Due to his immense talent, Shawn Andrews has been given chance after chance. He's blown the last two, and now a lot of people in the Philly area are calling for Shawn's head. It seems as though he's officially worn out his welcome in this city, and could be on the way out.

But then that issue of his immense talent creeps back up. There's not a doubt in anyone's mind -- or my mind, at least -- that if Shawn can come back healthy for 2010 that he instantly becomes not only the Eagles' best lineman, but one of the best in the league.

He's phenomenal run and pass blocking, and brings an attitude that ripples through the rest of the group.

The other thing helping Andrews keep his name above a locker on the NovaCare complex is that he's not making much money in 2010. About $1 million is all the Eagles will have to shell out to keep Shawn on the roster and just hope he returns to his old form.

If he can, it's well worth the money.

However, if Andrews is once again hurt -- mentally or physically -- and unable to contribute to the team, he will most certainly find himself in a different uniform in 2011. The Eagles fans seem to already be losing, or have lost, their patience with Andrews, and the Eagles coaching staff is only a few steps behind.

He's only played in two games over the past two years, and each year has left the Birds scrambling to find his replacement at the last minute, so it's no wonder that the fans and coaching staff are beginning to turn on him.

The team brought in his former college roommate and teammate from his days at Arkansas, and then also went out and signed his brother to play next to him on the line. Those guys come with the added benefit of being very good football players, but a key motivator was the relationship those guys have with Shawn.

Of course, Stacy has been a disappointment in his own right, and will certainly have his day in this series.

He has said that he would like to produce, if for no other reason than to thank Andy Reid for believing in him as long as he has. It's good that he's got some motivation, but he's also got to know that Reid's loyalty and belief in him can only go so far.

Shawn has been the subject of some heavy debate amongst the fans, and I'm sure the coaching staff as well, but if he doesn't produce in 2010 it's safe to say that there won't be much debate as to whether or not to keep him around for 2011.

---BOB CUNNINGHAM.

If I could vote for one guy who has been the biggest disappointment on the defensive side of the ball, I would quickly cast my ballot for Victor Abiamiri, the former second round selection back in 2007.

Abiamiri was the forgotten second round pick in '07 because of all the attention the Eagles' other second round pick, quarterback Kevin Kolb, was receiving in the media. He came in without a whole lot of expectations, other than the expectations of a second round pick.

His rookie season was a wash as he only played in six games and didn't record any noteworthy stats. It was a bit disappointing, but there's not a whole lot you can say about a rookie who doesn't produce. The first year is really about learning the system, finding your groove, and fitting in as a player.

His second season, however, he came in with a lot of expectations. Juqua Parker was this team's starter, but the coaching staff was really hoping for Abiamiri to step up and take the spot. However, after an injury and missing some time, he was unable to fully rebound with two sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 10 games played.

Then this season wasn't any better as Abiamiri was once again injured before the season began and was forced to miss seven games of the season. He was once again only able to accrue two sacks over the course of the season and was really a non-factor, falling to third on the depth chart behind Parker and newcomer Jason Babin.

Abiamiri seems to be quickly falling out of favor with the coaching staff and really has to put together a strong offseason if he wants to get a look as the starter. The Eagles will most likely go out and find another defensive end, whether it's in free agency or through the draft, so Abiamiri will face substantial competition.

Until the Birds do go out and get another guy, Parker will remain the starter with Abiamiri given every chance to take the spot. However, if he gets hurt in the offseason again, he's going to be put onto the backburner and forgotten about when the starters are decided in late August.

He's been contributing in the nickel packages as a defensive tackle, but that will only keep him around for so long.

2010 could very well be Abiamiri's final season as an Eagle if he's unable to take that next step and show the coaches that he's ready to start full time. They're not going to give him a second contract to be a backup, so if he's not starting in 2010 don't expect to see him back for 2011.

---BOB CUNNINGHAM.

Ever since Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert have become the top decision makers in Cleveland, everyone has been wondering if and when a deal will take place between the Browns and the Eagles.

