East Notes: Mathis, Flynn, Bills, McClain
Speaking to reporters today, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly addressed the team’s release of Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis for the first time, explaining that Mathis’ agent asked multiple times for his client’s release. According to Kelly (all Twitter links), the club didn’t intend to alter Mathis’ contract, so after discussing all the possibilities, Philadelphia decided to let him go if he didn’t want to be there. The Eagles waited as long as they could to explore trade possibilities and to see how the draft and free agency played out before cutting the offensive lineman last week.
Kelly’s explanation doesn’t come as a real surprise, though I’m still somewhat skeptical that the Eagles couldn’t secure even a late-round pick for Mathis. It’s also worth noting that, in a similar situation, the Vikings didn’t give in to Adrian Peterson‘s agent demands, and now Peterson is saying all the right things as he prepares to play for Minnesota in 2015 without a reworked contract. The Eagles could’ve held their ground with Mathis, but it’s clear that Kelly prefers not to keep a player on the roster if he doesn’t view that player as a culture fit for his club.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- The NFLPA saw no wrongdoing on the Eagles‘ part regarding Mathis’ release, which was viewed as a contractual decision, so the team has been cleared, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has the details on Matt Flynn‘s one-year contract with the Patriots, tweeting that the quarterback gets a $20K signing bonus and a $60K roster bonus on his minimum salary benefit deal.
- Former Seahawks offensive lineman Nate Isles is trying out for the Bills today, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Isles, who signed a futures contract with Seattle at season’s end, was cut by the team last month.
- Offensive linemen Seantrel Henderson and Chris Williams aren’t in attendance for the Bills‘ first day of mandatory minicamp, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter links).
- Linebacker Rolando McClain was one of the Cowboys‘ best bargains last season, and he could be again in 2015, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets, McClain has reported to Dallas’ minicamp after being absent from earlier offseason activities.
NFC Notes: Washington, Peterson, McCoy
Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington, who plead guilty to aggravated assault in March 2014, had his probation reduced, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes. Now, it remains to be seen whether Washington will face suspension for this incident. Washington has been suspended since May 30, 2014, for violating the substance abuse policy, a second substance abuse violation that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season. Here’s more from the NFC..
- The NFL has said it will handle Washington’s domestic violence case separately from (and after) his substance abuse suspension, Weinfuss tweets. Recently, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said that he hasn’t given much thought to the idea of Washington returning to the team.
- Don’t tell Adrian Peterson that running backs typically decline once they enter their 30s. Of course, Peterson is no ordinary running back, but the former MVP sounds awfully optimistic about his NFL future, telling Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) that he wants to play for seven or eight more years. “I really feel that I can be 38 out here and still be the best running back in the NFL,” Peterson said. For now, the Vikings back will be looking to rebound from a lost 2014 season and show that he’s still one of the league’s best backs at age 30.
- Michael Vick, who continues to look for an NFL home, wishes that former teammate LeSean McCoy wouldn’t take shots at former Eagles coach Chip Kelly. “I try to give my little piece of advice that I can offer him. He’s his own man. He has his own feelings and emotions. So I can’t interfere with that,” Vick said, according to Jordan Raanan of The Star-Ledger. “The only thing I try to tell him is stay positive, don’t expose yourself so much. You’re still blessed to be playing in the NFL, a great league, and don’t take things so personal. Your life is great on and off the field. Keep it that way.”
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
NFC East Notes: Mathis, JPP, Cowboys
Former Giants running back David Wilson significantly improved his performance in the triple jump but still fell short of the qualifying standard for the U.S. championships, as The Associated Press writes. The former first-round draft pick had to retire from the NFL after two seasons due to a neck injury but is now trying to reinvent himself as a track and field athlete. While he has fallen short of nationals on this go ’round, he could still have future opportunities as he’s only 24 years of age. Here’s a glance at the NFC East..
Eagles Sign Jared Wheeler
MONDAY, 3:13pm: As Tessler initially suggested they would, the Eagles signed Wheeler today to a one-year contract, following his workout with the team (Twitter link).
SATURDAY, 6:26pm: As Mosher previously reported, Wheeler hasn’t signed with the Eagles and will work out for the team Monday, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
4:22pm: While Tessler believes the Eagles are planning to sign Wheeler, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com isn’t so sure (via Twitter). He writes that Wheeler is coming in for a workout on Monday, and there isn’t a deal in place for him when he gets there.
3:52pm: The Eagles are looking to add to their offensive line depth in the wake of Evan Mathis‘ release, and they are planning to sign former University of Miami offensive lineman Jared Wheeler on Monday, according to NFL agent Brett Tessler (via Twitter).
