The Linc - DeSean Jackson says everybody in the Eagles locker room loved him

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A waaaay too early Eagles 53-man roster projection - JimmyK, Philly.com
Is it dumb to project the 53-man roster in May before the team has even practiced together once? Yes. Yes it is. So maybe don't think of this exercise that way. Think of this more as a starting baseline of where the current roster is at, and what players will begin competing for jobs when OTAs begin next week. Let's go position by position.

Where Do the Eagles Stand? - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
As I look at things, it seems that SF and SEA are on a whole other level from the rest of the NFC. After them, the Eagles, Packers and Saints are the teams I would have grouped together. The big difference in those teams is Rodgers/Brees vs Foles. The Saints and Packers have proven QBs who could be headed to the Hall of Fame. Nick Foles is still a mystery. He won’t go 27 TDs/2 INTs this year, but he doesn’t have to be that perfect. We simply need to see him play at a high level and show that he is the real deal. History is full of players who had one good season. The challenge for Foles is to show that he is a legitimately good QB and not the product of a fluke season.

Josey’s Journey: ‘Everything Just Fell Apart’ - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
The Eagles signed Josey (5-8, 194) as an undrafted free agent earlier this month. Last year, the Missouri running back piled up 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He ran a 4.43 at the combine, the third-fastest time of all the running backs who competed. And now Josey will work all spring and summer in hopes of extending his career. In many ways, simply landing on a 90-man roster is an accomplishment, considering what it took Josey to get here. In 2011, he was on a tear - 1,149 yards through nine games, averaging 8.6 YPC. But the day that changed everything was Saturday, Nov. 12. During a home game in Columbia, with Missouri up 17-3 against Texas, Josey got the ball on a 1st-and-10 play from the Tigers' 13-yard-line.

Eagles' Johnson's confidence in line with ability - Les Bowen, Daily News
IT WAS NOT easy starting 17 games, playing every right-tackle snap but one over the entire season, as a rookie in Chip Kelly's Eagles offense. Lane Johnson didn't really let on how hard it was; the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft always seemed poised, confident and relaxed when he spoke with reporters. But when his rookie year finally ended with that 26-24 playoff loss to New Orleans, "I was tired," Johnson allowed yesterday, as he took a break from working out at NovaCare in preparation for next week's organized team activity. "Mainly I just needed to rest."

DeSean: 'Everybody in the locker room loved me' - Andy Schwartz, CSN Philly
"The funniest thing, man: all this stuff like he’s not a locker room player, he don’t get along with his teammates, the people that really know me, they’re like ‘Man where is all this coming [from]?’ " Jackson said. "I had teammates texting me and hitting me up, teammates that’s still on the Eagles right now, like ‘What were they talking about you ain’t a team guy, you don’t get along with people in your locker room?’

The Notebook: Round 1 reflections from the 2014 NFL Draft - Stephen White, SB Nation NFL
As for the Eagles and their selection of defensive end Marcus Smith, I know a lot of people had him rated well below a first-round pick, but he seems to fit the kind of edge defensive player that Chip Kelly covets. He is tall, has long arms and is very rangy. He might well have been overdrafted, but he should be a solid contributor and eventually improve the pass rush. Still, there is the potential that his ability won't shine through the way his coaches envision it. There is a reason why he wasn't rated that highly, so this will likely either confirm that Kelly is onto something or reveal that maybe he shouldn't have quite as much power over personnel.

Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva pursues NFL dream with Philadelphia Eagles after three tours in Afghanistan - ESPN
After three tours in Afghanistan, 6-foot-9 veteran pursues dream in Philadelphia.

NFL rookie contracts have become simpler, faster to sign after new CBA | The MMQB with Peter King
Gone are the days of $40 million contracts being handed out to unproven players. When the NFL and NFLPA reworked the CBA three years ago, rookies lost leverage and the result has been first-year players hitting the field faster.