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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. Now set to play the middle linebacker position in Dallas' new 4-3 defensive alignment, Lee is more important than ever to the every-down success of the defense. We easily could have picked running back DeMarco Murray or even perpetually nicked-up wide receiver Miles Austin for this exercise, but the Cowboys' biggest question marks lie on defense, where six starters missed time last year because of injury. Improved health on defense is the surest way for the Cowboys as a whole to improve in 2013, and Lee is right in the middle of it all.

New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks

Nicks broke a bone in his foot during minicamp last year, and while he made it back in time for the start of the season, he was not himself all year. Foot and knee problems cost him three games and limited him to 692 yards and three touchdowns on 53 catches (10 catches and 199 yards of which came in a Week 2 game for which he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week). Without his top wide receiver healthy for much of the year, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was unable to duplicate the Super Bowl-winning magic of the previous season. With Nicks hobbled, defenses were often able to focus more on Victor Cruz, whose production dropped from the previous year's dazzling yardage numbers. Nicks is a vital part of the Giants' passing game, which is the vital part of their offense. When he's at his best, he's among the top all-around wide receivers in the league. He needs to stay healthy for the Giants to function at peak levels.

Philadelphia Eagles: LT Jason Peters

Peters tore his right Achilles tendon twice during the 2012 offseason and was obviously unable to play at all as a result. He was the first of three Eagles starting offensive linemen to land on injured reserve last year, but after the year he had in 2011, his was the absence they had the greatest difficulty overcoming. Peters was essential to the Eagles offense in 2011 as a multi-level blocker who could take out his man at the line and then get upfield quickly and block a linebacker or a safety as well. Without him, the run game suffered, the screen game suffered, and quarterback Michael Vick's ability to succeed when he extended plays suffered. The Eagles need Todd Herremans and Jason Kelce back on the offensive line, and they need first-round pick Lane Johnson to play well at right tackle. But the most important offensive line recovery is that of Peters, who brings something to the equation no one else brings. He needs not only to be healthy, but to play like his old, spry self.

Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III

If you've been living in a cave without access to TV or the Internet for the past six months, it will come as news to you that Griffin tore his ACL in the Redskins' playoff game (yes, they made the playoffs) and had reconstructive surgery in January. While the Redskins believe they have a capable backup in Kirk Cousins, much of their 2012 success was because of Griffin's unique talents and abilities. Even if Griffin is back to 100 percent, the Redskins probably will take greater care with how they use him in the read-option this year. But the threat he poses to defenses as a runner and a passer is not something Cousins or very many other quarterbacks in the league can replicate. The Redskins must be careful not to rush Griffin back from his injury, as he's their franchise quarterback and vital to the long-term success and health of the team. But their 2013 fortunes are tightly tied to the timing and extent of his recovery.

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. That's where Hargrove comes in, as the Cowboys believe he can play end or tackle on a 4-3 line.

But Hargrove is going to turn 30 before the start of the season, and since the team didn't address the defensive line in the draft, it's worth wondering about the future there, as Calvin does in his post. Spencer and Hatcher could both conceivably be gone next year. Ratliff's about to turn 32 and always seems to be banged up. Ware has worn down a bit toward the end of recent seasons, and a move up to the line could exacerbate that. Calvin lists Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lissemore, Rob Callaway and Kyle Wilber as young defensive linemen who could factor into the starting mix as early as next year. Lissemore is the most proven of that group, but one of the interesting subplots on the defensive line in Dallas this year will be whether any of them can show enough to instill confidence that they'll play significant roles in the future. The extent to which any or all of them do will affect what the Cowboys do about the defensive line next offseason.

In the meantime, I agree with Calvin that the Cowboys' defensive line appears to have been built for 2013 success without much of an eye toward what lies beyond. You can't fix every problem every offseason, and much of the Cowboys' draft this year was focused on offense due to their belief that they'll be better on defense with better health. Look for defensive line to be a major focus in the 2014 offseason, regardless of the way 2013 goes.

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. Carr is used to change.

