Eagles lock up Jason Avant

by Eric Schwartz

Monday March 8, 2010 

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Julius Peppers and Aaron Kampman are not coming to town to help the Philadelphia Eagles.

However the team is taking care of its own.

The Eagles announced a contract extension with wide receiver Jason Avant. Avant, who was a restricted free agent, signed a five-year deal, but terms have yet to be disclosed.

The move comes on the heals of the team’s decision to pick up the $1.5 million bonus for Michael Vick. The bonus is part of the $5.25 salary Vick is set to earn this season. The move does not guarantee that the Eagles will keep Vick and it could just be a way to buy time for a trade.

The other news out of Philadelphia came on Friday when the Eagles inked fullback Leonard Weaver to a 3-year deal. The deal is worth $11 million and will keep the powerful back paving the way for LeSean McCoy for the foreseeable future.

While the moves have not jumped off the front pages of major sports publications, they are smart, sound football decisions. If the Eagles didn’t lock up Vick by Tuesday he would have become a free agent and the team would have been left with nothing in return. Now there are trade possibilities. Avant is young, tall and talented and has become Donovan McNabb’s favorite third down target. His upside is great.

And Weaver is everything you could want in a fullback. He’s a great blocker and he can run when given the opportunity. He is also said to be a great leader and teammate.

There are still holes that the team needs to fill, but by bringing back their own talent the Eagles have avoided creating new ones.

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