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A Look At The Eagles Free Agents
 
February 27, 2009 | Last Updated: 2/27/09 11:55 PM ET | Comments (124)
By: STEVE LIENERT


Here is a look at the Eagles players who are scheduled to become eligible for free agency in the 2009 offseason ...

Unrestricted - A player who has accrued four or more seasons and whose contract has expired. The player is free to sign with any club with no compensation owed to the player's previous club.

RB Correll Buckhalter (Signed a four-year deal with Denver on Feb. 27)
Buckhalter realizes he'll never be the Eagles' No. 1 running back as long as Brian Westbrook is here, but he also knows he complements Westbrook and his abilities well. Buckhalter has missed three seasons due to various knee injuries over the course of his career, but this past season he was healthy enough to set career highs in receptions (26), yards (324) and receiving touchdowns (2).

S Sean Considine (Signed a two-year deal with Jacksonville on Feb. 27)
After losing his starting spot to Quintin Mikell, Considine could have pouted. Instead, Considine provided depth at the safety position while becoming a demon on special teams. A fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft, Considine led the team with 32 special teams tackles and was named one of the team captains for the 2008 postseason.

FS Brian Dawkins
The 35-year-old Dawkins earned his seventh trip to the Pro Bowl after another phenomenal season. He became the franchise's all-time leader in games played (183) and he finished the year tied for the all-time lead with 34 interceptions. The longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia said after the Eagles' NFC Championship Game that he would like to return to the only organization for which he's ever played.

CB Joselio Hanson (Agreed to terms with the Eagles on a five-year deal on Feb. 20)
After three seasons as a reserve on the depth chart, Hanson passed Lito Sheppard on the depth chart as the Eagles' nickel cornerback. The highlight of season was undoubtedly when he returned a Marion Barber fumble 96 yards for his first career touchdown. He also recorded his first career interception on Thanksgiving night against Arizona. Hanson has appeared in 61 games over the course of his four-year career.

T Jon Runyan
Runyan has an ironman-like 192 consecutive regular-season games played streak, but he was clearly battling through injuries to play in the postseason. Runyan ranks second only to Jets' quarterback Brett Favre for most postseason games played by active players (21). The 35-year-old Runyan has stated that he will definitely play somewhere next season and he would prefer for it to be with the Eagles.

T Tra Thomas
A first-round pick in 1998, Thomas has protected quarterback Donovan McNabb's blindside for more than a decade. He's only missed eight games due to injury over the course of his career and he's ranked second for most games played by an offensive lineman (166). He and fellow free-agent tackle Jon Runyan have started 134 games together, the most for a tackle tandem in Eagles history.

TE L.J. Smith
Smith suffered through back spasms, shoulder injuries and also nursed a concussion during the 2008 season. Smith has seen his production drop from a career-high 61 catches for 682 yards in 2005 to just 27 catches for 321 yards this season. Considering that Brent Celek started the NFC Championship Game and had a career-high 10 catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns, the Eagles will have to evaluate whether Smith should return.

Restricted - A player who has completed three seasons and whose contract has expired. If the player is tendered a qualifying offer, other teams can sign to an offer sheet but the original team has the option to match it. If the original team does not match the offer sheet then it receives compensation in the form of draft pick(s).

WR Hank Baskett (Tendered a one-year contract on Feb. 26)
Baskett set career highs with 33 catches and three touchdowns this season and his size and leaping ability make him a valuable commodity. Baskett ups his value by contributing on special teams and he was named the squad's special teams MVP in 2007. Baskett is also a big-play threat; he's just the sixth player in NFL history with three career catches of 85 yards or more.

G Nick Cole (Tendered a one-year contract on Feb. 26)
A rookie free agent signee in 2006, Cole has been buried on the depth chart for most of his three seasons with the team. But injuries to Shawn Andrews and Max Jean-Gilles opened the door for Cole, who played very well down the stretch to help the Eagles qualify for the postseason. Cole has seen action either on the offense or on special teams in all 53 regular and postseason games in his career.

Exclusive Rights - A player whose contract expires at a time when he has less than three accrued seasons. If offered a tender, these players cannot sign with a new team.

LB Tank Daniels (Tendered a one-year contract on Feb. 26)
This season was Daniels' second stint with the Eagles and he contributed mostly on special teams. Last season Daniels was claimed off waivers by the Giants and he went on to play in eight games for New York, including its win in Super Bowl XLII. Daniels recorded a career-high 18 tackles on special teams in 2008.

