The ultimate hometown discount...

Kudos to Michael Vick and his agent, who basically have agreed for Vick to play on a commission basis for the privilege of remaining a Philadelphia Eagles QB...and completely buying into Chip Kelly's revolutionary vision for the future of a new-style Philadelphia offense.

Perhaps more importantly, Vick's restructured contract combined with the release of  Demetress Bell frees up almost $20 million in salary cap space for the Eagles. Win-Win....

This could actually work out nicely for 2013...

First and foremost was Vick's willingness to accept a huge pay cut and essentially no financial security beyond 2013. Vick had been due to make $16.5 million this year and no less than $12.5 million in each of the three seasons after that, although only $3 million was guaranteed.

Instead, he'll receive a maximum of $10 million this season based on performance intentives and nothing beyond, because the new three-year deal calls for the next two seasons to be voided on March 15 for reasons related to the complicated collective bargaining agreement and NFL salary cap.

The Eagles announced the contract restructuring Monday morning, and Vick issued a statement not long after.

"I am grateful and proud to be a Philadelphia Eagle," Vick said through his publicist. "My heart is in Philly and this community is important to me. I look forward to playing for Coach Kelly, Jeffrey Lurie and the entire Eagles organization, the city of Philadelphia and the fans."

"I am training hard this offseason and will be ready for Coach Kelly's team vision and leadership. Our goal is to win."

Then it was Kelly's turn, during a news conference originally called to answer questions about his thought process behind the construction of his staff. Kelly promised Vick nothing except a fair chance to win the job back from Nick Foles.

"There is an open competition," Kelly said. "Michael knows that, Nick knows that. Nick knew every step of the way what we were doing. I wanted to make sure Nick was included in the plans, and I think both of them have outstanding qualities in terms of being quarterbacks in this league. Both of them have started in this league."

"I also know in this league you better have two, so I'm excited about the two of them. They're both going to compete. And who the starting quarterback to start the season off is going to be won on the practice field."

Vick, who will turn 33 in June, has struggled with turnovers and injuries the last two seasons and the last quarter of 2010. After he was sidelined with a concussion last season, previous coach Andy Reid turned the job over to Foles for the rest of the season.

However, Vick returned to start the final game because Foles had to sit with a broken hand, and the players came through with their worst effort of the season in their most lopsided loss, 42-7. The next day, Vick was among those to question some his teammates' effort.

The new contract also makes it much easier for the Eagles to unload Vick, should they decide to trade him this year, so there's no real guarantee he'll even still be on the roster by opening day. But that too is a plus for the team---and for Vick.

Kelly wants to keep his options open, at least until he's able to observe the team in the pre-draft minicamp, which only new NFL coaches are allowed to run.

"I think in terms of Michael, we look at everything," Kelly said. "What I look at is skill set first and foremost, what he can do, how he can throw the football, how he can beat people with his feet. There are a lot of different factors he has. And you have to look at the landscape for other quarterbacks."

"I guess the best way I can put this is I agree there is a change of scenery going on here. For Michael Vick, there is a change of scenery, but not a change of address."

Kelly also reiterated how he believes he can tailor his offense to the less mobile Foles, if necessary, and wouldn't rule out any kind of a trade or acquisition, including former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon. Dixon was a member of the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last season.

"Anytime we can upgrade our roster, I'll do so," he said. "I haven't ruled anybody out of that either."

Vick completed 204 of 351 passes last season for 2,362 yards and 12 TDs. Those scores were offset by 10 interceptions and five lost fumbles.

Foles, who showed promise as someone who doesn't often get rattled by pressure, wasn't any better, however. He was 161-for-265 with 1,699 yards and six TDs against five interceptions and three lost fumbles.

Those underwhelming numbers are the main reason Kelly is not committing to anybody now.

"Nobody wants anything handed to you," Kelly theorized about today's NFL players. "That's one of the things that stuck out to me about Michael, was his competitive nature."

Competitive to a fault sometimes... Perhaps Vick's biggest weakness sometimes was his desire to make something out of nothing. But in Kelly's offensive system, a lot of that pressure on the QB to make big plays is removed by the sheer process of a one-read option.

Maybe Vick could thrive in that new atmosphere. Apparently Kelly believes he's worth a second look.

I can think of worse alternatives than having the veteran Vick finally realizing his limitations and conforming to Kelly's system of conservative opportunity. I'm dreaming of 7-minute times of possession and turnover-free marches to the opponent's goal line. I'm dreaming of a season free of rib fractures and concussions suffered by my QB#1.

I also do not rule out the concept of quarterback-by-committee.  How cool would it be to have a viable Vick, an understudy like Dennis Dixon, and a steady relief pitcher like Nick Foles combining to pitch a shutout?

It's all suddenly possible that a so-called "rebuilding year" could turn into a "Why Not?" year----at least from the offensive side of the ball.

Does it really matter that Pat Shurmur is now the Eagles' offensive coordinator? After all, isn't Chip Kelly going to be be calling the offensive plays?

The truth is--- Chip Kelly is going to delegate his offensive philosophy to Shurmur, who will end up doing the heavy lifting.

Kelly has studied and learned well from the history of Dick Vermeil, the hardest working coach in show biz, who never won the big one until he learned how to delegate.

Chip Kelly’s decision to hire Shurmur, the former head coach of the Browns, as OC, and Billy Davis, a linebacker coach in Cleveland the past two years, as DC, will be his most important decisions, outside of whom he chooses to play quarterback.

Pat Shurmur

Go back a ways in Eagles history and look at just how crucial the coordinators can be to a head coach.

Start with Buddy Ryan, who had Wade Phillips and then Jeff Fisher run his defense that became one of the best and fiercest in the league. Yes, it was Ryan’s defense, but he needed Phillips and Fisher to make it work.

Take it from Mark Eckel of NJ.com, who was there----Offensively, Ryan never got the coordinator he wanted, or needed. He started with Ted Plumb, a man who saved his life when Ryan choked on a pork chop, but whose offense Ryan once said “made him sick.’’ When Plumb was let go, he was replaced with Rich Kotite, who made everyone sick.

Kotite, if he did anything right, was the hiring of Bud Carson to take over his defense. Carson took Ryan’s players and actually made them better. In 1991, the Eagles defense ranked among the best of all-time. It led the league in least rushing yards allowed, least passing yards allowed, most sacks and turnovers. The offense, however, thanks to Randall Cunningham’s knee injury and the play-calling of Kotite and coordinator Dick Wood, was so bad the team failed to make the playoffs.

Ray Rhodes made the playoffs his first two years as Eagles head coach and was Coach of the Year in 1995, thanks to his two lieutenants — Jon Gruden on offense and Emmitt Thomas on defense.

When Gruden left to become head coach in Oakland and was replaced by the overmatched Dana Bible, it all started to fall apart for Rhodes.

Andy Reid, as a young inexperienced assistant from Green Bay in 1999, knew what he needed and found two veteran coordinators to help him get going in Jim Johnson (defense) and Rod Dowhower (offense). Those two hires, along with the selection of Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 pick in the draft, helped Reid become the winningest head coach in Eagles history.

So Kelly, with zero NFL experience and a lot of innovative ideas, will rely on Shurmur and Davis, who both have long NFL lineages.

Shurmur, who was part of Reid’s original staff, is the nephew of long-time defensive whiz Fritz Shurmur. Pat used to hang around the Green Bay Packers training camp with his uncle, which is how Reid came to know him and admire him.

Davis’ father, Bill Sr., was also a long-time assistant coach and personnel man. He worked for the Eagles twice, as a coach under Dick Vermeil and in the front office with Ryan.

It’s going to be interesting to see how both men fit with Kelly and how it all works.

