Berman: Tulloch A Logical Fit For Eagles
- The Eagles have a need at linebacker, leading Philly.com’s Zach Berman to agree with the team’s reported pursuit of free agent Stephen Tulloch. The 31-year-old has a natural connection to the team, as he previously played for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “I have a lot of respect for that guy and his production,” Schwartz said. “Whoever is out there that can improve our team, whether it’s a guy like ‘Tully’ who is unsigned or guys that are on other teams . . . we’re going to watch preseason games and be looking at the waiver wire, who might be cap casualties.”
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Eagles, Stephen Tulloch Amid Negotiations
The Eagles are amid “heavy negotiations” with former Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Lions released Tulloch early last month after a months-long process that ultimately related to the longtime Detroit second-level cog passing a physical.
He has not been connected to any teams prior to the Eagles’ discussions, which have gone on for weeks, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The 31-year-old linebacker has started for the past eight seasons, first with the Titans and then becoming a regular in the Lions’ 4-3 setup.
Now run by Jim Schwartz, the Eagles’ defense will transition back to the 4-3 scheme with which Tulloch’s familiar. Tulloch played on Schwartz-run defenses in Tennessee and Detroit, playing for Schwartz for six seasons — from 2006-08 with the Titans and from 2011-13 with the Lions.
Philadelphia also could be dealing with a possible suspension for projected starting outside ‘backer Nigel Bradham after he was arrested late last month. Under optimal circumstances, the Eagles appear set to start Bradham and Mychal Kendricks on the outside and Jordan Hicks in the middle. Behind them, as Roster Resource shows, is a particularly thin group featuring Deontae Skinner, Najee Goode and seventh-round rookie Joe Walker. The team could use some depth in this area, and the Eagles could be a fit for Tulloch on a one-year deal.
Despite their unrelenting spree of extensions doled out this offseason, the Eagles’ payroll includes $6MM+ worth of cap space for 2016, with the financial fallout from the extensions not set to hit the team hard until the 2017 and ’18 league years.
Tulloch led the Lions in tackles last season (108) but his salary was too rich for the Lions’ liking this year. Now, the Eagles could add Tulloch without having to dole out too much money.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eagles Sign WR Deon Long
- The Eagles have signed free agent wide receiver Deon Long, bringing their roster back to 90, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
Examining Nick Foles' 2013 Season
How did new Chiefs quarterback Nick Foles fall so quickly from his success in 2013? Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports set out to answer that question by talking to NFL evaluators and came back with a different one: How did Foles ascend so quickly and was his success in Philadelphia real? 
Foles made a name for himself in 2013 when he threw for seven touchdowns against the Raiders. While Foles made smart throws that day, it appears that the Oakland defense just overmatched in general.
“Throwing [seven touchdowns] – it’s beyond unusual,” one anonymous football person told Robinson. “[But] I think most coaches would agree that it’s more likely to happen now than any other point in history. So you have that in your mind when you’re clicking through his tape. Then you look at that [Raiders defense]. How many are still starters three years later? How many are still in the league? You have to look at that kind of thing. … Then look at the seven [scoring] plays. I see it the same way I would look at a college quarterback. What is on the other side of the ball and what is attributable to the offense, versus what is attributable to the quarterback’s ability being the difference?”
Another evaluator familiar with Foles posited that the quarterback was benefitting from teams facing Chip Kelly‘s offense for the very first time. Once the opposition got used to Kelly’s style and pace, Foles’ flaws were exposed to the entire league. The veteran will now look to reprise his success from a few years ago in KC, but expectations should certainly be tempered for him.
Here’s more out of the West divisions:
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap doesn’t quite understand the Cardinals‘ motives in the extension given to Tyrann Mathieu, outside of a desire to avoid distractions on a contending team. The Cards are giving the safety a $15.5MM signing bonus, $20MM in first year new money, and a large 2018 offseason roster bonus. Meanwhile, tagging Mathieu (as a safety) next year only would have cost the team around $12MM. Even if he were classified as a corner, Mathieu would have only cost ~$14MM. Fitzgerald is also perplexed by the lack of injury language in the deal. While Mathieu did not receive the kind of injury guarantees that most players would get, Fitzgerald expected the team to tie more of his money to per-game bonuses than they actually did.
- Earlier this week, the 49ers inked linebacker NaVorro Bowman to a massive extension. Bowman still had multiple years to go on his deal but the new pact will keep him locked up through the 2022 season.
