Hence the buzz around reports that the league will assemble executives and head coaches from every team here this weekend. The NFL said such meetings takes place every year, but the impending CBA deadline has pundits looking at even minutia for portents.
With all the uncertainty, though, April's draft remains a sure thing, and at some point NFL games will resume, which leaves the Eagles with some actual football business to conduct over the coming days.
They'll have a chance to examine potential offensive line upgrades Thursday when linemen are scheduled to interview with teams and meet with the media. The linemen work out on Saturday.
Also Thursday, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is scheduled to meet with reporters for his first extended meeting with the press since the season ended. The combine concludes Tuesday, with workouts for another position group likely to draw the Eagles' interest: defensive backs.
While teams will use the combine to add to their scouting, the players have a chance to boost their draft value. The opportunity will be particularly important for local products such as Villanova's Ben Ijalana. Coming from a smaller school, Ijalana faces more questions than players from football powerhouses.
"It's critical that they take advantage of every opportunity they get. The BCS kids get the benefit of every doubt," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. "If you're the Villanova tackle or the Lehigh tackle, you better make sure that you put your best foot forward every chance you can."
Coming from a smaller school can knock a player down a full round in the draft, Mayock said. But the analyst had high praise for Ijalana and ranked him as one of his top six tackles in the draft.