It's certainly not a stretch that the two teams could make a deal given the relationship between Andy Reid and Holmgren and Heckert. Let's not forget that Reid is a branch on the Holmgren coaching tree from his days in Green Bay, so there is still a relationship there. Heckert, of course, was the Eagles' GM up until earlier this week.

But the only problem with a deal going through is that the Browns just don't have anyone in whom the Eagles would be interested. That is, unless Reid has become desperate enough to go out and trade for a kick returner/jack-of-all-trades like Josh Cribbs.

On the surface, it would certainly make sense. Reid understands that his team needs a kick returner. He also understands that Ellis Hobbs is probably not going to make his way back to Philly for anything less than a starting spot -- which is not going to happen.

Reid's also not a guy who will allow for a kick return specialist to take up a spot on his roster. He is going to want someone, like Cribbs, who can contribute in other areas as well. Cribbs would certainly fit that bill considering he's played wide receiver, quarterback, and running back -- all with some success.

He's a mismatch nightmare for defenses and is a threat to take a kickoff the distance every time he's back there. He also has made it clear that he does not ever want to play another down for the Browns, so it would make sense for them to see what they could get for him.

But, and this is the most vital part -- what are the Eagles willing to give up, what are the Browns willing to take, and what kind of contract will Cribbs want?

The Eagles would probably be willing to part with a mid-to-late round pick, something like a fourth or fifth, and maybe even Michael Vick. With Cribbs coming on board, Vick becomes very expendable and even a burden at that point.

If Vick was included in the deal, a fifth or sixth round pick would be more likely (if the Browns wanted a fifth, it would have to be in 2011 since the Eagles currently do not possess a fifth round selection).

The Browns might be willing to take Vick since Heckert obviously likes the guy considering he was part of the brain trust to bring him to Philly. However, is Vick someone that Holmgren and Eric Mangini want on their team?

Vick would like the opportunity to start, and he may get that in a camp battle with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. Quinn is a former first round pick, but none of the guys in charge drafted Quinn, so there's no loyalty there. They're all worried about fielding the best team, and if it turns out that Vick is the best of the three he would most likely get the opportunity.

In addition to Cribbs, the Eagles would probably ask for a late-round conditional pick. Maybe a seventh round pick that could turn into a fifth based on the playing time and production of Cribbs.

Then, assuming the deal goes through, the Eagles would have to agree to a new contract with Cribbs or Philly will just have to deal with a holdout. A guy in his position -- Devin Hester -- recently got a 4-year, $40 million contract from the Bears. However, Cribbs understands that Hester was signed as a No. 1 receiver, whereas Cribbs wouldn't be any higher than fourth.

He does have added value as a running back and quarterback in a wildcat set, but there's no way to determine a value for a utility man in the NFL. The MLB has those guys and have expected salaries for them, but it has been unheard of in the NFL since the days of the two-way players.

A high-end fourth receiver can probably make about $1.5 million per year, with a backup running back making around $1 million. Figure that an exclusive kick returner the caliber of Cribbs is also worth about $1 million and you come to a base salary of about $3.5 million per year.

That's a bit high, and the Eagles would probably offer something in the $2-2.5 million area. $2.5 would be a fair number for both parties, and Cribbs would probably get a few million up front in a signing bonus.

Then, with Cribbs on board, the Eagles should solve their kick return issues, feel comfortable releasing Kevin Curtis and trading Vick, and have a better bargaining chip with Hobbs if they want him back as a corner.

A lot of things would have to go right for this to happen, but it's something that everyone should keep their eye on in the coming months.

---BOB CUNNINGHAM.

The 2009 All-Pro team was announced today, and is really the only thing that matters when you come right down to it. The Pro Bowl is fine because it has the fan vote included, but in the end there's always at least a handful of guys who made it based on name-recognition, and at least just as many who get snubbed because they don't benefit from such recognition.

The All-Pro team, however, is usually different. Fans have no say, so immediately name-recognition becomes much less of a factor.

Only one Eagle, Leonard Weaver, made it onto the first team. Four others, David Akers, Trent Cole, DeSean Jackson, and Asante Samuel made it onto the second team. Jackson is not on the team as a receiver, but as a punt returner -- something sure to give him some motivation headed into 2010.