Philadelphia Eagles

There's apparently a new documentary series about DeSean Jackson, and one of the things that's revealed in it is that his relationship with former Eagles coach Andy Reid got off to a shaky start due to some things Reid said about Jackson's family in their first conversation.

The Eagles' other starting wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin, could get a look on punt returns this season. Another chance for Maclin to make the right kind of impression in his contract year. Maclin was a brilliant return man in college.

New York Giants

Dwight Freeney's father says the veteran defensive end would love to play for the Giants but can't because the Giants are "broke." It was a day for connecting veterans still looking for jobs with the Giants, as Charles Woodson's agent said something about them being interested in his client. I have to believe, if the Giants wanted Freeney, they'd have found the money to sign him.

As for the pass-rushers the Giants do have, veteran Justin Tuck is trying to get rookie Damontre Moore in the right frame of mind to contribute right away.

Washington Redskins

Apparently the Redskins remain interested in running back Tim Hightower, who was their starter in 2011 before blowing out his knee and was cut late in training camp last year because the knee couldn't get healthy. The Giants have had some interest in Hightower this offseason as well. Whether Washington, New York or anyone else signs him has to depend on his health. He's well liked and well respected as a multi-talented back who could fill a variety of roles.

Remember that odd burgundy stripe around the collars of the Redskins' white jerseys last year? Yeah, they're not doing that again.

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.

Obviously, these numbers are much more palatable to the Cowboys than were Free's original contract numbers. Since signing his four-year, $32 million free agent deal after a strong 2010 season, Free has played as poorly as any starting tackle in the NFL. The Cowboys hoped a move from the left side to the right side in 2012 would help things, but it did not, and had he not agreed to the reduction, he likely would have been released. The fact that the 2014 money is not guaranteed is significant, as releasing Free prior to this agreement would have dumped a significant amount of "dead money" onto next year's cap.

The pay cut could allow the Cowboys to sign a free-agent tackle such as Eric Winston, and even if they don't, it's a lot easier on their budget and on common sense to pay Free $3.5 million than $7 million this year. It's possible he's the starting right tackle again and also possible he could share time with or lose the job outright to Jermey Parnell. If he has to be a backup "swing" tackle, his salary for a job like that is at least closer than it was to reasonable.

The Free contract goes down as a boondoggle for the Cowboys because of the way Free has played since signing it. At the time, Free was coming off a fine season as Dallas' starting left tackle and Cowboys fans were panicked about the idea of failing to re-sign him. The deal is in line with what top tackles on that year's market were getting, and he'd played like a top tackle. But obviously, his failure to live up to that season and that deal have put the Cowboys in a bad spot. They obviously didn't want to just release him, and even if they had they couldn't have recouped the salary-cap savings until after June 1. So while this compromise doesn't rid them of their Free problem, it at least makes it a bit of an easier problem with which to deal.

Calvin also reports that the Cowboys are signing veteran defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove for depth at that positon.

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. He could potentially play as one of the team's three safeties utilized often by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. He also would provide the team with another veteran able to play corner, if needed, as well.

The Giants currently have Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown as their starting safeties. Will Hill, fifth-round pick Cooper Taylor, Ryan Mundy and Tyler Sash are also on the roster.

Woodson would provide the Giants with the kind of veteran leadership presence at safety that Deon Grant provided when he played the role of the team's third safety. He also could help fill the void left by Kenny Phillips' departure in free agency to Philadelphia.

Yes, Woodson could fill a depth role as well as a mentor role with the Giants, who are transitioning to a younger defensive backfield that would benefit from the experience and wisdom of a player as decorated as Woodson. Phillips always talked about the effect Grant had on his development, and young players such as Brown, Hill, Mundy, Taylor, Sash and Prince Amukamara could surely learn something from Woodson, who has experience playing safety as well as cornerback.

As a veteran-minimum deal, Woodson to the Giants makes a great deal of sense. The fact that it hasn't yet happened makes me think the interest isn't serious, since the Giants tend to move quickly when they find someone they want on the market. But as long as he's still unsigned, it's worth imagining it.

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.

