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HOT TOPIC
There still are a lot of things unsettled about the Eagles' offensive line. The identities of the starting center and left guard won't be decided until training camp where there will be open competition for both jobs. And it is far from certain that veteran tackles Jon Runyan and William "Don't Call Me Tra Anymore" Thomas will be with the team beyond the 2006 season.
But there is nothing uncertain about Shawn Andrews' future with the team. The 355-pound right guard agreed to a seven-year contract extension through 2015 this week that could keep him with the Eagles for the remainder of his career.
Terms of Andrews' deal weren't released, but his agent, Rich Moran, said his client is "set for life." Andrews is expected to receive between $11 million and $12 million in bonuses and salary in 2006 as a result of the extension.
Andrews, the Eagles' first-round pick in the '04 draft, has been the team's starting right guard since his rookie season, though he missed almost all of his first NFL campaign after breaking his leg in the season opener.
"I'm going to be here for a long time," Andrews said. "This is where I want to be, and this is where I'm going to be."
Andrews played tackle at Arkansas and is expected to eventually move outside after Runyan, the team's 33-year-old right tackle, leaves. Runyan, who had been a free agent, re-signed with the team in April.
The Eagles' biggest concern with Andrews is his weight. It ballooned to over 400 pounds his senior year at Arkansas, and was up over 380 most of last season. Andrews acknowledged that he often had difficulty getting down in his stance because of his ample belly, and was frequently fatigued during games.
But he has shed more than 25 pounds in the offseason and has trained as hard as he ever has in his life.
"I feel a ton better," Andrews said. "Last year at this time, I was around the 380s with no pads on. It was very uncomfortable. Now, I am able to last throughout the whole play."
Said Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter: "He's good. I said it when he first came in that he has a lot of potential. I said then that he has a chance to be a Larry Allen if he kept himself in shape.
PLAYER NOTES
--Asked about first-round defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley's progress during the team's spring minicamps, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson suggested that the rookie has struggled. "I think the light has come on just a little bit more this last week," he said. "I think he's played much better. I think his technique has improved a little, for what we want. But it's still a work in progress. He's not there yet." Bunkley figures to be part of a four-man tackle rotation this season that likely also will include '05 first-rounder Mike Patterson, Darwin Walker and Sam Rayburn.
--Special teams coordinator John Harbaugh on the progress of safety/kickoff returner J.R. Reed, who is attempting a comeback from career-threatening peroneal nerve damage in his left leg that sidelined him all of last season: "Just in shorts, I haven't noticed anything different from what he was two years ago (as a rookie). He looks just as fast, just as quick. When he has to change direction to make a tackle, returning a kick and making a cut ... coming off the has, making a play on the sideline, that's probably where we'll see (if he's sufficiently recovered). But he looks good right now."
--Left tackle William (formerly Tra) Thomas sat out the Eagles' final voluntary camp because he went back on the blood thinner Coumadin to combat the blood clots that surfaced in his left leg last year. Both Thomas and the Eagles insist the 31-year-old offensive lineman will be ready to play when training camp opens at Lehigh University on July 20. "I'll be ready to go full-tilt for camp," said Thomas, who also is coming off major back surgery. Thomas's absence gave rookie second-rounder Winston Justice an opportunity to take some snaps with the first unit at left tackle. Justice, a right tackle at USC, is the leading candidate to be the main backup at both tackle positions, assuming Todd Herremans beats out Adrien Clarke for the starting left guard job.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
--DT LaJuan Ramsey has signed a four-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Ramsey, a native of Compton, CA, is the second of eight Eagles 2006 draft picks to sign a contract.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Justin Ena (not tendered June 1).
--RB Lamar Gordon (not tendered June 1).
--P Sean Landeta (not tendered June 1).
--TE Chad Lewis (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--CB Roderick Hood: RFA; $1.573M/1 yr.
--P Dirk Johnson: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--RB Reno Mahe: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--WR Darnerien McCants: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--S Quentin Mikell: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OT Jon Runyan: UFA; $12.5M/3 yrs, $2.5M RB; 2006 cap: $3.65M.
--DE Juqua Thomas: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB Shawn Barber: FA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA Texans; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--QB Jeff Garcia: UFA Lions; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DE Darren Howard: UFA Eagles; $30M/6 yrs, $9.5M SB; 2006 cap: $2.58M
--DT Ed Jasper: UFA Raiders; $750,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--TE Matt Schobel: UFA Bengals; 5 yrs, $1.8M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Keith Adams: UFA Panthers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--S Jack Brewer: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.
--DT Paul Grasmanis (retired).
--QB Andy Hall (released).
--OG Artis Hicks: Traded Vikings.
--DE N.D. Kalu: UFA Texans; $750,000/1 yr.
--QB Mike McMahon (released).
--WR Billy McMullen: Traded Vikings.
--WR Terrell Owens (released).
--DT Hollis Thomas: Traded Saints.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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