ESPN.com presents NFC East Dan Graziano http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast 60 en-us Sat, 18 May 2013 04:50:12 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 A look at key players for each NFC East team who are coming back from injuries: Dallas Cowboys: LB Sean Lee Lee has been a breakout defensive star for the Cowboys the past two seasons, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. A wrist injury limited him after a raging hot start in 2011, and after another hot start in 2012 he injured a toe in Week 7 and missed the remainder of the season. The Cowboys' defense is different when Lee is on the field and at his instinctive, playmaking best, and it misses him terribly when he's not.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51460/eight-in-the-box-key-medical-concerns Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:59 EDT 51460 The Dallas Cowboys' signing of defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove on Thursday got buried under the at-long-last resolution of the Doug Free matter. But as Calvin Watkins writes on ESPNDallas.com, it says something about where the Cowboys are in terms of their defensive line. As Dallas transitions to a 4-3 front this year, there has been some concern raised about depth. The starting quartet of DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Jason Hatcher and Jay Ratliff appears very good, but should one of those guys get injured or need a rest, things get dicey behind them.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51466/cowboys-defensive-line-thoughts Fri, 17 May 2013 10:12:36 EDT 51466 This Friday's links are sorted in order of the populations of the states in which the teams play their home games. Enjoy. Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten will be happy to welcome second-round pick Gavin Escobar as a teammate and fellow Cowboys tight end. He'll be happy to help him get acclimated to life in the NFL. But make no mistake: Witten does not believe he's training his replacement. He believes he's got a lot of good years left. Monte Kiffin will be the fifth different defensive coordinator for whom Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr has played in six years in the NFL.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51454/breakfast-links-maclin-as-punt-returner Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:55 EDT 51454 The Doug Free situation has finally reached its resolution. According to Calvin Watkins, Free has accepted a pay cut and will remain with the Dallas Cowboys in 2013. ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Free agreed to a 50 percent cut, which would reduce his 2013 salary from $7 million to $3.5 million and save the Cowboys room against this year's cap. Ed also reports that Free is now scheduled to be paid $3.5 million in each of the next two years, with only this year's salary guaranteed.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51448/free-takes-pay-cut-to-stay-with-cowboys Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:13 EDT 51448 So yeah, this is interesting. The agent for veteran defensive back Charles Woodson tells ESPN's Josina Anderson that the New York Giants have "put their toe in the water" regarding interest in Woodson. Now, of course, you never know with agents. This could be true or it could be a ploy to scare the Broncos or some other team into upping their offer and signing Woodson soon. But if we take the man at his word, it's worth examining the idea of Woodson to the Giants, which I think makes a lot of sense, as does my friend Ohm: Woodson, 36, would be an intriguing piece for the Giants.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51442/on-the-giants-and-charles-woodson Thu, 16 May 2013 14:30:18 EDT 51442 As this Washington Redskins offseason unfolds, the former first-round pick on whom everyone will be focused will be Robert Griffin III, the dazzling young quarterback who followed up his rookie season with reconstructive knee surgery in January. But there are two other former first-rounders who hold the key for the Redskins on the defensive side of the ball. If the Redskins are to defend their NFC East title, Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan could be just as important to the effort as Griffin and his recovering right knee.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51431/redskins-must-bring-pass-rush-back-to-life Thu, 16 May 2013 12:30:20 EDT 51431 Ashley Fox went over to Philadelphia Eagles practice this week and came away with this column about Michael Vick and his "last chance" to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Ashley's premise is that, if Vick can't hold off Nick Foles and Matt Barkley for the Eagles' starting quarterback job, he's never going to get another one anywhere: Last season, Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg started the season by giving Vick more pre-snap responsibilities but got to the point that they had to limit his reads and checks.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51427/fox-on-michael-vicks-last-chance Thu, 16 May 2013 10:07:41 EDT 51427 Greetings and welcome to your Thursday edition of the breakfast links, where we work to keep you abreast of what folks around the league are writing about our division's teams. I hope you enjoy. Washington Redskins DeAngelo Hall says the plan all along for him was to return to Washington this year at a drastically reduced salary. He says he felt responsible for the salary-cap mess in which the Redskins found themselves, since he believed his contract and Albert Haynesworth's were the ones for which the other teams' owners penalized them.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51420/breakfast-links-hall-happy-to-play-for-less Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:19 EDT 51420 Some highlights from our regular weekly NFC East chat, which took place Tuesday: Les (East Windsor, NJ): Assuming Victor Cruz returns to the Giants, what do you see as the pecking order behind him and Hakeem Nicks? Dan Graziano: I think they'd like Rueben Randle to take a big jump forward and be the next guy in that pecking order. But they brought in Louis Murphy for returns and he could factor in. And they still think Jerrel Jernigan has something to offer.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51413/chat-wrap-can-jerry-jones-learn-from-dan-snyder Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:24 EDT 51413 Blog might be light today, folks, just FYI. Heading up to Bristol for a meeting, and that means lots of time on the road. I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow, or at least in September. Meantime, we have links. Philadelphia Eagles Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is being sued for assault as a result of a December incident on a party bus. McCoy's attorney is saying the charges are false and merely an attempt to get money from McCoy, and certainly that does happen with pro athletes.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/51407/breakfast-links-trouble-for-lesean-mccoy Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:15 EDT 51407