In addition to G Max Jean-Gilles (gastric band surgery) and center Jamaal Jackson (knee), also sitting out the first day of minicamp practice Friday were linebacker Omar Gaither and defensive end Victor Abiamiri, both recovering from knee surgery.
Limited were cornerbacks Ellis Hobbs (neck) and Marlin Jackson (knee), tight end Cornelius Ingram (knee) and rookie cornerback Nate Allen (quadriceps).

Among the players that really stood out Friday in the first of five minicamp practices were rookie WR Riley Cooper of Florida and second-year FS Victor "Macho" Harris, who hit the field at 200 pounds, seven more pounds than last year.
Typically Eagles head coach Andy Reid reserves judgment on the rookies. Not so with Cooper, one of Tim Tebow's favorite college targets.
"It looks like he had a pretty good day," Reid said after the morning practice. "It looks like he fits into this style of offense."
Harris was very effective carrying the new weight. If he keeps playing that way it's going to be hard to differentiate him from Sheldon Brown. Harris is wearing the 24 Brown graced since 2002.
"I had my eye on that number for awhile," said Harris, who wore No. 1 at Va Tech. "I wanted a number I could feel a little bit better in than 35. Not that there's anything wrong with 35. It's like Deion Sanders says: "You look good, you feel good."
Wearing No. 35 is rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley, a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky.

The Eagles agreed to a one-year contract extension with quarterback Kevin Kolb, whose pact was due to expire after this season.
Kolb gets $12.26 million guaranteed over two years, the deal expiring in 2011.
The uncertainty over the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the threat of a lockout of the players likely kept the sides from doing a longer deal.
Kolb, 25, is in the fourth year of his contract. Andy Reid named him the starter after shipping Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins on Easter.

The  Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with punter Ken Parrish, of the Stroudsburg Area Regional Police Department in East Stroudsburg, Pa.
Parrish (6-1, 210) spent the 2009 training camp with the Eagles, impressing with his hang time after getting a leave from the department. He was claimed by the New York Jets after being released by the Eagles but didn't make the team.
Parrish was a two-time first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection at East Stroudsburg University, where he averaged 40.7 yards per punt over his four-year career.

EAGLES CLAIM G Shawn Murphy off waivers from Tampa Bay, sign undrafted rookies RB Keithon Flemming, DE Eric Moncur and CB Devin Ross.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman talks about the team's approach in the draft that netted 13 players, including first-round pick Brandon Graham, the can't miss defensive end out of Michigan.
http://delcotimes.com/articles/2010/04/27/sports/doc4bd65a7305751742383378.txt

Look at the accompanying video of several Eagles draft picks, including No. 1 Brandon Graham, and you'll see exactly the kind of aggressiveness the Eagles saw.
There's some great footage of T.O., the defensive end, and running back Charles Scott.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsaopTQHemY&feature=fvsr

Linebacker Keenan Clayton of Oklahoma, who the Eagles took off the board with their second pick in the fourth round, ran a 40-yard dash at 229 pounds.
He's pretty good in coverage having broken up five passes and picked off two passes last year. He also forced two fumbles in 2009.
But Clayton has a couple of red flags. He's built more like a safety, and he doesn’t seem to have much of an interest in attention to details.
Clayton was arrested after failing to address a citation for driving without proof of insurance according to Pro Football Weekly.

Fourthr-round pick Mike Kafka, the starter at Northwestern University is a little like Donovan McNabb. That is to say athletic and mobile.
Kafka also is a big fan of Donovan McNabb.
"He's actually from the Chicago Catholic League with Mount Carmel,"Kafka said. "I’m from St. Rita's."
Gauging by the scouting reports Kafka doesn't have nearly the arm strength of McNabb. He also has some accuracy issues although he threw well at his Pro Day. That's also when Kafka got noticed. Running a 4.81 40-yard dash at 225 pounds was big.

This time the Eagles traded the third-round choice they got from the Browns to the Packers for their third-rounder (86) and a fourth-rounder (122).

After their second trade on Day 2 of the draft, the Birds have 9 picks - a third-rounder, three fourth-rounders, two fifth-rounders, a sixth-rounder and a couple of sevenths.
After selecting FS Nate Allen with the fifth pick of the second round, the Eagles traded out of it. Obvously they didn't have any players ranked high enough to justify paying a second-round salary.

The Eagles sent the 55th pick to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick (125th overall) and the 59th overall pick. The Cowboys drafted LB Sean Lee of Penn State.

