Eagles Notes: Five Eagles selected for Pro Bowl

The Eagles had five players selected to the Pro Bowl and five players selected as alternates Tuesday night. Left tackle Jason Peters, running back LeSean McCoy, running back/returner Darren Sproles, center Jason Kelce, and linebacker Connor Barwin all received invitations.

The game is Jan. 25 in Glendale, Ariz. Fans, coaches, and players took part in the voting.

Barwin, Sproles, and Kelce will make their first trips to the Pro Bowl. Peters is going to his seventh, and his fifth with the Eagles. McCoy received his third bid.

Barwin leads the NFC and is fourth in the NFL with 141/2 sacks. He also leads the team with 171/2 tackles for loss and 19 hurries. Barwin is the first Eagles linebacker to earn a Pro Bowl spot since Jeremiah Trotter in 2006.

Sproles leads the NFL with 13.3 yards per punt return and two touchdowns. His bid was a long time coming. Entering the season, Sproles had gained more all-purpose yards than any player since 2005. Every other player in the top 10 has been to at least two Pro Bowls, and the nine players averaged 3.9 bids.

"It does [matter]," Sproles said Tuesday afternoon. "You always want that on your resumé."

McCoy has 296 carries for 1,220 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yards.

Peters' five Pro Bowl invitations with the Eagles tied him for sixth in franchise history. The leader is Chuck Bednarik with eight.

Kelce was a bit of a surprise selection because he missed four games, but he has a reputation as one of the top young centers in the league.

The five alternates are kicker Cody Parkey (first alternate), guard Evan Mathis (second), special-teamer Chris Maragos (second), wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (third), and defensive lineman Fletcher Cox (sixth).

Jeremy Maclin is one game away from being one of the top free-agent receivers this offseason. But Maclin made it clear he wants to remain in Philadelphia.

"Why wouldn't I want to be here?" Maclin said. This is the place that drafted me and I want to end my career here. If we can get something worked out when the team is right, that's what will happen."

Maclin has 82 catches for 1,269 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, his first playing in Chip Kelly's offense.

When Maclin signed a one-year contract in February, he said he would be willing to revisit the deal during the season. There has not been an extension yet, although Maclin also changed agents. That complicated the process.

"But when the time's right, it'll get done," Maclin said. "I know both sides made it clear that . . . they want me here, I want to be here."

If the Eagles do not agree to a deal with Maclin before March 2, they could apply the franchise tag. That would keep him in Philadelphia for another season.

"I guess I don't really have a choice if that comes up, right?" Maclin said.

Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said that the Eagles have not made a decision on who will start Sunday at cornerback at the spot usually occupied by Bradley Fletcher, and that Nolan Carroll and Brandon Boykin "have a shot" to start. However, Fletcher took the first-team snaps Tuesday at practice. . . . Linebacker Trent Cole does not know if he will play against the New York Giants. Cole had surgery on his broken hand last Wednesday. "I came to work, came to meetings," Cole said.