A Look At The Eagles Free Agents
   
ejkid3
02/28/09
11:26 am ET
Good luck Brian it's safe to say the Broncos are getting the best Defensive player this team has seen since Reggie or mabee even Concrete Chuck. It's also safe to say they just got some more fans. WE LOVE YA #20 you will be missed.
ejkid3
02/28/09
11:26 am ET
I wanted 2 wake up this morning and relize this was just a bad dream, looks like it was not. First off #20 was the one person that no matter what you could be proud two have him on your team. A leader ON AND OFF the field and the glue that held this team 2gether through alot of tough times. He has seen 13 years of under achieving, and bad moves, and when given the chance 2 leave he chose to stick by his team. 5 years later that same team sold him down the river for a 2 year deal. Donovan said he wanted to see what moves the team makes before re-upping. HAVE YOU SEEN ENOUGH? because I have. I have done nothing but openly defended Reid and Banner but no more. I will always love this team but they just ripped our hearts out. Brian aint just a Safety he is like family here.
tragiclies07@...
02/28/09
1:14 am ET
I think as fans we need to band together and boycott this season If B-Dawk Leaves. every true Dawkins fan needs to show the owner this is our team!!!! Opening day and tranning camp buy Nothing dont show up ... Buy no jerseys.. If we as fans dont try to do somthing We're just as bad then Let your voice be heard!!!!!
tragiclies07@...
02/28/09
1:03 am ET
I have been a Eagles fan sinice I can walk, And I have seen alot of bone head moves from management, But this is just sickening. If managment alows B-dawk weapon X to leave, This franchise will loose alot of fan support and money. I know 4 diffrent people with season tickets already talking about selling them. I know personally I will boycott this season and Not watch or spend the kind of money I did last season the 5 times I got tickets and was there. Managment needs to relize the money they will loose If Brian Dawkins leaves... Get your Head out of your a**.. Brian Dawkins Is the heart and sole of the Philadelphia Eagles You WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
taran_amicone@...
02/28/09
12:34 am ET
Wow, if the message below me doesn't form a tear in people's eyes I don't know what will. I'm really depressed about B Dawk, especially since it took me 9 months to find his jersey that I lost in my house, and I just found it a month ago. Now I have to hide it in the closet :-( The only thing keeping me hopeful about Philly sports teams anymore is that the beginning of the 2009 Phillies season is only 37 days away.
keithrolle@...
02/28/09
12:02 am ET
I have been saddened in the past by loosing some guys that I liked. But this move has taken the cake. Not giving Brian a 2 year deal is the worst mistake you could ever make. WE love Dawk all of the fans do. Lossing him is like a slap in the face. Even if he lost a step he has 5 on every other guy. Thats why he was in the pro bowl. Duh. What else can you guys do to us why not fire every one over 32. Then you could save even more money. You know how im gonna save money this year by not buying anything made by the eagles. Im still a fan I will bleed green till I die. As much as it was just an employee you let go. So are you guys. To us. One day soon someone is gonna think you guys are not worth an extra year. When that time comes I will still be here bleeding green. You guys can go back to your home city and count your extra couple of bucks you saved this year. Maybe then we will get some guys to spend some money on the team we all love so much. You guys...not so much.
sumosella16@...
02/27/09
11:19 pm ET
You may have run this castle of a city over the last few years, but the Phillies have taken over the thorn. Thanks for letting denver sign DAWKINS, the heart of your D. Hopefully Andy will out smart everyone with the signings this year, like he does with the play calling. Worst case, if you dont want to pay your first round picks it would be a great time to trade them to the cowboys again or maybe the Giants this year. Help the division get stronger. great strategy! Over all the gist of this message, This Organization SUCKS! This feels like I have invested my time and money in ENRON, SELL THE TEAM TO GEORGE S, at least he will spend money to be a loser.
sumosella16@...
02/27/09
11:18 pm ET
To Whom This May Concern! I understand that the Philadelphia Eagles are not only a professional sports team with a amazing following of fans, but this is a business. If you take a look, no matter what the eagles do this year in signings, they could sign James Trash, Todd Stinkston, or Drop Dead Fred. Us as fan are still going to sellout the Lincoln Financial Field, spend a boat load of money on food, drinks, and parking. Why should the owners a group of guys that are not from Philadelphia and dont care about the city do any thing for us. THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS! We have supported your team! when are you going to support the fans. Get what this team needs to win a super bowl. And stop being a bunch of cheap skates. Hey Jeff,Joe and that puppet of a coach Andy Reid, wake up, you got lucky this year and the last 6 before our division was weak. Sign some players that are going to make a difference.
