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Chris Long signs with Eagles in hopes of being 'player I was before'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Chris Long turned 32 on Tuesday, as he agreed to a two-year contract with the Eagles. The most likely scenario is that Long serves as a rotational pass rusher, an older and cheaper version of what Connor Barwin would have been, had the team not released Barwin for salary-cap reasons.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Chris Long turned 32 on Tuesday, as he agreed to a two-year contract with the Eagles. The most likely scenario is that Long serves as a rotational pass rusher, an older and cheaper version of what Connor Barwin would have been, had the team not released Barwin for salary-cap reasons.

But this is not how the NFL's second overall draft pick in 2008 sees himself.

"This has zero to do with money, etc. It's the right move in my heart, because I want to get back to being the player I was before," Long wrote on Instagram when he announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots, after picking up a Super Bowl ring in New England last season. "I'm thankful for my role this year, but as a competitor, I'm itching to do what I do best."

Long played only 15 snaps in the Pats' historic Super Bowl comeback victory over Atlanta, typical for how he was used down the stretch, after playing much more earlier in the season. Last season was his first in New England, after eight with the Rams, and he finished with only four sacks. Long totaled 41.5 sacks over four seasons, 2010-13, then underwent ankle surgery that limited him to six games in 2014. He has only eight sacks over the past three seasons.

Eagles de facto general manager Howie Roseman said "no promises have been given" about playing time.

"Our conversations with Chris have been about that we have young players at that position. He was very excited to come aboard and help contribute," Roseman said. "We have high expectations" of the group.

Long (@joel9ONE) is among the NFL's most entertaining Twitter follows and is known as a locker room leader.

With the Eagles, he will go back to the conventional 4-3 DE role he played with the Rams; last season, Bill Belichick moved Long all around the Pats' 3-4 formation and had him dropping into pass coverage at times. Brandon Graham ($7.5 million 2017 cap hit) and Vinny Curry ($9 million) are expected to start for the Eagles this season, but behind them with game experience were only Marcus Smith and Steven Means, before Long signed for reportedly about the $2.4 million a year he made last season in New England. The Eagles also have Alex McCalister, a tall, thin pass rusher they drafted in the seventh round last year and stashed on injured reserve.

Long's signing takes some pressure off next month's draft. The Eagles still seem very likely to tab a pass rusher early, given how important generating a rush without blitzing is to coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme, but given the departures of both Barwin and free-agent defensive tackle Bennie Logan (to Kansas City), they couldn't afford to rely totally on the draft.

"I wouldn't say it gives us any more freedom, per se, but to just touch on what Howie said, Chris adds another pass rusher, and we need as many pass rushers as we can (get), especially in this divison," player personnel vice president Joe Douglas said, standing with Roseman in the courtyard of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel during an NFL Owners Meetings break. "I still think we're going to take the best player available in the draft, at the end of the day."

Long's father, Howie, played for Villanova and became a Pro Football Hall of Fame pass rusher for the Raiders. Kyle Long, Chris's brother, is a guard for the Bears.

"Chris was coming off injury in 2015; he ended up playing 65 percent (of the Pats' overall defensive snaps) . . . I think what you're getting with Chris is a great teammate, a great leader, a high-motor player, a relentless player that still has explosive qualities," Douglas said. "I think he was excited about coming in here and getting into Schwartz's scheme."

bowenl@phillynews.com

@LesBowen

Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog