PHILADELPHIA -- A day after being traded to Philadelphia in a surprising deal with Houston, new Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans on Wednesday met the media, toured his new team's complex, addressed his new city, and then attended the 76ers game.
Think he likes his new town?
"I feel the passion here from the fans and the love in here from the city. I'm just excited to get started," he said. "We have a great team here with great teammates and I'm looking to come in here, do my part, and be myself."
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"I'm going to take this city," he said, "where we want to go."
That would be -- Eagles fans hope -- to the Super Bowl for the first time since after the 2004 season.
Before any run at a title though, Ryan did admit -- like many others -- he was a bit taken back by the deal ... as well as the timing. The 27-year-old linebacker and team captain, after all, left Houston as the Texans' all-time leader with 637 tackles. He also contributed eight sacks, six forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his six-year career. He earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2007 and 2009 campaigns and was an Associated Press All-Pro selection in 2007.
"It was a little surprising when I first heard of the move, but at the same time, it was good because I knew I was coming to a good team," he said. "I was excited about that because I know how good this team was in previous years and last year. I've gone down the road there and I knew I was coming to a good team.
"It was a perfect fit for me."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
