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ASHBURN, Va. -- One of the most common criticisms of Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan is that he's a slave to his own offensive "system," and more interested in finding players who fit that system than in finding the best possible players and constructing a system around them. Shanahan has heard this criticism, and when I brought it up in my interview with him last week, this is what he had to say about it:

"It's kind of funny, because when I had Steve Young and we had to run a West Coast offense [in San Francisco], and Steve was so much different than Joe Montana, you know, it was different. And then [John] Elway -- Elway didn't want to run the five-step drop. We were in a shotgun formation all the time. He hated the West Coast offense of three- and five-step drops, so with John it was a seven-step drop and a lot of shotgun. And then we wind up getting a guy like Jake Plummer, and of course Jake... totally different. He had to be outside the pocket, all those quarterback keeps, boots, none of the drop-back, none of the seven-step drop. He was good on the run, good on the play action, but the drop-back wasn't his game.

"So what you've always got to do is, whatever quarterback you have, you adjust your system to your players. The one thing I think I have been categorized with is the zone blocking scheme. People say, 'Oh, he loves the zone blocking scheme.' So I think I've been stereotyped there, relative to the running game. But in the passing game, if people look at what we've done in different places, they're gong to say, 'Oh, he adjusts the passing game to the quarterback.' Like with Rex [Grossman]. You can't run quarterback keeps with Rex, but you can do it with John [Beck]. So whatever somebody can do, you try to adjust accordingly."

Omar from Washington, D.C., sent in several questions for Shanahan last week, and one of the ones I used was about his relationship with his son, Kyle, who is his offensive coordinator. Omar wanted to know what Mike Shanahan thought of the criticism Kyle receives and how he feels his son has progressed in the role.

Mike Shanahan: "The important thing is that your coordinator knows what he's doing. Until you see a coordinator in meetings, or how he runs the meeting ... you're not really sure until you see him under the gun -- running game, passing game, installation of the run, installation of the pass, how he shows film, how he relates to the team. So that's where it's been very ... I shouldn't say a surprise, but it's natural for him, and it's easy to see that he understands the game. He can handle himself in any meeting, and until you see that as a coach, you just don't know, especially when it's your son. But he was very natural at that right away, so I became very comfortable with him, because I knew he knew what he was doing."

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I told Shanahan that I often get questions from fans about whether Kyle will be fired, and that I generally respond to them by pointing out that Kyle's father is his boss and that a firing is therefore unlikely. He seemed to agree with my assessment, but here's what he had to say about the criticisms and the coaching staff in general:

MS: "I think what I've always been able to do is look at things very objectively in terms of where we're at. So when somebody says, 'Hey, your offense sucks,' I go, 'Hey, wait a minute. You look at my body of work over the last 27 years, we're No. 1.' And we’re going to continue to be up there. And I also know what it takes to have a good offense, in terms of coaches and personnel, and we're gong to get there, on both sides of it. And if I have a bad coach, I'm going to make changes, and if I don’t have the right personnel, I'm going to make changes. And we're going to get that thing fixed the right way."

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Wendell Washington from Landover, Md., wanted me to ask the elder Shanahan about Redskins owner Dan Snyder -- specifically, whether Snyder has bought into Shanahan's belief that the way to build a long-term winner is through the draft rather than free agency and is sticking to his promise to let Shanahan do it his way.

MS: "Oh yeah, he's been very good. He's been very good letting me do it the way you want to do it. Been very supportive. I said to him, 'If you don’t count on me being here five years, you shouldn't sign me. Because this isn't going to happen overnight. We've got a lot of work to do. This is an older football team.' But he's been good."

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Later on, though, I asked what impact the fact of his 11-21 record in his first two seasons as Redskins coach has on his faith that he's building the team the right way.

MS: "You just know that you've got two more years to get the job done, because they never let you go through the five years. You get it done in four years or you're gone. But that's what I love about this profession -- the pressure of it, what goes with it. The thing that I enjoy is that I've got an owner that's going to give me a chance to be successful. And if I can't get it done in four years, even though I've got a five-year contract, then I shouldn't be here."

We're going to do this every day until I run out of stuff. Thanks again for your help with the interview, and I hope you're enjoying what we've got out of it so far.

LANDOVER, Md. -- These games between the Cowboys and Redskins are never pretty. It's always quirky, close and in some cases heartbreaking.

The Cowboys can go home happy thanks to a 27-24 victory at FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon. Dallas has won a season-high three games and moved to a season-high two games over .500.

What it means: The Cowboys have six wins and are just a half-game behind the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East. If the Giants lose Sunday night vs. the Eagles, there will be a first-place tie. This win for the Cowboys is just another example of how gritty this team is.

Bailey wins it: Dan Bailey converted his 24th consecutive field goal attempt to win it, a 39-yarder with 5:39 remaining in overtime. Bailey hasn't missed a kick since his 21-yarder in Week 2 at San Francisco. Just before the game winner, the Redskins called timeout, but quarterback Tony Romo, who is the holder, called timeout as well. The Cowboys had no timeouts left. If the referees had seen Romo make the call first, the Cowboys would have been charged with a 15-yard penalty.

