Bringing back Jeremiah Trotter at the expense of a veteran who could be more useful to the Eagles - Jon Runyan and Jeff Garcia immediately come to mind - is another installment speaking to the arrogance of the Eagles.

Linebackers have to be able to run, and I'm sorry but it's hard to believe Trotter suddenly can turn back the clock on the creaky knees so full of arthritis he himself said they couldn't pass anyone's physical. I'm sure he feels better after recent knee surgery. I know he can play with pain. But again, linebackers have to run to be useful and there is no reason to expect him to be able to do so consistently enough to help.

If the Eagles are dead set on bringing back relics of the past I'll bet middle linebackers Bill Bergey (pictured top, Levon Kirkland (bottom) and Barry Gardner would like a call.

I don't think it's a coincidence that Jeff Garcia was around in a supporting role when Kevin Kolb put up consecutive 300-yard passing games under intense pressure.

With injured starter Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, for now, the much adieu about nothing Wildcat quarterback, Kolb (pictured) lit it up.

OK, the Chiefs might have a tough time winning a United Football League scrimmage right now.

But seriously now, Vick did almost nothing against them. What kind of shape do you have to be in to dot the I's on the Chiefs?

Garcia should stay. At least until Donovan McNabb proves he can take a hit. And make no mistake, he's going to be blasted.

Coincidence or not, Kolb looks like he's done a better job of avoiding pressure with Garcia around. Maybe Garcia is just the guy to help Vick embrace the position.

The Eagles made it official at 11:28 a.m.

Veteran Donovan McNabb is scratched due to a cracked rib. Kevin Kolb will make his starting debut at quarterback against the New Orleans Saints.

Max Jean-Gilles started at right guard instead of Stacy Andrews, one of the Eagles’ touted acquisitions in free agency, and Victor Abiamiri (groin) started at left defensive end where Juqua Parker got the start last week.

The Eagles also scratched wide receiver Reggie Brown, quarterback Michael Vick, safety Quintin Demps (hamstring), linebacker Joe Mays (shoulder), wide receiver Brandon Gibson, and offensive linemen Todd Herremans (foot) and Mike McGlynn.

No team claimed Hank Baskett off waivers, which was shocking until you consider the tender he's playing under this year is $1.545 million.

But the Colts signed him off the streets for a svelte $550,000, prorated over 17 weeks. And Baskett is lucky they did. No one throws fades like Peyton Manning, who absolutely will find a way to use Baskett's 7-foot high jumping skills provided the receiver can do enough other things to warrant a roster spot on game days.

A.J. Feeley could see his release coming when the Eagles signed Michael Vick.

Not wanting to spend the rest of the season checking in and out of the NovaCare Complex on basically one-week contracts he signed with the Panthers. There's a chance he could be the backup to quarterback Jake Delhomme this Sunday. That's the NFL.

"The writing was on the wall with Philadelphia and I owe those guys a lot,” Feeley told reporters after practice Wednesday. “But it was time to move on.”

DeSean Jackson will be named NFC special teams player of the week for that stunning season-opening performance leaving everyone in the dust, including the people who had to page through the record book.

Jackson (pictured) burst untouched through 11 Carolina Panthers Sunday, including the punter, on an 85-yard punt return that ranks second in Eagles history. Only Vai Sikahema has run one back further, his 87-yarder in 1992 helping the Eagles beat the Giants.

That piece of art and a 21-yard run earned him NFC special teams player of the week.

Jackson also had two rushes for 33 yards, one a 25-yard reverse. He caught two passes for nine yards.

The Eagles placed offensive linemen Shawn Andrews on injured reserve, ending his season.

This one has the sound of finality for Andy Reid rarely if ever wishes a player well, as he did in his statement without parting ways.

“It’s disappointing to lose any player for the entire season but we have full confidence in the other lineman we have on this roster to help this team succeed," Reid said. "We wish Shawn all the best as he recovers and rehabilitates from this injury.”

For now, Winston Justice is the right offensive tackle although Jon Runyan, the former Eagle, is just a phone call and a drive over the Walt Whitman Bridge away. While Runyan could not immediately be reached for comment, NFL sources would be surprised if he doesn’t join the team. He’s coming back from micro fracture surgery.

That said the Eagles were happy with the work of Winston Justice at right tackle in the season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers.

With the Eagles nearing the 2009 starting line, Andrews was becoming a cult figure on YouTube, where as Big Kid 73 he produced and appeared in video clips including “Get your Michael Phelps on.” He wasn’t so prolific at his day job.

Andrews missed all but one morning of training camp and the entire preseason with lower back pain. The Eagles lost patience with his comeback when he had a setback in practice last Wednesday and was unable to practice Thursday. Runyan was brought in for a workout Thursday.

Andrews missed all but two games of the 2008 season with a herniated disc in his lower back. After corrective surgery, he was kept on the roster the rest of the season but didn’t appear in a game.

