Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Eagles, McCoy agree on four-year contract

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June 30

Camden Courier-Post

"The Eagles signed second-round draft pick LeSean McCoy to a four-year contract on Monday, leaving first-round pick Jeremy Maclin as the team's lone unsigned draft pick. McCoy, a running back out of Pittsburgh, is competing with third-year pro Lorenzo Booker for the No. 2 running back job, a significant role in coach Andy Reid's offense given the track record of major injuries to starter Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is currently going through rehab on his right ankle after undergoing surgery last month to remove bone fragments and treat tendon inflammation. He also underwent knee surgery earlier this year, and his availability for training camp is uncertain. Training camp for rookies and ..."

Rosenhaus says tight end Ingram to sign with Eagles

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June 11

Philadelphia Daily News

"Hanging out in the NovaCare parking lot yesterday, soaking up the ambience, was agent Drew Rosenhaus, who said he was waiting to confer with a couple of clients.This made confirming reports that Rosenhaus had reached agreement on contract terms with the Eagles on behalf of fifth-round rookie tight end Cornelius Ingram much easier than if we'd had to subscribe to his Twitter feed.The team apparently is waiting until today to announce the signing, because it needs to trim someone from the roster before adding Ingram - when you're an unsigned rookie, you don't count toward the limit, but once your contract is registered, you do. The Eagles had already signed five of their eight draftees this ..."

McNabb talks vaguely of contract status

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June 7

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb indicated yesterday in a vague fashion that there might be progress on a reworked contract.Asked about the situation, McNabb said that it "will take care of itself."McNabb spoke at his ninth annual Kids' Clinic at the NovaCare complex. During most of a six-minute interview he avoided questions pertaining to the contract that he previously said he would like to see extended.McNabb, who is entering his 11th season with the Eagles, first expressed this desire late last season and reiterated it early during Super Bowl week. He hadn't spoken to local reporters since that Super Bowl week interview.McNabb has two years left on a seven-year extension he signed in ..."

Westbrook may sit until opener

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June 6

Camden Courier-Post

"The Eagles say they're comfortable with their running back depth, no matter how shaky it gets. And lately, it's been getting more unsteady by the day. Roughly an hour before an announcement that Brian Westbrook's ankle surgery would keep the Pro Bowl running back sidelined indefinitely, the Eagles were further limited at running back when rookie LeSean McCoy left practice with a severe thumb injury. Projections say Westbrook is unlikely to play during the preseason but should be ready to go when the season starts. Lorenzo Booker, McCoy's top competition to be Westbrook's backup, took the majority of snaps after McCoy left the practice bubble for X-rays that turned up negative. The other ..."

Westbrook should be ready for season

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June 5

ESPN.com

"Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook had surgery on his right ankle on Friday and is expected to be ready for the regular season. The procedure was done in Baltimore by specialist Dr. Mark Myerson. He removed scar tissue and bone fragments from the ankle, which Westbrook initially injured last season in Week 3 against Pittsburgh. "Brian is doing well, he texted us and said he's doing well," trainer Rick Burkholder said. "We feel pretty comfortable that he'll be back by the beginning of the season. Whether he'll be back for training camp or not, it's too early to tell." According to ESPN 950 Philadelphia, Westbrook cannot put weight on his leg for two weeks. After that, the ..."

Eagles hold breath on Westbrook surgery

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June 5

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Eagles' running attack is in limbo as the team awaits word on Brian Westbrook's ankle surgery this morning in Baltimore. While a team source and Westbrook's agent said Wednesday that the surgery to clear bone spurs in the right ankle would be minor, another source close to the situation was more worried about the severity of the injury."I'm just concerned that [the surgery] is being underplayed," the source said yesterday. "It's a lot more than a little spur and it's much more than the knee arthroscopy" Westbrook had in February.Mark Myerson of the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction in Baltimore was to operate.The Eagles start training camp on July 26 and begin the regular ..."

Eagles set to keep McNabb in green

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June 5

Camden Courier-Post

"Having first coached Brett Favre, Steve Young and Jeff Garcia, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg sees parallels between those three and Donovan McNabb. One particular trait that links the Eagles' quarterback with the aforementioned three: Each of them flourished deep into their careers. Favre, Young and Garcia combined for 16 Pro Bowl appearances and two league MVPs after their 30th birthdays. "It's a known fact they end up maturing a little bit later, in some cases, in most cases, I would think," Mornhinweg said. It appears that McNabb's decade-long run as Eagles' starting quarterback is about to extend at least two more years. Citing an anonymous league source, Comcast ..."

