Eagles Notes: Weaver extension talks have begun

INDIANAPOLIS - While the Eagles have yet to publicly offer tenders to their 10 restricted free agents, they have begun negotiating with one in particular.

The Eagles have begun talks on a new deal for fullback Leonard Weaver, a league source said. Weaver was signed to a one-year deal as a free agent last off-season, but will become a restricted free agent on March 5 unless there is a collective-bargaining agreement before then.

The fullback is one of 10 Eagles players with between four and five years of service who would have become unrestricted free agents under the previous system. Instead, those players now will have to wait until they've completed six seasons to become unrestricted.

The Eagles apparently want to lock up Weaver, who was productive last season, rushing for 323 yards and two touchdowns, and catching 15 passes for 140 yards and two more scores.

As for the other nine restricted free agents, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said yesterday that the team won't offer tenders until next week before the March 4 deadline (the new NFL year begins on March 5). Those players are wide receiver Jason Avant, guard Nick Cole, linebackers Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, guard Max Jean-Gilles, linebacker Akeem Jordan, punter Sav Rocca and tight end Alex Smith.

The Eagles can match any offer for any of their restricted free agents or receive compensation in the form of draft picks. Compensation is based on the tender level - the highest level ($3.168 million per year salary) nets a first- and a third-round pick, and the next-highest level ($2.521 million) brings a first-rounder.

With less than a week until the new league year begins, both sides in the labor dispute are bracing for an uncapped 2010.

After a meeting with player agents, NFLPA executive DeMaurice Smith said yesterday that an uncapped year was inevitable. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell agreed.

"I've said it's a virtual certainty that we're going into an uncapped year," Goodell told reporters. "I stand by that."

According to several agents, Smith urged the reps to tell their clients to save 25 percent of their income in case of a work stoppage in 2011.

"All of us have an obligation to work together, to inform, prepare and protect our players, given the steps that the NFL has taken to choose to go into the uncapped year, and to prepare for the lockout," Smith said.

Both sides met on Thursday, and while a deal wasn't nearly struck, Smith thought "it was a very, very good meeting."

"Some guy named Tebow" continues to create a ruckus even though many aren't projecting the Florida quarterback to be among the top players selected in this year's draft. When Tim Tebow's arrival in the media room was announced as "some guy named Tebow at podium C," a mob of writers rushed to hear the southpaw. Tebow, who's delivery has been criticized, isn't throwing this week like most of the top-ranked quarterbacks. . . . One quarterback is throwing. Penn State's Daryll Clark, who isn't projected to be drafted by many draft prognosticators, said the decision from other quarterbacks not to throw surprised him. "When you get an opportunity like this, you feel like you should want to take advantage of it," Clark said. "Then you don't throw. Obviously they have their reasons. But I'm throwing. This is a big shot for me."