Chip Rippers

Posted: June 10th, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 506 Comments »

I am a big Chip Kelly fan. Most Eagles fans seem to love him. Most of the players seem to love him. But not everyone loves Chip.

The headliner of course is LeSean McCoy, who hinted that Kelly might be racist. McCoy seems more like a spurned lover than someone who genuinely hates his former coach. Still, those comments are pretty extreme. Jason Avant was critical of Kelly after leaving the Eagles, but Chip said they talked on the phone and that everything is good between the two of them.

Cary Williams spoke to the media about his time with the Eagles and had mixed comments on Kelly.

“We was talking about the fact that our conditioning and things like was going to kick in because we worked harder than everybody in the National Football League with the Chip Kelly thing,” he said. “We got out there, we got our teeth kicked in. So all that conditioning didn’t necessarily work. Preparation wasn’t necessarily the greatest neither that week. When you’re going up against teams that prepare well, practice well, coach well, it’s difficult in games like that. I think towards the end of the year we were exhausted and we got out-coached the majority of the games.”

Williams says that when the Eagles lost to the Seahawks last season, it was clear that Kelly’s conditioning program had been a hindrance to the Philadelphia players.

“One, they were fresher,” he said. “Two, they were more physical. And I think in the National Football League, physicality is huge and you need that physicality in order to win games. Coaching is a part of it, too.”

Can you say “delusional”?

Conditioning was hardly the primary cause for the Eagles loss to Seattle. Mark Sanchez was 10-20-96 yards. The offense struggled to move the ball all game long. There were wide open receivers in that game. Sanchez either didn’t see them or failed to get the ball to them. He’s not the only reason the Eagles lost, but you aren’t going to beat one of the best teams in the league with your backup QB very often.

Physicality??? The defense held Marshawn Lynch to less than 90 yards and only 3.74 yards per carry. The run defense had a pretty good day. Russell Wilson made plays with his arm and legs. The Eagles had no answer for him.

Williams just never seemed happy in Philly. He played for the Ravens previously, where the defense is the key to the team. Kelly is an offensive guy. Williams obviously didn’t like or embrace Kelly’s ideas.

There are a pair of current Eagles who likely aren’t big fans of Chip.

Kelly and Earl Wolff clearly aren’t on the same page. Sheil Kapadia has the details.

Earl Wolff still experiences pain in his right knee. He said it only hits when he makes certain movements and it’s “nothing crazy,” but it’s there and serves as a signal that he is not all the way back.

The third-year safety out of N.C. State acknowledged that he expected to be full-go by this point. Still, Wolff says he has been making big strides lately and feels quite confident that he’ll be back to his old self by training camp.

“At the end of the day, man, my thing is all about being healthy, come back being 100 percent for the first time in a long time,” said Wolff, who participated in individual drills for the first time Tuesday. “Dr. [James] Andrews said sometimes it takes six months, sometimes it takes eight months, you never know. He said the main thing is make sure I’m taking care of myself, make sure I’m doing the things he gave me. He basically gave me a protocol. I’ve been doing everything I can do, just going through that right now.”

Judging by his comments Tuesday, Chip Kelly doesn’t seem to share the belief that Wolff has been showing signs of progress. In fact, he said there’s been “no progress” adding that “Earl has done nothing except stretch.”

“He’s been cleared from Dr. Andrews a couple weeks ago, but it’s what he can tolerate.”

Coach and player do not seem to be totally on the same page here. Wolff said he was cleared by Dr. Andrews, but “When he said cleared, it wasn’t like I’m cleared to go 100 percent,” he explained. “Basically he said, ‘Earl, what I tried to get done was done so now you can push yourself because the procedure I tried to get done was basically fulfilled so now you can go out and now you can go out and really progress and really push yourself.’ It wasn’t like I’m cleared to go 100 percent out there in practice. No, it wasn’t one of those clears.”

It sure feels like Kelly is publicly questioning Wolff’s toughness and that can’t make Wolff happy. Having a soft reputation is deadly to a player’s career. Kelly is clearly frustrated that Wolff isn’t practicing. And Wolff is trying to be protective of his body.

If this were 20 years ago, you could look at this as the team trying to rush Wolff back. These days there are so many doctors and training specialists that it is hard to believe a good organization would rush a player back, especially someone like Wolff who isn’t an impact starter.

Go read the whole piece by Sheil to find out that this situation is even more complicated due to previous questions about injuries with Wolff.

Finally we come to Evan Mathis. PFT reported on Monday that the Eagles had pulled back an offer to raise his salary. Jeff McLane confirmed that report.

This is a complex situation.

Mathis is trying to strike while the iron is hot. He is one of the better starting OGs in the league and wants to be paid like that. A younger player could wait for his next deal, but Mathis won’t be getting another big deal.

Mathis is now willing to settle for less than he originally wanted. Kelly isn’t willing to give him a nickel, not even the deal that had been on the table. That has to make Mathis furious.

If the Eagles cut Mathis, they save money, but OG instantly becomes the weakest position on the team. And there are no guarantees Mathis would get a deal making as much as he is right now. Both sides kinda need each other. And yet Kelly and the players aren’t exactly blowing kisses Mathis way. From the sound of this, Jason Peters won’t be getting a birthday card from Mathis any time soon.

Most of his teammates have stayed out of the contract dispute, but left tackle Jason Peters was asked Tuesday if he would miss playing alongside Mathis?

“Not really,” Peters said. “I’ve been playing beside different guys every year. So it don’t really matter who beside me, I just need to get the chemistry with them.”

Yikes.

I don’t see this ending well, but I’m still holding out hope that something can be worked out. Both sides do need each other.

_


506 Comments on “Chip Rippers”

  1. 1 Greg Richards said at 9:26 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    The thing is Kelly’s comments and Wolff’s comments do not factually conflict with each other at all. Wolff says that Andrews cleared him to “push yourself” and Kelly says all he’s doing is stretching, i.e. not exactly pushing himself.

  2. 2 anon said at 9:29 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    yeah i was thinking that when i read earl’s comments too.

  3. 3 Flyin said at 10:05 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    My take is that Wolff didn’t even try and push himself until after Chip spoke on Tuesday. Wolff did some individual drills on Tuesday.

    Why didn’t he just try and do an individual drill earlier and see how he felt and how the knee would respond. Ryans has been pushing, Kiko, Bradford, Long as well. Yet being smart about it.

    Wolff speaking of being cleared but not 100% I get. I don’t think he gets it. You don’t wait til you are 100% to practice. You build up to get to 7 on 7’s and 11 on 11’s.

    I hope he can contribute, but I have my doubts.

  4. 4 anon said at 10:14 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    his knee could actually still hurt…

  5. 5 Flyin said at 10:18 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I’d like to hear Trotter respond to your post. I didn’t know football was a pain free sport. Thanks. News to me.

  6. 6 laeagle said at 10:30 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Trotter’s knees are useless to him today. While I appreciate his toughness, I”m not going to get down on a player who is concerned with his long term health. Especially in light of everything we know today.

    To all the wannabe tough guy fans criticizing players for not jeopardizing their ability to function like normal humans in their 60s, I say this: would you make the same sacrifice? I tend to doubt it.

  7. 7 Flyin said at 10:32 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    How do you know Trotters knees are useless today?

  8. 8 Cafone said at 10:33 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Hell yeah, I would have made that sacrifice, then regretted it in my 40s like most of these guys do.

  9. 9 Flyin said at 10:33 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    From the sports and work I have done over the years, my body tells me about all I did. I have no regrets.

  10. 10 Avery Greene said at 11:00 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I forget what I was watching, but I remember watching Jerome Bettis getting out of bed and barely able to walk. He’d sit in like an ice tub for a couple hours. It’s the same thing that happened to Earl Campbell.

    Your point is dead on.

  11. 11 Michael Winter Cho said at 12:26 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think I saw that in a program around 2006 or so. It made a big impact on me too.

  12. 12 EagleNebula said at 11:06 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Unfortunately it’s not that simple. And I have mixed feelings about this situation. All strenuos activity takes its toll especially as we as a species continue to extend our lifespan. Ballerinas destroy their hips and feet. Long distance runners destroy their entire body. We all pursue our dreams knowing they have costs. And if you don’t believe the dream is worth the price that is a fair and valid decision.

    At the same time, the players should be protected to reduce the costs of playing all sports. The game evolves, the injuries shift and hopefully the quality of life after sports improves. And that is a good thing. But let’s not act like football is unique or worse than other sports/physical activities. I mean, look at basketball players, they can barely walk later in life.

  13. 13 anon said at 11:16 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    yeah just look at kenny smith hobble around the tnt set every other night.

  14. 14 EagleNebula said at 11:25 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I always think of Bill Walton. The guy is stiffer than Romo on a bad day.

  15. 15 anon said at 11:35 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    yeah going to be interesting to see Romo’s post playing career, he’ll be rich though. feel bad for the guys who aren’t qbs, that money doesn’t last forever.

  16. 16 Flyin said at 12:16 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    do you know a doctor that worked on him, or a doctor that has seen trotter?

  17. 17 Jernst said at 11:28 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    All true. But that’s the game. Ask Trotter if he’d do it again and he’d tell you yes. If Earl doesn’t that’s cool, but then he needs to give his paycheck back and go to work at kinkos and hang up the cleats for good.

  18. 18 laeagle said at 12:32 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Lots of different and valid takes to respond to here, but responding to you I think helps me state my own opinion on the matter. I understand that a lot of players will do it again if asked. But I won’t begrudge any other player who feels that sacrificing his physical well being for YEARS later in his life isn’t worth my enjoyment of a successful sport season. I love the heart players play with, and the capacity to overlook injury. But given the information, I think it’s perfectly valid to say “no, it’s not worth that to me.” And that decision has nothing to do with not being “tough”.

  19. 19 Jernst said at 9:06 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I never said I begrudged him for making that decision or that his decision makes him lack toughness. It might make him the smart one. Bottom line though is if your main objective is to preserve your articulate cartilage and avoid arthritis later in life, professional football is not for you at all. Either play the sport all out and know the consequences or simply don’t play. But don’t collect a paycheck for 3 years without contributing and constantly sit out and expect me to be sympathetic because well it’s his body and football players bodies get destroyed. It’s not fair for him to steal money, roster spots and the glory of being a professional athlete when he’s not willing to take the risks that literally every single other player in the league takes and plays through.

  20. 20 NineseveN said at 11:37 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah, but you’re not a football player if you don’t, you know, play. If Wolf is so worried about his body that all he wants to do is stretch, then he should medically retireretire and go find something else to do with his time. If you’re taking a roster spot and being paid then you need to do more than stretch once the doctors clear you.

  21. 21 Greg Richards said at 11:55 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    That’s well and fine. But if that is his attitude and his priority, he shouldn’t expect to make the team or have much of a chance of succeeding in the NFL.

  22. 22 Jernst said at 11:26 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I’m sure it does and I doubt it ever won’t. That’s the whole point. Every player in the NFL plays through pain like this…Earl doesn’t

  23. 23 Jernst said at 11:23 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Exactly! Does anyone really think that DeMeco Ryan’s is out there experiencing zero pain and discomfort anywhere in his body. What about Bradford, or Celek. Does anyone think that Celeks body doesn’t just ache most days. Earl seem to think that you’re supposed to wait until there’s 100% no pain then you practice and play, and the moment you feel any discomfort you’re supposed to shut it down completely until the pain goes away completely.

  24. 24 unhinged said at 8:56 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think that’s a tad simplistic. If Earl has weathered HS and college football, then I would defer to his grasp of playing with pain over yours. Something as seemingly insignificant as a splinter can become an infectious hole if it is ignored, and his knee is crucial to his ability to abruptly stop and start, change direction, accelerate quickly. If it isn’t right I think he knows better than anybody. Comparing his knee pain to anyone else’s pain threshold is ridiculous. If he can’t go, not Chip not any doctor can call him on it.

  25. 25 Greg Richards said at 11:54 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Wolff reminds me of myself. Well, I would work out but my body is sore from the 5 situps I managed(barely) to do a few days ago. Obviously, if I have pain after working out my body is telling me I’m not ready.

  26. 26 DJH said at 8:27 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Exactly. Wolff’s comments in the past have been weird as well. Reporter: So you’re injured? EW: Well, I wouldn’t say it like that. No. Just kind of hurt. Reporter: But you’re cleared? EW: Well, I wouldn’t put it like that. I can practice. Reporter: But you’re not practicing? EW: Well, I wouldn’t put it like that. Just resting.

  27. 27 jmatt81 said at 9:13 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think that same practice is when Wolff stated to “push” himself. I’m not even sure if he’s the kind of safety we want playing single high. Haven’t seen enough of him. Only really stood out in the SD game his rookie year.

  28. 28 Ben said at 12:51 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Simply put, Chip is a little aggravated that Wolff is not yet ready.
    I do not think he is hating on him, as much as hating on the fact that he is behind Chips schedule of what he thought Wolff would be doing by now.
    Chip seems annoyed about any player not playing at the level he expects they should be and I don’t see anything wrong with it.

  29. 29 anon said at 9:32 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    in the sconces case i hope he was talking about just on defense. i thought the scheme was great in the SEA game, we just couldnt execute, always seemed like we couldn’t keep up when the play broke down.

    Fans love chip, players seemed have more of a mixed review, but you can’t please everyone. Harbaugh almost lost the lockerroom in baltimore right before they won the SB.

  30. 30 Ben said at 12:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Cary Williams was and will always be a talker.
    Sure he can back it up from time to time.
    I don’t really take what says too seriously as he is no longer an Eagle.
    Most players that go to a different team, rarely speak highly of the team that cut/traded or released them.

    So this is a non story IMO.

  31. 31 myartz04 said at 9:34 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I think this is what makes Chip a good coach. He recognizes the players that refuse to buy in completely and weeds them out with no hesitation. All 53 guys moving in the same direction is how many a team have won championships. I love it.

  32. 32 Mike Marchlik said at 10:38 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    So talent didn’t matter? Desean isn’t more. Talented than Cooper?

  33. 33 Javi Echie said at 10:49 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Culture matters most to chip and if you didn’t notice since chip took over 3 wrs had career years. System and culture matter most to Chip and it shows

  34. 34 Flyin said at 10:52 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    MM is a troll.

  35. 35 myartz04 said at 11:00 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Thanks for the heads up.

  36. 36 myartz04 said at 10:59 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    If you don’t have football character, Chip doesn’t give a shit about your talent. He wants talent AND character. Matthews, Huff, and Agholor have more talent than Cooper. Those are the WRS drafted in the last 2 years who will be replacing Cooper very soon. Don’t act like Chip doesn’t see what we see with Cooper. He’s as good as gone next year.

  37. 37 unhinged said at 8:44 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    This is not to get in the middle, but you and other commenters have written very negatively about Cooper, and Kelly’s opinion of him, and I am wondering what I missed. I am fully versed on Cooper’s regrettable moment of coprolalia, but after he returned from his mandatory anger management course, and apologized to his teammates and the fans, what has he done or failed to do that has sealed his fate? His receiver coach defended his play for 2014 with a certain degree of technical breakdown, and Chip has referred to him as “Coop”, not “Riley” and not “Cooper”. That is Chip’s tell. I remain to be convinced that Chip has any problem with Cooper.

  38. 38 myartz04 said at 9:08 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m not a frequent commenter and I don’t personally share near the hate that a lot of the regular commenters do for Coop. I actually think he does exactly what the coaches ask and is a good player in their opinion. I also think they have been bringing in more talented players to come in and compete for playing time. Sorry if it seemed as if I was bashing.

  39. 39 Ben Hert said at 9:02 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Are we still seriously having this conversation? The record has been broken, shattered into a million pieces, and sat on by a freaking ogre. This DeSean thing is embarrassing. Its become worse than the BG/Earl Thomas crap.

  40. 40 Ben said at 1:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Huh?? I cannot pick up what you are putting down sir.
    As far as DJax is concerned, having a great time losing with the Skins I guess and the same goes for Shady.
    Does anyone here think that he has any chance of leading the league in rushing behind the buffalo O line?
    I seriously doubt he will have even close to the success he had here in Philly.
    But I do wish both of them well, just not when we play them.
    On and by the by, Brandon Graham is going to BEAST this season, and will make us all forget about that “bust” talk of yesteryear.

  41. 41 Ben said at 12:56 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    A great man once said, “Culture beats scheme” allday, everyday.

  42. 42 Flyin said at 9:48 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I had forgotten about Jason Avant butting heads with Chip Kelly. Probably because it wasn’t much of a big deal. An aged veteran set in his ways and playing style didn’t mesh with the new scheme. Here is a good article about the situation…

    http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Jason-Avant-reveals-that-he-butted-heads-with-Chip-Kelly.html

  43. 43 Weapon Y said at 10:11 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Chip doesn’t put up with divas. Big difference between him and Andy. Whatever happens, I feel assured we won’t see a defense allergic to tackling like the Dream Team.

  44. 44 Flyin said at 10:13 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Tommy, great analysis of the Seattle game. This is why you are the best. Intelligent breakdown of games!

    When Chip Kelly credited Cary for saying to pass the ball because he couldn’t cover in the snow, really went to his head. Cary must have thought he deserved to be the coach after that, and his remarks against Chip show how he thinks the team should have been coached.

  45. 45 Mike Marchlik said at 10:37 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Why are you surprised guys don’t like wearing sleep monitors? It’s the reason Macklin left.

  46. 46 Flyin said at 10:40 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Link to this?

  47. 47 CrackSammich said at 10:54 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Free agent.

  48. 48 Flyin said at 10:56 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Try again…
    http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/3/4/5469940/philadelphia-eagles-release-jason-avant

  49. 49 CrackSammich said at 11:18 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Read again. He said Maclin.

  50. 50 Flyin said at 11:24 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Actually… he said Macklin 🙂 You are right. My bad, had other players on my mind. Mac left for the money. Not sleep monitors, unless proven.

  51. 51 jmatt81 said at 9:35 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Unlike sconces, Maclin is a stand up guy so we will never know if it was money or Chip.

  52. 52 James said at 11:27 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    So you are getting paid for a living to play a GAME. They are trying to win it all every year. That is their objective, to win games. It is advantageous for them to wear sleep monitors. The fact is, they get paid huge sums of money to play a GAME and wearing a sleep monitor is but a minor detail of the overall picture. Who the hell is complaining about a minor detail in the grand scheme of things?

  53. 53 anon said at 11:30 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    “It is advantageous for them to wear sleep monitors.” It’s unclear whether any SB team has ever won wearing sleep monitors, so how do we know its advantageous?

    It’s funny b/c eagles probably have the most stringent requirements but generally pay the least.

  54. 54 James said at 11:32 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Its raw data on how to benefit you from getting a good nights rest, and your energy is important especially for athletes. How is that not an advantage?

  55. 55 anon said at 11:34 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    players might want some freedom to run their own lives, they are adults at the end of the day. not saying it’s bad, if players don’t like that they’ll just go elsewhere.

  56. 56 James said at 11:38 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Freedom is broad term. They are free to do whatever they like, they are adults. Having a sleep monitor is making them more informed on their bodies and how to recover the right way. It just shows immaturity to reject a tool that could help them and the whole team perform.

  57. 57 sonofdman said at 12:09 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    That being said, I am certainly more effective at my job when I get a good night’s rest, but I would not like my employer monitoring my sleep.

