The Eagles, apparently working from the bottom up, addressed one of their lesser needs yesterday when they signed wide receiver - and familiar face - Hank Baskett to a one-year contract.
One of their greater needs - finding a competent complement to running back LeSean McCoy - was pecked at, but a visit from free agent Justin Fargas resulted in nothing more. The former Raiders running back left Philadelphia without a deal and is unlikely to sign with the Eagles, according to a league source.
A message left with Fargas' agent, David Dunn, was not returned yesterday.
Baskett returns after almost a full season in Indianapolis. The 27-year-old receiver spent his first three years with the Eagles but was waived after Week 1 lastseason when the team needed to make roster room for Michael Vick.
The Eagles would have likely waived Reggie Brown, who was behind Baskett on the depth chart at the time, but they would have taken a significant salary-cap hit. Coincidentally, Brown was traded to Tampa Bay on Monday, thus making room for Baskett's return.
"It feels like I went on a little vacation and then came back home," Baskett said.
Despite the possible perception that the Eagles have taken a vacation during the early portion of the off-season, they have chipped away at their to-do list. There has been an obvious preoccupation with the team's quarterback situation, but quarterback may be the one area the Eagles can rest on most. Plus, there are still six weeks until the draft.
So, to summarize: After one week of free agency, the Eagles have signed fullback Leonard Weaver and wide receiver Jason Avant to multiyear contracts; restructured guard Stacy Andrews' deal; added free agent defensive back Marlin Jackson, and wide receivers Brad Hall and Baskett; and released linebacker Will Witherspoon and wide receiver Brown.
The Eagles cut Brian Westbrook almost three weeks ago, but there is still a vacancy at running back. They don't need a starter - LeSean McCoy will be that guy - and they don't need a ball-carrying fullback with Weaver locked up. But they do need someone else to give McCoy a spell and be available in case of injury.
Fargas doesn't exactly fit the mold of an Eagles tailback. He's a plow-straight-ahead runner who wasn't asked to catch the ball out of the backfield much. But he's relatively fresh for a 30-year-old, even though a failed physical was Oakland's reason for cutting him.