Missed kick for Washington: Kicker Graham Gano had a chance to win it for the Redskins but was wide right from 52 yards with 9:27 left in overtime. The miss set up the Cowboys' chance to win the game.

Cowboys' defense can't hold the lead: It appeared the Cowboys' defense was going to stop the Redskins after the offense had taken a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. But it was not to be. Donte' Stallworth made a clutch catch in the corner of the end zone over Alan Ball with 14 seconds to play that tied the game at 24-24. There was a clutch play by Marcus Spears on a pass breakup inside the 5, a hit by Jason Hatcher on another pass play and a tackle for loss by Anthony Spencer, but there was an Orlando Scandrick holding call on third down.

Witten responds: He didn't have any catches in the first half, but tight end Jason Witten responded with a strong second half. He ended the day with three catches for 85 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown. Romo spun out of the pocket and found Witten at the Redskins' 35 with a long pass. Witten outran the speedy DeAngelo Hall for a 59-yard touchdown reception. The touchdown with 8:48 to play in the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys a 24-17 lead.

Jones' day: Felix Jones made his return to the active roster after missing four games with a left high-ankle sprain. Jones finished with five carries for 18 yards and one catch for 4 yards. DeMarco Murray got the bulk of the carries on the day with 25 for 73 yards. There was a thought Jones would return kicks, something he practiced this past week, but he didn't.

What's next: On Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys will take on the hot Miami Dolphins and their three-game winning streak. The Dolphins started the season 0-7. Ex-Cowboys Kevin Burnett, Marc Colombo and Anthony Fasano are on the Dolphins' roster.

The Dallas Cowboys have announced that fullback Tony Fiammetta will miss Sunday's game with an illness, though they haven't said what the illness is that has affected him all week.

Obviously, Fiammetta's health is the most important thing, but in the smaller context of Sunday's game against the Redskins, his absence is likely to be felt. As Tim MacMahon points out in that link up there, the Cowboys are averaging 61.2 more rushing yards per game this season when Fiammetta plays than when he doesn't, and his insertion into the lineup coincided with that of tailback DeMarco Murray, who has rushed for 601 yards over the past four games. Fiammetta has been a quiet but important part of what the Cowboys have been able to do on offense over the past month, and Murray certainly sounds as though he'll miss him:

"He's kinda like the cleanup guy," Murray said. "He makes his blocks. If there's any trash he’ll clean it up and get on to his block. He's a smart guy, he knows the game really well."

Murray has used a fullback in high school and in his last year at Oklahoma, so he likes having one lead for him because it gives him time to find holes.

"Huge, he’s been a very, very important factor in the running game," Murray said. "He's a great player, a great person and he’s definitely a vital part of our success."

Something to watch Sunday in a game the Cowboys certainly should win anyway against the depleted Redskins, but which could be tougher than expected if they're unable to run the ball the way they have been lately.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Of course Eli Manning knows which quarterback's 208-gamer is the longest active consecutive-games streak in the NFL. That would be his big brother, Peyton, and you don't have to be a member of the Manning family to have heard something about that streak coming to an end this weekend.

But when pressed on it Wednesday, Eli Manning said he didn't know what the second-longest active consecutive-games streak by an NFL quarterback is. Which was hard to believe, because it's a 103-game streak by Eli himself.

"I don't know what my number is," the New York Giants' quarterback said after Wednesday's practice. "You try to be out there every week on the field with your teammates. It's not something that I'm keeping track of."

Eli's durability currently stands him in almost comical contrast to the rest of his team. Since the start of training camp, the defense has lost four cornerbacks, two linebackers and defensive end Osi Umenyiora to injury. One of the cornerbacks, Terrell Thomas, was a starter, as was linebacker Jonathan Goff, and both are gone for the season. Defensive injuries became the dominant Giants storyline in the second half of the preseason, after the story in the first half was the number of key players they'd lost on offense in free agency.

With all of that going on, Eli Manning and his remarkable durability become more important than ever. The Giants enter this season with the thinnest roster they've ever given head coach Tom Coughlin. And if they're going to overcome that, they're going to need the people on whom they really count to play at the highest possible level for them. Coughlin believes Manning to be such a person, and that the consecutive-games streak shows it.

"It means he's been able to display toughness and competitiveness," Coughlin said. "One week, he was out all week with a shoulder injury and he still played. He has that desire and he has that toughness, both physical and mental. He said the first time he walked into my office that he wanted to be the quarterback of this team and the leader of this team, and he has demonstrated that consistently."

For some reason, outside the organization, Manning takes a lot of grief. There's a perception among fans, Giants and otherwise, that he's somehow not as good as he should be. And the consensus public opinion surely diverged with his own last month when he said that thing about considering himself an "elite" quarterback and in Tom Brady's class. The 25 interceptions he threw last season obviously don't help the outside perception, and he knows that. But lost among the criticism is the fact that Manning is under center for his team every single week, no matter what.

