"I wanted some security. I wanted to be somewhere that I liked, and that liked me," said Jenkins, a defensive tackle who was due a $5 million roster bonus next month.
We don't know the details of the restructuring, but it would be reasonable to figure that money is being spread out. In a conference call with reporters, Jenkins seemed to feel he had situated himself to stay here several seasons. "I want to be able to retire as an Eagle," he said.
The restructuring agreement was not a surprise, but it was one of the details the team needed to nail down heading into free agency, which starts March 13, and the draft, which starts April 26.
Last week, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock identified d-tackle as the deepest position at the top of this draft. It seemed possible the Eagles might go there with the 15th overall selection. Now that chance is lower, and it will drop to nearly nonexistent if the Birds bring back pending free-agent defensive tackle Derek Landri.
The Eagles have other pressing needs, such as linebacker, and wideout if they don't franchise and keep DeSean Jackson.
Before yesterday's announcement, there was speculation in Green Bay that the Packers might be interested in bringing Jenkins back to the place where he played his first seven NFL seasons, if the Eagles didn't retain him.
Jenkins said yesterday that he had "a great run with Green Bay," which included a Super Bowl ring, but "that time has come and passed . . . I look at myself as an Eagle."
As Eagles general manager Howie Roseman noted in a statement released by the team, Jenkins "made an immediate impact . . . on and off the field."
Jenkins had 5 1/2 sacks and emerged as a veteran leader during a turbulent season, as the defense adjusted to several new faces and a new, inexperienced coordinator in Juan Castillo.
"I'm actually pretty relieved" to get the matter settled now, said Jenkins, who said he heard Friday the Eagles wanted to talk to him and his agent about restructuring. "We were more than willing to entertain it," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said he and his family went to Orlando for a daughter's gymnastics event, and he found the deal done by the time he returned on Monday.
For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.
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