Shurmur is a disciple of the West Coast offense, having watched it under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and then coached it under Reid with the Eagles. He took it with him to St. Louis where he was offensive coordinator for Steve Spagnuolo and then to Cleveland when he became a head coach.

How he blends his knowledge with that of Kelly, who plans to run some version of his spread attack, read-and-react offense, will be intriguing, if nothing else.

Davis is the more critical hire, however. Kelly, at the University of Oregon, let his defensive coordinator run his defense and basically gave him carte blanche in doing so.

In Davis' previous two stints as a coordinator in San Francisco (2005-06) and Arizona (2009-10), neither of those worked out very well. Then again, he didn’t have very good players. But his theories seemed sound.

The team’s defense is in need of a makeover. It’s all but certain with the hiring of Davis, along with an outside linebacker coach (Bill McGovern) and an inside linebackers coach (Rick Minter), the team will go to a 3-4 scheme.

That is going to be difficult in its own right and will probably take at least two years of drafts and signings to get all the players it needs to be successful.

Fine...we've got time. Well, most of us do...Me, I'm getting a little long in the tooth. I need some Super Bowl tonic sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, some of those future Eagles I've been scouting just got dumped on by the NFL Scouting Combine invitation committee.

This kills me. Here are a few of the guys I was counting on seeing at the Combine who have been snubbed:

Tulane QB Ryan Griffin---Griffin raised some eyebrows after his performance during the week of practice at the “Texas vs The Nation” All-Star game last week, which wasn't all that surprising after watching him in action for Tulane. Griffin is a tough pocket passer with a quick, compact release who throws a good (albeit not great) ball. Just under 6-4, 216, Griffin is a decent athlete who moves well inside the pocket and has some moxie to his game. While he is far from a lock, Griffin is likely to hear his name called on the final day of April’s Draft.

Princeton DL Mike Catapano---Catapano had a decent week of practice down in St. Petersburg at the East-West Shrine Game after a productive career at Princeton. Catapano can play a number of positions along a 4-3 or 3-4 front and versatility could be his biggest asset as the draft creeps closer. He wasn't the only Ivy leaguer without an invite, as Senior Bowl attendee Kyle Juszczyk missed out as well. The Harvard grad projects as a fullback or 'H-Back' at the next level, but a lack of size and dynamic athleticism could keep him from reaching that goal.

Maryland DL Joe Vellano---Vellano may be a bit unassuming when you first look at him, but he's a tough, high-motor player who gets the most out of every snap and may remind some of Derek Landri. The big question mark will come in his medical evaluation, as Vellano has undergone several surgeries to his shoulders over the past few years. He wasn't the only Terrapin left off the list, as fellow Shrine Game standout A.J. Francis (a defensive tackle), linebacker Kenny Tate (another injury risk) and wideout Kevin Dorsey will not be in attendance for the Combine.

Ohio State CB Travis Howard---While Howard may struggle with his deep speed, he's a scrappy press corner with good ball-skills, two qualities he put on display in St. Petersburg at the Shrine Game. The former Buckeye profiles as more of a zone cornerback at the next level. His experience as an impact special teams player should go a long way come Training Camp this summer.

Florida State LB Vince Williams---A late invite to the Senior Bowl, Williams is an undersized middle linebacker who plays with a lot of energy and thrives as a downhill player. After a solid week of practice in Mobile, Williams was one of the more shocking names to be left off the list for Indianapolis.

San Jose State DE/LB Travis Johnson---It's not often that a player who attends both the Senior Bowl and the Shrine Game does not get an invite to the Combine, but that appears to be the case with Johnson. An undersized but deceptively athletic pass rusher from San Jose State, Johnson was a late addition to the roster in Mobile but made the most out of his reps in the week at practice and registered two tackles in the game.

Central Michigan S Jahleel Addae---A personal favorite, Addae was a four-year starter in one of the best programs in the Mid-American Conference, and for good reason. While he's undersized, the former Chippewa has great movement skills for the safety position and plays from sideline to sideline. A physical tackler, Addae isn't afraid to mix it up in the run game. He also spent a lot of time covering slot receivers during his senior season. While this is one of the deeper safety groups the NFL Draft has seen in years, it was still a surprise to find out that Addae will watch the Combine from home.

Michigan DL William Campbell---A talented prospect who flashes greatness at times, Campbell was one of the most talented players throughout the week of practice at the Shrine Game. Playing in a rotation along the Wolverines defensive line, Campbell showed a good first step, a high motor and a nose for the football. Consistency and sustainability are question marks, but it would be a surprise for Campbell to go undrafted.

Nevada TE Zach Sudfeld---Lining up as an offset tight end in Nevada's Pistol offense, Sudfeld had a very productive college career. While he's a bit older than the normal prospect (26 years old), Sudfeld has great size at 6-6, 261, and the athleticism to get down the seam. Sudfeld was also a willing and capable blocker and was often used in the run game on counter and misdirection plays. Much like the safety class, the tight end group in 2013 is as good as we've seen in a few years, but a player like Sudfeld could have really benefited from the exposure in Indianapolis. He's not the only talented tight end to miss out, though.

Western Kentucky TE Jack Doyle---A versatile, talented four-year starter for the Hilltoppers, Doyle is the type of  “Jack of all trades,” who can play a number of roles in any offense. An aggressive blocker who works to finish his man in the run game, Doyle plays with good technique and toughness. Not only is he a good blocker, but Doyle also is a long strider who can get down the seam and has the strong hands to make contested catches. Any other year, Doyle would be considered one of the more attractive options at the position. But this spring, it looks like he may just get lost in the numbers in a deep class of tight ends.

Others Snubs Of Note: QB Nick Florence (Baylor), RB Dennis Johnson (Arkansas), WR Jasper Collins (Mt. Union), WR Russell Shepard (LSU), TE Michael Williams (Alabama), OT Alex Hurst LSU, OT R.J. Mattes (NC State), G Matt Summers-Gavin (California), G Blaize Foltz (TCU), DL Darrington Sentimore (Tennessee), LB Cameron Lawrence (Mississippi State), LB Will Compton (Nebraska), CB Melvin White (Louisiana-Lafayette), CB Trey Wilson (Vanderbilt), S Ray-Ray Armstrong (Faulkner)

Thanks to Fran Duffy of PE.com for the scouting notes on the Combine snubs....

Chip Kelly's coaching staff is finalized... and it includes an alternative training specialist who spent three years on the staff of the Nebraska Power program, Shaun Huls--- which should make JB-Sage-Lion veeery proud and happy.

Huls has been hired as the team's "Sports Science Coordinator," tasked with heading up an alternative training program for the Eagles partly based on his experience training Navy SEALs...but mostly based on his strength and conditioning training experience with the football program at Nebraska.

Huls previously served as the strength, conditioning and "combatives" coordinator for Navy Special Warfare, per USA Today, but now joins forces with Eagles strength coach Josh Hingst. Kelly is believed to be the first in the NFL to hire someone in this capacity, a move likely inspired by his previous experience with Navy SEAL training.

Kelly put his Oregon players through a regimen known as "Judgment Day" back in 2010, so expect the Eagles roster to get a taste of the same this spring and summer. I'm connecting some dots here, but Andy Reid's last few OTA's and training camps were alleged to have been "soft". Don't take it from me, though...I'm sure I would have been gasping for air after even one of Andy's easiest camp days.

Just to set the coaching lineup in proper order for the first time in 2013, here is a direct lift from the official Eagles PR email I received today (Feb.9)~~~

NOVACARE COMPLEX – The Philadelphia Eagles have finalized their coaching staff by hiring a team of coaches with diverse experience at both the collegiate and professional level.

Pat Shurmur will return to Philadelphia as the team’s offensive coordinator after serving as head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2011-12 and as offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2009-10. Shurmur originally spent 10 seasons as the Eagles tight ends coach (1999-01) and quarterbacks coach (2002-08).

