Nolan Carroll

Posted: May 28th, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 250 Comments »

We know Byron Maxwell is one starting CB. The other? The Eagles have a few months to figure that out. It will be an open competition between now and mid-August. For now, Nolan Carroll is on the field as the other starter.

Why Carroll?

He has the best combination of size, experience in the scheme, ability and versatility. Walter Thurmond is new to the team. EJ Biggers might be a CB or he might be a S. And he’s also new. Eric Rowe is a rookie. And poor old Brandon Boykin is thought of as a slot guy. He’ll get some chances outside, but would need to be spectacular to convince the coaches to go with him.

The fact Carroll is out there now doesn’t mean anything significant. He’s leading the Indy 500 after half a lap. That’s it. Carroll can keep the job if he plays well, but being on the field with the 1’s isn’t a big deal to Chip Kelly. He tells us that every summer when we obsess on the depth chart. As he points out, the players set the depth chart with how they play. If Carroll is “starting” for the first week of Training Camp, that will be a more important sign.

Dave Spadaro provided the nugget that Carroll is out there and wrote about him.

The overhaul is complete. The aim is to play press coverage, to challenge wide receivers. And Carroll is competing like crazy to stand out.

“For me, honestly, it’s just work. I’ve come in with the mindset that I’ve got to work harder than everyone else.” he said. “It was the same situation for me in my last year in Miami (2013 season). They added a couple of guys in free agency and they drafted a couple of guys. I have the same mindset now that I had then. I can’t control anything but what I do.

“Cory is asking more from us. He is asking us to compete against ourselves every day, to be better every day. It’s not about competing against the other guys at our position. It’s about competing to be better as a player every day. He’s harping on that. He’s demanding that we give more than we gave the day before. He’s teaching us every single day. He isn’t taking a day off from teaching and from helping us improve so he expects effort from us, too. We have a growth mindset. We don’t have a fixed mindset. We never feel like, ‘Oh, I’ve got it. I don’t have to worry about it.’ We’re pushing every day.

“For him, it’s been about, ‘Everybody is talking about us being the weakest link in the defense. Let’s change that from the back end.’ For the cornerbacks, we want to be able to challenge the receivers and get up in their faces and stop giving up those explosive plays. We’re constantly thinking about not giving up explosive plays. We’re not relaxing out there at all. We’re out there stripping the football, trying to make plays. We’re establishing that mindset now that will carry over into the preseason and into the regular season.”

Carroll could benefit from the presence of Undlin. You have a veteran player and a veteran coach. They could bond well and quality coaching could bring out the best in Carroll.

* * * * *

Greg Bedard wrote a piece on Chip Kelly for SI.

If you aren’t an Eagles fan, this might be highly informative. But the Eagles are the most heavily covered NFL team. There are a ton of beat writers and the national guys cover the team aggressively as well. There is little in this piece that is new. The talk about how Kelly and Bill O’Brien became friends is the best takeaway for me.

This was also of interest in regard to QB.

Kelly also has predecessors when it comes to making controversial roster moves. In 1981, Walsh knew that he could probably win with quarterback Steve DeBerg, an accurate passer. But he traded DeBerg for a fourth-round pick and went with his gut at QB, giving the job to a former third-rounder who had a 2–6 record as a starter: Joe Montana. Eight years later, when Johnson was just five games into his first season in the pros, he traded away the league’s reigning No. 2 rusher, Herschel Walker. And in 2001, Belichick stuck with a skinny sixth-round backup QB named Tom Brady even after starter Drew Bledsoe recovered from an injury. Bledsoe was traded the next season.

“Jimmy realized that you could replace a Herschel with a near-Herschel and still be pretty good,” former Cowboys personnel exec Gil Brandt says of the old Dallas coach. “Chip realizes the same thing, and he has an eye on the cap. This guy didn’t come in on the turnip truck. He was talking to NFL people, picking their brains, getting ready for this for a long time. He’s a lot more tuned in to personnel than people know.”

That doesn’t make the Sam Bradford move any less risky, but it does offer some perspective.

* * * * *

Kelly will be speaking today at noon. I’m sure he’ll have one or two interesting things to say.

_


250 Comments on “Nolan Carroll”

  1. 1 Avery Greene said at 8:25 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Training camp should have been here already. I can’t wait!

    I liked the Carroll signing last year, but this year he’s got some decent competition. The secondary should be improved, and if it is I think we have a top 10 defense.

  2. 2 GEAGLE said at 12:35 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I love the new DB coach ripping Into them about everyone calling them the weakness of the defense…

  3. 3 Avery Greene said at 12:39 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Motivation.

  4. 4 GEAGLE said at 1:16 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    No better motivator then questioning a mans pride

  5. 5 xmbk said at 8:50 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    That SI article line about the Eagles not wanting shutdown corners has to be the single most idiotic line of the off-season.

  6. 6 Ark87 said at 8:57 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    I know the top 100 players on nfl network is totally meaningless, but it’s always entertaining to watch the players the leave the eagles jump onto the list or go way up the list. Jaccpot, McNabb, Maclin, etc. How high up the list will Shady stay despite a down year?

    Speaking of Mac, they put together a nice highlight reel of him. He might have been elite at working that sideline.

  7. 7 anon said at 10:13 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    He was still a tip 5 back last year, by yards. Plus he’s superstar status.

  8. 8 Ark87 said at 10:45 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Agreed, if not top 3. I’m just interested to see how much the trade bump is./ trade disrespect back-lash is on the popular (player) opinion meter

  9. 9 Gary Barnes said at 10:43 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Shady was still a very good RB last season, top 5 in the NFL likely…again the OL, the lack of a deep threat allowing defenses to stack the box and Chip’s play calling all deserve blame too; it was not all on Shady. I’m more interested in seeing how Foles does in STL…

  10. 10 Formidable said at 4:39 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Keep remembering how good Shady was . . . that will more than likely be the constant theme of his legacy going forward. Not hating, only realizing that just like Winter in Game of Thrones, the Running Back Wall is Coming!!!

  11. 11 ACViking said at 9:07 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    T-law:

    Reading that snippet from the SI article regarding quarterbacks reminded me of something you have emphasized in the past. That is, the coaches saw these young QBs every day in practice for two or three years before pulling the trigger and putting them in the lineup.

  12. 12 Avery Greene said at 9:12 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Eagles hire another front office guy in Chris Shea (former high ranking executive at the Dolphins).

    http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/more-eagles-front-office-overhaul-meets-eye

  13. 13 Greg Richards said at 12:23 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    They hired him about 2 weeks ago. They just never formally announced the hire. He just showed up in the front office section of the website.

  14. 14 Bert's Bells said at 9:22 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    I assume the OTAs for the secondary basically involve footwork and zone schemes. Or can they do press despite “no contact” rules?

  15. 15 Ark87 said at 9:46 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    For live speed that’s definitely correct. That’s how it was last year with the DB’s getting smoked over and over until the pads went on. I’m sure they can work on their hand techniques and other press skills during drills though.

    Edit: Oh they can also work on man coverage playing off as well.

  16. 16 wee2424 said at 1:16 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Lol I think they got smoked when the pads went on as well.

  17. 17 Ark87 said at 1:59 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    the funny part is they ended up doing very well during camp to the point of beat-reporters kind getting down on the WR’s for a bit. One of them asked Maclin about it and he’s like, “oh they’re holding like crazy, I tell the young guys not to worry about it, the refs will never let that fly in the regular season”

    Sure enough, the WR’s were just fine and the DB’s couldn’t hang with anybody when the regular season came.

  18. 18 wee2424 said at 2:59 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Alot of times it takes the offenses longer to click the defenses.

    I’m sure they were holding too though.

    Maclin was probably a little rusty, Mathews was new and so was Huff. Cooper just sucked, so yea I would hope the CBs initially held their own.

  19. 19 Avery Greene said at 9:56 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    They can’t do any offense vs defense drills in Phase 2. All drills have to be taped and reviewed by the NFL. They can do 1-on-1 with just the player and coach, but nothing more.

    https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/collective-bargaining-agreement-2011-2020.pdf

  20. 20 Bert's Bells said at 10:59 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    That’s a great file to bookmark.