Andrews appeared to be healthy participating in the 2009 minicamps and organized team activities. But the back stiffened running gassers on the first day of training camp at Lehigh University. A recent trip to Los Angeles for a checkup and injections provided only short-term hope as Andrews practiced for barely a couple of weeks.

Determined to move on and needing the roster space for quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was added Monday night, the Eagles showed Andrews the IR list.

Jeff Garcia said he's text messaged Donovan McNabb since rejoining the Eagles and his old teammate.

McNabb, who could give up a start Sunday with a cracked rib, said on his yardbarker.com blog that he thinks backup Kevin Kolb can do the job this weekend and that he's happy Garcia is back.

"Like the rest of the team, I have confidence that Kevin will do well if called upon," McNabb wrote. "Adding Jeff Garcia to the roster is a great idea. He knows our offense and how we do things around here. He's a great teammate and I look forward to working with him again."

Quarterback Donovan McNabb was helped off the field with a rib injury Sunday after scrambling for a three-yard touchdown giving the Eagles a 38-10 lead in the third quarter.

McNabb was on his back in the end zone when he took a forearm to the right side of his rib cage from defensive tackle Damione Lewis. Andy Reid walked across the field to be with McNabb, who after several tense moments was helped off the field for further examination.

While McNabb returned to the sideline, Kevin Kolb played the rest of the game at quarterback for the Eagles, who are carrying just two passers on the 53-man roster with Michael Vick suspended the first two games. Vick is eligible to return after the Eagles host the New Orleans next week.

The Eagles scratched Reggie Brown for the Panthers game but not necessarily because they are about to trade him.

Yes, Brown has drawn interest from teams seeking to upgrade the wide receiver position according to a source.

The scratch basically is because the roster is loaded with seven wide receivers, and Brown isn't as proficient at playing special teams as the guys active, although rookie Jeremy Maclin hasn't lit the world on fire. The Birds also scratched rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson.

Sooner or later the Eagles are going to need Brown this season, assuming of course he's not dealt. The wide receiver position has an extremely high attrition rate,

The Eagles also deactivated safety Sean Jones, middle linebacker Joe Mays (shoulder), offensive linemen Shawn Andrews (back), Mike McGlynn and Todd Herremans (foot), and defensive end Jason Babin.

For the first time since the 1996 season, the Eagles play defense without Brian Dawkins.

For the first time since 1999, they'll have to make stops without Jim Johnson, their late defensive coordinator.

Rookie Macho Harris, who starts in place of Dawkins and coordinator Sean McDermott can hang their hat on Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the most underrated pair of defensive tackles in football.

With Patterson and Bunkley occupying blockers and stuffing the run it should be easier for the rest of the defense to get to the football.

The Eagles on Friday cut Harriton High product Eugene Bright, trying to make the conversion from defensive to tight end.

The sudden emergence of Tony Curtis made Bright expendable. Curtis caught four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown Thursday in the preseason finale against the Jets.

After starting tight end Brent Celek the Eagles probably will keep Curtis and either veteran Matt Schobel or rookie Rob Myers. Bright could resurface on the practice squad.

Also cut Friday were linebacker Curtis Gatewod and defensive tackle Willie Williams. The Eagles must cut 19 players to reach the 53-man roster limit by 6 p.m. Saturday unless they take a roster exemption for Mike Vick.

Mike Vick's meeting today with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sets the stage for a ruling on the final reinstatement for the Eagles quarterback, according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

The get-together will take place before Vick and the Eagles oppose the New York Jets at 7 o'clock at Giants Stadium. Vick and the Birds arrived in East Rutherford Wednesday night.

Vick could be suspended up to six weeks for operating an illegal dogfighting operation that landed him in the slammer. It's also possible Vick doesn't miss any games as he's partnered up to do community service.

Knowing Vick's stats would be beneficial to the Eagles, who must release 22 players to reach the 53-man limit by 6 p.m. Saturday.

... My sources say WR Reggie Brown would fetch more in a trade than WR Hank Baskett. Brown is a much better route runner and has better hands. With WR Kevin Curtis again ailing, this time with a swollen knee, Brown is the next most reliable veteran. Look for the Eagles to keep Brown - unless they get a drop-dead offer in a trade - and cut Baskett. That leaves a roster spot open for rookie sixth-round pick Brandon Gibson ...

... I don't expect teams to trade anything of substance for A.J. Feeley unless they're up against the wall with an injury. Everyone knows the Eagles don't have room for a fourth quarterback, which is Feeley's role for now. You just don't pay for a freebie.

... BTW, Chester-born DT Dan Klecko - rumored to be cut - makes theb 53-man roster. I think another local product, veteran RB-FB Kyle Eckel won't be as fortunate. with the addition of FB-RB Leonard Weaver, the Eagles might only keep three running backs.