Ever since Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett arrived in 2010 and changed the Redskins to a 3-4 defense, the outside linebacker position has taken on increased importance. Orakpo and Kerrigan are the starters at outside linebacker, and as such are tasked with the pass rush. The team has invested a first-round pick in each of them and constructed a defense designed to maximize their ability to get to the opposing quarterback. This means the plan is not simply to have a good pass rush, but a dominant one. Haslett's scheme calls for Orakpo and Kerrigan to be speedy, relentless predators who harass quarterbacks on every play and roll up the sacks. And 2013 is the year for them to flourish in that scheme.

Orakpo, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft, turns 27 in July, and as of now is heading into the final year of his contract. He could, conceivably, get an extension from the Redskins prior to the start of the season, but that's no sure thing. Drafted to be a dominant pass-rusher, Orakpo has flashed that ability during his career, averaging 9.5 sacks in his first three seasons before last season was cut short by a Week 2 pectoral muscle injury.

Prior to last season, the questions about Orakpo were whether he could elevate his game from very good to to great -- joining the elite pass-rushers in the league with a double-digit sack total. He hasn't had that since his rookie season, when he was a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Though Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 4 rush linebacker in the league in 2011 (behind only Aldon Smith, DeMarcus Ware and Cameron Wake), nine sacks didn't feel like enough for a player drafted that high and playing in a defense designed to make stars out of outside linebackers.

On the other side is Kerrigan, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The night the Redskins picked Kerrigan, their vision was of a hyper-athletic, two-pronged pass-rush that would force teams to pick their poison. Commit extra blockers to Orakpo, Kerrigan and his incredible raw pass-rushing instincts would get you. Commit extra blockers to Kerrigan, and Orakpo feasts. Kerrigan collected 7.5 sacks as a rookie and 8.5 more last season, in spite of having to play without Orakpo in the final 14 games. With the fear of Orakpo removed, teams were able to commit those extra blockers to Kerrigan all season long. Though he flashed his playmaking ability, the Redskins didn't get the consistent, week-to-week quarterback pressure on which their defense is designed to rely.

Washington finished the 2012 season with 32 sacks, more than only eight other teams in the league. The Redskins' pass defense ranked 30th in the NFL for the season, and during the seven-game win streak that delivered the division title it relied on the ability of the coaches and defensive backs to design and adjust to game plans that would change from week to week or even, sometimes, from quarter to quarter. They were able to play well enough against the pass to win games, though they all admit they would rather give up fewer yards this season through the air than 4,511.

That will have to start up front. The Redskins return basically the same secondary they had last season. They hope Brandon Meriweather can be healthy and give them what they need at strong safety, and it's possible that one or more of the mid-round rookies they drafted could help, but those are not sure things. That's why they need Orakpo back healthy (as well as defensive lineman Adam Carriker, who suffered a season-ending injury in that same game) and they need Orakpo and Kerrigan to play to their draft pedigrees -- i.e., dominate.

The NFC East has long been known for its pass-rushers, and even in recent seasons it has boasted some of the top pass-rush performances in the league. Everyone knows about the way the Giants sacked quarterbacks en route to two Super Bowl titles in five years. Everyone knows Ware is one of the best. The Eagles led the league in sacks two years ago.

It's time for the Redskins to take their place in that pass-rush hierarchy. With Kerrigan and a healthy Orakpo starting at outside linebacker, they have the talent to be the best pass rush in the division, and one of the best in the league. In 2013, if the Redskins want to remain a playoff team, Orakpo and Kerrigan are going to have to make the leap from good to elite.

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. He freelanced often. With a decimated offensive line, Vick had shaky protection and frequently took off running, trying to make a play for a team that had few players who did. That led to bad habits and injuries, which limited Vick to just 10 starts. At the end of the season, when Vick was healthy, Reid chose to ride out his remaining games with the team with Foles. It was a mercy benching.

So this is it for Vick. This is his last shot. Vick has organized team activities and minicamps and training camp to prove to Kelly that he can run his up-tempo offense, master the crazy hand signals being sent in from the sideline, practice through the distractions of blaring music, and make checks and read the defense while still moving the chains. Three and out won't cut it.

Four months. That's it.

"He realizes that it's up to him if he wants to play," Eagles veteran offensive lineman Todd Herremans said.

