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Eight weeks ago, the entire team of NFL Featured Columnists began a project of enormous undertaking: Play armchair General Manager and complete a full mock draft as a unit. Picks were, of course, easier for some than others—whether because only one FC participated, or because the choice was that obvious. But as we look back anywhere between 56 hours and 56 days after each pick, things don’t look the same. For ...

Everyone predicted that when free agency began on March 5, the lack of a salary cap would turn the NFL upside down. So far, it looks like that tornado has definitely touched down in South Philadelphia—because it has been a whirlwind four weeks for the Eagles. Five players have been cut. Reggie Brown was traded to Tampa. Chris Clemons was jettisoned to Seattle, and unrestricted free agents Jason Babin and Sean Jones ...

This summer, the sixth installment of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series will chronicle one lucky NFL team through their 2010 training camp. Sure, the premiere is still a good five months away. But last week, Texans owner Bob McNair told the Houston Chronicle that he told NFL Films he’s interested in having his squad join the Ravens, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Bengals among the teams HBO has profiled. That would be great national exposure ...

…Carlos Dunlap, defensive end from the University of Florida. But the choice wasn't as cut and dried as Eagles fans might think. As it stands, the Eagles’ biggest needs are on defense. They want a complement for sack machine Trent Cole on the other side of the defensive line, need a true SAM linebacker, and, even with Marlin Jackson aboard, could use another safety. So when we got to around No. 22, the ...

You all knew I would weigh in on the Eagles' biggest offseason story eventually, right? Well, much like the team, I've taken my time. See, the Eagles seem content to go into 2010 with three quarterbacks all in the final year of their contracts. Apparently, what some see as a circus, they see as a minute detail. But allow me to play devil’s advocate for a moment and say this: If one bird ...

Fans and pundits alike knew that free agency in an uncapped year had the potential to be a spending madhouse, and owners have yet to disappoint on that front. In the first week end of free agency, the NFL saw Leonard Weaver become the highest-paid fullback in NFL history, Julius Peppers snag a guaranteed $42m from the Bears, and Nate Burleson—yes, the Nate Burleson who averages 43 catches, 581 yards and ...

The madness has officially begun. As of 12:01 AM Friday, NFL free agency is underway and the league is in the throws of an uncapped year. While many think that will lead to erratic spending patterns—especially if your name is, say, Dan Snyder—what it did lead to was 212 players ostensibly getting screwed by restrictions. Counting the two players they released on Friday, the Eagles had 16 players from the ...

Sometimes in sports, you just gotta believe. Unfortunately, thatÆs not good enough to maintain journalistic integrity. Nor is voodoo magicùunless youÆre a Saints fan, in which case you can take the bag off. But while as a fan I want to believe the Eagles can make the Super Bowl, the fact is that as a journalist, I truly CAN believe the Eagles can get there. Sure, you can throw out numbers and ...

To put it mildly, the fourth quarter wasnÆt a banner one for the Eagles defense. There was the Giants game, where they gave up 38 points and over 500 yards of offenseùincluding two 60-yard-plus passing touchdowns. There was the Broncos game, where they gave up 20 second-half points and needed a ridiculous interception by Asante Samuel to keep that total from growing. Sure, they were in a couple tight spots ...

Although it wasnÆt as strong as they had hoped, the Philadelphia Eagles did finish the 2009 season strong. For the second straight quarter the Birds went 3-1, but the only loss was a heartbreaking shutout in Dallas that earned the Cowboys the division title and the Birds the title of ôroad warriors.ö As the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs, theyÆll have to win three games away from The ...