Deadline Miss on Andrews Deal; Max Set to Re-Sign
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Deadline Miss on Andrews Deal; Max Set to Re-Sign
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told reporters this evening that the Birds' trade with Seattle, which sent Stacy Andrews to the Seahawks for an undisclosed (not real high) draft pick, wasn't officially completed until 6:03, three minutes past the NFL roster deadline. So, Roseman said, the team had to cut guard Max Jean-Gilles, with the intention of bringing him back Sunday if he doesn't sign elsewhere. Roseman indicated he thinks Jean-Gilles will choose to stay where he has played since 2006. Jean-Gilles' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed that his client will re-sign with the Birds Sunday morning.
"Rules are rules," said Roseman, who said the trade actually was done by 6 p.m., but hadn't been filed with the league by then.
Also, the team made WR Kelley Washington its final cut to get to 53. Linebacker Tracy White, announced as released, actually was traded to New England, Roseman said. Apparently the Birds will get a conditional 2012 pick there.
Andrews hadn't spoken to Seattle yet when he spoke with your Eagletarian, but he said he was excited to go to a plce where he assumes he'll get a chance to play right tackle. "I'm not sure what they have in store for me," said Andrews, who added "I wish things could have worked out" here in what he called "a first-class situation."
Nonetheless, Andrews said he felt the negativity surrounding his brother Shawn, released and signed by the Giants after 2 years of injuries, affected the way he was viewed. "It affected it totally, man. People were questioning whether he was really hurt, throwing dirt on his name, and that kind of rubbed off on me. I kind of came in on a bad note," Andrews said.
He said he felt much of the negativity was from the fans and media, but "it trickled into some of the players. I'm not sure about (it affecting) the organization."
It's unusual to trade your starting right guard a week and a day before the season starts, but Andrews and agent Rich Moran were vocal about their unhappiness, when it began to look as if Andrews' starting position might not be assured, and esepcially after the Birds traded for longtime Cardinals starting guard Reggie Wells on Friday.
Andrews, who told the Daily News he came here to play tackle, said he would not have agreed to restructure his six-year, $39 million contract if Roseman hadn't assured him he would be the starting right guard.
"I think Stacy feels more comfortable at the tackle position; he's voiced that," Roseman said last night. "We feel with the addition of Reggie Wells and the health of our offensive line, we feel comfortable at the guard position."
Roseman said veteran Nick Cole will start at right guard. Obviously, that could change once Wells gets here and gets comforable in the offense. The Eagles resume practice Sunday.
It's an oddly shaped 53-man roster, which could still get some tweaking over the next few days
Earlier, The Eagles acquired defensive end/linebacker Antwan Barnes from the Baltimore Ravens for an undisclosed draft choice in 2011. The pick reportedly is a seventh-rounder.
Also, the Birds made 11 of the 13 cuts they need to get down to 53 by 6 p.m. Gone are WR Chad Hall, WR Jordan Norwood, TE Cornelius Ingram, C A.Q. Shipley, C Dallas Reynolds, OL Fenuki Tupou, DE Eric Moncur, DT Jeff Owens, LB Tracy.White, S Macho Harris, and S Quintin Demps.
The final two moves were the cutting of Washington and the trading of Andrews (combined with the deadline snafu and the "cutting" of Jean-Gilles.)
It's mildly surprising that Demps and Harris both were cut. CB Jorrick Calvin, picked up in a trade last week with Arizona, made the team, at least for tonight. Roseman said Calvin, a kick and punt returner, has "an intriguing skill set."
The Eagles right now have 6 corners and only 3 safeties, vet Quintin Mikell and rookies Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. Roseman said there are corners in the bunch who also can play safety, and that he hopes to add a practice squad safety when that group is assembled on Sunday.
When Jean-Gilles returns, the Eagles will be carrying 10 o-linemen and 10 d-linemen, along with 7 linebackers, 2 tight ends and 5 wideouts.
Although Barnes was listed as the backup at outside linebacker to Terrell Suggs, he is expected to be a defensive end with the Eagles.
Barnes, 25, was a fourth round draft choice of the Ravens in 2007 and posted 20 tackles, five sacks, one interception and one forced fumble during his three-year career in Baltimore. Three of his sacks came last season in 11 games, and he is viewed as a promising pass rusher.
The 6-1, 251-pound Barnes has seen action in 37 regular-season games and two postseason games for the Ravens and has 24 career special teams tackles.
Via his Twitter account, Barnes wrote, "Woooooooo........I had a good run in Baltimore......thank everyone for your support......its a new beginning and I'm ready to be a eagle..."