Realistically, the only other Eagle who deserved consideration was Brent Celek. However, the All-Pro team only selects one tight end per team, so two altogether, and those honors went to Dallas Clark (first team) and Antonio Gates (second team).

As much as we'd all like to see Celek get some love, it's tough to remove either of those guys in favor of Celek, who did have some down games and missed a couple easy catches.

Another interesting selection worth pointing out was the now former Eagle and current Denver Bronco Brian Dawkins.

Dawkins made it onto the second team along with Ed Reed and Nick Collins. Oddly enough, Quintin Demps, Macho Harris, and Sean Jones were nowhere to be found. In fact, I'm guessing they didn't receive any votes at all.

I don't mean to harp on the Eagles' front office too much because, outside of the emotional side of things, I wasn't sure that Dawk could do it anymore either. I thought it was probably worth bringing him back because I definitely didn't feel that Demps was ready to take over, but it was hard to argue with the logic of letting him walk.

Now I'm realizing that I could have very well been wrong about Dawk. I don't like to admit when I'm wrong and I don't feel like it happens too often (although probably more often than I realize), but I'm just about ready to say I was wrong about Dawk and that he should still be an Eagle.

The only thing holding me back is the thought that he still may have struggled severely in this defense. In Denver, Mike Nolan was willing to allow Dawk to play a role that was more like a fifth linebacker in his 3-4 scheme. Dawk was around the line of scrimmage a lot and was used to blitz fairly often.

It's something that, in Sean McDermott's this year, probably would not have happened. He probably would have been asked to play man up on tight ends and even receivers every once in a while. It could have very well exploited some major flaws that the future Hall of Famer now has in his game.

But in Denver, Nolan was okay with finding a way around those flaws and using him the way he should be used right now. So, should the Eagles have let him walk? I'm still not sure, but it definitely looks like Denver made the right move in picking him up and was still nice to see Dawk have the personal success that he deserves.

But I'm heading off track.

Having five Eagles selected to the All-Pro team is great, but having Weaver on the first team just jacked up his asking price by at least a couple hundred thousand. He's been recognized by the Pro Bowl voters as the best fullback in the NFC, and now by the All-Pro voters as the best fullback in the entire league.

He's certainly not a guy that the Eagles can afford to let walk. At least, not without some rioting down Broad Street.

---BOB CUNNINGHAM.

Free agency is a part of life in the NFL. Some years players stay on, to the delight (or dismay) of the local fanbase, and some players move on to the dismay (or delight) of that same fanbase.

That time of year is rapidly approaching, and this year presents some difficult challenges for the Eagles' front office -- namely, Andy Reid. After all, he is the guy with the final say in who stays and who goes, so this has got to be almost as stressful as the season itself.

And while you may not win a Super Bowl in March, it certainly will make that road a whole lot easier if the right calls are made along the way. So, with all that said, let's take a look at what the Eagles should do, and might do, with each player approaching free agency this offseason.

Note: This is with the assumption that a CBA will be in place for the 2010 season. I don't believe that the league, players or owners, will allow an uncapped season. Am I optimistic? Maybe.

Sean Jones, FS

Personally, I'm a big fan of Jones. He's a guy who, with an entire training camp and offseason as the starter, could come in and make big plays for this defense. He did it in Cleveland on a terrible offense, so imagine the impact he could have on a defense with some other pieces around him?

Macho Harris and Quintin Demps are not starting material. Not right now, and from the looks of it, they may never be. Give Jones another contract that would be friendly to part with but give him a shot to show what he can do.

Unless the Birds intend on getting a guy like O.J. Atogwe in free agency, or drafting a guy like Taylor Mays in the back-end of the first round, there's no other option.

Jeremiah Trotter, MLB

It's difficult to let Trott walk after such a valiant effort on two busted knees, but there just doesn't seem to be much of a place for him on this team. While he did have some plays, and even a couple games, where he looked like the old Axe Man, he's still a liability in pass protection and immediately puts the defense at a disadvantage.

With Stewart Bradley returning and most likely retaking his spot in the middle, Trotter would be on the outside looking in. Maybe he can parlay this past season into a spot on a team desperate for defensive help, but there just doesn't seem to be a spot for him in Philly.

