Allen Barbre Released by Philadelphia Eagles After 4 Seasons with Team

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Wednesday they released guard Allen Barbre.

Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman made the following statement:

"Allen Barbre is a pro’s pro. Not only did he help the team with his solid play as a starter at left guard, but his ability to step up and play multiple positions helped us battle through some difficult situations. We had a conversation yesterday and agreed it made sense to allow him to pursue some other opportunities, but the door is open for him to return here as well."

Barbre, 33, spent the past four seasons with the Eagles, starting 28 games over the last two years. But with Isaac Seumalo named the starter at left guard and Chance Warmack and Stefen Wisniewski available on the interior, Barbre became expendable. 

"Isaac's the starter and then there's just competition from there; that's the great thing about training camp, the great thing about this business, it's just so stinking competitive," offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. "It's what the guys love about it. It's what we love about it, so again it'll play itself out."

Releasing Barbre also saved the Eagles $2.1 million in cap space, per Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice.

That move leaves the team's starting offensive line as follows:

• Jason Peters (left tackle)
• Seumalo (left guard)
• Jason Kelce (center)
• Brandon Brooks (right guard)
• Lane Johnson (right tackle)

If that unit can stay healthy, which wasn't the case in 2016, Johnson believes they could be special.

"It'll mean everything to the team if we can get the same five guys playing week in and week out, getting better week in and week out," he said. "There's no reason why we can't be one of the best lines in the league."

Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus shared that line of thinking when he named the Eagles offensive line the best unit in football heading into the 2017 season in June.

He wrote, "Out of all the offensive lines in the NFL, the Eagles currently have the fewest holes. Their biggest question mark heading into 2017 is center Kelce, who is a former PFF All-Pro (2013) in his own right. They also have dominant players like Johnson, who was the best right tackle in the NFL a season ago when on the field."

That ranking included Barbre in the starting lineup. But the Eagles clearly believe in Seumalo's potential. As Zach Berman of Philly.com noted, "it was clear throughout the spring that the Eagles want to give Seumalo every chance to secure the job. The 2016 third-round pick is a clear part of the team's future."