  58. 58 sonofdman said at 12:15 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    To further clarify my thoughts on this: I am all for Chip doing what he thinks is best to make this team the best, and bringing in players who will by in and getting rid of players who don’t by in. I actually think Chip’s focus on stuff like sleep and nutrition and sports science is great.

    But, I can see why some players would not be too enthused with the intrusive nature of some of this stuff (like the sleep monitoring).

  59. 59 anon said at 12:33 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    my point exactly

  60. 60 Greg Richards said at 12:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Then, good riddance to those players.

  61. 61 Ben said at 1:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I can’t understand why not, especially if the player wants to be the best at what he does.
    Sure it may be a nuisance, but when a player notices his level of play has reached another level, why wouldn’t he buy in?
    If said player knows he will be better, wouldn’t that be even more the reason for buying in and embracing this technology?
    It can only help the player when it becomes time to negotiate a new contract, especially if the sleep monitoring helps them be better all around players.
    I do not agree with your reference to the “intrusive nature”, as Chip only wants players that are smart enough to grasp the reasoning behind this technology.

  62. 62 James said at 8:27 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Oh no! the horror! Sleep monitor for athletes in which get paid millions of dollars to play a GAME.

  63. 63 Ben said at 1:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    True, but do you get paid huge sums of money to wear such equipment?
    My guess would be no, unless your a professional sports player.
    Many players would kill to be an Eagle and would love to play for Chip Kelly.
    Those are the type of players Chip wants to be Eagles.
    Wearing a sleep monitor would not affect their decision, I would surmise.

  64. 64 Bert's Bells said at 7:56 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    ” but generally pay the least.” That’s just not true.

  65. 65 Ben said at 1:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Also, if the Eagles somehow overcome all the obstacles and find themselves winning a Superbowl, then almost every player in the league will be wearing sleep monitors and smarter teams will soon be stealing many of Chips ideas, as some teams like Miami, Kansas City and New England already have
    That is a fact.

  66. 66 DJH said at 8:23 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Source please?

  67. 67 Javi Echie said at 10:48 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Darren McFadden – RB – Cowboys
    Nursing a hamstring strain, Darren McFadden continues to work on the side at Cowboys OTAs.
    “It’s definitely frustrating,” McFadden acknowledged. “You want to always be out there taking plays, getting reps. But it’s one of those things I’d rather sit out now instead of pushing it and have something lingering on me.” Long riddled by injuries, McFadden hopes to do more at the Cowboys’ minicamp.
    Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
    ….
    always get a satisfying tingly feeling to hear things about ‘Allas.

  68. 68 anon said at 10:52 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Man he and Earl must go to the same therapist. That said rather sit at OTAs instead of being injured in camp just so you can run around in shorts for 2 weeks.

  69. 69 Flyin said at 11:00 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    So your logic is to not run in shorts, but show up for camp with pads and contact. Go all out, yet stay healthy by not doing anything leading up to full go. You make a lot of sense.

  70. 70 anon said at 11:13 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I’m saying there’s another 2 months before pre-season. If i didn’t feel good about where i was I’d work my re-hab until i was mentally ready.

    Sammy B was out for almost a full year after surgery and isn’t doing ANY dynamic movements on that knee, but no complaints.

  71. 71 Flyin said at 11:20 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    It sounds like he has done the rehab and he has been cleared to push it. But hasn’t shown any effort. EFFORT. I don’t care if it’s doing jumping jacks, skipping onto the field or playing pick up sticks with his butt checks… show something!

  72. 72 Jernst said at 10:59 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Sounds to me like Chip has got Earl’s injury thing perfectly right. Earl refuses to do anything unless there is absolutely zero discomfort or soreness in his knee. And the fact is that, that will most likely never be the case again. Almost every player on this team has pain in probably more than one joints as do all football players and Wolff seems to think that he’s going to one day wake up and not have any pain in his knee at all. And, that’s just not going to happen.

    I read Earls quotes and I cringe. The guy is delusional. He’s going to have pain in that knee for the rest of his life, he can either play with it or not that’s his choice but this thought that it’s just going to one day be pain free is just not a reality. And the whole quote about the playoff game where he was cleared to play but just felt that if he had some knee discomfort he’d just hurt the team by messing up so choose to sit out….ugh just cringe worthy.

  73. 73 myartz04 said at 11:06 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    You are exactly right. Absolutely crazy if he thinks he’s never going to have any pain.

  74. 74 sonofdman said at 12:03 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    “And the whole quote about the playoff game where he was cleared to play but just felt that if he had some knee discomfort he’d just hurt the team by messing up so choose to sit out….ugh just cringe worthy.”

    Except didn’t we find out later that they mis-diagnosed his knee and there was a real problem that was missed, and he actually should not have been cleared to play?

  75. 75 Flyin said at 12:07 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    What damage could he have done if he played? Just curiosity. We already know he is not one to have any pain threshold.

  76. 76 sonofdman said at 12:23 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I don’t know the details and am certainly not qualified to comment on what damage he could have done.

    But, the fact is that the Eagles medical staff cleared him to play when Wolff felt like something was wrong and he couldn’t play. Later he found out that something was in fact wrong and the eagles medical staff missed it. I can see how that would not inspire much confidence for Wolff in the medical staff saying he is cleared to play.

  77. 77 Flyin said at 12:27 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree. He is getting his diaphram re-measured.

  78. 78 DJH said at 8:20 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’ve heard this mentioned at birds 24/7 as well. I’d like to see some actual documentation of this, not just EW’s words. What he says often doesn’t make sense to me.

    For example, above he challenges chips comment that he is 100% cleared to go… By confirming that he is indeed 100% cleared to go. (Note that experiencing some pain/soreness does not mean he hasn’t been 100% cleared.)

    In short, I’m not sure we really know what happened last year, and I’m not Earl is the best source of info in this case.

  79. 79 GEAGLE said at 9:09 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    What more proof do you need when the kid had to have mini microfracture surgery?
    ..
    My understanding is he had Lesions in his knee that our trainers missed. So my impression was that he was correct to not play, while doctors mis diagnosed him…. But now that he has had the surgery and been cleared you would think he would start doing a little more then just stretching.

    But it’s tough to know, EVERYONEs body is different…. look at the Colts Robert Mathis, injured his Achilles in September and he is t expected to be back in time for Camp, yet Meco had the same Achilles injury two months later, and he is already running around….and this is Meco’s 2nd Achilles tear, and he came back faster from it then Robert Mathis 1st Achilles injury..
    ..
    Travis Long, Kiko and SAM all tore ACL around the same time, Kiko and Long are back, Bradford is still taking it slow
    ..
    Every human body is different, there is no set universal time frame for getting over an injury…so I hate to question Wolffs toughness, so I won’t go there without knowing how the kids knee feels, but it’s not a good sign when coaches are questionng his toughness

  80. 80 DJH said at 9:31 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ok. But is there some type of formal documentation outlining how Eagles medical staff misdiagnosed Earl’s condition?

    And I’m not talking about a beat reporter “connecting the dots.”

  81. 81 GEAGLE said at 2:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Formal documentation? Well they said there was nothing wrong with Wolff. He claimed he couldn’t play. And in the end he had to have “mini microfracture surgery”… What more document do you need then the scar on his knee from the surgery?
    ..,
    I’m not a doctor, I’m not going to debate this all day. Like I have said in the past, I would be perfectly fine with Wolff deciding to go on season ending IR so he can take all the time he could possibly need to get over this and come back giving himself the best chance at a long and healthy career. I would be absolutely fine with him shutting it down RIGHT NOW and go on IR TIL next year.. I would support that decision 100%… All I Know is that if and when Wolff decides to comeback and take the field, he better stay on the field and not dare take practice days off over camp injuries, and when he finally does return. Not only will he have to stay on the field but he is going To have to outperform the competition and win one of the ONLY TWO safety spots up for Grabs, since Jenkins, Maragos and Thurmond are virtual locks to make the roster, leaving only 2 safety spots open being contested bêtween ST ace Prosinski, Couplin. Ed reynolds, EJ Biggers.. Oh and It’s too soon to give up on Jaylen Watkins, so he will also make the roster. don’t know if he will count as a CB or as a Safety, but if he is going to be considered a safety, then there is really only going to be one open safety spot up for Grabs, two if they count Watkins as a cornerback…
    ..
    So if Wolff decides to try to come back this year and make the Roster, he better Know what he is doing, he better be able to stay on the field, amd out perform a group of hungry young players that have been working for the past year and a half while wolff rehabs and stretches…
    ..
    I worry that he may be better off going on IR and not putting his eagle career on the line Til next offseason when he is fully healed, assuming that chip would even be ok with carrying him on IR again..
    ..
    hopefully he understands that he has exhausted all of chips patiemce and he will never again survive roster cuts off of potential. If he steps on the field, he will have to stay on the field for the rest of the summer and outperform the rest of the competition or his eagle career is over…

  82. 82 Jernst said at 10:02 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    It wasn’t a misdiagnosis. He was fine to play. The area of arthritis he has was so small the MRI didn’t pick it up. But you can play with arthritis. The doctors confirmed there was nothing structurally or functionally wrong with his leg. Which was the correct diagnosis.

  83. 83 Jernst said at 9:58 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Higher risk of getting arthritis later in life. Which is essentially a given if you’re a professional football player. But that risk doesn’t go down after a micro fracture. It goes up. Just puts it off. The real problem is that Earl thinks it’s impossible to play with any type of pain.

  84. 84 Jernst said at 9:57 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    No not at all. They found out he had a minuscule area of arthritis that he totally could have played with if he could have dealt with the pain and Dr Andrews decided to do a mini micro fracture procedure to see if stimulating some new cartilage growth would quell his pain and get him to play again. But from Dr Andrews mouth he could have just as easily done nothing at all and Earl would have been fine. Nothing at all functionally wrong with his knee, no structural damage whatsoever just a small area of normal wear and tear.

  85. 85 John Paine said at 12:38 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Pain is always your body telling you not to do something, but there are different types of pain. Some you can play through. Some you can’t. For instance, the reason Hamstrings are so bad (aside from the fact that it’s easy to think its okay and then retweak it) is because your body simply will not let you do a full sprint no matter how bad you want to if you have a bad hammy. That means you cant play effectively. So if the pain he’s feeling won’t allow him to drop his hips (requires a deep knee bend) and explode, then he’s right. He can’t play the position and he wouldn’t be any help even if he tried to play.

    I don’t know what exactly the type of pain he’s feeling is or isn’t, and neither do you. So neither of us are in a position to say if he can or even should be practicing until that pain stops. But since I assume that he wants to be an NFL player and potentially make millions of dollars, I’m going to assume that he wants to play and isn’t sandbagging. He was a 5th round pick. It’s not like he’s set for life. He needs another contract before he can think about taking injuries and stealing money (not that I have any reason to think he would do that). It just doesn’t make any sense to be doing that now.

  86. 86 Jernst said at 10:16 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    One is a muscle that is functionally involved in those movements one is arthritis which causes no functional disability but just pain.

  87. 87 SteveH said at 11:02 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I’m wondering if not just giving Mathis the upgrade on his deal that he wanted is a little short sighted of Chip. I don’t think their relationship got really contentious before the most recent developments, and I can understand why Mathis would be frustrated that a deal that was there before is off the table now.

    Down Herremans already on OL, if we lose Mathis too with no one else coming to fill the gap leaves us really really shallow along the line… Plus we’re counting on Peters to continue to play at a high level.

    No way to know for sure, maybe Mathis has been a locker room problem for Chip all along, but I’d love to know Chip’s reasoning for pulling the offer off the table.

  88. 88 Flyin said at 11:04 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Chip never gave him the offer. Why didn’t Mathis take the pay raise last year. I think some facts are missing from these reports. No logic behind them.

  89. 89 SteveH said at 11:05 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Mathis probably didn’t take the pay raise because he thought he could do better and wouldn’t settle. He was wrong, but once he figured that out the deal was off the table.

    Again, no way to know for sure what’s really going on behind the scenes, but I’d love to know the whole story.

  90. 90 Flyin said at 11:11 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Do better how? With the report I read? He was going to get a $1 million dollar raise per year for ’14-’16 for his current contract. Makes no sense why he would pass on the $3 million raise. That’s why I think the story isn’t accurate. Conner Barwin happily accepted his unexpected raise.

  91. 91 SteveH said at 11:14 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Well the reports indicate that he was looking for more money from whatever team he went to, so I assume he thought he was worth more than just the extra 1 million the Eagles offered. That’s the way I’ve been reading the situation anyhow.

  92. 92 Flyin said at 11:34 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    In the end, I think Mathis has screwed himself. And maybe the Eagles along the way. I wouldn’t save him a parking space in O.C after this.

  93. 93 anon said at 11:35 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    it’s otas, hopefully everyone can move on when the time comes.

  94. 94 Flyin said at 11:44 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I want the best for the team, I have no hate with the players on the roster. I want them all to be the best they can be for the Eagles or their next opportunity…

    I have no problem taking a punch and shaking hands when the dust settles.

  95. 95 GEAGLE said at 12:15 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah thats what I said… But apparently people think someone would turn down an offer for more money. I do t really care either way. The moment he let his teammates down over a dispute with management is the moment I get turned off and start siding with management… Want more money, do what Barwin did, produce to the point thy give you a bonus without even asking for one…

    a part of me wants to see Mathis get cut, so we can see how much he would get on the open market, I’d bet he would get lowballed and forced to sign for a million or two less then What we would have paid him… How delusional does a 34yr old guard coming off an injury filled season where he sat out half the games have to be to think he has ANY chance at signing for more the. The 11mil we ara set too pay him these next two years..
    .this is one of the dumbest attempted money grabs by a player that I can recall.. Mathis is getting some horrible advice….. This idiot acts like this is his last chance to make money when it he would shut up and finish his career as an eagle he can Have his pick of any local media job that he wants when he retires… I hope someone other then his slimy agent talks some sense in him before mandatory camp next week .

  96. 96 HawaiianEagle said at 12:21 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Pulling an AP without APs cards…AP full house Mathis trying to draw an inside straigjt….Dont make me go all Kenny Rogers…

  97. 97 A Roy said at 6:06 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Glad you knew when to walk away.

  98. 98 Bert's Bells said at 7:50 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I could have heard a pin drop as he turned and locked the door.

  99. 99 EagleNebula said at 11:08 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    As far as chips reasoning, don’t forget there was a regime change in charge of contracts…

  100. 100 CrackSammich said at 11:20 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    It sets a terrible precedent to give in without a good reason. I can’t imagine any decent business man would agree with your reasoning.

    Why did they pull the offer off the table? He’s a year older and spent last year injured. His value just dropped.

  101. 101 Jernst said at 11:36 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Not to mention he turned it down apparently. Who gets an offer for a raise, turns it down, spends half the following season injured and then goes back to the team the following year and expects that offer to still be on the table?

  102. 102 Jack Waggoner said at 2:39 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    For one thing that was Howie’s deal.

  103. 103 GEAGLE said at 12:04 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I disagree that just recently their relationship is going sour. Skipping OTAs will infuriate chip… If Mathis kept his head down and kept working throughout this dispute, fans and media would all be on his side right now…letting your teammates down, refusing to go train with them, should never be rewarded with more money…

  104. 104 GEAGLE said at 11:50 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    I wouldn’t call Mathis “striking while the iron is hot” when he has been available for two years and no one has offered anything. iron will never be “hot” for a 34yr old coming off a year where he missed half the season to injury..
    ..
    if Mathis continued to do right by his teammates this entire time, even if he was in the middle of this dispute, I would be rooting for chip to reward him with a bonus… But chip can’t reward his behavior, I’m happy he won’t give Mathis a penny more for going this route… normally I side with players, and I would side with Mathis if he did the right thing during this dispute, but a first time GM can’t be strong armed into giving up more money
    ..
    I agree with Joe Banner that if Mathis gets cut, he will lose a lot of money, get lowballed by another team. And regret losing his current deal with the Eagles
    ..If chip was going to cut Mathis, he would have done it already.. my impression. Is chip isn’t going to lose this game of chicken, he will draw a line in the stand and tell Mathis he can collect 11mil from the Eagles these next two years of he can retire…if Mathis was going to get cut, it would have happened already. Chip wouldn’t be dealing with this in June over the potential 7th round pick we would get in a Mathis trade..
    ..
    We get answers at next weeks minicamp. I would be really surprised if Mathis isn’t on our roster this year, but chip will make him earn a starting spot back…it won’t be given to him..
    ..
    Mathis has nothing to gain from this, it’s a lose/lose fo him, he won’t get more money then he is contracted to make now

  105. 105 EagleNebula said at 11:54 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Not sure if someone mentioned it yet, but sconces is praising the team he is joining while criticizing the team he is leaving… Sounds like someone playing politics. Of course, I am sure their is some truth to his dislike of chip keeping him from spending more time on his interior decorating career…

  106. 106 FairOaks said at 12:18 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think Williams had the same opinion of the conditioning when he was here. He said more than once he didn’t feel as fresh due to the work regimen. Maybe he projected that onto others… not sure if there is any merit or not. There were lots of veterans who also did they they felt better than normal at the end of the year. I think his beef was mainly with the Saturday workouts, or something like that.

  107. 107 EagleNebula said at 12:30 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I remember that. He was the only one who complained openly. He seems like the type of persons who is very set in his ideas and doesn’t enjoy it when people mess with the routine. Especially when you factor in the “in Baltimore we did…” Comments to justify fighting the patriot players in practice.

  108. 108 anon said at 12:32 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    in Baltimore we did…win a championship, and go deep in the playoffs on an annual basis.

  109. 109 Flyin said at 12:32 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    so you’re a ravens fan?

  110. 110 anon said at 12:34 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    no just saying sconces had ideas from spending time on a championship calbur team so i wouldn’t wholly discount what he says even though to my eye he’s not the greatest player.

  111. 111 Flyin said at 12:41 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Sorry, your comments show you are not an Eagles fan. Anon, you are the enemy. No more wasting my time on your comments. Hopefully you can get a fan chat blog for your team.

  112. 112 Lewwyn said at 10:25 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Can’t tell if you’re serious or not. I thought it was pretty obvious anon was speaking as Cary.

  113. 113 EagleNebula said at 12:44 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    1) just because something worked with one set of people does not mean it will with another.
    2) just because something worked doesn’t mean a different methodology won’t

    every situation deserves to be looked at with open eyes. His were never opened, he was complaining from Day 1 (that he showed up).

  114. 114 anon said at 12:48 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    agree.

  115. 115 Jack Waggoner said at 3:04 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Whether he is or not, who cares?

  116. 116 EagleNebula said at 12:42 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    with a defense containing a HOF ILB and S (Ray Lewis & Ed Reed) plus Haloti, Suggs, that he could hide behind when he took cheep shots. Not to mention Boldin, Ray Rice (who put up 1600 yards that year) etc etc etc… yeah they were loaded with talent that were well seasoned.

    Hell, how many defenses have multiple potential HOF players at the same time? Serious question.

  117. 117 anon said at 12:45 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    who knows, SF, Pitt for a long while, SEA, NYJ, Cardinals before, Pats (before), there’s probably others.

  118. 118 stephenstempo said at 3:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    he sounds like the kind of person out drinking every night and getting like 6 hours of sleep. Which yeah probably made him tired. Now I don’t know that for sure but cary seems like the kind of guy who probably appreciates his party time.

