Simon’s Days as Eagle Over

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles withdrew their franchise tag on former first-round draft pick Corey Simon on Sunday, making the defensive tackle an unrestricted free agent.

Simon was offered a one-year franchise tender worth about $5.13 million but wanted a long-term contract and never signed the deal or reported to the minicamps or training camp. With the franchise tag, another team would have forfeited two first-round picks if they signed the former Pro Bowl lineman.

“I didn’t expect them to lift the tag,” Simon told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “This gives me a chance to be a free agent, but I have mixed feelings. I’m going to miss the guys I played with there and the coaches I played under.”

Simon, 6 feet 2 and 293 pounds, was the Eagles’ first-round pick and the sixth overall selection in the 2000 draft. In five seasons, Simon had 270 tackles and 32 sacks.

Simon’s high asking price was a factor in the Eagles’ cutting him loose, but so was their depth at defensive tackle. Darwin Walker and Hollis Thomas start for the Eagles, and first-round pick Mike Patterson of USC has had a strong preseason.