It's official: Kearse is an Eagle

[WebHamster]

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - One day after free agent defensive end Jevon Kearse and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a multi-year contract, the sought-after veteran passed a physical Thursday to finalize the deal.

The team has scheduled a Thursday press conference to announce the signing.

Reports on Wednesday said the two sides agreed to an eight-year deal worth $66 million, with a signing bonus worth $16 million.

Kearse, 27, led the Titans with 9 1/2 sacks during the 2003 season, on the heels of an injury-plagued 2002 campaign during which he missed 12 games.

He had 47 1/2 sacks in five years with the Titans, who chose not to franchise their star end last month. A franchise tag would have guaranteed Kearse a one- year salary of $6.5 million.

In Philadelphia, Kearse's presence will strengthen an undersized and injury- depleted Eagles defensive line that had trouble last season putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Eagles, who lost their third-straight NFC Championship Game in January to Carolina, averaged little more than two sacks per game in the regular season.

Kearse, whose nickname is "The Freak", was selected by Tennessee in the first round of the 1999 draft out of Florida. He started all 16 games in his rookie season, recording 85 tackles and 14.5 sacks in leading Tennessee to Super Bowl XXXIV.