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A look at key players for each NFC East team who are coming back from injuries:

Dallas Cowboys: LB Sean Lee

Lee has been a breakout defensive star for the Cowboys the past two seasons, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. A wrist injury limited him after a raging hot start in 2011, and after another hot start in 2012 he injured a toe in Week 7 and missed the remainder of the season. The Cowboys' defense is different when Lee is on the field and at his instinctive, playmaking best, and it misses him terribly when he's not. Now set to play the middle linebacker position in Dallas' new 4-3 defensive alignment, Lee is more important than ever to the every-down success of the defense. We easily could have picked running back DeMarco Murray or even perpetually nicked-up wide receiver Miles Austin for this exercise, but the Cowboys' biggest question marks lie on defense, where six starters missed time last year because of injury. Improved health on defense is the surest way for the Cowboys as a whole to improve in 2013, and Lee is right in the middle of it all.

New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks

Nicks broke a bone in his foot during minicamp last year, and while he made it back in time for the start of the season, he was not himself all year. Foot and knee problems cost him three games and limited him to 692 yards and three touchdowns on 53 catches (10 catches and 199 yards of which came in a Week 2 game for which he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week). Without his top wide receiver healthy for much of the year, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was unable to duplicate the Super Bowl-winning magic of the previous season. With Nicks hobbled, defenses were often able to focus more on Victor Cruz, whose production dropped from the previous year's dazzling yardage numbers. Nicks is a vital part of the Giants' passing game, which is the vital part of their offense. When he's at his best, he's among the top all-around wide receivers in the league. He needs to stay healthy for the Giants to function at peak levels.

Philadelphia Eagles: LT Jason Peters

Peters tore his right Achilles tendon twice during the 2012 offseason and was obviously unable to play at all as a result. He was the first of three Eagles starting offensive linemen to land on injured reserve last year, but after the year he had in 2011, his was the absence they had the greatest difficulty overcoming. Peters was essential to the Eagles offense in 2011 as a multi-level blocker who could take out his man at the line and then get upfield quickly and block a linebacker or a safety as well. Without him, the run game suffered, the screen game suffered, and quarterback Michael Vick's ability to succeed when he extended plays suffered. The Eagles need Todd Herremans and Jason Kelce back on the offensive line, and they need first-round pick Lane Johnson to play well at right tackle. But the most important offensive line recovery is that of Peters, who brings something to the equation no one else brings. He needs not only to be healthy, but to play like his old, spry self.

Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III

If you've been living in a cave without access to TV or the Internet for the past six months, it will come as news to you that Griffin tore his ACL in the Redskins' playoff game (yes, they made the playoffs) and had reconstructive surgery in January. While the Redskins believe they have a capable backup in Kirk Cousins, much of their 2012 success was because of Griffin's unique talents and abilities. Even if Griffin is back to 100 percent, the Redskins probably will take greater care with how they use him in the read-option this year. But the threat he poses to defenses as a runner and a passer is not something Cousins or very many other quarterbacks in the league can replicate. The Redskins must be careful not to rush Griffin back from his injury, as he's their franchise quarterback and vital to the long-term success and health of the team. But their 2013 fortunes are tightly tied to the timing and extent of his recovery.

The Doug Free situation has finally reached its resolution. According to Calvin Watkins, Free has accepted a pay cut and will remain with the Dallas Cowboys in 2013. ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Free agreed to a 50 percent cut, which would reduce his 2013 salary from $7 million to $3.5 million and save the Cowboys room against this year's cap. Ed also reports that Free is now scheduled to be paid $3.5 million in each of the next two years, with only this year's salary guaranteed.

Obviously, these numbers are much more palatable to the Cowboys than were Free's original contract numbers. Since signing his four-year, $32 million free agent deal after a strong 2010 season, Free has played as poorly as any starting tackle in the NFL. The Cowboys hoped a move from the left side to the right side in 2012 would help things, but it did not, and had he not agreed to the reduction, he likely would have been released. The fact that the 2014 money is not guaranteed is significant, as releasing Free prior to this agreement would have dumped a significant amount of "dead money" onto next year's cap.

The pay cut could allow the Cowboys to sign a free-agent tackle such as Eric Winston, and even if they don't, it's a lot easier on their budget and on common sense to pay Free $3.5 million than $7 million this year. It's possible he's the starting right tackle again and also possible he could share time with or lose the job outright to Jermey Parnell. If he has to be a backup "swing" tackle, his salary for a job like that is at least closer than it was to reasonable.