Westbrook to have ankle surgery

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June 4

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will have his second operation of the off-season. After reports by Comcast SportsNet and ESPN.com, the Eagles confirmed that Westbrook would have bone spurs removed from his right ankle on Friday. The surgery will be performed by Mark Myerson in Baltimore. A team source said the team was unsure of the recovery time. The Eagles open training camp on July 26 and the regular season on Sept. 13. Coach Andy Reid said yesterday that Westbrook was visiting Myerson in Baltimore. Myerson is a foot specialist who operated on wide receiver Terrell Owens late in the 2004 season. Westbrook participated in the Eagles' mandatory minicamp in early May, but Reid said ..."

Eagles hint they might rework McNabb's contract

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June 4

Philadelphia Daily News

"YOU HAD TO read between the lines, which were being painted in vivid shades of blue, red, green and yellow yesterday afternoon, at the Potter-Thomas School on North Sixth Street in West Kensington. Eagles president Joe Banner put down his paintbrush at the Eagles Youth Partnership's 13th annual playground build long enough to talk to a few reporters, who pressed Banner for information on the possibility of a reworked contract for quarterback Donovan McNabb, first reported by Comcast SportsNet's Derrick Gunn on Tuesday evening. Banner did not want to go into specifics about McNabb's situation. But by the time he had finished addressing "hypothetical" scenarios, explaining why in a ..."

Westbrook to get ankle surgery

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June 4

Philadelphia Daily News

"ONCE YOU'VE typed the words "Brian Westbrook" and "right ankle surgery," it's really hard to keep the typing fingers away from words such as "disaster" or "panic." But if what the Eagles announced last night, in confirming what agent Todd France said earlier, is the whole truth, Westbrook needs cleanout surgery for bone spurs, not a repair of a high ankle sprain. Though that sounds ominous, it probably isn't. The team released a statement saying Westbrook "is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday, June 5, in Baltimore. The surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Mark Myerson, is a debridement of his right ankle." France told ESPN.com Westbrook needed "minor" surgery for "bone spurs." Dr. ..."

Former Cowboys' coordinator Stewart working Eagles defense

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June 1

Philadelphia Daily News

"The Eagles are expected to announce within the next day or 2 that former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has been added to the Birds' defensive staff.News of Stewart's hiring was broken Saturday on the blog of Dallas' WFAA-TV. A source close to the situation confirmed to the Daily News that the move was pending. Presumably, Stewart will help with the secondary, where Sean McDermott has been stretched thin, as he fills in for defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson has taken an indefinite leave of absence to fight metastasized melanoma.According to Dave Spadaro on the Eagles' Web site, Stewart has already gone to work, alongside assisant secondary coach Otis Smith, in the ..."

Source: Eagles to add ex-Dallas defensive chief

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June 1

Camden Courier-Post

"In another indication that Jim Johnson's battle with cancer is more serious than they're allowing, the Eagles are ready to add former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart to their staff, according to a team source. Stewart hasn't officially signed a contract yet but was in Philadelphia and is expected to sign sometime this week, the source said. The Eagles begin full-squad minicamp Tuesday. The Eagles haven't issued an official announcement and probably won't until Stewart is officially inked. Even while Johnson is away on an indefinite leave of absence to continue treatment for melanoma, the team has publicly maintained optimism that their longtime defensive coordinator ..."

Bears likely closer to Tinoisamoa after Pats grab other linebacker

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May 28

Chicago Tribune

"According to Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe, the Patriots have come to terms with linebacker Paris Lenon. That means Pisa Tinoisamoa, a player New England also entertained as an option, is likely out of the mix. That's good news for the Bears as they attempt to bring Tinoisamoa to Chicago. The former St. Louis Ram could start at strong-side linebacker, and he's already familiar with Lovie Smith's scheme. Smith was the defensive coordinator in St. Louis in 2003, the same year Tinoisamoa was drafted by the Rams."

Is IR system in line for a change?

