(My Sportsbook) - Presumably having learned a harsh lesson from the infamous Terrell Owens era of a few years back, the Philadelphia Eagles have generally managed to avoid the controversy and distractions that have befallen some of their fellow tenants among the NFC's East Division in recent times. The events of the past few months leading up to the 2009 season, however, have provided a clear indication that the team has changed its approach in its long-standing quest to win a Super Bowl championship.

The Eagles' offseason has been a television network executive's dream, chock- full of juicy storylines that have managed to trigger nearly every emotion out of the team's rabidly loyal fan base and pique the interest of plenty of outside observers as well. And while the roller-coaster ride of the last six months has generated plenty of intrigue, only time will tell if the biggest thrills are yet to come.

The first episode of the soap opera began on February 28, six weeks after the Eagles were ousted by the surprising Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. On the opening day of the league's free agency period, longtime safety and franchise icon Brian Dawkins signed a five-year contract with the Denver Broncos, a move that sent the local fans and media contingent into a frenzy of shock and anger towards the organization for allowing such an act to take place. Outrage would quickly turn into jubilation, however, when Philadelphia acquired All-Pro offensive tackle Jason Peters from Buffalo just days prior to the draft, and used its first two picks on playmaking Missouri wide receiver/return man Jeremy Maclin and University of Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy, presumably providing quarterback Donovan McNabb with the blind- side protector and added offensive weapons many believed to be the last missing pieces of a championship squad.

A few occurrences during the summer months would temper that wave of optimism, however. Esteemed defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away following a long bout with cancer on the eve of a training camp session that produced an inordinate amount of injured players, the most serious being a season-ending ACL tear to starting middle linebacker and 2008 leading tackler Stewart Bradley.

But the real bombshell would fall shortly after Bradley's injury, when the Eagles announced the signing of Michael Vick, the former No. 1 overall draft choice best known for his involvement in a detestable dog fighting operation that landed the dynamic quarterback a 20-month stay in a federal prison. As expected, the decision garnered plenty of attention as well as a wave of reaction -- mostly on the negative side -- from the general public.

The idea to bring Vick into the fold, presumably to be utilized as McNabb's backup and in special offensive packages designed to highlight his considerable skills as both a runner and passer, carries obvious risks on the field as well. The now-29-year-old hasn't played in the NFL in either of the last two seasons due to his incarceration, plus he'll likely have to serve a suspension that could last through Philadelphia's first five games of the season.

It's certainly a roll of the dice for the Eagles. But considering how the team has been knocking on the door of a world title for the better part of this decade, it's a gamble head coach Andy Reid and owner Jeffrey Lurie appear willing to take.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Philadelphia Eagles, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 9-6-1 (2nd, NFC East)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Arizona, 32-25 in NFC Championship

COACH (RECORD): Andy Reid (97-62-1 in 10 seasons with Eagles, 97-62-1 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Marty Mornhinweg

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Sean McDermott

OFFENSIVE STAR: Donovan McNabb, QB (3916 passing yards, 23 TD, 11 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Trent Cole, DE (77 tackles, 9 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 22nd rushing, 6th passing, 6th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 4th rushing, 3rd passing, 4th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Michael Vick (from Falcons), RB LeSean McCoy (2nd Round, Pittsburgh), FB Leonard Weaver (from Seahawks), WR Jeremy Maclin (1st Round, Missouri), TE Tony Curtis (from Chiefs), T Jason Peters (from Bills), T Stacy Andrews (from Bengals), LB Matt Wilhelm (from Chargers), CB Ellis Hobbs (from Patriots), S Sean Jones (from Browns),

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Correll Buckhalter (to Broncos), WR Greg Lewis (to Patriots), TE L.J. Smith (to Ravens), T Tra Thomas (to Jaguars), T Jon Runyan (not tendered), CB Lito Sheppard (to Jets), S Brian Dawkins (to Broncos), SS Sean Considine (to Jaguars)

QB: McNabb, entering his 10th season as the Eagles' top field general, proved in 2008 that he's still got plenty left in a 32-year-old body that's seen its share of injuries over the years. The five-time Pro Bowl honoree threw for a career-best 3,916 yards along with 23 touchdowns while completing better than 60 percent of his passes. Most importantly, he stayed healthy for an entire season for the first time since Philadelphia's Super Bowl run in 2004. The presence of Vick won't threaten McNabb's job security, but the Eagles didn't endure the inevitable public-relations backlash to have the athletic lefty carry a clipboard as a game-day inactive. The only quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single-year, he should take over backup status from third-year pro Kevin Kolb (144 passing yards, 0 TD, 4 INT in '08), McNabb's intended heir apparent who struggled noticeably in spot duty last year, once he's fully reinstated by the league office. Vick's arrival could ultimately mean the end of veteran A.J. Feeley's second tour of duty with the club, although the 32-year-old will likely be kept around until the ex-Falcons star becomes eligible.

