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JOSELIO HANSON TO STAY WITH THE EAGLES
The Eagles announced they have agreed to terms with CB Joselio Hanson on a
five-year contract. Hanson was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.
The 27-year-old Hanson played in all 48 regular season games (eight starts)
and all five postseason contests for the Eagles since signing with the club as
free agent prior to the 2006 campaign. He originally joined the NFL as a rookie
free agent with San Francisco in 2003 and, after spending his rookie season on
the 49ers practice squad, played in 13 games (three starts) for the Niners in 2004.
He recorded his first interception this season in a Thanksgiving night victory
over the Arizona Cardinals and returned a fumble 96 yards for his first touchdown
against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished with one sack and 32 tackles.
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STACY ANDREWS NOW TEAMMATE WITH BROTHER
The Eagles bolstered their offensive line by signing former Bengals right tackle
Stacy Andrews to a six-year contract on Saturday. Andrews spent his first five
seasons with Cincinnati and is the older brother of Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews,
a former All-Pro coming off a troubled year. The 6-foot-7, 342 pound Stacy Andrews is
expected to replace Jon Runyan, who started every game with Philadelphia since 2000.
Andrews passed a physical despite having surgery in January to repair two torn
ligaments in his right knee. The 27-year-old Andrews started six games at left
guard in 2007 before moving to right tackle. He played last season under the
franchise tag, earning $7.5 million.
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DAWKINS SIGNS WITH DENVER. LITO TRADED.
The Denver Broncos have signed seven-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins, who spent
his entire 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dawkins signed a five-year,
$17 million deal that includes $7.2 million guaranteed. The contract also has escalators
that could boost the value of the deal to $27 million over five years, but the deal
also could be voided to two years, $9 million. Despite signing the big deal, Dawkins'
emotions over leaving Philly were so raw that he only wanted to talk about Denver.
Still, it was obvious from his puffy eyes that he'd spent plenty of time and emotions
pondering about what he had left behind. "It's a day that kind of goes both ways,"
he said. "I don't really want to get into that too much. I'll handle that down the
road in talking about the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now I want to celebrate this."
Dawkins, who turns 36 next season, said he felt blessed to be going from one storied
franchise to another. Then, the Eagles traded cornerback Lito Sheppard to the Jets in
exchange for two undisclosed draft choices. Philadelphia will receive a 2009 fifth-round
pick and a 2010 conditional draft pick. The pick could be as high as a second-round
choice in 2010 and as low as a fourth. The move marked the latest shakeup in the Eagles'
secondary. Also unrestricted free agent safety Sean Considine signed with Jacksonville.
Sheppard's departure seemed imminent when the Eagles re-signed Joselio Hanson to a
five-year deal on Feb. 20. Hanson figures to reprise his role as the nickel back
in 2009 behind starters Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown.
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FORMER BROWNS' SAFETY SEAN JONES JOINS BIRDS
Philadelphia agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent safety Sean Jones on a
one-year contract. A second-round draft choice of Cleveland in 2004, Jones has
played in 60 games during his 4-year career with the Browns, recording 286 tackles
and three forced fumbles. The 27-year-old ranks third among NFL safeties behind
Ed Reed and Oshiomogho Atogwe with 14 interceptions since 2006. He is also one
of just four players in the NFL to have at least four interceptions in each of
the last three seasons. The others are new teammate Asante Samuel, the Packers'
Charles Woodson and the Ravens' Ed Reed. Jones has big shoes to fill in Philadelphia.
Dawkins was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection during 13 seasons with the Eagles and
likely is headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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EAGLES FINALLY SIGN A TRUE BLOCKING FULL BACK
Fullback Leonard Weaver has agreed to a one-year contract with Philadelphia, giving the
Eagles a much-needed blocker in the backfield. Weaver spent his first four seasons with
Seattle. He ran for 130 yards and caught 20 passes for two touchdowns last season.
The Eagles played without a true fullback most of last season, and it cost them in
several short-yardage situations. Converted halfback Tony Hunt started but was cut
after seeing limited action. Defensive tackle Dan Klecko was moved to fullback and
Kyle Eckel was signed off waivers to add depth. Weaver, at 6-foot and 242 pounds, is
a solid blocker and can be effective with the ball. He has 356 yards rushing
(4.4 yards per carry) and one TD in 46 career games. He also has 60 receptions for 547 yards.
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BLOCKBUSTER TRADE NETS PRO-BOWLER PETERS
The Eagles' trade for Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters on Friday will cost
them a first-round pick (28th overall) and a fourth-round choice in next week's draft
(121st overall) and a sixth-round selection in 2010. The swap with the Buffalo Bills
for the two-time Pro Bowler helps the Eagles fill a glaring need at left tackle,
where they lost Tra Thomas to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. In teaming
Jason Peters with another offseason addition, Stacy Andrews, the Eagles have now
replaced both of their former pro-bowl tackles. The Eagles also gave Peters a
six-year contract extension worth $60 million, with $24 million guaranteed.
Peters held out all of training camp with the Bills last year in search of more money.
"Jason Peters is the best left tackle in football," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
"He is a powerful and athletic tackle, and I have admired his play over the last
few years on film. I have always believed that success in the NFL is derived from
the strong play of the offensive and defensive lines. This offseason, we have added
two young, top-flight offensive linemen in Jason and Stacy Andrews."
While the Bills lose their most talented offensive lineman, they rid themselves of
a potential headache. Peters was threatening to repeat last year's offseason holdout.
He was scheduled to make a base salary of $7.2 million over the final two years
of his contract.
