Vikings To Get Seventh-Rounder If They Reach NFCCG
- Over a month after the deal was consummated, there is one more detail to pass along from the Sam Bradford trade. We already knew that, if the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game this year, the conditional 2018 fourth-rounder they are required to send to the Eagles would become a third-rounder. But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, if that 2018 fourth-rounder does indeed become a third, Philadelphia will send back a 2018 seventh-round choice to Minnesota.
NFL Still Investigating Agholor, Bradham
Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor was not charged in connection with a rape accusation that was made against him earlier this summer, but the league is continuing to review Agholor under the league’s personal conduct policy, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (article via Tim McManus of ESPN.com).
A dancer at Cheerleaders Gentlemen’s Club in Philadelphia accused Agholor of rape back in June, an accusation that launched a police investigation. That investigation, however, yielded insufficient evidence to charge Agholor with any wrongdoing, which led to the following statement from Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams:
“The District Attorney’s Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit and detectives from the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit thoroughly investigated the allegations of sexual assault against Nelson Agholor. As a result of this joint investigation, our staff and the Police reached the conclusion that we lacked sufficient evidence to bring charges against Mr. Agholor, therefore no charges will be filed.”
Agholor, selected in the first round of the 2015 draft, has not demonstrated a great deal of on-field improvement in 2016 after a disappointing rookie campaign. The USC product has caught 16 passes for 181 yards and a score, and he has shown little to suggest that he could develop into the top-flight receiver that the Eagles expected. A suspension would certainly not help matters.
McManus adds that the NFL is also reviewing a pair of incidents involving Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham. In July, Bradham was reportedly part of a six-person group that began arguing with a Hilton Bentley hotel employee over the amount of time it took to receive an umbrella they had apparently purchased. The scene grew violent, and the worker was struck over the head with a glass bottle, and, according to the police report, Bradham “without provocation, struck the victim in the nose with a closed fist, causing the victim to fall to the ground.” Bradham was charged with aggravated battery, a second-degree felony, as a result of that incident.
Bradham was then arrested earlier this month for bringing a loaded gun to Miami International Airport. Officials at the time said it was clear that there was no criminal intent, but they had to arrest Bradham given his pending assault case.
Bradham signed a two-year, $7MM deal with the Eagles this offseason, and he has started each of the club’s five games in 2016, compiling 16 tackles and an interception.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: FB Paul Lasike
- Placed on practice squad IR: RB Raheem Mostert
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: G Ian Silberman
- Placed on practice squad IR: OT Takoby Cofield
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: CB Duke Thomas
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/18/16
Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB/KR Asa Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Darius Hillary, WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: E.J. Bibbs
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Quentin Gause, TE Steven Scheu (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post)
- Cut: WR Mose Frazier, LB Richard Cliett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Leak, CB Frankie Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ian Silberman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Royce LaFrance (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)
New York Giants
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
- Cut: DB Doran Grant
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Don Cherry
- Cut: G Darrell Greene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Cut: WR Dres Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Cut: DE Sterling Bailey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
McLane: Eagles Need To Address WR Position
Despite the old NFL adage that says, “if you want to win a Super Bowl, make sure you don’t have a great wide receiver,” Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the Eagles need to address their wide receiver position, currently the weakest area of their roster, if they want to become true contenders. Although it is unlikely the club could acquire a top-flight wideout via trade this year, there may be a few quality free agent options this offseason, such as Alshon Jeffery or old friend DeSean Jackson. Plus, Philadelphia could invest a fair amount of money at the position while Carson Wentz is still playing under his rookie deal.
As McLane notes, Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Josh Huff have shown little to suggest they can develop into premier receivers, which leaves Jordan Matthews–who is better suited to the slot–as Wentz’s only truly reliable wideout. With Wentz looking like the real deal, the Eagles could be legitimate threats this year, but they could cement their contender status moving forward if they can give their young signal-caller another weapon or two.
DeMarco Murray On Cowboys, Eagles
Before the Eagles traded running back DeMarco Murray to the Titans in March, the ex-Cowboy was “95 percent sure” Philadelphia was going to send him back to Dallas.
