Familiar faces await Birds in opener against Rams

Andy Reid says hes Quintin Mikells biggest fan.

OK, well, maybe not this week.

Mikell, who played his first eight seasons in the NFL in an Eagles jersey, is getting ready to start his career with the St. Louis Rams, who the Eagles will face on Sunday.

I look back and it was great, Mikell said of his time with the Eagles. I basically grew up in Philly. I came up from the bottom to the top. Everything that I am today, even being a starter here today, came from my development in Philly. Ill never say a negative thing about my time in Philly. Obviously, I would have liked it to work out differently, but Im in a great situation.

Mikell, who signed a four-year, 28 million deal in late July, is just one of many familiar faces the Eagles will see in their season opener against the Rams.

Other former Eagles on the Rams roster include WRs Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson, QB A.J. Feeley and CB Al Harris, not to mention, head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who spent eight years with the Eagles working under then-defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

We obviously know a little bit about them because of the coaching staff, Reid said. Spags has done a nice job there. You can see it with his defense and the way they play there.

Most head coaches in the league say that the preparation for every game, every week, should be the same. But even Spagnuolo admitted that this game against the Eagles will mean just a little more.

I think all of us that have brothers compete hardest when its against your brother, Spagnuolo said. I am obviously very close to Andy Reid and respect him a great deal. I think in these situations, you compete against each other and at the end of the game, you shake hands and the friendship and the relationship continue.

In his second year as the Rams head coach (following his 1-15 first season), Spagnuolos Rams went 7-9 and finished second in the NFC West. The defense was sixth in the NFC in points allowed (328) and was second in the NFC in third-down defense (allowed 34 percent of conversions).

Now, the Rams defense has added a veteran safety in 30-year-old Mikell to their already up-and-coming defense.

Last season, Mikell played 15 games and led the Eagles with 88 tackles. Trent Cole was second with 65. Mikell also tied a career-high with three interceptions.

I havent been in touch with Mikell, Michael Vick said. But one thing I do know about him is that he was a great teammate. I enjoyed him when he was here and I know that hes one hell of a football player, so it will be good to go out there and play against him. In this league change is inevitable and things are going to happen, guys are going to move around, and its all about going out there and putting your best foot forward.

Although Mikell had an understanding that he wouldnt be back with the Eagles for this upcoming season, he admitted that the way he left the team wasnt ideal.

Anytime a change like that happens, its never a good feeling, never a good situation, he said. Had they called and said Hey, were not going to bring you back, would that have made it any different? I dont know. Either way, its just different. At the end of the day, Im just happy where Im at.

In a strange way, the Rams have a lot in common with Mikell. They have some talent, theyre young and are a huge underdog (at least against the Eagles). Mikell was like that as an undrafted rookie in 2003. He had talent, but needed to earn a spot. Once he did, he shined. He started all but one of the Eagles regular season games in the last three years and made a Pro Bowl in 2009.

Hes brought us everything we thought, Spagnuolo said. I was obviously familiar with Q when we got him as a free agent as a rookie (with the Eagles). He has really embraced what we do here. The people have embraced him. He brings leadership and the way he plays the game, fast and physical. Any time you can add that to your football team, its a good thing.

While Mikell will help, and the defense is a good unit, Spagnuolo has watched plenty of film on this Eagles squad and knows what his defense will face.

The bottle of Tylenol I had on my desk is just about empty now, he said. Because as I watched the tape I get headaches. They are as explosive and as dynamic as any team in the league.

We realize that this is one of the elite teams were playing. We have our hands full.

On Wednesday, Reid had nothing but positives to say about his former players and coaches, especially Mikell.

This was a great opportunity for Quintin and his family and professionally, Reid said. My hats off to him.

See, hes still a fan. You know, just not this Sunday.

E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com.