  119. 119 GEAGLE said at 11:59 PM on June 10th, 2015:

    Wolff will no longer make the roster off of potential and Raw ability. That ship has sailed. He needs to get on the field. Stay on the field and out perform most of the safeties to make this years roster.., and THATS just to make the roster, he can kiss starting at safety goodbye, Thurmond will run away with his starting safety spot as long as he stays healthy..
    ..
    Wolff claims that he is banking on getting perfectly healthy so he can put on a show in camp and show what he can do since he studied with Jenkins all offseason. When Wolff gets on the field, he needs to practice every day to have a shot at making the team. He can’t come back and two weeks later sit out of practice for two days over a minor injury:.. If he doesn’t stay on the field once he comes back his eagle career is over…. Really hoping he can get it together and make the team… I would my bet on him tho..

  120. 120 HawaiianEagle said at 12:08 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Interesting Barkley piece by spuds. Matt either has been the butt of a joke or an afterthought. Says he is physically 100% and the O is coming second nature. Assume he remains and TT gets cut…Maybe not. Like Matt, seemingly committed to himself and the team.

  121. 121 GEAGLE said at 12:18 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I assumed Barkly was a lock to make this team… Tebow is no more of a threat to Barkley then GJ Kinney was…Barkley should start showing significabt improvementt in year 3. Look forward to seeing him in preseason games. He should easily outages Tebow

  122. 122 Jack Waggoner said at 2:37 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Tebow has a tough road ahead. From what I hear he’s not even close to Barkley so far. On the other hand it’s still OTA’s.

  123. 123 GEAGLE said at 8:51 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    TEBOW is ONLY an eagle because Kinney didn’t want to be the summer QB, which is basically a glorified Lifeguard job lol….
    .,
    If Kinney was ok remaining our summer QB, TEBOW wouldn’t be here… I doubt TEBOW is any more Of a threat to Barkley then Kinney was…. Every summer the Eagles are going to have to bring in a summer QB, because of the high pace tempo of chips practices, doubt this 4th Summer QB will be winning roster spots too often… barkley is in year 3 of this offense, he should wipe the floor with TEBOW at camp(who is learning a new offense while trying to implement new mechanics)…
    ..,
    I’ll be very surprised if Barkley ISNT our #3 this year

  124. 124 Bert's Bells said at 8:57 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip: GJ you want to keep your steady job as camp QB and running the scout team during the season?

    KInne: No thanks, I’ll just try out at a stacked position that gets less playing time with an even more astronomical chance of making the roster or contributing during the season.

    Chip: And they call ME the genius!

  125. 125 CrackSammich said at 9:46 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    He’s trying out at another position because he used up his practice squad eligibility.

  126. 126 Bert's Bells said at 10:03 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    New CBA gives three years of PS eligibility, right?

    SuperKinne only has two.

    Still, are the chances of catching on as WR greater than a QB?

    Regardless, it’s clear the Eagles think Tebow is a better option than Kinne and that’s why he’s the #4 QB. If they thought Kinne was the better QB option he would be #4.

  127. 127 CrackSammich said at 11:09 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Hmmm. You might be right. I always thought it was two years.

  128. 128 Bert's Bells said at 12:38 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think it may have changed in the new deal.

    There were a bunch of changes in PS size and eligibility and accrued service.

  129. 129 peteike said at 2:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I know fans have discussed Tebow changing positions but I wonder if he actually considers it at the end of camp. Say he gets beat out by Barkley and its obvious but he also shines on the option play TDs int he red zone or similar plays. Wonder if they call him a FB or something just to keep him around as that threat. Now its tough to guess if theyd waste a roster spot on something like that but not out of the question. Does seem too limited though.

  130. 130 GEAGLE said at 3:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    The past two years, we lacked depth so I could see Tebow switching positions and making it…. But we are now talking about a deep roster. I just don’t see who’s spot he could realistically take;
    ..
    WRs, after our 3 youngbucks, we have Cooper, Miles Austin and Tutu as our #4,5 and 6th WRs, if we even keep 6.. Which already means cutting Chips boy Jeff Maehl. Cooper is costly to cut before next year
    ..
    RB: Murray, Ryan, Darren.. If we were to actually carry 4 RBs, TEBOW would have to beat out Tucker(who I think we like) amd Kenjon Barner to make the team
    ..
    TE: Celek, Ertz, and Trey Burton is very versatle and unlikely to lose his spot to TEBOW..
    ..
    On top of all that, we are already spending the #5 safety spot on Maragos and the #5 OLB spot on Braman, who are really both here for Special teams, not to play defense..
    ..
    I don’t see where else we can skimp a position to make room to carry TEBOW,,, who spot can he realistically take? Even without TEBOW on the roster we are going to have to cut good players we don’t want to cut like Acho, Najee Goode. Brad Jones, possibly Bair, possibly Earl Wolff… We are already going to have to lose good players like them. Who else can we cut to make room for TEBOW?

  131. 131 stephenstempo said at 3:48 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Hey to be fair Kinne has managed to have at least some kind of job in football for a few years. Probably end up a coach one of these years haha. kudos to him.

  132. 132 Bert's Bells said at 6:27 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m a big fan, and I can totally see him as a very successful coach.

  133. 133 Insomniac said at 12:50 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Tebow is not making any teams after his brief time with us.

  134. 134 Flyin said at 12:46 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    anon: “in Baltimore we did…win a championship, and go deep in the playoffs on an annual basis.”

  135. 135 Jack Waggoner said at 3:02 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    People who don’t fully buy into the system poison the culture if they are around too long. Just how long Chip is willing to put up with them depends on how poisonous they seem to be and on whether or not there is adequate talent to replace them.

    I expect Mathis to show up for minicamp and whether he is still on the team will be based on his behavior upon returning.

  136. 136 370HSSV 0773H said at 8:18 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Guys like Williams are a negative presence in the locker room. Now we know why Kelly has been getting rid of guys like him. Instead of trying to raise up his teammates, Williams brings them down with his whining.

  137. 137 370HSSV 0773H said at 8:24 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think people are reading Peters quote the wrong way. I read it as a support for Barbre, not a hit against Mathis. If Peters said he would miss Mathis, everyone would say it was a shot at Barbre.

  138. 138 eagleyankfan said at 9:19 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    It’s not what Peters is saying — it’s what he’s not saying…

  139. 139 Loke1988 said at 8:29 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    You are and always have been a homer and now full on Eagles propaganda machinist Tom. At this point you and Dave Spader are pretty much interchangeable. Why would you do anything else but try and discredit what Williams said and of course your a big Chip fan! I just happened on a link that took me here in case your wondering why I even bothered to stop by.

  140. 140 James said at 8:39 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    What’s a Dave Spader?

  141. 141 Loke1988 said at 9:55 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Fixed

  142. 142 Lewwyn said at 10:19 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mmnnn, pretty sure it’s still wrong.

  143. 143 TypicalDouche said at 8:57 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    No worries man no one here is gonna care about your stupid rant and good luck of your future semi idiotic post on other blogs. Oh and is Dave Spader an offspring of James Spader?

  144. 144 Loke1988 said at 9:56 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Your name is quite fitting. And ah yes grammar is always a good argument when u have no other.

  145. 145 TypicalDouche said at 12:06 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    There was no need to make an argument to a clear moron like yourself. You’re calling Tommy a homer because he stating what he believes? He is no way a homer because if you actually read this blog you would know he criticizes the team when need be. So like I was saying there is no need to clarify my reaction to stupid people like yourself. Come with a valid argument then maybe we’ll talk guy.

  146. 146 Loke1988 said at 6:39 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Homer going way back to 2007 as GE99 on the EMB.

  147. 147 EagleNebula said at 11:11 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Awesome dude, way to side with the guy who is complaining about his workload after he couldn’t be bothered to prepare for his job because choosing the light fixtures on his wall was waaaaaay more important and could not be postponed 3 days.

    http://i.imgur.com/QYzNls3.gif

  148. 148 anon said at 11:19 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    those were literally different years

  149. 149 EagleNebula said at 11:26 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Different years but the same player with the same mindset. He was uninterested in buying in, he was uninterested in doing more than he thought was necessary. Psychologically, not buying in has a high likelihood of leading to a self fulfilling prophesy of failure. So yeah if he didn’t want to do the work believing it would wear them out… Guess what he will be worn out. Just like if you go into a test believing you will fail, you will put yourself in a position to fail.

    and quite frankly, I just don’t care what his opinion is given his actions from day 1, which was why I brought that up.

  150. 150 stephenstempo said at 3:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I dont even understand this comment.

  151. 151 stephenstempo said at 3:46 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Cary Williams is a blithering idiot. Sorry he’s your cousin or something, but as far as I could tell listening to him speak is like listening to a sack full of kittens die. It’s just agonizing to think that somehow he got through at least 14 years of schooling and this is the fruits of their effort.

    And Oh my god use f*^&*^ing “You’re” IT MEANS “YOU ARE”. Separate thing but jesus you write like Cary Williams talks.

  152. 152 Loke1988 said at 6:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Just the fact that you peruse this garbage indicts you as a homer as well so I wouldn’t expect you or anyone else here to agree and I’m good with that.

  153. 153 stephenstempo said at 12:03 PM on June 12th, 2015:

    Pursue. Sigh. If you need a thesaurus I will gladly buy one for you but here’s a hint. Men, men who deserve “respec” are men who devote time to improving their ability to actually rationally think. It’s a damn shame you think that same respect comes from acting like a fool and thinking you know everything. Typical, typical, typical. How bland your personality must be. Well at least I guess in some sectors an attitude does pass as a replacement for an actual identity. Ta ta good sir. Perhaps one day you will crack open a book.

  154. 154 Loke1988 said at 6:17 PM on June 12th, 2015:

    lol I said peruse not pursue…ANd isn’t there a t at the end of respect? I have more personality in my finger tip then you contain in your entire being. Anyway I’m done with you, Enjoy Tommy’s homer garbage.

  155. 155 stephenstempo said at 12:05 PM on June 12th, 2015:

    You also still write Like Cary Williams talks. You know. Like a 1st grader.

  156. 156 Gary Barnes said at 9:07 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    The unreported reality is that for every Chip ripper, there are three Chip fluffers who defend every single thing he does and seem to believe the man walks on water even though he has not won anything significant at this level yet.

    The man is not perfect, he makes mistakes and has made mistakes just like every other HC or now GM. People need to stop defending him as a reflex and actually listen to what players like Williams are saying…

    Certainly some of it is bitterness at being let go and/or passed over and some of it is because players are not used to a regimen like Chip’s, but there may be a nugget of truth that the defense, in particular, was tired out after being on the field for so much extra time compared to other teams, especially last season when the offense struggled, turned the ball over a lot and could not move the chains consistently…the defense was asked to bail them out game after game…and not surprisingly they were not able to every time.

    Chip’s hurry up tempo on offense is something he should consider adapting if/when the offense struggles. Instead of just dismissing the criticism as all sour grapes and thus preserving some artificial perception of Chip as infallible and not responsible for any of our short comings, we should have a more balanced approach, realize there is some truth from these ex-players (Not McCoy on the race stuff IMO) and that adjustments will need to be made to Chip’s “system” if we are going to win a SB like we all want…but that overall Chip has been a wonderful addition to the Eagles and is a very good HC.

  157. 157 GEAGLE said at 9:24 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Sorry, but I need more then 1 disgruntled player to believe this.

    1) You don’t go on the insane 9-1 run to finish the 2013 season if your players are tired and worn down in December………THATS just not possible.
    ..
    2) we have had ugly breakups with disgruntled players like Desean, Cole and Shady, to the point where shady was so upset he had to invent a bullshit racist accusation, yet as mad as these players were, none of them ripped chips coaching, his football brain or his training….. If shady was mad enough to make a crazy racist accusation, it’s safe to say he would have no problem ripping chips coaching and training methods if what Cary says was true..
    ..
    3) 1 player claims they were worn down, yet how many our well respected veterans raved about how they never felt so good late in a season? Trent Cole, Celek, Herremansm Demeco”….. dEmeco Ryan played more defensive snaps then everyone in football close to the age of 30. that CANT Happen if what Cary says is true… Countless players rave about how Great they feel, how awesome it is that chip stresses recovery…. Not sure how you can believe 1 out of 53 players who says the opposite??

    4) As much as chip cares about training, the sports science, the importance he places on recovery, do you actually believe that if respected leaders like Celek, Peters, Demeco, Kelce, trent Cole go to Chip and tell him that the team is tired and worn down, that chip would just ignore them and further run them into the grounds? What coach would ignore his players if they told him they were worn down and didn’t havare their legs?

    I need a little more then 1 player saying the opposite of what every other player claims to be able to believe this…. We have had some ugly breakups with pissed off former Eagles, yet no matter how pissed they were, None of them ripped Chips coaching and training methods with the exception of Cary…

  158. 158 Gary Barnes said at 10:22 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m fine with needing more than 1 player, but that is likely all you’re going to hear from until more guys leave the team…no one is going to speak out like Cary did while on the roster since they know it will only bring them bad things with Chip, their teammates, the fans etc. I’d be shocked if there were not other players who feel similarly, but will put 100% of themselves in and try to fight through it. If Mathis or Kendricks are sent packing, it will be interesting to hear what the hurry up does to an OL and a LB compared to a CB…now there is no guarantee they will speak after leaving the team either, but it would be much more likely.

  159. 159 GEAGLE said at 11:02 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    see point #2…., plenty disgruntled players who wanted to take shots at chip, yet none of them bad mouthed his coaching ability or his training methods….. As pissed as shady was, if chips unique training methods had him worn down and didn’t work, don’t you think he would be telling the media? Instead he had to accuse chip of racism, while also saying he can’t day anything negative about him as a coach and football mind…
    ..,
    I don’t expect players under contract to support carys claim, but I don’t believe multiple players where talking out their ass when they were raving about how they never felt better so late in the season. how many players have raved about the importance he places on recovery?

    how in the world can a team with no Legs who is worn down like Cary claimed end up finishing a season going 9-1 in November and December like we did in 2013?
    ..
    Plenty players have left pissed off and took shots at us, yet none of them had anything negative to say about chips training but Cary.., if what Cary says was true, shady would be screaming it from a mountain

  160. 160 anon said at 11:10 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    it could have been a problem that was more specific to dbs who spent a lot more time running downfield every play and played every play.

  161. 161 GEAGLE said at 1:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    You thnk if the hard working, well respected captain Malcolm Jenkins went up to chip kelly and told him the DBs were worn down that Chip wouldnt listen to Jenkins and adjust? This is a coach who took in game advise during the Detroit game from Cary Williams, you really think he wouldn’t listen to his respected Captains if they told him they were worn down? We are talking about a coach who has emphasized recovery more then traditional NFL coaches. I assume he would take players claiming they were worn down very serious….. To me, it sounds like another excuse from what was our #1 CB of the secondary that gave up an absurd amount of big plays…

  162. 162 stephenstempo said at 3:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    So you believe there is more than one player? I’ll amend that. I need more than one player who has more then a mere modicum of intelligence.

  163. 163 DJH said at 9:24 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip built a juggernaught in Orgeon. (No, did not win championships, but does not negate fact that Oregon was dominate and has been in championship mix.)

    Chip took a 4-12 Eagle team to the playoffs the following year. Yes, we lost at home. Both McCoy and Jackson disappeared in that game. We couldn’t stop the run. Both McCoy and Jackson are gone. Went 10-6 following year and collapsed at the end of the season with mediocre QB play and poor secondary play.

    Major changes to roster in offseason. New DB coach. Who’s to say that Chip and company have not reviewed and revised “training” regamine?

    I have no problem with people (and media “experts”) critiquing Chip and his moves, but always consider he does have a track record as a winner, and those critiquing never have all the same info that he does.

    Does/has he made mistakes. Sure. What coach doesn’t? Crtique all you want, but at the end of the day, those who “trust” his process and methods have the more solid position imo.

  164. 164 Gary Barnes said at 9:43 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I said “at this level yet” meaning the NFL, not college….as we all know, college and the NFL are vastly different. And I included “yet” meaning I expect Chip to win something significant at some point in the NFL…

    Again, all I’m asking for is balance…Chip has done well so far in implementing his systems and molding the type of team he wants…now, let’s see Chip win a playoff game at least with his newly crafted team and then I’m fully on board with the process. However, if similar issues hurt us again this year and we fall short again, Chip needs to be held to account for that and needs to explain how he is going to fix them correctly this time.

    In essence, do not be a Chip ripper or a Chip fluffer…be a Chip realist, be very happy with how he has done so far and how the team seems to be shaping up, but let him meet a standard of achievement that has some meaning before we continue pinning the genius tag on Chip and holding him up as an untouchable paragon.

  165. 165 DJH said at 10:26 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    He may be a “genius” football mind. Even McCoy, who clearly has issues with Chip, has stated as much. So it’s not just Chip fanboys who claim he’s a football genius. But being a football genius and successful head coach in NFL are not synonymous. Sabah is clearly a “football genius” but was not a successful NFL coach. One can be a gifted football mind and fail as a coach.

    No, in two years Chips Eagles have not won a playoff game. They’ve been to one and been in the mix for the playoffs the other year.

    The team has obvious flaws (secondary/3rd and long) and clear mediocre spots (QB and offense line struggles/injuries). Chip I’m sure, has missed calls during preparation and in game.

    All that considered, at this point, after two 10-6 seasons, and with his college track record, the Chip “fluffers” have the upper hand over the Chip “doubters.”

    Barring a 4 win or less season, Lurie will give Chip his remaining three years. I’m prepared to hold any strong criticisms and wait and watch based on the reasoning shared above. Those who pick and doubt and complain over every move Chip makes are entitled, but it’s silly and unwarranted at this point imo.

  166. 166 Gary Barnes said at 10:37 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    But again, my whole point is for fans to think for themselves and be NEITHER a Chip fluffer nor a ripper…because NEITHER side has a strong case for being right yet IMO….I’m saying stay objective and see both sides for what they are. Both are built on hope. The fluffers hope Chip is the genuis innovator who will finally bring a SB ring to our town and garner us the respect we deserve around the league. The rippers hope Chip fails since they do not believe in his philosophy and are sick of the endless hype around a coach who is best known for his work in college…

    Chip has done well so far, but has not won anything of note yet….so it is a wait and see proposition. Not enough evidence is in to make a firm conclusion yet. Is it 60-40 positive so far? 70-30? 80-20? No one really can say definitively yet.

    Let’s see how Chip does with his newly crafted team this season and that should help things become more clear one way or another…

  167. 167 stephenstempo said at 3:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    it’s definitely 70-30 there. I said it definitely. You know I get your point. But the whole “we should all just wait and not have a strong opinions until much later” rhetoric I feel is kind of self deflating. This is sports.

    Also most of the chip “fluffer” stuff as you call it is mostly people reacting when someone jackass comes in making absurd comments. I don’t think anyone is really worshiping chip as much as you seem to think. They do seem pretty happy about winning 20 games in his first two years considering the other coaches we could have had and the disaster a lot of head coaches are *cough* Shanahan* cough.* I’d say yeah 70-30 positive sounds fair. Definitely.

