NFL
NFC East: Eagles hit on all offseason cylinders
This is the fifth of an eight-part series on the offseason moves in the NFL. Today’s installment covers the NFC East.
If the NFL awarded championships for the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles might wear the crown.
You can make the argument that no team did a better job of strengthening its roster with shrewd trades and free agent signings and a terrific draft.
The Eagles look like the biggest challenger in the division to the New York Giants, who fortified their defense but need their young receiving corps to produce after cutting ties with talented but troubled Plaxico Burress and fellow starter Amani Toomer.
The Dallas Cowboys made big news with the release of polarizing receiver Terrell Owens. The move could be an addition by subtraction, but only if the rest of the team plays up to its considerable talent.
After taking a year off, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder returned to his free-spending ways by shelling out $181 million (over $71 million guaranteed) in contracts to just three players, including $100 million to All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But was it enough to escape the division cellar?
Here’s a review of the offseason moves in the NFC East:
 | New York Giants: Sturdy defense got quality reinforcements. |
 | Philadelphia: McNabb has new toys to play with. |
 | Dallas: Does no T.O. drama in Big D. |
 | Washington: Trying to buy way into playoffs. |
New York Giants
Key Gains:DE Chris Canty (Cowboys), DT Rocky Bernard (Seahawks), OLB Michael Boley (Falcons), S C. C. Brown (Texans),WR Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina), LB Clint Sintim (Virginia), OT William Beatty (Connecticut), WR Ramses Barden (Cal Poly).
Key Losses:WR Plaxico Burress (released),WR Amani Toomer (free agent), RB Derrick Ward (Buccaneers), CB Sam Madison (released), DE Renaldo Wynn (Redskins).
Breakdown: Canty and Bernard give an already deep defensive line even more flexibility. Boley and Sintim make the Giants’ linebacker corps more athletic. Brown gives secondary more depth. After failing to trade for a veteran receiver, the Giants drafted big targets Nicks and Barden. Beatty is the prototype of a hard-nosed Giants offensive lineman. TE Travis Beckum (Wisconsin) and RB Andre Brown (N. C. State) were nice second-day picks.
Key Questions: Will newcomers make the defense championship worthy? Will Nicks and Barden become reliable receivers for QB Eli Manning?
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Gains: OT Jason Peters (Bills), OT Stacy Andrews (Bengals), WR Jeremy Maclin (Missouri), RB LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh), TE Cornelius Ingram (Florida), FB Leonard Weaver (Seahawks), S Sean Jones (Browns), CB Ellis Hobbs (Patriots), CB Victor Harris (Virginia Tech).
Key Losses: S Brian Dawkins (Broncos), CB Lito Sheppard (Jets), RB Correll Buckhalter (Broncos), OT Tra Thomas (Jaguars), OT Jon Runyan (free agent), TE L. J. Smith (Ravens), S Sean Considine (Jaguars).
Breakdown: QB Donovan McNabb got his wish for more offensive help. Peters and Andrews give the Eagles an excellent pair of young bookends on the O-line. Maclin, Mc-Coy and Ingram have the big-play ability to expand the offense. Dawkins’ departure leaves Jones with big shoes to fill. Sheppard was traded and starter Sheldon Brown is unhappy, so Hobbs and Harris were good pickups.
Key Questions: Will additions make the McNabb-led offense more explosive? With contract no longer an issue, will Peters regain 2007 All-Pro form?Who will fill leadership void left by Dawkins, who was the heart and soul of the defense?
Dallas Cowboys
Key Gains: QB Jon Kitna (Lions), LB Keith Brooking (Falcons),DE Igor Olshansky (Chargers), S Gerald Sensabaugh (Jaguars), LB Jason Williams (Western Illinois), OT Robert Brewster (Ball State).
Key Losses:WR Terrell Owens (Bills), OLB Greg Ellis (released), NT Tank Johnson (Bengals),DE Chris Canty (Giants), ILB Zach Thomas (Chiefs), OLB Kevin Burnett (Chargers), S Roy L. Williams (Bengals), CB Anthony Henry (Lions).
Breakdown: Even without Owens, the offense has a lot of weapons. The key to the passing game is WR Roy E. Williams emerging as a top target for QB Tony Romo. With a healthy Felix Jones rejoining Marion Barber and Tashard Choice, the Cowboys have the makings of an explosive and versatile running game. Ellis’ expected release clears the way for 2007 first-round pick Anthony Spencer to start. Brooking and Olshansky negate departures of Thomas and Canty. Kitna is a capable backup for Romo. With no first-round draft pick because of the Roy E. Williams trade, Dallas hopes to find a few hidden gems among 12 Day Two selections.
Key Questions: Will Romo avoid another late-season meltdown? Can Roy E. Williams make people forget T. O.? Can Spencer ably replace Ellis, who had 19 sacks the last two seasons? Will youth movement in the secondary work out?How long will Jerry Jones’ patience with Wade Phillips last?
Washington Redskins
Key Gains: DT Albert Haynesworth (Titans),DE Brian Orakpo (Texas),DE Renaldo Wynn (Giants), GDerrick Dockery (Bills), T Jeremy Bridges (Panthers), CB Kevin Barnes (Maryland), P Hunter Smith (Colts).
Key Losses:DE Jason Taylor (Dolphins),GPete Kendall (free agent), OT Jon Jansen (Lions),DE Demetric Evans (49ers), CB Shawn Springs (Patriots).
Breakdown: Haynesworth is a dominant run stopper who should make the front seven better. Orakpo is expected to bolster a pass rush that had just 24 sacks last season. Barnes could win the nickel spot. The Redskins had to do some damage control with QB Jason Campbell after they tried to make trades to get Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez.
Key Questions: Will Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall (six years, $55 million) play up to their enormous contracts? Will Orakpo give the ’Skins a needed pass rush? How will Campbell respond after team tried to replace him? Even with Dockery and Bridges, is the offensive line good enough?
Next: NFC North.
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