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May 21

Boston Globe

"When the NFL adopted its system for placing players on season-ending injured reserve, the main issue was stashing. Teams had long been allowed to place players on injured reserve and bring them back later in the season. But some felt that clubs were circumventing the rule by placing players who weren't truly injured on IR, opening a roster spot for someone else. Thus, a competitive advantage was scored. Colts president Bill Polian remembers high-profile coaches and personnel executives, such as Don Shula and Jim Finks, pushing for a change to combat stashing, and it finally came in 1993, when the league made two significant adjustments. At that time, players placed on injured reserve would ..."

Eagles coach Johnson takes leave of absence

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May 18

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will be taking a leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy treatments, according to a report on espn.com.Johnson will not be at the team's three-day rookie camp, which starts on Wednesday. His cancer was diagnosed earlier this year after a tumor was discovered in a bone in his back."

Reid Wanted Boldin

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May 14

Camden Courier-Post

"Andy Reid appeared (in voice only) on WIP yesterday to finally admit that he inquired about the price tag of Arizona Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin. Now according to the Cardinals, no good offers came their way: But, if Reid is to be believed, this may have been because the Cards simply wanted too much. Reid suggested the Cards wanted a first, third, and fifth round pick in this past April's draft. Don't forget that after giving up all those picks, you still had to sign the guy to a top WR-caliber deal. Reid said that would be around $10 million right off the bat. "That's a lot of picks, No. 1," Reid said. "And then you're going to pay the guy $10 million. So you get hit on both sides of it." ..."

Reid says Eagles checked into Boldin

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May 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday in an interview on the morning show on WIP-AM (610) that the team checked into the availability of Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin before the NFL draft, but found the price too high.Reid suggested the price might have been first-, third- and fifth-round draft picks."That's a lot of picks, No. 1," Reid said. "And then you're going to pay the guy $10 million. So you get hit on both sides of it."Instead, the Eagles traded up two spots and selected Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round. Reid said he thought Arizona probably wasn't willing to part with Boldin. If the Cardinals were, a deal would have been struck."He's a pretty good player ..."

Shawn Andrews, not brother Stacy gets look at tackle for Eagles

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May 2

Philadelphia Daily News

"THE JERSEY of the Eagles' right tackle this season probably will feature "ANDREWS" written across a wide pair of shoulders.But it might not be the Andrews we expected.Coach Andy Reid made it clear yesterday that Shawn Andrews is not just a minicamp fill-in for his brother, Stacy, the right tackle the Birds signed in free agency."I'm going to give Shawn an opportunity at the right tackle spot," Reid said after the first workout for the 2009 season. "I know Stacy can go inside and compete with Nick [Cole, at right guard]."What this probably means is that Stacy Andrews, 3 months after ACL surgery on his right knee, isn't going to be ready to go full-tilt until training camp, if then, and that ..."

Eagles get CB Ellis Hobbs from Patriots

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April 27

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Sheldon Brown requested a trade. Instead, the Eagles gave him competition. In return for two fifth-round picks yesterday, the Eagles obtained veteran New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs, a former third-round pick who started all 16 games for the Patriots each of the last two seasons. Eagles coach Andy Reid tried to dismiss the notion that Hobbs' addition had any connection to Brown's complaints about his contract and the way the team was dealing with the issue. "We got a good quality player there," Reid said. "You can't have enough corners in this league, so we wanted to make sure we addressed that and brought in a good quality player. This doesn't have anything to do with Sheldon's ..."

Maclin would rather be an Eagle

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April 27

Philadelphia Daily News

"DR. JEFF PARRES has known Jeremy Maclin since the Eagles' 2009, first-round pick was 9 years old. You could say Parres approves of the pick; in fact, he likes him so much that "he's a son now." Maclin has lived full time with the Parres family, in suburban St. Louis, since his sophomore year in high school, intermittently for several years before that, starting when Parres was his youth football coach. "Jeremy's never known his father, and his mom has had some difficulties in life, off and on," Parres said outside the NovaCare auditorium yesterday, after Maclin and second-round running back LeSean McCoy finished their introductory press conferences. "Little league football, weeknights, I ..."

Decision time for Eagles: Keep picks or trade?