  168. 168 Gary Barnes said at 3:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I disagree Chip is not worshipped in some quarters and that fluffers only come out when people bash Chip or that everyone who bashes Chip is a jackass…see, right there you show your fluffer bias…Chip was a sensation the day he was hired and some thought he walked on water from the start…it is normal for a new coach to have a honeymoon period where people give him the benefit of the doubt, but it was different with Chip…he was lauded as the genius savior right away and his honeymoon is still going even though he has not won a playoff game…this season that changes IMO if we fall short again. People expect Chip now to win in the playoffs since he now has all the power and made his changes to the roster. If it does not work, the knives will start to come out…

  169. 169 stephenstempo said at 3:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    As for what you said. Um ok. You do know the term honeymoon period is for coaches who don’t have success right away right? I mean I get your point but generally the term is used for a coach who finally has to show progress in a certain year. When you win 10 games in 2 years on a team that was 4-12 you don’t actually have a honeymoon period. And it only changes this season based on how the season goes. Nuances matter. I agree Chip has more pressure, especially with the control and moves he made. I wouldn’t say last year was a disaster by any stretch. Sometimes things just don’t go your way. Riley Cooper catches a ball in the 49ers game and we’re 11-4 and who knows. It’s not as if the whole season was some abysmal failure. It was a razors edge so to speak and a lot of small things bit us. Which is fine, it happens.

    Also no one in the organization care about the knives. Chip is going to be coach for a while weather you like it or not. Lurie is old school in the vein of the Stealers organization. He’s not going to cut ties with a young head coach over a year or two of not making the playoffs. He’s not Jerry Jones. So let the knives come out.

    Ok ignoring the content of your post I’m going to say this as someone who used to do this. Ellipses are not periods. When I read a post like that I just keep reading it like some old guy who keeps trailing off his sentences and then starting a whole new thought.

  170. 170 Gary Barnes said at 4:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I want Chip as my HC, never said any different and I like most of what he has done so far. As a GM, we’ll have to see as it is much too early to know yet. I want him to stay for as long as he is successful and I’m fine with Lurie being loyal as I think continuity is important in football throughout the organization and team.

    We both know, however, that was not a true 4-12 team in 2012, they were loaded with talent, but got absolutely ravaged with injuries and everyone knew it was Reid’s last year so it all fell apart.

    Look at the players who led the way for Chip in 2013 – 99% of them were inherited from Reid plus we stayed very healthy that season and were playing a weaker schedule. That does not take away from what Chip accomplished as a rookie coach; they just show that he had a very good team already and what the team needed was health and better structure which Chip gave them.

    Some of the same players led the way for Chip in 2014 as well, but for reasons only he really knows he got rid of or let many of them go. Thankfully, he did not send Kendricks or Cox or Mathis packing as well since we need those guys if we are making a serious run this year. We did not get as lucky injury-wise and the offense & secondary in particular struggled to perform. ST and the defense were improved overall, but were asked to carry too much of the load too often and could not do it.

    Chip brought in a lot of new players and oversaw another draft that hopefully will deliver more talent for the team. We’ll see what happens this season, but there is no coach that is immune to fan and/or media scrutiny when they feel expectations were not met and/or the coach has flaws. Reid won more games than any other HC in Eagles history and won many divisions, playoff games and a NFC Championship as well…but eventually the fans and media turned on him because he did not win the one thing they all wanted: a SB trophy. If they turned on Reid, they will turn on Chip eventually as well if he does not produce what we all want. If we miss the playoffs again this year, there will be frustration with Chip and rightfully so. That is what I meant about his honeymoon period being over – if he instead wins a playoff game and we look like we are truly on the rise, then people will cheer him and rightfully so…

  171. 171 EagleNebula said at 11:06 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    To add to your point, Chip has shown a propensity for self evaluation and correcting the mistakes he has made both in college and over the last 2 years. One of the main reasons I trust him so much.

  172. 172 NineseveN said at 12:06 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    This. Growth mindset vs fixed mindset. That’s not just some bumper sticker he read on the way to work this morning…Chip adapts in order to thrive rather than merely survive.

  173. 173 GEAGLE said at 9:39 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip often talks about wanting players with “growth mindsets”, instead of “Fixed mindsets”, basically guys who will always continue to work to improve no matter how successful they are….
    ..
    As a coach, who was new to the NFL, I’m sure chip takes the same “Growth mindset” approach to his coaching… Not EVERYTHING chip touches turns to Gold. thru trail and Error im sure he tried a lot of stuff that he realizes doesn’t work in the pro’s.. I believe THS is a man who is constantly tryng to grow as an NFL coach… as Chip gains experience, he should grow into a better coach then GM..
    ..
    I’d be fascinated to hear chip talk about in what ways has he grown since the 2013 season when he made his professional debut…. I expect a man who will be a much better coach in 2015 then he was in 2013. I expect to see him be q much better coach in 2017 then he will be this upcoming season…and that’s the most exciting part about having a somewhat successful coach who is so new to the pro level. Like our young players who improve with each year that passes, I think we have a leader who will continue to grow and improve as a pro coach… For someone with an ego like chip, it’s awesome that like our players, he doesn’t have a FIXED mindset. He will continue to grow as a coach and GM with each year of experience that he gains.. And it’s exciting that he won’t tolerate Playes who think they have arrived and aren’t looking to continuosly improve…
    .
    Everything about this current regime is about constant growth and improvement…from the players, to the coaches, to a training staff THATS always trying to keep up with the newest cutting edge sports sciemce..
    ..
    Think these next 3 seasons will show us what a real Chip Kelly Pro team looks like… ANDYs fingerprints have almost been completely removed, and we are now starting to see a real Chip Kelly roster…
    ..
    I would also be fascinated to one day find out, what Moves Howie,kept chip from making in 2013 and 2014?… What moves did Howie veto?

  174. 174 Gary Barnes said at 10:25 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree and hope Chip can win more here than Reid i.e. meaning win the SB which was the only thing Reid did not win. This has seemed like the longest off-season I can remember…really looking forward to the season and to seeing the results on the field.

  175. 175 GEAGLE said at 10:53 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    I hear you man… It does feel like a long one, and the worst 6 week break is still ahead of us… But at least the preseason will be more exciting then it has eve been.., our starters won’t do anything in the preseason. But I’m so excited about our depth, that I will never be more excited to watch the second half of preseason games, and that’s a testament to the depth we built..
    ..
    My passion is Eagles Defense. I’m so excited about the defense we have in place that I don’t really worry about the offense.. Figure we have an elite Special teams, we will prove to be a top 10 defense by the end of the season.. If defense and ST does what it’s supposed to do, chip will figure out how to put enough points on the board…

    This season is all about our run game. If we can run the ball the way we want to this year, then I’m confident in being able to win with either QB. But if Bradford plays 16 games with this supporting cast, he should be a lock for comeback player of the year,
    ..
    All I really ask is that if we are going to fail, let us fail on the field. I can’t stomach wasting another year on ridiculous injury situation like last year. keep us reasonably healthy and I’ll live with the results,., can’t waste another year like last year where injuries were so crazy that we couldn’t even really judge half of our players because they were constantly having to play with new guys they didn’t build chemistry with…. Stay healthy enough to where We can at least know what we really have. give me good health, and I will live with the results
    ..
    This is the year where we finally see a defense truly worthy of representing this city and NOTHING can make me happier then a nasty philly style fefense

  176. 176 MattE said at 12:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I see a lot of business articles with new emerging management styles born from Chip Kelly’s Programs at Oregon and in Philly. Looking at things he does from a business side (and another comparison being Hinkey with the 76er’s) makes decisions more concise in regards to what Chip was thinking. I really want to get my hands on the “Tao of Chip Kelly”

  177. 177 Gary Barnes said at 3:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m a defense first guy as well…I’m definitely praying for health as we’re rolling the dice on a whole bunch of players, but most of that is just luck in the end…it would be nice to have another 2013 season where we stay healthy, are able to get to the playoffs and hopefully make a run this time…need to get a SB before I keel over and Chip gives us a good shot at it…

  178. 178 John Paine said at 9:51 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Cary Williams is mediocre at best. Overtraining didn’t make him suck, and he needs to shut his whore mouth.

    Evan Mathis has somewhere between zero and negative leverage. If he truly turned down a raise last year then he’s an idiot. If he actually expected the same, much less a new GM, to leave that offer on the table a year later, he’s an even bigger idiot. I like the guy, but he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Get your a– into OTAs, buddy.

    The Earl Wolff situation is really hard to make a judgment on. Here’s how I remember the timeline….

    Year 1

    1. He hurt his knee in, like, his second or third start.
    2. He said it wasn’t 100%, but the trainers cleared him (clearly rushed him because they had no one else) and he played on it 1 or 2 weeks later. He wound up hurting it again.
    3. After a couple of weeks the trainers cleared him again, but he kept saying that he couldn’t go.

    Year 2

    1. More back and forth over whether he could go or not.
    2. At almost The end of the season we find out that he had a cartilage tear and needed microfracture surgery.

    Year 3

    1. More back and forth over whether he can go or not.
    2.TBD

    So looking at it, I tend to side with Wolff. Because the trainers rushed him back initially, and got him reinjured. Then they told him he was good for a year and a half when he had a cartilage tear. I wouldn’t trust my career to their judgment of whether I could go or not either.

    On the other hand, if he doesn’t get out on the field soon, he’s not going to have a career. And the Eagles won’t be wrong for cutting him. The problem is that the should have found the tear a year and a half earlier instead of telling Earl to shut up and play. IDK, I hope his knee is go for training camp, and he lives up to his athletic potential. He seemed like the kind of guy I would’ve liked rooting for before all this injury drama.

  179. 179 RichC, #4Sigma said at 10:42 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    He’s soft. I’m done with Wolff. Like Johnny said below, extreme long shot to make the squad at this point.

  180. 180 John Paine said at 10:57 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    How can you say he’s soft when he was right and he did have a serious injury? See, that’s the problem here. His “phantom injuries” turned out to be real. Was he supposed to play on torn cartilage and ruin his knee?

    Again, I completely understand if the Eagles cut him. He’s not doing them any good in the training room trying to get his knee right. But they didn’t help the situation by not finding the tear for a year and a half and telling him he was 100%. The trainers were WRONG. That is a proven FACT. How does that make him soft?

  181. 181 RichC, #4Sigma said at 11:03 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip implied that he’s soft. I can’t recall him ever saying that about another player.

    So he’s soft until he proves otherwise.

    You’re getting awfully defensive about the 53rd guy on the roster.

  182. 182 John Paine said at 11:13 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Because he was RIGHT about there being damage, and the trainers were WRONG. So, yes, I am defensive about him, because everyone spent all last season calling him soft because of “phantom” injuries that turned out to be REAL.

    How many players have been told that they weren’t injured only to have a new technology be developed and we find out that it was just something we couldn’t see before? So I think it’s pretty sh-tty to call someone names when we KNOW that there was an issue that these same trainers missed for A YEAR AND A HALF.

    If he gets cut, that’s fine. Its a reasonable football decision. But calling him names and impugning his character is a d-ck move when he’s been proven right up until this point. Especially considering that the trainers were wrong twice. First in rushing him back (Which maybe led to the tear), and then in missing the tear.

  183. 183 Kelce's Beard said at 11:34 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Also, show me Chip’s medical degree and I’ll start caring about his opinion on whether or not a guy’s injured and if his activity level is appropriate for his medical condition coming off of surgery.

    I believe you mean Dr. James Andrews’ medical degree? I don’t have an actual picture, but I can’t imagine him having “Dr.” in front of his name all this time and no one calling him on it.

    C’mon man, read between the lines. Yes, Chip was just being NE-honest when he said “Earl? oh that guy? he’s just stretching.”. But he also said he has been medically cleared. Chip is far too smart to just make slips, everything he says/does is intentional, especially in front of the media. This is the same coach talking up Dead-Arm Barkley and giving high praise to Sconces and Fletch last year; if he ever says a guy is anything less than “a helluva player, real warrior/scholar/leader out there” I’d be awful worried

  184. 184 John Paine said at 1:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    No, he said, “Chip called him soft,” as if that meant something. Chip Kelly is not a medical professional. Hell, the medical professionals Chip Kelly employs were even wrong about whether or not the was any possible issue. So as much as I’m aboard the Chip train on most things, in this his opinion means less than zero as to what the truth of the situation is.

  185. 185 RichC, #4Sigma said at 1:37 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    It’s right there in front of you. Chip just about called him “Mr. Softee” in front of the media.

    The guy rehabs like DeSean Jackson blocks.

  186. 186 John Paine said at 3:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    What part of “Chip’s opinion on this matter holds zero weight with me” don’t you understand? Seriously, your reading comprehension is TERRIBLE.

  187. 187 RichC, #4Sigma said at 4:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’d try to return that Wolff jersey while there’s still time hero.

  188. 188 John Paine said at 4:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yep, non-relavent one liners. You’re really making convincing arguments now… Lol

  189. 189 RichC, #4Sigma said at 11:51 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    what are you ? his agent?

    Way to defend a guy who has never done anything for the team but soak in a tub.

    Chip doesn’t have a medical degree. Neither does Wolff. Team doctors have cleared him to play. He feels like he’s too hurt to play. Guess what? Its football. Sit out when injured; play hurt. Not interested? Then you’re soft.

    Again. If Chip had ever done this with another player, I’d agree. Three years and the only guy he’s ever publicly questioned about coming back is Wolff.

  190. 190 peteike said at 12:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    surprised you guys arent over this by now. Ive defended the guy enough at this point. I think were on week 2 of 5th round upside coming off of injury projections and coachspeak interpretations. Ahhh the joys of summer football talk. Oh ya, Ill just add that, were talking practice, practice? voluntary practice, were talkin practice

  191. 191 John Paine said at 12:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I really dont give a damn about the guy either way other than that we need another Safety, and I hope he (or one of the rest of the bunch) can be that guy. But you dont know how his body feels. So you don’t even have the relevant information to have an opinion on whether he can play or not. In fact, nobody but he does. So I’ll say for THE THIRD TIME that I understand completely if he gets cut. It doesn’t matter from the Eagles perspective whether the problem is real or imagined. If he can’t get on the field by training camp, then he needs to go. Is that clear enough? Or do I have to repeat it again so that you understand and stop doing stupid stuff like saying, “Are you his agent?… Derp!”?

    Anyway, i posted this above, but it bears repeating specifically to you…

    Pain is always your body telling you not to do something, but there are different types of pain. Some you can play through. Some you can’t. For instance, the reason Hamstrings are so bad (aside from the fact that it’s easy to think its okay and then retweak it) is because your body simply will not let you do a full sprint no matter how bad you want to if you have a bad hammy. That means you cant play effectively. So if the pain he’s feeling won’t allow him to drop his hips (requires a deep knee bend) and explode, then he’s right. He can’t play the position and he wouldn’t be any help even if he tried to play.

    I don’t know what exactly the type of pain he’s feeling is or isn’t, and neither do you. So neither of us are in a position to say if he can or even should be practicing until that pain stops. But since I assume that he wants to be an NFL player and potentially make millions of dollars, I’m going to assume that he wants to play and isn’t sandbagging. He was a 5th round pick. It’s not like he’s set for life. He needs another contract before he can think about taking injuries and stealing money (not that I have any reason to think he would do that). It just doesn’t make any sense to be doing that now.

  192. 192 RichC, #4Sigma said at 1:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ohh I see now. You’re equating injury with pain. I make a distinction. I don’t believe he’s injured. Neither do the Eagles. Neither does the independent Dr.

    He really should be out there. If his pain limits his effectiveness, I can appreciate it. But he needs to be out there.

    That’s the difference between you and me. I put a premium on toughness. You don’t. Totally OK.

  193. 193 John Paine said at 1:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    No. I just realize that some pain can not be overcome by “toughness”. There are some injuries/forms of pain that will trigger a reflex in your brain and will shut the movement you are trying to perform down.THIS IS NOT UNDER YOUR CONSCIOUS CONTROL. It is not a matter of “toughness”. It is purely involuntary. If his body just won’t respond explosively when he tries to make a certain motion required to play his position, then he needs to heal up until it will.

    Go pull a hamstring in anything but the slightest way and try and sprint. YOU CAN’T. That’s why being “hamstrung” means being incapable of doing anything. Because you literally can’t make your body respond to your commands NO MATTER HOW “tough” you are. I’m sorry that reality doesn’t jive with your fantasy that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. Sometimes you just can’t. And nobody except Earl Wolff knows if this is one of those situations.

  194. 194 RichC, #4Sigma said at 2:04 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I love the randomly capitalized phrases. Makes it easier for me to imagine you throwing a fit, (which you are) in defense of Earl Wolff. Makes no sense to me.

    You’re describing a hamstring injury. Different from pain.

    Anyway, this is boring. The coach called him out for being weak. Take it up with him.

  195. 195 John Paine said at 3:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Pain comes from injury. Whether it’s traumatic (e.g., hamstring pull) or degenerative (e.g., arthritis) or inflammatory (e.g., tennis elbow), it’s not healthy tissue and is therefore “injured”.

    The caps are not random. They are specifically used for emphasis because as far as I know there’s no italics or bold function for these comments. I’m not throwing a fit. I don’t even care about Earl Wolff per se. I’m just annoyed because you seem to think that you can decide on your own definitions for words or read another man’s mind and then use that BS to slander him.

    Maybe Earl Wolff is “soft” in your opinion, but you literally cannot have the only relevant information as to whether that’s true or not because you would have to be inside his head to know. So your opinion is based on essentially nothing. So as worthless as opinions are by their very nature, your opinion is of the least valid kind… The uneducated a– pull. You’re so uninformed on what you’re talking about, that you don’t even know how bad you’re uninformed. I’m just trying to make sure that someone doesn’t read that garbage and thinks it has any merit.

  196. 196 RichC, #4Sigma said at 4:18 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Its chips point, I’m just echoing it. Take it up with him.

    Wolff is soft and you’re a whiner.

  197. 197 John Paine said at 4:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m a whiner because you don’t understand human physiology? Okay, buddy. Sorry something in the world doesn’t work the way you think it does, but don’t call me names because you don’t know what you’re talking about… On, and don’t hide behind Chip. If you’re echoing his point, then you’re responsible for what you’re saying. Where’d all that tough guy “be a man” attitude go? Men stand behind what they say. And men admit when they didn’t really know what they were talking about, instead of weaseling out of blame and calling names. So if I’m a “whiner”, apparently you’re a “weasel”.

  198. 198 anon said at 4:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    yeah i stopped reasoning w/ him last night.

  199. 199 RichC, #4Sigma said at 5:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Lame. Cry about how much your heart bleeds for Wolff.

    He’s soft. You like him. Own it.

  200. 200 John Paine said at 7:04 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Lame? You have yet to make an argument that wasn’t based on your nonsensical belief that pain exists outside of disease, injury, or a neurological disorder. If he’s in pain, he’s still injured. Your distinction is imaginary. And you would insult a man because he doesn’t conform to the standards of “toughness” that exist in your fantasy world. How lame is that?

    You refuse to acknowledge reality. That makes you a loser. Own it.

    When I expose the fact that your opinion is based on fantasy, you hide behind “Chip said it first” and start calling me names and attacking my writing style rather than my points. That’s about as lame as it gets in a comment section.

    You hold others to a macho definition of toughness and manliness, but can’t stand behind your words or admit that you’re wrong when caught like a real man does. You are a weasel. Own it.

    This “conversation” has clearly devolved past the point of being worthwhile.

