The Eagles made their first moves in free agency Monday, re-signing veteran long snapper Jon Dorenbos and safety Colt Anderson to bring back two major pieces of their special teams.
The reliable Dorenbos, who signed a four-year deal, has started every game for the Eagles since he joined the team during the 2006 season -- a streak of 96 consecutive regular-season games and 103 counting the postseason.
He made the Pro Bowl in 2009 and this past season fought through a high-ankle sprain serious enough for the Eagles to sign a long snapper off the street as insurance.
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Anderson, 27, joined the team in 2010 and emerged quickly as the Eagles’ best special teams player. He came back from a torn ACL that he sustained in 2011 to play 14 games last year for the Eagles. He started four games and recorded his first NFL interception.
Anderson, who has spent most of his offseason in his native Montana, said he hasn’t spoken much with new coach Chip Kelly but is under the impression that he will be competing to play safety.
“The Eagles gave me a shot at playing safety last year,” he said, “and I see no reason for them not to this year.”
Dorenbos, 32, is one of the longest-tenured players on the team, behind only defensive end Trent Cole and offensive tackle Todd Herremans. He’s the second-oldest player on the roster, less than a month younger than Michael Vick.
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The new league year doesn’t begin until 4 p.m. Tuesday but teams can re-sign their own players under contract. Dorenbos would have become a free agent if he and the team hadn’t reached an agreement.
“We felt that if the team was going in a separate direction there was opportunity, but we have a long history here, I have a great relationship with the community and the team,” he said. “When we reached that agreement, I was happy to be a part of it. I’m super-excited to play for Coach Kelly.”
Of the seven Eagles whose contracts are set to expire, Dorenbos was the likeliest to be re-signed. Offensive tackle King Dunlap, linebacker Akeem Jordan, defensive tackle Derek Landri, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, offensive guard Jake Long and defensive end Darryl Tapp are the others.
Dorenbos has become one of the most visible team members in the community, doing motivational speeches and magic routines both regionally and nationally. His interest in magic stemmed from personal tragedy as a child, helping him cope with the murder of his mother by his father. In 2008, he was voted as the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner.
Anderson won the same award last year, making it back to the 53-man roster for the start of the season despite tearing up his knee last December.
“I’m just extremely thankful to be here for one more year,” Anderson added. “I’m a Philly [kind of] guy. I feel like I’m a blue-collar guy, like everyone from Philly.”