This year's free-agent market won't quite be the shopper's paradise that we saw last summer following the lockout, when hundreds of top-level players were available. But it's still going to be considerably more attractive than previous years.
The plethora of 1-year contracts signed by so many free agents last summer means they will be back on the market when the signing period begins on March 13.
"Everybody thought last year was going to be a very unique situation in terms of how many players were available," said Eagles president Joe Banner. "In terms of quality, I don't know since we haven't really sat down and talked about it yet. But in terms of quantity, people are going to see a market that's actually not that much different than last year.
"There were an unusual number of players at the end of free agency last year that signed 1-year deals and will come back into the market this year in addition to the normal [cycle of] players. So it'll be a fuller market than what we've seen, other than last year, in quite a while."
The Eagles signed several players to 1-year deals last summer, including offensive lineman Evan Mathis, who started 15 games at left guard, running back Ronnie Brown and quarterback Vince Young.
There are a lot of marquee names on the current list of free agents-to-be, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Ravens running back Ray Rice, Saints guard Carl Nicks, Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell and Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
But many of the top names won't make it to market. They'll either be re-signed or be given the franchise tag. In the 3 weeks since the end of the regular-season, though, it's been unusually quiet on the re-signing front.
"I expected to see a little extra activity at the end of the season, but that didn't happen," Banner said. "I have no idea what that means."
Banner declined to discuss his team's own 11 unrestricted free agents, including Jackson. Owner Jeff Lurie said earlier this month that the Eagles would welcome the wide receiver back, "if the right terms develop." But league sources said Jackson's opinion of his worth continues to be night-and-day different from the Eagles'.
While Jackson has said he would be willing to get franchised, the Eagles aren't likely to do that. If he signed the franchise tender, they would have to pay him $9.5 million next year. That's an awful lot of money to give a guy who has just five touchdown catches in his last 22 games.
LAMONTE'S CLIENTS SNUBBED
It hasn't been a particularly good week for agent Bob LaMonte, who represents a considerable number of the league's coaches and front-office executives, including the Eagles' Andy Reid and Howie Roseman.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, another LaMonte client, finished out of the money for the Raiders job, which went to Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Two more LaMonte clients, Brad Childress and Mike Sherman were among the cast of thousands interviewed for the Bucs' head-coaching job. Sherman appeared to be the favorite this week until Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was hired on Thursday. And on Friday, Childress was named the Browns' offensive coordinator. Down in Miami, another LaMonte guy, Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, was beaten out for the Dolphins' job by Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
Despite that, LaMonte, a former high school history teacher, remains one of the league's most influential people. The Eagles are one of several teams in which LaMonte represents both the head coach and the top personnel man. In Cleveland, he represents club president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert, head coach Pat Shurmur and now Childress. In Minnesota, he reps GM Rick Spielman and coach Leslie Frazier.
"I imagine if it were somebody you didn't like, it might be a problem," Joe Banner said. "But we've been dealing with Bob for 13 years and have an excellent relationship. I think he has a lot of respect for the organization and we have a lot of respect for him. So it's been a mutually good thing for everybody."
FIGURING THE EAGLES
* Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha led the Eagles in penalty yards this season. He was flagged seven times for 98 yards, 63 of which came on three pass-interference penalties. Defensive end Jason Babin drew the most penalties, 13.
* Making Jason Peters' All-Pro performance even more impressive is the fact that he was called for just one holding penalty the whole year. Got flagged for a hold in the first quarter of the Eagles' season opener against the Rams and didn't get called for holding again. Rookie right guard Danny Watkins was flagged for holding just once in 12 starts. Rookie center Jason Kelce and left guard Evan Mathis each drew two holding calls. Right tackle Todd Herremans had a team-high four.
* The Eagles converted 66.6 percent of their red-zone opportunities (14-for-21) into touchdowns in their final six games. They only had a 44.4 percent success rate (20-for-45) in their first 10 games.
* The offensive line gave up two sacks or less in 12 of 16 games this season.
* Eight of Jason Babin's 18 quarterback sacks came on first down. He had six on third down and two apiece on second and fourth downs.
* The Eagles recorded 28 sacks in their last eight games. Last year, they had just 15 in the final eight games.
* The Eagles converted 62.7 percent of their third downs of 3 yards or less (37-for-59). Last year, they converted just 58.8 percent (40-for-68).
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