Details On Lane Johnson's Case
- Eagles lineman Lane Johnson is fighting his 10-game suspension and Breer has the specifics on his argument. For starters, the performance-enhancing substance policy calls for a panel of 3-5 arbitrators, and Johnson’s reps note that there were only two assigned to his case. One of those arbitrators, James Carter, handled the Ray Rice investigation for the NFL and his cozy relationship with the league could be a conflict of interest, one that was not disclosed to Johnson. Johnson is also going after the NFLPA, in part because he says their Aegis Shield app for checking supplements did not flag what he was taking.
Eagles Notes: Agholor, Jones, Maragos
- Eagles receiver Nelson Agholor admitted he’s fighting a “mental battle,” and head coach Doug Pederson won’t commit to playing him Monday against Green Bay, writes Tim McManus of ESPN.com. A reduced role for Agholor is a “real possibility,” Pederson said Wednesday, adding that Agholor has seen a sports psychologist recently. “Every team has them and I think it’s good, whether they’re going through stuff or not, to keep talking through some issues,” stated Pederson. Agholor hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft status on the field since going 20th overall in the 2015 draft. Plus, as of late October, he was under league investigation for an offseason rape accusation that didn’t lead to charges.
- The Eagles signed special teamers Donnie Jones (punter), Chris Maragos (safety) and Jon Dorenbos (long snapper) to contract extensions last week. Details on the deals Jones and Maragos inked are now out, via Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter links): Jones’ three-year pact is worth $5.5MM ($1MM fully guaranteed) and maxes out at $5.8MM with Pro Bowl incentives. Maragos’ extension, also for three years, is worth $6MM ($2.25MM fully guaranteed) and carries a $6.3MM max with Pro Bowl incentives.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/16
Wednesday’s practice squad changes:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Troy Hill (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Aaron Grymes
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: OLB Chris McCain (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Latest On Lane Johnson
Lane Johnson‘s fight isn’t over, even after an unsuccessful appeal of his 10-game suspension. The Eagles lineman has reportedly filed charges against both the NFL and the NFL Players Association with the National Labor Relations Board, attorney Steve Zashin told ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via ESPN’s Tim McManus). Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com passes along more specifics on the charges (via Twitter). Johnson filed unfair labor practice charges against the NFL and NFLPA with the NLRB. The 26-year-old also filed a claim against the Players Association with the Department of Labor.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes the issue was likely sparked “from accusations Johnson made about the accuracy of information provided to players regarding banned substances.” The NFLPA has since denied Johnson’s assertions, while the lineman’s lawyers have pushed the Players Association to investigate why news of the suspension was originally leaked to the media.
“During Lane’s appeal, it became apparent that the written words in the collectively bargained Performance-Enhancing Substances (“PES”) Policy, under which Lane was disciplined, are meaningless,” Zashin said in a statement (via NFL.com’s Albert Breer on Twitter).
“The PES Policy, as written, guarantees rights, protections and due process to players in recognition of the enormous consequences of discipline.
“The NFL and the NFLPA have undermined these protections leaving the players -including Lane — with a hollowed-out process devoid of any protections. The actions of the NFL and NFLPA violate federal law.
“Lane trusts that he can get a fair hearing with the NLRB and the DOL.”
We first learned of Johnson’s 10-game suspension back in August. Johnson immediately attributed the positive test to contaminated amino acids, as the lineman said he had confirmed the supplement’s contents with an NFLPA-approved application. After a month-long appeal process, the suspension was ultimately upheld. That meant Johnson’s suspension began in mid-October, preventing the lineman from taking the field until Week 16.
This was Johnson’s second career ban. The lineman was also suspended four games in 2014 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The former first-rounder inked a five-year, $56.26MM ($21MM guaranteed) extension with the Eagles back in January.
Eagles Promote WR To Active Roster
- The Eagles are promoting wide receiver Paul Turner to the 53-man roster, coach Doug Pederson told reporters. To make room, cornerback Aaron Grymes is being released.
Eagles Notes: Roseman, Graham, Draft
Prior to being reinstalled as the Eagles’ top decision-maker following an eventful and dysfunctional 2015 Philadelphia campaign under Chip Kelly, Howie Roseman feared he wouldn’t receive another opportunity to call the shots for a team, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The current Eagles GM met with former executives who made the transition to television, per McLane, before his fortunes changed and the organization ended up siding with him over Kelly.
This turned out to be the second straight eventful offseason for the franchise after it made trades to acquire Carson Wentz and deal away Sam Bradford, and McLane estimates owner Jeffrey Lurie being patient with Roseman this time around. Both the 41-year-old GM and Wentz’s deals expire after the 2019 season, although the rookie quarterback has a fifth-year option, and McLane envisions neither being permitted to enter their walk years without an extension. Under Roseman’s direction from 2010-14 and this season, the team is 47-42 with three 10-win seasons — but no playoff victories — so the exec’s future is inextricably tied to Wentz, who is the fourth Eagles QB to start a season in the past seven years.
