Moran yesterday gave his side of the intrigue that started when Andrews signed here in 2009 coming off ACL surgery, and continued when Andrews accepted a pay cut/restructuring this spring.
Moran's view is that Andrews was a dominant right tackle in 2008 for Cincinnati, and he signed here to play right tackle. Subsequently, Eagles coach Andy Reid decided to move Stacy's brother Shawn from guard to tackle and play Stacy inside, something Stacy agreed to, though he hadn't played much guard. Last season's disaster unfolded, with Shawn losing another season to back surgery, Winston Justice replacing him, and Stacy buried on the guard depth chart by January.
In the offseason, it was clear the Eagles were going to want an adjustment on the 6-year, $39 million deal Stacy signed, at the very least. Moran and Andrews didn't have to agree.
"We wanted to [re-enter] the free-agent market and go back to tackle," Moran said. "We were told he would be the starting right guard" by general manager Howie Roseman, if Andrews accepted the restructuring, Moran said.
Moran, a former Green Bay guard, said he watched the Eagles' preseason game at Kansas City last week and felt Andrews played well.
"It is a transitional period," Moran said. "We were assured he would have time" to settle in.
Andrews indicated to reporters this week that he is still more comfortable as a tackle than as a guard. Reid was asked about that yesterday.
"It looks like he has been [committed to playing guard]," Reid said. "He hasn't said that to me. I think that's a positive for us if he can do both, that's absolutely great."
The Eagles' interior line has struggled in the preseason, but regular starting center Jamaal Jackson hasn't played and regular left guard Todd Herremans saw his first action in Kansas City.