  21. 21 Avery Greene said at 8:11 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    As a follow up, I guess I was wrong. They did 7-on-7 drills today. I need reading comprehension.

  22. 22 MattE said at 9:44 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Competition will breed a functional secondary for us.

  23. 23 unhinged said at 2:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Between the hiring of Undlin, and the signing of 2 FA’s, 3 rookies, additions of Biggers and Couplin, and the continued work of Carroll and Watkins, here’s hoping the floor has been raised. I think Undlin’s appealing to his group’s pride as athletes will translate into a useful chip on each player’s shoulders. Also, the improved middle field pass coverage of our LB’s should allow the secondary to focus on the secondary.

  24. 24 the DONALD said at 9:53 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    ChipOwitz got their guy in Shea it looks like… does not desire to be GM.. Versatile Front office guy.. just like CHIPOWITZ wants on the field!

  25. 25 Avery Greene said at 9:57 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Thought that was interesting myself. I think Comcast is right to suggest that this may be pushing Roseman closer to the door.

  26. 26 Rockedupeaglesfan said at 9:59 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Any word who is across from Jenkins?

  27. 27 GEAGLE said at 10:48 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Doubt who is linnning Up next to Jenkins today means Anything in the long run

  28. 28 Rockedupeaglesfan said at 11:14 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Kind of what I’m getting at. Anyone hear if Wolff is a full go? If not is Jenkins out there with the one’s or is it one of the ST aces getting a shot.

  29. 29 GEAGLE said at 12:32 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Not sure about Wolffs status for today, but surprisingly he said thurmond was at safety, which could be a really good idea,. Anf I like wolff having to compete against a veteran like thurmond instead of a bunch of young players he probably feels ahead of…let thurmond put pressure on wolff and See how he responds

  30. 30 Rockedupeaglesfan said at 12:43 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I heard he’s cleared by Andrews but not a full go. Just doing drills on the side.

  31. 31 GEAGLE said at 1:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Thank you

  32. 32 wee2424 said at 1:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’m curious as to if Thurmond knew this was coming and gained weight. If this works out (I think it could), and Thurmond stays healthy we may have a safety that could really make plays on the ball.

  33. 33 GEAGLE said at 1:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’m excited to see what he can do… This could turn out to be a good idea..

  34. 34 wee2424 said at 1:29 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah, I do wonder if when Wolff comes back he would immediately supplant him or not.

  35. 35 unhinged said at 2:19 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Kelly always leaves the impression that nobody’s ever safe. At this time of year through late August, Wolff will have to outwork and outplay all of the contenders to win that spot.

  36. 36 wee2424 said at 1:13 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Surprisingly Thurmond.

  37. 37 Formidable said at 4:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It’s Walter Thurmond according to Tucker Bagley (and Chip Kelly).

    http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2015/05/28/eagles-notes-chips-press-conference/#more-2961890

  38. 38 MattE said at 10:22 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Anyone see the article about Whisenhunt emulating a spread offense by studying Phila/Mia/Cin/Oregon tape? So Mariota is going to be a player/offensive coordinator? Whisenhunt is closer to Arians than Chip schematically, I don’t see this panning out to well.

  39. 39 eagleyankfan said at 12:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    they can imitate – they can’t duplicate…

  40. 40 GEAGLE said at 10:51 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Baldi pulled a nice stat out his ass this morning, demarco Murray converted 6 of 6 Attempts from the 1 yard line last year… hello Redzone offense

  41. 41 RobNE said at 11:18 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think Chip is very focused on our red zone problems.

  42. 42 eagleyankfan said at 12:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    That stat doesn’t matter as the goal line offense is all Tebow this year 🙂

  43. 43 Bert's Bells said at 12:45 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Why save him for the goal line? The guy just wins!

  44. 44 daveH said at 12:38 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    pete carroll may argue that is more of a reason to pass

  45. 45 P_P_K said at 1:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    That call will haunt him his whole life.

  46. 46 daveH said at 4:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    like justice!
    the usc scandal he left behind like NOT his problem!!
    but that call lasts his lifetime easy! .. and then beyond and FOREVER in the lore of the NFL!
    it will rank as ‘worst call ever” for a long long time .. I can hardly imagine a call replacing him on the list at the top.

  47. 47 MagLikesDraft said at 4:10 PM on May 29th, 2015:

    http://www.king5.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/02/10/bad-nfl-coaching-decisions/23174399/

  48. 48 daveH said at 9:49 PM on May 30th, 2015:

    nice! really really enjoyed that.
    but I think Carroll’s still got top of the list. by a long shot.
    he choked from the 1 for back to back super bowls .. still think that is a way huger choke .. then paid big money to re-sign that RB that he chose NOT to use.
    and his massive ego just makes it all the sweeter – to see him in denial, trying to justify that call ! HA THAT IS A GIFT FROM ABOVE !!!
    THANK YOU LORD FOR THAT

  49. 49 GEAGLE said at 10:53 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    Dont sleep on Nolan or Thurmond…they should provide a significant upgrade to what we saw at corner last year from Bradley

    I would be pretty damn surprised to see Rowe starting over the Nolan/thurmond winner in September. rather have Rowe start the season on the bench
    ..
    The more I read about the new DB coach the more excited I am about adding him…

  50. 50 RobNE said at 11:21 AM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think and hope the starter spots will go to Thurmond and the safety will be Wolff.

  51. 51 SteveH said at 12:13 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Shame we didn’t have Nolan Carroll running with the starters last year. Especially towards the end of the season.

  52. 52 Greg Richards said at 12:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    First interesting news from Chip’s PC: Walter Thurmond is playing safety. Hope that wasn’t because they saw him run and said “You’re no longer fast enough to play corner.”

  53. 53 eagleyankfan said at 12:16 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    ugh — video won’t start for me. I can watch video’s all over the internet except that website…

  54. 54 Avery Greene said at 12:41 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Interesting. No mention of Carroll, Watkins, Wolff, or any of the other Safeties.

  55. 55 Javi Echie said at 12:47 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Well he also said they are a ton of guys vying for the other safety spot between some CBs and current safeties.

  56. 56 Bert's Bells said at 1:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Kinne, bro, you neglected to mention Kinne.

  57. 57 Javi Echie said at 12:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    He explained it by saying Thurmond is always around the ball so they are having him learn both CB and S

  58. 58 wee2424 said at 1:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’m very surprised to hear this. I wonder if he gained some weight for this. He is always around the ball, and is very active in run defence.

  59. 59 wee2424 said at 1:12 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Thurmond next to Boykin is the quickest CB on the team. His leg injury was upper body, not lower body so it shouldn’t effect his speed. He is also reasonably young. If you watch his limited tape from last year he can stay with fast WRs no problem.

    His move doesn’t have to do with lack of speed. It has to do with good coverage ability, versatile, active against run, has shown ability to blitz, and there are just more talented bodies at CB then S.

  60. 60 NinjaP said at 2:43 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I thought he tore a muscle in his arm last year?

  61. 61 Greg Richards said at 12:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Brandon Lee Gowton
    ‏@BrandonGowton

    2m2 minutes ago

    Chip says Barbre is playing at LG, and then there are “a whole lot of guys” at RG.

    0 retweets

    0 favorites

  62. 62 since1961 said at 12:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Sending a message to Evan?

  63. 63 Greg Richards said at 12:21 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I don’t think so. Gardner and Tobin both played RG last season and are probably most comfortable there.

  64. 64 GEAGLE said at 12:30 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I thought Tobin was much better in the left side last year

  65. 65 wee2424 said at 12:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Tobin played much better at LG and seemed more comfortable there.

  66. 66 GEAGLE said at 12:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Bwahahah chip is a funny dude..asked what he saw in Marcus smith so far, he said not much. We haven’t got a chance to see much yet, the first 3 weeks they were running around competing against air..”WR kicked airs tail for the past 3 weeks”…LOL
    ..
    bradford will start 7 on 7 work next week,..

