Eagles new Big Guy.

The Eagles are going to take an in depth look at Ifeanyi Momah starting this week at voluntary workouts at the NovaCare Complex.

Momah is a 6-7, 229-pound wide receiver apparently healed from a torn ACL suffered in the 2011 season opener at Boston College.

The amazing story of Momah is chronicled here.

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From the Houston Chronicle.

Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin probably wants to go home again ... at some point ... to Houston.

The long-time Texans rush linebacker who signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Eagles thanked almost everyone he could think of - including Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who he sacked four times in one game during the 2011 season - in a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle.

Then again, with $8 million guaranteed, Barwin can afford it.
 
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Jordan among outstanding rush 'backers in draft.

Moments after rush linebacker Victor Butler agreed to a two-year deal with the Saints, the Eagles moved quickly to acquire defensive end Clinton Geathers.

Fullback Stanley Havili was sent to the Colts for Geathers (6-7, 325), the 2010 sixth-round pick of the Browns who registered a sack last year filling in for an injured starter at nose tackle.

The Eagles think Geathers can play end in the 3-4 defense or inside. 

Butler visited the Eagles earlier this week. Though there was legitimate interest in adding him as a role player, he got a two-year contract with the Saints per reports.

Butler's 'in' with the Saints is defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who coached him with the Cowboys.

Butler (6-2, 245) had 11 sacks in four seasons with the Cowboys.

The Eagles could address outside linebacker early in a draft full of rush linebackers. Topping the list of draftables is Dion Jordan, the 6-7, 240-pound product of Oregon, where Chip Kelly coached. The Eagles  have the fourth overall pick.

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Donovan McNabb weighed in on Vince Young, who has fallen so far off the football map he was reduced to throwing in front of pro scouts Tuesday at the Texas Pro Day for college draft prospects.

McNabb thinks fellow, former Eagles quarterback Young "deserves a second chance.

"Quarterback play has been really declining by a lot of different teams," McNabb said on the NFL Network. "Give him an opportunity to get back on his feet and also get himself established in this league. He was able to apologize to [Coach Jeff] Fisher and move on with his life. Give him an opportunity,  bring him into camp and show his talents once again."

Young had several chances with the Titans, who he alienated to the point they released him. He got a shot with the Eagles and did almost nothing with it except beat the Giants. Young bombed in Buffalo, partly because he also had to shake bill collectors reportedly hounding him for money.

Young was one of the best college football players ever. His game just didn't translate to the NFL, the winning record he owned with the Titans more a tribute to Fisher. That's why VY is unemployed.

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The Eagles cut veteran punter Matt McBriar and agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran punter Donnie Jones, "a guy that we have admired over the last several years,” according to Birds general manager Howie Roseman.

“He has one of the strongest legs in the entire NFL and we’re excited we had a chance to sign him," Roseman said. "We watched a lot of tape on him and he’s coming off a very good season with Houston. We feel he’ll add a good element to our special teams units.”

The Eagles figure to do a lot of pointing this season as they transition to head coach Chip Kelly.

Jones, who turns 33 this summer, had a net average of 40.5 yards last year. Jones lists v at 6-2, 220 pounds. He's a product of LSU.

Giants are his third NFL team.

Two-time Delaware County Daily Times football player of the year Dan Connor signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants.

The 27-year-old Connor spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys, contributing 56 tackles, and the previous four with the Carolina Panthers, who took the Penn State star off the board in the third round of the draft.

Connor (6-2, 241) was a salary cap casualty in Dallas, where he started eight games when Sean Lee was hurt. Connor also visited the Oakland Raiders.

With the Giants, Connor fits in as a natural middle linebacker. In Dallas he played inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense.

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Avant after loss to Lions.

The Eagles secured kickoff returner-wide receiver Arrelious Benn from the Buccaneers along with a seventh-round draft pick.

The Eagles gave up a sixth-round pick this year and a conditional draft pick in 2014.

Benn (6-2, 220) averaged 23.5 yards on in eight games last season before going on injured reserve with shoulder and knee issues. Benn caught just four passes last season, becoming irrelevant after the Bucs acquired star wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

Illinois product Benn, 24, has 59 receptions for 862 yards (14.6 average) and five touchdowns in three seasons with the Bucs, who drafted him in the second round.

The acquisition of Benn could spell trouble for Eagles veteran wide receiver Jason Avant, who plays a key role on special teams. 

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Impressive guy ... obviously.

General manager Howie Roseman initially blocked a question about the Eagles' interest in Geno Smith, the West Virginia quarterback who Roseman, owner Jeffrey Lurie and head coach Chip Kelly worked out privately.

Roseman called Smith "an impressive guy" and said the Eagles were trying to get as much information about draft prospects. He declined to speculate as to whether Smith was a top 10 pick.

Later, worn down by the day, Roseman told CSN Philly's Derek Gunn, also inquiring about the level of Eagles interest in Smith, "We're going to do our due diligence on every player, especially players at the top of the draft."

The Eagles have the fourth overall pick in the draft.

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The Eagles are visiting with free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois today.

Jean-Francois (6-3, 295) might be a good lunch away from signing although for now it's strictly a visit.  He subbed for Justin Smith at right end with the 49ers. Nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga, who teamed with them at San Francisco, will be introduced at a news conference today.

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The Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year deal with James Casey, the 6-3, 240-pound H-back type by way of the Houston Texans.

A seventh-round choice of the Chicago White Sox, Casey once clocked a 95 mile per hour fastball. Control wasn’t his forte.

Unable to escape the minors, Casey switched to football and entered the NFL draft at age 25 after catching 111 passes in Rice’s spread offense in 2008.

A fifth-round pick of the Texans, Casey caught a career-best 34 passes for 330 yards (9.7 average) and three touchdowns last season in an offense built around running back Arian Foster.

On paper Casey, 28, suits Chip Kelly’s spread offense. Casey is adept at running routes in tight quarters and has carried the ball at fullback. In the Kelly offense route running is the key to opening lanes for the quarterback.

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Gone ...

The Eagles released cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, a disappointment in two seasons after signing a blockbuster five-year, $60 million deal.

"Coach Kelly and I each had a chance to speak with Nnamdi earlier and he took the news with a lot of class," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement. "We expected nothing less than that from him."

Asomugha intercepted four passes in 32 games with the Eagles, although just one came last season.

He was due $15 million in base pay this season. The Eagles must eat a $4 million bonus.

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Hopefully Jeff didn't instruct Geno.

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, accompanied by owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman worked out quarterback Geno Smith Monday at West Virginia University.

The Eagles have the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft and a thing for quarterbacks.

Smith made all the throws he'll ever have to make in the Kelly offense during this shootout with Oklahoma:



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'Psst. You take this press release, Howie.'

In a procedural departure from the previous regime, Howie Roseman bravely straddled the G.M.-head coaching line in remarks furnished by the team after re-signing safety Colt Anderson and longsnapper Jon Dorenbos.

To wit:

“We are excited Jon and Colt will remain members of our team,” Roseman said in the statement. “These are two players who bring not only ability but a great amount of character to their respective positions. We anticipate they’ll both continue to have a strong impact as leaders on special teams. Coach (Chip) Kelly and I spoke about both players throughout the past several weeks and we both thought it was important for our club moving forward that we get a deal done with Jon and Colt before they hit the free agent market.”

That was much more authoritative then the during the disgustedly predictable Andy Reid era. There was no quote by Kelly in the news release.

It's also another indication of the power Roseman wields. After Roseman presented Kelly options at quarterback, the rookie NFL head coach agreed to bring Michael Vick, the symbol of failure under Reid, back on a one-year deal.

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