“I was very close to going back there,” Murray told Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. “There were some things that fell through and just didn’t happen.”
While the Cowboys and Eagles did discuss Murray during the offseason, Philly was reluctant to trade with an NFC East rival, a source informed Williams. Nevertheless, the two nearly agreed to a deal, the source added.
Murray “was very involved in the talks,” he revealed to Williams. The 28-year-old also said that his heart wasn’t into continuing his career as an Eagle, though he called executive vice president Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie “really good people.”
When Murray signed a five-year, $42MM contract with the Eagles as a free agent in March 2015, he was fresh off a season in which he rushed for an NFL-high 1,845 yards and earned AP Offensive Player of the Year honors. But Murray was nowhere near as productive as part of then-Eagles head coach Chip Kelly‘s offense in 2015. Under Kelly, Murray set a career low in yards per carry (3.6) on 193 attempts – 199 fewer than he racked up during his last year in Dallas.
“Obviously, the scheme just wasn’t a fit for me, and I wasn’t a fit for them,” he said of his time in Philadelphia. “It wasn’t pointing fingers or anything. It just wasn’t a good relationship. Those things happen, and you learn from them. I was fortunate enough to come here and be here and be a Titan now.”
Now that he’s no longer in an Eagles uniform, Murray once again looks like one of the league’s premier backs, having averaged 5.0 yards per rush and totaled three touchdowns on 93 carries. The ex-Oklahoma Sooner has also piled up two more scores as a pass catcher and amassed 24 receptions on 27 targets.
As for the Cowboys, “they’ve got a pretty good young back over there as well,” Murray quipped, referring to rookie Ezekiel Elliott. Just under two months after a reunion with Murray fell through, the Cowboys selected Elliott fourth overall in the draft. The only rusher in the league with more yards than Murray this year is Elliott, who has 546 (and five TDs). Clearly, then, the non-trade has worked out for both Murray and the Cowboys.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/16
Friday’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jeremy Vujnovich (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: LB Don Cherry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- To be signed on Monday: TE Tevin Westbrook (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Eagles Promote CB C.J. Smith
The Eagles announced that they have promoted C.J. Smith to the 53-man roster. In a related move, tight end Anthony Denham was signed to the practice squad. 
By signing Smith, the Eagles once again have five cornerbacks on the roster. Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin are Philly’s starters with Ron Brooks and Jalen Mills as backups. Smith will round out the group and presumably also pitch in on special teams.
The North Dakota State product joined the Eagles this year as a UDFA. Smith was nearly called up to the main roster last month when McKelvin went down with a hamstring strain. The team went in a different direction, but the young cornerback is getting his shot four weeks later.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Davis Tull
- Cut: P Michael Palardy
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: K Marshall Morgan (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Brian Mihalik
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Jake Brendel, T Terry Poole (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
- Cut: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Ian Silberman (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Don Cherry, CB Duke Thomas
- Cut: FB Andrew Bonnet, G Darrell Greene
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Julian Howsare
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: LB Josh Keyes
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Joey Mbu
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel, LB Jason Fanaika
Lane Johnson’s Suspension Upheld
Lane Johnson‘s 10-game suspension has been upheld by the NFL, attorney Steve Zashin tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Johnson’s ban initially came down over the summer, but he has been fighting the decision. Now, the fight is over and Johnson will be out of action until Philly’s Week 16 game against the Giants. 
Johnson tested positive for PEDs in August but he claimed that he unknowingly took a tainted amino acid. His previous positive test for PEDs probably hurt his credibility on the matter. Johnson had $25MM in remaining guarantees on his contract, but that money is no longer secured thanks to the suspension.
Without Johnson, the Eagles will be missing a key part of their O-Line for the bulk of the season. Johnson, the fourth overall pick in 2013, has been a starter for the Eagles since the team drafted him out of Oklahoma, playing primarily at right tackle before spending some time at left tackle in 2015.
Now that Johnson’s ban has been upheld, Philadelphia will reportedly start Halapoulivaati Vaitai at right tackle in order to leave Allen Barbre at left guard.
This past season, Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson 24th among 81 qualified offensive tackles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.