The Free contract goes down as a boondoggle for the Cowboys because of the way Free has played since signing it. At the time, Free was coming off a fine season as Dallas' starting left tackle and Cowboys fans were panicked about the idea of failing to re-sign him. The deal is in line with what top tackles on that year's market were getting, and he'd played like a top tackle. But obviously, his failure to live up to that season and that deal have put the Cowboys in a bad spot. They obviously didn't want to just release him, and even if they had they couldn't have recouped the salary-cap savings until after June 1. So while this compromise doesn't rid them of their Free problem, it at least makes it a bit of an easier problem with which to deal.

Calvin also reports that the Cowboys are signing veteran defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove for depth at that positon.

So yeah, this is interesting. The agent for veteran defensive back Charles Woodson tells ESPN's Josina Anderson that the New York Giants have "put their toe in the water" regarding interest in Woodson. Now, of course, you never know with agents. This could be true or it could be a ploy to scare the Broncos or some other team into upping their offer and signing Woodson soon. But if we take the man at his word, it's worth examining the idea of Woodson to the Giants, which I think makes a lot of sense, as does my friend Ohm:

Woodson, 36, would be an intriguing piece for the Giants. He could potentially play as one of the team's three safeties utilized often by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. He also would provide the team with another veteran able to play corner, if needed, as well.

The Giants currently have Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown as their starting safeties. Will Hill, fifth-round pick Cooper Taylor, Ryan Mundy and Tyler Sash are also on the roster.

Woodson would provide the Giants with the kind of veteran leadership presence at safety that Deon Grant provided when he played the role of the team's third safety. He also could help fill the void left by Kenny Phillips' departure in free agency to Philadelphia.

Yes, Woodson could fill a depth role as well as a mentor role with the Giants, who are transitioning to a younger defensive backfield that would benefit from the experience and wisdom of a player as decorated as Woodson. Phillips always talked about the effect Grant had on his development, and young players such as Brown, Hill, Mundy, Taylor, Sash and Prince Amukamara could surely learn something from Woodson, who has experience playing safety as well as cornerback.

As a veteran-minimum deal, Woodson to the Giants makes a great deal of sense. The fact that it hasn't yet happened makes me think the interest isn't serious, since the Giants tend to move quickly when they find someone they want on the market. But as long as he's still unsigned, it's worth imagining it.

As this Washington Redskins offseason unfolds, the former first-round pick on whom everyone will be focused will be Robert Griffin III, the dazzling young quarterback who followed up his rookie season with reconstructive knee surgery in January. But there are two other former first-rounders who hold the key for the Redskins on the defensive side of the ball. If the Redskins are to defend their NFC East title, Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan could be just as important to the effort as Griffin and his recovering right knee.

Ever since Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett arrived in 2010 and changed the Redskins to a 3-4 defense, the outside linebacker position has taken on increased importance. Orakpo and Kerrigan are the starters at outside linebacker, and as such are tasked with the pass rush. The team has invested a first-round pick in each of them and constructed a defense designed to maximize their ability to get to the opposing quarterback. This means the plan is not simply to have a good pass rush, but a dominant one. Haslett's scheme calls for Orakpo and Kerrigan to be speedy, relentless predators who harass quarterbacks on every play and roll up the sacks. And 2013 is the year for them to flourish in that scheme.

Orakpo, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft, turns 27 in July, and as of now is heading into the final year of his contract. He could, conceivably, get an extension from the Redskins prior to the start of the season, but that's no sure thing. Drafted to be a dominant pass-rusher, Orakpo has flashed that ability during his career, averaging 9.5 sacks in his first three seasons before last season was cut short by a Week 2 pectoral muscle injury.

Prior to last season, the questions about Orakpo were whether he could elevate his game from very good to to great -- joining the elite pass-rushers in the league with a double-digit sack total. He hasn't had that since his rookie season, when he was a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Though Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 4 rush linebacker in the league in 2011 (behind only Aldon Smith, DeMarcus Ware and Cameron Wake), nine sacks didn't feel like enough for a player drafted that high and playing in a defense designed to make stars out of outside linebackers.

