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Howie Roseman Addresses Eagles Cornerback Woes

By Ray Boyd

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Sunday night's loss to the Cowboys has major implications for the Eagles. A team that once shared the NFL's best record is now on the verge of missing the playoffs.

Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman was on The Howie Roseman Show on Monday to discuss the loss and to talk about some of the factors that have led to the Eagles being in the position they are in now.

"It's one of those [losses] where it sits with you a little bit," Roseman said on Monday. "But at the same token our only chance is to go out and win the next two games."

LISTEN: Howie Roseman discusses the Eagles' loss to the Cowboys on The Howie Roseman Show

RELATED AUDIO: Monday's player guest on The Howie Roseman Show, Chris Polk

The mission is simple. The Eagles' only route to win the division is to hope for a Dallas loss against either the Colts or the Redskins while the Eagles take care of business against the Redskins and the Giants.

To this point, the Eagles held their own fate in their hands. That is not the case anymore.

Sunday's affair was characterized by a slow start that placed the Eagles in a 21-0 hole. While the team was able to dig out of that hole to take the lead, it proved difficult to hang on.

"Sometimes you expend energy in the comeback and coming back from it that it's hard to kind of keep bringing that energy," Roseman explained. He went on to emphasize the fact that the team is going to continue to think positive even though their fate is no longer in their control.

A familiar storyline popped up for the Eagles on Sunday. The woes of the secondary continued.

Cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams both had their moments as Williams committed several costly penalties. Fletcher had the misfortune of being the defender on Dez Bryant for all three of his touchdown receptions, a career-high for the receiver.

"Those positions don't grow on trees," Roseman said of building the secondary in the offseason. "You can't just go out and find guys that not only fit your scheme, have a specific skill set that you're looking for, but really fit into your overall plan and are available.

"Those guys don't leave their teams [as free agents] and if they do leave their teams, there is probably a reason for it."

Roseman's statements were not exactly a ringing endorsement for the players he currently has manning the cornerback spots. There is also no shortage of fans that have been frustrated with the play of Williams and Fletcher. The Eagles' GM sounds well aware of how difficult it will be to upgrade that position.

While taking calls, Roseman was challenged on why the team did not look to further add to the safety position outside of Malcolm Jenkins to provide the corners with more help on the outside.

Roseman continued to use scheme and culture as his main points.

"The first part is we got to find guys that fit our scheme," Roseman said of the free agent and rookie safeties that the team declined to go after. "The second part about that is some of the players that you [the caller] may be interested in, they have to fit what we're doing from a culture standpoint. We're not going to bring in guys that don't fit how we're trying to build this team because we're trying to build a team of high-character players that fit and are going to buy into what we're doing on and off the field."

Whether the Eagles manage to save their season or not, it looks like this offseason will once again be characterized by the fans' clamoring for a revamped secondary.

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