  67. 67 eagleyankfan said at 12:19 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    wow, that’s good news…

  68. 68 GEAGLE said at 12:21 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yes Sir… Very good news

  69. 69 daveH said at 12:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    as I was reading this sentence I thought for sure it was >>

    “[chip was] ..asked what he saw in Marcus . . . >>>
    … MARIOTTA !!! ha! I thought for sure

  70. 70 GEAGLE said at 12:20 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    LOL asked Bout Joseph Randles comments “he said he left a lot of meat on the bone, maybe that means he isn’t a big eater”.

  71. 71 GEAGLE said at 12:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    surprised he addressed Shadys ignorant bullshit as much as he did.. I was expecting g something like I can’t dignify that with a response…mhe addressed it
    ..
    Shady is such a coward, what a bitch… Made those comments, Chip called hi. Twice, no answer, contacted his agent, still no answer from shady.l smh
    ..
    If you are going to make those statements, be a man and take chips call and say it to him, I stead of sticking your head in the sand…l lost a lot of respect for shady… Don’t be a coward, it’s unbecoming of a man…

  72. 72 anon said at 1:49 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Different two calls than when shady was traded?

  73. 73 GEAGLE said at 2:21 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yes, that’s my understanding…chip called shady twice after he ,are the remarks

  74. 74 NinjaP said at 2:42 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    That would be tampering. So I really doubt he did that.

  75. 75 Javi Echie said at 2:49 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Andy Reid called McNabb when they traded him to Washington and that wasn’t tampering so I doubt calling McCoy was.

  76. 76 anon said at 2:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think he means recently after the race allegations. Call in connection with trade ok, call afterwards about another matter maybe not ok.

  77. 77 eagleyankfan said at 3:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    why would that not be ok? ex coaches n ex players talk all the time.

  78. 78 anon said at 5:05 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    yeah i don’t know what the rule is, someone who knows would have to chime in

  79. 79 FairOaks said at 6:24 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    From an old article during when Favre was playing retirement games with the Packers, an NFL exec said: “the term tampering as used within the NFL refers to any interference by a member club with the employer/employee relationship of another club or any attempt by a club to impermissibly induce the person to seek employment with that club or with the NFL.”

    So it would seem as though simple contact is OK, but anything which affects his relationship with his team is not. I can’t imagine talking to Lesean about this sort of thing is tampering.

    I do remember a story of Andy Reid calling Trotter when he was injured for a year while playing with the Redskins, to give him some support. So that sort of thing must be OK.

  80. 80 Rellihcs said at 7:49 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It’s pretty hard to imagine the league, or anyone, would suggest that Kelly’s intent was at all related to trying to talk to Shady about becoming an Eagle just after trading him away. That’s really the only point of the tampering laws so….

  81. 81 eagleyankfan said at 7:41 AM on May 29th, 2015:

    What rule though? There is no rule that a player can’t talk to an ex coach. Tampering(loosely) is contacting someone before a deal takes place. There’s no deal here. It’s just a coach calling an ex-player. Nothing more, nothing less. 100% not tampering….

  82. 82 NinjaP said at 8:19 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    To tell him the trade is happening he can call him but months later chip as the head coach and gm of an NFL franchise is not allowed to speak to LeSean McCoy.

  83. 83 eagleyankfan said at 3:24 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    tampering?

  84. 84 GEAGLE said at 12:28 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    MS2 has a leg injury..
    ..
    Demeco is already practicing.. Surprised the crap out of me, I was skeptical he would be ready in September, I’m thrilled to be wrong About that..
    ..
    Rotating, Kiko, Mykal and Meco is awesome, plus I’m sure we see a package with all 3 on the field..

    Bradford and TEBOW will both talk today, anyone hear who else is talking?

  85. 85 wee2424 said at 12:56 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    MS2 leg injury?

  86. 86 Sean Stott said at 1:46 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Injury to groin is what Chip guessed. Probably not a huge deal

  87. 87 Michael Winter Cho said at 1:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    At least two types of injury to groin can really be a pretty decent deal. Took me six months to get over a simple strain. Then there’s the other kind…

  88. 88 wee2424 said at 2:56 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah, sometimes groin injuries if not taken care of correctly can be reoccurring.

    I have a feeling Hull will take care of this correctly.

  89. 89 Nailed it! said at 12:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Ed Marynowitz is QB'ing during DB drills. Needs practice jersey that says #footballguy on the back.— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) May 28, 2015

    Haha

  90. 90 Avery Greene said at 1:04 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Kelly: Thurmond is always around the ball, has experience in nickel, so he got first among CB group to get crack at safety.— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) May 28, 2015

  91. 91 GEAGLE said at 1:07 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It actually could turn out to be a good idea, he is a playmaker and Nate played mostly in centerfield while Jenkins was up on the slot or TE, and around the line of scrimage in run support…. Curious to see Thurmonda freak long arms, versatility, experience and playmaking in centerfield

  92. 92 GEAGLE said at 1:05 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    TEBOW and his agent arent very bright, if they were smart, they wouldnt be competing with Barkley for the #3 QB spot…if they had a brain, they would be doing what GJ Kinney is doing trying to make the team as a Special team player. Tebow could easily make the team if he committed to be a special team monster for chip who values special teams so much..
    ..
    Since TEBOW has zero chance to overthrow sanchez as the #2, the smart move would be to make the team as a ST player, who cares about Barkleys #3 QB spot? The 3rd QB doesn’t even dress, and we lost emergency Gameday QB James Casey and Brad Smith, so if sanchez had a brain he woukd circumvent Barkley without even competing against him. TEBOW would make the team as a ST player, dress every week and be the emergency game day QB which is essentially better then the #3 QB who doesn’t dress on game day anyway..
    ..
    GJ Kinney is a smart man, he knows the offense already from the QB spot, he saw that we lost both our emergency Gameday QBs, so he is smart enough to try and show what he can bring on special teams, Since it’s an added bonus that coaches already know he can be an emergency QB…
    ..
    if TEBOW was smart, he would be competing against GJ Kinney instead of competing with Barkley to see who gets to stay home on game day..lol

  93. 93 Avery Greene said at 1:07 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Saw this on the press conference page:

    Coach Kelly: @TimTebow has spent a lot of time over the last two years working on his game. We wanted to have four quarterbacks.— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 28, 2015

  94. 94 GEAGLE said at 1:26 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yes, but what I’m saying is he could make the team as the emergency game day QB without even having to compete against the QBs.. Once he is on the Team already, if he really has improved as a QB they will develop him as one anyway since it’s the most valuable position..,, what I’m saying Is make the roster first, and then worry about showing your QB ability
    .
    It’s not like if he makes the roster as a ST player, it erases his QB skill.. Show that you can help in more ways then QB, give yourself the best chance to make a roster since you haven’t been on a team for two years

  95. 95 peteike said at 3:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Hes not putting in all that work on his motion to try out for ST. While that may be a smart move for many players, he probably wants a QB spot or retire and go back into TV would be my guess

  96. 96 GEAGLE said at 5:30 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Then he can enjoy his 3rd season in a row not being in the NFL LOL

  97. 97 Jernst said at 2:20 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I enjoy a lot of your posts, GEAGLE…but you have to realize how much you repeat the same thing again and again in the same post, don’t you? This is a good post…but, you essentially restate the same thing 4 times in 4 different paragraphs. It just makes it difficult to read.

  98. 98 kevinlied said at 2:49 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    We have no idea whether he has the physical skill set or the mental make up to play special teams. Plus, from his vantage point, there is far more upside in trying to make the team as QB3 and eventually working his way to QB2 here or elsewhere. He can make more money and have a much longer career as a journeyman QB than as a special teams maven. Playing a glory position, even as a backup, garners more publicity and maximizes future career opps. And he stands less of a chance of sustaining life-altering head injuries. Finally, unlike a lot of guys who switch positions, he has many career options beyond football thanks to his popularity and charisma. He doesn’t need football. If I were him, I’d only play on my terms.

  99. 99 Gary Barnes said at 3:30 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    But I think the reality is he has zero shot to make the team as a QB….so, if he really wants to play football, he will need to adjust his ego and do whatever is necessary to make the team. If he does not want to play football if he is not a QB, then thanks for knowing ya and see ya later…

  100. 100 kevinlied said at 3:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Really? Zero shot to beat out Barkley, who has shown nothing so far? I think he has a better shot to do that than to convert to play a brand new position at an NFL level.