Reid may keep him on speed dial in case of an emergency, but keeping a 33-year old linebacker with knee problems around just doesn't seem like something the Eagles are prepared to do.

Jason Babin, DE

Babin is a guy who most didn't even expect to make the team this year, but did and was a contributor throughout the season. I thought he should have been used a lot more than what he was, but perhaps there was something going on in-house that we on the outside didn't see. Maybe he didn't understand the defense all that well or perhaps McDermott just felt more comfortable with the other guys, but Babin didn't see as much time as his skill-set warranted.

With Chris Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, Darren Howard, and Juqua Parker all returning next season, it doesn't seem likely that Babin gets a second contract from the Eagles. However, don't be surprised to see him getting a shot for some substantial playing time elsewhere.

Tracy White, LB/ST

If the Eagles don't resign White it would be an absolute travesty. Of course, I said the same thing years ago when Ike Reese wasn't resigned and allowed to head off to Atlanta, so I'm not holding my breath on seeing White as an Eagle in 2010.

He's exactly what the Eagles had in Reese earlier this decade and what they were lacking until White came on board during the middle of last season. He's a guy who obviously likes playing special teams, and plays it fearlessly, but can also contribute when called upon for spot duty on defense.

His spot duty turned into some decent playing time with all of the injuries this season, and he showed that he's a guy who will fly around at 100 miles an hour and make plays that you wouldn't expect from a special teams ace.

Or, in other words, he's Ike Reese. It's redemption time, Reid. Sign this man.

Leonard Weaver, FB Is there really a single person out there who believes resigning Weaver would be a mistake? If so, please comment with your home address so I can sit down across from you and look into the eyes of a crazy person.

Weaver is the perfect fullback for Reid's system, and he knows it. He can run the ball like a running back, catch it like a tight end, and block like a fullback. Outside of Le'Ron McClain in Baltimore, Weaver is the best fullback in the league -- an opinion finally validated with the trip to the Pro Bowl he'll be making in a few weeks.

If Reid and company decide that they're going to only resign one player this offseason, please let it be this guy.

Jason Avant, WR

Remember what I said about Weaver and if they're going to resign one guy, make it him? Well, Jason Avant may give Weaver a run for his money and could make that a very, very difficult decision.

Avant may have the surest hands of any receiver I've seen in this league. That includes guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, and the rest of them. He doesn't have the freakish size or speed that the others possess, but when it comes to simply catching the football Avant must be at least mentioned in the same breath.

His hands are phenomenal, his concentration is spectacular, and better yet is the fact that he doesn't run his mouth or make a spectacle of himself the way other receivers will. He makes the clutch third down reception, flips the ball to the ref, and heads back to the huddle.

Here's to hoping Reid will resign more than one guy.

Ellis Hobbs, CB

While I'd love to see Hobbs come back because of the uncertainty surrounding Sheldon Brown and his added value as a kick returner, his return to the team seems highly unlikely. He's looking for a role as a starter, but it's most likely not a role he'll acquire as a member of the Eagles.

Until he moves to safety or is traded, Brown will be the starting cornerback on the other side of Asante Samuel. There's no way around that -- it's just not going to happen. However, I would be all in favor of starting the same duo that took the Pats to their 16-0 record with Brown as a free safety, but Sheldon may not be on board with that just yet.

The only way Hobbs comes back is if he finds out that there's not really a market for him elsewhere, and even then his price tag may be a bit too high. Smart money says Hobbs is elsewhere when 2010 kicks off.

Nick Cole, OL

If it's me, I would be very tempted to let Cole walk. Reid seems to like him, but I don't believe he's a starting-caliber lineman and will probably be too expensive to keep as a backup given that he now has an entire season of starts under his belt -- and at three different positions, no less.

To me, Cole looks lazy on the field and his footwork is lacking. He doesn't have the speed or agility necessary to get out in front for the screen or the experience necessary to make the line calls while playing center.

If he will come back for a discounted price, then by all means resign him as he's not a bad fill-in if something were to go wrong. He is not, however, a legitimate starting option.