During his seven seasons as the Eagles quarterbacks coach, Shurmur helped guide Donovan McNabb to three Pro Bowl berths and saw him break nearly every franchise passing record. While in St. Louis, Shurmur oversaw an offense that featured Sam Bradford, who set NFL rookie records in attempts and completions, and Steven Jackson, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons as coordinator.

The defense will be coordinated by Bill Davis, who has 21 years of NFL coaching experience after most recently serving as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach from 2011-12. Davis has also held two defensive coordinator jobs, first with the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-06 and with the Arizona Cardinals from 2009-10. Davis has worked with many highly-regarded defensive coaches during his career, including Dick LeBeau, Wade Phillips, Dom Capers, Vic Fangio, Mike Nolan and Marvin Lewis.

Under Davis’ tutelage, D’Qwell Jackson blossomed into one of the NFL’s most productive linebackers over the last two seasons, registering 277 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions. He has also helped guide seven players to the Pro Bowl: Adrian Wilson (2008-10), Darnell Dockett (2010), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2009), Walt Harris (2006), Keith Brooking (2001-02), Kevin Greene (1996) and Lamar Lathon (1996).

Dave Fipp was named the team’s special teams coordinator. Fipp, 38, is coming off of successful stints as an assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins (2011-12) and the San Francisco 49ers (2008-10). During his time in Miami, the Dolphins ranked 2^nd (2011) and 4^th (2012) in the NFL in overall special teams rankings according to data compiled by esteemed Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin. Fipp will be assisted by Matt Harper, who was an intern and a graduate assistant at Oregon for the last four seasons.

The Eagles also hired a number of position coaches and assistants. On the offensive side of the ball, former running backs coach Ted Williams will continue to be the Eagles longest-tenured assistant, as he will now coach the team’s tight ends after spending 16 seasons working with the running backs. Duce Staley, who was the special teams quality control coach since 2011, was named the new running backs coach. Staley ranks fourth on the Eagles all-time rushing list with 4,807 yards.

The rest of the offensive staff is as follows: Bill Lazor (quarterbacks), Bob Bicknell (wide receivers), Jeff Stoutland (offensive line), Justin Peelle (assistant tight ends), Greg Austin (assistant offensive line) and Press Taylor (offensive quality control).

Lazor joins the Eagles following three years as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UVA. He also has NFL experience, most recently as a quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks (2008-09). Bicknell is coming off of a three-year stint with the Buffalo Bills as their wide receivers and tight ends coach. Stoutland had been Alabama’s offensive line coach for the last two seasons following four years in the same role with Miami (FL). He was also the team’s interim head coach in 2010. Peelle is making his coaching debut after a 10-year NFL career as a tight end, most recently with the 49ers in 2011. Austin worked under Chip Kelly as a graduate assistant and intern over the last three seasons.

The Eagles also hired seven position coaches on the defensive side of the ball. Jerry Azzinaro will be the team’s defensive line/assistant head coach. He served in the same role on Kelly’s staff at Oregon from 2009-12 and has extensive experience at the college level. Bill McGovern (outside LBs) and Rick Minter (inside LBs) will coach the team’s linebackers. McGovern is coming off of a 12-year stint as the linebackers coach/defensive coordinator at Boston College and Minter has more than three decades of coaching experience in the collegiate ranks. He was the defensive coordinator at Kentucky for the last two seasons. John Lovett will be in charge of the Eagles secondary after a one-year stint as the defensive backs coach at Texas Tech. He also has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including defensive coordinator positions at the college level with Miami (2009-10), Clemson (2002-04), Auburn (1999-01), Maine (1994) and Cincinnati (1989-92).

Todd Lyght (assistant defensive backs), Erik Chinander (assistant defensive line) and Mike Dawson (defensive quality control) were also added to the staff. Lyght is a former first-round draft pick and a Pro Bowl safety who spent the last two seasons as a defensive intern at Oregon. Chinander was a graduate assistant at Oregon during that same time. Dawson was a special teams coach at Boston College from 2009-11.

The team also hired Josh Hingst (strength and conditioning) and Shaun Huls (sports science coordinator).

So it is written. All aboard for the shakedown cruise? Get in!...perk up!...carry on.

As the Eagles trim their own salary cap by releasing guys like Demetress Bell, it's time to begin window-shopping around the NFL to find out if any of the other cap casulaties around the league could possibly be a fit in Philly.

LaRon Landry for an upgrade at safety, anyone?

My thanks to Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com, who helped to compile this list of suddenly available junkyard dogs.

Although the 2013 NFL Free Agency period is one month away and the market will be thinned at the top by franchise tags and contract extensions, this is a good time to survey the prospective field. The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in less than two weeks, and it is in Indianapolis that free-agency scuttlebutt commences as player representatives meet face-to-face with team officials.

These are Evan Silva's personal rankings of suddenly available free agents. As it stands, Silva believes cornerback to be the deepest, most talented group of players with expiring contracts. He thinks quarterback is the weakest, for an obvious reason: NFL teams simply don't let franchise signal callers hit the open market. Offensive tackle and defensive end look very strong. Inside linebacker and center are extremely short of quality starters.

Restricted Free Agents are not considered here because they so rarely change teams.

1. Cornerback

This position is loaded with quality NFL starters, and the prohibitive $10.67 million cornerback franchise number ensures it will stay that way. Aqib Talib, 27, Brent Grimes, 29, Sean Smith, 25, Chris Houston, 28, Derek Cox, 26, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 26, all have experience as No. 1 corners, and of them only Grimes will be 30 years old when the 2013 season starts.

Super Bowl champ Cary Williams, 28, is believed to be looking to break the bank and may have trouble landing the lucrative deal he desires. E.J. Biggers, 25, Antoine Cason, 26, Keenan Lewis, 26, and Mike Jenkins, 27, could be more affordable targets with their best football ahead of them. Bradley Fletcher, 26, and Greg Toler, 28, are potential diamonds in the rough. Darius Butler, 26, Brice McCain, 26, Kyle Arrington, 26, and D.J. Moore, 25, can cover the slot on passing downs. Pacman Jones, 29, is coming off a quietly solid season as Cincinnati's nickel back. Jerraud Powers, 25, and Tracy Porter, 26, are intriguing "rehab" projects after injury-affected years.

Obviously past their primes, Sheldon Brown, 33, Quentin Jammer, 33, Terence Newman, 34, and Rashean Mathis, 32, each may have a year or two left as solid starting cornerbacks in the league. Brown, Jammer, and Mathis could potentially extend their careers by converting to safety.

Although former first-round pick Leodis McKelvin has not panned out as a cover corner, he is still only 27 and led the NFL in 2012 punt return average while bringing back two punts to the house.

2. Offensive Tackle

If cornerback is the gold standard in 2013 free agency, offensive tackle isn't far behind. Even with Clady off the board, Andre Smith, 26, Branden Albert, 28, Jake Long, 27, Sebastian Vollmer, 28, Will Beatty, 27, Gosder Cherilus, 28, Phil Loadholt, 27, Jermon Bushrod, 28, and Sam Baker, 27, all have extensive, successful track records as strong NFL starters and will be paid accordingly.

Since the positions are valued differently inside the NFL, offensive tackles can be halved into left and right. Left tackles are the highest paid O-Line position. Right tackles are viewed as inferior pay positions, although the league's best running teams unfailingly field high-impact tackle play on the right side.

Albert, Long, Beatty, Bushrod, Baker, and Bryant McKinnie, 33, are the best left tackles free agency has to offer. Smith, Vollmer, Cherilus, and Loadholt are difference makers on the right side. Vollmer is especially intriguing because he possesses athleticism and length to play both tackle spots, and made five starts on Tom Brady's blindside as a rookie in 2009. If Vollmer hits free agency -- and the Patriots will probably make sure that he does not -- it's conceivable that interested teams would view him as a left tackle, setting up Vollmer for a monster pay day.