  101. 101 Gary Barnes said at 3:47 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Barkley can make the necessary throws and repeat his motion, he goes through his progressions and can run the offense.. But again, as Geagle and others have pointed out, even if Tebow beats out Barkley as the #3 QB, he will not dress on game day unless Chip wants to sit someone else at another position which would be stupid…Tebow has already proven he can run at this level and is tough enough to play ST or as a red zone RB/TE. ST is not some super skilled technique position…it is covering kicks/punts, blocking, tackling, running…if Tebow cannot do that considering how athletic he is, then we might as well cut him now…

  102. 102 kevinlied said at 4:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Disagree whether Barkley can make the necessary throws. And perhaps Tevow has shown he can run enough to play ST. He hasn’t shown that he can do fundamental things like tackle. Plus, unless he’s an ST prodigy, he’ll have to show some level of aptitude at an offensive or defensive position.

  103. 103 GEAGLE said at 5:29 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    at the end of the day, both Barkley and Tebow have zero chance to catch Sanchez or Bradford. With the #3 QB spot that doesn’t dress on game day, I always viewed that roster spot as reserved for a young QB who we are still trying to develope…, and when looking for a kid to develop I just don’t see much of a chance that we piss away the two years we invested in Barkley this soon in the development of a young QB, for Tim Tebow.,
    .. Tebow can’t beat Sanchez as the back up, and I don’t really see him being worth developing over Barkley, so I think that he would have to show more versatility in what he can bring to this team like Kinney is trying to do, in order to have a realistic chance at making this roster…

    I just can’t forget the comments chip made years ago before he ever imagined he would coach Tebow revealing that he basically viewed Tebow as a running back trying to play QB… But we’ll see.

    My head can’t grasp the concept of Tebow making the Eagles roster, I need to see that to believe it

  104. 104 peteike said at 3:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    his reality is that he worked on his arm for a long time and probably thinks he can win a 3 spot

  105. 105 Gary Barnes said at 3:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    He can think anything he likes, but multiple teams have thrown him to the curb since he was drafted as a QB and the Eagles only picked him up for the bare minimum and because they wanted 4 arms…and again even if he wins the 3rd spot, it is a dead end if his goal is to play real games…whereas as ST or other position guy he would not have that extra hurdle..

  106. 106 peteike said at 4:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    What he thinks, not what we assume. Also, he would think he can continually improve so work his way up to a backup spot and ultimately play QB somehow or at least stick around the league. I agree, highly doubtul, just guessing what he might think of his own chances is a lot different than outside opinions.

  107. 107 GEAGLE said at 8:01 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    He is GJ Kinneys Summer QB replacement l

  108. 108 GEAGLE said at 5:16 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Doubt he can make our team as the #3 QB… I don’t believe he is anything more then the replacement for Our “summer QB” GJ Kinmey who is no longer practicing as a QB… I don’t think we will EVER see ONLY 3 QB’s in the summer. I think there will always be a 4th QB that doesn’t end up making the roster, this year it happens to be Tebow.
    ..
    If he doesn’t make the roster as a #3 QB, then he probably should have tried to be versatile and show chip he can bring more to the table then just the 4th best QB we have..
    ..
    I would think Barkley is pretty Jacked up. be pretty damn embarrassing to lose his job to Timmy. Very curious to see how Barkley handles the big QB battle vs The Jesus Christ of the gridiron.., trade for manziel and we will have a complete circus..
    ,
    I will never root for Barkley Harder then how I will root for him in the preseason. hope he wipes the floor with Tebow this summer and puts a quick end to the Tebow era

  109. 109 Nailed it! said at 1:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Starting OL with Mathis out, from left to right: Peters-Barbre-Kelce-Tobin-Johnson— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) May 28, 2015

  110. 110 Jernst said at 2:15 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    that I find very interesting. If the plan is to start Barbre at RG, and Mathis at LG, why wouldn’t it be Tobin at LG filling in for Mathis and Barbre at RG where he’d most likely play this year? I know Barbre is more comfortable on the left side, but that seems weird to me.

  111. 111 Javi Echie said at 2:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    First day of practices I wouldn’t put too much stock in the way depth charts are looking. Chip seems to want his players learning all positions.

  112. 112 GEAGLE said at 2:38 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    This is why I hate media access…we are a depth chart In May and don’t know how to act…mits year 3, everyone will get hundreds of reps playing with everyone….long way to go before its time to draw any conclusions from the depth chart…especially when we still have key players in the depth battles like Wolff amd MS2 who aren’t even practicing yet

    Chip has also proven to not have much patience for bullshit.. I assume Mathis would have been made an example out of if we were,going to cut him… At this point, I would be surprised if he isn’t an eagle this year… I have to think chip would have cut him by now if he hasn’t talked to him, Or had any trade offers…at this point I assume chip won’t grant him a release, or any bonus money…

  113. 113 Javi Echie said at 2:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Exactly the point I was trying to make, there is no point whatsoever to put anything into where the guys are lining up today.

    I think Chip would of cut him as well but at the same time I feel like Chip is sending Mathis a message telling him that he has no leverage at all and that he either plays here or retires. If Mathis wants more money I highly doubt he is going to skip mandatory minicamp and get fined.

  114. 114 GEAGLE said at 2:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah i Agree. He has Mathis by the balls, he can either out perform everyone and start at LG for us, or he is welcome to retire. Even if a team loses a guard in camp, doubt they would trade us anything enticing enough to give up our grip on Mathis’ balls…
    .
    And the most we can get out of looking at a depth chart today is seeing what positions guys are competing at, but even that is subject to change…

  115. 115 D3FB said at 5:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Tobin is also most comfortable at LG.

    Once again though, big grain of salt due to it being OTAs.

  116. 116 Nailed it! said at 1:26 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    First team D as team drills begin: Carroll and Maxwell at CB. Jenkins and Maragos at safety. Kendricks, Kiko at ILB— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) May 28, 2015

  117. 117 Nailed it! said at 1:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Chris Maragos and Malcolm Jenkins are the first team safeties. Walter Thurmond and Chris Prosinski are the second team safeties. #Eagles— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) May 28, 2015

    Then they go on to say Watkins is with third team.

  118. 118 P_P_K said at 1:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Maragos as a starter? Wow. I’m a huge fan of his special teams play but I was under the impression his D skills were sub-par.

  119. 119 Brian Pillion said at 2:36 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah, it’s been announced. Officially official.

  120. 120 Tumtum said at 2:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Purely a case of “he was here so he has done more to earn it right now”, is my guess. I kind of doubt he will be the first guy off the bench. He really didn’t look very good back there last year.

  121. 121 Ark87 said at 2:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    As best I can tell, Chip’s depth charts start: respect to previous year’s starters, if he’s not around it goes to the most veteran guy. I don’t think it means much.

  122. 122 A_T_G said at 4:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    At one point, the same could have been said of Quintin Mikell.

    Chip could be rewarding his hard work, Chip could be avoiding giving any of the true hopefuls the early lead, or Chip could think that Margos has the least chance of screwing anything up, allowing Chip to focus on the corners.

  123. 123 Javi Echie said at 5:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It is literally the first day of practice, why are you reading too much into a depth chart at this time of the year? Like Chip said the only 2 starters in the seconday with jobs guaranteed already are Jenkins and Maxwell that’s it.

  124. 124 D3FB said at 5:51 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Maragos and Jenkins are the most experienced in the scheme at S. (Wolff is still limited by his knee)

    In OTAs it’s often based primarily off who has the most experience so that when you go back and watch the film you can show the young guys, “ok see how Maragos passes off the crossing WR, and then settles in his zone? Thats how you do it”

    This allows you to have a template for what you want on a given play. Whereas if say Watkins was running with the 1s, and he does something wrong, then they have to wait until the 2s or 3s come up to show what Maragos did correctly, and then you run into the problem of “ok well Hicks picks up the wrong guy here, so Maragos is forced to go cover a guy he wasn’t supposed to to make it work”.

