Keep some, show some the door

It is mid-November, the time of year when the Eagles typically try to extend the contracts of players they see as being a vital part of their future.

In the past, they have been able to fold some of the signing bonus from those deals into that year's salary cap, but that's not the case in 2009, according to a league source. Nevertheless, the Eagles' decision-makers are in the process of discussing which players' contracts they would like to extend in the near future.

Complicating matters somewhat is that fourth-year veterans in the final year of their deals would typically be unrestricted free agents when the new league year starts in March. But with an unsettled labor situation, the threat of an uncapped year next season would greatly alter the free-agent rules, a fact that linebacker Omar Gaither acknowledged last week when asked about his possible return next season.

"As of right now, with the [collective bargaining agreement] deal torn up, I'm an Eagle next year," Gaither said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."

Gaither, on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending foot injury last month, would have been an unrestricted free agent next year, but if there's no new collective bargaining agreement, he'll only be a restricted free agent. Only players with six years of experience will be unrestricted free agents if no new labor deal is struck.

"Who knows what may happen?" Gaither said.

Five players in addition to Gaither also are in limbo about the status of their free agency, because they are in their fourth season and they do not have a contract beyond this year. That list: wide receiver Jason Avant, guards Nick Cole and Max Jean-Gilles, linebacker Chris Gocong, and tackle Winston Justice.

The players, of course, must decide whether they want to sign an extension or test the free-agent waters. Sometimes the extensions work out well for the players - Reggie Brown is a good example - and sometimes they benefit the team more - Sheldon Brown would be the role model for that scenario.

Here's a look at some of the more interesting contract discussions the Eagles will have between now and the end of the season with an opinion about what the team should do.