If it works, he'll be Brian Westbrook's primary lead blocker in 2008 and a full-time NFL fullback for the first time in his NFL career.

"It's going to be a lot of hard work in changing my mentality to the offensive side of the ball, but we'll see how it goes," Klecko said yesterday after signing a two-year contract to join the Eagles. "It's going to be an experiment for me too."

In addition to changing his mind-set from defensive tackle to offensive wrecking ball, the 5-foot-11 Klecko must also make some body alterations.

"I'm sure I'll need to lose a little weight," he said. "That's something that [coach] Andy Reid and I will need to talk about in the upcoming weeks. That's something in my mind-set right now. It's not a big deal. I've done it to play [linebacker] before."

Klecko, 27, said he weighs between 280 and 285 pounds and he'd like to drop to between 260 and 265 by training camp. He is dedicated to the idea of becoming a full-time fullback, but only because he felt as if he never got a chance to become an impact player on the defensive line. He was Big East defensive player of the year at Temple in 2002.

"I honestly thought I never got a fair shake at defensive tackle," he said. "Maybe it was because of my size. If this didn't come up, that's what I would be doing. I feel this is something that could be good for my career, especially given the chance to play at home."

Thanks to New England coach Bill Belichick, the fullback position is not completely foreign to Klecko.

"I have to give all that credit to Bill Belichick," Klecko said. "I wouldn't have thought of even half the positions he put me in. My rookie camp, he tried me pretty much everywhere in the front seven [on defense] and at fullback. I think I saved him some roster spots that way. He loves guys that can do that."

Belichick probably didn't love the idea so much when Klecko caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning while playing for Indianapolis in the AFC title game in 2007. That catch helped the Colts beat the Patriots on their way to a Super Bowl title.

"It was big, because they cut me in camp," Klecko said. "I love New England, it was a great time, but they did cut me. When I spiked the ball, there was a lot of emotion coming out."

Now, Klecko is emotional about returning to Philadelphia. Even though he grew up in Colts Neck, N.J., where there's much more of a New York fan base, he considers himself more of a Philadelphian. His father, Joe, a four-time Pro Bowler with the New York Jets (1977-87), was born in Chester and played at St. James High School before going to Temple.

"I just love this city," Dan Klecko said. "I always hung out here. My wife [Loni] is from [Port Richmond]. I love going down to the Shore. My roots are really from Chester and South Philly; my whole family is still in the area. . . . It's going to be awesome to be able to play in front of them again, like at Temple."

 Klecko, who bought a house in South Jersey last year, said his father liked the idea of his son becoming a full-time fullback.

"He's been one of the main advocates of it," Klecko said. "He's been saying, 'Don't give up on this. Maybe this is a way we can go with your career.' "

Regardless of what happens in Philadelphia, Klecko already has three Super Bowl rings - two with New England and one with Indianapolis - and he knows how special that is. His father never won one with the Jets.

"It has meant a lot to me, especially coming from Temple, where we didn't win so much," Klecko said.