    The running order in OTAs makes no difference. Until week 2 or 3 of camp, then you can start to ask questions.

  125. 125 P_P_K said at 7:51 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    So, you’re saying:
    Maragos has the heart
    but he won’t get to start
    until he fits the part.

  126. 126 CrackSammich said at 10:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Fart.

  127. 127 Jernst said at 2:14 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    seems like Chip isnt too fond of Wolff

  128. 128 GEAGLE said at 2:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Someome posted that Wolff ISNT a full practice panticipant

  129. 129 jpate said at 2:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Wolff is still limited due to the knee surgery

  130. 130 Nailed it! said at 1:31 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Rowe Third team CB

  131. 131 Sean Stott said at 1:44 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Desean Jackson was the third team WR in 2013. It means nothing.

  132. 132 Nailed it! said at 1:45 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I am not saying it means anything I am just updating what is happening.

  133. 133 Sean Stott said at 1:47 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    How does he look?

  134. 134 anon said at 1:50 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah same every year, rookies have to work their way up the depth chart.

  135. 135 Nailed it! said at 1:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    As it should be.

  136. 136 GEAGLE said at 5:04 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah I doubt Agholor is with the first team right now. He wasn’t at practice today because he is at some rookie event the league has so it’s not being Pointed out like Rowe on the 3rd team.., but I highly doubt they would disrespect returning Eagles, coop, Pope, Huff and probably even Maehl, but having Agholor run with the 1’s from the moment OTA’s start,.. Even Lane Johnson didn’t start out on the first team

  137. 137 Iskar36 said at 2:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    To be fair, Desean Jackson was cut a year later… so it may have meant something.

  138. 138 Avery Greene said at 3:44 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    But he was the starting WR in training camp. CK has said repeatedly he doesn’t worry about depth charts in OTAs, it’s just for practicing sake. Come training camp, after they look at the video they may decide he’s the starter or 2nd string.

  139. 139 Iskar36 said at 3:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I am mostly kidding with that comment. As you said, particularly in that season, it had much to do about nothing. All that being said, and while I agree that one day of practice playing with the 3rd string is completely and entirely meaningless for a rookie, I do wonder if when Jackson was used as third string in OTAs if that truly was meaningless or if it was early indications that Chip was not Jackson’s biggest fan in this offense/team.

  140. 140 unhinged said at 1:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    One of the risks of being a historian is blurring distinct lines, casting too broad an umbrella and tidying up the roughness and contradictions of life stories as they are told and re-told, for the sake of brevity, impact, whatever. It may be just a case of inappropriate name-dropping, but Greg Bedard is full of crap, naming Belichick as a contrarian risk-taker a la Walsh, Johnson and Kelly. Belichick’s benchwarmer led his team to a freaking SB win and he took a risk by keeping him a starter after Bledsoe recovered? Really Greg? Bedard is not a historian, but he’s distorting facts like the worst of them. Belichick’s defensive coaching was probably more responsible for that SB win than his benchwarmer who was named MVP, but the controversies that he has embraced range from signing malcontents, to not punting on 4th and 3 from his own 38.

  141. 141 RobNE said at 1:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I agree but actually Brady got hurt in the AFC championship game, Bledsoe won the game, and then Belicheck decided to go with Brady anyway for the SB.

    Now, that wasn’t risky at all and Belicheck had already decided during the season Brady was his guy. But just to be technical, Brady had not already won a SB.

    And yes it was the defense that year.

  142. 142 unhinged said at 2:04 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Thanks for the technical correction. I remembered Bledsoe having to be hospitalized, and I didn’t remember his return.

  143. 143 FairOaks said at 1:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think he did keep with Brady during the Super Bowl run when Bledsoe was in fact healthy again. Bledsoe was healthy in November that year, Brady was 5-3 as a starter, and when Bledsoe came back it was as the backup. There were plenty of questions about that move, if I recall, and it pretty much guaranteed that Bledsoe would leave in the offseason regardless of how it turned out. But I have since heard Belichick say that he preferred Brady in the preseason but went with Bledsoe for the experience factor — but once Brady had experience, I guess that was enough to make the switch. But yes, the defense was the primary reason for the Super Bowl win. Brady was just a very good game manager at that point.

  144. 144 HawaiianEagle said at 2:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think Ray McDonald’s new buddy in prison will be the Hamburglar…

  145. 145 GEAGLE said at 2:32 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Clady Torn Pectoral, out for the season… Yikes, just get Thru this summer healthy boys… One day at a time, avoid all significant injuries (Fingers crossed)
    ..
    Roto reports that Eric Fisher was working with the 2nd team lol, andy claims he wanted to get a look at some other guys,..but Roto reminds that Fisher graded as one of the worst tackles in the NFL last year, while significantly less experienced Lane Johnson is on his way to already becoming the best RT in the game.,,thanks andy, apparently still hasnt learned from the Danny watkins debacle… You draft a Tackle with the #1 pick who is one of the worst in the league in year 2? No Bueno Andy, no Bueno

  146. 146 Sean Stott said at 2:36 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Clady has an ACL not a pec. Either way, second season in 3 that he’ll miss the entirety of.

  147. 147 GEAGLE said at 2:44 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Even worse.,,

    As exciting as it is for training to start this time of year, I’m petrified of Injuries, every day where by 6pm we,don’t hear about a serious injury is a successful day… One day at a time, let’s work hard, work smart and atay healthy boys,..

  148. 148 Sean Stott said at 2:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    After the 2012 season we had, nothing can be worse. Losing Murray would really hurt a lot though.

  149. 149 anon said at 4:13 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’m no worried if we can still call Henry Josey up from the CFL.

  150. 150 Bert's Bells said at 3:04 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    That’s tough. He’ll be coming back at, what, 30? He’s an athletic player it’ll be interesting to see if he can do what Peters has done in his recovery.

  151. 151 peteike said at 3:10 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    and they lost their 3rd round TE to injury already if I recall, ouch. They had issues at O line last season so they fired their line coach because he made dumb adjustments mid season that made them worse. This isnt helping the new guy

  152. 152 GEAGLE said at 4:34 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    stoutland deserves a ton of praise for what he has done with Lane.. He took the rawest of the Tackles and had him starting from day one, and after two seasons he is already knocking on the door of being the best RT in the game.. awesome considering two Tavkles were drafted ahead of him. Both more polished then Lane especially Joekel who’s father groomed to play OL since he was like 5 years old

    Joekel wasn’t that great last year either if I’m not mistaken?
    ..
    Lane has been a significantly better pick then Fisher, Joekel and Dion…that’s how you handle your Business with a top 5 pick.. Picking that high, anything short of coming away with a talent like Lane is a failure… Standing round of applause to both Lane and stoutland. I figured Lane would Start paying off now that it’s year 3 because he was so raw.. Not Many imagined Lane could be so good, so soon..
    ..,
    But Andy hasn’t drafted well in a while, especially if it’s true that 2012 was a howie draft..Eric Fisher and Dee Ford probably aren’t the best impression to make with your two first round picks to your new fanbase. Andy had o go back to the “character concern well” to finally get a good round 1 player in Marcus Peters.,. so happy that chips obsession with measurements is the polar opposite of andys “undersized fastballs”…Chips desire to run the ball is also the opposite of pass happy Andy ..
    ..

  153. 153 peteike said at 5:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    oh man, now when you see those top 5 picks, it makes the pick look even better. Then again, coaching guys up matters and Chip came in to the league with that on his resume. Dan Patrick kept harping on it too when he was hired.

  154. 154 CrackSammich said at 10:11 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think Joekel had injury issues his rookie year. Last year was basically his redshirt freshman year.

  155. 155 Gary Barnes said at 3:36 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yup, Reid does not know anything about OT

    Signed,
    -Jon Runyan
    -Jason Peters

  156. 156 GEAGLE said at 4:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Awesome…. Lol took a brilliant mind to know Runyan was an awesome tackle when we signed him in free agency… jason Peters cost a first round pick so it’s safe to say it wasn’t a big secret that he was a special olayer… Of course I’m responding to a post about trades and signings when i was talking about DRAFTING, so I’m probably the idiot for responding… I’ll make sure I know better next time… Enjoy your day

  157. 157 GEAGLE said at 4:24 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Defending recent Andy Reid drafts? Lol good luck with that.