RB: The Eagles have one of the best all-purpose backs in the business in Brian Westbrook (936 rushing yards, 54 receptions, 14 total TD), but there's concern within the organization that the 30-year-old is slowing signs of decline after an injury-plagued 2008 season in which his production waned. The two-time Pro Bowler underwent surgery in June to repair a nagging ankle problem, but is expected to be at full strength by Week 1. Still, the team went out and got a measure of insurance by taking McCoy, a player with a similar build and skill set as Westbrook, in the second round of April's draft. Philadelphia also shored up what had been a suspect fullback position by signing Leonard Weaver (130 rushing yards, 20 receptions, 2 TD) via free agency. The powerfully-built former Seahawk is an adequate blocker whose abilities as a receiver make him a good fit in Reid's West Coast offense. Lorenzo Booker (53 rushing yards, 6 receptions), who failed to make an impact as a third-down back and return man after being acquired in a trade with the Dolphins, and fullback Kyle Eckel (79 rushing yards) are likely battling for one final backfield spot.

WR/TE: Philadelphia boasts enviable depth at wide receiver, where flashy sophomore DeSean Jackson (62 receptions, 2 TD) and speedster Kevin Curtis (33 receptions, 2 TD) are back to man the outside spots and improving fourth-year pro Jason Avant (32 receptions, 2 TD) is coming off a solid season out of the slot. Jackson set a franchise rookie record with 912 receiving yards and averaged nearly 15 yards per catch in an impressive debut, while Curtis, who totaled over 1,100 yards in 2007, is back healthy after missing nearly half of last year due to sports hernia surgery. The Eagles also return 6-foot-4 Hank Baskett (33 receptions, 3 TD), a steady possession and red-zone target who also aids on special teams, and plan to gradually work the somewhat unpolished Maclin into the mix over the course of the year. The first-round pick's addition could make Reggie Brown (18 receptions, 1 TD), a starter in 2007 who fell into Reid's doghouse last year due to injuries and inconsistent play, expendable. With the team opting not to re-sign the brittle L.J. Smith in the offseason, third-year man Brent Celek (27 receptions, 1 TD) will take over as the regular tight end. The 24-year-old performed very well during last year's playoff run, highlighted by a 10-catch, 83-yard effort in the NFC championship. Philadelphia is rather thin at the position, however, since rookie Cornelius Ingram (5th round) suffered a season-ending ACL tear during mini-camp and holdover Matt Schobel (2 receptions) has caught just 27 passes over the past three years. Tony Curtis (8 receptions), a third-stringer with the rival Cowboys last season, was brought in midway through the preseason to help alleviate that problem.

OL: Always an area of strength under Reid, a former college lineman and longtime position coach, the Eagles' offensive line will be undergoing a vastly different look than in previous years. Aging tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan were not brought back in the spring, with the talented Peters ready to take over on the left side and the enigmatic Shawn Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowl choice as a right guard, slated to move into Runyan's old spot. However, Andrews has still been bothered by back problems that limited him to only two games a year ago, and questions remain as to whether the former first-round pick will be able to hold up over an entire year. There are also injury concerns regarding Stacy Andrews, Shawn's older brother and a free-agent pickup from Cincinnati penciled in as the starting right guard. The elder Andrews is coming off ACL surgery in January, although he's expected to be ready for the start of the season. Incumbent left guard Todd Herremans also sat out the preseason after injuring his foot in training camp, further complicating the unit's ability to jell. When healthy, he'll again line up next to center Jamaal Jackson, a stout run blocker who enters his fifth season as the starting pivot. Max Jean-Gilles, who performed ably in Shawn Andrews' stead last season, and Nick Cole remain the top interior backups along with versatile Mike McGlynn, a seldom-used rookie in 2008. Reid is also high on second-year tackle King Dunlap, who spent all of last year on injured reserve.

DL: Johnson's defenses have always been renowned for their ability to generate pressure on enemy quarterbacks, and the Eagles don't expect that aspect to change now that longtime disciple Sean McDermott has taken over for his late mentor. A group that ranked third in the league with 48 sacks a year ago will once again be headed by standout end Trent Cole (77 tackles, 9 sacks), who's racked up nearly 30 QB takedowns over the past three seasons and can also hold his own against the run. The team would like to see talented third-year man Victor Abiamiri (11 tackles, 2 sacks) unseat serviceable incumbent Juqua Parker (45 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT) on the left side, but the former Notre Dame star first needs to shake the injury bug that has stalled his promising career. Veteran Darren Howard (26 tackles) is coming off a career renaissance in which the 32-year-old led Philadelphia with 10 sacks as a situational interior rusher, a position he'll hold down again in 2009. The Eagles finished fourth in the league in run defense (92.3 ypg) per game last season, due in no small part to the presence of starting tackles Brodrick Bunkley (47 tackles, 2 sacks) and Mike Patterson (42 tackles, 0.5 sacks). The stout interior duo will be spelled once again by 2008 second-round choice Trevor Laws (12 tackles) and multi-tasker Dan Klecko (4 tackles, 2 sacks), who showed he's capable of filling in as a fullback as well last year. Ends Chris Clemons (15 tackles, 4 sacks) and Bryan Smith have good shots at nailing down reserve roles due to their pass-rushing skills, while journeyman and one-time first-round draftee Jason Babin (31 tackles, 2 sacks with the Chiefs) is making a strong case for a roster spot with an excellent camp.

LB: A young but up-and-coming three-man corps was dealt a serious blow when Bradley (108 tackles, 1 sack), an emerging force inside and the defense's primary signal-caller, was knocked out for the season with his training-camp injury. While the team is high on intended fill-in Joe Mays, the small-school sophomore hardly played a down as a rookie last season and is still an unknown quantity. If Mays does show himself not to be ready for the increased responsibility, the Eagles do have a seasoned alternative in Omar Gaither (59 tackles, 2.5 sacks), a 16-game starter in the middle for the team in 2007 who was displaced by the more athletic Akeem Jordan (61 tackles) as the regular on the weakside for the final nine games (including playoffs) of last season. For further insurance, Philadelphia signed Matt Wilhelm (51 tackles, 1 INT), who made 21 starts for San Diego over the past two years, in early August. Tank Daniels (14 tackles) and Tracy White (13 tackles) are accomplished special- teamers who are fighting to stick as reserves.

DB: While Dawkins' vocal leadership and respected influence in the locker room are potential voids that need to be filled, the 35-year-old's coverage skills had been in decline the past few years and should be a bit easier to replace. Speedy Quentin Demps (18 tackles, 1 sack) will get first crack at the free safety job after getting his feet wet as a rookie last season, and the Eagles brought in one-time Browns starter Sean Jones (56 tackles, 4 INT) to provide competition for Demps and underrated strong safety Quentin Mikell (93 tackles, 3 INT, 2 sacks). At cornerback, offseason pickup Asante Samuel (35 tackles, 4 INT, 22 PD) proved himself worthy of the six-year, $57 million free-agent pact Reid gave the ex-Patriot by delivering a Pro Bowl season in his Eagles' debut. He'll be reunited with a former teammate in the secondary this year, as Philadelphia landed fellow corner Ellis Hobbs (47 tackles, 3 INT, 11 PD) from New England in a draft-day trade to replace the disgruntled Lito Sheppard, shipped to the Jets in February following a bitter contract dispute with the team as the nickel back. The reliable Sheldon Brown (51 tackles, 1 INT, 12 PD) remains in his customary role as the regular right cornerback, although he too had been making waves prior to camp about his desire for a new deal. The club did re-sign Joselio Hanson (39 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack), a solid contributor in nickel and dime packages, and is excited about the prospect of young corner Jack Ikegwuonu, a fourth-round pick in 2008 who missed all of last year with a knee injury, getting onto the field this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: This is the area the Eagles expect Maclin, who had five return touchdowns in just two seasons at Missouri, to make an immediate impact. Although Demps (25.3 avg, 1 TD on KR's) and DeSean Jackson (8.8 avg, 1 TD on PR's) both performed well in those areas last year, the addition of the fleet- footed receiver will allow the two starters to focus more on their main duties. Strong-legged punter and former Australian rules football player Sav Rocca showed improved touch and accuracy in his second NFL season last year, while three-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers put forth a bounce-back year after a subpar 2007 by making good on 33-of-40 field goal attempts, including a respectable 10-of-15 tries from beyond 40 yards. Well-liked long snapper Jon Dorenbos will be entering his third full season with the team at the specialized position and was signed to a five-year extension prior to the 2008 campaign.

PROGNOSIS: After closing out last season with a flourish and adding to an already strong talent base through free agency and the draft, the Eagles clearly have their sights set on big things in 2009. Team president Joe Banner's over-the-summer public proclamation that Philadelphia sports the best roster in the NFL is an obvious sign that anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will be considered a disappointment, and the club's willingness to bring in Vick and his considerable amount of baggage further illustrates that the Eagles are going for broke. There are questions that need to be answered, such as whether the defense will suffer any significant drop-off with Johnson no longer calling the shots and if the revamped offensive line can come together as a unit, but Philadelphia's enviable amount of depth, skill and postseason experience put the Eagles on the short list of championship contenders out of the NFC. This will be a team under the microscope, however, and how Reid's troops react to the sky-high expectations and considerable media attention may be what ultimately determines the Eagles' fate.