One of the 10 Eagles who will potentially become a restricted free agent tomorrow may not hit the open market at all.
Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen reports that Leonard Weaver has told him that the All-Pro fullback and the Eagles are "closer" to finalizing a long-term deal. The deadline for tendering a one-year offer to restricted free agents is midnight, so there is still time to get a deal done.
Weaver is one of the 212 players in the NFL who would have been an unrestricted free agent in a capped year, but with just five years of service he falls one year short of what is needed for unrestricted free agency in an uncapped year. Weaver signed a one-year deal with the Eagles last off-season as an unrestricted free agent and enjoyed his best year with 323 rushing yards, 140 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
It is unknown at this time what tender level the Eagles will use if the two sides can not consummate a long-term deal. Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain, who is also an offensive weapon at the fullback spot like Weaver, was tendered an offer at the first-round level.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 1:00 p.m., March 4