  158. 158 laeagle said at 6:56 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Jon Runyan (signed by Reid)

  159. 159 laeagle said at 6:56 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Jason Peters (traded for by Reid)

  160. 160 laeagle said at 6:56 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Jason Kelce (drafted by Reid)

  161. 161 laeagle said at 6:57 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Todd Herremans (drafted by Reid)

  162. 162 laeagle said at 6:57 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    (and I’m replying to myself in a never-ending chain on purpose. It somehow felt right)

  163. 163 botto said at 2:57 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    so tebow is holding the ball too long but its only OTA’s he will get more comfortable and then we cut him..
    they said barkley looks stronger…
    and kinne going off!

  164. 164 eagleyankfan said at 3:22 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Kinne kicking airs ass too? Sweet!

  165. 165 Bert's Bells said at 4:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Air never had a chance.

  166. 166 Avery Greene said at 3:51 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Question: Are reading too much into the Tebow signing?

    Thoughts: CK is always looking for a way to get an advantage. We’ve also heard Barkley looks like he’s throwing stronger. I’m sure the coaches know what they have in Barkley, so are we rushing to conclusions about Barkley’s demise?

  167. 167 botto said at 4:01 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    yes, he ain’t making the team

  168. 168 GEAGLE said at 4:02 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yes… I’ll be surprised if we give up on Barkley after two years
    .
    GJ Kinmey ISNT Playing QB this summer. They needed to replace his camp arm, Hello TEBOW…. Needed to bring someone in to replace our summer QB GJ Kinney, enter tim TEBOW. I wouldn’t think Kinney would beat out Barkley. And I don’t expect TEBOW to beat Barkley either…. I need to see that to believe it
    ..
    I think it’s moronic to give up on. Young QB after two years

  169. 169 A_T_G said at 5:05 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think you are right, Chip looks for any advantage he can get. This should score him a few points with God.

  170. 170 Ark87 said at 6:10 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    The ultimate intangible. (also those points won’t be scored by passing).

  171. 171 wee2424 said at 6:12 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think competition at every level makes the best football team. It pushes people that may be stagnant (Barkley) and just generally heightens the talent level on the team. Keeps people from being entitled.

  172. 172 Greg Richards said at 5:11 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    If you’re down to your 3rd QB, you’re screwed anyway. Go with the most versatile guy. No, not Tebow. G.J. Kinne – WR, H-B, QB, STs.

  173. 173 RobNE said at 4:22 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Pats fans are so self-important:

    http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/28/patriots-fan-deflategate-giving-up-on-football/

    summary: I am quitting the NFL b/c my view of whether the Pats cheat is the only one that counts. If you are going to write about why the NFL stinks, there is lots to cover. Maybe talk about more than just why your team’s sh$t doesn’t stink.

  174. 174 unhinged said at 4:49 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Ha! He actually uses the “L” word in reference to Goodell, as if NFL Commissioner is an autonomous actor. It must really suck to know all of the trophies can be so easily, irrevocably tainted. Devastating.

  175. 175 peteike said at 5:29 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    he questions the entire quitting at the end. Hes right though, just like an addict he’ll be back. Such a silly thing to put that much emotion into. Its entertainment ffs

  176. 176 EaglesFan1 said at 4:30 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Love the competition in the secondary this offseason. The best will rise and we’ll have good depth, and those 2 things really comfort me. Also, I highly doubt this secondary can be worse than last year’s so at the very worst it will be average.

  177. 177 GEAGLE said at 4:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’m excited about seeing more of Sanchez. Ideally Bradford plays every single regular season/playoff game for the next 7 years, and while I have never been a Mark Sanchez fan, I’m excited to see how much better he can be in this offense given the Continuity of year 2. Fundamentally I don’t believe it’s possible for a player to show the best he is capable of his first year in a new offense, especially since Sanchez hasn’t had much experience in a spread offense. I would expect to see a better Sanchez this preseason, especially since we didn’t really see Sanchez QB our team at full strength. We know and love chip for his obsession to run the ball, yet our OL/Run game was so decimated by injuries last year that we saw games where chip had to ask Sanchez to throw 50 times, That’s NOT Sanchez in the best position to succeed and chip knows it..
    ..
    not Only should Sanchez be better in year two of learning an offense, But Sanchez should be much better when he gets to play behind our OL and Run game when it’s at full Strength…So while I have never been Mark Sanchez fan, if we ever need him, I think he is capable of being much better then he was last year. That doesn’t mean I ever want him as our starting QB, but I’m excited to see him play in the preseason, to see how much better he can look…same goes with Barkley either, I’m not a fan, but I would expect his best is yet to come, even tho
    I doubt his best will be ever good enough to start…

    I feel way way more comfortable with our QB situation then the 27th best QB situation that we were rated… Foles and Rams are rated 26t..
    ..
    big Foles fan, think he Is much better then Sanchez.. But I would expect Sanchez in year two of a healthy chip eagle offense will be better then Foles in his first year with a less talented Rams offense…, and if Bradford plays out offense should be much better then the Rams

  178. 178 anon said at 5:04 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I really want to like him, he plays so fast when the offense is going. gotta fix those ints. But Bradford and Murray have that natural connection, excited to see what they do next week.

  179. 179 peteike said at 5:22 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Ill be rooting for Foles from afar. I posted something similar in terms of Sanchez. I expect him to be better and he did play some tough teams when he came in. I think its completely reasonable to think he can improve. We put so much stock in Bradford, who hasnt even shown as much in games that matter than Sanchez so why not right. I mean if were talking upside, of course SB has more but as far as improvement who knows. Very possible Sanchez looks better for a while early season/camp. Must of us are in same boat, we really dont want to trust the guy based on what weve seen and know of him but were also putting even more blind trust in Bradford.

  180. 180 GEAGLE said at 5:40 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Sanchez went deep in the playoffs twice. We are going to have a very good defense this year by the time they gel in October/November. This year it won’t be as good of a defense as Sanchez had when he had the playoffs success with the Jets, but when you combine our special teams which is a straight up Force, what should be the beginning of the next era of great eagle defense, and a significantly better offense then Sanchez has ever played with, I wouldn’t be surprised if this Eagles team is overall much better then the Jets teams Sanchez won playoff games with…

    Obviously we all want Bradford, but if our team stays healthy, I would still expect to win the division even if Sanchez has to play 16 games.. He should have a significantly better run game the. Last years mess where we had to ask him to throw 50 times. Team stays healthy, and I’m very comfortable with our QB situation

  181. 181 Greg Richards said at 5:06 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Adrian Peterson definitely loses the moron of the week award to Ray McDonald, but not through a lack of effort.

  182. 182 peteike said at 5:17 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    what did AP do this week, or maybe I dont want to know

  183. 183 Javi Echie said at 5:20 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Went of a twitter rant bitching and moaning about how if the Vikings were loyal to him they would guarantee most of his salary beyond this year. The dude is a total clown, you want them to guarantee your next years salary when they paid you for all of last year that you were suspended and yet they still want you back this year at your $13mil salary, yet the Vikings aren’t loyal?

  184. 184 peteike said at 5:24 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    hes the worst, hes also shown little remorse or accountability for his actions to begin with. He comes off as if everyones against him which in turn makes it seem like he doesnt think what he did was that wrong.

  185. 185 Javi Echie said at 5:33 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    He is an absolute chode. You’re correct that these actions just show that he has no remorse for what he did then on top of it he has this self entitlement that he is owed something from the Vikings for him getting suspended.

  186. 186 anon said at 6:18 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    “hes the worst, hes also shown little remorse or accountability for his actions to begin with.” that’s not true, he apologized and went through the program, what else is he supposed to do, he, like Hardy, wasn’t asked to be put on the commish’s list it’s obvious Adrian didn’t like the way they handled him last year despite all of the years he’s been a model citizen and superstar for that team.

    This year, he made it clear he wanted to be traded, they didn’t. If the cut him after this year it could be hard for a 32yo running back to find work, especially at a rate similar to what he’s getting paid. If the vikings didn’t want to deal w/ it just trade or cut him.