This is the great mystery of the Eagles' offseason -- whether Vick truly is the man for this job. Kelly chose to re-sign him when he could have let him go, so he must see something that tells him they can do great things together, if only in the short term. But Kelly wants certain specific things from his quarterback, including the kinds of quick reads and quick releases for which Vick has never been known. Vick is the clear favorite to win the job right now, but it's far from inconceivable that Foles or Barkley or even Dennis Dixon could outplay him in camp and make it evident that Kelly is better off using one of them.

Vick is saying all of the right things. Over the past four years, he's been as good as anyone in sports at saying all of the right things. He's re-dedicated himself. He's determined. He's working harder than ever. He's focused. You know... all the stuff he said last spring and summer, too.

Don't get me wrong here. I believe Vick is earnest. I believe he wants to succeed, and is willing to put in the off-field work that he needs to in order to do it. I don't think he's lazy or aloof or not smart enough to pick up this new offense. What I think is that Vick, who turns 33 next month, is simply what he is, and that you have to take the good with the bad. He can say and do all of the right things in OTAs and minicamps, but when the games start and the play breaks down, nothing's going to stop him from doing what he knows and what he's always known -- holding the ball too long, trying too hard to make the spectacular rescue play instead of dumping it off or throwing it out of bounds and living to see the next play. That's the kind of quarterback behavior that has consistently, throughout Vick's career, led to turnovers and injuries and frustration for his coaches. And if that's what shows up as the season gets closer, Vick's hold on this job is far from secure.

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. Says he's made enough money.

Robert Griffin III's knee isn't the only injury concern for the Redskins on offense as the offseason program gets underway. Tark El-Bashir runs down the list of the walking wounded that surround Griffin, or Kirk Cousins, as the case may be.

Dallas Cowboys

It is assumed that DeMarcus Ware will make an easy transition from 3-4 outside linebacker to 4-3 defensive end, and he very well might. Players of Ware's talent are capable of more things that we sometimes give them credit for. But Jean-Jacques Taylor writes that the move does carry some risk.

Yes, Phil Costa knows the Cowboys' first-round draft pick could take his job as the starting center. No, Costa does not plan to be a jerk about it to Travis Frederick. Just doesn't think that's the way to do things. Obviously, it's possible that whoever from the duo of Frederick or Costa doesn't win the center's job could win a job as a starting guard, too.

New York Giants

If you believe that the presence of smoke indicates the presence of fire, then you have reason to be optimistic about the state of the Victor Cruz contract talks. Again, I expect that this will get done to the satisfaction of both sides, but if it doesn't get done in the next couple of days, that's no reason to think anything's necessarily gone wrong.

The Giants were hoping to lure free-agent Josh Cribbs to help their kick-return game, but he has instead signed with the Raiders. This likely means running back David Wilson remains the primary kick returner in spite of what's expected to be an increased role in the running game.

Philadelphia Eagles

There are a few Philadelphia Eagles players for whom Chip Kelly's methods and mannerisms are not new or unfamiliar. Those players who knew him at the University of Oregon say he's the same guy he was there.

Matt Barkley is making a strong first impression on the Eagles' coaches and his fellow competitors at quarterback, and it's not crazy to think he's not in the mix to play that position as early as this season.

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. Competition will decide.

Tony D (Guam): Am I the only one that doesn't get all the hate for Doug Free. After getting flip flopped on the line the past couple of years, this might be the reason for his skid. I was watching highlights from just 3 years ago and the dude was mean. Best case scenario, I would like to see a pay cut and stay on the roster. Thoughts?

DG: But come on. The reason for the flip flop was how bad he was on the left side in 2011. You're right about the way he played in 2010, but since the contract he hasn't been remotely the same. Judging on the last two years, he's one of the worst starting tackles in the entire league.

Fran Mc (Philly): A lot of experts are predicting that Eagles' Matt Barkley starts year 2 or 3. My question is why are they assuming his better than Nick Foles? They're from the same conference. Foles was drafted a round higher.

DG: But by a different coaching staff. Look, the plain fact is, anyone who's "predicting" anything about the Eagles' QB situation, this year, next year or the year after, is guessing.

