Eagles replace Peters with bell

The Eagles have agreed to terms with T Demetress Bell on a five-year contract.

A seventh round draft choice of Buffalo in 2008, Bell (6-foot-5, 311) notched 30 starts at left tackle in his four years with the Bills, including all 16 contests in 2010. The 27-year-old Bell started six games with the Bills in 2011 as he dealt with a shoulder injury, but the team amassed a 4-2 record in those outings.

“Demetress was one of the top free agent offensive linemen available this year and we are happy to be able to add him to our squad," said Eagles coach Andy Reid. "We had a chance to meet him over the weekend and study him extensively on tape and we came away quite impressed with what we saw and heard. He’s a great athlete.”

“Demetress is a guy we’ve followed since he joined the league," added Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. "He’s a big, athletic left tackle and he has quite a few games of experience under his belt with Buffalo. He’ll excel with our style of play on the offensive line.”

The Summerfield, LA, native originally attended Northwestern State on a basketball scholarship but after redshirting as a freshman, he decided to join the football team as a defensive end. Prior to that point, Bell had never played organized football because his high school (Summerfield) did not carry a team.

He switched to offensive tackle a year later and went on to record 22 consecutive starts in his final two seasons, earning All-America, All-Southland Conference, and All-Louisiana honors as a senior and team captain in 2007. In addition, Bell helped the basketball team to a Southland Conference East Division championship in 2006.

Bell was an all-state basketball standout at Summerfield High School, where he averaged 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds.