The last team Tracy White expected to play for in 2010 was the team he played for in 2008 and 2009 - the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It's great to be back," White said. "I never would have thought I'd be back in Philly given how the draft went, they got (two) linebackers. This was like the last team I thought would call me, but that's how the luck rolls right now. I was excited and shocked that they called me on Friday morning."

White, 6-0, 230, spent significant time on the field last season for a defense that was ravaged by injuries at the linebacker position. He got a lot of his work as one of the two nickel linebackers and also contributed as an ace special teamer, leading the team in special teams production points. White, 29, then became an unrestricted free agent following the season and expected to get picked up when free agency opened in early March. But there wasn't as much interest as White was expecting.

"I think I played pretty well last year, though I could do better," White said. "I thought I would have gotten picked up back when free agency started ... but I wasn't really worried because my agent told me to prepare for it to go through training camp, at least the first week."

And then White got the call from his former employers in Philadelphia to back his things up and come back to the friendly training camp confines of Lehigh University. That the Eagles were interested in bringing White back serves as some validation for White's performance last year. While he worked as the second-team weakside linebacker during this morning's practice, White's main contribution, if he makes the team, will be on special teams.

"I heard a lot about (special teams coordinator) Bobby April," White said. "He had the number one special teams for a few years. I think he's going to bring a whole lot and with me playing under his system, I think it will be a pretty good special teams we're going to have."

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 2:22 p.m., August 1