"You try to work hard during the offseason, prevent the pulls, those things can be prevented a little bit," Manning said. "Also, I'm not running as much as a lot of these guys and doing as much cutting. The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. But if you get a little injury, like an index finger or a thumb that most people can play with, sometimes you can't. I've stayed away from some of those."

It's not just that Manning never misses a game. He also happens to perform at a very high level. He makes no trouble for the organization off the field. He puts an excellent face on one of the league's proudest franchises. He's looked at without question as the leader of the team by everyone in the locker room. More than half the teams in the league would be happy to swap their quarterback situations for Manning straight-up, right this minute. The Giants are, in fact, playing such a team Sunday.

"Eli is an excellent quarterback," Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "But one of the things about being a quarterback in this league: If you don't take your team to the playoffs there will always be some questions. When you don't make the playoffs, people are going to look at the quarterback, and that's just the nature of this business. But I think Eli showed everybody with what he did in the Super Bowl, and I'm sure he'll get back to that type of play."

The Giants need him to, if they're to have any hope of making the playoffs for the first time in three years. Injuries have ravaged their defense. The salary cap inhibited them in free agency. They are, very simply, not as strong or as deep a roster as we have come to expect the Giants to be. But they still have Pro Bowl-caliber players on whom they can rely -- players like Justin Tuck and Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw, to name a few. And at quarterback, they have Eli Manning, who's been there for them for 103 straight games and counting. More than ever, as the 2011 season dawns, they're counting on him now.

I get Terrelle Pryor questions. I get them from Eagles fans and Redskins fans, mainly, though one Cowboys fan who's down on Tony Romo (still don't get that, by the way) did ask recently. I don't hear Pryor from Giants fans, and I'm not sure why but I hope it's because Giants fans realize their team is set at both quarterback and receiver and therefore have no use for a project like Pryor, talented though he may be.

In fact, of all the teams in the NFC East, the only one I think should even think about taking a shot on Pryor with a late-round supplemental draft pick is the one that has major questions, present and future, at both the quarterback and the wide receiver position: The Washington Redskins.

This occurred to me while reading this excellent K.C. Joyner analysis of Pryor's NFL prospects. Joyner says that a critical factor in trying to gauge risk vs. reward when evaluating college players is tracking improvement in big-game performance throughout their college careers. Cam Newton, he says, showed this, playing his best in the biggest games this past fall and winter for Auburn. Pryor, he says, showed quite the opposite, coming up small in big games against tough competition. Pryor's passer rating in games against Top 30 teams in 2009 was 125.75. In 2010, it dropped to 114.25. Against non-top-30 teams it was 138.61 in 2009 and 189.67. As Joyner writes:

To add more perspective to this decline, consider that in 2009-10, Pryor had 14 games against teams that ended the season with a winning record. He reached or topped his freshman 8.3 YPA average in only four of those games.

What's even worse about these totals is the fact this wasn't an unknown factor for Pryor last season. He was taken to task for his subpar showings in big games the week before the Wisconsin game, yet still went out and posted an 89.66 passer rating, a total that was easily the lowest of his season and the second-lowest of his career.

Having an exceptionally poor stat line in what may have been the most important game on the Buckeyes' 2010 schedule pretty much ended Pryor's Heisman Trophy candidacy, and called into question his ability to step up during crunch time.

When it is combined with the entirety of his mediocre big-game performances over the past two years, it shows why his best route to landing on an NFL roster may be via changing to the wide receiver position.

The point, then, is that Pryor is going to be a project no matter what position he ends up playing in the NFL. If you love his physical ability and think you can coach a quarterback out of him, maybe he's worth a late-round flyer. If you love his physical ability and think you can coach a wide receiver out of him, same deal. But each of those "if"s comes with significant risk if your roster only provides Pryor that one avenue.

If, however, you're a team that has openings, short- and long-term, at both quarterback and receiver -- and if you love Pryor's physical ability and think you can coach something out of him -- then that risk might be a little more worthwhile. Which is why, of the four teams in this division, the only one that should look Pryor's way is the Redskins.

Welcome to part five in our very popular (at least here on the NFC East blog) position-by-position look at four-year unrestricted free agency and its possible impact on NFC East teams. (We're really going to have to figure out a catchier name ...)

We'll look now at the safety position. The Redskins managed to address safety pre-lockout by signing O.J. Atogwe. And while the Giants are likely to lose Deon Grant, they appear set at the position with Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle and aren't as likely to use three safeties as much this year after taking cornerback Prince Amukamara in the first round of the draft. But the other two teams in the division could be looking for safety help, although to different degrees.

NFC East teams in need

Cowboys: Even if they do bring back Gerald Sensabaugh, they'll need to find a safety to replace Alan Ball, who's slated to move back to his backup cornerback role. And if Sensabaugh finds employment elsewhere, Dallas will need to find two safeties on the market. The need at this position could be the biggest factor that prevents the Cowboys from signing star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. If they got him, they'd have to fix safety on the cheap.

Eagles: In spite of his popularity among fans and in the locker room, veteran strong safety Quintin Mikell appears to be out in Philadelphia. Philly is planning to go with second-year man Nate Allen at the free safety spot and could, theoretically, start Kurt Coleman at the other. But since neither seems like a sure thing, it's probably a good idea for the Eagles to at least look around for free-agent help.

UPDATE, 3:40 pm: As our first commenter points out below, rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett should have been mentioned here. I'd add him to the "not a sure thing" group with Coleman and Allen, since I don't think they view him as a starter in 2011. But the presence of Jarrett and Allen along with Coleman could, indeed, lessen the Eagles' desire to commit long-term to a free-agent safety.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent safeties

1. Eric Weddle. The total package. Hits hard, tackles, plays the run well and is capable of making the big interception and running it back. The Chargers will make keeping him a priority, and if he hits the open market he's likely in line for a very big contract. Probably too rich for the Eagles' blood, but he'd qualify as a big splash for the Cowboys if they aren't in on Nnamdi.

2. Dawan Landry. Playing opposite Ed Reed in Baltimore, Landry has been overshadowed. But he's improved every year in his coverage ability and has always been strong against the run. The Ravens are likely to let him go. Could be great in Philly or with the Cowboys, who could easily slide Sensabaugh to free safety if Landry came in to play the strong safety spot.

3. Danieal Manning. He turned down an extension offer from the Bears just before the lockout, and as one of the players who was caught in the restricted free-agent trap imposed by last season's uncapped rules, he's looking for a pay day. Might appeal to the Eagles for his ability to handle kick-return duties as well as start at safety.

4. Michael Huff. Came up with four sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles for the Raiders in 2010. He's going to draw enough interest that the Raiders won't be able to keep him. Multiple reports have indicated he's high on the Cowboys' wish list.

5. Mikell. There's also been some talk in Dallas of pouncing on Mikell, should the Eagles let him go, as a means of getting over on a division rival. But Mikell, while older than anyone else on this list, could bring a leadership element to Dallas that the team could use as it works to recover from its disappointing 2010 season.

Predictions that mean nothing: Cowboys sign Huff, Eagles look further down the list (Abe Elam? Atari Bigby? Roman Harper? There are lots of options.) as they pursue Asomugha for cornerback and address front-seven needs on defense.

We continue our position-by-position look at four-year unrestricted free agency and its potential impact on the NFC East teams and their plans. The fourth in our series will focus on the guard position, where, even with top guy Logan Mankins franchised by the Patriots, there are a number of good options available.

NFC East teams in need

Cowboys: Left guard Kyle Kosier is on the list below, and the Cowboys will make an effort to bring him back. But even if they do, they could cut ties with Leonard Davis at the right guard spot, and unless they think Montrae Holland or one of their late-round draft picks is ready to start there, they will be on the hunt for free-agent help.

Giants: Yeah, we've gone round and round on this topic. And if everyone's healthy, the Giants are fine at guard with Chris Snee and Rich Seubert. But if center Shaun O'Hara falters, Seubert moves in there and they could stand to add some depth. They've discussed moving left tackle David Diehl back inside, which could answer some of these concerns.

Redskins: They like the progress Kory Lichtensteiger showed on the left side last year, but if they're not convinced Will Montgomery and/or Artis Hicks can handle the right guard spot, Washington could be looking for a more established starter there.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent guards

1. Harvey Dahl. Most likely to stay in Atlanta, but he's a fearsome run blocker who would help in Dallas if they decided to commit to the run. Also a natural guard who could help the Redskins move Montgomery to center if Casey Rabach falters and they need to do that. The Falcons also have another solid guard, Justin Blalock, who would be unrestricted under the proposed new rules, so they may have to make a choice.

2. Davin Joseph. Loaded with talent and potential, but he's had some injury issues (including last season's broken foot) that could lead the Buccaneers to part ways with him and give other teams pause before signing him.

3. Daryn Colledge. He's got a Super Bowl ring, which will catch teams' attention if the Packers decide they have enough depth to let him go.

4. Kosier. Getting up there in years, but he's an important player for the Cowboys to re-sign because they like the way he worked with rising star Doug Free on the left side and would rather not break up that pairing.

5. Marshal Yanda. He played right tackle for most of 2010 in Baltimore in place of the injured Jared Gaither, but he's got experience at guard too. That kind of versatility -- the ability to play any spot along the line at a starter's level -- should have widespread appeal. He'd be a perfect guy for the Giants if they're looking to add reliable depth but don't feel they have a specific spot that needs filling.

Predictions that mean nothing: Cowboys re-sign Kosier but let go of Davis and pursue another free-agent option, such as Joseph. Redskins sign Yanda to play either right guard or right tackle. Giants do nothing.

It's the last day of school in our town, and I have a first-grader (soon to be second-grader, as he would point out) absolutely bouncing off the walls in here. It's funny to recall what an awesome day this was when you were a kid, even as you cope with how frightening a day it is now that you're a parent. So many questions. How is he this old already? What will we do to keep him busy all summer? Don't we really need to be saving more for college? What does he think about what's going on with the teams in the NFC East?

