Eagles Release Kearse

After four mostly disappointing and injury-plagued seasons where he only showed glimpses of his feared pass rushing ability, the Eagles released defensive end Jevon Kearse on Thursday.
Kearse was in the middle of a $66 million, eight-year deal signed in 2004 that made him at the time the highest-paid defensive end in NFL history. The three-time Pro Bowl selection failed to live up the lofty expectations set when he signed. His ineffective performance last year led to reduced playing time and finally landed him on the sideline, despite his big salary. Juqua Thomas replaced Kearse in the starting lineup.

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Philidelphia Eagles Rumors

The free-agent buzz surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles for the last few weeks has been that they are going to pursue New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. That might end up happening, but it seems more likely, and perhaps even more logical, that they are going to make a strong attempt to sign New York Giants safety Gibril Wilson, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. It's more likely because Samuel is considered the premier defensive player on the open market, and he is going to command a top contract — probably at least $12 million per season with a $20 million signing bonus — and there's going to be a line of teams bidding for his services. Wilson, a 26-year-old free safety, doesn't figure to get nearly as much money as Samuel and probably fits better with the Eagles in terms of need. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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Eagles Franchise Tag Smith

As rumored a few days ago, tight end L.J. Smith, who was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the month, was given the franchise tag by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Thursday marked the first day of the offseason that teams could use the tag. Although Smith can receive offers from other teams, the tag gives the Eagles seven days to match. A team signing him would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation. "Any player wants a long-term deal -- that's what you want, to feel secure in your job and also your family's position, but I'm OK with it right now," Smith said. "I definitely would have preferred a long-term deal but, hey, my agent, he's going to want to talk with the team, and who knows? I didn't even think I was going to get this. Maybe they can get something worked out later on." If he signs with the Eagles, Smith will receive a one-year deal worth the average of the top five highest salaries earned by tight ends.

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Ravens Will Make An Offer For McNabb

It was only a matter of time before Donovan McNabb's name surfaced in some sort of trade rumor this off-season, and it has happened at Super Bowl XLII the Philadelphia Daily News reported. A report on ESPN Sunday said that the Baltimore Ravens, with new head coach John Harbaugh, are pondering making a substantial offer for the Eagles' veteran quarterback. After injuries limited Ravens starter Steve McNair to six games this season, it is only natural to wonder if Harbaugh, the Eagles' longtime assistant, would have interest in acquiring McNabb.
The Eagles have gone on record as saying they expect McNabb to be back as their starting quarterback. Team president Joe Banner strongly stated late in the season that McNabb would return. Source: Phiadelphia Daily News

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Eagles Will Either Sign, Or Tag Smith

There has been speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles will prevent tight end L.J. Smith from becoming a free agent by franchising him for $4.522 million in 2008 the Philadelphia Daily News reported. Quarterback Donovan McNabb said he would like to see Smith back, recovered from the injuries that cost him most of the season. "He's a big part of our offense," McNabb said.

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Eagles Look To Add Playmaker

Philadephia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook repeated that he is among the growing list of players who are siding with quarterback Donovan McNabb, requesting that management bring additional weapons to the team for next season according to the Philadelphia Daily News. "I think having more weapons on your team takes pressure off of everybody," said Westbrook, who is at Super Bowl XLII as part of a promotional campaign with Chili's Restaurant. "If you look at a team like the Patriots, they have so many weapons that if you shut down one guy, it just gives so many more opportunities to other guys to play well. "If you have those guys who can make those plays, it makes it a lot easier on the entire team. That's something we could definitely use and hopefully we'll get that." One possible trade could be for Cardinal's wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said during an interview with a Philadelphia radio show that the Philadelphia Eagles are one of four teams he'd like to play for if traded according to Profootballtalk.com. It remains to be seen whether the Cardinals will try to trade Fitzgerald. Due to escalators in his contract, he's scheduled to earn salaries of $14.59 million in 2008 and $17.355 million in 2009. That's nearly $32 million over two years, and then he'll hit the open market at only 26 years of age. The Cardinals could pay him the money for the next two seasons. But it would then cost more than $20 million to retain his rights via the franchise tag for the 2010 season.

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Owens Owes Eagles $$$

It what may result in another misty-eyed press conference, an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday on a grievance that was filed by the NFL players' union on Terrell Owens' behalf in 2005, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday, citing a league source. The union disputed the Eagles' effort to recover $1.725 million of the $2.3 million signing bonus the team paid the wide receiver when it signed him to a seven-year, $48.97 million deal in 2004. Owens was kicked off the team seven games into the 2005 season for a series of infractions, including repeated criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb and lashing out against management. He was suspended four games without pay and the team withheld his final five paychecks, totaling $955,880. That means Owens still owes the Eagles $769,120.

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