Casey Matthews

1. Chip Kelly's first name actually is . . . a. Erik b. Christopher c. Charles 2. Which is the only school Kelly lost to twice as Oregon's head coach? a. Stanford b. USC c. California 3. No Oregon player was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft during Kelly's tenure as head coach (since 2009). a. True b. False 4. Who was the highest Ducks player drafted since 2009? a. LaMichael James b. Patrick Chung c. Casey Matthews 5. The greatest Eagles player who played at Oregon is . . . a. Fenuki Tupou b. A.J. Feeley c. Norm Van Brocklin 6. Kelly's nickname "Big Balls" is . . . a. A reference to his use of medicine balls during training b. A reference to an anatomical anomaly c. A reference to his gutsy playcalling 7. How far is Eugene, Ore., from Philadelphia?

AND SO, the Eagles' Brian Rolle arrives at weakside linebacker with 5 feet, 10 inches of body and 6 feet, 5 inches of confidence. Casey Matthews is out and Rolle is in, and it is fair to say that the team has now picked the right guy out of those two. Whether it makes a difference is another issue entirely. "I feel like I'm a guy that is athletic," Rolle said yesterday. "I'm physical, a guy that knows the game very well and plays hard. I'm not saying that Casey didn't - Casey's a great player, as well.

The Eagles' linebacker shuffle may be hand designed specifically for Sunday's opponent - the New York Giants - defensive coordinator Juan Castillo said. Rookie Casey Matthews , moved from middle linebacker to weak-side, isn't convinced. "They said that. I guess we will see how it turns out," Matthews said Thursday. "If you have success with it I'm sure it will stay. I'm going like it's permanent. " The moves, implemented first at practice on Wednesday, have Jamar Chaney replacing Matthews in the middle, Moise Fokou filling Chaney's spot at strong-side, and Matthews taking over for Fokou.

Andy Reid is sticking with one rookie and going with another. Despite criticism that Casey Matthews wasn't up to the task of being the starting middle linebacker after his rocky outing in Thursday night's preseason game against the Steelers, the Eagles coach stuck with the rookie at Saturday's walk-through. The Eagles' entire starting linebacker crew, in fact, did not change after the 24-14 loss in Pittsburgh. Jamar Chaney stayed at strong-side linebacker and Moise Fokou was still at weak side.

Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks was benched for the first drive of Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Andy Reid said it was for "disciplinary reasons," and Kendricks confirmed it was because he was late to a meeting on Friday. "I had to be accountable," Kendricks said. "I let my team down. " Casey Matthews started at strong-side linebacker in Kendricks' place. He watched from the sideline while the Falcons went on a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Kendricks entered the game on the second drive, when he was charged with a critical pass interference on third and 7. That gave the Falcons a first down, and they capitalized by scoring a touchdown.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Training camp is for trying out new things. The Eagles are experimenting with a different way to relay plays to their defense, especially when an opponent switches to the hurry-up offense. "We're not huddling as much as we did last year," linebacker Casey Matthews said Friday. "Last year we huddled and the [middle linebacker] would be the only one looking for the call. This year, with offenses going at such a quicker pace, we're all just looking at the call.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - It's coming soon: pads, real hitting, competition against NFL veterans fighting for jobs and roster spots. Mychal Kendricks, the rookie Eagles linebacker who already projects as a starter on the strong side, is looking ahead with a mix of eagerness and anxiety. "Getting anxious, a little excited. Nerves kicking," Kendricks said Tuesday on the second day of training camp, one day before veterans report and just a handful of practices before he puts on pads for the first time in the NFL. "Whenever you're nervous, you always play better.

Few fourth-round draft picks will generate as much fan excitement as Casey Matthews. Then again, few come from the same heritage as Matthews, the Oregon linebacker the Eagles drafted Saturday in the fourth round, 116th overall. His older brother, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews III, was runner-up for 2010 defensive player of the year. Eagles fans saw him terrorize the Birds in last year's season opener and the team's finale, a wild-card loss. Casey and Clay's father, Clay Matthews Jr., was a longtime NFL linebacker and four-time Pro Bowler.

Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley, Joe Mays, Akeem Jordan, Chris Gocong, Will Witherspoon, Jamar Chaney, Casey Matthews, Jeremiah Trotter 3.0 . . . DeMeco Ryans? Have the Eagles finally found, after five seasons of impostors, their savior at middle linebacker? After the Eagles bagged Ryans in a trade with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, reaction from the team's fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Much of the excitement has to do with Ryans, of course. But underneath it all has been the blue-collar city's desperation for a savior at the most blue-collar of positions.

Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks was benched for the first drive of Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Andy Reid said it was for "disciplinary reasons" and Kendricks confirmed it was because he was late to a meeting on Friday. "I had to be accountable," Kendricks said. "I let my team down. " Casey Matthews started at strong-side linebacker in Kendricks' place. He watched from the sideline while the Falcons went on a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Kendricks entered the game on the second drive, when he was charged with a critical pass interference on 3d-and-7.