On the other side is Kerrigan, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The night the Redskins picked Kerrigan, their vision was of a hyper-athletic, two-pronged pass-rush that would force teams to pick their poison. Commit extra blockers to Orakpo, Kerrigan and his incredible raw pass-rushing instincts would get you. Commit extra blockers to Kerrigan, and Orakpo feasts. Kerrigan collected 7.5 sacks as a rookie and 8.5 more last season, in spite of having to play without Orakpo in the final 14 games. With the fear of Orakpo removed, teams were able to commit those extra blockers to Kerrigan all season long. Though he flashed his playmaking ability, the Redskins didn't get the consistent, week-to-week quarterback pressure on which their defense is designed to rely.

Washington finished the 2012 season with 32 sacks, more than only eight other teams in the league. The Redskins' pass defense ranked 30th in the NFL for the season, and during the seven-game win streak that delivered the division title it relied on the ability of the coaches and defensive backs to design and adjust to game plans that would change from week to week or even, sometimes, from quarter to quarter. They were able to play well enough against the pass to win games, though they all admit they would rather give up fewer yards this season through the air than 4,511.

That will have to start up front. The Redskins return basically the same secondary they had last season. They hope Brandon Meriweather can be healthy and give them what they need at strong safety, and it's possible that one or more of the mid-round rookies they drafted could help, but those are not sure things. That's why they need Orakpo back healthy (as well as defensive lineman Adam Carriker, who suffered a season-ending injury in that same game) and they need Orakpo and Kerrigan to play to their draft pedigrees -- i.e., dominate.

The NFC East has long been known for its pass-rushers, and even in recent seasons it has boasted some of the top pass-rush performances in the league. Everyone knows about the way the Giants sacked quarterbacks en route to two Super Bowl titles in five years. Everyone knows Ware is one of the best. The Eagles led the league in sacks two years ago.

It's time for the Redskins to take their place in that pass-rush hierarchy. With Kerrigan and a healthy Orakpo starting at outside linebacker, they have the talent to be the best pass rush in the division, and one of the best in the league. In 2013, if the Redskins want to remain a playoff team, Orakpo and Kerrigan are going to have to make the leap from good to elite.

Ashley Fox went over to Philadelphia Eagles practice this week and came away with this column about Michael Vick and his "last chance" to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Ashley's premise is that, if Vick can't hold off Nick Foles and Matt Barkley for the Eagles' starting quarterback job, he's never going to get another one anywhere:

Last season, Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg started the season by giving Vick more pre-snap responsibilities but got to the point that they had to limit his reads and checks. He freelanced often. With a decimated offensive line, Vick had shaky protection and frequently took off running, trying to make a play for a team that had few players who did. That led to bad habits and injuries, which limited Vick to just 10 starts. At the end of the season, when Vick was healthy, Reid chose to ride out his remaining games with the team with Foles. It was a mercy benching.

So this is it for Vick. This is his last shot. Vick has organized team activities and minicamps and training camp to prove to Kelly that he can run his up-tempo offense, master the crazy hand signals being sent in from the sideline, practice through the distractions of blaring music, and make checks and read the defense while still moving the chains. Three and out won't cut it.

Four months. That's it.

"He realizes that it's up to him if he wants to play," Eagles veteran offensive lineman Todd Herremans said.

This is the great mystery of the Eagles' offseason -- whether Vick truly is the man for this job. Kelly chose to re-sign him when he could have let him go, so he must see something that tells him they can do great things together, if only in the short term. But Kelly wants certain specific things from his quarterback, including the kinds of quick reads and quick releases for which Vick has never been known. Vick is the clear favorite to win the job right now, but it's far from inconceivable that Foles or Barkley or even Dennis Dixon could outplay him in camp and make it evident that Kelly is better off using one of them.

Vick is saying all of the right things. Over the past four years, he's been as good as anyone in sports at saying all of the right things. He's re-dedicated himself. He's determined. He's working harder than ever. He's focused. You know... all the stuff he said last spring and summer, too.

Don't get me wrong here. I believe Vick is earnest. I believe he wants to succeed, and is willing to put in the off-field work that he needs to in order to do it. I don't think he's lazy or aloof or not smart enough to pick up this new offense. What I think is that Vick, who turns 33 next month, is simply what he is, and that you have to take the good with the bad. He can say and do all of the right things in OTAs and minicamps, but when the games start and the play breaks down, nothing's going to stop him from doing what he knows and what he's always known -- holding the ball too long, trying too hard to make the spectacular rescue play instead of dumping it off or throwing it out of bounds and living to see the next play. That's the kind of quarterback behavior that has consistently, throughout Vick's career, led to turnovers and injuries and frustration for his coaches. And if that's what shows up as the season gets closer, Vick's hold on this job is far from secure.

