A.J. Feeley Gets New Deal, Jeff Garcia Left Teamless for Time Being

The Inquirer's Bob Brookover has been following the pulse of the Eagles closely the past few days and today he tells us that the Eagles have agreed to a new three year deal with back up A.J. Feeley.

The Eagles, according to a league source, completed negotiations on a three-year contract extension with quarterback A.J. Feeley this morning, which ended any chance for Jeff Garcia to return to the team in 2007.

Feeley, 29, has been told that he will be the backup to starter Donovan McNabb after spending last season as the No. 3 quarterback behind McNabb and Garcia. Details of the deal were not immediately known, but Feeley is now signed with the Eagles through 2010 because he had a year remaining on the two-year contract he signed with the team last summer after being released by the San Diego Chargers.

This move all but ends any chance Jeff Garcia will return next season in Eagles green. The next stop in Jeff Garcia's career could lead him to Denver or Tampa Bay.

I can't say I'm shocked over the Eagles decision to get a deal done for Feeley. As far as we can tell, the Eagles never even made a contract offer to Garcia. It's unfortunate that after the promising run he took the Birds on last season, they can't even make him an offer. On the flip side, Feeley is younger, cheaper, and has shown flashes of star qualities when he had limited chances on the field for the Eagles.

The only other question I think this could lead to is whether this was a strictly football and money decision? If the Eagles brought back Garcia, you absolutely know the first pass Donovan McNabb threw at the feet of Reggie Brown fans would be barking for Garcia. This could certainly have been in part a move to avoid that controversy.