A short week pitted the Eagles against the Seattle Seahawks, who were basically out of playoff contention, on Thursday Night Football. At this point, the Eagles needed to win five games, and likely get a little bit of outside help, to reach the postseason.

Let’s just say that things didn’t really go as planned.

After backup quarterback Vince Young was intercepted on his first pass of the game, the Seahawks quickly drove down the field, putting themselves in a 1st and 10 situation from the Eagles’ 15-yard line.

What happened next is a play that has been largely forgotten by NFL fans, and I don’t know why, because it was legitimately one of the greatest plays I have ever seen.

The Eagles stacked the box, knowing that Seattle was about to run the football with Marshawn Lynch going up the middle. It didn’t matter.

Lynch took a handoff and was immediately met by a group of Eagles tacklers at the 16-yard line, a yard behind the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Jamar Chaney beat Seattle fullback Michael Robinson and led the pack of would-be tacklers for the Eagles.

For two to three seconds, Lynch was lost in the pile of bodies, although the entire pack slowly moved forward. Lynch moved from the right to the left, looking for any sort of a hole to run through.

He was helped by a big block from Seattle tight end Zach Miller on Eagles’ defensive end Jason Babin. Seattle’s center Max Unger and right guard Paul McQuistan double teamed defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who was flattened to the ground before he had any real shot at getting Lynch. Seattle tackle Robert Gallery (340 pounds) knocked linebacker Brian Rolle (225 pounds) to the ground, tripping safety Nate Allen in the process. Seattle’s right tackle Breno Giacomini swallowed up linebacker Akeem Jordan, who had originally been blitzing on the play. And a final block was put on defensive end Trent Cole by left tackle Russell Okung.

Each Eagles player thought that someone else had a clear shot at Lynch, and they all relaxed. The Seattle offensive linemen, however, did not. After all, they had seen Lynch do some pretty incredible things before.

Not until the 10-yard line, after he and his linemen had pushed the pile a full five yards toward the goal line, did Lynch emerge, unscathed, to the astonishment of the entire Eagles’ defense.

Lynch broke a diving tackle attempt by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha at the one-yard line and entered the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

And yes, then after the play, the beast sat on the sidelines and ate his mommy’s skittles, which led to a two-year supply of free skittles.

The play might stand as the worst play of the entire season by the Philadelphia Eagles, and that’s saying a lot because I saw 10 to 15 plays this season that I will have difficulty ever forgetting about.

So why is it just the 29th most memorable moment of the season?

Because it came in the first quarter of an eventual blowout victory. Some of the others, unfortunately, flat out cost the Eagles potential victories in the final minutes.

Jenkins signed a five-year deal worth $30 million with the team last July, and was due $7 million in 2012, including a $5 million roster bonus in March.

A source told ESPN’s Andrew Brandt that Jenkins will still receive his roster bonus but he will only be paid $800,000 in 2012. In 2013, Jenkins will receive a guaranteed salary of $1.5 million, plus a roster bonus of $1 million, scheduled to be paid in March.

Jenkins’ contract will now run through 2014 and not 2015. He expressed his desire to remain with the Eagles until he retires.

“We are very excited about having Cullen back on our football team,” general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement on the team’s website. “Cullen made an immediate impact for us this year on and off the field. We look forward to a great future together with him in an Eagles uniform.”

In 2011, Jenkins collected 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks, and was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl team. He spent the first seven seasons of his career in Green Bay, where he collected 29 sacks and led the Packers to a Super Bowl title after the 2010 season.

Jenkins was due $7.5 million next season ($5 million bonus on top of a $2.5 million salary), which was the main impetus behind the talks that he could be dealt. The Eagles are not a team that is desperate for room in their salary cap, but they will surely take what they can get. Speculation is going to begin swirling as to how the club will use the additional cap money; will it be to strengthen the defense, re-sign DeSean Jackson, or bring in another elite receiver? Speaking with PhiladelphiaEagles.com, when questioned about taking a pay cut to allow the organization to retain the flamboyant Jackson, Jenkins said “Definitely! If it helps the team I’m all for it, we just have to wait and see what they do”.

The 6’2”, 305 pound 8 year veteran had 5.5 sacks last year and was a major force on the Philadelphia defensive line. While details are not immediately available, the restructured deal is sure to provide the Eagles organization with some additional cap space for the 2012 season. Many Eagles fans will be hoping that the additional salary cap space will be used to solidify a defense that was permeable at times in 2011. Many people feel that it is important for this group to remain as intact as possible, as it was clear that they began to mesh well as a unit at the end of last season.

Speaking about the move, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman said: “We are very excited about having Cullen back on our football team. Cullen made an immediate impact for us this year on and off the field. We look forward to a great future together with him in an Eagles uniform”.

Jenkins’ new deal is for the same amount of time (4 more seasons), but the money paid to him during that time has been moved around to be more cap friendly. More details of the restructured contract will be updated as they are available.

In 2007 and 2008, the Eagles forfeited their first round selections by trading them away to acquire more overall picks.  In 2007, their first pick was the fourth selection in the second round (36th overall).  Andy chose Donovan McNabb’s heir apparent,  University of Houston quarterback, Kevin Kolb.  The Eagles fell back even farther in 2008 when they traded out of the first round, and selected Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws with the 15th pick in the second round.

That leaves 11 seasons Andy Reid selected in the first round.  Reid’s position of choice?  That would be defensive linemen.  In those 11 seasons, Andy has selected five defensive linemen.  Those picks include:  Florida State defensive end Corey Simon ( 6th overall in 2000), University of Miami defensive end Jerome McDougle  (15th overall in 2003), University of Southern California defensive tackle Mike Patterson (31st overall in 2005), Florida State defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley (14th overall in 2006) and University of Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham (13th overall in 2010).  How many of these first round picks were worth their lofty selection?  I say only one, Corey Simon.

