Stewart Bradley

The Eagles added 11 young players over the three-day NFL draft, but they still emerged without answers for two of their biggest needs: starting cornerback and defensive line. After taking eight players Saturday - starting with Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews and Nebraska kicker Alex Henery - the Eagles came away with a draft class that adds depth at safety, linebacker, offensive line, and running back and probably turns the page on David Akers' long tenure at kicker. They filled one glaring need in the first round by selecting guard Danny Watkins.

The Eagles added 11 young players over the three-day NFL Draft, but still emerged without answers for two of their biggest needs: starting cornerback and defensive line. After taking eight players Saturday - starting with Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews and Nebraska kicker Alex Henery - the Eagles came away with a draft class that adds depth at safety, linebacker, offensive line and running back and probably turns the page on David Akers' long tenure at kicker. They filled one glaring need in the first round by selecting guard Danny Watkins.

Want to know how Jamar Chaney's offseason is going and whether the second-year Eagle has what it takes to supplant Stewart Bradley as next season's starting middle linebacker? Just patrol the near-vacant football fields in South Philadelphia and keep an eye out for the 6-foot, 242-pounder, running through his linebacker drills in solitude. It's more than Eagles coach Andy Reid can do. Several blocks away, at a nearly deserted NovaCare Complex, Reid is preparing for the NFL draft at the end of this month.

Steve Saunders glanced at a sheet of paper and instructed Todd Herremans through his arms and shoulders workout. He checked on Trevor Laws, who was doing a crunch with a medicine ball, and then continued evaluating Jamar Chaney's muscle endurance. Jamaal Jackson walked in, looked around, and, spotting media in the gym for the second time in a week, cracked at Saunders: "Hey, man, I'm going to start working out down the street. " Jackson was only kidding. Saunders is a performance coach and the founder of Power Train Sports Institute, and his gym in Cherry Hill has become a refuge for several Eagles as well as other NFL players from the area.

The Eagles tendered contracts to two more restricted free agents on Thursday, securing rights to running back Jerome Harrison and punter Sav Rocca. If another team was to make an offer for Harrison the Eagles would receive a second-round draft pick if they chose not to match. They have the right of first refusal for Rocca but would receive no compensation if the punter were to sign with another team. On Wednesday, the Eagles tendered linebacker Stewart Bradley (second round)

Even as the NFL inched closer to a labor shutdown that could threaten the 2011 season, the Eagles were taking care of business yesterday. The team announced that quarterback Michael Vick has signed his exclusive franchise tender, which guarantees Vick at least $16 million this season, if there is a season. The Eagles also tendered some prospective restricted free agents, linebacker Stewart Bradley (second-round level), guard Max Jean-Gilles (fourth-round level), and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (no compensation owed)

As expected, Eagles alums Mike Zordich and Mike Caldwell yesterday took the next step toward becoming coordinators. And, by doing so, assumed responsibility for the Eagles' most demanding tasks. Zordich, 47, was promoted from defensive quality control coach to defensive backs/safeties. He joined the staff in 2009 as an intern. Both seasons, he worked with the team's safeties, overseeing the development of Quintin Mikell and rookies Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. A team source indicated that Zordich likely will be joined by a cornerbacks coach.

WHOEVER ENDS UP as the Eagles' defensive coordinator will inherit an excellent player (Asante Samuel), a very good player (Trent Cole), and a bunch of guys who either are pretty good, very young, largely inconsistent or some combination of the above. And good luck with that. This will be his main issue: Does he dare to turn over the defensive personnel again, or were the problems in 2010 more schematic? Whenever this new person arrives, he will look at the way teams attacked the Eagles.

Kurt Coleman knows the drill for the first off-season of his NFL career. "I have to get bigger, faster, stronger, and learn to understand the game a little more," Coleman said. The Eagles' rookie safety might have been speaking for all of the team's young players. They gained some experience this season, but their development could be the key to the team's future. "We were able to play young players who were able to get experience," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Some of those young guys are going to be leaders on this team.

LIKE HIS MENTOR, Brian Dawkins, Quintin Mikell loves this city. He loves the Eagles. Like his mentor, Mikell's emotions got the better of him when he considered he might have played his final game for both. A tear formed in Mikell's left eye, then in his right, when asked about his immediate future as a free agent in a league facing a lockout. "That's not something I really want to think about right now," he said. "It is what it is. Hopefully, it gets worked out. And we'll go from there.