Wheeler had tried out with the 49ers earlier this offseason, and was most recently seen on the Seahawks roster. He also spent time with the Bills and Panthers, previously.
Wheeler has experience at both center and guard, and could provide versatility and depth to the team’s depth chart. It is probably not likely that Wheeler comes in as the starter after being a journeyman so far in his career, especially with the various options the team has on the roster and in free agency, but stranger things have happened.
NFC East Notes: Mathis, Pot Roast, Cowboys
Evan Mathis is likely to interest several clubs in the coming weeks/days, but don’t expect the Giants to be among them, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. It’s not that New York couldn’t use help at guard, according to Raanan, but that Big Blue won’t fork over the kind of financial commitment that Mathis will likely be looking for. After signing their two remaining unsigned draft picks, the Giants will have less than $5MM in cap space to use, meaning Mathis is probably out of their price range.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Calling himself the biggest steal in free agency, Washington defensive tackle Terrance Knighton plans to score big on the open market after his current one-year deal expires. “…I’ve always bet on myself,” Knighton told Don Banks of Sports Illustrated. “I consider myself a premier player in this league, and I’ve got a lot of football left. This will be my seventh season, so when I hit the table again, there won’t be any excuses next time.”
- More Mathis: Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer examines the veteran guard’s release, arguing that the move was just the latest transaction proving that Chip Kelly is remaking the Eagles as he sees fit.
- In his latest mailbag at ESPN.com, Todd Archer answers several Cowboys-related queries, including whether Dallas will aim to improve the interior of its defensive line, the potential impact of Terrance Williams, and the club’s depth chart at receiver.
NFC Notes: Mathis, Flowers, Rams
Offensive lineman don’t always make the most headlines, but when a high-profile blocker like Evan Mathis gets released everyone starts to pay attention.
Aside from fans, analysts, and general managers, the NFLPA has also taken interest in the All-Pro guard’s release, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (via Twitter). The Association is currently in the “information-gathering” phase of the process.
The NFLPA could be investigating whether the team’s decision to cut Mathis was a direct result of his absence at voluntary offseason workouts, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
The more likely explanation for the investigation, writes Florio, that the Eagles cut him after reports that the team removed an offer to rework his contract because Howie Roseman was no longer the team’s general manager.
Here are a few more nots regarding offensive linemen in the NFC:
- With Mathis and Todd Herremans no longer on the team, the Eagles will have a tall task to replace both starting guards from 2014. Zach Berman of Philly.com lists all of the teams options, including a number of names already on the roster and a few free agent options, like Davin Joseph and Dan Connolly.
- Giants’ first-round pick Ereck Flowers is one of the last unsigned draft picks left, which is notable because he is also one of the few rookies who has elected not to hire an agent. However, he still is confident that he will get a deal done, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, saying that negotiations are “going good.”
- With Scott Wells out of the picture, the Rams will have three players competing to start at center, writes Joe Lyons of STLToday.com. Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, and Demetrius Rhaney are battling for the job, and all three are still in the running to start. “We’re not going to make a decision real early,” said head coach Jeff Fisher. “We’ll let them all play. We’re rotating them. They’re all getting opportunities to work with (new quarterback Nick Foles), so he’s familiar, not only with the exchanges, but also the communication. We’ll make that decision when somebody shows us he’s earned the job.”
Evan Mathis Rumors: Friday
The Eagles made Evan Mathis‘ release official today, meaning he’s now a free agent, and can sign immediately with any team. As I noted yesterday, I don’t expect the veteran guard to rush out and join a new team right away, especially since he’ll likely have many potential suitors to consider. Here are the latest rumors and updates on Mathis, including some details on his exit from Philadelphia:
- The Eagles nearly traded Mathis to another team during the draft, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to that same source, however, the club didn’t make a serious effort to move him before releasing him this week. Mathis’ trade value wouldn’t have been particularly high, given his age and his contract, but I have to think the Eagles could have at least landed a conditional late-round pick. Trading Mathis would also have allowed Philadelphia to control the process, meaning the club could have tried to send the veteran lineman to an AFC team rather than risking him signing with a rival.
- Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer also hears that the Eagles were engaged in trade talks involving Mathis around the draft. However, according to McLane’s sources, that mystery suitor changed its plans after the first round.
- The Rams could use another offensive lineman or two, but don’t expect the team to pursue Mathis unless he comes cheaper than expected, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Meanwhile, Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says you can count on the Dolphins pursuing Mathis, though it’s not clear yet how aggressive their pursuit will be.