    You’re too ignorant to even realize how ignorant you are. You are not worth wasting any more of my time on. Own it.

    Hopefully, you can understand what I’m saying now that I condensed it into the kind of pithy little jabs you think are so clever.

  201. 201 NineseveN said at 8:06 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Pain does exist outside of injury, disease or neurogical disorder. Careful with how easily you dismiss the ignorance of others when you’re a little ignorant yourself. Psychogenic pain, PIPS, somatic pain (somataform disorder) are all very real things and none require “injury”. Also, we could niggle over how we define an injury…is it merely any trauma, trauma with physical destruction of tissue or nerve or simply anything that causes the nervous system to freak out? Are ice cream headaches and gaseous abdominal bloat “injuries”? Is soreness indicative of the healing process or an injury? You really haven’t even scratched the surface or the topic of pain yet you’re going to berate someone else about what you perceive is ignorance on their part?

  202. 202 John Paine said at 8:24 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Fair enough. We know he had an injury there. He still has pain there. The preponderance of evidence indicates that his injury is not fully healed… Or he could just be crazy.IDK, and neither do you. But as a general rule recurrent acute pain strongly implies injury (or at least some sort of “lack of optimal health”), and more importantly its your bodies way of saying “Don’t do that”. Which is usually the correct course of action. So its hard to criticize him for listening to his body. There’s a difference between aches (which you need to play through) and acute pains (which is what “Certain movements make it hurt” sounds like to me). You don’t just ignore acute pains in your joints.

  203. 203 NineseveN said at 8:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Actually, quite often after a surgery you do just that. While one should not ignore and push through undiagnosed pain, post-op pain comes in many forms and a lot of it is without that barrier. Ever see someone rehab a knee replacement? The rehab is EXTREMELY uncomfortable and painful, but if you listened to your body and avoided doing anything that was painful, you’d end up largely crippled and in some cases, worse off than prior to the surgery. Post-op pain is another ballgame entirely when it comes to the mantra that ‘pain means STOP’…often enough it doesn’t. In microfracture surgery, at some point, it seems to be more similar to a knee replacement than pain after falling down some stairs. I could be wrong as I’m not a surgeon or physician, but Dr. Andrews is and he’s pretty much a rockstar at this stuff.

  204. 204 RichC, #4Sigma said at 9:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Its like talking to an 11 year old girl.

    I get it. You really like Wolff. You’re upset that the head coach intimated he’s soft.

    Football might not be the sport for you.

  205. 205 John Paine said at 3:18 AM on June 12th, 2015:

    You are obviously slow. I don’t care about Wolff. I care that you are slandering someone by offering an opinion that you are in no way qualified to offer. I can only assume that your epithet refers to the fact that your IQ is 4sigma BELOW the mean.

    Conversation with intelligent people is definitely not the activity for you. Please, stop embarrassing yourself.

  206. 206 NineseveN said at 7:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Pain != injury. Yes, often it does coincide with injury, but often there is injury without pain as well as pain without injury. I am sure Wolf is in pain; it’s football though, everyone’s in pain. If Wolf needs to Step away from the game and heal then fine, but unless the pain is so intense that he is hobbled by it (which clearly he is not), then he should be out there practicing at least to a limited extent. He’s not going to ruin his knee by practicing to the limit that he can tolerate (he’s been cleared to do so by the best guy to clear him). They’re in shorts and t-shirts right now for fuck’s sake. He’s okay enough to move around and apparently jump (?) and do other active things, so either he is soft or he’s not football healthy even though he’s been cleared by the doctors (in which case his roster spot needs to go to someone else until he is far enough along on this indeterminate timeline for him to be 100%).

  207. 207 John Paine said at 8:12 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    If every time you do something that shouldn’t cause pain it does, then you almost definitely have an injury of some sort… Especially if it’s somewhere you know to be a healing injury. It’s not rocket science.

    Anyway, I’m not disagreeing with you. At least not once camp starts. If he can’t go by then, the Eagles should certainly consider giving him one of those injury settlements they’ve been so fond of over the last few years (if that’s even necessary). But we’re still in 90 man mode. That last roster spot isn’t exactly super valuable. No need to make a decision today.

    Look, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor while keeping your back as perpendicular to the floor as possible, then stand up. Even doing it slowly you can feel it in your knees, especially if they aren’t great. Now do it as fast as you can. You now know how weak your lower back, abs, and thighs are, and the sorry state of your knees. This is the most important movement in football. If you can’t do it explosively, then you can’t play at a high level. So just because he’s not walking around gimpy doesn’t mean he’s “football healthy” as you put it. That’s all I’m saying.

  208. 208 NineseveN said at 8:26 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Right, he has an injury, this is evident because he recently had a surgery that takes months to heal. However the most renowned name in these kinds of surgeries when it comes to athletes has cleared him to the extent that makes it evident that his injury has healed to the point that he can engage in rigorous physical activity without risking reinjuring himself. I get that he’s in pain, again this is football, everyone is in pain. His doctor is basically saying that his pain should not be so intense as to preclude him from practicing. You also have somebody with a degree in psychology (me) who is telling you that not all pain is the result of physical injury as you continue to assert. It is very possible that Earl simply has a psychological condition, perhaps stemming from the traumatic experience of being injured, going from college to the NFL…he could miss his mommy or whatever…. it could be any number of things that could either (A) invent pain where there really isn’t any or (B) make minor pain that one is actually experiencing seem much more intense (serving as a bridge to enable his fear of getting back on the field) and the psychological link between this pain and injured state of mind could be what is precluding him from practicing. Or maybe everyone is wrong but Earl Wolf.

  209. 209 John Paine said at 3:08 AM on June 12th, 2015:

    I acknowledged that he could be crazy already. What exactly is your point? No matter what you need to be inside his head to know the truth. So it’s just irresponsible to defame the man when we just can’t know. Are you justified if you want him cut because he’s not able to play right now? Sure. That’s fine. Are you justified in saying that the problem is that he’s “soft”, as opposed to, “he’s not fully healed”, or “he has a severe psychological issue in relation to this (and maybe all) injuries”? No. We just don’t have the information to make that call. Which makes it slander. Which is not okay.

    Still be injured isn’t being soft. Having psychological issues isn’t being soft. That’s all that really matters here. But if you want to keep brow beating me over a pedantic point because I was less than 100% accurate by not making an exhaustive list of all the possible reasons someone could be perceiving pain, and do so in defense of some else’s slanderous opinions, then go ahead. I was not perfectly accurate. RichC was talking completely out of his a–. You should really maybe rethink who needs to be raked over the coals here.

  210. 210 NineseveN said at 11:07 AM on June 12th, 2015:

    So wait, you’re going to criticize someone for calling him soft (not me, BTW, I never said that) because he feels he’s in too much pain to run around in shorts but you’re going to admit he might be “crazy” (a super pejorative term towards someone with any level of psychological issue) because his pain tolerance might be influenced by psychogenic, somatic or other psychological factors? Come one man.

    And truthfully, he might be soft, which isn’t necessarily a pejorative. My wife is soft. She’s an athlete (or was), but her pain tolerance doesn’t rise to the level required to pursue a contact sport. Mine does, but I’m not nearly as athletic as she is. She has associates that seem to have the right level of pain tolerance though, and I would say that they’re pretty tough (or hard). The level of pain in the injuries that most NFL players play through is staggering. If you can’t play through your injuries for whatever reason when there is no structural damage or loss of integrity then comparatively speaking, I don’t think it’s a travesty to say such a person appears soft.

    Also, it would be libel rather than slander if there truly were any defamation going on here (libel happens in transfixed forms of print, audio or video broadcast or recording; slander is spoken in public), but there isn’t. An opinion that conflicts with someone else’s is not a knowingly false statement, it’s a disagreement on speculative assessments rather than a published statement that injures or has the potential to injure one’s reputation that is knowingly false. Just sayin’.

    Not trying to rake you over the coals, but if you’re gonna jump all over someone you should make sure you’ve got your own shit together first.

  211. 211 stephenstempo said at 4:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Did you put a comma after fit then a parentheses then finish the sentence which didn’t need a comma at all? I mean you could have used two commas around “which you are.” You could have just used the parentheses (something I like to do on occasion too), but using both confuses my brain. HOW am I supposed to read that?

  212. 212 Nicky Puffy CoatS said at 12:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Didn’t he basically call MS2 soft?

  213. 213 RichC, #4Sigma said at 12:28 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Did he? I thought it was more about practice habits. Honestly the entire year was a disaster for that kid. Hope he turns it around in ’15.

  214. 214 Nicky Puffy CoatS said at 12:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Thought so. Maybe not.

  215. 215 NineseveN said at 12:12 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Dude, in terms of the microfracture surgery, he had a small spot of arthritis that could not be detected by the MRI…the knee was structurally sound. It was an issue of pain rather than injury that jeopardized the integrity of the knee.

  216. 216 peteike said at 12:30 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    huh? it was bone on bone and a micro fracture he had to have fixed. This wasnt pain mgmt. Now everyone thinks it is and wants to question the guy from the outside based on his recovery time. If Im not mistaken, hes in month 6 of what could be 6-8 months recovery per the doctors. He has to watch out for his career or whats left of it even it means angering the staff and threatening his job. Nate Jacksons book explains this dilemna in no uncertain terms. Those team drs, of which the new celebrity Dr. Andrews and his RG3 debacle has become, look out for team interests 90% of the time over a players. They cover their a..es from future lawsuits the way they have to sign off on things and project injuries. This doesnt mean its completely negligible but it does make it comical that fans side with them and judge toughness on same fake scale we know zero about. I thought I was done with this ugh, look what you made me do ha.

    There is a small chance, he gets cut, waits til next season and then tries out for a new team at 100%. Even still at that point, hes on the fringes of making a team. Were just so desperate as fans for a serviceable safety that we discuss this fringe players injury history ad nauseum.

  217. 217 NineseveN said at 1:14 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Microfracture surgery doesn’t repair a microfracture, it creates microfractures to stimulate cartilage growth. His knee was structurally sound and he could have played (albeit in pain). It wasn’t misdiagnosed, it was too small to be detected by the MRI. Again, his knee was not structurally compromised and playing on it should have caused long-term issues for his health outside of he’ll already have based on the existing injury and his career as a football player.

  218. 218 peteike said at 1:26 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    oh interesting. I didnt get too into the exact nature of it, only the surface level. Undetected, misdiagnosed, sort of the same there. I thought micro fracture issues were really bad for athletes, career ending a lot of times? Isnt it try to fix it if you catch and salvage career vs long term issues. Id guess the surgery isnt full proof compared to acl surgery but I understand trying to fix it.

  219. 219 John Paine said at 1:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    There’s a cartalidge tear. They drill holes in the bone to make it bleed into the tear. New cartalidge forms in the clot and heals the tear. Unfortunately, there’s two types of cartalidge, and this repairs the good kind with the lower quality kind. So its better than leaving the tear, but it isn’t 100% and the likelihood of reinjury is significant. So, yes, unlike an ACL which is like stumbling your toe at this point, microfracture surgery is still a possible career ruined/ender… On a related note, I wonder how Victor Cruz is going to look when he comes back. A patellar tendon tear is what turned Nate Allen from a promising rookie into a reviled journeyman. So those might still be disastrous too.

  220. 220 peteike said at 2:23 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    thanks for both answers, good stuff

  221. 221 NineseveN said at 1:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think there’s a greater level of variance to the healing process and it is super painful from what I understand, but I think if you take it all into account you can understand Wolf’s comments about being injured but not really injured and being 100%, but not like really 100%. Intense pain can change the way you move (psychological and neurological response), and I’m not saying Wolf is a pussy for not playing or that he should or shouldn’t. I am saying that if all he can tolerate is some stretching, then his spot needs to be cleared for someone who can play right now. When he feels he’s 100% enough to play, give him another shot if he’s available.

  222. 222 MagsMama said at 4:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    My sister fell awkwardly, when she was 10 years old. The X-Rays couldn’t detect a break. She cried in extreme pain for hours. Another series of tests finally revealed a spiral fracture vertically through her tibia which took a long time to heal. Over time she has had nothing but grief with that leg. After 30 years she had her knee scoped because the uneven distribution of weight had semi-wrecked it. She can’t stand for any period of time any more. Everyone is built differently and reacts differently and recovers differently.

  223. 223 John Paine said at 1:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    You, me, the doctors…. All people who have no idea how much pain he’s actually in, and whether or not he can play through it. Sometimes your body simply WILL NOT DO what you want it to if you have an injury, and sometimes it will let you ignore the pain and function at near 100%. It depends on the injury, and it depends on the movement. So if his body won’t let him make football moves in an explosive manner, then he’s not doing himself or anyone else any good by getting on the field. If that means he gets cut then so be it. But why look bad AND risk further injury if you know you can’t physically perform the necessary motions because your body is trying to protect itself? He’s better off getting cut and going to the veteran combine next year when he’s 100%. Hopefully, he can go in training camp and it won’t come to that. But in the meantime, nobody is in a position to impugn his character because they simply CANNOT POSSIBLY KNOW how much this issue affects his performance.

  224. 224 CrackSammich said at 11:42 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    1960: Look at all those soft players, drinking water during practice.
    1990: Man, look at all those soft players out there, not on the field after their concussions.

  225. 225 RichC, #4Sigma said at 11:53 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    The wussification of America continues.

    With Chip’s commitment to Sports science, you think there’s a chance he would want an injured player on the field? He’s hurt. He’s in pain. Won’t practice through it. That makes him soft.

  226. 226 anon said at 11:59 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    umm Earl’s misdiagnosis last year?

  227. 227 peteike said at 12:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    cut him some slack, Rich is a military guy he has no time for weak character in his fanhood haha.

  228. 228 RichC, #4Sigma said at 1:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Not in the city that lionized: Concrete Charlie, A.I., Rod Brind’Amour, and Aaron Rowand.

    One rule: be tough.

  229. 229 peteike said at 2:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    they didnt call em broad street bullies for nuttin. The entire roided up Phillies squad, so so close. Had they won, that team would be brought up constantly by natl media. Only time I shed a tear for a loss, I think they may still be remembered more than the Blue Jay team that won minus the game winner.

  230. 230 MagsMama said at 4:08 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Bob Clarke, Gary Doernhofer, Dave Schultz.

  231. 231 RichC, #4Sigma said at 12:30 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He’s Earl Puppy until proven otherwise. “Wolff” is revoked.

  232. 232 peteike said at 12:01 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    he loves him some recovering from injury FAs though

  233. 233 RichC, #4Sigma said at 12:28 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    never saw the ACL tear he didn’t like

  234. 234 MattE said at 12:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    2015: Man, look at that idiot running around without a new contract after signing one a year ago.

  235. 235 Henly125 said at 10:50 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    Cary Williams is a disgrace. A foolish and unprofessional scrub of a CB. This man only makes headlines when he’s talking smack about the coach. He was very fortunate to play in a very strong defense at Baltimore, but then he got exposed in Philly and blames the coach. Ridiculous. I’m sure he’ll do fine in Seattle, since he’s only as good as his supporting cast. He can’t hold his own in this league and it’s a shame that he thinks he isn’t the problem. He’s on his 3rd NFL team in four years!! Cary, YOU are the problem. Scrub.

  236. 236 Sean Stott said at 12:57 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He’s not a scrub, he was on a Super Bowl winning team as a starter, and this offseason was recruited by another Super Bowl winner to potentially be a starter.

  237. 237 GEAGLE said at 1:04 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah he defininetly isnt a scrub, but he isn’t built to be the best or second best DB in your secondary, which was the problem with his Philly Tenure… Put him in a secondary with better players like the legion of boom and he should look better…

    regardless it’s ALWAYS trashy of a player to rip his former team on the way out, especially when coaches have to stand up to the media after cutting popular players and our coach can’t even really explain why he got rid of guys like Shady and Desean because that would require trashing those players after they left, and Chip is too classy to talk bad about guys he got rid of.. takes a really trashy man to rip Kelly on his way out,. Cary gets to go play on a historic defense Of a team that has made the last two superbowls, he should be happy enough to have some class to not trash his former coaches on his way out… I’d bet Chip can make a great case for why DEsean and Shady aren’t here, but that would require bad mouthing former players. Yet he Is too classy to do that, he would Rather eat the fans and medias venom for getting rid of them,

  238. 238 Sean Stott said at 1:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    In all fairness he ripped him while he was here, especially with regards to the conditioning program. Also, you can’t say he’s wrong that CK was getting outcoached toward the end of the season. When you crush a team (DAL), and they come back and have your number, that’s a textbook example of getting outcoached.

  239. 239 GEAGLE said at 1:37 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yes, but once you are with a new team there is no reason to bad mouth your former coach, especially when he wont even speak badly of you when pressed to explain himself for getting rid of players…
    ..
    In Relationships, I always thought that you find out the most about a person by they way they conduct themselves during an emotional breakup.. that’s when you find out how trashy or classy you are as a person, and it’s never a good look to trash your former team.. It’s just uncalled for… if a coach trashes his former team when he gets fired, it reflects poorly to his fiture potemtial employers, and I think it says something about players that act that way..
    ..
    Funny how the type of players who act like trash after a breakup are all gone now, and we happened to add classy men like Demarco Murray known for leadership and high football IQ… if Demarco Mirray ISNT trashing the Cowboys after they ran that man into the ground to purposely justify not paying him, then NO ONE should be running their mouth about their former team…Shady was a great RB, one of, if not the best RB I ever had to player to Root for, with that Said, I would bet that Demarco provides more leadership Ih this offseason then shady provided in two years under chip…
    ..
    the Redskin game is really the ONLY loss I have a major problem with, but how much of that was human nature being dejected when dallas won and that skins game became meaningless? Can a coach playing with a backup QB in his first year playing in this offense, with a battered offensive line to the point where the great Jason Peters wasn’t even playng up to par really be considered “out coached”
    ..
    Two lossses came down to 2 plays, can you really say you were out coached when losing by such a mineschle margin playing with a bunch of backups?
    ..
    I damn sure will NOT put Losing to a quasi Dynasty like the seahawks in December on our coach, not when he was playing with a backup QB, battered OL…I can’t blame our coaches for our star player, Shady McCoy fumbling the opening drive of the second half. You can’t do crap like that and expect to beat a team Like seattle… I can’t blame Chip for Cary and Nate biting on rookie John Browns double move and giving up a game winning TD to the cardinals…

    You won’t win the coaching battle every single week, and for me personally, I haven’t felt that way too many times since chip has been here.
    ..
    This is a real Chip Kelly Roster, It’s his creation. hopefully we can remain healthy so we can easily judge Chips coaching and roster building this year… last year was such an unlucky dysfunctional mess that it’s hard to evaluate

  240. 240 MagsMama said at 4:05 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IHv-80WI9s

  241. 241 stephenstempo said at 3:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I never get this logic. I mean There are a lot of players with rings. It doesn’t automatically make them better than they are. You know the back up center on the 70’s steelers teams isn’t automatically the best back up center who ever played cus he has a few rings. (I honestly dont know if that’s true just making a point). Sometimes it’s just a case of right place right time.

  242. 242 MagsMama said at 4:01 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He was not slated to be a starter. He filled in for injured starters.

