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EAGLES COACH JOHN HARBAUGH LEAVES NEST
The Philadelphia Eagles lost their former special teams coach and current secondary
teams' coach as he accepted a head-coach position with the Balitimore Ravens. He has
never been a head coach, but has coaching in his genes -- his father, Jack, is former
head coach at Western Kentucky and his brother, Jim, is head coach at Stanford and a
former quarterback with the Ravens. The 45-year-old Harbaugh, who received a four-year
contract worth slightly more than $2 million a season. Harbaugh replaces Brian Billick,
who was fired on Dec. 31 after a nine-year run. The Ravens were 5-11 this season after
going 13-3 in 2006. Harbaugh coached in the college ranks at Miami University (Ohio),
Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Morehead State and Cincinnati before joining the Eagles
in 1998. He was selected the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers in 2001.
He shifted to the secondary this season, working under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
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CB JOESEIO HANSON SIGNS A 1-YEAR CONTRACT
It did not take long for restricted free agent cornerback Joselio Hanson to
sign the 1-year tender that the Philadelphia Eagles offered him to stay. The
5-foot-9, 185-pound Hanson saw action in all 16 games last season, including
four starts. One of those, at New England, saw Hanson hold his own against the
Patriots prolific passing attack. He finished the game with a career-high 8 tackles.
What Hanson lacked in size he made up for with his ball skills and his quickness
to the ball, finishing the season with 45 tackles, a sack, three knockdowns and
a fumble recovery. A graduate of Texas Tech and a native of Playa Del Ray, CA,
Hanson has played in 45 career games (8 starts), logging 99 tackles, 2 sacks,
and 21 knockdowns.
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EAGLES HIT FREE-AGENT JACKPOT WITH SAMUEL
Asante Samuel has such good hands and terrific instincts that the All-Pro cornerback rarely
drops the ball, one reason why he has 16 interceptions the last two years. Philadelphia got
its first one of 2008, signing the free-agent cornerback to a six-year contract on Friday
and ending Samuel's five-year stint in New England. Samuel, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection
this past season, knows something about making timely picks. Samuel, who won two Super Bowl
rings, has 22 career interceptions in 75 games. "We regarded Asante as the No. 1 available
free agent in the NFL," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. The Eagles wasted little time making
an offer, reportedly worth around $57 million with $20 million guaranteed, on the first day
of the free agent period. The Eagles badly needed a shutdown corner — or a "pick magnet,"
as his agent called him — like Samuel. Philadelphia had only 11 interceptions last year and
failed to score a defensive touchdown to go along with its abysmal takeaway record. Samuel, a
fourth-round draft pick in 2003, also tied the NFL career playoff record with three interceptions
returned for TDs. He was protected by New England last year by the franchise player tag. When
asked if he felt underappreciated in New England, Samuel declined to comment. Samuel kept New
England's perfect 2007 regular season alive in late November against the Eagles. He returned
an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and had a second pick off A.J. Feeley that halted a
late Philadelphia drive in New England's 31-28 victory. Samuel also won a Super Bowl ring when
the Patriots beat the Eagles by three points in the Super Bowl in 2005.
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EAGLES PART WAYS WITH TWO VETERANS
First, veteran DE Jevon Kearse was releaased. Kearse, a prized free agent signing in 2004,
was released by the Eagles. Kearse recorded 7 ½ sacks in each of his first two seasons
with the team after his storied career with Tennessee, and then suffered a knee injury in
the second game of the 2006 season. That injury ended his '06 campaign and slowed him during
a struggling 2007 year. A three-time Pro Bowl player, Kearse is now eligible to sign with any
team in the NFL. Kearse was the 16th overall selection of the Titans in 1999 and earned Rookie
of the Year honors after setting an NFL rookie record with 14 1/2 sacks. He became the first
rookie in league history to lead a conference in quarterback sacks. His time in Philadelphia
was not quite as successful, although Kearse's presence was a key for the Eagles during their
Super Bowl run in 2004. He was a solid, durable contributor until suffering a knee injury
against the Giants in Week 2 of the 2006 season. To that point, Kearse was off to his best
start with the Eagles, recording 3 1/2 sacks. In 45 regular season games with the Eagles,
Kearse had 133 total tackles and 22 sacks. Head coach Andy Reid has made it clear that the
Eagles want to improve their pass rush. They will have a chance in free agency and in the draft.
Then the Eagles announced that they have released veteran weakside linebacker Takeo Spikes.
"Takeo did a really good job for us last year," said head coach Andy Reid in a statement.
"But we are excited about the young linebackers that have developed over the last year. We
wish Takeo all the best. He's a true team player on and off the field." A 10-year NFL veteran,
Spikes spent the 2007 season with the Eagles and finished second on the team with 139 tackles
and also had one sack in 14 games. Spikes missed the final two games of the season after he
was placed on the injured reserve list with a torn rotator cuff. The play of the young linebackers
prompted the team to part ways with Spikes.
