Quintin Mikell had been on the Eagles for four seasons entering the one that just came to its untimely conclusion, and in his mind, he needed a new position.

Not that he didn't enjoy his role as designated special teams demon, but in the world of the NFL, that's an entry-level job without a ton of security.

Mikell wanted a promotion to full-fledged starting safety, and so, like anybody else who is looking for a new job, he had to go through the interview process.

Sixteen games later, it's clear that Mikell nailed it.

S Quintin Mikell

As anybody who has ever searched for a job can attest, just getting the interview is sometimes the hardest part, and it took four full seasons and two untimely injuries for Mikell to get the call.

Last season he saw some defensive snaps in dime packages, but even after Michael Lewis left Philadelphia for San Francisco, he still had Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine ahead of him in the defensive backfield.

But when Dawkins was injured in the second game of the season, Mikell was pressed into action at free safety, and he responded well. Just about the time that Dawkins was returning from injury, Considine went down with a shoulder injury, and in the end Mikell's test drive lasted for 14 games, starting in 11 of them.

He finished the season with 98 tackles, one sack, and one interception, and combined with his strong special teams resume the interview might be enough to win him a starting job next season - even with Dawkins and Considine healthy.

Mikell certainly thinks so.

"I feel like I definitely add a lot to the defense," he said. "I'm looking to go into next year as the starter and we'll see what happens there."

With full control over personnel decisions, head coach Andy Reid is the human resources person that Mikell had to impress, and Reid made it clear at the end of the season that he liked what he saw.

Both Reid and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson have had nothing but nice things to say about Mikell's play all season, but Reid said that as the season wore on and Mikell became more comfortable in his role, he began playing at an even higher level.

"Quintin, by the end of the season, was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber level as a safety," Reid said. "We knew what a great special teams player he was. He became an even better safety."

Not surprisingly, Mikell was thrilled when told about Reid's comments.

"You should have seen the smile that went across my face; I'm like a little kid. It feels good and hopefully I'll live up to that next season," he said. "I don't think I'll be able to sneak up on anybody next year, I'll probably be studied and broken down so I have to get that much better."

At times this season, the confident Mikell acted as a public mouth-piece for the defense. He is not afraid to say what is on his mind, and his engaging personality made him a magnet for reporters looking for a good quote.

It's not often that a player is confident enough in himself – and respected enough by his teammates – to take on a leadership role in his first season as a starter, but it is clear that Mikell's voice carried weight both in the locker room and in front of the cameras.

Still, he wasn't interviewing for a job in public relations; just one as a starting safety.

"I didn't have any problems this year," said Mikell, confident in his role for 2008. "I started most of the games, so I believe in myself and I believe I can do it."