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April 23

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The best draft-day decisions in NFL history haven't always been about choosing the college player whomakes the smooth transition into becoming a great pro, and that could be true again in this weekend's draft, which begins with the first two rounds Saturday.Wide receivers such as Arizona's Anquan Boldin, Cleveland's Braylon Edwards, and Cincinnati's Chad Ocho Cinco (formerly Chad Johnson), and Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez could be available in trades in the next few days. Teams - including the Eagles - must decide if there is a price they are willing to pay to get one of them.An Eagles source shot down an SI.com report yesterday that said the Eagles were in pursuit of Gonzalez, 33, ..."

Eagles May Yet Land Gonzalez

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April 22

Camden Courier-Post

"The Eagles "might have nosed ahead" of the Falcons in the Tony Gonzalez trade talks, according to SI.com's Don Banks. The report says that the Eagles have offered Kansas City a third round pick for the future Hall of Fame tight end. Kansas City still wants a second round pick and SI.com says that lowering their demands may be "upsetting their fan base". I love the attempt by the Eagles to pick up Gonzo. There aren't any elite pass catching, game-impacting tight ends this year."

The newest Eagle? What does the meter say?

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April 22

Philadelphia Daily News

"Paul Domowitch: The Eagles need somebody to share the ball-carrying load with Brian Westbrook, and this guy fits their offense better than a $4,000 Armani suit. They like him a lot, and if he's there at No. 21, it would be a no-brainer. But getting him probably is going to require a six-spot tradeup to 15. METER READING: 9 Les Bowen: This is the guy most experts think the Eagles want and should draft, even if they have to trade up into the teens. That probably means they have no intention of drafting him. Birds haven't gone for a first-round RB since Keith Byars in 1986. But Brian Westbrook turns 30 this year, and Correll Buckhalter is in Denver. It's time for a serious move at this ..."

A runner in the first round?

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April 21

Camden Courier-Post

"Myth No. 1 about the Eagles, according to the man in charge of piecing together the roster: The organization refuses to use a first-round pick on a running back. That really hasn't been our philosophy," general manager Tom Heckert said recently. "I guess we've been fortunate that we've had solid running backs and we figured that we're not going to draft a first-round guy to really not play a whole lot for us." Myth No. 2: With the 21st overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft, the Eagles absolutely, positively must take a running back. "We do think there are good running backs in the third [round]," Heckert added. "There always are third-, fourth-round guys. There's always guys that play. We ..."

Brown's trade request angers Eagles

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April 21

Camden Courier-Post

"In the past, when a player went public with his contract dispute, the Eagles' front office took the high road. Apparently, the silent treatment is over. The team responded swiftly -- and angrily -- Monday in response to an ESPN report that cornerback Sheldon Brown wants to be traded. "It's very unfortunate and counterproductive that Sheldon has chosen to go public with his feelings about his situation," said the Eagles in a written statement e-mailed to the media. The statement wasn't attributed to head coach Andy Reid or president Joe Banner. It's a reflection of the entire organization, according to a team spokesperson. Brown is signed through 2012, thanks to the nine-year extension of ..."

Birds tell Brown: No trade, no raise

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April 21

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Sheldon Brown requested a trade yesterday, and it went over about as well at the NovaCare Complex as a Rosie O'Donnell reference in a Donald Trump boardroom.The veteran cornerback's request was made via a televised report on ESPN and by the end of the workday, the Eagles had responded with a lengthy statement that made it clear they have no intention of either trading Brown or reworking his contract."It's very unfortunate and counterproductive that Sheldon has chosen to go public with his feelings about his situation," the Eagles said in the statement. "After thorough evaluation by himself and discussions with his family and agents, he chose to accept an extension of his rookie contract ..."

Eagles don't rule out seeking Boldin

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April 21

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The interesting thing was that Joe Banner did not reject the idea. Asked yesterday if the acquisition of left tackle Jason Peters would prevent the Eagles from going after Anquan Boldin, the Eagles' team president essentially said it remains a possibility without specifically talking about the Arizona wide receiver. "We're always looking for players that we think can make us better," Banner said. "I think we've proven many times that we'd be willing to do what it takes, whether it be a trade or do something with somebody's contract in order to get them here." Given that the Eagles surrendered a first-round draft pick - the 28th overall - and a fourth-round pick to get Peters, they have ..."