Alex Smith, TE

He didn't do a whole lot, but he was good for the role the Eagles wanted him to play. Like Babin on the other side of the ball, I don't believe that Smith was given an adequate opportunity to showcase his talents. I think he could have been another weapon for this offense, but he was given very few chances.

With Brent Celek having a breakout season, Cornelius Ingram returning from injury, and Martin Rucker developing on the practice squad in the latter portion of the season, Smith will most likely not be back in 2010. It's probably best for him and I can't say that I blame the Eagles for letting him walk in favor of Ingram -- a guy they really like.

Smith should get a shot on another team in 2010, and could even find himself back in a starting role sooner rather than later.

Omar Gaither, LB

Gaither is a guy who seems to have fallen out of favor with the Eagles front office, so it's unlikely that he will be back. Apparently the Eagles tried to offer him an extension a year or two ago that was well below market value, as they usually do, but unlike the others Gaither turned it down.

The Birds don't like to be messed with, then add that onto his sub-par play and you have the makings of a guy who will most likely never wear Eagle green again. However, if he finds out that there's no market for him, he may be willing to accept whatever the Eagles offer.

At this point he's a good guy to have because of his versatility, but has shown that he's probably not a full-time starter in this league. It would take a lot of pieces falling at the right time for Gaither to stay an Eagle.

Max Jean-Gilles, RG

Don't expect Jean-Gilles back in 2010. He doesn't possess the versatility to even swap from one side of the line to another, much less play multiple positions. And to play on Andy Reid's offensive line, you better be versatile. Jean-Gilles is not, and didn't even perform well at the one position he does play.

I give it about a 20-30 percent chance that Jean-Gilles is back next year, and that's being optimistic for him. He just does not fit Reid's philosophy of offense or offensive linemen and probably wasted his final opportunity to stay in Philly. He might be able to stick on a run-heavy team the way Bobbie Williams did in Cincy, but not with the Eagles.

Besides, Reid would be much more comfortable drafting a guy in the sixth round instead of sticking with a guy he's convinced doesn't fit his system.

Chris Gocong, SLB

Gocong is a guy who came into the league and immediately was thrown into the mix as a starter. For a rookie he looked pretty good, and he was, but the problem was that he never got any better. He's hit a plateau since day one and in fact seems to be headed downhill now.

He lost his starting spot to a rookie drafted in the seventh round and didn't even see much time in spot duty. He played special teams almost exclusively for about the last month of the season and didn't even make enough of an impact there to warrant more time.

I give it a 50-50 shot that Gocong is back because the Birds will like him as a backup, but that's all he'll be if he even comes back at all.

Sav Rocca, P (Restricted Free Agent)

Rocca was very inconsistent all season long, but he did seem to pick it up near the end. It seemed like Ted Daisher, the Eagles special teams coordinator, was trying to refine his kicking too much and only made it worse. Rocca seemed to be going through the motions like a robot, rather than just booting the ball as he did in his first season in Philly.

Towards the end of the season, it looks like someone figured that out and allowed him to go back to whatever he was doing before. He was consistently punting the ball over 50 yards and helping the Eagles win the field position battle. In fact, were it not for him, the Cowboys may have made those last two weeks far more humiliating with better field position.

Thanks to him, however, they only beat the Birds by a combined score of 58-14.

Expect a middle-of-the-road tender for Rocca, as punters aren't really a hot commodity.

Akeem Jordan, LB (Restricted Free Agent)

Jordan is another guy who fell way out of favor with the coaching staff in the latter portion of the season. His playing time was dwindling as the weeks went on, but then he was back starting for the Eagles' playoff game at Dallas -- at the MIKE position.

It was odd seeing him give that a go, but it shows that the Eagles obviously have faith in him to some degree and will most likely give him a middle-of-the-road tender, if they don't just resign him right off the bat.

Jordan is a big, physical guy who can make plays when he's put in the right position. However, it looks like no one is quite sure what that position is. Whether it's as a starter of coming off the bench, he's a guy who can still help this defense and will probably stick around and get to prove that to the coaching staff and to the fans.

---BOB CUNNINGHAM.