A couple of weeks before the Scouting Combine, linebacker Jamar Chaney went on his Twitter account and declared that his goal was to be the fastest linebacker in the 40-yard dash.
With a time of 4.54 seconds, Chaney was successful in his quest.
However, it didn't help his draft stock. Chaney was selected with the 220th overall pick after the Eagles traded into the seventh round by giving Detroit a sixth-round pick in 2011. He may have been the 22nd of 26 linebackers drafted, but the former Mississippi State product will get to play for the team he wanted to be a part of the most.
"Of all the teams in the NFL, that's where I really wanted to end up," Chaney said. "If I had to pick one team out there after going through the whole process, I'm not going to lie. I wanted to be an Eagle."
The 6-0, 242-pound Chaney raved about the coaches, the scheme and even the fans.
"The fans in Philadelphia, they can be tough on you," Chaney said. "I'm not looking for anyone to give me a cakewalk and just pat me on the back. I'm ready to work."
Chaney reasoned that the reason he dropped to the seventh round was because of a season-ending ankle injury in 2008. He received a medical redshirt for 2008 so that he could have one more year of eligibility in 2009. Chaney responded by earning second-team All-SEC honors with 90 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
With the size to play in the middle and the speed to be on the outside, Chaney said that his personal preference would be to play inside because it's the quarterback of the defense. Stewart Bradley is the starter. Omar Gaither and Joe Mays are the backups in the middle. In addition to competing with them, Chaney will be seeing a lot of familiar faces in Philadelphia. Four of the other draft picks came out of the SEC including his best friend, Georgia defensive tackle Jeff Owens.
"Just going out there and competing with all of these young guys is going to be fun, but it's going to be a lot of competition," Chaney said. "We can grow and learn from each other. We're not trying to go through a rebuilding season."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 7:50 p.m., April 27