3. Defensive End

This year's free-agent defensive end class isn't quite as talent-rich as the big names atop the list might indicate. But it's a reasonably solid group with, by Silva's count, at least seven capable NFL starters.

Cliff Avril, 26, has 29 sacks and nine forced fumbles over the past three seasons. He's "scheme versatile," capable of fitting 3-4 defenses at outside linebacker and 4-3s as a hand-in-the-dirt end. Avril is the clear prize of this year's defensive end FA class. Michael Johnson, 25, isn't far off after a breakout, 11.5-sack season. Always oozing talent, Johnson has long faced questions about his motor, however, and it's "red-flaggy" that he put together a career year in a contract season. It makes him an ideal franchise-tag candidate for the Bengals. So perhaps he won't hit the market.

Versatile Michael Bennett, 27, is No. 3 in the defensive end rankings and can rush the passer from both tackle and left end. Bennett was a key contributor on Tampa's league-best run defense in 2012. Osi Umenyiora, 31, Dwight Freeney, 32, and Israel Idonije, 32, all have good football left but are past their primes. Matt Shaughnessy, 26, once looked like a future star in Oakland, but lost his passing-down role to early-season street free-agent pickup Andre Carter because Shaughnessy couldn't generate enough rush pressure. He still may be the best value signing in this group.

Wallace Gilberry, 28, Mike DeVito, 28, Darryl Tapp, 28, William Hayes, 27, Lawrence Jackson, 27, and Jonathan Fanene, 30, are all role players but give the position some free-agent depth.

4. Wide Receiver

The wide receiver free-agent eligibles fall off a cliff after the initial six or so players, but there is obvious star power at the top. Dwayne Bowe, 28, can take over games when focused, and he's never, ever played with a competent quarterback. Mike Wallace, 26, was considered the NFL's premier deep threat as recently as the 2012 offseason. Greg Jennings, 29, is a playmaker both in the slot and along the sidelines. Wes Welker, 31, is uncoverable between the numbers. Soo too is Danny Amendola, 27, at least when healthy. Brian Hartline, 26, was stretched as the Dolphins' No. 1 receiver in 2012, but is still coming off a breakout year.

The best of the rest are slot receiver/special teamer Julian Edelman, 26, brittle burner Donnie Avery, 28, mentally unreliable Jerome Simpson, 26, washed-up Randy Moss, 36, and Braylon Edwards, 29, concussion-prone Austin Collie, 27, and flash-in-the-pan Kevin Ogletree, 25.

5. Defensive Tackle

There's a good chance you've never heard of Desmond Bryant, 27, but you need to get used to it. He's going to be a very hot free agent. Silva recalls watching tape of offensive skill position players last offseason, and defensive end No. 90 for Oakland kept showing up. In 2012, Bryant kicked inside to replace injured Richard Seymour and graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 6 overall defensive tackle. He was the best player on a bad defense. A Harvard alum with a scheme-versatile body (6'6/311), Bryant will appeal to 3-4 teams as a five-technique end and to 4-3 clubs at interior tackle.

Almost like offensive tackle, defensive tackle can be split into two parts: Pass rushers and run-plugging space eaters. The best free-agent interior pass rushers are Bryant, Henry Melton, 26, Randy Starks, 29, Jason Jones, 26, Seymour, 33, Chris Canty, 30, Glenn Dorsey, 27, and Corey Williams, 32.

The top free-agent space eaters include "Pot Roast" Terrance Knighton, 26, Isaac Sopoaga, 31, Vance Walker, 25, Casey Hampton, 35, Roy Miller, 25, Sammie Lee Hill, 26, and Pat Sims, 27.

6. Rush Linebacker

"Rush linebacker" is traditionally associated with 3-4 defenses. As the 3-4 becomes more and more prevalent, we need to consider "rush 'backer" its own position rather than grouping it in with defensive ends or outside linebackers.

Paul Kruger, 27, was the Super Bowl champions' best pass rusher for the duration of the 2012-2013 season and is arguably the premier prize of free agency. He's going to rake in a ton of money. Anthony Spencer, 29, was always a stud edge-setting run defender before breaking out with 11 sacks this past year. He outplayed future Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware. Connor Barwin, 26, registered 11.5 sacks in 2011 before crashing back to Earth with three in 2012. Barwin is not an explosive outside-edge rush 'backer and is a candidate to get overpaid on the open market.

Shaun Phillips, 31, Antwan Barnes, 28, and Victor Butler, 25, round out the rush linebacker depth. Butler is intriguing. Buried behind Spencer and Ware the past four seasons, Butler still managed 11 sacks and four forced fumbles while starting just 1-of-63 games. He is a free-agent sleeper.

7. Safety

The safety class looks swell on paper, but Silva is afraid it'll be thinned out by franchise tags and seemingly obvious re-signings. The franchise number for safeties is an affordable $6.798 million; only tight ends and kickers cost less to tag. I think we'll see top safety Jairus Byrd, 26, tagged and quite possibly William Moore, 27. The Niners also won't let Dashon Goldson, 28, get away.

So that would leave Ed Reed, 34, Ronde Barber, 37, physically unreliable Louis Delmas, 25, and LaRon Landry, 28, benched ex-Patriot Pat Chung, 25, former first-round disappointment Kenny Phillips, 26, and Texans free safety Glover Quin, 27, atop this year's free-agent safety group.

Chung and Phillips might be the safeties to target for teams incapable of ponying up for what'll be an unwieldy price tag on Landry, Byrd, Moore, or Goldson. Chung and Phillips both possess Pro Bowl-caliber talent; only bad injury luck has diminished their market value. Since both are under 27 years old, it's quite possible Phillips and Chung would be amenable to one-year, prove-it deals.

8. Tight End

Silva has tight end ranked relatively low, but I think it's a quietly strong group. Especially when you include Texans fullback/H-back James Casey, 28, who demonstrates Hernandez-like movement skills in pass routes, but played out of position as a lead blocker in Gary Kubiak's offense. Casey needs to get out of Houston and find a chance to start. He can get open and has great hands.

Fred Davis, 27, is a field stretcher and underrated blocker if his Achilles' checks out. Dustin Keller, 28, has been held hostage statistically by putrid Jets offenses and needs to leave New York to maximize his God-given ability. Jared Cook, 25, is a freak of nature talent. Martellus Bennett, 25, is a terrific blocker and flashed taking his receiving game to a top-ten level when healthy in 2012.

Other free agent tight ends include backup types Delanie Walker, 28, Brandon Myers, 27, Dallas Clark, 33, Ben Watson 32, and Anthony Fasano, 28.

9. Outside Linebacker

This is where free agency begins to really thin out. The top get would be longtime Jaguars outside linebacker Daryl Smith, who can play strong side, weak side, or even man the middle. Smith, however, is going on age 31 and struggled in his only two 2012 appearances after returning from recurring groin problems.

Aside from Smith, Erin Henderson, 26, and Philip Wheeler, 28, the best 4-3 outside linebacker free agents all have injury concerns. Thomas Howard, 29, is coming off a torn ACL. Gerald McRath, 26, ruptured his patellar tendon. Justin Durant, 27, has a scary concussion history. Leroy Hill, 30, is facing a suspension. Jonathan Casillas, 25, is brimming with talent but has never stayed healthy.

Ultimately, 4-3 outside linebacker offers only stopgap solutions in free agency.