Kenny J (Martinsburg): Has Dan Snyder finally grown into a very good and responsible owner, and will Jerry Jones ever do the same?

DG: I think Snyder has honored his contractual promise to stay in the background and let Shanahan run the team the way he wants to run it. I don't imagine Jones will ever make such a promise.

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. If that's what this is, it'll blow over. But if he were to be found liable, yes, that could land him in trouble with the NFL as well.

One of the features of Chip Kelly's offense will be option routes for wide receivers that allow them to adjust the routes they run based on something they see in the coverage. It's going to put a lot of additional responsibility on DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin & Co., and is yet another aspect of the offense that will make it more complicated for the quarterback. There is much to learn and practice in these next four months.

Washington Redskins

Brad Gagnon recently wondered whether the healthy return of Brian Orakpo could make the Redskins' pass rush the best in the NFC East. It's not a ridiculous idea, what with the Giants having taken a step back in that department last season and the Eagles' and Cowboys' pass-rushers having to learn new positions.

Can you make a case for Alfred Morris as the Redskins' best player? One national writer recently ranked him that way. I guess the point is you can't assume a fully healthy Robert Griffin III, but obviously, if you could ...

Dallas Cowboys

Tim MacMahon says that the blame for the Doug Free fiasco belongs with Free, not with a front office that gave him a contract the market demanded after his big 2010 season. And I agree with Tim's basic point. Free is the one to blame for not living up to the deal. But the contract does appear to have been structured in a way that has caused the team more problems than it had to. And I still don't understand why Free hasn't been released or forced to take a pay cut.

And sticking with our friends at ESPNDallas.com, Calvin Watkins writes that the team has to be happy about what a quiet offseason wide receiver Dez Bryant is having. Those in the Cowboys front office who believe in jinxes can't be happy with Calvin.

New York Giants

The World Wide Web was buzzing Tuesday with a lot of rumor and innuendo about the Victor Cruz contract situation nearing a resolution. But Ohm writes that there's nothing new to report and nothing imminent.

Cooper Taylor is a rookie to watch this offseason, as the manner in which he ultimately fits in the NFL is a matter of some question. Is he too big to play safety and too small to play linebacker? I'm thinking he's a special-teams star right away and could factor into sub packages as early as 2014.

If the New York Giants fan's worst nightmare comes true, and the contract dispute between the team and wide receiver Victor Cruz results in Cruz missing games this year, the Giants are going to need someone else to man the slot receiver position. At this point, the person on the roster who would do that appears to be Jerrel Jernigan, the third-round pick from the 2011 draft. Per Ohm:

Until Cruz comes to a long-term extension deal with the Giants, the coaching staff should give Jernigan more reps in the slot with Eli Manning.

"I know each year you are going to need new guys to step up," Manning said at a Guiding Eyes for the Blind event in White Plains on Monday. "[You] lose some guys, and if something happens you always want to be prepared. And hopefully Victor is back very soon and will play at a high level.

"Jerrel has to also be able to help us," Manning added. "He has speed and skills, he's been in the system now for a number of years. So hopefully he can step up and fill a role for us. The more talented guys you have on the team and make plays for you, the better off you will be."

This is the way the Giants do things. They develop players in their system until they get to the point where they can help them. It's entirely possible that a 2011 third-rounder could be ready to make a real contribution on the 2013 Giants, and Jernigan is a guy whose ability they clearly like. So they're not blowing smoke. If Cruz were to hold out and miss games (which I don't think will happen, but can't be fully ruled out), Jernigan is the guy who would play that spot.

On the one hand, if I'm Cruz, nothing I've seen from Jernigan so far would scare me into taking the Giants' offer right this minute. But on the other hand, part of the Giants' bargaining position is the idea that Steve Smith caught 107 passes out of that same spot in 2009 and that, as great as Cruz is, Manning is good enough to make a star out of any slot receiver. So while I'm not sitting here saying Jernigan will give the Giants what Cruz has given them the last two years, it's worth Cruz wondering whether they're really making plans for how they'd replace him, either this year or next year.

