Jeremy Maclin knows he has to respect the business side of the game, exercise patience and have confidence that the best situation will emerge as he waits for the next step in his NFL career ...

Coming off his 85-catch, 1,318-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2014 that included an invitation to the Pro Bowl, Maclin is due to become an unrestricted free agent on March 10 at 4 p.m. Maclin met with a television camera and two reporters on Saturday during his participation in Jefferson's Heart Health Day at the King of Prussia Mall and discussed the situation.

The tone of Maclin's message: Hopeful.

"I've always said I want to be here in Philadelphia, but also I've always said it's a business," Maclin said. "But both sides have made it known that we want each other back, so the rest is in God's hands.

"If it's supposed to happen, it's supposed to happen. I want to be here."

Maclin did not divulge any particulars of contracts talks between the Eagles and his agent, Tom Condon. He said he did not know if the Eagles planned to use a franchise tag on Maclin, which they would have to exercise by Monday's deadline. 

A first-round draft pick in 2009, Maclin was a steady, solid player in the offense through 2012 working with DeSean Jackson on the other side as the Eagles executed Andy Reid's version of the West Coast Offense. Many wondered how Maclin would fit in with Chip Kelly and his offense in 2013 and the very brief introduction with Maclin in the spring training sessions was encouraging.

But Maclin suffered a torn ACL on the second day of Training Camp in 2013 and missed the entire season. He bounced back with his outstanding 2014 performance.

On Saturday, Maclin helped prepare some heart-healthy meals with Kyle Baddorf, Chef de Cuisine, Garces Trading Company and talked about how Kelly's innovative approach to improving players' performance with an emphasis on nutrition and recovery has helped his on-field output. The hundreds of fans in attendance loved the chatter, which included words of wisdom from Eagles strength and conditioning coach Josh Hingst and appearances by Eagles cheerleaders and SWOOP.

The business side of things, Maclin said, is something that he understands well.

Of the contract talks, Maclin said "I think they're going how they're supposed to go. I didn't sign last year (a one-year contract after missing the 2013 campaign with a knee injury) until today (February 28). I understand that this is how it goes, so I'm looking forward to what the future holds."

Maclin said he is "fine" with the way things are going and that there is "no rush" to have a deal in place already.

"If we're going to do this thing, we're going to do it right," Maclin said. "That's how you want it to happen. That's how you want it to be. You want both sides to be happy, so if it's going to get done the right way, it will."

Maclin is one of seven Eagles scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on March 10. He signed the single-year contract last year and then went on to enjoy the best season of his career. Maclin was the focal point of the team's passing game and he stayed healthy and was productive the entire season.

What's going on now is happening with hundreds of players around the league as they put their faith in the hands of their agents to negotiate the right next move.

"The minute you let it be nerve-racking, the minute you let it get under your skin, that's the minute you lose sight of what's really important," Maclin said. "Like I said, this is a business and I understand how this works. I understand that there is a deadline before free agency starts. Like I've also said, both sides have made it very clear that we want to get something done, so hopefully we can get something done."