10. Running Back

Steven Jackson will be the cream of the 2013 free-agent running back crop if he declines his $7 million player option. Jackson has until March 12 -- the first day of free agency -- to decide. It's been expected that S-Jax will indeed decline the option, though it's always possible Jackson and his agent will determine they wouldn't pull in more money on the open market. Silva sets Jackson's chances of returning to St. Louis at 55:45. If he doesn't, expect Atlanta and Green Bay to be among the contenders that pursue him. At age 29, Jackson has plenty left in the tank.

There's a steep falloff behind him.

Reggie Bush, 27, is best suited for a complementary, third-down type role in a pass-first offense, ideally playing in a dome. The pass-happy Lions make a lot of sense as a suitor, assuming Bush's price tag is reasonable. Rashard Mendenhall, 25, has talent to be an NFL feature back, but his health has been unreliable the past two seasons and Mendenhall is maddeningly inconsistent on inside runs, too often bouncing outside. Released by the Giants, 26-year-old Ahmad Bradshaw suffers from chronic foot injuries and is much too brittle for any team to count on as a starter. He'll be viewed as a potential committee back or strict backup by clubs in the market for running backs. Cedric Benson, 30, is coming off a Lisfranc fracture. Bernard Scott, 29, returns from a torn ACL.

Shonn Greene, 27, Felix Jones, 25, Peyton Hillis, 27, Danny Woodhead, 28, and Cedric Peerman, 26, are other notable free-agent running back names. They are all backups or role players at best.

11. Offensive Guard

Another thin free-agent position, guard offers five or six NFL starters with two or three who might command big money should they hit the market. Athletic Andy Levitre, 26, has never missed a start in four seasons with Buffalo and was a top-ten guard in 2012 per Pro Football Focus' ratings. The Bills need to make re-signing Levitre a priority.

Donald Thomas, 27, can play all three interior line positions and held up well in seven 2012 starts. Brandon Moore, 32, is limited to right guard but is still blocking at a high level. Louis Vasquez, 25, is well regarded around the NFL and after Levitre may be the likeliest guard to receive a lucrative, long-term deal. Lance Louis, 27, Geoff Schwartz, 26, and Chad Rinehart, 27, are young guards with potential.

12. Fullback

Jerome Felton, 26 brings little to the table as a ball carrier or receiver, but he was the NFL's premier lead blocker in 2012 and deserved first-team All-Pro recognition over Baltimore's Vonta Leach. Fullbacks historically have short shelf lives and ought to max out their market whenever possible. If Felton and his agent are smart, they will prioritize testing free agency unless the Vikings blow their socks off with a contract offer before March 12.

Greg Jones, 31, is the only other fullback who might generate serious free-agent interest. Jones is getting up there in age, but he's still a pile-driving run blocker and also excels in blitz pickup.

13. Inside Linebacker

Silva and I have not studied up much yet on this year's draft-eligible inside linebacker class. But if it isn't stocked with talent, your team is in trouble if it needs a starter inside. Rey Maualuga, 26, is a poor starter and he's among the best free agency can offer. Brian Urlacher's 34-year-old knees are shot. Tim Dobbins, 30, is a major liability in coverage. Dannell Ellerbe, 27, is a candidate to get overpaid on the heels of his team's Super Bowl win.

Perhaps the one free agent inside linebacker worth the longest look for needy teams is Brad Jones, a 26-year-old converted pass rusher who more than adequately replaced D.J. Smith for the Packers in 2012. Jones started ten games and outplayed A.J. Hawk. Teams still figure to be wary of Jones because his experience inside is so limited.

14. Center

There isn't a free-agent center who'll be viewed as a surefire starter. Todd McClure, 36, Brad Meester, 35, and Dan Koppen, 33, are all nearing retirement. And they're the best there is in this year's center class.

15. Quarterback

With Joe Flacco a virtual lock to return to Baltimore, quarterback is another position that lacks a single bankable starter. Matt Moore, 28, comes the closest after losing the Dolphins' starting job to Ryan Tannehill last summer. Moore will probably wind up in a camp battle on a quarterback-desperate team like the Jets, Cardinals, Jaguars, or Bills.

Tarvaris Jackson, 29, Jason Campbell, 31, Josh Johnson, 26, Byron Leftwich, 33, Brady Quinn, 28, and Rex Grossman, 32, are all low-end NFL backups. Chase Daniel, 26, and Brian Hoyer, 27, have major arm strength limitations. David Garrard, 34, never did latch on with a team in 2012 and it's unclear if he envisions football in his future. Vince Young, 29, may be done in the league.

Silva's current overall Free Agent Rankings by individual value:

1. Rush linebacker Paul Kruger
2. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
3. Defensive end Cliff Avril
4. Cornerback Aqib Talib
5. Rush linebacker Anthony Spencer
6. Free safety Jairus Byrd
7. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer
8. Defensive tackle Henry Melton
9. Wide receiver Mike Wallace
10. Free safety Dashon Goldson
11. Defensive end Michael Johnson
12. Left tackle Branden Albert
13. Cornerback Brent Grimes
14. Left tackle Jake Long
15. Right tackle Andre Smith
16. Wide receiver Wes Welker
17. Defensive lineman Desmond Bryant
18. Guard Andy Levitre
19. Cornerback Sean Smith
20. Running back Steven Jackson
21. Defensive end Michael Bennett
22. Defensive tackle Randy Starks
23. Strong safety William Moore
24. Right tackle Phil Loadholt
25. Wide receiver Greg Jennings
26. Wide receiver Danny Amendola
27. Tight end Dustin Keller
28. Defensive tackle Jason Jones
29. Free safety Louis Delmas
30. Tight end Jared Cook
31. Running back Reggie Bush
32. Cornerback Chris Houston
33. Guard Louis Vasquez
34. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora
35. Outside linebacker Daryl Smith
36. Free safety Ed Reed
37. Tight end Martellus Bennett
38. Nose tackle Terrance Knighton
39. Running back Rashard Mendenhall
40. Fullback Jerome Felton

Billy Davis was a blip on our radar, but far from the lead in our imaginary race for Eagles DC... Then CBS Sports broke the story at noon on Thursday, Feb. 7:

This just in from Evan Hilbert of CBSSports.com:

"The Philadelphia Eagles and Chip Kelly have found their defensive coordinator, Billy Davis, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com."

Davis, who was the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach the past two seasons, met with Kelly late last month. His position with the Browns was precarious after Cleveland canned coach Pat Shurmur in favor of Rod Chudzinski. (Shurmur is expected to be named Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator.)

Prior to his time in Cleveland, Davis was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons from 2005-06, and he later held the same position for the Arizona Cardinals in 2009 and 2010. Davis also has spent time holding various posts with the Steelers, Panthers, Packers, Falcons and Giants.

Kelly and the Eagles are rumored to be shifting from a 4-3 defensive scheme to a 3-4, which is in line with Davis' experience.

I'll leave that on the table for now, just to turn the page... It's a big hire that means a lot to the Eagles' chances of turning the team around.  Davis will have almost complete autonomy in how he runs the defense. I'll come back later with some more meat to add to this breaking news. We'll also take a look at some of the big name players being cut around the league for salary cap reasons, and wonder if any of them may find their way to the Eagles roster.

UPDATE 7:30 P.M. EST 2/7/13...

Reaction has been...well, lukewarm at best to the Billy Davis hiring. The CSN Philly.com poll being taken has 5% of responding fans FOR the hire, 44% AGAINST, and 51% responding "WHO KNOWS?---we'll find out in September"...and that's over 1,000 respondents so far.

That reaction is mirrored by our Bored members. Most folks are going "whaaaaa?" And JB-Sage-Lion hates it. But Dutch Rubb said it well: Billy Davis is an improbable hire from a backgound of coaching for some pretty bad teams, but so was Jim Johnson when Andy Reid hired JJ...so give the guy a shot to prove himself.

