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Mark Sanchez

Eagles Notes: Beckham Jr., Kelly, Foles

December 24th, 2014 at 12:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s today’s look at the town where they booed Santa Claus..

  • Eagles coach Chip Kelly had Odell Beckham Jr. rated as the best wide receiver in the draft, as Jordan Raanan of the Newark Star-Ledger writes. The LSU product has blossomed into a superstar for the Giants, and Kelly is not at all surprised. Beckham could give the Eagles fits this week as their secondary has struggled against No. 1 wide receivers as of late.
  • The Eagles will evaluate quarterback Nick Foles this offseason, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. He refused to say that he will be the team’s quarterback for next season. “We’ll sit down and thoroughly evaluate everything,” Kelly said. “It’s no different than any other position. Tell us what we have available right now, we’ll talk a look at it, let’s detail it, let’s go through the film again, let’s put our heads together, let’s get everyone’s opinion on it and make valid decisions.”
  • Mark Sanchez had a chance to cash in big this offseason, but he wasn’t able to keep his momentum going into the offseason, as John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News writes. Smallwood looks at the Eagles quarterback’s stock heading into free agency.
  • Sanchez said he’d like to stay in Philly next year, but would not say if he would be willing to return as the Eagles’ backup, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News.

Eagles Unlikely To Upgrade At Quarterback

December 22nd, 2014 at 10:50am CST by Rob DiRe

The Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Washington on Saturday night and the Cowboys’ blowout victory over the Colts on Sunday. Eagles’ quarterback Mark Sanchez struggled with turnovers after taking over for Nick Foles, and the team lost three in a row after starting the season 9-3.

Foles was not spectacular while he was playing either, showing alarming regression from an unsustainable 2013 season. Looking forward, head coach Chip Kelly will need to get better quarterback play in order to continue to succeed in the NFL. However, if he is unable to develop Foles, the organization may have to look outward for better quarterback play.

Still, finding an upgrade at quarterback will prove difficult for the team, writes Mike Sando of ESPN. Sando looks at some of their options if they do decide to add to their depth chart at the position.

Sitting at nine wins, even a loss in Week 17 will likely leave the Eagles out of the running for Kelly’s former superstar Marcus Mariota. The Oregon quarterback will not be likely to last to where the Eagles end up selecting. Sando also believes trading up for him would be unlikely. Even considering his familiarity with Kelly, the Eagles might be unwilling to pay the price to go up and get him near the top of the draft.

Among the most experienced and accomplished free agent quarterbacks, Sanchez remains at the top of that list. Matt Hasselbeck and Michael Vick are the best options in terms of stop-gap quarterbacks who have won in the NFL. Sando points out the team could target a young but failed quarterback in hopes of developing him. Among those are Jimmy Clausen, Christian Ponder, Colt McCoy, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett. Those options probably don’t represent a better choice than sticking with Foles.

Sando does include a number of more veteran quarterbacks, but their chances of succeeding are uninspired at best. Not many will consider Matt Flynn, Jason Campbell, or Brian Hoyer as a legitimate quarterback to improve the Eagles’ situation.

The only other option outside of Foles and Sanchez is hoping that a quarterback becomes available. Jay Cutler is the biggest name as of right now, as his situation in Chicago is volatile at best as long as Marc Trestman is coaching the team. Robert Griffin III is less likely to become available, and it is unlikely that Washington would be willing to trade him to a divisional rival. A third option would be Matt Schaub, which would be uninspired after not being able to start a single game for the Raiders in 2014.

For these reasons, Sando believes that the Eagles are best off staying put with Foles, Sanchez, or both in 2015. The continuity will bring more advantages than any other question mark quarterback they could bring in, and if Kelly adjusts his offense to put less pressure on the quarterback, the Eagles could see more efficient and consistent quarterback play next year.

East Notes: RGIII, Eagles, Cutler

December 21st, 2014 at 8:43am CST by Rory Parks

It was not long ago that the respective futures of Robert Griffin III and Jay Gruden in Washington were in doubt. After one strong game against the Eagles on Saturday night, that no longer seems to be the case. Following a last-minute, 27-24 victory over their playoff-hopeful division rivals, Washington’s head coach and quarterback are set to return for 2015.