  243. 243 Bob Scatchard said at 11:03 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    There’s a great article on Sam Bradford at philly.com. I enjoy the in depth
    series of articles lately on players/coaches early years and what made them successful. I wish more sports writers would due this type reporting, than giving us their own views on sports. Here’s the link: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/Sam_Bradford_Eagles_All_American_everything.html

  244. 244 Bert's Bells said at 11:19 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    “I wish more sports writers would due this type reporting, than giving us their own views on sports.”

    Yes, but that would require a commitment to journalism on the part of publishers which is vanishing.

    News organizations would rather have a guy pump out 2 to 3 crap stories a day than one well researched article every two weeks. There’s no “market” incentive for investing in quality. Not only does the good story generate less revenue (immediately), it costs significantly more. The journalist’s time, of course, resources for investigation like travel, fact checkers, copy editor, an actual editor.

    Big pocket companies like ESPN can do this as part of their overall network. It’ll be rarer and rarer in local reporting.

  245. 245 Bob Scatchard said at 11:34 AM on June 11th, 2015:

    True…but i’ll just enjoy it while it’s available and hopefully, it will continue.

  246. 246 Bert's Bells said at 12:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    On the other end of scale, Grantland (for example) has done some fantastic stories that never would have seen the light of day 20 years ago. Maybe as a series for the NY Times or a feature in The Atlantic (which sucks now too) or something like that. “30 for 30” has produced phenomenal work as have independent documentarians.

    So it’s not like it’s all doom and gloom, there’s some really great stuff now that didn’t exist when we (or me, at least) were kids.

  247. 247 MagsMama said at 4:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    There is also a difference between a reporter and a columnist. The reporter has to scratch out his 800 words a day (or whatever the number), while the columnist only has to do it once or twice a week.

  248. 248 Septhinox said at 12:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Why do people keep saying the Eagles pulled the Mathis offer? If the Eagles offered it and Mathis rejected it, it would be Mathis voiding the offer not the Eagles.

  249. 249 TypicalDouche said at 12:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He rejected the offer at the time but the offer was still on the table for him to sign in the future if he felt like signing it because that was the only raise the eagles planned to give him. That was a Howie contract move and when his authority was stripped Chip laid down the law and completely revoked the offer. I like what Chip did, why leave the offer on the table if he didn’t want it and has been acting the way he has been.

  250. 250 RobNE said at 2:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    a year later it’s not “revoking” the offer. Mathis or his agent just got some writer to spin it that way.

  251. 251 MattE said at 12:45 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Immediately I wonder, how much does Jason Peters’ make Evan Mathis better?

  252. 252 Ben said at 12:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Man, I wish the day would come when someone wants to pay me 5 million, and I can say “that is not enough”.
    I just can’t see where Mathis has any kind of leverage at this point, other than missing the voluntary OTA’s.

    As far as Wolff is concerned, I really hope he can get onto the field and it would be awesome if he can beat out Thurmond, who seems to have a grip on the starting safety position at this moment.

    Man, how I love being an Eagles fan, and all that goes along with it.
    IMO, Chip Kelly will be remembered as the guy who changed everything.
    To be continued……….

  253. 253 MattE said at 12:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mathis has no leverage…. not even Jerry Maguire could get him more money.

  254. 254 HawaiianEagle said at 1:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Bob Sugar might…

  255. 255 P_P_K said at 2:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ari Gold, too.

  256. 256 Bert's Bells said at 1:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    “Man, I wish the day would come when someone wants to pay me 5 million, and I can say “that is not enough”.”

    This will come when you are one of the 50 most important employees of a billion dollar corporation that relies on your skills to keep the cash flowing.

  257. 257 MagsMama said at 3:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Once upon a time, mine was the first voice any caller heard, the one keeping 75 telephone lines straight, not ever allowed to make a mistake, plus data entry and printing. All 75 employees each thought I was their personal assistant and I’d better not even think of prioritizing my tasks. I also came in Saturday mornings to proof read and/or correct $10 thousand ads when the managers wanted to play golf. Nobody ever offered me $5 million a year. That was a large daily newspaper with billions in revenue, at the time, too.
    EDIT: This was just one department, Display Advertising. The newspaper employed hundreds and the other vital task was knowing who was ‘important’ from the other departments.

  258. 258 b3nz0z said at 3:55 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    and yet the other forty nine don’t seem to be having this issue. what could be different with Evan Mathis? could it be . . . Evan Mathis?

  259. 259 MagsMama said at 3:57 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Drew.

  260. 260 b3nz0z said at 4:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    good point i stand corrected!

  261. 261 MagsMama said at 4:22 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Maybe a little bit Mathis too. He seems a little like a kid sometimes. Having fun is great, making humorous tweets is great, riding in Watkin’s fire truck is great, but occasionally, it’s time to be serious.

  262. 262 b3nz0z said at 4:08 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    drew advising a client

  263. 263 anon said at 2:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    fyi, it’s never enough, especially when there’s so much openness about what everyone else makes

  264. 264 Tumtum said at 2:10 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I read all of Wolfe’s comments as they came out, having not yet read Kelly’s. It sure sounded to me then, and still does, that Wolfe is just scared to push it. After hearing Kelly’s comment it only sounds worse. Now this is pure speculation and interpretation of Wolfe’s comments but it sure sounds like Andrews thinks he should be pushing it. Wolfe isn’t very clear on the extent that he is pushing himself. Kelly on the other hand makes it sound as if he is doing nothing.

    If I were Wolfe I would get to pushing it. Of course he probably has a good idea that he can get fully healthy and find a place on ARs roster when he is cut.

    I will disagree with Tommy on one point. He gets the vibe and idea that Kelly wouldn’t push players back. I get the vibe he is as old school as it gets when it comes to injuries. If something isn’t torn or broken it always seems like he has 0 tolerance for an injured player. That being said Wolfe still sounds like the softy here.

  265. 265 peteike said at 2:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Im waiting til next week. I get sitting out voluntary workouts but if he skips the mandatory mini camp then I think hes in jeopardy. Is there a chance he doesnt see camp if he sits out of this next mini camp? Pretty obvious its a damaged relationship at this point unless he really starts to ramp it up.

  266. 266 GEAGLE said at 3:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I can’t imagine how he could miss next weeks mandatory camp. It’s like something crazy like 60,000 per day that you miss penalty… A player who is playing Chicken against a GM like Chip who doesn’t look like he is going to blink, has to be Insane to risk that much of his families money.
    ..
    The ONLY players who can get mad about their contract and skip the mandatory activities are guys who are so important to the team, that know there is no way the team will let you get away, so they know that when they work it out with the team, they will end up excusing all the penalties he accumulated…. You pissed chip off, you are crazy to think you will win this game of chicken to the point where we not only give you a new contract but also excuse all the costly fines you rack up by skipping mandatory activity…mathis has to be crazy to dare try and skip mandatory Camp next week….
    ..
    Mathis wife better hope chip can save Mathis from Rosenhause stupidity, If Rosenhause gets Mathis cut, I bet he can’t find a team that will pay him more then 3.5-4mil per year at the end of June, which is 2mil less then he would have made had he honored his contract with the Eagles.. I don’t see a scenario where Mathis ends up making more money out Of all this… That ship has sailed…

  267. 267 anon said at 2:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    “He gets the vibe and idea that Kelly wouldn’t push players back. I get the vibe he is as old school as it gets when it comes to injuries.” agree 100%

  268. 268 GEAGLE said at 2:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    It’s not looking good for Wolff making the team…which would be a damn shame considering he is one of our most talented. but if we are being realistic, unless Thurmond goes down with a major injury this summer, thurmond, Maragos, and Jenkins are locks to make this roster. it’s too soon for chip to give up on Jaylen Watkins so we can bet Watkins makes the team, we just don’t know if he will count as a safety or a CB.. Wolff has to realize there are only two open roster spots, one if Jaylen is counted as a safety instead of a CB. Which means Wolff, ST ace Prosinski, EJ Biggers, Jerome Couplin, Ed Reynolds will all be fighting for 1 or 2 Roster spots, and those players have all been getting months of extra training while Wolff has been stretching and rehabbing… Wolff will NEVER again make this roster Off of potential… He has to stay on the field and out perform 4 or 5 young safeties just to save his eagle career….. I don’t feel very confident, which is a damn shame, because if he ever gets and stays on the field he can be a nice player….

  269. 269 GEAGLE said at 2:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    What’s happening to Wolff is why Evan Mathis at the age of 34 has to be a Damn Fool to give hungry NFL players a chance to take his snaps and grow into a suitable replacement. A 34yr old making 11mil the next two years should know that teams are always looking for “younger and cheaper”.. this is why veterans play thru injuries. They don’t even want to give a young player a chance to step into their role and prove they can perform
    .l
    if Mathis is smart and Lucky, he will come back, earn his starting spot and collect 11mil these next two years… He isn’t making more money so I think tjhats his realistic best case scenario… But other possible scenarios:
    1) Eagles cut him, and some other team takes advantage of him, low balls him Til he is forced to sign for less money then what we were paying him which would be a diservice to the mans family.. Or..
    2) Eagles bring him back, but Barbre ends up continuing to perform playing next to Jason Peters and Barbre ends up stealing his starting spot, forcing Mathis to be a backup before we cut him next year when we know Barbe can be a suitable replacement, or Mathis trying to compete with Gardner and Tobin for the Right Guard position.
    ..
    I don’t see scenarios where Mathis finds a happy treasure at the end of this rainbow.. If Mathis was a smart man, he would stop risk his family’s 11mil, hurry up and come join his teammates, keep his head down and make sure he out performs Barbre this summer, or he can kiss collecting 6 mil in 2016 goodbye

  270. 270 Tumtum said at 2:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I don’t read to much into the Peters comment. He seems like a guy that permanently has a chip on his shoulder. I could easily see him feeling as though that question was an implication that his play could slide with out Mathis. Could be wrong, but this is June and it is time speculate!

  271. 271 ACViking said at 2:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    T-Law:

    Did you get your title to this post from the Beatles’ “Day Tripper”?

    Lyrics and tune seem to fit for Cary Williams.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwt2qwPctb4

  272. 272 MagsMama said at 3:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    One way ticket, yeah….

  273. 273 b3nz0z said at 3:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    it took me so long to find out, but i found out

  274. 274 76mustang said at 2:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Posted this on another thread, but bears repeating:

    Malcolm Jenkins made a comment that I feel applies here:

    “Chip has been very, very transparent on what he’s evaluating us on,” Jenkins said, via CSNPhilly.com. “That’s not only what we do on the field, but what we do in our assessments and how disciplined we are with our nutrition and all the sports science stuff. I haven’t seen him make a move outside of those parameters.

    These players are being monitored and measured far beyond what’s being reported, and I think Chip has responded to this question in the past by saying that when the numbers warrant they dial their training back.

    CW, DJax, Shady, are players that never fully bought into all aspects of the program. I’m sure to some veterans this approach feels like Big Brother is watching, or in this case, Big Balls Chip…

  275. 275 botto said at 3:45 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I would venture that djax and shady are definitely “fixed mindset” guys.
    they think they are great and see no reason to be open to new ideas on becoming better.

  276. 276 b3nz0z said at 3:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    nobody likes a new boss telling them what to do, but only a moron rebels against the new boss

  277. 277 mksp said at 3:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Peace Evan.

  278. 278 b3nz0z said at 3:55 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    link?

  279. 279 botto said at 3:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Rappaport tweeted we released mathis

  280. 280 b3nz0z said at 4:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    crazy but figured. at least something’s happening

  281. 281 GEAGLE said at 4:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip found out Evan was 7% african American, and that was the final straw

  282. 282 Nailed it! said at 3:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Holy Shit Eagles release Mathis

  283. 283 phillychuck said at 3:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Evan gone? No confirmation yet, but I/ saw it on another site, too.

  284. 284 wee2424 said at 3:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    ESPN just confirmed it

  285. 285 76mustang said at 3:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mathis tweeted thanks for the memories Philly

  286. 286 botto said at 4:01 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    mathis will re-sing with someone good for less money and we will be pissed

  287. 287 Javi Echie said at 4:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think Miami will scoop him up as soon as they can since it was rumored they were interested in him not too long ago.

  288. 288 GEAGLE said at 4:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I don’t know about that… They would have to pay him more then we were offering to get him to sigń right away, I would assume… Why would Miami do that? WOULDNT they try to lowball him first especially if teams aren’t competing for his services? I would assume they would try to lowball him at first and mathis will take his time and try to get a better deal before he agrees to sign for less then we were offering him..
    ..
    I struggle to see how Mathis is going to emerge as a winner from all this?

  289. 289 oreofestar said at 4:09 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Buy Evan :/

  290. 290 GEAGLE said at 4:09 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Very very curious to see how much Maths can get on the open market in the middle of June,,, I will be extremely surprised to see anyone pay him as much as we were paying him, let alone more money then we were paying him.
    .,
    I think he is going to regret this and it will cost his family a few Million then he would have made with us..and he is very short sites considering had he retired as an Eagle, he could have his choice of local media jobs..,

    Let’s see if Drew,Rosenhause was right that Mathis deserved more money… My bet, this will cost Mathis a few mil, and the ONLY person who will win is his agent who gets to cash a commission check from the new comtract even if he cost his client Millions…
    ….
    Barbre, Tobin, Gardner….. Two have to step up!!!

  291. 291 anon said at 4:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    damn dropping pro bowlers is so short-signted.

  292. 292 botto said at 4:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    not when tehya re 34 and don’t want to play.
    it stinks though. mathis is good but a big baby

  293. 293 b3nz0z said at 4:09 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    “DEEZ” – evan mathis

  294. 294 botto said at 4:16 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    way to go drew R.
    always a pleasure

  295. 295 anon said at 4:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    yeah that’s the quickest way to not play for this team anymore, i wouldn’t be surprised i we didn’t draft anyone he represents.

  296. 296 GEAGLE said at 4:19 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Does he represent any of our other players? Or are all his clients off our roster?
    ..
    Think Brashad Perriman signed with Rosenhause, glad we dodged that bullet…

  297. 297 HawaiianEagle said at 6:29 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Only Kelce left…

  298. 298 anon said at 4:19 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    gonna be pissed if he ends up in the NFCE. Good think none of them run zone schemes.

  299. 299 HawaiianEagle said at 4:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    How much $$ we save, $5+M..?

  300. 300 James said at 4:22 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think the dead money is 2 and his salary is 5.5. Save 3.5 or around that ballpark.

  301. 301 HawaiianEagle said at 4:24 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    So, technically all he has to sign for is 3.5ish to make the same salary.

  302. 302 GEAGLE said at 4:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Prolly too small to play for the teams in our division…. Tho the Giamts Line Blows, Mathis is probably better then any lineman they have

  303. 303 botto said at 4:23 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    lets move cooper to OG, I hear he can block his ass off

  304. 304 HawaiianEagle said at 4:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He’d be one of the ..better.. pass catching O linemen…

  305. 305 anon said at 4:29 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    pass dropping O lineman

  306. 306 Jason said at 4:23 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    When does Chip release GEAGLE?

  307. 307 anon said at 4:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    “The Dolphins, Patriots, and Rams have all reportedly expressed some level of interest in Mathis at times over the previous couple months. ” roto

  308. 308 b3nz0z said at 4:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    if evan doesn’t like chip he ain’t gonna like bill

  309. 309 GEAGLE said at 4:35 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Love to see him go block for my boy FOles…

  310. 310 GEAGLE said at 4:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I wonder what changed or if anything happened behind the scenes for us to make this decision Now… ISNT the timing kind of strange? He let this distraction loom over our heads all of OTAs and now a week before we hold all the cards and Mathis is forced to report to Novacare we cut him without seeing how he would act next week? Does the timing make sense? Or did something have to happen behind the scenes for this to happen now? Not sure how to read this…

  311. 311 anon said at 4:29 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    yeah wonder why chip actually decides to pull the trigger

  312. 312 GEAGLE said at 4:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Like two days ago Chip was dancing around Mathis questions, so McManus asks him “but soon you will have to decide if Mathis is going to be on the team this year or not?”.. chip responded “we will take it as it goes”…
    ..
    So what happened since he made those comments 3 days ago? What changed? He claimed he hadn’t taljed to mathis all pffseason, did he finally speak to him and not like what he heard? What changed for this decision to come now?

  313. 313 76mustang said at 4:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    It’s been surmised that the Eagles were waiting until after the voluntary practices to cut him so as not to involve the NFLPA.

    Feels like Chip is all in with his culture as a foundation for winning and has a shorter leash than in the past. Also think he and Stoutland have higher opinions and comfort with development of “backup” linemen on the roster.

    I see them adding a veteran to the OL group at some point.

  314. 314 GEAGLE said at 4:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Oh I def always thought Stoutland was higher on our bench players then we think… So you are saying, waiting Til now to cut Mathis, circumvented the NFLPA and kept them out of it?

  315. 315 76mustang said at 4:38 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Geoff Mosher tweeted this theory as a hunch, and it made some sense. Chip lancing a boil before it pops on its own.

  316. 316 GEAGLE said at 4:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Oh camp does end today doesn’t it? I don’t think we have practice tomorrow.. I don’t know the rules of NFLPA so if that’s true, it could make sense,…good theory

  317. 317 Mr. Magee said at 4:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    How would the NFLPA be involved either way? I wasn’t aware that there was any restriction on when players could be released.

    It does suck to lose Mathis, but it had to happen at some point and I’m not sorry to see him go given the circumstances. Sure hope he makes less $ somewhere else.

  318. 318 James said at 4:26 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Any interest in Jake Long?

  319. 319 GEAGLE said at 4:27 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    God no… Although chip has never seen an injured ACL that he doesn’t like so I guess Long makes perfect sense 😉

  320. 320 b3nz0z said at 4:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    it’s just like shopping for dented cans

  321. 321 James said at 4:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    http://www.nfl.com/videos/miami-dolphins/09000d5d82949f2c/Calais-Campbell-Anthony-Fasano-Von-Miller-Ronnie-Brown-Cullen-Jenkins-Matt-Light

  322. 322 GEAGLE said at 4:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    If the pathetic Giants OL didn’t want to sign him, Something must be seriously wrong with him.. The Giants need OL help BAD.

  323. 323 James said at 4:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I guess, figured it was b/c of the ACLs. Oh well hopefuly one of the UDFA turns out well.

  324. 324 Greg Richards said at 4:56 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Knee might not be ready now, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be before TC.

  325. 325 Greg Richards said at 4:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Free agent OL options with Mathis released:

    1. Chris Myers, ex-HOU: Texans use same zone-scheme as Eagles, played predominately center with HOU but played RG in college and early in career with Denver. Undersized though and him paired with Kelce to his left might not have enough combined heft.

    2. Mike Pollak, ex-CIN: Started half the games with CIN last year and played well. Can play G or C. Bengals fans were surprised when he was released. The gist I get is he had some knee issues last year. He didn’t miss games because of it, but he had to sit out some of practice during the week. I haven’t seen any reports of teams bringing him in for visits since he was released, so perhaps he had some type of surgery to alleviate the issue. Perhaps he’ll be back to full health soon?

    3. Brian de la Puente, ex-CHI: Played C with NO but started some at RG last year with Chicago. NO and CHI play more of a man scheme but just because a guy has played in one scheme doesn’t mean he doesn’t have ability to play in another. Our new director of pro scouting, Dwayne Joseph, should have insight into Puente’s health and how he played last year.

  326. 326 anon said at 4:46 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    i think Evan’s money is rollover $.

