With final preseason games, final cuts, and...oh yeah...a Wednesday night season opener featuring an NFC East throwdown between the Giants and Cowboys, let's jump right into the division's news and notes that caught my attention this week:

Giants

• Not a shock, but in their final roster moves, the Giants put CB Terrell Thomas on injured reserve. Thomas has talent, but has been cursed with injuries. This will be his 2nd consecutive season missed due to injury -- this time because he couldn't recover from last year's knee surgery.
• Also going to injured reserve (meaning he'll miss the full season) is DT Shaun Rogers. Rogers suffered blood clots in his left calf, which will require blood-thinning medication. NFL violence is a no-no for someone on this kind of medication. 
• WR Hakeem Nicks, who had been slowly working his way back from a broken foot, appeared in the final preseason game and reported no lingering effects. He's expected to be ready for the season opener with no restrictions.
  

Eagles

• The name that jumped out at me from Philly's cut list was QB Mike Kafka. Most (including me) thought he'd be the team's #2 QB, but impressive preseason performances from rookie Nick Foles and veteran Trent Edwards sent Kafka packing. Perhaps most surprising was that Andy Reid couldn't figure out a trade to get a draft pick or two in exchange for Kafka.
• With his release Friday, Oshiomogho Atogwe has now been cut by two NFC East teams. He was a free agent signee last season in Washington, who cut him early in the offseason after an injury-plagued, unproductive season. He couldn't stay healthy during Philly's training camp either -- not a good sign for a 31-year old player.
• If Michael Vick looks a bit more rotund this season, it's not him. Really. To try and reduce some of the injuries he's suffered, Vick is going to thicker padding. He's been wearing Kevlar pads from Unequal Technologies, and expects to have the thicker stuff by the opener.
  

Cowboys

• The only real surprise cut from JerryWorld was WR Danny Coale, a 5th round pick this year. Coale was expected to compete for the #3 slot, but was outplayed by Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, Cole Beasley and Andre Holmes.
• Bubble guys shouldn't get too comfortable in Dallas. They still have needs, especially along the offensive line, extra-especially at center.
• TE Jason Witten, who suffered a lacerated spleen early in the preseason will have a scan Tuesday to determine whether he can play in the Wednesday opener. Witten says he'll play if he's cleared by doctors. He has practiced the past couple days, which is an encouraging sign. It's worth noting that Dallas did claim TE Colin Cochart off waivers from the Bengals to give them some more depth at the position.
• Lots of attention was paid this week to the "Bryant Rules" -- a set of guidelines for WR Dez Bryant's off-field behavior. The rules include a midnight curfew, no alcohol, no strip clubs, and counseling twice a week. There will also be a permanent security presence with him. It sounds like a lot -- and it is. Reportedly, the rules came at Bryant's request. I think this is a smart move for the Cowboys in protecting a guy they've invested a lot in. I especially like the counseling aspect, which will hopefully help Bryant transition to a more independent lifestyle.
  