Here’s more coming out of Philly as the team prepares for a crucial tilt against the Seahawks.
- As the Eagles venture to Seattle, their top pass-rusher could find himself in the same position the Seahawks’ best option does. Brandon Graham will enter the third season of what now looks like an incredibly team-friendly four-year, $26MM deal agreed to during Kelly’s run, and NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks argues the team should reward Graham with a new deal in 2017. Michael Bennett‘s regretted the four-year, $28MM pact he agreed to in 2014, and Graham — currently the third-highest-paid edge-rusher on his own team behind Vinny Curry and Connor Barwin — potentially could soon after breaking out upon being moved to defensive end. Only Von Miller and Aaron Donald have more pressures and sacks combined than Graham’s 46, and with the spree of extensions Roseman’s handed out this year, the franchise has shown it’s willing to reward its own. While redoing a contract less than halfway through it would set an interesting precedent during the Roseman 2.0 era, Shorr-Parks writes a new accord could lessen the 28-year-old Graham’s $7.5MM cap hit next season for a team that’s seen those 2016 re-ups leave it with barely $5MM in cap space come 2017.
- Philly’s still gunning for a playoff spot despite low expectations for 2016, but Shorr-Parks notes cornerback is squarely atop the team’s needs hierarchy going forward. The Eagles traded Eric Rowe to the Patriots and will see Nolan Carroll‘s contract expire after the season, leaving the team with Jalen Mills, an aging Leodis McKelvin and UDFAs at the position going forward. Although the Eagles selected Rowe in the second round, Philadelphia hasn’t taken a corner in the first since Lito Sheppard in 2002.
- Roseman’s extension string continued with the team locking up three role players — special-teamer Chris Maragos, punter Donnie Jones and long snapper Jon Dorenbos — on Friday.
- Bennie Logan could be next in line for one as well in a scenario that would make it easier to list the Eagles who didn’t receive an extension.
Eagles Interested In Extending Bennie Logan
- When asked about a potential extension for defensive tackle Bennie Logan, Eagles executive Howie Roseman said he “would love to keep Bennie, ” according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Logan, 27 next month, will become a free agent next spring. Through six starts this season, Logan ranks the No. 44 interior defender among 122 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Eagles Sign Punter Donnie Jones To Extension
You get an extension! And you get an extension! And you get an extension! 
The Eagles are on a mission to lock up their core special teams players. After extending safety Chris Maragos on Thursday afternoon and striking a three-year deal with long snapper Jon Dorenbos on Friday morning, the Eagles have also locked punter Donnie Jones up on a three-year pact. The team confirmed the deal via press release moments ago.
Jones is in his fourth season with the Eagles. So far this year, Jones has booted 38 punts for a net average of 39.7 yards. That’s a below-average mark in the NFL, but the Eagles are obviously happy with his work. He’s now slated to be a part of the team through 2019 with Dorenbos and Maragos. Kicker Caleb Sturgis got an extension of his own in September, but that deal only carries him through the 2017 season.
RELATED:
Eagles Extend LS Jon Dorenbos
The Eagles announced that they have extended the contract of long snapper Jon Dorenbos. The new deal will take him through the 2019 season. 
Dorenbos’ deal comes on the heels of an extension for fellow special teamer Chris Maragos. Maragos’ deal also locks him up through ’19.
After going undrafted out of UTEP, Dorenbos joined the Bills prior to the 2003 season. Eventually, he found his way to the Eagles when long snapper Mike Bartrum suffered a career-ending neck injury. Since then, Dorenbos has earned two Pro Bowl nods and now stands as the team’s longest tenured player. If Dorenbos plays out this contract, he would set record for most games played in Eagles history and tie Chuck Bednarik for most seasons, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
Dorenbos recently received some attention for his second greatest talent – magic. This year, he appeared on America’s Got Talent and wound up finishing third in the competition. Just this week, he returned to national television with a spot on Ellen, as detailed by NBC10.
Eagles Extend Chris Maragos
The Eagles and safety Chris Maragos have agreed to a three-year contract extension, per a team announcement. Financial details aren’t yet available, but the deal will keep Maragos under Philadelphia’s control through the 2019 campaign.
“His work ethic, team-first attitude, accountability and high character are things he brings to work every single day,” said Eagles executive vice president Howie Roseman.
Maragos, a seven-year veteran who’s in his third season with the Eagles, is solely a factor on special teams. The 29-year-old Maragos has taken the field for just one defensive snap this season, but he has seen action in 79.6 percent of the Eagles’ special teams plays and made a club-high eight tackles. Thanks in part to Maragos, the Eagles’ ST unit is the NFL’s best, per Football Outsiders.