CB Sheldon Brown wants trade; Eagles say no

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April 21

Philadelphia Daily News

"DISRESPECTED, TAKEN for granted.Those are the feelings that drove Sheldon Brown to request a trade from the Eagles, and to make that request public, the Eagles' cornerback told the Daily News last night."I've always been treated like the redheaded stepchild, ever since I was drafted," Brown said in the wake of an ESPN report about his trade request yesterday afternoon, a report that provoked a sharp response from the team, asserting that Brown would not be traded."I've always been the nice guy, never said anything. I think they took that for granted," Brown said.The way Brown tells it, he was plugging along, about a year into his quest to get the Eagles to adjust the contract he signed ..."

Eagles could go after a runner

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April 20

Camden Courier-Post

"Myth No. 1 about the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the man in charge of piecing together the roster: The organization refuses to use a first-round pick on a running back. "That really hasn't been our philosophy," general manager Tom Heckert said recently. "I guess we've been fortunate that we've had solid running backs and we figured that we're not going to draft a first-round guy to really not play a whole lot for us." Myth No. 2: With the 21st overall pick in Saturday's NFL Draft, the Eagles absolutely, positively must take a running back. "We think there are good running backs in the third (round)," Heckert said. The weekend trade to acquire franchise left tackle Jason Peters almost ..."

Eagles could still have the moves to climb higher in draft

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April 20

Philadelphia Daily News

"Eagles general manager Tom Heckert isn't a guy known for making bold, Buddy Ryan-like statements. But at the NFL owners' meetings in California last month, he made a comment to reporters that, at the time, seemed very bold.He was talking about his team's draft armament, which at the time included 12 overall picks, two in the first round (Nos. 21 and 28). Asked how far the Eagles could trade up in the first round, he said the sky was the limit."With those 12 picks, we feel we can do whatever we want, get up as high as we want," he said. "Probably all the way up [to the top] or pretty close."The teams way up top, the compensation moneywise [for high draft picks] is so crazy, teams are ..."

Dallas Cowboys don't seem caught up in receiver talk

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April 20

Dallas Morning News

columnist Tim Cowlishaw

"With so many rumors swirling about elite or near-elite wide receivers possibly on the move, where are the Cowboys in these discussions? New York newspapers and Giants Web sites are filled with stories about the likelihood of Cleveland trading unhappy wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the defending NFC East champs. Other than the fact he drops more balls than Terrell Owens, Edwards' big play skills would seem to be the perfect replacement for former Giant Plaxico Burress. In Philadelphia, there is more than a little talk of the Eagles luring Anquan Boldin from Arizona. The Cardinals have been unable to alter his contract to make him happy, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said last week the team ..."

Bills on verge of trading Peters to Eagles for three draft picks

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April 17

Buffalo News

"Buffalo Bills left tackle Jason Peters appears to be headed to the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN.com is reporting that the Bills and Eagles already have the framework of a deal. The Bills would receive the second of the Eagles' first-round draft picks (28th overall) and a fourth-rounder this year, plus an undisclosed selection in 2010. The trade is contingent upon Peters passing a physical and he and the Eagles agreeing on a contract extension. Negotiations with Peters' agent, Eugene Parker, began today. The Bills have tried for more than a year to lock up Peters with a long-term contract, but both sides were unable to bridge the wide gap between them. Peters, 27, who was voted to his second ..."

Bills no closer to trading Peters than to signing him

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April 10

ESPN.com

"For the past 72 hours, the Buffalo Bills have dominated NFL headlines. The league suspended Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch for three games, and star receiver Terrell Owens unexpectedly showed up for voluntary workouts. The most important offseason Bills story, however, regards neither of them. While cameras search for T.O. and questions swirl around Lynch's latest reprimand, contract angst roils again within left tackle Jason Peters. To say trouble's on the way would be false. It's already here. More precisely, it never went away. Just as he did last year by refusing to join the team until two days before the season opener, Peters still wants to be compensated like a franchise ..."