Fortunately, to help with that last part, we can offer links.

Dallas Cowboys

Apparently, new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan made an impression on the Cowboys' defensive players during the brief pre-lockout time he had to talk to them about the new defense. "It's crazy," linebacker Victor Butler said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "You've got d-linemen lining up at the free safety spot. I'd love to see Jay Ratliff line up where Alan Ball is. It sounds crazy but when you get out there and run it it makes a lot of sense. I am super excited. I was hoping for [organized team activities]. That's how excited I was. Nobody hopes for OTAs. But I was hoping for OTAs so we can get in this defense and run this defense." Personally, I don't expect to see Ratliff in pass coverage. But there are worse things for the Cowboys' defense than to be energized after flatlining last year.

Gerald Sensabaugh told NFL.com's Vic Carucci that he's looking forward to testing the market. He said he gave the Cowboys "every opportunity" to re-sign him before the lockout and is "open" to returning but wants to know what his other options are. My guess? With the options that are going to be out there at the safety position, I don't see the Cowboys spending big to keep Sensabaugh. I think they'd like to have him back, but if he's going to have a bunch of other teams bidding on him, I imagine Dallas looks elsewhere.

New York Giants

I have said many times, and will continue to say, that I do not care about Tiki Barber. He is neither a big star nor a relevant player anymore. He's an arrogant, unrepentant scumbag who cares about no one and nothing but himself. He's an obvious phony whose words mean nothing and deserve to be ignored. And yet, some people still care. And Giants links are tough to find these days. So here: He had a fight with a similarly arrogant radio host. Big whoop.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks thinks the Giants should refuse to give in to Osi Umenyiora's demands. Bucky, I'm pretty sure that's the plan.

Philadelphia Eagles

Attendance is up this year at Michael Vick's football camp in Virginia. Vick's a bigger star than he's ever been in his life, and he's doing a lot of positive things with the platform that stardom has given him.

The Eagles' team web site takes a look at rookie safety Jaiquawn Jarrett and where he fits into the 2011 puzzle. The likely departure of Quintin Mikell surely creates the potential for opportunity, but the Eagles have said they'll be active in the free-agent market, and there are some good safeties available.

Washington Redskins

Chris Cooley would like the Redskins to sign Plaxico Burress. He told Steve Wyche on a podcast, "I'm sure we'll try to sign Santana Moss back, but we need a big-time receiver." Ha! Hope Santana's not insulted, Chris! Plus, I'm just not sure Plax is going to just walk out of prison and qualify as a "big-time receiver." I think he needs to go to a situation where he can fill a very specific, small role and not have much expected of him, at least not right away. Not sure that's the situation he'd find himself in if he were to go to Washington.

Wondering what was going to happen to all those seats they're taking out of the upper deck of FedEx Field to make room for their new "party deck?" Well, if you want, you can buy them. $250 a pair. Don't all rush down there at once, now.

I'm glad you guys (a) suggested and (b) enjoyed the first day of the position-by-position rundown of the potential free-agent crop and potential fits in the NFC East. We're going to do at least two more positions today and keep this thing running until we do them all. That and a look at the Giants' losing streak against the Eagles from the perspective of a Giants player, all right here today on the NFC East blog.

There still aren't any team-organized workouts while the NFL waits for the end of the lockout, so players can work out with whichever other players they want. To that end, former Eagles (and still current Redskins) quarterback Donovan McNabb showed up at an Eagles player workout in New Jersey.

"It was real good. It was refreshing hearing that laugh, that chuckle that you could probably hear from a mile away," Eagles center Jamaal Jackson told CSNPhilly.com. "It was good seeing him. I'll try to bait him up to stay out here a little while longer."

McNabb was in town for the dedication of the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Voorhees Replacement Hospital, which he helped fund with a large donation. He said the opportunity to work out with his former teammates was a no-brainer.

"I'm just working out right now," McNabb told the site. "As you can see, I'm in some great shape, and I'm only going to get better."

McNabb looks as if he's on a bit of a public relations blitz right now, perhaps in anticipation of the end of the lockout. He's still on the Redskins' roster, but they're certain to trade or release him once the lockout ends, and he seems to want people to know he thinks he's got plenty of good football left. In a recent video, he told fans "2011 is different from 2010" and doubters that he planned to prove them wrong.

It's certainly possible that McNabb has something left, and that the circumstances in Washington in 2010 were too difficult for any quarterback to overcome. I'm just having a hard time seeing where his opportunity to be a starting quarterback in 2011 is going to come. He could be a fallback in Arizona if the Cardinals can't get Kevin Kolb. He could go to Minnesota, but they probably want Christian Ponder to start soon. And Miami is a possibility, but it's unclear what its plans are with regard to Chad Henne. McNabb is hoping to get an opportunity to show he's not done, but there's a chance he could have to go somewhere as a backup and hope for that opportunity to surface later in the year.

