Dan Klecko may have three Super Bowl rings, but it took coming to Philadelphia to find happiness.
The way things are going, it may be a match made in heaven.
On Wednesday, the Eagles announced that Klecko has undergone some changes. His duties have been expanded; he'll play defensive tackle and fullback. Also, his number has been switched from 68 to 49.
For Klecko, the change is no big deal.
"You got to do what you got to do to win this time of year, especially with the situation we're in," Klecko said. "I'd rather win than worry about myself. It's time to do whatever's necessary."
Klecko, who attended Temple University, does whatever's necessary in part because he's a stand-up guy. It's also because he's feeling more appreciated than he has in the past.
"It makes me feel wanted, you know," Klecko said. "The last couple years out in Indianapolis, things didn't go so great out there. I really felt unappreciated out there.
"Here, I love it. I love playing for (defensive coordinator) Jim (Johnson). I love playing in his system. I love playing for (head coach) Andy (Reid) and also (defensive line coach) Pete Jenkins. It's been a lot of fun and it's kind of put the love back in football for me."
Klecko was originally signed by the Eagles as a fullback in March, so suddenly switching over to fullback won't be a complete shock to his routine. But the amount of prep work Klecko has get done has just doubled.
"We've worked him in at practice in some of the base stuff," Reid said during his Wednesday press conference. "We're just going to increase that a little. We've done that each week; we've increased some of the things that he's been doing."
The move did come as a bit of a surprise to Klecko, who's notched six tackles and a career-high two sacks in part-time duty for the Eagles this season.
"It is what it is and you just got to get out there and play fullback again," Klecko said. "I can't worry about it. I just have to go out and do what they ask you to do and hopefully everything comes out good.
"It's fun. It actually is fun. It's better than the alternative which is not having a job. It lets you know that at least they trust me to do some of this stuff."
The fact that the Eagles treat him well makes it easier for Klecko to make these kind of adjustments.
"Like I said, the respect factor is a big thing," Klecko said. "Also, I like the system better. I like the coaches better. I just like playing here better, the all-around atmosphere. It's the most fun I've had in a couple years in the NFL."
