His contract signed and his future finally decided, after a long weekend of deliberation, free agent middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson began Wednesday to prepare for what he feels will be a successful season with the Green Bay Packers.

	Nickerson

As first reported by ESPN.com on Wednesday morning, Nickerson opted for the Packers over the Philadelphia Eagles, a tough call considering that both franchises met his criteria and both offered him the chance to be a starter.

"I'm fired up," said Nickerson, after officially signing his contract with the Packers and then faxing it to the team. "It's a team that is very solid, and there's great history there, so I can't help but be excited. They made me feel very much at home when I visited there. It's a good bunch of guys."

Released last Monday by the Jacksonville Jaguars for salary cap reasons, the 15-year veteran met with officials of both teams later in the week, then returned to his home in California to talk with his family about his future and to consider contract offers.

Agent Eugene Parker told ESPN.com on Sunday that his client was impressed with both teams but that he was more concerned with making the right decision and not a hasty one. Nickerson, 36, reiterated in his visits with the two teams that his priority was to sign with a club that would be a viable Super Bowl contender in 2002.

It is believed that one element of Nickerson's decision was a guarantee of sorts from the Packers that he will be the starter in 2002. Green Bay released longtime starter Bernardo Harris during the offseason. The Packers demonstrated some interest in onetime Eagles starter Jeremiah Trotter, after Philadelphia rescinded a "franchise" designation and made him an unrestricted free agent but could not compete financially for him. Trotter signed with the Washington Redskins.

The Packers signed 10-year journeyman Robert Jones as an insurance policy three weeks ago and are grooming second-year veteran Torrance Marshall to eventually take over the middle linebacker spot. But the team considered Nickerson the perfect short-term remedy and pursued him vigorously once Jacksonville released him.

"We had targeted Hardy back in February as a guy who could help our football team, and we were hopeful he would be released," said Packers coach Mike Sherman. "I'm anxious to get that caliber of player and person on our team."

There apparently was some question of how Nickerson would have fit in on the Eagles defense, since team officials have spent much of the offseason endorsing Barry Gardner as Trotter's heir apparent. Despite their public stance that they are comfortable with their current linebacker corps, even with the free-agent departures of starters Trotter and Mike Caldwell, the Eagles' actions suggest otherwise.

The team sought Nickerson and reportedly has shown some interest in former New Orleans starter Keith Mitchell, released by the Saints last week.

A year ago, coming off a 2000 season in which he appeared in a career-low six games because of a knee injury and seemed to be battling a streak of brittleness, Nickerson could not have predicted he would be the object of affection by any NFL franchise. But at 36, he cobbled together a solid 2001 season, posting 230 tackles, according to Jaguars statistics, and three interceptions.

The 203 tackles established a franchise record.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Nickerson has played in 209 games and started 185 of them. He has 1,759 tackles, 19½ sacks, 12 interceptions, 23 forced fumbles and a dozen recoveries. Nickerson has played for Pittsburgh (1987-92), Tampa Bay (1993-99) and Jacksonville (2000-2001).

The former University of California star began his career with the Steelers as a fifth-round draft choice in 1987.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.