Juqua Thomas

The first quarter ended yesterday the same way it began for Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse. He was on the visiting sideline without his helmet on and without having played a single down. Though head coach Andy Reid hinted during the practice week that there could be some changes made after the Eagles' lopsided loss to Dallas, it was still shocking to see Kearse on the bench for the first 15 minutes, especially when you consider that the team is paying him $5.2 million this season.

Most of the outside attention regarding the Eagles' potential free agents has been focused on quarterback Jeff Garcia and wide receiver Dont? Stallworth. Inside the organization, the two players the Eagles have wanted to retain the most are defensive end Juqua Thomas and safety Quintin Mikell. Half of that mission was completed yesterday when Mikell agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the Eagles through the 2010 season. Details of the deal were not released, but it is believed to be comparable to a three-year deal signed by San Francisco safety Keith Lewis earlier this month.

POSITION: Left defensive end HEIGHT, WEIGHT: 6-2, 250 AGE: 30 BIRTHDATE: May 15, 1978 HOMETOWN: Houston COLLEGE: Oklahoma State YEARS PRO: 8 HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in 2005. THIS YEAR: Is second on the team (behind Trent Cole) with five sacks and fifth with 63 tackles. Scored the first touchdown of his career with a 55-yard interception return at San Francisco in Week 6. CAREER: Parker was signed by Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

This isn't the scenario Trent Cole envisioned, but he has gladly accepted his invitation to Hawaii to represent the NFC in the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl. "It's an honor to get in, and it's going to be a great experience for me," the Eagles' third-year defensive end said yesterday after the official announcement that he would replace Seattle's injured Patrick Kerney on the NFC roster. That doesn't change the fact that Cole felt snubbed by the initial voting. "I take the game serious, and my goal is to be the first pick to get there," he said, repeating his feelings about being a reserve that he first conveyed during the season.

Two Eagles free agents are expected to meet with other NFL teams this week, according to league sources. Running back Correll Buckhalter is expected to visit with the Denver Broncos, and cornerback Rod Hood is expected to meet with the Cleveland Browns. Buckhalter could still hold some interest for the Eagles if they don't come to terms with another running back, but Hood is not expected to return. So far, the Eagles haven't made a big splash in free agency, at least when it comes to players from other teams.

The Eagles' second free-agent move figures to get done today. After signing Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel yesterday, the Eagles will entertain pass-rushing defensive end Chris Clemons today. Clemons, who had eight sacks in a reserve role for the Oakland Raiders last season, is scheduled to undergo a physical examination this morning. His agent, Don Henderson, said he would arrive in the afternoon with the intent of completing a contract for his client. "I'm looking forward to coming in there and finalizing things so Chris can get started with his off-season training program," Henderson said last night.

"An offensive player is permitted to block an opponent by contacting him with his head, shoulders, hands, and/or outer surface of the forearm, or with any other part of his body. A blocker may use his arms, or open or closed hands, to contact an opponent on or outside the opponent's frame (the body of an opponent below the neck that is presented to the blocker). If a blocker's arms or hands are outside an opponent's frame, it is a foul if the blocker materially restricts him. The blocker immediately must work to bring his hands inside the opponent's frame, and as the play develops, the blocker is permitted to work for and maintain his position against an opponent, provided that he does not illegally clip or illegally push from behind.

A year ago, the Eagles' defensive line was in shambles, suffering through injuries and ineffectiveness. By the end of the season, it was a beaten-down unit. Now, along with the resurgence of quarterback Donovan McNabb, the improvement of the defensive line is a major reason why the Eagles are 4-1 following Sunday's 38-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles had seven sacks against Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, all by the defensive line. Last season the defensive line accounted for 21 1/2 of the Eagles' total of 29 sacks.

This is a great time to be a member of the Eagles' defensive line. After three weeks, the team leads the NFL with 14 sacks and is ranked fourth against the run, allowing just 71.7 yards per game. Third-year defensive end Trent Cole leads the NFL with five sacks, a higher total than eight teams in the league. The Eagles' nine sacks Sunday in their 56-21 romp over the Detroit Lions were more than 23 teams have this season. Thanks to big plays by Cole, fellow defensive end Juqua Thomas, and second-year defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles prevented the Lions' talented, big-play receivers from doing too much damage against a depleted secondary.

It's week number two and Monday night, Lincoln Financial Field, what a sight. A Week 1 loss to the Packers in Green Bay, Special teams were to blame, the fans would say. J.R. Reed is gone, Reno Mahe is in, Another close loss would be a sin. The Washington Redskins have come to town, A seven-point underdog, they're going down. The Redskins got the ball to open the game, Today the special teams would not take the blame. The Redskins converted on third and long, The defense stiffened and held strong.

POSITION: Left defensive end HEIGHT, WEIGHT: 6-2, 250 AGE: 30 BIRTHDATE: May 15, 1978 HOMETOWN: Houston COLLEGE: Oklahoma State YEARS PRO: 8 HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in 2005. THIS YEAR: Is second on the team (behind Trent Cole) with five sacks and fifth with 63 tackles. Scored the first touchdown of his career with a 55-yard interception return at San Francisco in Week 6. CAREER: Parker was signed by Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

More than the name has changed. The game that Juqua Parker is playing this season is different, too. Parker, known as Juqua Thomas during his first seven seasons in the NFL, has become an impact player on the Eagles' defense. Going into today's game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field, Parker has a team-leading 4? sacks and his first career interception two weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers resulted in a game-sealing touchdown. Parker, 30, is a man of few words, but much passion.

Juqua Parker said he knew exactly what was coming when he sealed the Eagles' 40-26 win over the 49ers with a 55-yard return of an interception for a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in a game that offered little logic yesterday at Candlestick Park. He knew because he did a little eavesdropping. Parker said he overheard Niners quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan saying something to wide receiver Arnaz Battle that tipped him off. "During the course of the game, he [O'Sullivan]

When the Eagles began training camp in July, they expected Victor Abiamiri to challenge Juqua Parker for the starting job at left defensive end. Then Abiamiri broke his right wrist. They expected Chris Clemons, who started out well, to advance on the depth chart as a third-down pass rusher. But Clemons has been bothered for more than a week with a calf injury. They weren't sure where former first-round pick Jerome McDougle stood, but they liked his attitude in camp. They wanted to see some more from Montae Reagor, but he just had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

The Eagles' second free-agent move figures to get done today. After signing Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel yesterday, the Eagles will entertain pass-rushing defensive end Chris Clemons today. Clemons, who had eight sacks in a reserve role for the Oakland Raiders last season, is scheduled to undergo a physical examination this morning. His agent, Don Henderson, said he would arrive in the afternoon with the intent of completing a contract for his client. "I'm looking forward to coming in there and finalizing things so Chris can get started with his off-season training program," Henderson said last night.

This isn't the scenario Trent Cole envisioned, but he has gladly accepted his invitation to Hawaii to represent the NFC in the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl. "It's an honor to get in, and it's going to be a great experience for me," the Eagles' third-year defensive end said yesterday after the official announcement that he would replace Seattle's injured Patrick Kerney on the NFC roster. That doesn't change the fact that Cole felt snubbed by the initial voting. "I take the game serious, and my goal is to be the first pick to get there," he said, repeating his feelings about being a reserve that he first conveyed during the season.

It's easy to look at the Eagles' defense with an optimistic eye as the team prepares to close out its season Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. To see the half-full glass, consider how far the defense has come in a year - while getting younger. When the Eagles finished the 2006 regular season, the defense was 15th in the NFL in yards allowed, tied for 15th in points allowed, and 26th in rushing yards allowed. With just one game to go this season, the Eagles are ninth in yards allowed, 11th in points allowed, and fifth in rushing yards allowed.

The funny thing about goal-line defense is, teams don't normally practice it all that much. But for the second straight week, the Eagles' defense made a fourth-quarter stand, one that preserved yesterday's sloppy 17-7 victory over the winless Dolphins. The Dolphins had hung around all day and had a first-and-goal situation at the Eagles' 1 after a 17-yard Jesse Chatman run. But they didn't get into the end zone, and after they decided to go for it on fourth and goal, Eagles defensive end Juqua Thomas - who got the start yesterday over an inactive Jevon Kearse - stuffed Chatman for a 13-yard loss.

It appears as if Jevon Kearse's reduced playing time is about to be reduced even more. All indications yesterday were that the Eagles' highest-paid defensive lineman will not play Sunday when the Eagles face the winless Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson did not hesitate when asked who would start at left defensive end against the Dolphins. "Juqua Thomas," he said. Johnson gave a far less definitive answer when asked about Kearse's role for Sunday's game.

With designs on forming a tandem of formidable pass-rushing defensive ends, the Eagles went on the free agent market and reached deep into their pockets to sign Jevon Kearse in 2004 and Darren Howard in 2006. Those two are now part-time players. The fact that Kearse didn't get into Sunday's game against the Redskins until the second quarter and that Howard was used primarily in goal-line situations during the 33-25 win tells you they have not given the Eagles what they paid for. Kearse is 31 and coming off a major knee injury he suffered in the second game of last season.