A number of injuries has made it easier for Andy Reid and his staff to get down to their 53 man roster. There are number of close calls but here's what I think will be the final group that the Birds will enter the season with when the go to Green Bay.
Three quarterbacks will remain: Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and Kevin Kolb. The Atlanta Falcons have their eyes on Kelly Holcomb as a replacement of Michael Vick.
They Birds will keep four running backs; Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt. Nate Ilaoa will probably be kept on the practice squad.
The special teams contributions of the wide receivers will force them to keep six receivers. Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis and Jeremy Bloom will be left standing when the season begins.
They'll keep three tight ends. L.J. Smith, Matt Schobel and Brent Celek will be the three. Lee Vickers may have earned him a job with another team.
The Birds will hang onto ten offensive linemen and that group will consist of Jon Runyan, Wiliam Thomas, Shawn Andrews, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, Winston Justice, Max Jean-Gilles, Scott Young, Nick Cole, and Pat McCoy. I could see the Birds letting go of McCoy if they can find an experienced tackle out there.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Birds will hang onto ten defensive linemen. They'll keep defensive ends, Jevon Kearse, Trent Cole, Darren Howard, Juqua Thomas and Victor Abiamiri. They'll keep defensive tackles, Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Monte Reagor, Ian Scott and LaJuan Ramsey.
They'll keep six linebackers and their names will be Takeo Spikes, Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley, Matt McCoy and Tank Daniels. The play of Gaither and Bradley plus the potential of Daniels got Trotter cut.
They'll hang onto four cornerbacks Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Will James, and Joselio Hanson. Barksdale who is in only his second or third year of football will be put on the practice squad.
The Birds will keep four safeties and that group will include Brian Dawkins, Sean Considine, Quintin Mikell and C.J. Gaddis.
Three specialist will remain and they will be David Akers, Saverio Rocca and John Dorenbos. The pooch punting gives Rocca an edge over Johnson.