  327. 327 Fufina said at 4:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    No the salary we saved is all added to our cap – the dead money from his signing bonus now comes off as before this year and then final part in 2016.

  328. 328 anon said at 4:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    No i mean, i don’t they’ll sign anyone and they’ll just roll that money, think they like the guys on the team.

  329. 329 Greg Richards said at 4:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    We have an open roster spot(and maybe 2 depending on how bad Josh Andrews’ injury is). We’ll sign someone, even if it’s just a camp body.

  330. 330 Flyin said at 5:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    From BGN…

    • Backup OL Josh Andrews was carted off. It turns out he only had cramps, apparently.

    http://www.bleedinggreennation.com.s2.gvirabi.com/2015/6/9/8752259/eagles-ota-practice-notes-walter-thurmond-safety-sam-bradford-tim-tebow-updates

  331. 331 Greg Richards said at 5:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Good news, but still think they add a vet.

  332. 332 Greg Richards said at 4:48 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    None of the guys I’ve mentioned with the possible exception of Myers will cost much. As far as the cap room gained when releasing Mathis, it gets credited toward our cap immediately and can be used now or in the future. Under new CBA, leftover cap room gets rolled over to next year automatically.

  333. 333 GEAGLE said at 4:56 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    We saw the Eagles try to sign the Veteran Guard who chose the Falcons instead of us a week or two ago…, if Chip wanted one of these lineman who have been available this entire time, trying to sign the guy the skins cut says that chip would have already tried to Sign one of these OL who have been available this entire time…

    I would assume that we won’t sign anyone unless someone we like gets waived this summer.. the Bills are supposed to cut the veteran Guard, Williams I think is his name, If we end up signing any more Offensive lineman, I assume it will be someone who ISNT on the open market yet…. If we wanted the above mentioned names I would assume they would already be Eagles by now…
    ..
    I DO NOT think chip views this as desperation to where he has to sign someone. if a player gets cut who we rate Highly Im sure we will try and sigń him… But we don’t have to settle and sign someone just to sign a veteran, I think the Eagles are comfortable with the OL they already have,,,

  334. 334 Greg Richards said at 4:57 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Possible they have had interest in one of those guys and the player was still exploring their options. Williams is a possibility if released but he’s coming off back surgery.

  335. 335 anon said at 4:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Gotta wonder if Chip is the type of guy that would cut a qb in this situation. IF RW was on the Eagles, does chip pay him 120m or does chip cut him?

  336. 336 botto said at 4:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Wilson?
    he pays him and runs the read option inside zone package swinging gate

  337. 337 Flyin said at 4:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I have read a good point regarding Evan Mathis by a few posters here and bgn, saying teams have spent their cap at this point and he will not be compensated like he would have been if he stayed.

    Cap guys, I ask you… what is Oakland’s cap situation? I know they had a ton of cap space and need/needed to spend it. That is why Nate Allen was given a ridiculous contract.

    I sense that Mathis will fade away like so many others in that black hole.

  338. 338 botto said at 5:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    that would be awesome if he went to oakland

  339. 339 Greg Richards said at 5:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Oakland is one of the few options for Mathis to get paid. Still have tons of cap room and they have a need at guard. They have Gabe Jackson at LG but could move him to RG where right now Khalif Barnes, J’Marcus Webb, and Jon Feliciano are competing.

  340. 340 Flyin said at 5:01 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Thanks for that info!

  341. 341 bwin29 said at 5:01 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    GEAGLE is really slacking on the comments today. Only 30 comments so far in this thread, less than 10% of the total. Usually he hovers around 50%.

  342. 342 Flyin said at 5:06 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Damn, I really tried to give him a run for his money in this thread. This makes only 23 for me. I’m such a loser!

  343. 343 botto said at 5:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    someone on BGn said this:

    Caplin and Jaws are both saying that it was because Rosenhaus released the details of the 2014 offer (that he declined) in a pressure move….Kelly does not respond well to that kind of bullshit.

  344. 344 GEAGLE said at 5:08 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I don’t understand why that would piss chip off? I didn’t hear a crazy uproar from fans and media when they found out we rescinded an offer Howie,made that was rejected by Evan… chip,definitely doesn’t tolerate BS, but I don’t see how Rosenhause making that information known was a bad thing that would piss chip off like this?

    It’s not like fans and media were against this like when he cut DESEAN for nothing..

  345. 345 botto said at 5:12 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Kelly won’t talk about contracts so maybe he is mad Drew and evan are making it public?

  346. 346 GEAGLE said at 5:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Maybe…
    ..
    Joe Banner tweets that there will be interest in Mathis, but he is going to find it hard to get as much money as he would have been paid by the Eagles..
    ..
    Mathis was scheduled to make 11mil for the next two years to play for a contender in Philly… if he has to end up settling for a two year deal only paying him 7 or 8 mil, how is he going to feel about the advice Rosenhause gave him and how he went about this entire process?
    ..
    is an agent even allowed to get paid commission for negotiating a new Deal that Ends up costing his client millions?.. Can Drew Rosenhause really get paid commission for costing his agent millons?

  347. 347 Greg Richards said at 5:19 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Perhaps but I have to think the other players, specifically Peters, saying that they don’t know if he’d regain starting job if he returned and they won’t miss him if he leaves has to be a factor. Even if Mathis caved and returned, it’d be difficult to maintain good team chemisty, specifically along the OL.

  348. 348 botto said at 5:05 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    how’s this info I just read:

    Howie Roseman added 23 new players thru FA/NFL Draft during 2011 offseason. Chip Kelly has cut/traded all but one of them. (Kelce) #Eagles

  349. 349 GEAGLE said at 5:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    LOL YES!!! No more Rosenhause clients besides KELCE who doesn’t even care about money and signed a 10yr deal (Rosenhause must have hated KELCE lol)..
    if we don’t have any Rosenhause clients left I’ll be hype, and im really curious to see how long it will be until Chip signs or drafts another Rosenhause client…

  350. 350 anon said at 5:12 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think you read that wrong, chip has fired all of Howie’s guys.

  351. 351 GEAGLE said at 5:18 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah I just realized that… boooooo. I was hype. I thought all Rosenhause guys were gone from our roster
    ..
    That’s not really a big deals, 2011 was an infamous disaster offseason

  352. 352 anon said at 5:22 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    yeah i can’t find a list of his guys but can’t imagine he’s got too many left on this team — if he has any left the better change representation.

    it’s interesting that all of howies guys are gone. chip must hate him as a football guy.

  353. 353 GEAGLE said at 5:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Still plenty of Howie guys.. Our best player is a Howie guy, Fletcher Cox.. Howie signed Cooper, KELCE and Peters to an extension.. Wasnt Cedrick Thornton a HOWIE guy? The 2012 class was Howies best draft, boykin, Kemdricks, Cox and Curry are still a big part of this team.,
    ..
    I’m going to have to research how many Drew Rosenhause clients we still have on the team, curious to know,.look forward to the day when he no longer represents any EAGLES..

  354. 354 anon said at 5:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    My guess is only one of those guys will be an eagle next year.

  355. 355 mksp said at 7:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m frankly amazed he comprehended as much of that post as he did.

  356. 356 76mustang said at 5:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I see Chip the GM coming up with a stud OLman via trade in a win/win scenario, with Boykin, Barkley, Celek, Curry, Thornton, perhaps a stud special-teamer being offered.

    Point being, the Eagles have some position depth and upcoming FAs that could be the best means for acquiring OL talent and improving the roster.

  357. 357 Greg Richards said at 5:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Don’t think there are any stud OL available via trade. Zane Beadles is a good fit that may be available, but I wouldn’t categorize him as elite.

  358. 358 GEAGLE said at 6:16 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’d try and get Jhari Evams from the saints. But I’m not sure if he is mobile enough to play for our OL at this stage in his career
    ..
    patriots today cut TE Tim Wrigjt who caught 6 TDs last year after they got him n the trade for Logan Mankins… that’s all they got for trading a stud Guard like Mankins a year ago, and now we lost mathis for nothing,… What did the Saints get for Grubbs? Older Guards just DONT have much value

  359. 359 76mustang said at 6:19 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Who out there had Kiko Alonso available in a trade? If this were to happen, I could see a player nobody was even considering…just a hunch…

  360. 360 GEAGLE said at 5:19 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Interesting, Mathis claims that his plane to Philly was already booked for this Monday, he was on his way to attending the Mandatory camp…
    ..
    Play with the Duck, you get the beak!!!!!

  361. 361 Greg Richards said at 5:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Easy to claim that after being released.

  362. 362 botto said at 5:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    maybe we can pick him up off the street now?

  363. 363 GEAGLE said at 5:29 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He was asked a question, and he answered it. Do you really think he lied about having a plane booked at this point? Or that there was any chance he would let them fine him 60,000 per day for missing mandatory camp?
    ..
    I thought this was pretty harmless info, no reason for me to call a man a liar over… But THATS just me

  364. 364 Greg Richards said at 5:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Don’t trust anybody!

  365. 365 GEAGLE said at 5:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Fair enough

  366. 366 anon said at 5:23 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    yeah it’s sad b/c it’s just OTA, it’s clear Mathis is a workout warrior.

  367. 367 Fufina said at 5:28 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think the timing is stupid – i know Chip is trying to make a point and does not want someone who is unhappy in the locker room but why not let it play out at least into TC when you can actually look at guys block properly before making a choice you cannot get out of?

  368. 368 anon said at 5:29 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    i thought for sure he learned after djax.

  369. 369 76mustang said at 6:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    IDK…I can see Chip the HC happy to not have the distraction and potential contention with Mathis back in the fold. I can also see Chip the GM sending a message to Rosenhaus and players that he won’t tolerate these type of tactics. Didn’t DJax boast about how he was going to get with his new agent in the off-season and come up with a plan to get more money? He could have done the same with him, but chose culture instead.

    What I haven’t heard reported is whether or not Mathis was communicating with Stoutland or Chip about his situation, or if he was using Rosenhaus to handle. I know Chip said he hadn’t spoken to Mathis, but I don’t know if either he or Mathis had made an attempt to speak with each other.

    I feel like the Eagles have some bargaining chip depth on the roster, and that Chip the GM will look to improve the OL group through a trade – who had Kiko Alonso available in a trade scenario? Just a hunch…

  370. 370 GEAGLE said at 8:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah I don’t understand the timing at all. I heard the theories, but none make much sense to me,…. I really don’t understand the timing;.

  371. 371 botto said at 5:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    we should try to sign evan mathis for cheap now

  372. 372 GEAGLE said at 6:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Who knows, maybe this is a wake up call to Mathis… Maybe when he finds out that he isn’t being offered the money he thought he was worth, he reaches out to chip to talk? Maybe he finds that his best options is to sign a 4mil per year deal with the Raiders? That should probably motivatd a guy to tuck his tail and call his old coach to see if they can talk?
    ..
    I just hope that Mathis ends up Firing Rosenhause before he Signs a deal so that he doesn’t get a commission check for costing us our starting LG…
    ..
    I often wonder how Nick FOles would react if the Eagles wanted to talk about signing him after this season? It always works with the Flyers, they always end up getting their guys back, why not us? Lol

  373. 373 GEAGLE said at 5:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    What positions are traditionally easier to replace then Guard?
    ..
    Guard is still today one of the most devalued positions in the draft along with RB, Those are two positions that many think you can adress later in the draft. trying to find Guards that can play ISNT supposed to be as hard as some other positions, and if you have to insert young Guards into a game, it sure as hell ISNT a horrible position to find yourself lined up with Jason Peters to your left, and KELCE to your right, or playing Next to Lane…
    ..
    Stoutland is one of the coaches I trust the most on this staff… don’t steer us wrong Stout!!

  374. 374 Greg Richards said at 5:27 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Talent still matters. Yes, Kelce is great but what if he gets hurt again. Then you have at least 2 interior weaknesses(or at least unproven).

  375. 375 Insomniac said at 5:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    ZBS does allow OGs to be less than desired but then you have a less than desired stability in performance. Mathis leaving is a huge void and Chip’s track record of replacing people so far has been very hit and miss.

  376. 376 GEAGLE said at 5:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    talent will always matter, the point is it is supposed to be easier to find Guard and RB talent then some other positions…..

    Well to be honest, I’m probably more concerned about who will back up KELCE, then I’m worried about coaching two guards up well enough to play. I think Tobin, Gardner, Barbre, Kelly and possibly Graf are better then we Give them credit for… Before Tobin got hurt, some media members called him our best Guard last summer. He is a ypung player who gained experience, so whether I think he was great last year, or he sucked last year, a year later, he should be a better guard then then the player I saw last year..

    my BIGGEST concern of the OL is a COMPETANT backup center as insurance for KELCE who has been injured too much for my comfort since he was drafted in 2011… this is why I really wanted us to invest in Hroniss Grasu, a guy who could play guard and be as good Of a backup Center as KELCE.
    Vandervelde and Molk, are the two Backups I trust the least, I want them replaced! Problem is they happen to be our ONLY centers, so it’s going to take a HECKUVA performance at center from one of the UDFA’s for us to get rid of both Vandervelde and Molk….
    ..
    Molk has to go… He dpesmt have the guard Versatiliry that Vandervelde has, and keeping him sacrafices too much strength and power for athleticsm. Molk has to go…. KELCE injuries, make me worry more about who will back him up, then I worry about who will start at Guard..

  377. 377 Greg Richards said at 5:46 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Definitely want whoever we sign(if they do), to have C capability as well. Would rather be able to keep a guy like Brett Boyko than be forced to bring Vandervelde or Molk(particularly Molk) back.

  378. 378 GEAGLE said at 5:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Molk has to go… My IDEAL scenario is two of the UDFA OL we added, look good and take Vandervelde and Molks spot.. For that to happen, someone like Boyko is going to have to impress at center….. Fingers crossed. Molk making this roster would really bother me… Vandervelde hasnt been anything special, but Molk I think ISNT strong enough to play at this level… With how Molk was getting blown up into FOles lap last year, the last thing we need is Molk being thrown into Bradfords knee
    ..
    I like Jordan Hicks, but getting Grasu in round 3 would have been HUGE. But AGAIN, the bastard Bears steal the Duck OL I want… I want Kyle Long in 2013(when I thought he would fall to round 2) and Grasu this year…
    ..
    Hopefully a backup center worth a damn emerges. I will root heavily for Byko..

  379. 379 Greg Richards said at 5:56 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Boyko has no experience at center. He’s also 6-7 and taller centers typically struggle with leverage. Really the only options at center besides Vandervelde and Molk are Josh Andrews and Mike Coccia.

  380. 380 GEAGLE said at 6:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    thanks,., I’m not familiar with any of the Undrafted OL we added this year…so my best bet is Coccia and the injured Andrews? Do either have actual center experiemce or are they Guards who project to be able to play Center?

  381. 381 Greg Richards said at 6:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Andrews has experience at center, don’t think Coccia did before coming to Eagles

  382. 382 GEAGLE said at 8:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Guess I’m a die hard Josh Andrews fan then!

  383. 383 GENETiC-FREAK said at 5:27 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    So Mathis said he was showing up for mandatory training next week but Eagles cut him anyway..? Understand if he wasnt showing.. But wasnt this week just voluntary?? Big loss

  384. 384 Insomniac said at 5:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I bet Bradford is thinking of retiring again next year.

  385. 385 Greg Richards said at 5:35 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Adam Snyder is also still out there. Very versatile but getting up there age-wise. Was with Giants last year. He’s from Oregon. Obviously didn’t play there when Kelly was there, but Kelly still has familarity with some ex-Oregon guys from camps/football clinics(Bill Musgrave for example).

  386. 386 Insomniac said at 5:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Guard roulette has begun.

  387. 387 botto said at 5:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mathis was nobody for a long time before he got here after we picked him up off the streets.
    Peters was an UDFA right?
    We have some guys that will step up.
    the only one nervous is Bradford

  388. 388 Greg Richards said at 5:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Still a roll of the dice. What Mathis was before he came here is pretty irrelevant. He was very good while here, with two different HCs, and two different schemes(Mudd’s scheme was similar but not exactly the same).

  389. 389 botto said at 5:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    my point is there are other guys that are nobodies right now that will be somebody soon.

  390. 390 Greg Richards said at 5:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    We hope.

  391. 391 GEAGLE said at 5:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree… I think our backups were better then we gave them credit for last year when they were placed in a highly dysfunctional situation, and they are young enough to where they should continue to improve as they gain experience…. As long as Lane, KELCE and Peters plays 16 games, Im happy and confident Stoutland will coach Up two capable Guards. Obviously I would have rather seen mathis play for us, but I don’t think its the end of the world… I’m more concerned with finding a backup center

  392. 392 Greg Richards said at 5:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Gardner IMO played well when he moved inside to G. Not so much when he had to play OT.

  393. 393 GEAGLE said at 5:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah I thought he was better at RG then Tobin was. I thought Tobin looked Noticably better at LG, then he did when Mathis came back and we moved Tobin to RG…
    ..
    the assumption seems to be Barbre and Tobin will be the starters, but I definitely don’t rule out Gardner winning the RG spot..
    ..
    hopefully We are very confident in Barbre starting at LG, so he can just stay at that spot and work on building chemistry with Peters, while we let Tobin and Gardner Duke it out for who will start next to Lane
    ..
    But who knows, maybe I’m under rating Kelly or Graf..

  394. 394 FairOaks said at 6:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Our backups last year were also nobodies and I’m not sure a somebody emerged.

  395. 395 Media Mike said at 7:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Correct.

  396. 396 Insomniac said at 5:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mathis was a Andy guy. Andy knew his OL when he had his prime pick.

  397. 397 Cafone said at 7:09 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ah the offseason, when every massive hole on the roster is just an opportunity for some unknown stiff or journeyman to become an All-Pro.

  398. 398 Greg Richards said at 5:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Jimmy Kempski
    ‏@JimmyKempski

    2h2 hours ago

    Evan Mathis’ release is confusing. He isn’t black.

    268 retweets

    226 favorites

  399. 399 botto said at 5:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    how do we know?
    no one has seen him this year yet

  400. 400 bluto said at 6:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Am I wrong or did Tommy once have the Juan Castillo move before everyone. Didn’t he also know about draft targets? Now, it seems he’s just speculating about Mathis and others.

    What happened?

    I’m desperate for Eagles information, not Eagles theories / hope or thoughts.

  401. 401 Greg Richards said at 6:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Don’t think he’s ever had inside info. Just very educated guesses.

  402. 402 Flyin said at 6:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Tommy has spoken about this before… He does get some inside info, however, he has to be very careful on what he can say. Otherwise, he would lose the trust of his contacts.

    So yes, he just has very educated guesses.

  403. 403 GEAGLE said at 6:18 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Not sure what info you expect to get when there are 3 practced left before we go on break Til August 2nd… mathis was cut today, that’s Info, not a theory…

  404. 404 botto said at 6:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    who’s at right guard..
    I don’t know.
    no he’s at left guard.

  405. 405 GEAGLE said at 6:23 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Fletcher Cox says his favorite Offensive lineman to play against is Dallas LT Tyrone Smith….. I like that!!!! Be a monster, and look forward to dominating one of the best in the game.

  406. 406 Greg Richards said at 6:30 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    McLane makes a good point on twitter. Say Mathis reports for mini-camp but is still disgruntled and the chemistry is bad and the team wants to release him down the road. If he suffered an injury while training with the team, the Eagles would owe him his entire salary. Sort of had to make a decision one way or the other now.