One of the day's news stories is that former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is going to retire as an Eagle, and it sounds as though the team is planning to honor him at one of its home games in 2013. Obviously, this is the right thing to do for the greatest quarterback the Eagles have ever had. And while McNabb will long be remembered as a player who presided over an era of consistent excellence in Philadelphia, that era will be remembered for the fact that the Eagles made it to five NFC Championship Games but never managed to win a Super Bowl.

This is the curse of Eagles stardom, of course. No matter how great an Eagle you were, you never won a Super Bowl, and the Eagles' fans are starved for that satisfaction. But all of that said, McNabb's parting with the Eagles was not acrimonious, and he deserves a nice send-off. I imagine he'll get one, though I'm sure there will be a few who show up and boo the guy who kept coming so close but never could get the job all the way done.

One thing about this, though: Some have suggested (including McNabb, I think) that this could be done before that Thursday night game in Week 3 against the Chiefs, because longtime Eagles coach Andy Reid, who now coaches the Chiefs, will be on hand. Nice idea, but if it were me I'd do it some other week. I think the Reid return is going to be its own circus, and that the fans' feelings about Reid are still too raw and negative to mix those up with McNabb's big day. Reid will someday have his own day in Philadelphia, but I'd keep McNabb's separate from that particular game this year. Just my $0.02.

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray was one of the prime examples shown on the video presentation the NFL gave in March about the new rule that will penalize running backs for leading with the crown of their helmet in the open field. Murray is aware of this, and true to bullheaded NFL player form, he says he's not going to change his running style to fit some stupid new rule that's designed to keep him from paralyzing himself someday, no sir. Per Calvin Watkins:

"I'm not changing my running style," Murray said last week at a charity event. "If I get fined, hopefully, [Tony] Romo will take care of the first couple [of fines]."

Earlier this offseason, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he had concerns about how the NFL will regulate the rule.

"It's really a tricky thing from the standpoint of, it's so well-intended," Garrett said. "We all understand the challenges that it puts the officials in. A lot of the defenseless player calls they've had to make over the last couple years are hard calls. The game happens fast, and they've got to be bang, 'He hit him with his head first; it wasn't his shoulder.' Players duck. All the things that go into making those snap judgments. They're difficult.

"I think the real concern that the coaches might have is simply that it's a hard rule to officiate, and far be it from us to say we understand what an official's going through. But the game does happen fast and those collisions happen quickly. I think it's well-intended."

The Cowboys said they are working with Murray to keep his head up.

I'm sorry, but Garrett's right about the rule's intentions and I'm just really annoyed about the reaction fans and especially running backs have had to this rule. I completely disagree with the notion that it will deprive the game or its running backs of any necessary physicality. I completely disagree with the notion that it will be a hard rule to officiate. The rule will penalize a running back's team 15 yards "if he initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box." That's pretty doggone specific and will be really easy to spot. And the only thing it's telling running backs not to do is something that's incredibly dangerous for them and something no qualified coach has ever taught them to do at any level.

Murray can sit there and insist all he wants that he's still going to duck his head and try and use it to level defenders in the open field. That's his right, to say that. But if he does, it's going to result in 15-yard penalties for the Cowboys and quite honestly could result in a serious head, neck or spine injury for Murray himself someday. If he's telling you he doesn't care about that, then I guess that makes him a genuine NFL tough guy you're supposed to admire for his refusal to evolve as a sensible human being at the expense of excessive violence. Woo hoo. Forgive me if I don't applaud.

The Dallas Cowboys selected running back Felix Jones with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft. The next two picks that day were running backs as well -- Rashard Mendenhall to the Steelers and Chris Johnson to the Titans. That year's second-round running backs were Matt Forte and Ray Rice. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to build draft boards.

Anyway, after five years as one of the worst kinds of NFL running backs -- the injury-prone backup -- Jones was cut loose by the Cowboys this offseason and has, as Adam Schefter reports, agreed to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. Because the Eagles already have LeSean McCoy as their No. 1 running back and Bryce Brown -- who ran like a No. 1 last year when McCoy got hurt -- as a No. 2, you likely have questions about why they want Jones. I'm sure they'll explain it when asked, but here's my first stab at it:

New Eagles coach Chip Kelly wants to run the ball a heck of a lot, and it's entirely possible he'll find ways to get more than two running backs semi-regular carries. Eagles fans aren't used to this, but a lot of things are going to be different this year and this is one of them. Jones also offers some level of versatility, provided he can stay healthy. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He has big-play ability. And should things go wrong with McCoy and/or Brown, Jones has some experience (though you can question its quality) as a between-the-tackles starting running back as well.