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RAIDERS DE CHRIS CLEMONS SIGNS 5-YEAR DEAL
Two days into the NFL's free agency period, the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-for-2. Free-agent
defensive end Chris Clemons signed a five-year contract with the Eagles on Saturday, a day
after Philadelphia added CB Asante Samuel. After signing with Washington in 2003, Clemons
spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Two years with the Redskins brought glimpses
of success, but then an injury in 2005 and one in 2006 KO'd Clemons from the league for
all of that '07 campaign. Then Clemons put it all together last year in Oakland, recording
eight quarterback sacks after making a successful transition from sometimes-linebacker to
full-time defensive end, and just like that, he was a hot player on the free-agent market.
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FORMER TEMPLE STAR DAN KLECKO JOINS BIRDS
A defensive tackle at nearby Temple University, the 5-foot-11, 275-pound Klecko has
played the fullback, defensive tackle and linebacker positions as well as special teams
in his five-year career with New England and Indianapolis. In Philadelphia, he is
expected to compete with former undrafted free agent Jason Davis for the starting
fullback job, vacated when Thomas Tapeh signed with Minnesota on the first day of
free agency. Originally a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2003, the 27-year-old
Klecko was a four-year letterman at Temple who started 36 of 40 games and had 206
tackles (142 solo), 66 stops for losses, 26 sacks and 70 quarterback pressures.
He was also named Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
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LJ SMITH AGREES TO TERMS FOR A 1-YR DEAL
The Eagles solidified the closest thing they've managed to adding an offensive playmaker
this offseason when tight end L.J. Smith signed the 1-year, $4.522 million franchise tender.
Smith, a nonfactor last season because of injuries, could have left the team as an unrestricted
free agent had the Eagles not placed the franchise tag on him in February. The two previous
Eagles tagees - Jeremiah Trotter in 2002 and Corey Simon in 2005 - were released without ever
signing their tenders, so it was a bit of an historic occasion, whether it moved the Birds that
much closer to the Super Bowl or not. Now that he has signed, Smith will be able to participate
in the offseason conditioning program that started this week at NovaCare, and in the upcoming minicamps.
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EAGLES TRADE DRAFT PICK FOR RB LORENZO BOOKER
For the second consecutive year, the Eagles moved out of the first round of the NFL draft.
The Eagles also traded one of their many draft picks for a running back. Philadelphia traded
the 19th overall pick in the draft to the Carolina Panthers for the 12th pick in the second
round (No. 43 overall), the 10th pick in the fourth round (No. 109 overall) and a
first-round pick in 2009. The trade left Philadelphia with 12 picks in the 2008 draft.
Philadelphia sent Miami a fourth-round pick – the 115th selection overall – for the former
Florida State tailback. Booker, a third-round pick in 2007, was watching the draft from his
home, and said that he never expected to be a part of it for a second time. During his rookie
season in Miami, Booker started one game and rushed for 125 yards on 28 carries. He also
caught 28 passes for 127 yards. Booker said that he prides himself on being a threat in
the passing game, and that he hopes to have a similar impact on the aerial attack in Philadelphia.
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A QUICK LOOK AT THE BIRDS NEW ROOKIE DRAFTEES
Trevor Laws found a home at left defensive end during his senior year in the
Fighting Irish 3-4 defensive alignment after spending his first three seasons manning
the left defensive tackle position in a conventional 4-3 set. He proved to be a disruptive
bull rusher who compensated for a lack of size with a relentless motor and excellent
lateral agility. Many Irish faithful compare Laws to a former Notre Dame great,
Chris Zorich, a two-time All-American (1989-90) who was named United Press International
Lineman of Year for 1989 and was chosen CBS Sports/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year
for 1990, in addition to being the 1990 Lombardi Award recipient. Law has also excelled
on special teams, finishing his career by blocking six kicks over the course of his final
three seasons.
DeSean Jackson declared for the 2008 NFL Draft on January 15, and it's safe to assume the
only team in the Pac-10 Conference disappointed to see him go is Cal. In three seasons at
the university, the talented athlete terrorized his opponent every time he touched the
ball -- as a receiver, punt returner and even on the occasional running play -- finding
the end zone 29 times in 36 games. Jackson almost didn't make it to California. He seriously
considered enrolling at Southern California instead, but a late face-to-face meeting between
the former Long Beach Poly High star and Bears head coach Jeff Tedford sealed the deal.
Their extremely close relationship would later make Jackson's most difficult decision --
to leave school for the NFL, even harder to make, but the coach is convinced that his star
pupil is ready to star at the next level.
In his first two seasons at McNeese State (2005-'06), Bryan Smith appeared in 21 games
(12 starts) and recorded 127 tackles (34 for losses) and 20.5 sacks. In 2007, he played 12
games and delivered 60 tackles (22.5 for losses), 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and a
six-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Last season Smith was named a first team FCS
All-American and the Southern Conference's Player of the Year, only the fourth defensive
player in the league's history to earn the distinction.
One of the elite pass thieves in college football, Quintin Demps' 17 interceptions were the
most among active players in the NCAA in 2007 and rank second in Conference USA and school
history. He is one of only seven players in college history to gain more than 400 yards
(404) in returns on interceptions in a career, setting the league all-time record
(331 yards in Conference USA competition).
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