Redskins

• Washington's final roster cuts included some surprising names. The biggest eyebrow raiser was running back Tim Hightower, who the Skins traded for last offseason. The team thought he'd be recovered enough from his ACL injury last season, but they thought wrong. It wouldn't be a shock to see Hightower brought back mid-season if his knee improves.
• The release of WR Anthony Armstrong shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. After a promising season two years ago, Armstrong played poorly last season and then hurt his shoulder in preseason. He was claimed by the Dolphins.
• I was mildly surprised to see some of the younger players who were released, including WR Terrence Austin, C Erik Cook, OT Willie Smith (who was claimed on waivers by the Raiders), LB Markus White, and LB Bryan Kehl. The Skins have already signed OT Tom Compton and DE Doug Worthington to the practice squad.
• The Skins cut all the way to 52 players (the roster limit is 53), which means there's likely a signing in the very near future. Chris Cooley's return is possible -- Washington cut him so he could pursue a starting job elsewhere (which hasn't worked out for him). They could also be hunting for a safety since Tanard Jackson has been suspended indefinitely for yet another violation of the league's substance abuse policy.
• Jackson's suspension was disappointing, but unsurprising given his history. Washington took a chance on him because he's a talented player and he had a good relationship with new secondary coach Raheem Morris. It wasn't enough. In his public comments about Jackson, Mike Shanahan always referenced Jackson's talent, but then wondered if he could be counted on. The suspension leaves Washington with Brandon Merriweather and Madieu Williams as the likely starters with DeJon Gomes, Reed Doughty and Jordan Bernstine as reserves.
• In the "for what it's worth" category: The Skins reportedly tried to trade WR Anthony Armstrong to Miami for RB Steve Slaton. A logical move given Slaton's history in the Shanahan offense. Since Miami ended up cutting him, Slaton remains a possibility for the Skins. Until then, figure on the work being shared by Alfred Morris, Evan Royster and Roy Helu.
• I'll get into this next week in my Redskins blog , but it's possible the Skins made a mistake when they jettisoned Graham Gano for Billy Cundiff. Cundiff is a solid veteran, whose booming kickoffs are more valuable than most fans know, but Gano is a youngster with a TON of promise.
• OT Jammal Brown is still struggling with hip problems and the Skins put him on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The soonest he can return is week 7. Until then, the right tackle position will be manned by Tyler Polumbus, a street free agent they signed last season who did a solid job at that position last year.
• The Skins traded former Maryland standout Kevin Barnes to Detroit for what is probably a late round draft pick. They used Barnes as their nickel corner last season, but didn't like his performance. This year, they shifted DeAngelo Hall to the slot role in nickel packages and switched Barnes to the outside where they figured his size would make him a better fit. But, he got outplayed by rookie Richard Crawford. The Skins cornerbacks now will be Hall, Josh Wilson, Cedric Griffin and Crawford.
  

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another edition of Rushmore Sunday -- a look at the greatest players in NFC East history, position by position. So far, we've delved into quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, running backs, wide receivers, safeties, offensive linemen, linebackers, coaches, tight ends, and returners. For this week, let's stay with special teams, but this time with the true specialists, the guys who stand around with their hands in their pockets waiting to be called on to win a game, the guys who actually put the foot in football. Yes, the kickers.

Before you start whining about how they're not real players, lemme just say: shut up. They don't hit or tackle much -- at least not lately -- unless something has gone horribly wrong, but every team makes room on their roster. And they actually get paid to be in the NFL, and last I checked, the F still stands for football. Plus, check the stats and see who scores the most points for most teams. (It's usually the kicker.) And punters play a key role in the field position battle, which is pretty important.

So, now that you've come to believe that kickers are the most important players on the field (that was easy), let's review the Rushmore Rules. It's simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore. The job is tough again this week because there have been so many good ones in the NFC East.

Here's my Rushmore of NFC East kickers:

• Mark Moseley, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles (also Houston and Cleveland) -- The last of the straight-on kickers, Moseley was also one of the game's all-time greats. He played in just two Pro Bowls and was first-team All-NFL just once, but he was also the league's MVP in 1982. Moseley's accuracy (which was good for his era) and range made him a vital part of two Skins Super Bowl teams (one win).
• David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins (also San Francisco) -- You could be forgiven for forgetting about Akers' Redskins career. Washington was in the midst of kicker turmoil and Akers got all of one game and two field goal attempts. He missed both and the Skins dumped him for Eddie Murray -- a competent old guy. Akers went on to appear in 6 Pro Bowls, and was named 1st team All-NFL twice -- all for the Eagles. A powerful leg and accuracy made him a fixture in Philly for more than a decade.
• Rafael Septien, Dallas Cowboys (also the LA Rams) -- Septien makes this list primarily for his annoying tendency to make big kicks against the Redskins. Oh yeah, he also made a Pro Bowl and was 1st team All-NFL. He led the NFL in scoring once, and was top 5 four other times.
• Chip Lohmiller, Washington Redskins (also New Orleans and St. Louis) -- Lohmiller was an excellent kicker for several seasons, and made a passel of clutch kicks for the "Bandwagon" Skins of 1991. That season, Lohmiller led the league in scoring and appeared in the Pro Bowl. He was 2nd in scoring in three other seasons.
  