So yeah, I figure Jones has a chance to make the Eagles as a No. 3 back and get some amount of work in games if he does. And remember that this is a new coaching staff that might have a different opinion of Brown than the old one did. Brown showed a lot of good things late last year, but he also showed a penchant for fumbling that likely leaves his spot on the depth chart somewhat less secure. There was a time when someone thought Jones was a first-round talent -- well ahead of backs who actually turned out to be. Surely, he's worth a May 14 flier for a team that's looking to run as many offensive plays as possible in 2013.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at a key player from each NFC East team who needs to show something in offseason sessions:

Dallas Cowboys: DT Jay Ratliff

He missed 10 games in 2012 due to injury. He cursed out the team's owner after a game. He got busted for driving under the influence mere weeks after friend and defensive linemate Jerry Brown was killed in an accident for which friend and defensive linemate Josh Brent is facing intoxication manslaughter charges. He costs $4.072 million against the salary cap for a team that struggled all offseason to find cap room. It's kind of a miracle Ratliff is still on the roster. One of the reasons the Cowboys decided to switch to a 4-3 defensive alignment was their belief that Ratliff would thrive as one of two defensive tackles in Monte Kiffin's defense, and in order to overcome all of the good reasons they have to get rid of him, Ratliff could stand to look as healthy and dominant as possible this offseason on that defensive line.

New York Giants: RB David Wilson

The Giants let Brandon Jacobs leave as a free agent last offseason and released Ahmad Bradshaw this offseason, which means their running game has been completely overhauled. Wilson, their 2012 first-round draft pick, needs to be a big part of what that running game becomes this year. He showed last season that he has a quick burst and big-play capability, and he became a force on kick returns. Wilson should get the opportunity this offseason to show that he can handle the responsibilities of a No. 1 feature running back. With the Giants, those responsibilities include blitz pickup and pass-protection duties. If Wilson shows advancement in those areas and the ability to handle regular carries, he could keep Andre Brown in a goal-line role and decrease the team's need to find a third-down back with Bradshaw-like blocking ability. If not, the Giants could be tinkering with their run game all year.

Philadelphia Eagles: QB Michael Vick

Vick is the clear favorite to win the Eagles' starting quarterback job. He has considerably more NFL experience and more 2013 upside than any of his challengers. He still has the arm strength, the speed and the athleticism to offer the Eagles something at the quarterback position that no other team in the league has -- the stuff that has made coach after coach dream of what's possible since he was lighting it up at Virginia Tech. However, Vick will turn 33 next month and also has a well-established reputation as an injury-prone, turnover-prone risk-taker who holds the ball way too long and doesn't read defenses effectively. New Eagles coach Chip Kelly has said he needs a quarterback who can make quick decisions and unload the ball in a hurry. Vick will surely get the chance to show he can do that, and it's possible a scaled-down offense that leans more on the run game than Andy Reid's did will help. But if Vick struggles in the preseason with his decision-making and timing, he could lose the job to Nick Foles or Matt Barkley or Dennis Dixon. And if that happens, he could lose his roster spot, too.

Washington Redskins: LB Brian Orakpo

After a second consecutive season ended early due to a pectoral muscle injury, the Redskins' 2009 first-round pick finds himself having to prove something that was never an issue in his first two seasons -- that he can stay healthy. By now, Orakpo was supposed to have established himself as a disruptive pass-rushing force on par with the best in the league. He hasn't been able to do that, in large part because of those injuries. He has one year left on his contract, and there has been talk that he could get an extension prior to the start of the season, which is an appealing idea to the Redskins since they likely could get him at something of a discount due to the injuries. But if he struggles with health or effectiveness in the preseason, that's liable to make the Redskins think twice about a preseason extension, and to turn 2013 into a make-or-break year for Orakpo.

In this story by Calvin Watkins on ESPNDallas.com, we hear from Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee, who say their 2012 injuries are no longer of concern and they will be ready to go once the offseason program gets humming. There are a lot of players on a lot of teams saying the same thing right now, but the reason I note this story is that I think the significance of these particular players to this particular team makes it worth noting.

