By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Brian Dawkins flew the Eagles nest for the Mile High City of Denver more than a year ago. Yet, the Eagles still have not filled his spot with more than silly putty and knees made of Slinkies.

Quintin Demps was handed the starting job a year ago, but he, ummm, sucked to put it mildly. Sean Jones was signed as a free agent in case Demps needed help. Yet, neither of them could beat out rookie cornerback-converted-safety Macho Harris. The result was a carousel befitting a circus than an NFL franchise.

A year later, Jones is gone and Harris is a cornerback. Enter Marlin Jackson and rookie Nate Allen.

Allen, the rookie taken from South Florida with the McNabb pick, was supposed to have time to adapt to the league and learn behind Jackson. Plus, the Eagles didn’t know they’d get him when they started overhauling their defensive unit before the draft. To say he wasn’t part of the plan is an understatement.

Jackson, signed as a free agent from Indianapolis, was the guy. The problem wasn’t Jackson’s style of play. In fact, he likely was the type of hitter and cover guy the Birds needed out there next to Quintin Mikell.

The issue was the fact that Jackson was coming back from two ACL tears in as many years. To put the hopes of restoring pride to the part of the field that BDawk effortlessly defended for more than a decade on the shoulders of a guy coming back from that type of injury is insulting and inexcusable.

Did the Eagles braintrust learn nothing from the Stacey Andrews debacle?

Of course, they couldn’t bring in a competent veteran such as Darren Sharper. To spend money on someone like thyat would be to admit a mistake in not giving $7.2 million to BDawk for two years. The Eagles don’t admit mistakes, especially one that big.

Now, Jackson is lost for the year with a ruptured Achille’s heel on the first day of non-contact OTAs. The injury could very well be the result of trying to come back too quickly from his most recent ACL injury. It brings to mind the years of Correll Buckhalter going to the ground without any contact. This case is potentially more devsastating as their is no Brian Westbrook in the eagles free safety picture.

Harris, Demps and Allen are now in the spotlight. Harris likely can’t be moved back from corner since he didn’t exactly light the world on fire last year, and the Eagles are thin at a position they deem important. With Ellis Hobbs the starter opposite Asante Samuel right now, Harris has a chance to start there this year.

Demps couldn’t seize the opportunity handed to him a year ago. That leaves Allen, a guy the Eagles weren’t banking on to step up and play like a veteran right off the bat.

When is the last time a rookie made a big impact on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles? When? Now, Allen is thrust into that very spot thanks to the tape-job the Eagles did on the free safety position once again.