And as Leo Pizzini pointed out, Davis has worked under some terrific coaching influences. He worked under Wade Phillips in Atlanta. He was on staff with Packers DC Dom Capers and with 49ers DC Vic Fangio in Carolina. And he was defensive quality control for DC Dick LeBeau in Pittsburgh.

ATV provides this link to Tommy Lawlor's igglesblitz.com column for those who want a closer look at Billy Davis as to how he stacks up to the remainder of the 3-4 coaching candidates' style and philosophy:   http://www.igglesblitz.com/philadelphia-eagles-2/billy-davis-vs-the-world/

And here's a PPW-provided link to a Bleeding Green Nation analysis of Billy Davis' scheme trends:
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2013/2/7/3964144/explain-the-scheme-of-eagles-defensive-coordinator-billy-davis.

JEFF STOUTLAND UP NEXT AS OL COACH?

I can almost hear Keith Jackson announcing Stoutland going to the Eagles from "AL----A--BAMA".... Although still awaiting confirmation, it appears Chip Kelly has landed Stoutland as his offensive line coach to replace the retired Howard Mudd.

Joe Pendry was a tough guy to replace when he retired from Alabama in 2010, but Jeff Stoutland was the first guy Nick Saban turned to for filling Pendry's shoes. Stoutland made his bones at "The U." but he became available to Alabama when head coach Randy Shannon went down in flames in Miami.

Stoutland is still reaching the peak years of his career. He's only in his late 40's. Like Pendry, he has worked in the NFL. At the U. of Miami he took a line that was in shambles and turned it into an All-ACC weekly honors winner in 5 of his last 10 games there.

More background info on Stoutland to come as his confirmation is awaited....

The Eagles are talking contract with QB Dennis Dixon...but that really doesn't mean anything more than he could be invited to mini-camps and training camp as an extra arm.

Or it could be a glimpse of the vision Chip Kelly has for the style of multi-faceted quarterback he wants running his offense.

How quickly we do forget: Dixon actually played very well in the few games he did start for Pittsburgh. He passed effectively from the pocket on more than a few plays, he threw well on the run, and he executed some very nice designed runs.

The Eagles and quarterback Dennis Dixon, who is currently a practice squad player with the Baltimore Ravens, are discussing the possibility of Dixon's reuniting with his former coach. This per a report from Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, who says both sides are talking, but nothing is imminent.

Dixon coming to Philadelphia to play for Kelly has long been rumored. Kelly's bringing in a quarterback who knows the system he ran at Oregon makes some sense. When Andy Reid was first hired by the Eagles he signed Doug Pederson, a quarterback who knew his offense. But Dixon has a much higher talent level than Pederson, no offense intended to Doug.

Dixon was one of the best quarterbacks in college football under Kelly during his time in Oregon. Dixon passed for 2,719 yard while rushing for 583 yards in 10 games before tearing his ACL in his last season with the Ducks (2007).

I remember Dixon as Ben Roethisberger's backup along with Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich. He played lights out against the Falcons and the Ravens. Dixon started the first two games of the 2010 season when Roethlisberger was suspended, so teams around the league have seen what he can do.

The Steelers wanted to keep him as their primary backup for the next couple of years, but Dixon and his agent Jeff Sperbeck made that an impossibility with a holdout at the start of 2011. Dixon didn't want to sign his one-year tender offer as a restricted free agent because he wanted to go to a team that would give him a chance to start.

The Steelers put a fifth-round tender on Dixon, which means that he was free to sign with another team, and if he did the Steelers would have the right to match the offer or get that team’s fifth-round pick in the next year’s draft.

But cue the sad-funny wah-wah-wah-wah trombone sound effect...nobody wanted to spend a 5th-round pick on Dixon. Instead, Dixon is still wandering around the practice squads of the NFL.

Dixon is better than a lot of guys are giving him credit for at this stage of his career. He started against the Falcons in the 2010 season opener against the Falcons and went 18-26 w/ 236 yds. He threw 1 pick but it was kind of tipped in the middle of the field and the Falcons didn’t do anything with it. The Steelers actually won the game against a team that eventually went 13-3. He looked great–-he can extend the play really well and is oftenlooking to throw downfield on the run. He’s pretty accurate, too, a combined 68.8%  in completions in 2010.

The biggest knock on Dixon is the very thing that may make him attractive to Chip Kelly---he's only suited to a spread-option offense, but he doesn’t have the goods to be a consistent pocket passer. He may have great physicality, but he doesn’t have the reads and the improvisational ability he needs to be a traditional NFL QB.

Steelers fans used to complain Dixon hadn’t been able to learn the playbook. In 2010, Steelers fans were clamoring for him to start, but Tomlin and Arians (then OC) were adamant that no matter how much they worked with him, he did not look downfield for the open man. Dennis’ big problem then was his spread-offense mindset. He takes one read and runs or throws, leaving open receivers downfield.

But now in Philly, that may be all Kelly would want him to do.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STAY FROSTEE update---  This news off the AP wire is right up JB-Sage-Lion's alley...

Frostee Rucker was released by Cleveland on Tuesday, the first major move as the Browns change from a 4-3 defense to a multi-front system under new coach Rob Chudzinski and coordinator Ray Horton.

A top free-agent signing by Cleveland last year, Rucker started all 16 games and finished with 48 tackles and four sacks in his one season with the Browns. Rucker made $6 million last season and $2 million of his $2.5 million contract for 2013 would have been guaranteed if he was still on the roster Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Rucker spent six seasons with Cincinnati before signing last March with Cleveland. He established himself as a leader in the Browns' locker room and Rucker was a staunch supporter of coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert, who were both fired after the Browns went 5-11 last season.

Last week, Chudzinski and Horton, who spent the past two seasons with Arizona, said the Browns hope to have an aggressive defense next season. Horton tried to downplay concerns about the team changing schemes, saying several times that he was simply looking for "big men that can run and little men that can hit."

Apparently, the 6-3, 280-pound Rucker did not fit into either of those groups.

The Bengals selected Rucker, who played at Southern Caliornia, in the third round (No. 91 overall) of the 2006 draft.

Once upon a time a magical prince became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. And all the fans in the kingdom wondered how many frogs he would have to kiss before one turned into his magic quarterback.

Now the latest rumor has Chip Kelly interested in bringing Alex Smith to the Eagles.

We've heard that one before. But now Garry Cobb is running with it.

We sometimes discount Garry Cobb's sources. But he claims Chip Kelly is considering Alex Smith as the possible knight in shining underarmour to run his offense in Philly.

Cobb reports that Andy Reid wanted to get Alex Smith for the Eagles last off-season, too. He says Trent Dilfer told him that. When pressed, Dilfer couldn’t get into the details, but he made it clear that Andy Reid wanted to make Smith an Eagle. “I don’t know a whole lot. I just know there was a courtship. It was not even an inside source, you know what I mean? It was just kind of the scuttle in the offseason.”

That's the problem with Cobb sometimes, his hearsay is based on hearsay. But if true, as Cobb points out, this information could in a roundabout way have an effect upon what Chip Kelly and the Eagles do at the quarterback position.  If Reid and the Chiefs are very aggressive about acquiring Smith it could move Kelly and the Birds into another direction.

According to Zach Berman of philly.com, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith could be a target for the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith played in a similar system while playing at the University of Utah under Urban Myer, and has the athletic ability to run Chip Kelly’s spread offense. At the 2005 NFL combine, Smith recorded a 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash, and had a 32-inch vertical leap, so he has the skill set to run a read option type offense.

Then there's still the Mike Vick conundrum.

Chip Kelly has to make a decision soon on quarterback Michael Vick, and it will have an impact going either way he chooses. If he lets Vick go, the Eagles will go forward without a proven quarterback on the roster. If he keeps Vick, then it's almost certain Vick  would be the starter he builds around.  Whatever the case, Vick won’t be watching from an Eagles sideline in 2013.