Nate Allen is the safety the Eagles think they need to kickstart the defense.
They took Allen  (6-0, 207) off the board with the fifth pick of the second round, also known as the Donovan McNabb pick.
If it's true Allen's tackling is suspect, he should fit right in.
The South Florida product has ball skills. He picked off four passes. Looking at some of his highlights videos it's amazing he was credited with 85 tackles, including one for a loss, in 13 starts last year.
But that's what you get on the second day of the draft. You can't expect a complete safety after the first round. Taylor Mays, who went 12 picks later to the 49ers, is a tackler who cannot cover.

Unless some team really wants quarterback JImmy (thanks, Casey) Clausen of Notre Dame, the Eagles are going to have trouble trading the fifth pick of the second round for a first round pick in 2011 . Much like Clausen, the first-day leftovers are full of issues.
The Eagles have a big safety in Taylor Mays, a cover safety in Nate Allen, a big corner in Chris Cook  and a big question mark in pass rusher Sergio Kindle near the top of the board they reset after the first round of the NFL Draft.
Mays (6-3, 230) made a lot of big hits but nowhere near as many big plays at USC last year. He's been getting by on the All-American rep he established the previous two years. Except in the red zone, he's a liability in coverage. The production doesn't match Mays' speed, a blustery 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.
Allen (6-1, 207) is a finesse player, (Cook (6-2, 212) an interesting prospect who ran a 4.45 but whose stock is in decline.
The intriguing pick would be LB-DE Kindle (6-3. 250) , a stellar pass rusher who helped teamate Earl Thomas make a lot of plays at free safety for the Texas Longhorns. The red flag on Kindle is one of his knees could require microfracture surgery.
Defensive tackle Brian Price of UCLA and defensive end Everson Griffen of USC also are available, as is nose tackle Terrence Cody of Alabama.
Serviceable offensive linemen Roger Saffold (T, Indiana), Bruce Campbell (Maryland) and Charles Brown (USC) are available.
In addition to Clausen, Colt McCoy (Texas) can be had.
And keep your eyes on tight end Dennis Pitta (6-5, 245). He fits the Brigham Young University role Andy Reid tends to bring in every year.

The Eagles did a pretty good job of getting the media to think they were wowed by Texas FS Earl Thomas, who, while a productive college player, had a grade that wasn't close to that of Brandon Graham.
Away from the podium Andy Reid said that Eric Berry was the only safety the Eagles would have dealt up for. And he was telling the truth; Berry came off the board at No. 5. The Eagles left Thomas alone when they moved up to the 13th overall pick.
We all remember the Julius Peppers free agent odyssey tour. His agent said the Eagles were very, very interested in JP. Said the Birds were next on the list, right after Chicago.
While some reporters swallowed it the Eagles knew Graham was their man. And they're convinced he won't disappoint - high-motor players who can get to the QB and play hurt rarely do.
Almost as revealing is the Eagles' approach to the draft with new G.M. Howie Roseman. In a draft full of third-round depth, he reccomended they trade both of their 3's as well as No. 24 overall to move up 11 spots. Obviously he thinks it's better to have the highest rated player than a bunch of guys who statisticaly are longshots to make anything but the practice squad. Graham was
Finally, Roseman-Heckert comparisons are unavoidable.
Heckert, now with the Browns, stayed at No. 7 and did the safe thing - drafting CB Joe Haden. That in a draft where the Browns could have filled a lot of needs by trading down in the first round for a similarly talented corner and extra picks.
The Eagles got their man - Brandon Graham.
And it looks like they got the G.M. job right although we'll all be watching Earl Thomas and DE Derrick Morgan to compare their numbers with Graham's.

in these youtube highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfcytu6ItI.
Pay close attention to the way he fights off double-teams, collapses the pocket and doesn't give up on plays. Those qualities will help keep you around the NFL.

The Birds dealt both of their third-round picks and No. 24 to Denver for DE Brandon Graham, one of the first players they showed interest in. DE Carlos Dunlap was the other.
The undersized  Graham (6-1, 268) came off the board with the 13th overall pick. He's a Dwight Freeney-type edge rusher with a little less explosion.
The Eagles had their choice of Graham or FS Earl Thomas, whom the Seahawks drafted with the 14th overall pick.

Heckert, formerly of the Eagles, played it safe with the selection of CB Joe Haden. FS Earl Thomas, QB Casey Clausen would have been bolder. Especially Clausen considering Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are the Browns QB's.

In a draft lean on great players, the Chiefs did the right thing, locking in on Eric Berry. The certified playmaker makes them instantly better. And in the NFC West, the Chiefs probably make the playoffs.
 