We have here two players, one on each side of the ball, who have proven their ability to operate among the very best in the league at their positions for short periods of time. Prior to his injury last year, Lee was as good an inside linebacker as the NFL had. His ability to make plays on the ball is stunning, and the Cowboys' switch to a 4-3 defensive alignment with him as the middle linebacker should only accentuate it in 2013. Bryant was a dominant performer even after he broke his finger, and the level of trust quarterback Tony Romo developed with him as their brilliant statistical season unfolded should carry into the coming season as well.

The key is, of course, health. Because when healthy, Lee and Bryant are not just players who fill roles and contribute. They are the types of players who care capable of elevating a team from good to great -- players whose individual performances can change and decide games. Bryant has to show he can do it week in and week out and not suffer the kinds of nagging injuries that keep him from being his most effective. Lee, put simply, has to find a way to get through the season without missing any games. He has yet to play a full 16-game NFL season, and his absence has been felt over the past two years in the games he's missed.

The perpetual question about the Cowboys is when they'll stop being a mediocre, 8-8 team and do something great. The answer lies in the ability of the most talented players on their roster to make the kinds of sustained, brilliant contributions their exceptional abilities allow them to make. Lee and Bryant are the kinds of players who can help take the Cowboys to the level they and their fans crave. They just have to make sure they stay on the field to do it.

The case of Justin Tuck is a curious one. Not long ago, the New York Giants defensive end was regarded as one of the league's best young stars. He was a highly decorated, championship-tested, high-talent, high-character player who was equally adept at terrorizing quarterbacks on Sundays and helping set the tone Tom Coughlin wanted in the locker room all week. In 2010, Tuck had 11.5 sacks for a Giants team that won 10 games but barely missed the playoffs. He was 27 when that season ended, and his future looked like one big trip around the sun.

But it has not been that. The past two seasons of Justin Tuck have been a mopey muddle -- a confusing blend of injuries, ineffectiveness and a surprising, self-acknowledged struggle with motivation. He needed a December 2011 pep talk from Coughlin to inspire him for the Giants' latest Super Bowl run. But other than the 5.5 sacks he had in that six-game stretch that included the final two regular-season games and four postseason games, Tuck has recorded a total of just seven over the past two seasons. In 21 of his past 31 games, Tuck has failed to record even a partial sack.

Now, this is a guy who just turned 30 a few weeks ago, so it's a bit of a leap to say for certain that he's "done." But I feel confident saying that 2013 is a very important year in Tuck's career. It is the final year of his current contract, which means he's literally playing for a job. The fact that the Giants haven't yet made a move to extend his deal tells you they have concerns about the type of player they can expect him to be. The pass rush is too important a part of what the Giants do for them to allow it to decay around one player, no matter how important a part of their championship history that player has been. If Tuck looks like his old self this year, rejuvenated and ready for a big next chapter in his career, the Giants will be thrilled to talk deal with him next offseason. But if 2013 is a repeat of Tuck's regular-season performances from 2011 and 2012, it's likely to be his final year as a Giant.

One of the fascinating things about this year's Giants, though, is that Tuck is not alone. All over the roster, you find players for whom 2013 could be the proverbial "make or break" year. Yes, they held up a Lombardi trophy just 15 months ago, but this team also has missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. So it's not a huge surprise that next offseason might find the Giants in a period of transition, with big decisions to be made on several of their core players:

• 

  Webster
  CB Corey Webster: There was a chance he could have been gone this offseason after his disappointing 2012. Webster's decision to accept a significant pay cut extended his time in New York, but he's also entering the final year of his deal. And with Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley, the team has been thinking ahead for a while now about its defensive backfield of the future. Webster, now 31, would need a big bounce-back season if he wanted to be part of that future.
• 

  Rolle
  S Antrel Rolle: He'll be 31 when the season ends; he has two years left on the five-year free-agent deal he signed with New York before the 2010 season; and he's counting $9.25 million against the salary cap in each of those years. The Giants are swallowing that this year, but they're unlikely to want to commit that much to Rolle again in 2014, especially if he fails to replace Kenny Phillips as the leader of their secondary. Rolle's play dropped off last year when Phillips wasn't on the field, and he needs to show in 2013 that the contributions he made early in his Giants career weren't tied to the way he worked in tandem with Phillips.
• 