If Bengals are to trade Ocho Cinco, Birds should listen

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April 9

Philadelphia Daily News

"Just when the Eagles' offseason started to settle down into a countdown toward the April 25-26 draft, along came our old friend Michael Smith to stir the pot a little. Smith speculated on ESPN that the Bengals could end up trading wideout Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson. Moving the Chains asserts that Smith said, in a question about the Eagles, that he believes there is interest. I'm not sure Smith has a lot of management sources with the Eagles. (Does anyone?) He points out that the Eagles have two first-round draft choices, so they would be a logical destination. That's why the Birds are getting pulled into almost every trade scenario, at every position, this offseason. They have two ..."

Va. tackle reportedly to visit Eagles

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April 3

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will make a pre-draft visit with the Eagles on Monday at the NovaCare Complex, a league source said yesterday.Monroe's visit is a signal that the Eagles are at least considering an attempt to move into the top 10 picks of the first round. Both general manager Tom Heckert and coach Andy Reid said last week that they believe they have the trade ammunition needed to move to the top of the draft board. The Eagles have 12 picks, including the 21st and 28th overall selections in the first round.Monroe, 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, is considered by many draft experts to be the second-best offensive tackle in this year's draft behind Baylor's Jason Smith. It's ..."

Running back McCoy to pay the Birds a visit

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April 1

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Pitt running back LeSean McCoy, a former star at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, will make a pre-draft visit to the Eagles, a league source said yesterday.The Eagles, in need of a running back to complement Brian Westbrook, could use one of their two first-round picks on one of the top college runners in this year's draft, which takes place April 25 and 26 in New York. McCoy is one of four running backs Eagles general manager Tom Heckert touted as a potential first-round pick at the NFL owners' meetings last week in Southern California.McCoy, 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, ran for 2,816 yards and 35 touchdowns in two seasons at Pitt. He also caught 65 passes for 549 yards and a ..."

Eagles to sign fullback Weaver

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March 20

ESPN.com

"Former Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver weaved his way through a handful of contract offers and accepted a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles Friday. The contract, according to a source, is a one-year deal that will pay him $1.75 million but also has incentives that could take the deal to $2.5 million. Although there was more money on the table from a couple of other teams, Weaver felt more comfortable with the offensive opportunities in Philadelphia. Weaver had been talking to the Vikings, Bucs, Seahawks and other teams, but he was hoping for the right deal from the Eagles. The Eagles didn't use much of the fullback last season. Weaver was coming off a season in Seattle ..."

Source: Smith, Ravens agree

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March 17

ESPN.com

"The Baltimore Ravens are not waiting until the NFL draft to add quality depth to the tight end position. According to a source, the Ravens have agreed in principle to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with former Philadelphia Eagle L.J. Smith. The tight end is visiting Baltimore Wednesday and could have a deal finalized by the end of the week, pending a physical. Smith, 28, spent the past six seasons in Philadelphia, where Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spent most of his career as an assistant. Baltimore is looking for an additional receiving threat and depth at tight end to play alongside current starter Todd Heap, who's had several injuries in recent seasons."

Ravens to meet with L.J. Smith

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March 17

Baltimore Sun

"L.J. Smith, a free-agent tight end, will visit the Ravens on Wednesday, a team official confirmed. The Ravens are looking to improve their depth at tight end. The team currently has Todd Heap, Quinn Sypniewski and Edgar Jones. Smith, 28, has ties with coach John Harbaugh when they were both with the Philadelphia Eagles. Last season, Smith caught 37 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Ravens are expected to announce the signing of free-agent cornerback-returner Chris Carr on Wednesday and the release of cornerback Samari Rolle."

Eagles' shot at signing Weaver dim

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March 16

Philadelphia Inquirer

"There were indications yesterday that free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver will be playing somewhere other than Philadelphia next season.A league source said that the Eagles had not had contact with Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, for several days. The source indicated that Weaver might re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks or go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Seahawks reportedly freed up about $6.5 million in salary-cap space over the weekend by trading linebacker Julian Peterson to the Detroit Lions.Lewis did not return phone calls or e-mail messages.If the Eagles do not sign Weaver, the incumbent fullbacks will remain Dan Klecko and Kyle Eckel.Through the Eagles' first 11 games last season, ..."

Eagles await Weaver's decision

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March 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver is close to deciding where he'll sign. "We are talking and hope to work something out in the very near future with one of the teams that is interested in Leonard," Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, wrote yesterday via e-mail. Lewis said several teams were interested in Weaver, but the only one he mentioned besides the Eagles was the Seattle Seahawks, for whom Weaver played during his first four NFL seasons. Weaver, 26, spoke with ESPN 950 radio Wednesday night and said he would like to sign with the Eagles. An Eagles source said earlier in the week that the team was interested in the versatile fullback."