Our first speculative free-agent post was a hit. It was about cornerbacks, and which potential free agents (assuming the labor deal gets done and it returns the required service time for unrestricted free agency to four years) would fit with teams in the NFC East. So, since you seemed to like it, we're going to do the other positions. Running backs are up next.

NFC East teams in need

Giants: This is a conditional "need," of course, since Ahmad Bradshaw, the No. 2 guy on the list below, is a Giant and likely (though not certain!) to sign back with the team. They also could find themselves having to jettison Brandon Jacobs in order to pay Bradshaw. So, depending on the ways in which those situations shake out, the Giants could have no need or a very serious need here.

Eagles: They're set at starter with the brilliant and still-emerging LeSean McCoy. But unless they bring back Jerome Harrison, they'll need a grinder and a change-of-pace guy who's willing to come in and not get the glory McCoy gets. Philly isn't likely to be looking at the guys at the top of this list.

Redskins: The starter reps are most likely to go to some combination of youngsters Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. But in case neither guy can handle that, there remains a chance the Redskins will want to find a veteran back to bring in to mentor them or even start until one of them is ready. Since they have so many other needs, Washington is more likely to bargain-hunt for running backs, but there could be some deals to be found.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent running backs.

1. DeAngelo Williams. Without the injury problems, he's the clear star of this class. Of course, without the injury history, he'd probably already have been locked up by Carolina. But with Jonathan Stewart on the roster, top receiver Steve Smith's situation in question and top draft pick Cam Newton still to sign, the Panthers might not be able to keep Williams' considerable talents. He's a great fit for the Giants if things fall apart with Bradshaw, but he's not likely what they're looking for in Washington or Philly as long as he's expecting a big contract.

2. Bradshaw. He's said he wants to stay in New York. They've said he's a top priority for them. It all makes sense. But we don't know yet who's going to come knocking and offering money. Bradshaw did just hire Drew Rosenhaus, and you don't do that if you're not planning on at least testing the market. The Giants have a large number of potential free agents, and if Bradshaw's demands go through the roof, there could be an unexpected parting of the ways. It's hard to imagine, however, another NFC East team being the one to outbid the Giants for Bradshaw.

3. Cedric Benson. Likely gone after two productive seasons in Cincinnati, Benson will be looking for a starter's contract. Another guy who might make sense in New York if Bradshaw bolts, he'd also make sense in Philadelphia as the power back to complement McCoy. But he'd almost certainly have to accept a smaller role in Philly than he anticipates, so they probably won't become an option for him unless he first exhausts his opportunities to be a starter.

4. Joseph Addai. He hasn't shown the ability to hold up as a starter over a full season, and he hasn't played in an offense that really uses the run at all. I think he's a real nice fit in Washington, where his skills as a receiver and in pass protection will help John Beck or whoever the potentially overwhelmed quarterback turns out to be.

5. Ronnie Brown. Another guy who, like Addai, is probably best suited for a multiple-back offense. His skill set would make him a perfect Harrison replacement in Philadelphia. But whoever gets that job isn't going to get the ball very much with McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek and of course Michael Vick as options on every play. So if Brown doesn't mind going someplace where he won't get many carries, the Eagles could certainly use him.

Predictions that mean nothing: Giants keep Bradshaw and Jacobs, Eagles keep Harrison to back up McCoy, Redskins sign Addai as their needed backfield veteran.

In light of the word that the proposed new NFL labor deal would make players with four years of service time into unrestricted free agents, there has been some support in the comments for a free-agent rundown as it pertains to our little division here. We're going to do it position-by-position, over the next couple of days, and because the biggest-name guy in the field is a cornerback, we're going to start with cornerbacks.

NFC East teams in need

Cowboys: Dallas plans to move Alan Ball, who flopped as a safety, back to the cornerback position, where they already have Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman as starters. Assuming all of those guys are on the team, the Cowboys could decide to stand pat and focus their energies on upgrading at safety. But one of the starters may have to be cut to create cap room, and if that happens, expect the Cowboys to be big-game hunters on the corner market.

Eagles: They need another corner to play opposite Asante Samuel, and they've said they plan to be aggressive in free agency. That could mean playing at the top end of this pool, but even if they don't land the big fish, expect Philadelphia to come up with someone on this list.

Redskins: Carlos Rogers wants out and the team seems inclined to grant him his wish. But while Redskins fans may be sick of Rogers, he's not a bad player and he will need to be replaced.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent cornerbacks

1. Nnamdi Asomugha. The prize of the offseason free-agent market. Probably the second-best corner in the league behind Darrelle Revis. Asomugha will draw interest from all three of the above-named NFC East teams plus plenty of teams (Baltimore? Houston?) outside the division. Whoever does sign him will use a lot of cap space to do it, which is why, as much as Dallas might want him, he might make more sense in Philly.