  Snee
  G Chris Snee: A longtime pillar of New York's offensive line, Snee is 31 years old and has been banged-up and less effective the past two seasons. That's understandable, given the demands of his position and the dedicated way he plays it and plays hurt. But he also is signed through 2014, with a $7.5 million cap cost for that year. The Giants just used their first-round draft pick on an offensive lineman, Justin Pugh, who played tackle in college but could project as an NFL guard. Although it's easier to see Pugh's taking over for Kevin Boothe, who is signed only through this year, don't rule out his replacing Snee instead if Snee has a down season.
• 

  Cruz
  WR Victor Cruz: This assumes he and the Giants don't reach an agreement on a long-term deal and he plays out his contract on his restricted free-agent tender. That would make Cruz's season the ultimate make-or-break. Another monster production season like those he has had the past two years and he hits the open market with teams drooling over him. If he gets injured or has a drop-off in production, though, he'll wish he had taken what the Giants were offering this offseason.
• 

  Nicks
  WR Hakeem Nicks: Again, it's possible he'll sign for the long term before the season starts. But if not, this is the final year of his contract and he has to show he can stay healthy and deliver as the No. 1 receiver the Giants believe he is. His situation is tied to that of Cruz, and it's tough to find a scenario in which the team can keep both.

So 2013 is a big year for a lot of very familiar Giants faces. This franchise grooms replacements for its stars and major contributors very well, so turnover isn't a terrifying thing for the Giants. But it's possible that, even for them, next offseason could feel like a real changing of the guard in some key spots.

So much of the offseason attention around the Dallas Cowboys has focused on Tony Romo, and that's understandable. He's the quarterback, and one of the most intensely scrutinized quarterbacks in the league. He signed a big contract extension, he's taking a larger role in the planning and operation of the offense, and the team used its second-round and third-round picks on exciting new receiving options for him.

But as important as he is, Romo is not the extent of the Cowboys' offense. Or at least, he shouldn't be. Calvin Watkins has a look at fifth-round pick Joseph Randle, the running back from Oklahoma State, and the importance he could have in repairing a part of the Dallas offense that was a far bigger problem last season than Romo:

The night Randle was drafted, the Cowboys' front office -- mainly Jerry and Stephen Jones, and backed by coach Jason Garrett -- said the team had a potential starter.

Of the seven draft picks, Randle, taken in the fifth round (151st overall), could have the biggest impact.

The Cowboys' rushing attack finished 31st in the NFL last season with only 79.1 yards per game and 3.6 yards per attempt. Their 1,265 yards on the ground totaled 144 less than the previous Cowboys low in a 16-game season and represents a drop-off of 542 yards from the 2011 season.

As Calvin points out in his story, the Cowboys' running game last season relied too much on the health of starting running back DeMarco Murray, which is not reliable. Murray is a very productive back when he's on the field, but it was vital this offseason to find someone durable to back him up. Felix Jones didn't fit the bill, so he's out looking for work and replaced by Randle, who didn't miss a game during his college career.

Randle might be the force the Cowboys need should their starting running back go down again, and he's confident he can be a complete back.

"Being versatile," Randle said. "I do everything well: running, blocking. I take pride in my blocking. I take pride in being able to catch, and I take pride in being able to make tough yards and make people miss one-on-one. That's just my game in a nutshell right there."

The Cowboys spent their first-round pick on an offensive lineman, Wisconsin center Travis Frederick, who should help improve the run game himself whether he starts at center or one of the guard spots. Whoever the running back is on a given play or a given week, he'll need better blocking up front than the Cowboys have provided in recent seasons, just as Romo will. The Cowboys began the offseason by overhauling their defense with a new coordinator and a new 4-3 alignment up front. But recently they've turned their attention to their deficiencies on offense, and the run game is one of those that needed more attention than I think a lot of people realized.

We have talked a lot on here about the contract situation of New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who wants to get paid based on his No. 1 wide receiver production of the past two seasons, while his team wants to pay him as the top slot receiver in the league. We don't know how that situation will ultimately resolve itself, but once it does, it could have a ripple effect throughout the league for other wide receivers looking for contracts.

To that end, Calvin Watkins examines the possible impact Cruz's deal could have on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, whose contract expires after 2014 and is coming off a year in which he established himself as one of the most dangerous all-around wide receivers in the league:

The Cowboys need to be cautious what they pay Bryant because of his questionable decisions off the field -- which, in fairness, don't seem to be an issue anymore -- and what the top receivers make.