Commemorative Plaques

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite in it. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to:

• Pat Summerall, New York Giants (also Detroit Lions and Chicago Cardinals)
• Tony Franklin, Philadelphia Eagles (also New England and Miami)
• Pete Gogolak, New York Giants (also Buffalo)
• Curt Knight, Washington Redskins
  
• Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants (also Kansas City)
• Bobby Walston, Philadelphia Eagles
• Sam Baker, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles (also Cleveland)
  

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East kickers. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.   

As teams transition from training camp to preseason, here's the NFC East news that caught my eye this week:

Giants

• If you were worried that the Giants' defensive line wouldn't be much good this season -- stop it. Well, unless you think the Jets o-line is really that bad. I know the Jets line is a weak spot, but the Giants just clobbered 'em.
• Rookie RB David Wilson had a nice game against the Jets. The Giants did a good job of getting him the ball in space, which highlighted his speed and acceleration. He's still fourth on the depth chart, but at least Giants fans can see why he was the team's 1st round pick. 
• While not as bad off as the Jets, the Giants have some offensive line worries of their own. Left tackle Will Beatty's back is a chronic problem, his backups have been less than good, and the team doesn't seem to have a Plan B. Best bet is probably to move David Diehl back over from the right side (which they did for the Super Bowl run), but that leaves them weak on the right. The primary backup at right tackle is likely Sean Locklear, who was terrible in Washington last season.
• Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers may miss the entire season with blood clots in his leg. Hopefully he gets his health taken care of and can get back on the field. In the meantime, the Giants have good depth at D-tackle. Dwayne Hendricks figures to get first crack at filling Rogers' spot.
  

Eagles

• Nnamdi Asomugha was hurt in a scary practice collision. Initially there were concerns about concussion, but the injuries appear to be limited to a cut lip and a strained neck. He got back on the practice field on Thursday. The Eagles have had a lot of relatively minor injuries in preseason. Key players have missed practice time (like Mike Kafka, Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin), but all are expected back well before the opener. Of course, they're still trying to figure out what to do at left tackle after Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles in the offseason. Free agent Demetress Bell has not impressed, and Bell's replacement, King Dunlap, hasn't looked good either.
• U.S. Olympian Jeff Demps, a sprinter who won silver as part of the 4x100 relay team, filed the forms needed to declare himself eligible to play in the NFL. He's immediately a free agent, and the Eagles have at least some interest. Demps played running back at Florida where he excelled as a pass-catcher and return man. At just 5-7 and 190, he's little but then again, he's no smaller than Darren Sproles. Practice squad anyone?
  

Cowboys

• Brandon Carr is looking like a possible free agent steal. He had two picks against the Chargers -- one of them just a tremendous play where he baited Philip Rivers into throwing the ball. Words that come to mind when watching Carr: smart, athletic, quick, hard-working. Those are good traits in a corner.
• On the other side, Morris Claiborne had a meh preseason debut. He wasn't bad, but he didn't do anything impressive either. That may actually be a good sign. If a corner isn't getting picks, it's probably best if his name isn't called much at all.
• Jason Witten will miss the remainder of the preseason at least with a lacerated spleen. That's an injury that's probably as gruesome as it sounds. I had a bout with pancreatitis a few years ago, and it ranks number one on my all-time "most pain I've experienced" list. (To put it in perspective, here's the rest of the top 5: 2) dislocated knee; 3) kidney stone; 4) rehabbing surgery for a torn rotator cuff; 5) the headaches that followed for weeks after hitting my head on a basketball floor.) Witten could miss time in the regular season depending on how quickly he heals.
• The Cowboys say they don't want Chad Johnson, the receiver formally known as Ochocinco. Maybe they looked at some game tape from the past couple years and realized he's no good anymore.
  