As Jason Reid of the Washington Post wrote just hours after the team’s victory, “Jay Gruden and Robert Griffin III are expected to return next season.” Reid went on to note that Washington’s reliance on the on the run game and DeSean Jackson allowed Griffin to be more comfortable in the pocket than he has been all season, which could have created a blueprint for the team’s success moving forward.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds that there was never any real doubt among the Washington administration that Griffin would be back, as the team continues to hope that he can be the franchise quarterback it once anticipated. So, as Florio writes, “the only remaining question is whether they pick up his eight-figure option for 2016 by May 3. If the goal is to support him, they either need to exercise the option or extend his contract.”

Now for some more noes from the league’s east divisions:

 

NFC Links: Gore, Cutler, Griffin, Sanchez

December 20th, 2014 at 4:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

49ers‘ running back Frank Gore has seen a decline in his play this season, and his future in San Francisco is in question. Aside from his rookie season and injury-shortened 2010, Gore is on pace to post career lows in yards, attempts, touchdowns, yards per carry, and longest run. He has also been phased out of the passing game, with career lows in targets, catches, and receiving yards.

Gore will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and spoke to Eric Branch of SFGate.com regarding his future with the team. “If they want to bring me back, they will,” Gore said. “They’ll come to me in a respectful way. We’ll sit down, see what they want me to do. See what my role is and if I like it, I’ll sign. If I don’t, I’ll try to see what other teams think of me.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Joel Corry of the National Football Post takes a look at the financial implications that would take place if the Bears decided to trade Jay Cutler. Because of his contract, he writes the Bears would be unlikely to get much in return for the embattled quarterback, but writes that the Titans, Jets, Buccaneers, Rams and Texans could all have at least some interest in acquiring Cutler at the right price.
  • Despite some rumors that Washington would fire head coach Jay Gruden after only one season, the former Bengals’ offensive coordinator is confident that he will get a second season with the team, according to Conor Orr of NFL.com. “I feel good about my chances of coming back next year,” Gruden said. “I feel good about some of the core group of guys we have here and building a football team, and I think we can get this thing turned around a lot sooner than later if given the opportunity.”
  • Gruden returning is not a given, but after that the biggest question of Washington’s offseason is at the quarterback position. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com would not be surprised to see Robert Griffin III back in Washington next season, noting that his salary is fully guaranteed for 2015 (via Twitter). He writes that Gruden wants to win, and Griffin could be his best option at quarterback (via Twitter).
  • With Nick Foles closer to being healthy each week and the Eagles still in the thick of the playoff race, Mark Sanchez needs to be better, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. While he writes that Sanchez is not concerned about his own stock, the team’s playoff chances are directly related to how well Sanchez plays. Whether Sanchez’s top priority is making the playoffs or getting a starting job in 2015, he needs to be better over these next two games.
  • The Panthers will not activate defensive end Frank Alexander for this weekend’s game against the Browns, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox sports 1 (via Twitter). Alexander came off of his suspension this week, after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Garafolo writes that the team is expected to activate him on Monday.

 

NFC Links: Quinn, Colston, Sanchez, Warner

December 13th, 2014 at 12:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

With the resurgence of the Seahawks‘ defense, the team’s defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has re-emerged as a top head coaching candidate this offseason, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.

Here are some other links from around the NFC:

  • The Saints are looking at salary cap hell in the coming seasons, which could lead the team to move on from some veterans. According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, the Saints could release Brodrick Bunkley, David Hawthorne, and Marques Colston this offseason due to their high salaries.
  • The Falcons are 5-8 but in first place in the dismal NFC South. Despite looking at a playoff berth, the team has already started preparing for the 2015 NFL Draft. Their biggest need is at pass rusher, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He writes that the team will also look closely at receivers, a receiving tight end, and linebackers.
  • Eagles‘ quarterback Mark Sanchez has played well in starter Nick Foles‘ absence, but has looked bad against the Seahawks and Packers. He will likely need to impress during these next three games in order to keep Foles from usurping the starting job for the playoff run, if they even stay in contention with Sanchez, writes Jeff McClaine of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With the Eagles likely to only keep one of the two going forward into 2015, Sanchez could also be auditioning for next season.
  • With the Cardinals‘ quarterback situation potentially in ruins after losing Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to injuries, thoughts of Kurt Warner returning to save the 10-3 Cardinals from an early playoff exit have been floated. Those hoping for Warner to save them shouldn’t hold their breath, according to Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com. He writes that while Warner may have thought about it, the idea of him stepping in after not playing for five years is unrealistic.
  • Giants‘ quarterback Eli Manning has not been spectacular the last few seasons, but it isn’t time to look for his replacement, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The team has more pressing needs along the offensive line, at pass rusher, safety, and even possibly receiver, according to Vacchiano.
  • As the problems in Washington continue, Bill Simmons of ESPN and Grantland posed in interesting question to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post: Would the fans be willing to give up the team to another city and go without NFL football for three years, with the promise of getting an expansion team (retaining the rights to the colors and name if they want it) along with a new ownership group? Definitely a loaded question, but Steinberg initially thought 75% of fans would make that trade, and based on response from fans, he thinks he may have underestimated that number.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Mark Sanchez