Skins took OT Trent Williams off the board. Protection for Donovan McNabb. That's three of the first four picks who are Oklahoma Sooners, Suh (Nebraska) the exception. Go figure.
That said, FS Eric Berry, DE Derrick Morgan and FS Earl Thomas all are available and coveted.

What do the Redskins do at No. 4? They said they would select FS Eric Berry. I think they were posturing.

A move up to that range would cost the Eagles their first round pick and one of their second rounders or  their first, both third-rounders and a sixth.

Add Mike Vick to the booty of first, second and third-round picks and the Eagles can make a pretty good argument to move up the draft board.
Maybe not high enough to get the fifth choice from Kansas City but close enough to get FS Earl Thomas who they like just as much, or pass rusher Derrick Morgan.
Vick does have a link to the great state of Kansas, you know. He even played a little ball there.

The Redskins aren't going to draft FS Eric Berry with the fourth pick. Their sudden late interest in Berry almost certainly is to shop the pick. And you can be sure they've called the Eagles, who in this uninspiring yet deep draft might have Berry at the top of their board.
On the draft value trade chart, the Eagles would be in striking distance of Berry if they supplied teams drafting 4-through-7 - the Redskins, Chiefs and Seahawks - with their first-round choice and their best second and third-rounders. That would leave the Birds with one more second and third round choices.

Eagles SIGN punter Sav Rocca to a one-year contract. He was the team's last remaining unsigned restricted free agent.

There have been enough Ernie Sims speed stories to accept  the Eagles' assessment of him as a football player who plays very fast.
I don't doubt Sims ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at Florida State. Or that he could run in the high 4.2's if he lost a few pounds. Sims said it's in the family genes. His mother was a prolific sprinter.
What I wonder about after shaking hands with Sims is if he's big enough to be an everydown linebacker. Even with a bulky upper body, I see him getting blown up by blockers, not the other way around. If Sims is on the field, I'm running at him, not away from him.
Sims himself concedes he's "maybe 6-foot," and plays at 225 pounds, not 230. He also said NFL scouts worked him in safety drills.
But I'll give the Eagles the benefit of doubt, at least now.
If Sims can't play on run downs, he's still fast and physical enough to function in the nickel and dime packages. With his speed, he can cover wide receivers in the slot, not just running backs and tight ends. And that's more versatility than the Eagles had last year.

Regular Season
Sunday, September 12 Green Bay 4:15 p.m. FOX*
Sunday, September 19 at Detroit 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, September 26 at Jacksonville 4:05 p.m. OX
Sunday, October 3 Washington 4:15 p.m. FOX*
Sunday, October 10 at San Francisco 8:20 p.m. NBC*
Sunday, October 17 Atlanta 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, October 24 at Tennessee 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, October 31 Bye
Sunday, November 7 Indianapolis 4:15 p.m. CBS*
Monday, November 15 at Washington 8:30 p.m. ESPN*
Sunday, November 21 NY Giants 8:20 p.m. + NBC*
Sunday, November 28 at Chicago 1 p.m.+ FOX
Thursday, December 2 Houston 8:20 p.m.NFLN*
Sunday, December 12 at Dallas 8:20 p.m.+ NBC*
Sunday, December 19 at NY Giants 1 p.m.+ FOX
Sunday, December 26 Minnesota 1 p.m.+ FOX
Sunday, January 2 Dallas 1 p.m.+ FOX
* nationally televised game
+ game time subject to change due to flex scheduling

The Eagles kickoff the 2010 season against the Green Bay Packers Sept. 12 at Lincoln Financial Field.

The much anticipated return of quarterback Donovan McNabb is Sunday, Oct. 3, when the Eagles entertain the Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field.
But it is not a prime time game, according to WIP Radio.
The Redskins host the Eagles on Monday night in Week 10.
McNabb spent the last 11 seasons with the Eagles, who took him off the board with the second pick in the 1999 draft.
Just weeks ago the Birds traded McNabb to the Redskins for a second-round pick in this week's draft and a third or a fourth-rounder in 2011. The latter pick is contingent on McNabb's playing time.

The first of what what likely will be several leaks regarding the Eagles' 2010 schedule is in.
The Birds play at Detroit, Ernie Sims' employer, in the second week of the season. That comes courtesy of the Detroit News.
Oh, and considering the Lions went 2-14 last year, that's a win for quarterback Kevin Kolb.