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ELLIS DOBBS ACQUIRED FROM PATRIOTS IN TRADE
Hobbs was acquired by the Eagles from the New England Patriots for a pair of 2009
fifth-round draft picks - the 137th and 141st overall selections. A third-round pick
out of Iowa State in 2005, Hobbs has recorded nine interceptions and 2.5 sacks in his
career. He's started in every game over the past two seasons. The 5-9, 195-pound Hobbs
is in the last year of his contract. The Patriots signed Shawn Springs in the off-season
and drafted Darius Butler in the second round out of Connecticut which made Hobbs expendable.
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McNABB GETS $5.3 MILLION RAISE
Donovan McNabb got a big raise. Now the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback wants to deliver that
elusive championship. Donovan McNabb played in all 16 games last season for the fourth
time in his career. McNabb and the Eagles agreed late Thursday to restructure the final
two years of his contract instead of extending his current deal. McNabb will collect
$24.5 million over the next two seasons. That represents a $5.3 million raise over two years.
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"Both sides wanted to get something done," coach Andy Reid said. "We thought it needed to
be done. Donovan warranted this. There are very few players or situations where a player
is far enough along in his career, and then his contract, where he warrants something like
this. We felt Donovan was in that situation." McNabb made it clear last season he wanted a
new deal. The two sides agreed on a pay raise instead of an extension mainly because of
the uncertainty surrounding the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, which expires
after the 2010 season. "What goes on in the NFL over the next couple of years here, that's
an unknown right now," Reid said. "Rather than to do (an extension), let's take care of it
right now with the years remaining on his contract. We'll worry about the future as we come up here."
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EAGLES DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR PASSES AWAY
The Philadelphia Eagles are saddened to announce Jim Johnson has passed away at the age of
68 after a courageous battle with cancer. A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson
is regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in National Football League history.
Over the last decade, he gained a great deal of praise as the orchestrator of the renowned
Eagles defense. His aggressive style kept Philadelphia at or near the top of the NFL in
nearly every major defensive category since joining Andy Reid's staff on January 22, 1999.
From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency
(34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed
(17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff
berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance.
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EAGLES SIGN MICHAEL VICK, AGREE TO A 2-YR DEAL
Michael Vick is back in the NFL. When he finally gets in a game, it might be at a new position.
Looking to add a new dimension to their offense, the Philadelphia Eagles gave the disgraced
QB a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Vick wasn't brought in to compete with
five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb for a starting job, but the two could end up on
the field together. The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million with the second-year option
worth $5.2 million. The Eagles were reportedly not the first team to extend an offer to Vick.
Vick was the No. 1 draft pick in 2001 by the Atlanta Falcons and once the highest-paid player
in football. But he has not played since 2006 when his career came tumbling down. He was
convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation, sentenced to 23
months in federal prison and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Vick can immediately take part
in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games.
Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, he would get
a 2-game suspension from the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "I'm a believer that as long as
people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance," Eagles coach Andy Reid
said. "He's got great people on his side; there isn't a finer person than Tony Dungy. He's
proven he's on the right track."
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A QUICK LOOK AT THE BIRDS NEW ROOKIE DRAFTEES
Jeremy Maclin is a wide receiver and kick returner for the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected
him 19th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Maclin played two seasons at Missouri, where he was a
finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver. Maclin chose to forgo his
final two seasons of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL Draft. Jeremy Maclin is 6-feet, 1-inch
tall and weighs 200 pounds. Maclin gives the Eagles another dose of speed on the outside, quick
feet and plus return skills -- much like last year's second-round pick, DeSean Jackson. He
excels at quick routes and vertical strikes, which should ease his acclimation to the team's
West Coast offense. Head coach Andy Reid loves back-alley plays, such as reverses and bubble
screens, specialties of Maclin. The Eagles are deep at receiver, but Maclin will have a chance
to make an impact if he can pick up the playbook quickly. He'll immediately contend for the top
kickoff return job and merit serious consideration for snaps in three- and four-receiver sets,
especially on third down. He can also help restore QB Donovan McNabb's lost deep ball.
LeSean McCoy is a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected him with the 53rd overall
pick in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. McCoy attended the University of Pittsburgh, where
he played for two seasons. After his redshirt sophomore season McCoy declared for the 2009 NFL
Draft. McCoy is a strong, nimble halfback with quick feet and renowned for vision in the open
field and instincts. He fills an immediate need for the Eagles, who lack depth behind oft-injured
RB Brian Westbrook. He's not considered a burner, but his open-field moves and first step are all
strengths. He's a little undersized at 5-9 and 198 pounds, but he won't be asked to carry the
load. Some of McCoy's playbook at Pitt was similar to the Eagles', so he'll have somewhat of a
head start. If he's a fast study during the minicamps, McCoy will have every opportunity to be
Westbrook's primary backup.
Cornelius Ingram is a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected him with the 153rd
pick in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Ingram played three years at the University of
Florida, where he also played basketball. Ingram missed his entire senior season with a torn
ACL, but exhausted his four years of eligibility with the Gators. Like most spread-offense tight
ends, he's undersized for the position (245 pounds) with a skill set more comparable to wide
receivers. He can stretch the field but his blocking needs major work.
Brandon Gibson is a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, who was selected with the 194th
overall pick in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Gibson played for four years at
Washington State University. As a freshman in 2005 Gibson made five starts and was a key
contributor on special teams. In 2006 he took over full-time starting duties at wide receiver.
As a junior, he was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection. Gibson finished his career as Washington
State's career leader in receiving yards (2,756).Gibson, a potential sleeper, isn't a physically
imposing receiver but he has plus speed and excels at making the first defender miss. His
lackluster senior season could be more reflective of Washington State's quarterback struggles.
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