Redskins

• That weird repetitive noise you kept hearing from the north-central part of the country? That was Skins players saying, "Ouch!" Brian Orakpo and Brandon Merriweather both had to leave the game in the first quarter; Orakpo with an injury to the same pectoral muscle he tore last season, Merriweather with a knee. MRI exams on Sunday indicated that neither injury is serious. Whew!
• The Skins offensive line was bad in pass protection Saturday night. They're missing three guys they'd planned on being starters: right guard Chris Chester, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger and right tackle Jammal Brown. They're listed in order of importance. Chester was solid last season. Lichtensteiger was considered by some to be the team's best blocker last year, but he missed most of the season with a knee injury. Brown's considered the starter, but the team's performance on the right side improved when he was replaced last season with street free agent Tyler Polumbus. Chester and Lichtensteiger are expected back before the season opener. Brown's status is still undetermined. He's trying to find a treatment that will fix the hip and avoid surgery. No luck yet.
• The Skins secondary has to be a major concern. Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell threw for more than 200 yards in the first half. The safeties looked bad; the corners looked like they're struggling in coverage.
• Brandon Banks did what he usually does in preseason -- he broke a big return. Last season, he was actually not very good as a kick returner. He entered camp with the instruction that he would have to win a receiving job to make the team. That's unlikely to happen -- there's just no way Banks is one of the top 5-6 receivers on the roster.
• Alfred Morris was a surprise starter at running back Saturday night. He's a strong runner who excels at doing what works best in the zone blocking system Mike Shanahan uses: he makes a single cut and goes hard upfield. He also has that knack of falling forward when he's tackled.
• Tim Hightower is doing more in practice lately as he recovers from a torn ACL. He's the guy they've wanted as their #1 back since they traded for him last offseason. 
• Don't start thinking there's a QB controversy in Washington. Kirk Cousins looked good going against backups. Robert Griffin III looked so-so against starters. But Griffin is the starter, period. Cousins looks to have the makings of a solid backup if Griffin gets hurt. Otherwise, he could end up fodder in a Kevin Kolb or Matt Cassell type trade in a couple years.
• Amusing story this week about nose tackle Chris Baker. He tore his quad last season dunking a basketball on the same day he was activated to the team's 53-man roster. The team ordered him to lose 20 pounds before this season, and he did -- arriving to camp at a svelte 331 pounds. He had a terrific training camp, and his job with the team solidified when Chris Neild tore his ACL.
• The Washington Post had a story about Chris Cooley that will endear him to fans for life. He's been a standout tight end, of course, but at 30 years old with a growing list of injuries that have caused him to miss time, and a hefty salary -- there's been plenty of speculation that he would be released. With the Skins seeming to move on at TE, Cooley has shifted to fullback (to fill in for the injured Darrell Young). During the offseason, he apparently made it clear to the coaches that he would play any role they asked of him if it meant he could stay with the team.
  

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another edition of Rushmore Sunday -- a look at the greatest players in NFC East history, position by position. So far, we've delved into quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, running backs, wide receivers, safeties, offensive linemen, linebackers, coaches and tight ends. For this week's version, let's take a look at guys who make some of the sport's most exciting and game-changing plays: the punt and kickoff return men.

The Rushmore rules are simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore. The job is tough again this week because there have been so many good ones in the NFC East.

Here's my Rushmore of NFC East return men:

• Brian Mitchell, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants -- A shame Mitchell couldn't play a few games for the Cowboys and make a clean sweep of the entire division. A standout quarterback at the University of Southwest Louisiana, the Redskins drafted Mitchell in the 5th round and converted him into a return man and sometime running back. Where some returners are shifty and elusive, Mitchell was a virtual bowling ball -- a tough, powerful runner who was fast and decisive and hard to get on the ground. His 13 return touchdowns (9 punts; 4 kickoffs) rank 2nd all-time behind Devin Hester, and he's currently 2nd all-time in total yardage behind only Jerry Rice. He played in just one Pro Bowl, possibly because his incessant trash talking aggravated other players around the league; but he was named to the AP All-Pro team three times.
  
• Dave Meggett, New York Giants (also New England Patriots and New York Jets) -- Most return men have a few hot seasons where they generate most of their TDs, and most of those happen fairly early in the player's career. Meggett never had more than two punt return TDs in a season, but he had 8 total from 1989-1996. He appeared in two Pro Bowls.
  
• Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins (also Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens) -- Whether it was on punts, kickoffs or interceptions, Sanders was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. With electric speed, uncanny vision and preternatural quickness, Deion was nearly impossible to catch in the open field. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
  
• Emlen Tunnell, New York Giants -- A dominating defensive back, Tunnell was also a dangerous return man who ran back 3 punts and a kickoff for scores in 1951. One of the game's all-time great players, Tunnell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
  

Commemorative Plaques

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite in it. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to: 

• Mike Nelms, Washington Redskins
• Bobby Mitchell, Washington Redskins
• Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles
• Bob Hayes, Dallas Cowboys
  
• Mel Renfro, Dallas Cowboys
• Timmy Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
• DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East return men. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.  