  407. 407 ACViking said at 6:32 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Florio’s made that point periodically when discussing how teams may choose to deal with veterans unhappy with their contracts.

  408. 408 botto said at 6:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    ahah so it makes sense.
    don’t tell anyone over at Phillymag.
    because most people just think Kelly is an idiot

  409. 409 Greg Richards said at 6:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    The commenters at the major media sites tend to be ignorant.

  410. 410 ACViking said at 6:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Remember this name . . .

    Clete Blakeman.
    ___________

    Blakeman’s an NFL’s referee (#34 in your program).

    The Eagles are 3-0 with Blakeman’s crew during the Kelly era —

    Collective scores: 91-30.

    No other referee is close.
    ___________

    PLUS . . . Blakeman’s a lawyer!!! So there’s that, too.

  411. 411 Greg Richards said at 6:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    So, the NFL is assigning him to every Eagles game this season, right?

  412. 412 Bert's Bells said at 7:03 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Never heard of him -must be a good ref.

  413. 413 botto said at 6:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    espn says the eagles were better at rushing last year without mathis in the line up by a bit.

  414. 414 Greg Richards said at 7:03 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    That doesn’t gel with my recollection. Really struggled running ball at beginning of season when Mathis was out, Johnson suspended.

  415. 415 botto said at 7:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    me either but the numbers say otherwise

  416. 416 botto said at 7:09 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    says with mathis 4.1 ypc
    without 4.4 yards
    1st down % higher and yards before contact higher too

  417. 417 mksp said at 7:56 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Lane Johnson suspension and Allen Barbre injury may have been a bigger deal last year than Mathis being hurt.

    As casual fans we just conflated it all to “the offensive line is garbage because all the starters and best back ups are hurt”, but it’s obvious the Eagles didn’t they needed Evan next year with Barbre and Tobin coming back healthy.

  418. 418 Cafone said at 7:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Interesting, but it’s a useless and possibly misleading statistic without going game by game and looking at the competition and other factors.

  419. 419 Media Mike said at 7:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    More useless than Tobin and Barbre last year?

  420. 420 botto said at 7:24 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    all stats can be misleading and useless if you don’t like them

  421. 421 Bert's Bells said at 7:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Chip the Ripper is going with a four man line.

    Never stop innovating!

  422. 422 botto said at 7:10 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    don’t fear the Chipper

  423. 423 Media Mike said at 7:05 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Awesome; with the cut of Mathis we’re going to be starting labia and clitoris as our guards this year.

  424. 424 botto said at 7:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    hopefully major and not minor

  425. 425 Bert's Bells said at 7:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I love labia and clitoris!!!!!!

  426. 426 P_P_K said at 7:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ridiculously funny.

  427. 427 76mustang said at 7:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    They’ll be perfect fits for Cox and Johnson.

  428. 428 Media Mike said at 7:34 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m sure many players will be penetrating right through Barbre and Tobin all year.

  429. 429 Crus57 said at 8:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I can’t see them playing clitoris; half the guys won’t have heard of them or know where they’re supposed to be.

  430. 430 Cafone said at 7:07 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    They could think about moving Riley Cooper to guard, but I’m not sure he’s fast enough.

  431. 431 Greg Richards said at 7:18 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Convert Celek to OG! Pretty much all he can do anymore is block anyway!

  432. 432 Media Mike said at 7:20 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    What, two catches a game and one score ALL SEASON, don’t do it for you?

  433. 433 CrackSammich said at 7:13 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Hmmm… Does GEAGLE still think Kempski is a hack?

  434. 434 Media Mike said at 7:15 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Brutal, this needs to improve.

    https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/609094278602702848

  435. 435 Greg Richards said at 7:16 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Doesn’t factor in players signed/extended using the cap room that releasing those players freed up.

  436. 436 Media Mike said at 7:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    He addressed that down the thread if you go to the original tweet. . You could have gotten more picks along with the space.

  437. 437 Bert's Bells said at 7:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    It’s also stupid.

    Herremans would have been cut by 30 other teams. Maclin took a king’s ransom in FA.

  438. 438 botto said at 7:25 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    didn’t they get Murray and Maxwell too

  439. 439 Media Mike said at 7:26 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    but they could have also added draft picks

  440. 440 Bert's Bells said at 7:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    And one of those picks could have been the next Tom Brady.

  441. 441 Media Mike said at 7:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Your fresh mouth aside; the extra draft pics would be of help.

  442. 442 Bert's Bells said at 7:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    At the very least they would give us another player to call “soft” or “bust” or whatever.

  443. 443 Media Mike said at 7:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m always 100% behind ripping the draft picks I don’t like. Especially if they come from colleges I hate and/or were taken earlier than where i was reading they should go! I hadn’t considered that aspect, but I like it!

  444. 444 botto said at 7:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    says who?
    maybe they should have just gotten tom brady and called it day too while they were at it

  445. 445 Media Mike said at 7:51 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Says me. Or dozens of NFL writers. Or Barnwell at least. And nobody was asking for Tom Brady slick.

  446. 446 botto said at 8:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    hah yeah.
    but just because some writers think it should be better and we all want more, doesn’t mean tis realistic.

  447. 447 Cafone said at 7:35 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Yeah, if you are gong to count lost/outgoing players via free agency and/or trades you have to factor in players gained by free agency and trade.

  448. 448 Media Mike said at 7:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I don’t discount the addition of those guys at all, but getting some draft picks as well wouldn’t have precluded those signings.

  449. 449 Cafone said at 7:39 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree the Eagles should have gotten more (or at least something) for some of the players who have been jettisoned.

    But since these seem to be house cleaning moves, I am not worried that it will continue to be major issue going forward once Kelly has the house cleaned and the roster is full of guys he brought in.

  450. 450 Media Mike said at 7:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m all with cleaning house when needed, but I not in favor of getting rid of a state of the art refrigerator for the old ice box setup that needs a fresh block of ice put in it every morning.

  451. 451 Cafone said at 7:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    This calls into question the wisdom of releasing Herremans. Did they not foresee or consider troubles with Mathis?

    I would find it hard to believe that Herremans wouldn’t be considered a frontrunner for a starting OG spot now.

  452. 452 anon said at 7:35 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    cutting people a year early instead of a year late?

  453. 453 Media Mike said at 7:36 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I hear where you’re going with this, but Herremans essentially sucked and was overpaid. Mathis was dominant and making a price the team could easily afford.

  454. 454 Cafone said at 7:40 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    good point.

  455. 455 BobSmith77 said at 7:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Herremans was a guy too who was clearly in decline over the last 2 years. It wasn’t like he had an injury-plagued year or a few bad games. Just an older guy with a lot of wear & tear who likely doesn’t have much left in the tank.

  456. 456 botto said at 7:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    herremans is no good

  457. 457 Greg Richards said at 8:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Read toward end of last year somewhere that in Eagles’ opinion, Herremanns was done. So I think they would have released him regardless of what was going on with Mathis.

  458. 458 BobSmith77 said at 7:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Still feel about Kelly the GM vs Kelly the Coach as I did about Reid. For all of his shortcomings that Philly fans endlessly harped on, Reid was a solid coach here.

    The issue though was Reid the GM especially in the draft after he had final say in ’02. He had some real hits during his tenure as GM but generally they were underwhelming in the drafts run by Reid. Reid gambled on the ‘Dream Team’ to fill in several holes on the roster due largely due to the draft/development issues. Turned out to be the beginning of the end for him here.

    Kelly the GM hasn’t impressed me so far including his long-term thoughts on how he is going to get the roster & team he wants.

  459. 459 BobSmith77 said at 7:38 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Comparison to Jackson situation aren’t apt for several reasons but it I’m still scratching my head at how this possibly makes the team better this upcoming season or if they have a real contingency plan in place.

    At least the general sentiment doesn’t seem to be same ridiculousness where fans somehow insisted the team was notably better off without Jackson than with him.

  460. 460 P_P_K said at 7:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    For better or worse, Chip is carrying the mentality of a College coach into the NFL. In college ranks, its easy to institute “Coach’s way or the highway.” From a personal point of view, I like it because it’s great to cheer for a team of classy athletes who are commited to their coach, their team, and a culture of integrity. I wonder, though, if it will really be successful on a pro level.

  461. 461 anon said at 7:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    i think you’ll have to pay good players more to come here, but since he’s drafting people that fit the vision i think it’ll be fine, if those people end up being good players.

  462. 462 Cafone said at 7:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Similar things did happen under the previous regime though. Corey Simon comes to mind.

  463. 463 P_P_K said at 7:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Every coach wants guys who buy into his system. I’m wondering if there will come a point where Chip is going to lower his bar and deal with some prima donnas in order to be succesful. I honestly don’t know what I want him to do.

  464. 464 Media Mike said at 7:43 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’d rather it be “Coach’s way or we trade you for maximum compensation.”

    I don’t mind Kelly putting together the roster he wants, but I don’t like giving away guys of top talent for nothing.

  465. 465 BobSmith77 said at 7:44 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Killer thing. Getting absolutely nothing for 2 Pro Bowler-caliber players over the last 2+ seasons is brutal.

  466. 466 P_P_K said at 7:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Brutal, indeed. I’m concerned other teams will figure out there’s a pattern here and just wait out our trade offers.

  467. 467 Media Mike said at 7:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    In the team’s defense; they did get McCoy moved before anybody could pull that cheap crap. But Alonzo and a 2nd rounder (or conditional pick) for McCoy would have been better.

    But I’ll take Alonzo over today’s “compensation” any day of the week.

  468. 468 P_P_K said at 7:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I’m hopeful Alonzo is going to blow everyone’s mind, but I agree that doesn’t excuse not getting more for Shady.

  469. 469 Greg Richards said at 8:48 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think getting a player the caliber of Alonso for a highly-paid RB when there’s a better fit on the FA market and also a very good draft class at the position is as good a return as anyone should expect.

  470. 470 P_P_K said at 9:55 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    You could be right. I still wonder how badly the Bills wanted Shady. Maybe they would have added a decent pick.

  471. 471 Cafone said at 7:45 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree, but I expect to see replies like “they tried to trade Mathis, but nobody was interested” like we heard “they tried to trade Jackson but nobody was interested”.

  472. 472 Media Mike said at 7:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Good front office guys get the job done before anybody knew it was coming. I hate “we tried” almost as much as the magical post-terrible season operations for guys who sucked all year as an excuse for why they sucked. If the injury was bad enough to cause a dude to play like crap; put him under the knife and move the F on.

  473. 473 botto said at 7:51 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    what could we have gotten for mathis?

  474. 474 Media Mike said at 7:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Lets read what offers they botched on draft day as the stories come out over the next few days.

  475. 475 Media Mike said at 7:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    And to refine the idea. Something from any one of 5 teams.

    https://twitter.com/jasonlacanfora/status/576086592177192960

  476. 476 GEAGLE said at 8:30 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    7th round pick, 6th if you are lucky

  477. 477 GEAGLE said at 8:16 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Well, we just brought a starting corner from a quasi dynasty was one play away from winning back to back superbowls, and he seems Genuinly blown away,by the locker room, and Culture our college coach brought in and claims that this type of team with high Charecter and no selfish personalties and that is what it takes to win Super Bowl. And I’m not sure if there is an eagle more qualified to speak on that then Byron Maxwell
    ..
    Byron Maxwell sure seems to thnk Chip is on the right track…

  478. 478 P_P_K said at 9:54 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I hope Maxwell is right. I hope he’s right because it would be incredible for the Philadelphia fans (you know, the Santa snowballs and all that) to be represented by a team that stands for the right things. It would be good for the NFL, too, for a team with a high moral code to win.

  479. 479 BobSmith77 said at 7:42 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    People blaming Lurie are correct in only one capacity – it is clear as day that Lurie desires to give complete control over to one guy after he ‘proves himself’ on the field his first 2 years. Did it with Rhodes with disastrous consequences and mixed results with Reid. Sink or swim now with Kelly.

  480. 480 SteveH said at 7:49 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Well, OL depth should be… interesting this year.

  481. 481 Media Mike said at 7:50 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    If you have 3 good o-lineman and 7 to 10 other ones who suck; is the depth good because the backups are as good as two of your “starters?”

  482. 482 P_P_K said at 7:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Certainly not for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

  483. 483 Media Mike said at 7:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Aspirations? I’m not sure the two “starting” guards even have respiration at this point.

  484. 484 SteveH said at 7:52 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I just hope to god the 2 other starting OL (Tobin, Barbre) ARE better than the backups… if they’re not then we have real issues.

  485. 485 Media Mike said at 7:58 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    That’s a lot of hope.

  486. 486 P_P_K said at 7:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Hope and faith, and that’s where Tebow comes in.

  487. 487 SteveH said at 7:59 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Tebow at LG!

  488. 488 P_P_K said at 8:02 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Of course. That’s been Chip’s plan all along.

  489. 489 Media Mike said at 8:00 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Except Tobin and Barbre aren’t fictional characters.

  490. 490 BobSmith77 said at 7:57 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Well we’ll see how much ‘scheme’ triumphs ‘talent.’ I would take talent any day of the week and the only sport where that is generally true is the NHL especially under the older trapping rules from the 90s.

  491. 491 myartz04 said at 8:10 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Mathis, Jackson, DeSean, Maclin, Cole, Herremans, LeSean, Foles….a lot of talent eh? Zero playoff wins. Zero. Out with the old, in with the new. Some of you think Chip is just getting rid of “talent” and signing good locker room guys. Murray, Mathews, Bradford, Alonso, Maxwell, Agholor…that’s a lot of talent.

  492. 492 Iskar36 said at 8:18 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Zero playoff wins is important, but it’s not like the guys you mentioned have some sort of long playoff history aside from Maxwell.

  493. 493 myartz04 said at 8:33 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I agree…but why beat the same dead horse? I give him credit for blowing things up.

  494. 494 Crus57 said at 8:39 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    DeSean, Trent Cole and Todd Herremans were all on the 2008 team that lost in the NFC Championship, so they have 2 playoff wins.

  495. 495 myartz04 said at 8:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    My bad…thanks for the info.

  496. 496 botto said at 8:31 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Kelly never said scheme trumps talent.
    he has always said tis about players and talent.
    he said culture beats scheme.
    that’s different

  497. 497 GEAGLE said at 8:11 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I think it’s safe to say that we would all feel much more comfortable,keeping Mathis on our roster… I am however confident that chip and Stoutland have a starting 5 in mind that can get the job done,,
    ,,
    Where losing Mathis is really scary is if injuries occur, our best backups are now going to have to be starters.. if our line enjoys the health of 2013, I think we will be surprisingly perfectly fine… But I’m not sure how many injuries to the OL we are equipped to handle which is scary…
    ..
    I have confidence in tobin, Barbre and Gardner… With Mathis, two of those players would be on the bench, giving us solid depth… Now I’m afraid to see what happens if 1 or 2 injuries to the OL occur

    What im completely baffled about is WTF chip is doing in terms of the timing of this? What was the point of keepimg Mathis til now, if you weren’t going to see how he acts during Mandatory camp a,few,days away.? If you know no one has made any trade offers for Evan, it’s not like you can hold on to him and rationally expect to get value for him now… If you were trying to hold him for trade value you would have to hold onto him and wait for a team to lose a Guard in August…..I can’t see what the point of all this was if we were going to cut him now? I don’t understand the timing of it…
    ..
    It was reported that Chip was the one who called Mathis to break him the news… Probably not to excited to get a call from chip when you haven’t talked to him all offseason

  498. 498 76mustang said at 8:17 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    It was also reported:

    Jeff McLane ‏@Jeff_McLane 2h2 hours ago

    If Evan suffered an injury at the team facility, the #Eagles would have been on the hook for his entire salary.

  499. 499 GEAGLE said at 8:26 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    Ok, but then why keep him TIL now, when the moment chip decided to tell the media no one offered anything for Mathis in two years, he basically ensured that no one is going to give us anything for him…. If the plan was to try and hold him to get something in return, it’s safe to say no one would make a good offer now.. If we were holding him to get value in return, we had to be willing to keep him Til August when someone loses a starting Guard in training camp… By telling the public you haven’t got an offer for him in two years, you basically ensured that no one would give us anything for Evan before August, if and when injuries occur,,., if you were gpmg to cut Evan today, you were better off cutting hm a month ago, and we would have moved on from it by now…
    ..
    Someone else posted that Moesher offered a theory that if you wait Til today when Volentary OTAs end, the NFLA can’t get involved…. Not sure how true that is….

    hopefully the OL injuries DONT pile up this year

  500. 500 myartz04 said at 8:21 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I feel like a lot of you are afraid of change. It’s like you are at the amusement park….and there is this roller coaster that you have loved to ride for the last 10 years, but the park tore it down, and is building a brand new, more exciting, more dangerous rides built with just a few replaced anterior cruciate lag bolts and you all are afraid to purchase a ticket and go for a ride….as for me, I’m in the front row, no hands. 🙂

  501. 501 botto said at 8:47 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    its a great adventure

  502. 502 Cafone said at 9:10 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    This isn’t change, it is a loss. The Eagles failed to come to an agreement with a starter and they lost him.

    The old regime takes a lot of crap for getting rid of Dawkins without a suitable replacement in place. The new regime should not get a complete pass on getting rid of players like Jackson and Mathis without suitable replacements in place.

    That said, if you are going to lose a starter with no suitable replacement, it could happen to worse positions than OG.

  503. 503 sutherneagle said at 10:06 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    The starter failed to come to an agreement with the Eagles and he lost his position,and the raise he turned down.

  504. 504 Javi Echie said at 8:41 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    @D3FB very curious to hear your opinion on this situation as you have a better idea of the quality of the olineman currently on the roster. I do know the team has been very high on Barbre and Tobin, and in my honest opinion I feel like they will perform at a very respectable level. As for backups I am truly clueless as to how they can perform. Kelly and Gardner have starting experience but who beyond that can we trust to be adequate in a spot start?

  505. 505 GEAGLE said at 8:53 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    How is Philly taking this? Pissed off? Or no big deal since.we knew there was a chance of this?

    Chip made,some comments after the crazy free agent period This year that made me feel better about blowing the team up in year 3 which I was initially against.. He talked about how important continuity is, but you have to make sure it’s the right group of players. continuity for the sake of continuity can be a trap… Clearly chip understands the importance of continuity, so if he thought guys needed to be replaced instead of giving continuity to a group that won’t be good enough, I trust him to know when we are good, but not good ENOUGH… And it’s comfortng knowmg this isn’t a coach who will be happy to win 10 games. he clearly has NO FEAR, and no one can accuse hm of settling. The man is in it to win it..,..very good ISNT going to be good enough, chip will strive for greatness…. For the most part I think he had a HECKUVA frat offseason as the Grand Puba of this roster.
    ..
    We didn’t get rid of many players who im not thrilled with their replacements..
    ..
    I don’t know that Mathis was this ,assime distraction that chip could no longer stomach. I assume that if we thought we couldn’t live without Mathis he would have tried a little harder to work thngs out…
    ..
    going to be a very interesting year…it’s not often that we go into a season really having no idea what to expect..

  506. 506 botto said at 9:05 PM on June 11th, 2015:

    I was just thinking the same thing.
    no fear!