LeCharles Bentley must be getting tired of waiting for free agency.

Update: The Eagles have signed linebacker Shawn Barber, re-signed defensive end/special teamer Juqua Thomas to one-year deals. Barber had lots to say at his news conference. More on Thomas.

Earlier today came word that the Eagles might be interested in Jets center Kevin Mawae. That's surprising because (a) word was they're keen on signing Saints center LeCharles Bentley, (b) Mawae is 35, nine years older than Bentley, and (c) Mawae's coming off a torn triceps injury. The Birds are also reported to have interest in Jeff Garcia, who's 36 and whose quarterback rating has dropped for five straight years, and linebacker Shawn Barber, who's 31 and missed 21 games due to injuries the last two seasons, but worked out for the Eagles this morning. Does it make sense for a team whose roster is riddled with recovering players -- Donovan McNabb, Todd Pinkston and Jerome McDougal, for starters -- to gamble on more wounded warriors? Such moves have backfired before, with Correll Buckhalter missing his second season in a row, Paul Grasmanis missing all but eight games in three years. In an increasingly competitive division, the Eagles need to acquire potential difference-makers in their primes. Names that fit that group: Steelers multiple-threat Antwaan Randle El, age 26; Giants defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, 27; linebacker LaVar Arrington, 27, who's said he wants to stay in the Eagles division. (For more names, see previous rumor roundup.) We should get a good idea soon of how bold the Birds will be. The free-agent signing period starts a minute after midnight, unless the league, still debating a labor settlement, postpones it once again.