Barnes also set the career sacks record at Florida International with 24 and also made 224 tackles. He also was twice named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Roseman said the Eagles have been following Barnes for a long time, and really like his pass-rushing speed.
To read our earlier posts from today, click here.
I think that they will bring back Macho Harris because they are short at saftey— LiL Philly 54- "eldiablodelsol2009" You should be a writer for philly.com. You're an idiot. Your liberal blame Bush rhetoric is getting old at this point. If you want to see a bunch of arrogant, incompetent morons you have to look no further than the current Administration.— John663
- good riddance to Demps!— por
- 1republican why gruden whats he done but win an sb with tony dungy's team agaist a team he built? did not do anything after but lose and get fired!!!!— hatchet
- This isn't a superbowl contender. They are trying to figure out what guys have a chance when they can contend in two years. Work in progress.....rebuilding.— hawk18
- The last Andrews sister gone - wahoo!!!— M60tanker
- Well Well Well, The Reid apologists are back. Extolling his virtues as a coach who HAS NEVER won the big one. NEVER HAS. NEVER WILL. His arrogance gets in the way of smart disciplined football. How did those Andrews sisters work out for ya, Andy? Demps? Harris? These were all his picks and now after ONE year he is rebuilding? Seems that he made a bunch of mistakes, or as he always says, "I need to get better." Get better someplace else and leave the heavy lifting to someone else... unless its Cheese Steaks. Those you lift pretty pretty good. No better than 7-9, probably 6-10. Unfortunately he will get his usual pass from the cheap Lurie.— momzer
- Hasta la vista Stacy, it was neither fun nor worthwhile, may SEA reap what they sow. Here is the problem with the Wells trade, as I see it: the 2 most likely reasons that AZ traded him have to be 1- he is plain just not good enough to keep or 2- he is good enough to keep but not start and won't be a happy camper sitting on the bench, which is what we are reportedly getting rid of in trading Stacy. If it is #1, then we haven't really helped our team by adding him, have we? If it is #2, then he has to start and that worries me because if he is markedly better than what we had (Stacy/Cole/MJG), AZ would not have traded him to begin with, and then they wouldn't have traded him for just a 6th or 7th round draft pick at that. Plus, if he does start, how much of 1- our complex offensive system can he learn, 2- how much of Castillo's apparently complicated blocking techniques can he pickup, & most importantly 3- how much of our blitz pickup can he master? Because according to rumors, KK the savior has trouble recognizing blitz packages. Add all of this together and Uh Oh, all signs are pointing to a frustrating season coming up, at least on offense.— The Reddgie
- The only thing Reid does not do well is the clock at the end of games that really drives me nuts. Oh! And challenges I think he should hire someone just for that and give him the flag. Otherwise were in the playoffs every year with a shot. What more do some of you people want?— trex1234
- Made the statement 6 days ago, O Line and front office addressing at the 12th hour. It appears the front office and coaches were concerned also. And it appears they saw Special Teams and O Linebacker was a issues. At one type, I thought the O line was a Main concern. Special Teams looks like the organization saw other wise. And it appears they are playing the offense "theory vs defense". Point per game. The current educated guess from me. The organization is looking to hold opponents to 15 points a game. With the currents moves, the offense can manage 16.5 per. Many variables exist. No injuries being the main issue. Schedule wise, if all things play true to a season ago, 6-2 going into week 9. With all this said, as I as 100% of others posting, look for the Birds to be a 500 team. The bright side. This roster is a year out Monster. And have the foundation to be like the Phiten Phils. Not around, but there. I believe....— STIII
- Maybe we will get lucky and another team will sign MJG.— davimcg
- Craig, depending upon his dominant hand, one is going up and down and the other isn't....— phigglesfan75
- No it won't come back to haunt them. It's going to haunt them from the first game! As I understnad it, the plan now is to start in the first game Herremans, Jackson and Coles, or are they better known, bad foot, bad knee and bad knee. This should turn out well.— jimmyj
- "Although Barnes was listed as the backup at outside linebacker to Terrell Suggs, he is expected to be a defensive end with the Eagles." NNO, NO, NO! At 6-1, 251 he is far too big to be an Eagles DE. he should be at DT in the nickel package.— jimmyj
Surprised they didn't DL Ingram but not surprised at any of the other cuts. Getting rid of Demps alone raises the collective football IQ of the team 10 points. As for Stacy, tata. You had your chance. Reddgie, you still on?— tpizza