December 7th, 2014 at 4:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After being selected fifth overall in the 2011 draft, and subsequently leading the Jets to the AFC Championship game in each of his first two NFL seasons, Mark SanMark Sanchezchez‘s career in New York came to an ignominious end earlier this year. He missed the entire 2013 season after suffering a shoulder injury during a preseason game, and was released on March 21, a week after free agency began. Sanchez quickly joined the Eagles, signing a one-year contract worth $2.25MM to act as Nick Foles‘ backup.

It’s possible that Sanchez, given his lack of success with the Jets, was unable to find a starting role on the free agent market. However, many theorized that the USC product wanted to latch on with Chip Kelly & Co. in Philadelphia, play in a more dynamic offense than the one he struggled in in New York, and face better free agency prospects in 2015. If that was Sanchez’s plan, it certainly worked out, as he excelled during the preseason, leading to trade speculation even before the regular season got underway. And while Sanchez surely wasn’t hoping for an injury to lead to his ascension to the starting QB job, Foles’ broken collarbone has allowed Sanchez to seize the signal-calling reins in Philadelphia.

Since becoming the starter in Week 8, Sanchez has performed well, completing more than 63% of his passes for 1,404 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions, leading the Eagles to a 4-1 record and maintaining the top spot in the NFC East. Advanced metrics aren’t as complimentary of Sanchez — Pro Football Focus grades him as just the 26th-best QB in the league since Week 8 (subscription required), while Football Outsiders ranks him 29th in DVOA (a rate stat that doesn’t penalize for lack of playing time).

Nevertheless, Sanchez has kept the Eagles afloat in Foles’ absence, as Philadelphia’s offense has continued to function with its backup under center. Because of that, it’s fair to look at the possibility of Sanchez remaining with the Eagles for 2015 and beyond. A November report suggested that Foles’ future with the club was in jeopardy, as general manager Howie Roseman had grown frustrated with the third-year QB and had already begun researching alternatives. Kelly later denied the report’s implications, but it’s apparent that Foles is not the ideal quarterback for Kelly’s system. Sanchez probably isn’t the prototype for a Kelly offense either, but most insiders believe that he has more impressive physical tools than Foles.

The Eagles also have second-year quarterback Matt Barkley on the their depth chart, and while he’s not a candidate to see significant playing time, it speaks to the muddled QB situation in Philly. Ideally, Kelly would surely prefer to add a quarterback like Oregon’s Marcus Mariota — a mobile, dual-threat option perfectly suited to his offensive scheme. With that an unlikely possibility, the Eagles could look to retain both Sanchez and Foles, and let the two engage in a training camp battle. However, Sanchez would probably want to be promised a starting job, so if he does return to Philadelphia, Foles could become trade bait.

The more likely scenario, though, sees Sanchez depart Philadelphia in search of a long-term deal that ensures him a starting gig. He shouldn’t have trouble finding a job, especially because quarterback talent is so diffucult to acquire. With even mid-tier options like Andy Dalton and Alex Smith receiving big money extensions, the QB market is usually barren, so a mediocre talent such as Sanchez can be rewarded on the open market. Additionally, Sanchez is clearly the No. 1 option among free agent quarterbacks. Brian Hoyer is the only other FA QB whom teams might feel comfortable employing as a starter, and it’s safe to say that Sanchez will be in higher demand than the Browns quarterback.

