Eagles Like Their New Corners Just Fine

The contract extension that Sheldon Brown signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday reinforced two points -- that the Eagles are doing just fine with their two new starting cornerbacks, and that the club continues to operate within the salary cap as well as any team in the league.

Brown, 25, signed a six-year deal worth approximately $25 million, including a signing bonus of about $7.5 million. The extension runs through the 2012 season and contains escalator clauses that could push its overall value to about $30 million. Agent Jason Chayut met with team officials Thursday at the Eagles' training complex to complete the agreement.

The two sides were under no pressure to complete an extension, since Brown already was signed through the 2006 season. But the Eagles wanted to get him under contract for the long haul, and Brown and Chayut jumped at the opportunity when the club offered a deal more lucrative than those signed in the offseason by free agent cornerbacks Fernando Bryant (with Detroit) and Jason Webster (with Atlanta).

One of the biggest question marks about the Eagles entering the season was at cornerback, where the team was turning over its starting jobs to third-year pros Brown and Lito Sheppard after permitting veterans Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor to depart via free agency in the offseason. Vincent and Taylor had been the Eagles' starters since 1996. It was clear that Sheppard, a first-round draft choice in 2002 out of the University of Florida, and Brown, a second-round pick that year from South Carolina, were talented. But they had made only a dozen NFL starts between them, and cornerback is a position as unforgiving as any when it comes to on-the-job training.

There was, as it has turned out, no reason for the Eagles to fret. Brown and Sheppard have stepped in seamlessly, helping the club to the first 7-0 start to a season in franchise history. The Eagles rank only 21st in the league in pass defense, giving up 225 yards per game. But that is misleading because Philadelphia rarely has trailed in games this season and regularly has forced opposing offenses into pass-only mode; Eagles opponents are averaging an NFL-high 39.7 passes per game. The team's coaches are more than pleased with how Brown and Sheppard, 23, are holding up. Sheppard was named the NFC defensive player of the month for October.

The Eagles continue to negotiate with Sheppard and third-year safety Michael Lewis in hopes of completing new deals by Monday's deadline for contract extensions to count partially against this season's salary cap. Sheppard and Lewis are signed through the 2006 season, but the Eagles want to keep them around and put their available salary cap space to good use. Last week, the club signed young wide receiver Greg Lewis to a five-year extension.

The Eagles have remained an annual contender because owner Jeffrey Lurie, team president Joe Banner and Coach Andy Reid manipulate the salary cap expertly. They sign their young players to long-term deals and aren't afraid to let a veteran go when the price tag gets too high. They have an annual cap surplus. And, this year, they took the final step: They opened the checkbook and added wide receiver Terrell Owens and defensive end Jevon Kearse in the offseason as potential final pieces to a Super Bowl puzzle after the club's three straight losses in NFC title games . . .

The Eagles, however, apparently haven't made much progress toward signing Corey Simon to a contract extension The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March. The Eagles could use their franchise-player tag to keep him if they are unable to sign him to a new deal, but that tactic has backfired on the team in the past. Reid had a bitter contract feud with middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter after the 2001 season, and the Eagles first placed the franchise tag on Trotter, then rescinded it soon after and made him a free agent. He signed with the Washington Redskins, but was released last offseason after two disappointing seasons and returned to the Eagles as a low-budget backup.

Jets Thwarted

After the New York Jets signed quarterback Chad Pennington to a seven-year, $64.197 million contract extension (including $23 million in bonus money) on Sept. 1, they turned their negotiating focus to some of their other players eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season, a formidable group that includes defensive ends John Abraham and Shaun Ellis, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, tailback LaMont Jordan and offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie. The Jets hoped to sign one or two other players from among that group to extensions before the end of the season, keeping them off the free agent market in the spring.

So far, though, the Jets have had no luck. Ellis rejected an offer in September that included about $15 million in bonus money, and McKenzie recently has rejected a proposal that included approximately $10 million in bonuses. The Jets put negotiations with Abraham on the back burner, and his prospective free-agent price tag is soaring. He leads the NFL with 8-1/2 sacks and was the AFC defensive player of the month in October . . . The Chicago Bears are working on an extension with defensive end Alex Brown, a potential restricted free agent after this season.

Woodson Unlikely to Make It Back

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said during his weekly radio show Thursday that safety Darren Woodson is unlikely to play for the team this season. Woodson is on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing preseason back surgery, and the Cowboys had hoped he'd be ready to play about now. But Woodson's back injury has led to nerve problems, and he probably is headed to the injured reserve list in a few weeks. He's 35, and he and the Cowboys will face a difficult offseason decision about whether he'll try to keep playing and remain with the team. He has two seasons (after this one) remaining on his contract with the Cowboys at salaries of $3.5 million next season and $4 million in 2006.

Moss Has MRI

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss underwent an MRI exam Thursday on his strained right hamstring, which has caused him to miss most of the past two games. Moss probably will miss a game for the first time in his career when the Vikings play at Indianapolis on Monday night.

The Vikings also are likely to be without rookie tailback Mewelde Moore because of a sprained ankle. That would leave Coach Mike Tice rotating Michael Bennett, Onterrio Smith and Moe Williams.

Minnesota linebacker Raonall Smith is to sit out the game after suffering two concussions two weeks apart. Rookie Dontarrious Thomas is to start in his place . . .

Tice's son, Nate, is a high school quarterback and has attended the passing camp run by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning the past two summers . . .

Colts safety Mike Doss didn't practice Thursday because of a groin injury and likely will be sidelined Monday night. Rookie Bob Sanders would start in his place. Indianapolis cornerbacks Nick Harper, who has an ailing shoulder, and Joseph Jefferson, suffering from a knee injury, practiced Thursday and should play against the Vikings . . .

The Colts have taken their kickoff duties away from place kicker Mike Vanderjagt and given them back to punter Hunter Smith. Vanderjagt's lack of distance on kickoffs isn't from being overworked: He's had only seven field-goal attempts this season . . .

Wide receiver Jerry Rice participated in the Seattle Seahawks' practice Thursday, testing his sprained ankle, and appears set to play Sunday in San Francisco against his original NFL team. Fellow Seahawks wideouts Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram, who also have sprained ankles, remained unable to practice Thursday . . .

Reid declared tailback Brian Westbrook ready to play for the Eagles on Sunday at Pittsburgh after the tailback practiced today. Westbrook had participated fully in Thursday’s practice after being limited Wednesday. He will return to action two weeks after suffering a cracked rib, strained rib-cage muscle and chest contusion during an overtime triumph at Cleveland. The Eagles plan to determine how extensively he’ll play based on how he feels Sunday and how effective he is as the game progresses. He still could end up splitting time with Dorsey Levens.

Wide receiver Todd Pinkston also participated in Philadelphia’s practice today after sitting out earlier in the week because of a bruised knee. Offensive tackle Jon Runyan practiced fully despite a strained groin muscle, but guard Jermane Mayberry remained limited by a strained calf. The Eagles will be without rookie kick returner J.R. Reed because of a pulled hamstring….

The Steelers plan to make a game-time decision Sunday about whether linebacker Kendrell Bell will play for the first time this season. He underwent hernia surgery last month. Even if Bell plays, replacement Larry Foote is to remain in the starting lineup . . .

New England tailback Corey Dillon missed the Patriots' practice Thursday, still suffering from the thigh injury that kept him out of last Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh. If Dillon is out of Sunday's game at St. Louis, Patriots backup tailback Kevin Faulk could see more action against his cousin, Rams middle linebacker Trev Faulk . . .

Jets middle linebacker Sam Cowart has resumed practicing after missing five games because of a sprained knee, but probably is a week away from returning to the lineup. First-round draft selection Jonathan Vilma has played well since replacing Cowart and on Sunday faces a former University of Miami teammate, Buffalo tailback Willis McGahee . . .

Jacksonville rookie linebacker Daryl Smith has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He hasn't participated in the Jaguars' bye-week practices and could be replaced in the lineup by Tommy Hendricks when Jacksonville next plays, on Nov. 14 against Detroit . . .

Baltimore Ravens rookie B.J. Sams has returned two punts for touchdowns this season. The rest of the NFL has returned two punts for touchdowns. Sams seeks revenge Sunday night against the Browns, who limited him to zero yards on five punt returns in Cleveland'a season-opening triumph. The Browns have surrendered only 3.9 yards per punt return this season. Sams's average of 13.2 yards per punt return is second in the league . . .

The Miami Dolphins avoided their first local television blackout since 1998 when TV station WSVN purchased the 1,500 tickets remaining at Thursday's 1 p.m. deadline for Sunday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals . . .

The Dolphins have been outscored by their opponents, 31-7, in the first quarter this season and by 61-3 in the third quarter.