  187. 187 TypicalDouche said at 6:24 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Wow somebody that is a bigger idiot then Peterson himself. So you think he is remorseful because he read something that someone wrote for him to apologize? Also him and Hardy weren’t ask to be put on the exempt list? You idiot they both had horrible crimes that deserved for more then to be on paid leave exempt list! So just because a guy has been a model citizen prior to one instance makes him a good guy? Another moron comment by yourself. Lets see I have never been in trouble or arrested but if I beat a women and threw her on a bed of guns or severely beat a child I would be considered and bad guy.
    ….
    So what he made it clear he wanted to be traded what does that mean? The Vikings own his rights, paid for an entire year that he didn’t play, and want to pay him the full salary he is owed for this year but they don’t want to do deal with him? Guy you should have stopped after your first sentence because the Vikings are clearly backing there player by welcoming him back.

  188. 188 Javi Echie said at 6:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    haha this guy again? I cant believe I am saying this but I think I agree with Douche over here. Anon your comment was distasteful to say the least. You are trying to make excuses for 2 men that did wrong.

  189. 189 anon said at 6:39 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I shouldn’t have mentioned Hardy. I’m not making excuses for AP, i’m just saying his actions are understandable from his point of view.

  190. 190 Bert's Bells said at 6:42 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Honestly, I have a hard time understanding his bellyaching.

    The Vikings paid last year and he didn’t play.

    They’re paying his full contract this year.

    That’s a lot more than most NFL players get at his age. It’s hard to imagine, say, Brian Westbrook going through this in 2006 and not getting his deal re-negotiated in the team’s favor.

  191. 191 anon said at 6:44 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It’s clear he’s generally not happy with the Vikings, i’m sure he’d be happy to be released, i think this is related to that. Plenty of players asked for stuff they won’t receive — is AP being more of a douche than Mathis right now?

  192. 192 Bert's Bells said at 7:12 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I don’t understand Mathis’ gripe either.

    He’s the oldest lineman in the league, no other team will pay him as much.

    So, yeah, they’re both douche-y. Difference is AP didn’t play last year because he beat up a baby.

  193. 193 anon said at 7:31 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    *disciplined.

  194. 194 Bert's Bells said at 8:36 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I’ll also say that I don’t begrudge Mathis asking for more money or to see if there’s another team that will give it to him. Or for him to skip VOLUNTARY work activities. He’s doesn’t owe anything to anyone but himself.

  195. 195 Javi Echie said at 6:44 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yea mentioning him with Hardy was a bad move but at the same time Peterson’s actions are in no way understandable. He beat the hell out of his child and the Vikings paid him to not play. What more do the Vikings have to do for him? I cannot agree with you anon, he is wrong.

  196. 196 anon said at 6:46 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Vikings aren’t doing him a favor by paying him this year (the money is probably guaranteed so their out the cash one way or the other). I think he wants a commitment from them that if they won’t move him they’ll finish the deal with him instead of dropping him at age 32, especially when Vikes can control his stats for this year.

  197. 197 Michael Winter Cho said at 7:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    They aren’t understandable to people who can’t step out of their worldview.

  198. 198 Javi Echie said at 7:59 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I am kind of confused at what you’re saying exactly. Are you saying I can’t step out of my worldview to understand Peterson’s point?

  199. 199 Michael Winter Cho said at 8:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It appears to be the case?

  200. 200 Javi Echie said at 8:29 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I don’t know, do you read well enough to understand my post? I did say I am confused at what you’re saying so if you have something to say directed to me then clarify yourself.

  201. 201 Michael Winter Cho said at 8:35 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I am not trying to directly say anything about or to you, but rather responding to your comment that Peterson’s actions are “in no way understandable”. Given that his behavior (I am referring to the extreme corporal punishment of his child, not his current interactions with the Vikings) would have been condoned in many cultures and subcultures and through most of human history, I would disagree and say that his actions were understandable.

  202. 202 Javi Echie said at 8:39 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I hear you on that topic friend. I guess all people look at the situation differently. I know a lot of people are ok with beating there children, hell my parents beat me as a child when it called for and had no problems with that. Me personally I don’t get beating a child, as young as Peterson’s child was, the way he did I just cant condone that. Nonetheless though my point to this guy was that his actions were uncalled for by legal standards and yet Peterson feels the Vikings owe him something. I work for a major company in New York and if I was arrested for beating my child to the extent Peterson did my employment would be terminated in a heartbeat. Peterson on the other hand feels that the Vikings owe him something for what he did.

  203. 203 anon said at 6:38 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I wouldn’t confuse what Peterson did with what Hardy did. And yes, in this case i don’t think one action discounts the rest of APs life, but people can reasonably disagree.

  204. 204 A_T_G said at 6:52 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    You make a solid argument and explain it well. Is the middle school name-calling just added so that people don’t ask about the avatar name? Without that, your comment would be a good contribution to the conversation.

  205. 205 TypicalDouche said at 7:03 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    You know what it is ATG, I am an asshole I can admit that. Truth be told as well is that I cant stand people that try to defend criminals, so I get really really uptight when this guy anon is trying to make excuses for a-pete when he beat the hell out of his kid. Things like that really get to me because I could never do such a thing to my child and child abusers deserve everything bad that happens to them. I will try to scale down the personal attacks. Thanks for your input pal.

  206. 206 Bert's Bells said at 6:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    They’re going to pay his contract. I’m not sure what more he can ask for. It’s more than he’d get from 31 other teams.

  207. 207 Rockedupeaglesfan said at 6:47 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Easy to say trade, hard to get fair compensation.

  208. 208 anon said at 6:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    that’s really the vikes problem, if AP’s as bad as everyone says wouldn’t the vikes want to get rid of him?

  209. 209 Rockedupeaglesfan said at 6:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    No it’s not, they own his rights. And if they cut him he probably would make less money than he’s owed on the free market. He should realize this is just about as good a deal as he’s going to get in maybe he should show a little loyalty to the team that paid him for zero production last year,rather than questioning there’s

  210. 210 GEAGLE said at 6:57 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I love when a team takes a stance of “he either plays for us, or he retires!”… Hate spoiled athletes acting like they are entitled to decided that they should be traded…sports doesn’t work that way…

  211. 211 Bert's Bells said at 6:58 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Yeah, screw them athletes! Entertain us and make more money for Jerry Jones and Wellington Mara!

  212. 212 Michael Winter Cho said at 7:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Dime a dozen HOF running backs… they should just keep their mouths shut and do what the rich old guys tell ’em to.

  213. 213 GEAGLE said at 7:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    But I do also enjoy the be “careful what you wish for” wake up tomorrow and found out you were traded to Oakland, Jaxonville, Or in Shadys case, Buffalo(hear it’s beautiful this time of year)…

  214. 214 wee2424 said at 6:33 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Makes me wonder how bad that second ACL tear really messed up his knee.

    Are they just being extra cautious considering our season really hinges on him? Is his knee worse then many of us thought? Did the rehab program in STL really suck that bad? It almost appears as thought that is possible considering everything.

    I’m just curious as to why our older ILB who tore his ACL long after Bradford did is participating more then him.

  215. 215 Nailed it! said at 6:35 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Ryans tore his Achilles first off. And second, it takes longer to come back from a 2nd torn ACL. Third, this is OTA’s better to be cautionary with scripted movements this early and make sure he is as strong as can be for training camp.

  216. 216 A_T_G said at 6:47 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think wee2424 is talking about Alanso.

  217. 217 Nailed it! said at 6:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    But he is not older than Bradford

  218. 218 A_T_G said at 6:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Hmm… I give up.

  219. 219 GEAGLE said at 6:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Didnt Kiko and Mykal start with the 1st team today I stead of Demeco?
    ..
    Doubt Kiko would be with the 1’s if he wasn’t healthy yet, amd he told Trotter at the Phillies game that he is ready to go…

  220. 220 Nailed it! said at 7:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I believe they all rotated with eachother for first team reps. But I did get giddy when I heard Kiko and Kendricks were out there together.