According to Berman, Vick's taking a pay cut is highly unlikely; it’s bad business for him to do so when there are potential teams ready to open their wallets. The Eagles can pick up the contract and look for a trade, but that could backfire if teams find better options other than Vick. That would force the Eagles to either trade for less value or keep a very expensive backup.

You have to be careful when you pick up sources on the Eagles QB situation. For example, Yardbarker is running a story today with an alleged quote by Vick: "If I'm not the starter, I want out of Philadelphia..." Then the rest of the article written by a guy named only "LG" for USA Sports 360 turns out to be a hate piece on Vick.

But I can't find a single reliable source to corroborate that quote, or that Vick ever really said it. Any fact-checkers out there, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Vick has ever been on record as saying he wants "out of Philly".

ESPN's John Clayton was on the Mike and Mike Show this morning and was pretty credible in his argument that Vick will be released by the Eagles this coming Friday.

"At $16 million a season, Michael Vick currently makes upper echelon quarterback money. But with his sub-par on the field production, Vick may not warrant that high a salary anymore. Many were expecting the Eagles to ask Vick to take a pay cut this off-season. Now it appears they may just release him completely."

But that doesn't mean Vick will be unavailable to be renegotiated and re-signed by the Eagles. It just means he'll be available to everyone else, too.

As Clayton points out, at the high price of his current deal, "a move on Vick was almost a foregone conclusion. We’ll have to see if Vick decides to re-sign with the Eagles when he is released."

In a league where quarterbacks are always at a premium, he will most certainly have options.

Meanwhile...send in the frogs!

My article control panel is as sluggish as my brain today after enduring the longest Super Bowl game in history, so I'll keep it brief.

The Ravens' victory over the 49ers could be seen as a sort of good omen for the Eagles. The last time the Ravens won it all was the 2000-01 Super Bowl, which coincided with the beginning of one of the greatest 5-year runs of winning in Eagles history.

As for that 40-minute power outage delay at the SuperDome which essentially allowed the 49ers to regroup, there is still no mechanical explanation coming out of New Orleans stadium supervisors at this writing. Conspiracy theories abound. My only suggestion to the NFL, if they don't have it already, is there must be security personnel guarding the fuse banks and circuitbreakers at all times during game events.

Finally, it's a celebration of some former Eagles who won their first Super Bowl rings last night:

Sean Considine - The Ravens safety is on the roster for his special teams contributions. A fourth-round pick by the Eagles in 2005, he was a much-maligned player during his four seasons with the Eagles.

John Harbaugh - Baltimore's head coach grew up under Andy Reid. He spent 10 seasons working for the Eagles coaching special teams and then defensive backs. Reid helped Harbaugh land the Ravens gig.

Wilbert Montgomery - The Ravens' running backs coach is an Eagles legend. Montgomery held just about every Eagles rushing record when he left the Eagles after eight memorable years from 1977-84.

Randy Brown - The Evesham, N.J., mayor doubles as a kicking consultant with the Ravens. He's a close friend of Harbaugh after having worked under him with the Eagles.

Juan Castillo - The former Eagles offensive line coach/defensive coordinator was fired mid-season by his close friend Reid. Castillo was recently hired by the Ravens as a running game coordinator.

Bobbie Williams - The backup guard and tackle for the Ravens was drafted in the 2nd round out of Arkansas by the Eagles in 2000. He was inactive throughout most of the 2000 season as he made the transition from tackle to guard. He finally debuted as a starting right guard against Tampa Bay on January 6, 2001. He appeared in every game for the Eagles in 2002 and 2003. He took over the starting right guard position after an elbow injury to Jermane Mayberry in 2003.  In 2004, he signed with the Bengals as an unrestricted free agent. He played for the Bengals until the end of 2011, then signed with the Ravens this past summer

Funny how fate and possibility works out sometimes. And good for Juan Castillo...

Thank you for coming!  Pardon me if I'm a little off my game, but I've partaken of the Bacardi and Diet Coke popsicle appetizers before you got here...Feel free to hit the hors dourves...corn dogs on a platter!

Well, it's another Super Bowl and we're not in it... So much for Mike Vick's dynasty theory...

Okay, that's the "Sob" portion of the party...or S.O.B. part if you really want to go all gold standard on me...The Pizzini 5-Year Trend theory of NFL team viability is proven yet again.  We essentialy had five years of window opportunity to keep getting better after our last appearance in an NFC Championship Game...and we have crashed to the crust of the Mohave Desert instead. Now, realistically, a new 5-year window opens...but this time we start from the bottom.

At least one leftover from 2008's NFC Championship run is optimistic about the next 5-year trend.

There has been much speculation about who the perfect quarterback would be for the fast-paced offense of new Eagles coach Chip Kelly. But there is little speculation on who the ideal receiver would be in Kelly’s system – DeSean Jackson.

Jackson was making the rounds at the Super Bowl media center Friday, speaking publicly for the first time since his season ended with a rib injury Nov. 26.

“I’m very excited about the new opportunity, just watching him with the things he’s done at Oregon and his offensive style,” Jackson said. “I think he’s been able to come in and give the NFL a different look and throw defenses off guard. I’m excited to go out there and do my thing."

“I think the sky’s the limit, honestly.”

Jackson said he spoke to Kelly after he got hired. And while Kelly didn’t mention specific ways that he would be used, Jackson said it would be similar to De’Anthony Thomas, who’s a running back at Oregon.

For Jackson, that could include more runs or short slant routes that allow him to run.

Jackson said he is good friends with Thomas, whom he called “my little brother,” and that Thomas called him to tell him that Kelly would be the ideal coach for him.

“I see me and [Thomas] in kind of in the same place, where we’re able to create the same kind of mismatches,” Jackson said. “It’ll be interesting to see how that works. It’s about keeping the defenses off guard, moving me around, me being able to be in different spaces and not always being in one spot.

“That’s what excites me the most. It’s like a brand new opportunity. It really is.”

New opportunity--- these are words that define the upcoming NFL Draft for the Eagles.  Here's where we stand on the latest ESPN/SI.com/FOXSports/NFL.com/CBSSports.com/Optimum Scouting aggregate of mock drafts as compiled by Bo Wulf and Chris McPherson at PE.com:

For that mythical 1st Round pick at #4, which may or may not be traded backward, Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel is now tied with Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner for the most popular pick, with each player getting four selections. Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei got two selections, while West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith and Alabama guard Chance Warmack were each selected once. This week also marks the first appearance of Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who received one vote as well.

ESPN's Mel Kiper: "People need to forget the idea that Philly is deep at corner. You watch the tape and it simply wasn't true in 2012. I expect changes in a secondary where it's possible that on a per-play basis, the best corner for Philly this season was rookie Brandon Boykin. The top cornerback in the draft is always going to be a huge draw, and Milliner could come out of the draft process worthy of going this high. He will improve as a technical corner, but has elite grades in terms of awareness, and particularly as a physical corner who can push wideouts off routes. He can defend the run and tackle at a very high level."

Wow, Mel Kiper is being a little too dismissive of DRC and Aso, and even Brandon Hughes...but I digress.

SI.com's Don Banks: "This is where the real guess-work begins, because so much depends on whether new Eagles coach Chip Kelly believes he currently has his starting quarterback on the roster or not. Geno Smith's talents aren't a perfect mesh for Kelly's up-tempo offense, but he's got enough mobility to get the job done, and his pocket-passing skills are NFL ready. We know quarterbacks get pushed up by need, but the Eagles defense needs so much help that Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner could be tough to pass on."

Gee, talk about a hedge bet! Don Banks had me at hello with Geno Smith, then flip-flopped back to Dee Milliner.

