Eagles' Stacy Andrews: Willing to restructure deal

Stacy Andrews said that he would be willing to restructure his contract a year after the Eagles offensive lineman signed a six-year, $38.9 million deal as a free agent.

"I would do a minor restructuring of my contract," Andrews said last night by telephone. The Eagles "want to do an adjustment and we're willing. Hopefully, we can come to an agreement."

Rich Moran, Andrews' agent, said that he and the team have had discussions and will continue to do so.

"I've always had an amicable relationship with the Eagles," said Moran, who also represents Shawn Andrews, Stacy's younger brother.

The team had no comment.

Andrews, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee with the Bengals near the end of the 2008 season, started only two games at right guard last season. Otherwise, he sat on the bench as Nick Cole played.

Eagles coach Andy Reid had said Andrews' lack of playing time was because he hadn't fully recovered from the injury. The 28-year-old Andrews, though, said that the knee was not the problem and that his lack of production had more to do with being switched from tackle to guard.

"The knee didn't hinder me," said Andrews, who wore a brace all season. "I felt real good on the knee. It took a while to get comfortable at guard and get a new system down."

The Eagles made a splash by signing Andrews just as free agency opened last February. He was signed as a tackle or a guard, but he played 28 straight games at tackle before his injury. He was pegged as a replacement for right tackle Jon Runyan. But when minicamp opened, the Eagles moved his brother, Shawn, from right guard to right tackle, and Stacy was switched to right guard.

"The team said it would be best for Shawn to play tackle," said Stacy Andrews, who hadn't played at guard since the third game of the 2007 season. "At first I felt uncomfortable about it, but I was like, 'Hey, it's my little brother and it will help his back out.' "

It did not. Shawn Andrews reinjured his back during training camp and missed the entire season. He had surgery in November and is rehabilitating in Southern California. His future with the Eagles is an unknown. Even if he returns, Winston Justice, who was rewarded with a contract extension in November, stands in his way at right tackle.

Stacy, meanwhile, wants to remain an Eagle. He earned approximately $5.5 million in salary and bonuses last season and is slated to earn $7.6 million this season. More than half - $4.1 million - would come in a roster bonus that is to be paid out, conceivably, by April 4.

Andrews said he would be willing to take a cut, but he "wouldn't mess with the roster bonus." There's still the remaining four years and $25 million, however, none of which is guaranteed.

Andrews has been in his home state of Arkansas since a week after the season and said that his knee is 100 percent. He said he's ready to compete for the right guard spot.

"I'm a franchise tackle and will be a franchise guard," Andrews said.