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Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) on the sidelines before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

Although they haven't been through one practice with head coach Chip Kelly yet, the newest members of the Eagles certainly don't seem to have any problem singing the praises of Philadelphia.

Speaking to the media for the first time since he signed a one-year deal with the team, newest Eagles receiver Miles Austin said it was running back DeMarco Murray who convinced him to sign on the dotted line.

"Me and DeMarco are really close," Austin said.

Murray was of course recruited himself to Philadelphia by quarterback Sam Bradford, who was acquired by the team in a trade earlier this offseason. Murray and Austin are close friends from their time together in Dallas. Bradford and Murray know each other from their college days at Oklahoma.

Now that they are all Eagles, Austin said it was the atmosphere Kelly has built in just two seasons in Philadelphia that Murray sold him on.

"I was in communication with him as a friend when he was figuring out what he was doing when he was a free agent," Austin said. "Me and him were talking back and forth when he signed with Philly. He was telling me how he came in, talked with the coaches...it re-affirmed all of the positive thoughts I already had coming in."

Austin said that he didn't have any other visits planned with other teams before the Eagles handed him a deal worth a reported $2.3 million.

"My agent was keeping me abreast of what was happening, and he mentioned Philly," Austin said. "Me and him were sitting down, talking about it, thinking about it. It just seemed like the right thing to do."

The nine-year veteran last played for the Cleveland Browns, but spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He has 348 catches for 5,049 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career.

ECKEL:

What Austin signing means for Eagles

Austin, who grew up in Summit and played both his high school and college football in the New Jersey area, said the ability to come back so close to home also played a role in signing with the Eagles.

"Growing up in Jersey was part of the decision process," said Austin, who also spoke to some of his local friends about the chance to come home. "It seemed like a really good situation."

As for on the field, Austin said he had not yet had a chance to sit down with coaches and discuss his role, but was open to doing whatever the coaches asked him — even special teams.

"The last time I did was in Dallas two years ago," Miles said of being on the special teams unit. "Obviously I'm not against doing anything. It doesn't matter where they want me to go, I'm down to do it."

The biggest concern about Austin is his injury history. Austin hasn't played in 16 games since 2012, and played a full season only once in the past four years. Last season it was a kidney injury that kept him on the sideline. Before that, it was consistent problems with his hamstring.

Austin, however, isn't concerned about missing time going forward.

"I don't even know how you lacerate a kidney without stabbing yourself. I guess I fell on my side really hard," Austin said. "Last year I changed my process around before practice, and it helped me with soft tissue injuries. I felt as good as I have felt physically last year with my legs and everything else."

Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Sports on Facebook.