While the Eagles' divisional foes wait to see if the team makes a change at quarterback, we thought we'd take a moment to catch up on some headlines generated recently by the three other NFC East teams.
In Dallas, a change in the offensive backfield could be on the horizon with Felix Jones replacing Marion Barber as the starting tailback.
"That has been a consideration, and it certainly is a consideration," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the *Fort Worth Star-Telegram*.
The 6-foot, 218-pound Jones carried the ball 116 times last season, averaging near 6 yards a carry.
Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes: "Felix is always a home run ball waiting to leave the yard. Meanwhile, Barber is starting to show signs of a running back already used up at age 26, just as some in the league had predicted his don't-dodge-'em style would take an early toll."
Jones and Barber each rushed for 91 yards in the 2009 regular-season finale against Philadelphia. In the wild-card playoff, Jones exploded for 148 yards on 16 carries, including a 73-yard touchdown run.
In Washington, Mike Shanahan has declared that no starting quarterback will be named until training camp, leaving the team's plans very much up in the air. Right now, the signal-callers in the mix include incumbent Jason Campbell and newly-acquired veteran veteran Rex Grossman as well as Richard Bartel and Colt Brennan. Washington also figures to add another in the draft.
Campbell has always played well against the Eagles. In his last outing againts Philadelphia, he threw for a pair of scores on 22 of 37 passing.
On defense, Washington is hoping for more production from defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, its prized free-agent acquisition from a year ago. Haynesworth recorded 37 tackles, including four sacks, in 12 games last season.
Though Shanahan made it clear that he expected full participation in the club's "voluntary" offseason conditioning program, Haynesworth opted to instead work with his own personal trainer. NFC East blogger Matt Mosley has more here.
And finally, we check in up the turnpike where Giants head coach Tom Coughlin may have provided the right motivation for defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who played sparingly down the stretch last season and reportedly had a spat with former coordinator Bill Sheridan.
Coughlin made strong comments at the Combine last month, saying he wasn't prepared to guarantee Umenyiora a starting job. Umenyiora promply responded, threatening to retire at age 28 rather than return to the Giants as a backup. Things have apparently changed since.
At the league meetings this week, Coughlin said Umenyiora has been "working his tail off" in the Giants' offseason program with a smile on his face.
"It's a competitive game," Coughlin said in a piece on *ProFootballWeekly.com*. "People earn what they have, and Osi is an excellent football player. He's got nothing to worry about in terms of going out and competing. It's just a mindset, and I believe he's in a good mindset now."
On offense, Scouts Inc. thinks we may be seeing the beginning of the end for the Giants' Brandon Jacobs. Click here to read what Matt Williamson, a former scout in the league, has to say about Jacobs.
At times in their career, both Umenyiora and Jacobs have given the Eagles problems.
That does it for this spin around the NFC East!
-- Posted by Bob Kent, 4:00 p.m., March 28