NFL.com's Josh Norris: "Lotulelei isn't just a nose tackle prospect; he can play all along the defensive line. The Eagles have plenty of pass rushers, but this Ute would offer some girth up front."

I think that's what JB99=Sage-Lion has been telling us since last August...

CBSSports.com's Rob Rang: "The hiring of Chip Kelly as head coach could mean that the Eagles will look to address the quarterback position as Nick Foles, 1-5 in six games as a rookie starter, is a pocket passer and a poor fit in the Kelly's read-option offense. Michael Vick potentially could fit, but he's 32, gets injured too frequently and hasn't operated particularly well in up-tempo offenses. The safer choice might be to wait until a round or two for a passer better suited to the scheme (perhaps Florida State's E.J. Manuel or Arizona's Matt Scott) and add the left tackle capable of protecting him here in Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel, NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated overall prospect."

That's great in theory, but what's your backup plan when Andy Reid chooses Joeckel as the 1st overall pick for K.C. ?

Optimum Scoutings' Eric Galko says Philly will still go for an offensive tackle first, even if it's not Joeckel: "Up for consideration for this pick is QB Ryan Nassib, who may be a sneaky good fit for this Chip Kelly/West Coast offense hybrid, but would be a reach in the 1st round here.OT Eric Fisher, who may work better in space for Chip Kelly’s offense, or Joeckel, who still retains the value of the draft's best tackle, are the Eagles' best picks for now. It’s no lock that Joeckel is the best (reviewing his film to compare he and Fisher), but at this point, the Eagles go with the best OT still available in the draft."

Okay, enough sobbing for now. Let's turn to the main dish on my Sobber Bowl Party menu.

Against all odds, wifey has attempted to replicate the ultimate Super Bowl tailgate recipe of Philly Fandom---the classic BRIZER's SUPER CHILI.

This baby was three days in the making. I almost went for jambalaya or gumbo as a New Orleans theme dish, but then wifey remembered Brizer's masterpiece.

Here's GK Brizer's Super Chili Recipe in his own write (reflecting three stages of evolution of the recipe):

Day One: My new chili recipe is about ready to take off. I've added more hot italian sausage to the gmish along with some overpriced habaneros,..cheez..8 bucks/lb!!!...anyway,..using most of the staples,..we'll let you know soon if its worthy of post!.....wow,..some like it hot!

Day Two: completed beta testing on chili last eve and will perform sampling today. I have high hopes!!! The novel ingredients,..a cilantro paste, pre-grilled/chopped hot italian sausage and roasted turkey, homegrown cherry tomats,..and a green,..long,.unnamed jalapeno-type pepper. My evaluation should be complete by 8 tonite. Carry on

Day Three: ..the new concoction is a winner,..guvna'!!!..So,..follow SOP,.brown ground beef, dump grease, add the fresh pressed garlic, onion, peppers, and cherry tomats until soft. Add the pre grilled hot italian sausage and roasted turkey,..chopped up well. Add your can of seasoned crushed tomats, some tomat sauce,..and season w/ cilantro paste, crushed black pepp, plenty of chili powder to taste, tabasco sauce, xtra powders of onion/garlic, and Slap Yur Momma hot dry spice. Alter % to your taste buds. Cook abit on medium in a huge black fry pan,..then simmer from 45' to 3hrs. Always best the next day,.....top your chili w/ whatever suits you. Today i topped w/ mexican grated cheese in one bowl,..my 2nd, i added a few drops of lime juice! Be creative and stay hungry my friends!

Dig in and enjoy! There's plenty, you know!  Enjoy the spectacle of the game, too... Spiffo and I will be back to recap the Super Bowl with you after we finish doing the dishes...

[Double-click on the Title of this blurb to get into the Comments--- somehow I burned out the button we usually hit for "Comments"...must have been too much chili pepper...]

Eagles fans got a nice surprise Friday morning when Chip Kelly showed up at WIP's 21st annual Wing Bowl and addressed the crowd of 20,000...

Who needs Bourbon Street? We've got the Wing Bowl!

WIP Sports Radio sponsors the annual buffalo-wing eating contest which has turned into a mini-Mardi Gras of sorts. The 20,000 raucous fans who packed the Wells Fargo Center for Wing Bowl 21 were able to puff out their chests with Philly pride more than once Friday morning.

First, new Eagles’ coach Chip Kelly made an appearance just minutes before the eating began at approximately 8 a.m. Kelly was interviewed by WIP’s Angelo Cataldi, and Chip’s introduction was punctuated by the playing of the Eagles’ fight song, with the 20,000 fans in attendance enthusiastically singing along.

This was the first Wing Bowl appearance by a major Philadelphia professional coach.

WIP’s Glen Macnow said, “This was [Kelly’s] first genuine introduction to the masses, and the fans loved him. I think he was genuinely awed by what he saw. This town is so ready to once again fall for the Eagles.”

But, just as the Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX to New England, the Philly crowd had to watch a man from New England claim the overall (national) title after putting away 287 wings in a little over an hour.

Jamie “The Bear” McDonald of Granby, Conn., aka The Bear of New England, was declared the national champion of Wing Bowl 21. The local crowd was not happy, and a chorus of boos rained down on the 37-year-old Connecticut man.  McDonald, who took home prizes of $20,000 along with a $7,500 ring from Steven Singer, edged out Jonathan Squibb of New Jersey, who ingested 282 wings.

As CBS Philly.com puts it, the Friday of Super Bowl weekend has now become a rite of passage, a bucket list ritual for any Philadelphia sports fan. Where else can you see a pair of strippers taking pictures with Ben Franklin?

It’s viscerally Philadelphia. They flock to Wing Bowl each year knowing where to go to see miles of jubilating cleavage, where to go for tailgate parties in the Wells Fargo Center parking lot, to see flying hot sauce, and an occasional wobbling drunk amid the New Orleans-style fun and debauchery..

The highlight of Wing Bowl XXI was Chip Kelly’s appearance. He came over from the NovaCare Complex around 7:40 AM. If he wants to endear himself quickly to Philadelphia sports fans, that’s the way to do it. Kelly certainly made an impact by being the first major Philadelphia professional coach to show up at Wing Bowl.

When Kelly was announced, a roaring crescendo of 20,000 shook the Wells Fargo Center and began chanting, “Chip, Chip, Chip.”

At first, Kelly was taken aback by the throng, but he had a general idea of what Wing Bowl was about. He got a firsthand look on Friday.

“I had recruited down here for a while, so I knew I heard about [Wing Bowl],” Kelly said. “There is a passion here they have for the Eagles and I got a chance to see that in person today. They’re excited and that came out. This was great, I’m happy I did it, now I have to go across the street and back to work.”

The Friday morning festivities started well before 8 a.m., with revelers crowding the parking lots surrounding the Wells Fargo Center through the wee hours of Friday morning. At 6 a.m., the lots were packed, with traffic outside the lots tied up for blocks. Hundreds of empty beer cans and bottles littered all of the parking lots.

Meanwhile across the street, the Eagles front office raised ticket prices for the 2013 season.

It's the first time since 2009 season-ticket prices will increase.

The seat increases look like this:

• Lower Level Sideline seats and Upper Level Loge seats go from $95 to $105.

• Lower Level Endzone seats go from $85 to $95.

• General Upper Level seats have go from $70 to $75.

That's an 11-percent increase for the lower level sideline seats, 12-percent increase for the lower level end zone and seven percent for the upper level. The average cost of an Eagles ticket will now be approximately $93.

The Eagles claim their tickets still remain the lowest in the NFC East and "middle third of the NFL." They mailed invoices to season-ticket holders on Thursday.

You might expect some fan backlash on raising ticket prices after a 4-12 season. But I suppose if you're going to do it, the Eagles figure now is the time while Chip Kelly is still on his honeymoon cruise with the fans.