Demetress

Bell

Bell was inactive for Sunday’s win after going down in Week 4. Rookie Chris Hairston will again start this week. Ryan Fitzpatrick took just one sack against the Eagles, but did have trouble completing passes downfield.

Bell may not have any interest in returning to Buffalo. The 27-year-old has also drawn interest from the Redskins and Cardinals, but remains unsigned. Along with Marcus McNeill, Bell is among the top O-Linemen left on the market.

Bell is in Pittsburgh Friday visiting the Steelers. The Eagles suddenly have a major left-tackle need after losing Jason Peters to a ruptured Achilles’. Bell would at the very least be an adequate replacement, assuming he’s healthy.

“Every day, I go over our draft board and our free-agent board,” said Roseman. “For us, at the top of our free-agent board, is Bell. This is before we know anything about the injury.” Roseman concedes that Bell would have done nothing more than “work with the coaches” as a reserve -- which Bell’s agent wasn’t buying prior to the Peters injury.

The best tackle left on the market, Bell’s signing would likely signal the end of Jammal Brown’s time in Washington. Bell would also provide insurance for LT Trent Williams, who was suspended for the final four games of 2011.

Beat writer Jeff McLane reports that the Eagles can get out of Bell’s contract without any salary cap hit in 2013. So, in essence, it’s a one-year deal the Eagles could opt to “extend” beyond this season if Bell performs well in 2012. Bell is a safe bet to be the Eagles’ starting left tackle on Opening Day.

Many of Wilson’s reports are agent-driven, and we suspect that is the case here as well. Through three weeks of free agency, no team has been willing to meet the talented but oft-injured Bell’s asking price. According to TheSidelineView.com’s Adam Caplan, the holdup on a Bell signing is a long-term deal as opposed to one-year offers.

The Eagles announced the signing, curiously adding that the correct spelling of Bell’s name has been “Demetress” all along. Athletic but unreliable due to injury, Karl Malone’s son was arguably the best offensive lineman left on the market. Since Bell is insurance for Jason Peters (Achilles surgery), the reported $35 million deal is almost certainly front-loaded, with little money guaranteed beyond 2012. All 30 of Bell’s starts the past three years have come at left tackle, so Todd Herremans will likely remain on the right side.

Morrison would be the favorite over Arthur Moats to start on the strong side in Dave Wannstedt’s 4-3 defense. Bell hasn’t been able to stay healthy in four years with the Bills, but he finally turned his athletic gifts into solid production in seven games last season.

The Bills believe 2011 fourth-round pick Chris Hairston might be their left tackle of the future, but retaining Bell would give them insurance. But he may not come cheap. “We’re still negotiating with Demetrius Bell,” said Gailey. “Chris did make some progress. He’s not the finished end product yet. Can he get there? He might can. I’m not convinced he will, he might can.”