2. Johnathan Joseph. Some talk that the Bengals will make him their franchise player, but if they don't, the 27-year-old rising star stands to ride Asomugha's coattails to a big payday somewhere outside of skimpy-spending Cincinnati. A fine fallback for the Eagles or Redskins. Cowboys? Sure, but my hunch is, if they don't get Nnamdi, they spend elsewhere and either keep the corners they have or go further down this list for a replacement.

3. Antonio Cromartie. Remains to be seen if the Jets will keep him (or if they'll pursue Asomugha as well!). Cromartie comes with plenty of baggage, as his attitude and effort were in serious question at the end of his time in San Diego. Doubt he'd fit in a place like Dallas or Washington, where peace and quiet are going to be important to the short-term and long-term plans.

4. Chris Carr. He's said he'd like to return to Baltimore and that he'd be willing to play some safety in order to do that. Lots of turnover is expected in the Ravens' secondary, and depending on how other things shake out, Carr could be a surprise entry onto the market and a nice fit in Philadelphia or Washington, neither of which is too far from Baltimore. His fellow Baltimore corner, Josh Wilson, would be an intriguing name on the market as well.

5. Ike Taylor. Known more as a physical corner than a traditional cover type such as Asomugha, Taylor is a perfect fit right where he is, in Pittsburgh. But there have been rumblings lately that he's seeking a big payday, and Washington seems like it could use an infusion of toughness and a championship-seasoned veteran presence on defense.

Predictions that mean nothing: Asomugha to the Eagles, Taylor to the Redskins, Cowboys stand pat at corner and spend on safety.

Morning. Tuesday sure was an optimistic day on the NFL labor front. Personally, I don't think there's any chance this many details of the proposed deal would be emerging if the proposal weren't pretty close to a sure thing. So the time could be drawing near when we can start talking about free agency and the start of training camps.

Adam Schefter reported that the new deal would shift the threshold for unrestricted free agency back to four years' service time, and if that happens, every team's offseason plan would be affected. Today's breakfast links will address some of the key players on whom the NFC East teams might have to make key decisions.

Dallas Cowboys

The news alters Doug Free's situation quite a bit, and could conceivably impact the Cowboys' ability to pursue other big-money free agents depending on the amount of outside interest Free draws as an unrestricted free agent. As the Cowboys have made clear, Free is a must-sign. But Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen would become issues under those guidelines as well.

DeMarcus Ware spoke to NFL.com's Steve Wyche and had lots of good things to say about Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' offseason workouts and the change the team made at head coach midway through the 2010 season: "You go from Wade Phillips, which is a guy, he's more tailored to the older guys and developing younger guys," Ware said. "Then you have a younger coach come in, which is Jason Garrett, he's more of the Bill Parcells-type guy. He likes putting the pads on. He likes doing a whole bunch of the fundamental stuff and just focusing on that, doing the right things and just little things like that." Garrett's players clearly bought in last year, and if that continues and the defense gets solidified, Ware's and others' prediction of a Cowboys rebound are totally reasonable.

New York Giants

The Giants could potentially be the hardest-hit team in the division by a rule that makes 4+ guys into UFAs. Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boss, Barry Cofield, Steve Smith and Mathias Kiwanuka are among the players on the New York roster in line to make bigger money than they would have under last year's rules. Of those, Bradshaw and Kiwanuka are likely the highest-priority guys, along with Smith, though Smith's knee injury hurts his potential market value and should help the Giants keep him. Boss and Cofield are key contributors but could have to be sacrificed to the open market if Bradshaw's price goes through the roof.

Jemele Hill writes that David Tyree has the right to his surprisingly strong stance against gay marriage. (He says he'd trade his Super Bowl helmet catch and title to prevent it.) Technically, she's right, of course. But just because he has the right to spout intolerance doesn't necessarily mean he should.

Philadelphia Eagles

Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley is probably the most significant Eagles name that would be affected by the four-year UFA threshold. My guess is, if Bradley's price were to spike, the Eagles would move on with other free-agent plans and just keep Jamar Chaney at middle linebacker. But I wonder if Bradley, who's had injury problems, will generate much open-market interest on a market this crowded.

He's about to be an Eagles rookie, but Jaiquawn Jarrett is still a New York City kid at heart, and he showed support for the community from which he came.

Washington Redskins

Have to think inside linebacker Rocky McIntosh and right tackle Stephon Heyer are the two most significant Redskins in the UFA zone, but the potential move of Lorenzo Alexander to the inside to make room for first-round pick Ryan Kerrigan could help the team's leverage if McIntosh wants more than they want to pay him. And whether Heyer comes back or not, the Redskins will still need to find a starting right tackle. Jamaal Brown is a six-year guy who was going to be a UFA no matter what.

Because of the Redskins' ties to the state of Maryland (not to mention those of the Baltimore Ravens), the state is saying it could lose more than $40 million in tax revenue during an NFL lockout. This was a key part of the NFLPA's argument against the lockout in court -- the idea that people far beyond the playing field would be affected. Fortunately, it now seems as if there's little about which to worry.

Happy to talk more free agency as the day unfolds. Let me know what you think.

