Eagles also interested in Mawae

[faba]

Eagles interested in vet center Mawae

By LES BOWEN

bowenl@phillynews.com

Free agency is bound to start eventually, whether there's a new collective bargaining agreement or not. When it does, the Eagles are still expected to be very active.

Mark Bartelstein, agent for recently released Jets center Kevin Mawae, said yesterday he has spoken with the Eagles about his client. That's a bit of a surprise, because the Birds have been reported to be poised to sign New Orleans free-agent-to-be center LeCharles Bentley.

One explanation might be that if a new CBA emerges from the current owners meeting in Dallas, the $94.5 million salary cap will rise dramatically and Bentley might suddenly have more suitors and a higher price tag. Until the Eagles actually have signed Bentley, they don't have him, and they could feel a need to hedge their bet.

Bartelstein said he didn't ask the Birds about their reported dalliance with Bentley.

"I'm sure they have interest in Kevin, but they aren't going to put all their eggs in one basket,'' Bartelstein said.

Mawae is 35, and Bentley is 26, but unlike Bentley, Mawae is available now - having been cut, he doesn't need to wait for free agency to sign with a new team. Mawae is a six-time Pro Bowler; Bentley made the Pro Bowl this past season after previously making it as a guard.

The Eagles have been linked in media reports to a number of pending free agents, a list probably topped by Bentley and Pittsburgh wide receiver-punt returner Antwaan Randle El. Other prominent names include Kansas City linebacker Shawn Barber, Detroit quarterback Jeff Garcia, Denver running back Mike Anderson (Barber and Anderson are in Mawae's category, having been released last week) and New York Giants defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy.

Barber, 31, is an intriguing possibility because he played well for the Eagles in 2002. Veteran linebackers who come to Philadelphia have had trouble learning the ins and outs of Jim Johnson's defense - the year Barber was here, before leaving as a free agent for Kansas City, he said it took him until about midseason. But obviously, if Barber were to return, he would not need such a long adjustment period, unlike the other linebackers on the market or available in the draft.

Barber's agent, Brian Mackler, said he expected to be talking to at least half a dozen teams when free-agency began, possibly including the Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are in the process of hiring an assistant special-teams coach after Oakland hired Ted Daisher to take over its special teams. One likely candidate is current kicking coach Randy Brown, but Brown might be hurt by the fact that he only coaches special teams. Daisher helped out with the defensive line as well; before he left he was assisting new d-line coach Pete Jenkins in his adjustment to Johnson's complex defensive scheme.