Most fans believe that Andy Reid has an affinity for offensive linemen.  Well, Reid has only selected two in the first round.  In 2004, Andy selected Arkansas tackle Shawn Andrews with the 16th overall pick.  Andrews was a beast…..for a short time.  I cannot blame Reid for what happened.  Andrews ended up being a mental case.  Last year, with the 23rd overall pick, the Eagles chose Baylor guard Danny Watkins.  The book is still out.

A surprise to many, is that Andy Reid has chosen two wide receivers in the first round.  In 2001, the Eagles selected with the 25th overall pick UCLA standout wide receiver, Freddie Mitchell.  Big time bust.  With the 19th pick in 2009, Reid made Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin his choice.  Great selection.

Coach Reid threw in a cornerback in 2002.  Andy chose highly regarded Florida cornerback Lito Shepard with the 26th overall pick.  Another spot on selection.

And, of course, the Reid coaching era began in 1999 with Andys first draft selection, Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb as the second overall pick.  The correct decision.

In my book, that leaves Reid with five sound first round choices, compared to six questionable ones.  One thing is for sure (besides 1999), 2012 will be Andy Reids most critical year concerning the Eagles first round selection.  After coaching 13 seasons in the same town, an immediate impact must be made with Reids first overall pick.

contact:  frank-benditt@comcast.net

Before the season started cornerback Asante Samuel was almost traded to the Detroit Lions before the eleventh our struck and the deal was pulled. It didn’t help his cause that Samuel had one of his worst statistical outputs of his career with three interceptions and ten pass defensed, tied for 60th in the league.

At 31 Samuel isn’t done in terms of his career but he no longer possesses the elite skills that earned him his current six-year $57 million dollar contract. With the additions of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie it doesn’t seem likely that Philadelphia will keep him.

Samuel doesn’t think so either, who posted on his Twitter account “If they trade me where would you guys like to see me go????”. As expected fans poured in and Samuel got the attention he was seeking. Now whether or not the Eagles do trade Samuel remains to be scene.

This move certainly doesn’t help him one way or another because the decision comes down to Andy Reid and the Eagles front office. While teams like New England, Detroit, Dallas and others would be interested Sameul doesn’t have the final say, the Eagles do.

You can follow Lars on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/larshanson

One of the most embarrassing was the pass thrown by punter Chas Henry on a fake punt against the Chicago Bears in week nine.

Trailing 27-24 with 9:29 remaining in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears, the Eagles faced a 4th and 6 from the Bears’ 42-yard line.

Head coach Andy Reid called a gusty call, a fake punt pass–a play call that I fully support–but punter Chas Henry bounced the throw to a wide open Colt Anderson, who could have raced untouched down the left sideline for a likely touchdown.

Henry wasn’t just an average punter either. He had been recruited as a quarterback to Florida and served as the emergency quarterback during his four years as a member of the Gators.

I still remember interviewing Chas Henry in training camp and joking around with him about how the Eagles would be in excellent shape if they had a bad snap on a punt.

So the fact that he could not convert a simple pass to a wide open receiver on the biggest play of the game says it all. Had he hit Anderson for a big gain, or maybe a touchdown, the Eagles would have probably won the game (and then made the playoffs instead of the Giants).

In an interview conducted by Comcast SportsNet’s Neil Hartman on Thursday, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman addressed the situation, and did not sound as if he wants to move on without Jackson on the team. Said Roseman, “We feel very fortunate to have him on our team. He’s a player that we drafted, we’ve grown with, and we think he’s got a great future ahead of us”. Now, Roseman obviously wouldn’t come out and say that he is eager to get rid of DeSean, as that would kill any potential value the Eagles might receive in a trade since the team would have no leverage.

Roseman also addressed the fact that Jackson’s agent is Drew Rosenhaus, who was an integral cog in the Terrell Owens debacle that Philadelphia endured in 2005. Roseman said that the team’s relationship with the uber-agent has grown substantially since the 2005 fiasco. The Philadelphia General Manager is preparing for the imminent discussions that are going to take place between the team and Jackson’s camp. A great deal of these situations are worked out at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, as a significant number of team officials and agents are already present.

Jackson may very well have done a disservice to his future contract with his actions throughout the course of the 2011 NFL season. He held out to begin the year and was frequently voicing his displeasure about his contract situation to the media. It’s also widely believed that Jackson often didn’t go 100% when he was on the field. Regardless of his attitude, his skills are beyond reproach; and those skills are sure to procure him a very lucrative with contract, whether it is in Philadelphia or another locale.

So of course one of his first purchases with his rookie contract was a brand new firetruck, which he is shown driving here with teammate and fellow rookie offensive lineman Jason Kelce filming.

You can see Watkins’ huge grin as he drives his firetruck down the road, as well as Kelce’s laughing in the background.

I’m really shocked to hear this. Most of my memories from the 2011 Eagles are Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie laying huge hits on opposing players. (Yes. That was sarcasm.)

This season, Asomugha missed 12 of his 52 tackle attempts (23 percent). That ranks him 100th out of 101 qualifying cornerbacks in the league.

Rodgers-Cromartie missed 7 of 32 tackles (21.9 percent). That rates him as the 98th best tackling cornerback in the NFL.

Asante Samuel missed 8 of his 38 tackles (21.1 percent). That rates him as the 91st best tackling corner in the league.

That’s three of the 11 worst tackling cornerbacks in the NFL on ONE TEAM! No wonder the Eagles lost eight games this season. You can’t tackle, you can’t win.

To make things more humiliating, those three cornerbacks were supposed to lead the Eagles into the Super Bowl. They were supposed to be the football version of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels.