Klecko has played here and there at that position throughout his 5-year NFL career, spent mostly on defense. The Birds, though, see Klecko exclusively as a fullback and special-teams player. That will mean learning the West Coast offense and perhaps losing as much as 20 pounds.

"It's a whole mind-set change. Everything I've ever done at fullback is real raw,'' said Klecko, a 27-year-old former Temple star who was drafted by the Patriots as a defensive tackle. He has two carries for 5 yards and has caught four passes for 20 yards in 3 years with New England and 2 with the Colts. Klecko signed a 2-year, free-agent contract yesterday with the Eagles, who let incumbent fullback Thomas Tapeh leave for Minnesota in free agency.

Klecko, 5-11, 275, will compete with 5-11, 240-pound 2007 practice-squad fullback Jason Davis. Klecko said he was excited to get an opportunity to play in the area where he was a college star and where he spent part of his childhood as the son of one of Temple's all-time greats, defensive lineman Joe Klecko.

Dan Klecko and his wife Lori, a Port Richmond native whom he met at Temple, recently bought a house in Mullica Hill, N.J.

"My whole family is still in the area; the only ones who aren't are my parents,'' said Klecko, who went to high school in North Jersey. "I just thought it would be great to come back here. I don't really like North Jersey as much as I like down here. I was excited to come back.''

Klecko said the Raiders had talked to him about signing as a fullback, but nothing ever worked out. He said the Panthers were interested in him as a defensive tackle this offseason, but he decided moving to offense full time might be a good career move. Though Klecko had the opportunity to play for three Super Bowl winners in New England and Indianapolis, he was never able to establish himself as a starter, while playing every position along the defensive front seven.

"It hurt, because I felt like I could [start]. I honestly thought I never got a fair shake at defensive tackle, because of my size, maybe,'' Klecko said. "Like I said, I'm here now, I'm moving forward and forgetting about all that. I'm excited about being here and playing fullback.''

He said he defines a good fullback as "someone who can open up the hole and also play special teams.'' That last part seems important to the Eagles; Tapeh was not a factor on kicks or punts.

Klecko said between now and minicamp in May he needs to, "Just study my butt off . . . get in the other fullback's ear, get in [running backs coach] Ted Williams' ear, and really just learn the ins and outs of the position . . . Right now, I'm basically a rookie again.''

When he left Temple after being named 2002 Big East defensive player of the year, Klecko had no idea he would become the NFL version of a utility infielder, he said.

"I have to give all that credit to [Patriots coach] Bill Belichick. I wouldn't have even thought of half the places he put me. My rookie camp, he tried me pretty much everywhere on the front seven, and fullback . . . I honestly don't know [why],'' Klecko said. "I saved him some roster spots that way; he loves guys who can do that. I think that's really where all that comes from."

Klecko's career offensive highlight was the January 2007 AFC Championship Game, in which he caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to help bring Indianapolis back from an 18-point deficit to beat the New England team that had released Klecko the previous September.

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

Klecko said he isn't assuming he will make the team over Davis, who spent the 2006 season on injured reserve after impressing Eagles coaches as an undrafted rookie from Illinois.

"Except for the starters, I don't think anybody can come into the NFL thinking, 'This is my spot.' I have to come to camp thinking I don't have a job,'' Klecko said. "I have to work for it." *