Donte' Stallworth believes the future looks brighter than the past.

Stallworth was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Philadelphia Eagles last week for linebacker Mark Simoneau and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2007.

Stallworth said he could hardly contain himself when Saints head coach Sean Payton gave him the news.

"I kind of smiled within," the former University of Tennessee wide receiver said. "When the head coach told me, I didn't want to make it seem like I was ready to get out of there because I wasn't."

Still, Stallworth knows he's joining an organization with higher hopes than the one he left behind.

"This is a great situation," he said, "not only for me personally but for this team. They're already a good team.

"They went to the Super Bowl the year before last. That's what I've always wanted to be a part of, something special like that."

Stallworth's time with the Saints wasn't so special. The team failed to make the playoffs in each of his four seasons, and he never quite reached the level the Saints expected after they selected him 13th overall in the 2002 draft.

"Here, I've got a fresh start," said Stallworth, who had a career-high 70 catches and seven touchdowns last year. "The first day I got in, (head) coach (Andy) Reid brought me into his office and he told me what he expects of me. He said we'll have a good time here this year and I definitely look forward to doing that."

While Stallworth prepares to start anew in Philadelphia, the city of New Orleans remains in his thoughts. Things didn't always go well on the field for Stallworth and the Saints, but off the field he was determined to be an active member in the community.

He was a leading Saints participant in relief of Hurricane Katrina victims last year.

During a trip to San Antonio last September, Stallworth stopped in at a local Wal-Mart. He bought all the water and toiletries in stock and delivered them to a nearby shelter for Katrina evacuees.

He hoped the personal items would lift their spirits, but football was the only topic anyone wanted to discuss.

"You didn't hear one person talk about what they lost," he said. "You didn't hear them talk about the family members they lost, which many of them did, which is very sad.

"All they cared about was the Saints winning. That was fun. I can't explain it."

The Saints responded with a win on opening day against Carolina, 23-20, last season. Stallworth couldn't believe the positive impact the win had on Saints fans.

"If we could bring any kind of fulfillment in their lives then that's what we wanted to do and that's what we did," Stallworth said. "That was just a heart-warming situation to know that they really cared about us winning and they really wanted us to win and we were able to do that."

Stallworth's new focus is making Philadelphia fans happy. The goal is a Super Bowl championship, something that would please no one more than the newest Eagle.

"I've won championships on every level I've ever played except the NFL," Stallworth said. "I won a national championship in college. There's no greater feeling than that.

"I can only imagine how it is to win the Super Bowl. I can only imagine."