This is the year with no salary cap, a team can get rid of big salaries and not have to deal with any salary cap consequences.
Normally a team would have millions of dollars added onto their salary structure in the year when they got rid of players who they had committed millions of dollars in salaries to.
The Eagles are definitely taking advantage of salary cap-free year.
They’ve eliminated nearly a $100 million dollars of future salaries and bonuses.
Gone are linebacker Will Witherspoon who was overpaid and reliable only against the pass.¬† They said good-bye to offensive guard Shawn Andrews, who couldn’t get on the field in over a year because of back injuries and depression.
They traded wide receiver Reggie Brown, who just isn’t a legitimate starting receiver.¬† He isn’t that fast, quick or good.
They also traded defensive end Chris Clemons because he has made millions but barely busted a grape since he’s been here.¬† They don’t think he plays hard enough.
Of course they released running back Brian Westbrook because he just doesn’t have any more tred on the tire.¬† Paying Westbrook $7 million dollars next year eventhough there was no guarantee he would be on the field didn’t make sense.
A couple of days ago, they got rid of old and overpaid defensive end Darren Howard, who never lived up to his billing.  he played his best as a pass rushing defensive tackle but they were paying him to be a dominant pass rusher at left defensive end.
They overspent for wide receiver Kevin Curtis from the beginning, but they surely weren’t going to continue to pay him, now that he’s body is breaking down and couldn’t stay on the field the last couple of years.
These moves will give the Eagles a chance to make up for the personnel mistakes they’ve made on the offfensive line and on the defensive side of the ball.
They’ve got to get better at the center and right guard position, if Jamaal Jackson doesn’t come back strong from his knee surgery.¬† Nick Cole and Stacy Andrews might not be able to do the job, so I think the Eagles could address the problem in the draft.
They’re also desperate for help at left defensive end, linebacker and at safety.¬† Darryl Tapp may be the answer on the left side and Marlin Jackson may be what they need at safety but that’s yet to be seen.
There’s no telling how Stewart Bradley will be able to play in the first year following his knee injury.
In addition, Sheldon Brown is getting long in the tooth and will need to be replaced in the next couple of years.
They’ll likely address their needs at all these positions in the draft, which is supposed to be one of the deepest in years.
