In addition to the news that the Eagles extended the contract of team president Joe Banner, Don Smolenski was promoted and named the team's Chief Operating Officer.

Many of you are probably wondering, who is Don Smolenski? Some of you are familiar with him because of the extensive snow removal projects that he oversaw in 2005 before the NFC Championship and in December 2009 prior to the San Francisco game.

But behind the scenes, Smolenski has worked very closely with team president Joe Banner during his tenure with the team. In addition to helping facilitate the day-to-day operation of the organization, Smolenski was instrumental in shaping Lincoln Financial Field from a project into a reality.

"I don't know that anything is successful without a large group of people who are very under the radar, who are actually the people making it happen," Banner said. "Anybody who has been close to the Eagles, worked for the Eagles or worked at the Eagles knows there's been nobody more important to the day-to-day operations of this franchise than Don Smolenski. This is a well-deserved and probably overdue promotion for him."

Smolenski is not one who wants the attention. He simply wants to help provide the football team whatever it needs - from top-rate facilities to first-class transportation - to help it win.

"We've set as a mission to provide the football team with every resource to be successful," Smolenski said. "The success on the field has been very strong. We've been on the doorstep, but we haven't quite gotten through. I think that's what we're all driven for is to provide that foundation so the football team has no distractions and all they need to focus on is the game, winning the game and hopefully winning a championship."

Smolenski said that knows how the Eagles are "very fortunate" to have the loyal and passionate fan base that they have. He wants the fans to understand that "we are all driving for the same goal."

"It's all about what's in the best interest of the team, of the organization and there's just this complete trust (within the front office) so you aren't going to just get yes'd. You'll get honest feedback and debate," Smolenski said. "I think we challenge each other and in that respect that challenge allows us to draw the best out of each other and motivates us to succeed."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:10 p.m., April 1