Former Texans make good Eagles

Chip Kelly has heard all about a perceived Oregon bias when assembling the Eagles roster the last two seasons. Last week, he laughed at a new one: the Houston Texans pipeline to Philadelphia.

"We just love Texans and Oregon guys," Kelly joked. "So run with it."

Seven former Texans are on the Eagles roster for the game Sunday in Houston: inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans, outside linebacker Connor Barwin, tight end James Casey, punter Donnie Jones, offensive lineman Andrew Gardner, wide receiver Jeff Maehl, and linebacker Bryan Braman. They represent 13 percent of the active roster.

All but Ryans were acquired since Kelly became the head coach. Usually, they are all active on game days, so they fill defined roles.

Kelly insisted there is no reason for this and that it's a coincidence. But the former Texans have characteristics that Kelly seeks and that Houston wanted on its division champions in 2011 and 2012.

The importance the organizations place on culture is a consistent thread.

"The one similarity, I think in Houston when I was there and we were playing our best football . . . there was a really good locker room and great culture," Barwin said. "Everybody kind of enjoyed playing with each other, playing for each other. And I think they consciously think about who the people are that they bring in in Houston. And I think the same goes for here."

The Houston-to-Philadelphia pipeline started in March 2012, when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said the team wanted a "quarterback of the defense" and traded for Ryans. The two-time Pro Bowler, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2010, returned to the Texans' new 3-4 defense in 2011 as a two-down linebacker. His salary was too burdensome for a player with a diminishing role.

Roseman remembered how honest Texans general manager Rick Smith was during the trade negotiations. There's usually posturing, but Roseman said his relationship with Smith helped the discussions. Ryans already had a sterling reputation in the NFL, and Smith relayed an anecdote about how even Texans owner Bob McNair called Ryans, the team captain, "Cap."

"Being able to be in a situation where the owner of the team has that much respect for a player, that's what we were looking for," Roseman said this past week. "He's been everything and more [than] we've been hoping for. It was a very honest assessment of him and what he had done."

Roseman praised the work Smith did to construct the rosters that won those two division crowns, the franchise's only playoff appearances since it joined the NFL in 2002. Roseman has made two player trades and one draft-pick trade with Smith since becoming Eagles general manager. Roseman acquired Maehl in the other player trade.

"Because we're not in the same division, not in the same conference, it's an opportunity to find win-win solutions where we can both benefit," Roseman said.

The Ryans trade stunned the Texans, Barwin said. Star pass rusher Mario Williams had already departed in free agency, and Ryans was another key piece sent packing.

"When I got here, DeMeco was a big leader and one of the guys who could make plays and people would look to," said Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt, one of six defensive starters remaining from the 2011 team.

Barwin said the Ryans trade was the start of changes in Houston. The Texans were even better in 2012, winning 12 games but again failing to get past the second round of the playoffs. That's when Barwin and Casey, two other key pieces in Houston, were signed by the Eagles. Jones followed them. The Texans collapsed to 2-14 last season, fired coach Gary Kubiak, and saw more players depart.

"I think the Texans organization thought they were growing after that 10-win season, 12-win season," Barwin said. "Obviously, they didn't think me and James were part of that group. . . . There were financial things that had to do [with] it. They thought adding who they added would get them to the next step."

Roseman noted that it's a dilemma many good teams face. When the Eagles signed Casey and Barwin, their winning experience was valued. The league's economic structure makes it difficult for teams to keep many good players on a second contract, especially when they can get a deal on the open market.

"When you look at winning teams . . . those are always going to be the teams that are picked on the most," Roseman said. "Those are the teams that can't sign everyone and normally need to make tough decisions, as opposed to letting guys go because they might not necessarily want them as much."

Kelly's "Culture wins football" sound bite last month became a popular rallying cry in Philadelphia. The former Texans understand why.

"When you look at the seven of us, I feel everyone is a talented football player, but we all have qualities that he was looking for," Jones said. "A team is more than finding the best players. I think it's finding good players also with good qualities. Guys who are leaders, who do the right things off the field.

"When I look at Connor Barwin, when I look at James Casey, obviously DeMeco Ryans, there's a reason they're here. When I look at this place, it's more than just talent. It's, 'How do they fit in this culture?' And when I look at those guys here, they have all the traits [Kelly is] looking for."

Barwin, Ryans, and Casey are the most prominent former Texans; they spent 14 seasons in Houston combined. Watt described them as "well-liked" and the "guys you enjoyed having on your team."

Braman said that when Ryans came, the Eagles had an example of a Texans player. Ryans said the players who followed were a combination of nature and nurture: Houston scouts looked for a certain type of person, and they developed in the right environment.

"When I was there, the type of guys they brought in were like Connor and James - just good people," Ryans said. "They always knew how to pick guys that fit into our culture. It's the same thing here. That's why I feel those guys are able to transfer into this locker room so easily."

Ryans' presence helped ease the transition for Barwin. Barwin's presence helped when Gardner and Braman arrived. There's no secret society of former Texans in the Eagles' locker room, but they all have experienced winning.

Ryans endured lean years in Houston when players rotated in and out of the locker room before they found the right mix. He said the Eagles are further along than when he arrived in Houston.

When a Houston reporter asked Barwin this past week which Texan the Eagles would target next, he said he "wouldn't be surprised if we added a couple more." With seven former Texans likely to be active Sunday, it's already the Eagles' most fruitful pipeline.

"There's something from the top down where they want to bring in good guys," Barwin said. "They want to bring in guys who enjoy playing football, but they believe in that concept that good guys are good football players and good guys are good teammates. I think both franchises are that way, and that's why you see seven of us here."

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