In first look, unexpected moves on offensive line

When Donovan McNabb went under center yesterday, rookie first-round draft pick Shawn Andrews was directly on his right at guard and veteran Jermane Mayberry was on his left at the other guard.

That's somewhat surprising for two reasons. Mayberry has been the Eagles' starting right guard for the last four seasons, although he missed all but five games last year with a serious elbow injury that required surgery.

Artis Hicks, meanwhile, seemed to have a legitimate chance of moving into the starting lineup after the Eagles traded disgruntled left guard John Welbourn on Sunday, but it appears Andrews is the front-runner to be the starter at right guard.

Coach Andy Reid would admit nothing.

"I want to give [Andrews] as many reps as I possibly can," Reid said. "That's the fastest way to get them. I moved Jermane over and we have Hicks rotating at all the [line] positions. We feel very comfortable with Hicks being in there, too. Jermane is the left guard and Andrews is the right guard. That's the way it will be this camp. "

Hicks, who filled in three games for an injured Welbourn at left guard last year, signed a five-year contract extension two weeks ago that includes escalator clauses for the final three years of the deal based on playing time. In other words, he can make more money in 2006, 2007 and 2008 if he becomes a starter at any time during the life of his contract.

It's still probable that Hicks will be a starter at some point during the life of his contract because Mayberry is in the final year of a contract and Andrews figures to move from right guard and replace right tackle Jon Runyan within the next two years.

Running back Brian Westbrook (triceps) and fullback Jon Ritchie (shoulder) are still recovering from surgeries and did not practice.

On the defensive side, Jevon Kearse lined up at left defensive end and N.D. Kalu remained the starter at right defensive end. Derrick Burgess backed up Kearse on the right side and 2003 first-round pick Jerome McDougle was with the second team on the left side.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown (hernia) also underwent surgery recently and did not practice. Roderick Hood replaced Brown and rookie third-round pick Matt Ware played in nickel coverage.

Reid said Westbrook, Ritchie and Brown are expected back at the Eagles' next full-squad camp the first week of June.

Surgery for rookie. Andrews is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove polyps from his nasal passages Friday. The rookie first-round draft pick believes the medication he took to alleviate the problem last season at the University of Arkansas helped his condition but also led to his excessive weight gain.

Scouts fired. Marc Ross, the Eagles' director of college scouting since Dec. 5, 2000, was one of four scouts fired recently. Ross, a former Princeton University wide receiver, had worked for the team since 1996 when he was hired by John Wooten, the Eagles' former director of college scouting.

Also fired were western regional scout Dave Boller and area college scouts Jim Monos and Richard Shelton.

The Eagles said they decided to go in a different direction in the scouting department and they expect to replace all four scouts by the end of the month.

Extra points. Buckhalter and backup linebacker Keith Adams each signed the $627,869 one-year contracts they were offered by the Eagles as restricted free agents in March. . . . Second-year receiver Greg Lewis made the play of the day, laying out for a 45-yard reception during the morning session. . . . Matt Ware was issued Bobby Taylor's No. 21, J.R. Reed was issued Duce Staley's No. 22, and Brandon Haw was issued Troy Vincent's No. 23.