As the hours tick down toward the start of free agency, so do the reports linking soon-to-be free agents to the Eagles.

The latest links Philadelphia to a veteran defensive end expected to become available ... and his name is not Julius Peppers.

Jim Wyatt of *The Tennessean* expects Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch to land in Philadelphia, Chicago or Detroit.

Writes Wyatt: "At the NFL Combine, I heard plenty of buzz about teams interested in Vanden Bosch. Behind Carolina's Julius Peppers, Vanden Bosch and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman are mentioned most as the top defensive ends headed to free agency. The teams I heard mentioned the most for Vanden Bosch were the Eagles, Bears and Lions. I have a hunch he'll end up on one of those three teams when all is said and done."

The 31-year-old Vanden Bosch is coming off his third Pro Bowl season despite recording just 3 sacks last season. He spent his first four seasons in Arizona and then resurrected his career in Tennessee. Vanden Bosch was a key piece of what had been a stingy Titans defense over the last five seasons. He recorded 38.5 sacks in five seasons in Tennessee.

Like Peppers, Vanden Bosch is a seasoned veteran who could add punch to a team's pass rush.

"There's an appreciation for the way he plays the game. Interested teams think he could be a good example for younger players," writes Wyatt.

-- Posted by Bob Kent, 1:04 p.m., March 3