Most familiar Eagles now long gone

Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, Pa.

Donovan McNabb wears different colors. Brian Westbrook is job-hunting. Sheldon Brown and other veterans are gone, too.

These aren’t the same Philadelphia Eagles who dominated the NFC East for much of the past decade.

A new era for the Eagles kicked off Friday when the whole team held its first practice at training camp. Fans who gather to watch the first practice in full pads this morning might need a program to figure out who is on the field.

For the first time since 1998, No. 5 isn’t out there. McNabb, the six-time Pro Bowl quarterback, was traded to Washington in April after 11 very successful seasons in Philadelphia.

That familiar No. 36 also is missing from camp. Westbrook, the former All-Pro running back, was released after several injuries slowed him the past two seasons. He remains unsigned.

No. 24 now belongs to Victor “Macho” Harris instead of Brown, the hard-hitting cornerback who never missed a game in eight seasons with the Eagles. Brown was dealt to Cleveland for draft picks.

Shawn Andrews, a two-time Pro Bowl guard, wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, defensive end Darren Howard and linebackers Jeremiah Trotter, Will Witherspoon and Chris Gocong are no longer with the team, either.

Despite winning 11 games last season, the Eagles completely restructured their roster in the offseason. Trading McNabb was the biggest move, paving the way for fourth-year pro Kevin Kolb to take over.

During McNabb’s tenure, the Eagles reached the playoffs eight times, won five NFC East titles, went to five conference championship games and one Super Bowl.

But they didn’t win the big game.