lombardi has suggested the Eagles trading backup quarterback Kevin Kolb for Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. And isn't a 31-year-old defensive tackle with a checkered past exactly what the Eagles need to finally win a Super Bowl?

No, I'm afraid there won't be a lot of shortcuts available in trying to catch up with Wade Phillips and the Cowboys. Andy Reid and his new boy wonder general manager Howie Roseman are going to have to close the gap via the draft. The Eagles have obviously hit big on offensive players such as DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin in recent drafts.

Now, they desperately need to rebuild a defense that seemed to become old and slow overnight. Or maybe you agree with Banner in that those two blowouts at the end of the season were an aberration.