PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jeremy Maclin gets a second chance to play in Chip Kelly’s offense.
Maclin and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on a one-year contract, preventing the wide receiver from becoming a free agent next month. Maclin missed the entire 2013 season after tearing his right ACL in training camp.
“I’m excited to play in Chip’s offense, I’m excited to be able to help this team get to the next level,” Maclin said after the deal was announced Friday. “This is a place I can showcase my skills. I’m comfortable with my teammates and this is the right spot for me.”
Maclin said the team offered him a five-year contract, but the two sides couldn’t agree on terms.
“This is the place I wanted to be,” he said. “This is where I was most interested in what was going on. By them offering me a long-term deal, that made me comfortable that I was in their long-term plans.”
The former first-round pick led the team with 69 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012. He’s one of eight receivers to in NFL history to have at least 55 catches and 750 yards in each of his first four seasons in the league.
“I’m excited to see Jeremy play in our offense,” Kelly said. “You saw the potential of that in the spring and summer but obviously he didn’t get an opportunity last year. However, what was great to see was how he was literally here every single day since being injured. You can see he has a passion for the game of football. When he was on the field last spring and summer, you saw his intelligence, you saw his great route-running ability and you saw how tough of a one-on-one match-up he could be.”
The NFC East champion Eagles had a busy week before signing Maclin on Friday. They gave new deals to wide receiver Riley Cooper and center Jason Kelce on Thursday and extended All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters’ contract Wednesday.
“Jeremy is an ideal player for our scheme with his combination of size, speed, strength and route-running ability, in addition to his dynamic playmaking talent,” general manager Howie Roseman said. “We’re happy to see him rehabbing well and to get him under contract for the 2014 season.”
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