ntz_featured_fields.php

<?php 
$ntz_featured_fields = array(
	array(
		"name"			=> "_ntz_is_featured",
		"label"			=> "Featured?",
		"type"			=> "checkbox"
	),	// checkbox
	array(
		"name"			=> "_ntz_featured_title",
		"label"			=> "Featured Title (leave empty for post title)",
		"type"			=> "text"
	), // text
	array(
		"name"			=> "_ntz_featured_description",
		"label"			=> "Featured description (leave emtpy for post excerpt)",
		"type"			=> "textarea"
	), // text
);

function ntz_featured_meta( $post_data, $meta_info ) {
	global $post, $ntz_featured_fields;
	echo '<div class="ntz_panel"><input type="hidden" name="ntz_featured_metaes_nonce" value="'.wp_create_nonce( plugin_basename(__FILE__) ).'" />';
	foreach( $ntz_featured_fields as $o ){
		$val = get_post_meta( $post->ID, $o['name'], true );
		echo '<p>';

		switch ( $o['type'] ){
			case "checkbox":
				$isChecked = ( $val == 1 ? 'checked="checked"' : '' ); // we store checked checkboxes as 1
				echo '<label>' . $o['label'] . ' <input type="checkbox" name="' . $o['name'] . '" id="' . $o['name'] . '" ' . $isChecked . ' /></label>';
			break; // checkbox

			case "textarea":
				echo '<textarea name="' . $o['name'] . '" id="' . $o['name'] . '" cols="10" rows="5" placeholder="' . $o['label'] . '">' . $val . '</textarea>';
			break; // textarea

			case "text":
			default:
				echo '<input type="text" name="' . $o['name'] . '" id="' . $o['name'] . '" value="' . $val . '" placeholder="' . $o['label'] . '" />';
			break; // text & default
		}// swtich

	}// foreach
	echo '</div>';
?>

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
	.ntz_panel input[type="text"],
	.ntz_panel textarea {
		width:100%;
	}
	.ntz_panel .desc {
		text-align:right;
	}
	
</style>
	<?php 
}

function ntz_create_featured_meta() {
	if ( function_exists( 'add_meta_box' ) ) {
		add_meta_box( 'ntz_featured_meta', 'This post is featured?', 'ntz_featured_meta', 'post', 'side', 'high' );
	}
}

function ntz_save_featured_meta( $post_id ) {

	global $post, $post_id, $ntz_featured_fields;
	if ( in_array( $_REQUEST['post_type'], array('page') ) ) {
		if ( !current_user_can( 'edit_page', $post_id ) ) {return $post_id;}
	} else {
		if ( !current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post_id ) ) {return $post_id;}
	}

	foreach($ntz_featured_fields as $o){
		if ( !wp_verify_nonce( $_REQUEST['ntz_featured_metaes_nonce'], plugin_basename(__FILE__) )) {
			return $post_id;
		}
		switch ($o['type']){
			case "checkbox":
				update_post_meta( $post_id, $o['name'], isset( $_REQUEST[$o['name']] ) );
			break;
			default:
				update_post_meta($post_id, $o['name'], $_REQUEST[$o['name']]);
			break;
		}
	}
}
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'ntz_create_featured_meta' );  
add_action( 'save_post', 'ntz_save_featured_meta' );