We chatted. We had a blast. We took questions from people in France. If you missed it, you're kicking yourself. If you were there, you're dying to relive it. Either way, I have you covered with some highlights:

Zack from NYC thinks not enough attention is being paid to the Redskins' youth movement: "Instead of Portis/Slow Willie/Larry Johnson we are going in with Helu/Torain/Royster/K Williams. On the WR side we replaced 55 year old Joey Galloway with a potential stud in rookie Hankerson. Kerrigan substiutes in for 30+ yr old Andre Carter. Not to mention adding OJ Atogwe to the back line. Am I delusional to start to feel good about the redskins for the first time in years?"

Dan Graziano: You're not 'delusional,' per se, and your assessment of the greening of the Redskins' roster is right on. But you have to remember that they're in the middle (actually, the early stages) of a rebuilding project there. And with their quarterback situation such a mess, it's hard to project real success for the Redskins in 2011.

Kujonicus, playing off Monday's highly charged Giants offensive line debate, asked which position on the Giants' O-line I'd pick to upgrade, if I had to choose one:

DG: I think Diehl is the guy who's slowed down the most, relative to what he was, and I think LT is where they'll need to upgrade the soonest. It's possible they think Will Beatty can do it, but I'm not sure he's shown that yet.

John from Tokyo and Craig from Boise asked similar questions about the Cowboys' plans for the interior offensive line positions. John was upset that they passed on Ben Ijalana in the draft, and Craig wanted to know if they had a plan for a replacement if they end up releasing Leonard Davis.

DG: The feeling seems to be that the Cowboys will bring back Kyle Kosier, possibly unload Davis and move Montrae Holland into a starting guard role. There is a lot of talent on the free-agent guard market, especially if the UFA rules go back to the way they used to be. But I'd be surprised if that's a place where Dallas allocated major resources. They might kick the tires, but the FA guards are going to be pricey, and the Cowboys have money to spend at safety and cornerback still.

Corey from D.C. asked if I "think the Eagles will be more patient this season on offense, at least early in the season, by using McCoy more both running and on screens, moving the chains more efficiently via small-ball, which in turn will not only drive defenses crazy but also (and much more importantly) preserve Vick's health as much as possible?"

DG: No, Corey. I do not. I think they live for the big play in Philly. I think they know they have the kinds of players who can consistently deliver the big play. And I think they'll lean heavily on Vick, Jackson, Maclin and McCoy to make as many of those big plays as possible.

And our old friend st8prop from Atlanta asked: "Which losing streak do you see ending this upcoming season? Giants' 6 game losing streak against the Eagles or Redskins' 6 game losing streak against the Giants?"

DG: I think the Giants are more likely to beat the Eagles than the Redskins are to beat the Giants, because I believe the Giants will be a good team and the Redskins will not.

But that's just tip-of-iceberg stuff, folks. You really need to hit that link and go read back the chat transcript for the full experience. We even took fantasy questions, and I'm not just talking about the guy who asked if the Redskins could get David Garrard for Albert Haynesworth!

Tuesday is Power Rankings day on ESPN's NFL site, and today's topic was top 10 up-and-coming assistant coaches. For me, this question meant picking which current assistants had the best chance to become NFL head coaches. The rules we established for voting eliminated anyone who'd been a head coach already except for those who'd only worn the title of "interim" head coach, such as Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

As a result of Fewell's high profile, the way he's regarded around the league and the number of head-coaching interviews he went on this past offseason, Fewell ranked No. 1 on our list of up-and-coming assistants. He got a taste of the head-coaching seat when he had the interim job in Buffalo in 2009, and he's made no secret of his desire to land a more permanent head-coaching position. Our panel thinks he will, as he was ranked first on four of the eight ballots and named on seven of them.

Fewell finished just ahead of new Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who was one of only two assistants (along with sixth-place finisher Winston Moss) to be named on all eight ballots. Ryan certainly has an opportunity to dazzle in Dallas, where the defense was a major letdown in 2010 and could be poised for a nowhere-to-go-but-up recovery. Dallas also offers Ryan a high profile, and if he succeeds there it could carry more weight with decision-makers around the league when head-coaching positions are being handed out down the line. He's not as likely to move up next offseason as Fewell might be, but he's a guy who's on people's minds.

I threw a 10th-place vote for Cowboys special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis, because I've heard his name mentioned in this capacity a few times. But mine was the only ballot on which he appeared. James Walker of the AFC North blog ranked Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan sixth on his ballot, but that was the only ballot on which he appeared.

I mean, yeah, we chat all the time. We chatted for a good while yesterday in the comments section about the Giants, their offensive line and their draft philosophy. We don't need a formal invitation. We can chat whenever we feel like it.

However.

Once a week, we head over to SportsNation for a one-hour chat, where you guys fire in questions faster than I can possibly get to them, I answer a few, we joke around and jump from topic to topic. It's personally one of my favorite hours of the week, and I think others find it enjoyable, too.

Why do I bring this up? Because we're doing it today at noon ET. Please do swing by. I'll be wearing my very best chatting clothes, and it just won't be the same if you're not there.