FanHouse JasonBabin

The Eagles will be without starting linebacker Stewart Bradley for the season. He tore his ACL during the first week of training camp, leaving a big hole in the middle of their defense (particularly after safety Brian Dawkins wasn't re-signed).

Compounding matters: longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle to cancer and his replacement, 35-year-old Sean McDermott, is in his first year on the job. The Eagles have signed a couple warm bodies -- Matt Wilhelm and Jason Babin -- and second-year linebacker Joe Mays will also get a shot at replacing Bradley. (There was some speculation that Omar Gaither might get the nod but it looks like he'll remain the fourth linebacker, at least for now.)

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After winning just twice in 2008 and six times in two seasons, the Chiefs have decided to blow up the whole operation and start over. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have replaced Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards, and the rebuilding process is currently underway.

Conventional wisdom suggests that such turnarounds might take a couple seasons, but after what the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins were able to accomplish, expectations are almost certainly higher -- which means that Kansas City could be just a few personnel moves from returning to the playoffs. The issue, of course. is which personnel moves will give Kansas City the best chance to make a postseason run in '09.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Texans have traded defensive end Jason Babin to the Seahawks for safety Michael Boulware.

Babin had his most effective camp for the Texans but Houston is desperate for safety help. Glen Earl was hurt in the preseason, rookie Brandon Harrison hurt his hamstring in practice today and may be put on IR, and both current starters, CC Brown and Jason Simmons have bruised shoulders.

In college, Boulware played linebacker, and for the Seahawks he played both linebacker and strong safety. As a converted linebacker, he has struggled with technique and was benched last season. Giving up a team high 7 touchdown passes last season will get you benched. He has had an effective preseason but has been caught in a numbers game. The Texans could probably use a free safety more, but they are beggars who can't choose.

His career path sounds a bit like Babin's. Babin was a defensive end in college but was drafted to play linebacker when the Texans used to play 3-4. After struggling as a starter, the former first round pick lost his starting role. When the Texans switched to the 4-3, he was undersized for an every down end and was best used in pass situations. He's had a nice camp, but how many defensive ends can one team carry?

Having fresh starts with a team that didn't draft them and weren't frustrated by their public learning might be good for the both of them. So fans of each team, what do you think about the trade?

Update: Vinny from TexansTalk has a nice discussion of the trade: "My Tweener for your Tweener."

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Arizona Cardinals:

Out: Tackle Oliver Ross (tricep), defensive end Chike Okeafor (bicep), center/guard Nick Leckey (knee), fullback A.J. Schable (foot) and defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis (knee).

Questionable: Linebacker Monty Beisel (back).

Probable: Cornerback Eric Green (leg).