Seahawks fullback draws Eagles' interest

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March 12

Philadelphia Inquirer

"An Eagles source confirmed yesterday that the team is interested in signing free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver.The source added that negotiations with Weaver's agent, Harold Lewis, had not become serious. The agent said that was the case and that he was not in a rush to get Weaver signed because he knows his client is a sought-after player."Right now, we're just talking" with the Eagles, Lewis said. "We're talking with many other teams as well. There's a lot of interest because Leonard is the No. 1 fullback on the board."Even though Weaver is listed as a fullback, Lewis believes he brings more to the table than the average player at his position. In other words, the agent thinks Weaver ..."

Tra Thomas expected to sign with Jaguars

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March 9

Jacksonville Times-Union

"Philadelphia Eagles free-agent tackle Tra Thomas agreed to terms Monday with the Jaguars and the 12th-year veteran is expected to sign the deal sometime today, according to the club. Financial terms of the deal weren't made available. But Thomas made $5.45 million in base salary last season, and turned down a contract offer from the Eagles before the start of free agency. A native of DeLand and former standout at Florida State, Thomas will start at the left tackle spot vacated by Khalif Barnes, who is still searching for a new team in free agency. Despite his age (34), Thomas is still considered an upgrade over Barnes at left tackle. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Thomas has started ..."

Eagles - Sean Jones to visit Eagles; Greg Lewis traded to Patriots

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March 6

Philadelphia Daily News

"Sean Jones was to arrive in Philadelphia last night for today's visit with the Eagles, who are still shopping for a veteran safety following the departures of free agents Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine.As of last night, the Eagles had not expressed interest in another safety, Roy Williams, according to agent Jordan Woy. Williams, a five-time Pro Bowler, was set loose by the Cowboys yesterday.As team president Joe Banner eloquently stated in his Wednesday radio appearance, nobody out there is really going to replace Dawkins, a seven-time Pro Bowl free safety and the emotional heart of the franchise. Jones and Williams are both strong safeties; the Birds could be thinking that Quintin ..."

Converted cornerback to replace Dawkins?

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March 5

Camden Courier-Post

"The Eagles' replacement plan for franchise legend Brian Dawkins might involve a 33-year-old defensive back with nearly zero experience at safety. Shawn Springs, a 12-year NFL veteran who spent his last five seasons with the division-rival Redskins, flew to Philadelphia on Tuesday night and met with Eagles coaches Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex. Springs said he discussed the idea of moving from cornerback to safety with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, an indication of two things: that Johnson is still coaching despite his ongoing battle with cancer, and that the Eagles might not be ready to promote second-year safety Quintin Demps into a starting role. "They talked about the ..."

When offer is too low, a player's got to go

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March 4

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Tra Thomas said he doesn't believe the Eagles want him back, and there is reason to believe he is correct. "They haven't shown any interest in bringing me back, so as hard as it is, I have to move forward," Thomas said via a text message yesterday after returning from a visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars. "The Eagles have always been the team I wanted to play for, but now I have to go to the team that wants me." A source with knowledge of the situation said the Eagles' offer to Thomas before the start of free agency was "way too low." Eagles president Joe Banner declined to comment. The Eagles, meanwhile, brought in veteran cornerback Shawn Springs for a visit last night. Springs, 33, was ..."

Springs visits Eagles; Sheppard discusses trade to Jets

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March 4

Philadelphia Daily News

"After saying goodbye to Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard and Sean Considine over the past week, the Eagles have some openings in their secondary. It isn't entirely clear how Shawn Springs fits into that picture, but the veteran corner arrived at the NovaCare complex yesterday for a visit that will culminate in a press conference at 12:30 this afternoon. It would be a surprise if the Eagles haven't signed Springs by then. Springs, 33, wouldn't seem a great fit for the dime corner job Lito left, and the Birds just finished paying Joselio Hanson - likely the only one of the half-dozen Eagles who began February as potential unrestricted free agents who will actually stay with the team - to a new ..."

Eagles Trade Rumors