Remember a few years ago, when Osi Umenyiora embarrassed Winston Justice on Sunday Night Football, terrorising the kid for six sacks? Well, that seems like another lifetime right now. Thanks to injuries to just about everyone on the offensive line, Justice has gotten a chance to start this year, and while he hasn't been Pro Bowl caliber, he's been solid, and now the Eagles have rewarded him. According to Adam Schefter, the Eagles signed Justice to a four year contract extension worth $18.15 million with a $6 million signing bonus on Tuesday.
Before this season, Justice's only start in the NFL was the aforementioned debacle against the Giants, but this season, he's been a rock on the offensive line, starting every game this season while the rest of the line has been cut down with injuries. When Shawn Andrews' season died right after liftoff, Justice was called upon to start at right tackle, and he's been good this year. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, so this was a preemptive move by the Eagles to lock him up before he hit the open market. Of course, this also means that Shawn Andrews is more or less done in Philadelphia, but at this point, I don't find that to be a bad thing. Justice is still only 25 years old and can grow more and more as a player as he continues to start. Right tackle still isn't a position of strength for the Eagles, but at least now, they can worry about the other spots on the offensive line that need work...like just about everywhere else.
ESPN.com: Philadelphia Eagles sign tackle Justice to four year extension.
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