NFL Combine 2012: Reaction to Today's Biggest News Around the NFC East

Several NFL head coaches, general managers and player agents have spoken to the media this week, and with news coming out of the NFL scouting combine faster than this columnist can keep up with it all, fans in the NFC East might be feeling a little overwhelmed, too.

So here is a mini round-up of the biggest news around each NFC East team to come out of the meetings the past few days.

Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith to Start at Left Tackle, Doug Free at Right Tackle

Reaction: Could the Dallas Cowboys Ask Doug Free to Restructure His Contract?

According to Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is headed into the 2012 offseason with the idea that Tyron Smith will be the team's starting left tackle, with Doug Free to move to the right side. 

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The starting point for us next year is that Tyron will start at left tackle as a starting point and Doug will start at right tackle, Garrett said on Thursday. The versatility that Tyron has coming out is something that we were really attracted to. He was a right tackle in college, as you know. But we felt like he had the physical traits to play left tackle and the same thing with Doug Free. We felt like he could play either side. Our starting point when we get back together playing football is going to be Tyron is going to be on the left side and Doug is going to be on the right side.

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It makes a ton of sense for the team, because it's clear Smith is the better tackle and has the versatility to play on the left, but what about that big contract the Cowboys just gave Free in the 2011 offseason? Over $8 million per year for a right tackle seems like egregious overspending from this perspective, so the Cowboys might be wise to rework Free's contract at some point.

The Cowboys have $10 million in cap space in 2012, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, but they could free up some space if they are able to rework Free's deal.

New York Giants: Mario Manningham is no Closer to a Deal With the Giants

Reaction: Will the Team Look for a Replacement for Manningham?

Mario Manningham may never have another catch as brilliant as the one he pulled off in Super Bowl XLVI, and if his negotiations with the Giants are any indication, he may never have another catch in a Giants uniform period.

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Per league source, receiver Mario Manningham has made no progress on new deal with the Giants and will enter free agency.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 24, 2012"

The Giants were able to do a lot because of their talented trio of wide receivers in Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Losing Manningham may not be so bad on its own, but the Giants are also set to start the season without their two best tight ends in Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard. 

So the Giants will likely need to add playmaking threats in the passing game, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have to target a wide receiver.

I pointed out on the blog yesterday that the Giants might want to scout a guy like Georgia tight end Orson Charles who can fill a need at tight end while helping production in the passing game that will be lost with the departure of Manningham.

Philadelphia Eagles: Team Will Meet with Robert Griffin III

Reaction: Don't Overreact

Among the most popular speakers on Friday at the combine was Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III; according to one blogger, Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead.tv, the quarterback had 245 people in attendance for his press conference.

And at that press conference, he revealed some interesting news according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.

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RG3 said he's scheduled to meet with the Eagles tonight. Interesting.

— Bart Hubbuch (@NYPost_Hubbuch) February 24, 2012"

That should be eye-popping news for a team that just gave Michael Vick a six-year, $100 million contract less than eight months ago (hat tip to Rotoworld for the info), but shouldn't be especially surprising. This is the kind of misdirection that veteran head coaches and general managers are famous for as they try to get their opponents thinking left jab while the team cocks a right hook.

The Patriots did something similar in the 2010 draft when Bill Belichick famously went on a dinner date with Tim Tebow. Clearly, there were different motives in mind with that move, but the general idea was the same—due diligence.

Washington Redskins: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher Opens Door to Trade for No. 2 Pick

Reaction: Could the Redskins Be the Team That Pulls The Trigger?

Whether or not RG3 is genuinely on the Eagles' radar remains to be seen, but there's no secret to whether or not he's on the Redskins' radar. The question then concerns the likelihood that the Redskins can trade up to No. 2 and land their quarterback of the future.

According to Zac Boyer of the Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star, the St. Louis Rams have put the No. 2 pick on the trading block.

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#Rams coach Jeff Fisher on trading the No. 2 pick: "We've got opportunities below us. It all depends on people's values and people's needs."

— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) February 24, 2012"

The Redskins would be wise to pull the trigger on RG3 if he's the guy they want, and it appears they'll at least have the opportunity to do so, with the Rams opening the door to trades. Now it becomes a question of whether they'll be willing to give up the heist that it's expected to take to land the pick.

Looking back on the Redskins' draft heist of the Saints in 1999, it looks like Washington will get a taste of its own medicine.

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