- It would be a smart move for the Jets to add Mathis to their roster, but only if the price is right, says Brian Costello of the New York Post.
- While Mathis could be a nice fit for the Vikings, no one should be surprised if Mathis prefers other opportunities, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
Extra Points: Incognito, Davis, Wright
The Bills‘ offseason signing of Richie Incognito raised some eyebrows, but coach Rex Ryan says that the guard has been nothing but “outstanding” so far this spring, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Incognito has long been regarded as one of the better interior lineman in the NFL. However, the bullying scandal of 2013 put his career on halt and his future in jeopardy. After missing half of 2013 and all of 2014, Incognito signed with Buffalo on a one-year deal with a base salary of $900K.
- Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis anticipates landing a contract extension before the start of training camp, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. Davis, 32, is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $7.25MM this year, with a salary cap number of $9.9MM. Davis has averaged 77 tackles a year since returning from the third ACL reconstruction on his right knee in 2012. The Panthers drafted his likely successor when they took former Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson with the 25th overall pick this year, but he’s still confident that Carolina will present him with a fair deal.
- With the Patriots having waived tight end Tim Wright, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com revisits the trade that brought Wright to New England last summer for Logan Mankins. As Reiss observes, the Pats also received cap relief and a draft pick in that trade, so Wright may not have been the key piece in the deal, but it’s still a bit surprising that the club parted ways with him.
- Head coach Gus Bradley and the Jaguars expect to see veteran pass rusher Chris Clemons at next week’s mandatory minicamp, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union writes. Clemons hasn’t been present for Jacksonville’s voluntary OTAs this year, but would forfeit his workout bonus if he doesn’t show up next week.
- Frustrated with injuries, Eagles outside linebacker Travis Long nearly walked away from the game before ever seeing live action, as Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Latest On Evan Mathis
One of the league’s very best guards is now on the open market and teams are already circling the wagons. Which teams are in Evan Mathis and which clubs look like potential fits? Let’s find out..
- It’s not clear if Mathis has interest in the Bills, but the Bills are curious to find out, according to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). That union could make a lot of sense since Mathis blocked for running back LeSean McCoy for the last four years.
- Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter) hears the Cardinals aren’t interested in Mathis.
- The Dolphins, Patriots, and Seahawks all make sense for the 33-year-old, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). However, he cautions that Mathis’ price point will start to scare teams off if it gets to be too high.
- The Vikings might be a good fit for Mathis, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com writes. Two of the coaches who would work with Mathis the most — offensive line coach Jeff Davidson and head coach Mike Zimmer — are already familiar with him from previous stops. Meanwhile, the Vikings have $10MM+ in cap space for 2015.
- The Saints, who have a vacancy at guard after trading starter Ben Grubbs, have only ~$3.5MM of salary cap space available to pursue Mathis, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune notes. Tight end Tim Wright, however, could be more in the Saints’ price range.
NFC East Notes: Chester, Eagles, Pot Roast
Earlier today, the Eagles shocked the football world when they parted ways with veteran guard Evan Mathis. Things had gotten ugly between the 33-year-old and Chip Kelly, but most expected that Mathis would at least be traded to a team in need of offensive line help. As the Eagles figure out what’s next, here’s a look at the rest of the NFC East..
- The Eagles, who had interest in Chris Chester before he signed with the Falcons, intended to add a guard even if Evan Mathis was on the roster, so they’re still in the market for one, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Surprisingly, Terrance Knighton wound up having to settle for a one-year prove-it deal with Washington rather than getting the big bucks many envisioned. Pot Roast says that he’s motivated to show the league what he can do and get paid in his next go ’round through free agency, Don Banks of Sports Illustrated writes. “Yeah, I was [the biggest steal],” Knighton said. “But I’ve always bet on myself. I consider myself a premier player in this league, and I’ve got a lot of football left. This will be my seventh season, so when I hit the table again, there won’t be any excuses next time.”
- NFL network analyst Brian Baldinger believes that one moment late in the 2014 season shaped Kelly’s view of LeSean McCoy, leading to him getting traded from the Eagles. “I think of the Seattle game,” Baldinger said, according to Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News. “He had the biggest hole he saw all year. The biggest hole. He should have hit his head on the goal post. But he saw Earl Thomas coming on a dead sprint to blow him up. And he curled up and fell down. It’s a 10-point game, anybody’s game. And it was a game that really swung everything in December. But I think Chip saw that. And between that, taking him off the field on third down, taking him off the field on goal line . . . [Kelly was saying] ‘He’s just not tough enough or what I want.’“
Luke Adams contributed to this post.