The Eagles got a bargain for the fifth-round pick they got from the Browns for cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong.
But Sims has health issues. The trade is contingent on his passing an Eagles physical that likely will take place Tuesday.
Last season he played in just 11 games having sprained the AC joint in his shoulder in the second game.
"Fluke injury" or not, later in '09 Sims tore his hamstring after hyper-extending a knee.
Sims said he entered '09 feeling better than he had since entering the league, having successfully rehabbed from shoulder surgery. The shoulder issues scared off several NFL teams, although the Lions took him off the board in the first round of the 2006 draft.
If Sims stays healthy, he's a solid sideline-to-sideline performer. His athleticism made him a No. 1 pick of the Lions in 2006.
Again, that's the rub. At 6-0, 230 pounds, he's not the biggest guy. Though he played all three linebacker slots in the Lions' 4-3 defense, the weak side is where he will have to make a living with the Birds.
Sims has pedigree. He teamed with Eagles DT Brodrick Bunkley at Florida State. The 2006 Seminoles were Bobby Bowden's last good team.

Among Delaware County area players, offensive tackle Will Barker (Virginia, Haverford School) and linebacker Simoni Lawrence (Minnesota, Upper Darby High) are potential third-day draft picks. They could come off the board in the sixth and seventh round.

Offensive tackle Zack Anderson (Akron, Interboro High) is considered a priority free agent.

Lawrence is is the 12th player in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Ms_nreeMw.

Anderson is No. 78 in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qwj16Cy7vo).

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said on a conference call Wednesday he suspects the Eagles would most likely trade up in the first of the draft to select a safety like Eric Berry (6-0, 211) of Tennessee or Earl Thomas (5-10, 197) of Texas. Thomas plays 100 pounds bigger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK_tq6nqCPU).

Berry could come off the board from 7-to-12.
Thomas could slide into the late teens but probably not to 24, where the Birds draft.
Mayock thinks the Birds would be happy with Thomas, whom he considers the premier playmaker of all of the safeties.
"Earl Thomas, in my opinion, is the most instinctive safety I've seen in five or six years," Mayock said.

The NFL announced Wednesday they will distribute the 2010 schedule next Tuesday.

The unusually late release date likely is a product of recent trades, including the Eagles’ shipment of quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. Count on a prime time Eagles-Redskins matchup – or two. The schedule-maker would be remiss overlooking the drama.

In addition to the NFC East opposition, the Eagles this year host Green Bay, Minnesota, Houston, Indianapolis and Atlanta.

The Birds visit Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Jacksonville and Tennessee.

Yes, the Eagles made it pretty clear they wanted to move on from Donovan McNabb.
At the same time, they're not completely sure Kevin Kolb is their future. Can he stay healthy for a 16-game season in an offense that by nature of sending every potential receiver out in the passing game, subjects the quarterback to a beating?
So, why not Tim Tebow?
Tebow could fill a Wildcat role while he's learning the quarterback position. If he cannot play quarterback adequately you could always take a look at him at another position like tight end.
With needs at cornerback, defensive end and the offensive line the Eagles might be more prudent using a second-round pick on Tebow, rather than their first-rounder (24 overall) on Tebow.
Then again, Tebow might not make it into the second round.
In either case drafting the big, strong and unrefined Tebow would be a dramatic statement both in terms of personnel and marketing.
There is no more popular player in the draft right now than Tebow.

NICK COLE SIGNED his one-year restricted free agent tender w/Eagles, who still plan to draft offensive linemen later this month - possibly even a pure center.

NICK COLE SIGNED his one-year restricted free agent tender. The Eagles still plan to draft offensive linemen later this month. And possibly even a pure center.

A very credible reporter, Clark Judge of  CBS Sports, says the Eagles are close to completing a deal sending veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong to the Browns for either a draft pick and player or two draft picks and a backup.
The trade is contingent on Brown gaining a new contract.
That will mark the end of Brown's solid, if unspectacular 8-year tour with the Eagles.
The employer-empolyee relationship got ugly prior to the 2009 season when Brown felt the Eagles were big-timing his request to secure a contract extension and asked for a raise.
The Eagles refused to take care of him. Instead they issued a statement  accusing Brown of deflating his own trade value.
At one point last season Brown came out for the pre-game introduction wearing a Jason-type ski mask depicting the character from the Halloween movie series. Brown's point was that no matter what the Eagles did, they couldnt kill his career, just like Jason couldn't be terminated.
Gocong, a third-round pick in 2006, lost his starting job last year to rookie Moise Fokou. Gocong might be better suited to playing in the Browns' 3-4 defense.
The Eagles could use the Browns picks to trade for Seahawks guard Rob Sims (6-3, 312), a restricted free agent.
More on this story as it develops.