With preseason action underway, here's a tour through NFC East news that caught my eye this week:

Giants

• If you're a Giants fan not worried about Chris Canty's knee, what's wrong with you? Canty says he'll be back for week 1, but he's not on the field and there isn't a timetable for getting him back out there. New York has some depth with Marvin Austin and Shawn Rogers, but the Giants need Canty in the middle of their D-line.
• David Wilson showed the makings of a nice complement to Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield. He needs work, which is true of every rookie, but he's blazing fast and could be an immediate threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
• I wrote back in April that the Martellus Bennett signing was a good one for New York, and the first preseason action provided indications why. Bennett showed off his excellent blocking ability and also made receptions all three times he was targeted.
• In the "not a good sign" department, the Giants' starting defense got pushed around by Jacksonville in the first preseason game. They need Canty back.
• Good news on Terrell Thomas. He had sustained yet another injury to the ACL that's been repaired twice already. Initially, the team docs thought it would need yet another surgery, but that prognosis changed upon further review. Dr. James Andrews agreed that the ligament hasn't been re-torn, and that Thomas can get back on the field after rehab. He'll still need recovery time, but there's at least a chance he'll be back on the field this year.
  

Eagles

• Shakeups in Philly in the aftermath of their preseason game. Michael Vick hurt his thumb, but will practice. Backup QB Mike Kafka won't practice because of a broken bone in his non-throwing hand. Rookie Nick Foles will step in as the 2nd team QB. And, free agent signee Demetress Bell was demoted to the 2nd team after playing like crap. King Dunlap has been promoted. Got all that?
• Regarding Bell's demotion -- don't be shocked if it's impermanent. There's still a month before the opener, and the team's line schemes are reportedly difficult to grasp right away. The real message behind the benching is simple: Bell needs more work.
• What's up with the Eagles and pulled/strained muscles? Jeremy Maclin strained a hamstring before warm-ups even started. Cullen Jenkins strained a hammy in the first quarter. Jason Babin is out with a strained calf.
  
• Abysmal tackling plagued the Eagles last season, and showed up again in their preseason game against the Steelers.
• Maclin's injury gave an opportunity to Damaris Johnson, who took full advantage of it. He led Philly in receiving with 4 catches and 85 yards, including a 70 yard TD.
• Dominique Rogers-Cromartie deserves a stiff fine and possibly a one-game suspension for his preposterously stupid hit on Steelers QB Byron Leftwich. Rogers-Cromartie leaped at Leftwich's head -- precisely the kind of thing the league has instructed players not to do.
• I was a bit surprised initially to see Andy Reid coach Philly's preseason opener just a few days after the death of his son, Garrett. The best explanation came from Reid himself: "I'm a football coach. That's what I do," Reid told reporters.
• Hakeem Nicks is making progress in his recovery from foot surgery this spring. He ran routes in practice and had no setbacks afterward. The team hopes to have him in the lineup for their Sept. 5 opener against Dallas.
  

Cowboys

• An ESPNDallas.com report said the Cowboys had begun discussions with Plaxico Burress's agent. Adam Schefter was quick to shoot the rumor down. Given how unproductive Burress was last season, Dallas would be smart to pass on him. Which means he'll probably get a multi-year deal on Monday.
• The Cowboys don't open their exhibition until Monday night against the Raiders. I'm looking forward to seeing running back DeMarco Murray back in action, who I think has a chance to be a great runner -- if he can stay healthy.
• Dallas had troubles with their offensive line last season, and the word from training camp isn't encouraging for this year. Tyron Smith is showing promise at left tackle, but Phil Costa is bad at center and all of his competition for the position is hurt. They're now trying guards who have never played center to see if one of them can do the job.
• Miles Austin is sideline with a hamstring injury. The team has tried to downplay how serious it is, but he has a history of hamstring problems. If Austin's out, the Dallas receiving corps will be significantly weakened.
• The cornerback injury situation isn't good at the moment. Mike Jenkins isn't on the field, and the team doesn't know when that'll happen. Morris Claiborne is sidelined with a knee injury.
• The Cowboys cut Brodney Pool, which means Barry Church will likely start at safety.
• Dez Bryant is getting rave reviews for his performance in practice. Hopefully, he can get his personal issues worked out so there won't be any obstacles to him reaching his on-field potential.
  