- Raiders safety Neiko Thorpe accepted a pay cut in order to stay on with the team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eagles DE Wujciak Done For Season
- Eagles UDFA defensive end Connor Wujciak had shoulder surgery on Wednesday and is out for the season, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
Eagles Waive/Injured Connor Wujciak
- The Eagles have waived/injured defensive tackle Connor Wujciak, who is having surgery on his shoulder, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
Eagles Notes: Sproles, Bradford, Dawkins
The Darren Sproles extension follows a trend by the organization to extend their veteran players. As Jeff McLane of Philly.com writes, the team has already wrapped up 31-year-old tight end Brent Celek and 34-year-old offensive tackle Jason Peters this offseason. However, executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said the team isn’t following any set rules.
“I think we’re more looking at each individual case as it comes,” said Roseman. “When you talk about those guys, we know what they can still bring to our football team on and off the field. And when you’re implementing some young players it’s good to have a nice mix of guys who have done it before and understand what it was like when teams have had success.”
Instead, Roseman believes extending his veterans sends the right message to their younger teammates.
“I think it’s the message that you’re sending to the team and the players. . . . You do the right thing here, and you’re productive, and you got a chance to stay here,” Roseman said. “And we want people to feel that way on and off the field.”
Let’s take a look at some notes out of Philly…
- Sproles may have signed a one-year extension yesterday, but the running back is already eyeing the end of his career. “When I’m done playing, I’m going to be an Eagle,” the 33-year-old told Zach Berman of Philly.com. When asked how many productive seasons he has left in the tank, Sproles replied “this year and next year.”
- The Eagles are slated to have the least amount of cap room in 2017 and 2018, leading some to assume that the team would eventually move on from quarterback Sam Bradford. However, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com explains why the team could keep Bradford in 2017, with the writer citing a recent quote by Roseman. “We’re not in the business of losing good players,” Roseman said. “That’s our job to figure out scenarios and figure out ways to do that, and we’ve gone through all those scenarios. It’s tighter than it’s been since I’ve been here, but we also felt like it was an opportunity now with where our players were that the longer we waited, the more players we’d probably have to lose. Time is never helpful in these things. We went into it knowing that, but, for sure.”
- Longtime Eagles safety Brian Dawkins has joined the team’s scouting department, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Zach Berman of Philly.com notes that Dawkins is the “inaugural recipient” of the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship, a program that “introduce[s] former players to scouting.”
Eagles, Darren Sproles Agree To Extension
The Eagles and Darren Sproles have reached agreement on a one-year contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The additional year will take Sproles through the 2017 season and pay him $4.5MM. Sproles was initially set to earn $3.5MM this season, but the Eagles pushed some money into 2016 with the new deal. The Eagles have confirmed the extension via press release.
[RELATED: Eagles Won’t Cut Bradham; Wanted Boldin]
The news is a sharp turn from what we were hearing earlier this spring, when there seemed to be discord between the Eagles and Sproles and questions about his future in Philly. In May, we learned that the Eagles reportedly received calls of trade interest on running back Darren Sproles during the draft. At the same time, the running back staying away from OTAs. Sproles would later claim that his absence was unrelated to those reports, but the timing does not seem coincidental.
Sproles came to the Eagles in a 2014 trade with the Saints. At the time, Sproles was brought in to be a key part of the team’s backfield. Later on, however, the entire backfield was remodeled and Sproles found himself as the No. 3 tailback on the list behind DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. The Eagles once again overhauled their backfield this offseason when they shipped Murray to the Titans in a surprising trade. That deal left the Eagles with Mathews as their lead back and Sproles as the No. 2, as shown on Roster Resource.
Now, as Mathews deals with an injury, Sproles is being given some extra cash as he prepares for what might be a larger-than-expected role in the Eagles’ offense. If Mathews’ issues drag into the regular season, we could see Sproles as the Eagles’ de facto No. 1 RB.
Sproles, 32, saw time in every game last season and made four starts. In that span, the veteran ran for just 317 yards off of 83 carries but also contributed 55 receptions for 388 yards. For his contributions in the rushing, receiving, and return game, Sproles earned his second-straight Pro Bowl nod in 2015.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eagles Won't Cut Bradham; Wanted Boldin
- Eagles coach Doug Pederson doesn’t foresee releasing linebacker Nigel Bradham after his bizarre dustup with a hotel employee, Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Pederson went on to say that he considers him a starting linebacker. 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. Bradham turned himself into Miami police and was charged with aggravated battery, a second-degree felony.
- Pederson acknowledged the Eagles had interest in Anquan Boldin before he was signed by the Lions, Berman tweets. As shown on Roster Resource, the Eagles currently have Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Rueben Randle, Josh Huff, Chris Givens, T.J. Graham, and Hunter Sharp at wide receiver.
Eagles Waive One, Sign One
- The Eagles announced that they have waived linebacker Travis Long. The 25-year-old tore his right ACL in college and suffered two left ACL tears in the NFL They’ve also signed receiver David Watford, bringing them to capacity on the 90-man roster, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.