andresszz
02/27/09
10:53 pm ET
"Like.... I'm shocked" not a lie
andresszz
02/27/09
10:52 pm ET
I just hope he rejects the offer and the eagles offer him SOMETHING. lie.... i'm shocked.....
bball_13_bj@...
02/27/09
10:44 pm ET
i think the eagles need to keep some of their veterans like tra, dawk, and jon.they have helped us over so many years,getting all of the wins and all three were on the superbowl team a few years back we didnt win it but we have the potential
flyeagles2480
02/27/09
10:36 pm ET
i am completely in shock of this ................. maybe kolb can play saftey
flyeagles2480
02/27/09
10:32 pm ET
I can not believe this.........do you just wanna break the hearts of all eagles fans tonight i am getting drunk out of my mind and tommrow i will ask my self do i feel like living with b-dawk on the broncos......really why do you even are do you all even care what is wrong with you people why would you do this to us why this is by far the worst day in eagles history it is a day eagles fans will forever frown upon you people have no idea how much that man means to us you have no clue he is a eagles player as much as he was an eagles fan he represented us
andresszz
02/27/09
10:30 pm ET
If he accepts the deal with the Broncos I'll f*****g cry man.... It's awful, I was so confident that he wouldn't try the market because we would sign him first...
bball_13_bj@...
02/27/09
10:25 pm ET
exactly the eagles cant give dawkins a 2 year deal even after all of the things he has done something is rly wrong here
Yankeesfan676895@...
02/27/09
10:22 pm ET
Even from a money standpoint its a hideously stupid move. Dawkins is one of our most popular players, his jersey is a top-seller, AND fans love him and his passion, and so they go to games. He draws in fans. Without it, well, we dont HAVE to pay all this freaking money to Lurie, whos really a Patriots fan anyways! Screw this organization! PS: Thank you Brian, for 13 great years. I hate to see you go, but I wish you the best in Denver.
andresszz
02/27/09
10:22 pm ET
Basically I feel disappointed and really REALLY sad, seriously.......
bball_13_bj@...
02/27/09
10:20 pm ET
wow.after all of the years us fans have backed up the eagles wins and losses.now they go and dont even attempted to re-sign dawkins (the heart and soul of the defense. i think the management needs to think bout wat they r doing.
andresszz
02/27/09
10:20 pm ET
I agree, I feel like they aren't "my" eagles anymore without B-Dawk. It will be hard for Eagles fans if he decides to dress in another team's uniform......
Yankeesfan676895@...
02/27/09
10:18 pm ET
Jeff, Joe, and Andy, I can't believe you would do this to us. After we supported you during all those losing seasons, rising ticket prices, the "go green" bs, and this is how you repay us??? After all Brian has done for this defense, and for the TEAM, and all the jerseys hes sold, you couldnt find the guts to give him 2 years? After he said he wanted to retire an Eagle? SHAME ON YOU!
webercr@...
02/27/09
10:16 pm ET
Does anyone know if the Eagles even offered B-Dawk anything before free agency started off today?
wynmngn
02/27/09
9:30 pm ET
I've never been ashamed to be an Eagles fan before today. Why would we let Dawkins leave? He just went to a freakin Pro Bowl and you know he's still got plenty left in the tank. We couldn't give him a two year deal? As a fan, I feel betrayed. Dawkins was Eagles Football! Terrible Free Agency!!
IceManJB
02/27/09
8:04 pm ET
Don't fret Eagles fans. Just remember, Greg Lewis is signed through 2011 and Reggie Brown through 2014 so life is good. How can they lose? Who needs the heart and soul of the defense? Why go out and get a #1 wide receiver? I'm convinced this organization is run by morons. The Eagles should have kept Dawk and booted Reid.
larrydimaio
02/27/09
8:03 pm ET
Words can not describe how upset I am that the Eagle's organization is letting Brian Dawkins go. Don't they see that the reason they made it to the playoff's with all those wins was because of Dawkins & the defense? Do they not understand the role Dawkins plays as a mentor, team leader & awesome Safety? Why can't Reid & Banner see how valuable he is to this organization? The fans love him, the team loves him, he brings 150% to every game and he gives his heart and soul to this team! We, the fans, are not accepting this treatment of Dawkins after all these years! This will hit their wallet because we won't support his organization by buying tickets or merchanidise....I am tired of the management making bad, bad, bad decisions related to Eagles players, like why bend over backwards for McNabb, but let a Hall of Fame player slip through their hands. They are 40 million under the cap; if they have to overpay by 2M or so, Dawkins is the kind of guy you do that for!
B-DAWK06
02/27/09
7:48 pm ET
I say we turn OUR backs on this organization.Stop buying eagles merchandise,tickets etc...until they make this situation right.Hit these ****s in the pocket,maybe that will open up their eyes and maybe they'll start making SMART decisions.I can't imagine training camp at lehigh will be packed this year.In fact I'm pretty sure it will be a ghost town now.



 

 
 
 
 
 
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