Redskins

• Washington fans have been trying (with little success) to fight off feelings of giddiness about the fairly routine performance from rookie QB Robert Griffin III. Griffin showcased a quick release and a lively arm in a brief appearance. In truth, the coaches didn't ask him to do a ton out there, but he did what they asked and did it well.
• One bright spot for the Skins was the solid performance (at least in pass protection) from their starting offensive line. Three players projected as starters missed the game (left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, right guard Chris Chester and right tackle Jammal Brown). Chester's ankle injury appears to be mild. The injuries to the other two are more serious. Still, it's a positive sign that their replacements could hold their own with a stout Bills defensive front.
• One potentially worrisome note about the O-line -- center Will Montgomery, who got overpowered at times last season got overpowered more than once Thursday night. On one running play, a Buffalo D-lineman shoved him into the backfield and into the ball carrier.
• It was striking to see the difference between Griffin and last year's starter Rex Grossman. Rex looked bad from the get-go -- he was nearly picked off on his first throw (not his fault, Brandon Banks fell down, but still), and was inaccurate on a number of other throws. The Skins have to be hoping they don't have to turn to him this season.
• The team's three young running backs -- Evan Royster, Roy Helu and Alfred Morris all showed strengths and weaknesses in Thursday's game. Royster had a tough time gaining yards early, although that may have been the line's fault. And he fumbled a handoff from Griffin. Helu showed his speed, but he doesn't gain many yards after contact. Morris showed toughness behind linemen who likely won't make the team. He seems to have the habit of falling forward when he gets tackled. Tim Hightower, still recovering from his knee injury last season, didn't play.
• Did you see Trent Williams get downfield and block two defenders on the Pierre Garcon touchdown? There was never a question about Williams' physical tools. In shape and with something to prove, Williams could have a breakout season.
• The Skins used Chris Cooley at fullback with Darrell Young out with a leg injury. He's not a road-grader type blocker, but he does the job in a "gets in the way and the defender can't reach the ball carrier" kind of way.
  

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another edition of Rushmore Sunday -- a look at the greatest players in NFC East history, position by position. So far, we've delved into quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, running backs, wide receivers, safeties, offensive linemen, linebackers and coaches. This week, let's take a look at key blockers and pass catchers: the tight ends.

The Rushmore rules are simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore. The job is tough again this week because there have been so many good ones in the NFC East.

Here's my Rushmore of NFC East tight ends:

• Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys -- I don't like starting with a modern player, but Witten is one of the best TEs who ever played. He currently sits third in all-time receptions for a TE, although that's at least partly a product of the pass-happy era he's played in. That said, he's appeared in 7 Pro Bowls and is a two-time first team All-Pro selection. An effective blocker and dangerous receiver with size, speed and strength, Witten would have been at home in any era.
• Keith Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (also Miami and Green Bay) -- I know, I know...Jackson played just 4 seasons in the NFC East. However, he was a dominating presence for Philly, and he was selected first-team All-Pro in each of his first three seasons.
  
• Mark Bavaro, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles (also Cleveland) -- I almost demoted Bavaro to Commemorative Plaque status because while he played 9 seasons, he was elite for just two. Still, in those two seasons he was first-team All-Pro twice, and he helped the Giants win the 1986 Super Bowl. A road-grader of a blocker, at his peak Bavaro was also a tough cover who was nearly impossible to tackle one-on-one.
• Jerry Smith, Washington Redskins -- A two-time Pro Bowler who also was first-team All-Pro one time, Smith was one of the original pass-catching threats at TE. He was a legit home-run threat, who retired with 421 receptions and 60 touchdowns -- both records for a TE at the time. 

Commemorative Plaques

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite in it. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to: 

• Don Warren, Washington Redskins
• Jay Novacek, Dallas Cowboys
• Clint Didier, Washington Redskins
• Billy Joe Dupree, Dallas Cowboys
• Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins
• Howard Cross, New York Giants
• Jean Fugett, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins
  

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East tight ends. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.