If they can't reach their long-term deal with Cruz, and if he leaves as a free agent after the 2013 season, the Giants likely would have to find someone on the market or in the draft to replace him. But if Cruz is planning to miss time this year over this contract situation, it's worth noting the team's plans for how they'd replace im.

One of the day's news stories is that former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is going to retire as an Eagle, and it sounds as though the team is planning to honor him at one of its home games in 2013. Obviously, this is the right thing to do for the greatest quarterback the Eagles have ever had. And while McNabb will long be remembered as a player who presided over an era of consistent excellence in Philadelphia, that era will be remembered for the fact that the Eagles made it to five NFC Championship Games but never managed to win a Super Bowl.

This is the curse of Eagles stardom, of course. No matter how great an Eagle you were, you never won a Super Bowl, and the Eagles' fans are starved for that satisfaction. But all of that said, McNabb's parting with the Eagles was not acrimonious, and he deserves a nice send-off. I imagine he'll get one, though I'm sure there will be a few who show up and boo the guy who kept coming so close but never could get the job all the way done.

One thing about this, though: Some have suggested (including McNabb, I think) that this could be done before that Thursday night game in Week 3 against the Chiefs, because longtime Eagles coach Andy Reid, who now coaches the Chiefs, will be on hand. Nice idea, but if it were me I'd do it some other week. I think the Reid return is going to be its own circus, and that the fans' feelings about Reid are still too raw and negative to mix those up with McNabb's big day. Reid will someday have his own day in Philadelphia, but I'd keep McNabb's separate from that particular game this year. Just my $0.02.

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray was one of the prime examples shown on the video presentation the NFL gave in March about the new rule that will penalize running backs for leading with the crown of their helmet in the open field. Murray is aware of this, and true to bullheaded NFL player form, he says he's not going to change his running style to fit some stupid new rule that's designed to keep him from paralyzing himself someday, no sir. Per Calvin Watkins:

"I'm not changing my running style," Murray said last week at a charity event. "If I get fined, hopefully, [Tony] Romo will take care of the first couple [of fines]."

Earlier this offseason, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he had concerns about how the NFL will regulate the rule.

"It's really a tricky thing from the standpoint of, it's so well-intended," Garrett said. "We all understand the challenges that it puts the officials in. A lot of the defenseless player calls they've had to make over the last couple years are hard calls. The game happens fast, and they've got to be bang, 'He hit him with his head first; it wasn't his shoulder.' Players duck. All the things that go into making those snap judgments. They're difficult.

"I think the real concern that the coaches might have is simply that it's a hard rule to officiate, and far be it from us to say we understand what an official's going through. But the game does happen fast and those collisions happen quickly. I think it's well-intended."

The Cowboys said they are working with Murray to keep his head up.

I'm sorry, but Garrett's right about the rule's intentions and I'm just really annoyed about the reaction fans and especially running backs have had to this rule. I completely disagree with the notion that it will deprive the game or its running backs of any necessary physicality. I completely disagree with the notion that it will be a hard rule to officiate. The rule will penalize a running back's team 15 yards "if he initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box." That's pretty doggone specific and will be really easy to spot. And the only thing it's telling running backs not to do is something that's incredibly dangerous for them and something no qualified coach has ever taught them to do at any level.

Murray can sit there and insist all he wants that he's still going to duck his head and try and use it to level defenders in the open field. That's his right, to say that. But if he does, it's going to result in 15-yard penalties for the Cowboys and quite honestly could result in a serious head, neck or spine injury for Murray himself someday. If he's telling you he doesn't care about that, then I guess that makes him a genuine NFL tough guy you're supposed to admire for his refusal to evolve as a sensible human being at the expense of excessive violence. Woo hoo. Forgive me if I don't applaud.

So if you're sitting around at work and you have an NFC East-related question that you just can't get out of your head and you want someone else's opinion on the answer, I have just the thing for you. It's our weekly NFC East chat, which takes place at noon ET every Tuesday, including today. All you do is you click on these little blue letters right here, any time between noon and 1 pm ET, and you arrive in a virtual chat room in which you can ask me anything you want about the division. It works great. Can't wait to see you there.