Larry Fitzgerald ($16.1 million), Calvin Johnson ($15.6 million), Andre Johnson ($14.4 million), Mike Wallace ($12 million) and Dwayne Bowe ($11.2 million) are at the top of the average salaries per seasons for wide receivers.

Does Cruz belong at that level? What about Bryant?

Whatever Cruz gets, Bryant's agent, Eugene Parker, will look at and make sure he tells Jerry and Stephen Jones to take care of his client from a financial standpoint.

I think it's impossible to make a prediction about Bryant's deal until we see at least one more year of Bryant. If he continues to show that he's got his off-field life together, and if he continues to play the way he did in 2012, he will indeed be able to ask for at least what Wallace and Bowe received, and likely more. If he slips up again off the field, or his play is inconsistent in 2013, or if he gets hurt, then old questions arise. I don't see Cruz cracking that top five Calvin listed here even if he gets every dollar he's asking for, so the only way he becomes a benchmark for Bryant is if Bryant does not continue to perform at that elite level over the next year or two. But I think 2012 was just the start for Bryant, who has the talent to become one of the very best in the entire league at his position.

This came up in the chat Tuesday, and I figured it was worth a post in which you guys could bat it around and argue with each other: Who's got the best wide receivers in the NFC East at the moment? There is a poll over here in which you can vote on which team has the best starting duo.

We did this a couple of years ago, I remember, and I picked the Giants' guys over the Eagles' guys and got some heat for it. I think at the time I was still projecting Steve Smith as the No. 2 in New York behind Hakeem Nicks. So while I think the past two years have supported my pick, I admit I didn't see Victor Cruz factoring into this debate to the extent that he has.

At this point, with Jackson and Maclin having failed to live up to those 2011 expectations, I think the Cowboys' tandem is the Giants' chief competition. The way Dez Bryant came on last year makes you think he might be about to live up to his incredible potential and become one of the dominant receivers in the league. This would make Miles Austin as good a No. 2 receiver as there is anywhere in the league, except in East Rutherford, where Cruz is a ridiculously productive No. 2 when Nicks is healthy.

And that's the crux of it, right? If Nicks were healthy, I'd still vote for him and Cruz over Bryant and Austin, though I say it's close and Bryant right now is the best of the four. Nicks was not healthy last season, and has not shown much of an ability to stay healthy for a full season. So you have to downgrade him a little bit, which tightens the competition. I believe he's a more complete wide receiver (again, when healthy) than Bryant is at this point in their careers, but I think Bryant's game-breaking ability and the mismatches he creates in the secondary offer him the opportunity to be the better player long-term. Whether he cashes in on that opportunity, obviously, remains to be seen.

The Redskins are here too, of course, though I struggle to tell you for certain which of their wideouts is the No. 2 behind Pierre Garcon. In the poll, I went with Josh Morgan, though it could have been Leonard Hankerson or even Santana Moss, who's more of a slot receiver. I think the questions about No. 2, and the questions about the health of Garcon's foot, push them to fourth in this debate, even behind the Eagles' guys. But obviously, based on last season, you'd take Garcon over Jackson or Maclin.

So fire away. Duke it out. Have at it. These tend to be fun.

On the topic of super-early roster projections, we take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles and the cornerback position, with the help of our friend Sheil Kapadia. He's got newcomers Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams and holdover Brandon Boykin as sure things to make the roster, with two spots left for a group that includes Curtis Marsh, Brandon Hughes, Trevard Lindley, Eddie Whitley and 2013 seventh-round pick Jordan Poyer, who's an interesting wild card who could threaten Boykin's nickel corner spot if he comes quickly:

Poyer has a really good shot of sticking because of his wide array of skills. Poyer has experience playing inside, outside, safety and special teams (returner and coverage). Of course, if Chip Kelly and the coaches determine that Poyer is not particularly good at any of those skills, he could be let go. But at this point, he’s got a good chance of making the team.

Also working in Poyer's favor is that the current staff is the one that drafted him, where a few of these other guys are holdovers who might not impress Kelly's staff the way they impressed Andy Reid's once upon a time. You have to figure free-agent signings Williams and Fletcher are the projected starters right now, with Boykin penciled in for the nickel role. But minicamps and the summer program will help sort out Boykin's chances of a larger role, and the chances of someone like Poyer -- who in the end is a seventh-round flyer for a reason -- to make an impact on this year's team.