  221. 221 GEAGLE said at 7:10 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I don’t care about the depth chart, Im just saying Kiko has to be healthy if he is showing up that high on the depth chart,, Chip initially had said: “we are really excited about the depth we added at ILB, we will get Kiko and Hicks behind Kendricks and Meco and start learning the defense,.. I would assume Kiko is fully cleared to be #1 On depth chart day 1 of OTA’s…

    I like that most of our injuries came early In the season and even preseason/training camp… Plenty of time will have passed when the seasons starts since most of these guys got Hurt
    ..
    MEco was hurt in the second half of the season, his first Achilles injury rehab lasted a long time, he is one of our older players, I’m really shocked how well his recovery has gone.. I was worried he woukdnt even be ready in september, and the man is already practicing… What a beast and a HECKUVA job on the rehab by him and our trainers..

  222. 222 wee2424 said at 7:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Your right about Achilles with Ryan’s.

    However I think cautionary is different then medically not cleared.

  223. 223 Rellihcs said at 7:29 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Right but you seem to be splitting halfs, of already split hairs. You’re awfully analytical of the first sliver of pre practice practice, sort of.

  224. 224 Will : C.R.E.A.M. said at 7:32 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Exactly… No reason to rush it this early. Plus they said he would throw next week during 7s

  225. 225 GEAGLE said at 6:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Allegedly he came back very fast from the first one, and they are going to be extra cautious this time around,,no reason to rush it…
    ..
    I think it’s all precautionary BS and that he could play tomorrow if we had a game, he has to be already completly healthy or I doubt he would be on the field at all… Heck he is doing 7 on 7 next week, you don’t have your QB on the feild doing anything if he isn’t healed yet… I assume this is all A) precautionary just taking extra time like the Sixers do holding out injured young players like 6 months more then we need to, and B) strength and conditioning stage for him
    .
    Getting back on the field even in drills comes at the very end of the rehab phase, yet he has been throwing with WR’s and jogging around for weeks

  226. 226 wee2424 said at 7:07 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I wouldn’t say he came back quickly from the first one because he even said he may have rushed it leading to the 2nd tear. Hence he was never back.

    If there were a game tomorrow I highly doubt he could play. There is a difference when your coach and FO want to be cautionary and when your not medically cleared.

    Like Chip said, they aren’t even fully done the medical rehabilitation.

    That all being said, I’m happy they are taking this sort of different route with player health and rehab, and I’m hoping his scheduled full return date of August is still there. I think it will be.

  227. 227 GEAGLE said at 7:23 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Someome so important, who has this type of an injury history, wouldmt even be allowed to throw on the field if he wasnt really far along in the process. I assume he is healthy right now, and the next 3months are about strength and reconditioning for him… I know he isn’t a mobile QB, but he still needs to get In “Eagle shape” to run our tempo..
    ..
    He is going to have to really strengthen that knee righIt mext 4-6 weeks in order to be able to do the conditioning he needs to get in playong shape.
    ..
    fortunately he is said to be an extremely smart football brain.. AJ Feeley raved at how he learned josh MCDaniels complicated Patriots offense during the lockout season faster then everyone and he was one of the younger players on offense….Chips Offense I would assume is way easier then the Patriots who look like a new offense each week..,Chips offense is a bunch of the same concepts dressed up different, with built in options designed to be able to take advantage if whatever weakness the defense brings to the table.. … Im sure his shotgun spread expwriwnce at Oklahoma helps…

    Hopefully Sammy boy can get that knee where we need it to be,and get In “Eagle shape”in time to take’advantahge of the very valuable work we get during the joint practices with the Ravens,,, although it sucks that another team like the Ravens will get to see him…

  228. 228 unhinged said at 7:32 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Precautionary BS? Where is that coming from? He didn’t care to confirm an expectation that he’d be ready to go when TC begins. His throwing has been part of the reconditioning program, I believe, but I don’t believe he’s been planting before throwing.

  229. 229 unhinged said at 7:21 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Which ILB is that?

  230. 230 Flyin said at 9:03 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Najee Goode I think.

  231. 231 Flyin said at 8:51 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    The article I read on Kiko was a 7-9 mo. return. Injury occured late June 2014.

    Did not see a time table for Bradford. However, he was injured August 23, 2014.

    Therefore, Kiko Alonso has had almost 2 months more of rehabbing to get back on the field.

  232. 232 Avery Greene said at 7:48 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Murray on Chip cutting "all the good black players" — Look around, there are a lot of us here.— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) May 28, 2015

  233. 233 P_P_K said at 7:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    We’re going to love having him on the Eagles.

  234. 234 Avery Greene said at 8:05 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think the same thing.

  235. 235 A_T_G said at 8:42 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    The real question is, how did wearing that star for years not cause an allergic reaction? Do you think he faked being an ass to fit into the locker room?

  236. 236 P_P_K said at 9:10 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Really bad karma. It must have been hellish.

  237. 237 Flyin said at 9:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Maybe that is why he said he is quiet. He probably opened up more today than ever.

  238. 238 Avery Greene said at 7:55 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Murray comment on Randle:

    “Hopefully he can taste some of that meat this year, they’re a good team. Hopefully he can get a chance to run behind that line and do some good things. But I’m not worried about it. I didn’t hear about it until now. It’s not a big deal.”

  239. 239 Javi Echie said at 8:25 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Murray is really just all class.

  240. 240 HawaiianEagle said at 8:26 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    To replace the class clown…

  241. 241 Bert's Bells said at 8:40 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    For the last few years -despite his injuries -he’s the one Cowboy I liked as a player. (and I’ll also brag that I’ve said McCoy was a jerk -so, yeah, I’m basically Chip Kelly’s mind)

    I’d also have been happier with Romo as an Eagle since 2008 than anybody who took a snap for the team.

  242. 242 A_T_G said at 8:43 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Shh, they are all assholes while they wear the star.

  243. 243 P_P_K said at 9:10 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    My asshole is insulted at the comparison.

  244. 244 Jack Waggoner said at 10:16 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    It’s farting in protest.

  245. 245 OldDocMcQuackadillyBlip said at 8:54 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    I think I even commented last year on how Murray wasn’t nearly as hate-able and douchekebab-y as I like my Cowboys to be when he was in DAL.

    Genuinely seems like a decent guy, which is way more than can be said for the rest of their roster.

  246. 246 Bert's Bells said at 9:00 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Fortunately, they go out of their way to build a roster of jerks.

  247. 247 Joe Minx said at 10:27 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    What the F has gotten into McLane today? Is he trying to start up a panic? Logged on to Roto & this is the first thing I see

    The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Sam Bradford’s left knee doesn’t appear “remotely close” to full health.

    It’s our third Bradford post of the day. This is just reporter Jeff McLane’s take, but he believes “the specter of (Mark) Sanchez under center (in Week 1) becomes more and more of a reality” every day that Bradford’s rehab drags on. Neither Bradford nor coach Chip Kelly have attached a date to his likely return, though both are trying to project confidence that he’ll be ready for training camp. McLane reports Bradford was “clearly favoring” his left leg in Thursday’s practice. Bradford has the potential to be a fantasy bargain this season, but he needs to get his health in order over the next two months.

    So you mean our QB who’s coming off his 2nd ACL tear & hasn’t even stepped on a football field until today (& did no real work to speak of at that) doesn’t look like he’s remotely ready here on May 28? No shit.

    This is why I hate the Philly media.

  248. 248 CrackSammich said at 11:53 PM on May 28th, 2015:

    Limps can linger well after an injury. Just read an article about Hugh Lurie not being able to break out of the limp he used to play House, even though he has no leg issues himself. It’s a mental thing as well as physical.

  249. 249 HawaiianEagle said at 12:46 AM on May 29th, 2015:

    There was a “?” after his comment.

  250. 250 Fufina said at 2:23 AM on May 29th, 2015:

    Yeah because him starting to throw in 7v7 next week means he is not going to be ready by September.

    Think by mand minicamp he should be ready to do 11v11 (all of this is non contact) and i cannot see a problem for TC.

    As for his clearly favoring his left leg i was not there but that seems incredibly unlikely if he is far enough along in his rehab to be looking to be throwing in drills.