Eckel signs with Eagles
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eckel signs with Eagles
Daily News staff
The Eagles apparently do need a real fullback after all.
Epsicopal Academy product Kyle Eckel is coming home. The Birds signed Eckel this afternoon and released safety J.R. Reed.
How long will it take for Eckel, who has no background in the West Coast offense, to get ready?
“Hopefully, quick,” Eckel said, when asked to estimate a time frame for learning what he needs to know to be effective. “I’m going to work hard ... I’ll be 100 percent dedicated to learning it.”
The Eagles released Tony Hunt last week and had previously moved Dan Klecko back to fullback. Now the possibility exists that Klecko could return to defense once Eckel has learned enough to get in the lineup.
Eckel, also a graduate of the Naval Academy, spent the 2007 season with the New England Patriots. After being promoted from their practice squad on Oct. 1, he played in 12 regular-season games and two postseason games. He gained 90 yards and 2 touchdowns on 33 carries and notched 12 special teams tackles.
Eckel (5-11, 237) was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2005, but was released following training camp that year. He was claimed off waivers by Miami, but spent the parts of two seasons on the reserve/military list with the Dolphins.
While at the Naval Academy, Eckel became the third player in school history to post two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career as he finished with 2,906 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The Eagles released fullback Jed Collins from the practice squad and signed guard Nevin McCaskill.
McCaskill was originally signed as an undrafted free agent from Hampton by Buffalo in 2007 and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad.
KARMA JR...BIOTCH! Watch out for those fences!!— rothstein12- Bye, bye J.R. Take your Tampa Bay jersey with you!— Smokey
- Now we know why we couldn't land Gonzalez or Roy Williams.. .they were too busy digging through the FB scrap heap. Gee, no AFL players available? Dopes. When are these idiots going to realize it is stupid moves like this that make us so frustrated with this team and hate the people in charge?— Bud Dwyer
- He is 237 but he is more agile and a better blocker than Klecko, this just proves how stubborn Reid is and why he should go.— steakhead
- He is 237 but he is more agile and a better blocker than Klecko, this just proves how stubborn Reid is and why he should go.— steakhead
- EPI, EPI, Episcopal! for the blue and the white.... fight fight— bizurk
- So, we were all complaining that a fullback was needed during the offseason, but Reid doesn't come to that realization until week 7 of the regular season. Brilliant!! When Lurie said the pedal was to the metal this season, I don't think he meant the accelerate. I think it was the clutch.— Craigger
- I don't know anything about Eckels, but releasing Tony Hunt and giving Sean Considine (the worse safety in football) more playing time are not legitimate— DanMaas
- I don't know anything about Eckels, but releasing Tony Hunt and giving Sean Considine (the worst safety in football) more playing time are not legitimate— DanMaas
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- He was an excellent college football player for Navy. He should give us a legitimate fullback who may even run inside once in a while and catch. We'll see................— sfw
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- obviously this is trade is 2 sided. Eckel is a smart guy who is not only a FB, but also has good special teams coverage. I think the Eagles' emphasis on fielding a more sure footed and solid special teams unit after going 3-3 is a good place to start. Half the battle of a football game is feild position.— low2behold
- Do you know this years draft was the deepest in years at the fullback position? They knew that Thomas Tapeh was gone and still did not address the fullback in the draft. Pathetic— Sports4Life
