Speculation, rumors, etc., about Eagles

The Eagles have subtracted Jevon Kearse and Takeo Spikes, added Asante Samuel, Chris Clemons and Dan Klecko, re-signed J.R. Reed, and protected their interests in L.J. Smith and Joselio Hanson.

What's next?

Here's some of the latest from the rumor-and-speculation mill:

According to an non-bylined item posted recently on the Eagles' team page of USA Today's Web site: '' A.J. Feeley might be traded soon, possibly to Green Bay. With the Eagles expected to move '07 second-round pick Kevin Kolb up to the No. 2 spot next season behind starter Donovan McNabb, Feeley is expendable. And the Packers are looking for a proven backup now that Brett Favre has retired and Aaron Rodgers has moved into the starting job.''

The view from here: Feeley began his career as an Eagles' fifth-round pick in 2001, and was traded to Miami for a 2004 second-round pick that Philadelphia used to select Reggie Brown. If the Birds parlay Feeley into another serviceable player, there should be a special category created for Feeley on the Eagles' All-Decade Team.

The Eagles will convert from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment as their base defense.

The view from here: The 3-4 worked in big doses against New England, although the Patriots cooperated by all but abandoning their running game. And it sure is suspicious that they added Clemons, a defensive end who used to a be a linebacker, to a seemingly ever-growing pool of players -- Chris Gocong, Trent Cole, Thomas -- who would appear suited for the 3-4. But without some additional tinkering, they aren't equipped with the right pieces to make the 3 part of the 3-4 work full time.

Running back Kevin Jones, a Chester native cut by the Detroit Lions, told the Philadelphia Daily News the Eagles are among 12 teams who have called him.

The view from here: As long as Jones is willing to be No. 2 to Brian Westbrook -- and he was quoted as saying he is -- he could be the upgrade the Eagles could use in the backfield. And being the No. 2 would give him a little respite after knee and foot injuries in recent seasons.

Lito Sheppard, widely reported to be unhappy because of contract-related concerns even before the Eagles signed Samuel and installed him in Sheppard's spot as the starting left cornerback, will be traded in an effort to move up from No. 19 in the draft.

The view from here: There's little secret the Eagles made Sheppard a featured item in a package offered to Arizona for Larry Fitzgerald before the Cardinals and Fitzgerald agreed to a restructuring deal. Now, maybe the Eagles should see what can be done to make Sheppard happy -- a little more money -- before they send him packing from a defensive backfield that needs quality depth, not just names on a depth chart. There also is the possibility of freeing the right corner spot for Sheppard by moving Sheldon Brown to safety, something that likely won't be confirmed or debunked until the first minicamp in May.

Klecko's two-year deal is not exactly guarantee-laden.

The view from here: No kidding. Converting from defensive tackle to fullback won't be easy. But maybe there's something in there about the option of going on an eating binge to go back to DT if the experiment doesn't work.

And in case you missed it recently:

Klecko is gone from New England, but still following one of Bill Belichick's edicts.

''No comment,'' Klecko said when a reporter half-jokingly told him to expect to be hit with some ''Spygate'' questions.

The only group that changes names as routinely as Eagles players is the witness protection program.

Left tackle Tra Thomas asked to be called William Thomas before last season, but still turned his head if someone said, ''Hi, Tra.''

The Eagles also employed former New York Giants cornerback Will Peterson during 2006 and 2007, but by then he had changed his name to William James, something that didn't seem to prevent opposing teams from picking on him.

And now this: defensive end Juqua Thomas has legally changed his name to Juqua Parker.

''My father died in 2005, but before that he asked me to change my name to Parker,'' Parker told the Eagles' Web site. ''That was his last name. I just took a long time to get around to doing it. My dad wanted it this way and that's why I did it.''

larry.orourke@mcall.com

610-820-6779

Related topic galleries: William James, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Reggie Brown, Takeo Spikes, Jevon Kearse, Donovan McNabb

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