So where does Sanchez fit? PFR’s Luke Adams recently examined the state of the quarterback position around the league and identified eight teams who have no clear-cut 2015 starter. The Jets probably don’t want to reunite with its former draft pick, and the Bills, Browns, Buccaneers, and Titans will probably turn to internal options or a high draft-pick next season. By my estimation, that leaves three teams that could show heavy interest in Sanchez during the offseason — the Texans, Washington, and the Rams.

We’ll place the Texans and Washington in one bucket, as I think their level of intrigue regarding Sanchez could be similar. The Texans have all the pieces of a contending team in place except for a capable quarterback; Arian Foster is one of the best running backs in the league, and J.J. Watt and the rest of Houston’s defense is excellent. The QB combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mallett has been lackluster this season, however, limiting the Texans’ upside. Fitzpatrick is under contract for 2015 but isn’t guaranteed any money, while Mallett is injured and will be a free agent at season’s end, though the team has expressed interest in retaining him. The club also has rookie Tom Savage, but Sanchez could add the boost the team needs to get over the hump.

Unlike Houston, Washington doesn’t have a solid core to build around. The team has a few sound offensive pieces, but its offensive line and its defense could use some work. Regardless, the club is expected to move on from Robert Griffin III during the offseason, leaving a void at quarterback that neith Colt McCoy nor Kirk Cousins will likely be able to fill. Head coach Jay Gruden runs a offensive scheme that has some similarities to that of Kelly, with an air attack that focuses on accuracy and quick passes. It’s a system that Griffin has failed to grasp, but one that Sanchez could potentially thrive in.

The best destination for Sanchez, though, might be St. Louis, where Sam Bradford is expected to be released after suffering yet another major injury. Like the Texans, the Rams have pieces in place to contend — Tre Mason and Stedman Bailey highlight a young offensive core, while the Rams’ defense ranked 10th in defensive DVOA even before today’s shutout of Washington. St. Louis showed interest in Sanchez before the season, and Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is familiar with Sanchez from the duo’s time in New York. As PFR’s Rob DiRe passed along last week, competent quarterback play could vault St. Louis into contention in the NFC West.

As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wrote in November, a player of Sanchez’s caliber could generally expect ~$2MM to act as a serviceable backup. Now that he’s proven his ability to return to a starting role, however, Sanchez could be looking for a larger contract. A handful of comparable QBs signed free agent contracts prior to this season — Kyle Orton joined the Bills on a two-year, $11MM pact ($5.5MM guaranteed), and Matt Cassel re-signed with the Vikings on a two-year deal worth $10.5MM ($5.25MM in guarantees). Sanchez has youth, upside, and better production on his side, so he can probably garner a more favorable deal than either Orton or Casseel did. A three-year pact in the $18-20MM range, with perhaps $8MM guaranteed, sounds about right, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the Rams that offer that figure to Sanchez.

AFC Notes: Hoyer, Chiefs, Manuel, Jets

November 13th, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

As Brian Hoyer and the Browns continue to play well, the quarterback’s contract situation will continue to be a story. Former agent and current CBSSports.com analyst Joel Corry appeared on CBS Sports Radio’s Ferrall on the Bench yesterday, expressing his belief that the team should wait one more season before making a decision about the position…

“There haven’t been any contract discussions with Brian Hoyer since the spring…He’s making $1.2 million this year. He’s severely underpaid, so they’re ultimately going to have to make a choice. Do they go with their first-round pick, Johnny Manziel, as quarterback, or do they pay Brian Hoyer like a starting quarterback and then figure out what to do with Johnny?”

“What I would do is delay the decision a year. I would either put a transition tag for $16 million on Brian Hoyer for 2015 or franchise him for $18.5 million for the one year. It all depends on what my strategy would be, which tag I would use. If I wasn’t afraid of some team in the open market signing him to an offer sheet – which the Browns would be able to match because they’ll have about $50 million of cap room – (I might do that). And (if) they were comfortable with letting the market decide the deal and have him go long-term at that point, then I’d put the transition tag on him. If they wanted to truly play it out for another year, you franchise him for the $18.5 million and let things unfold in 2015.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC…

  • Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole hushed any rumors regarding Richie Incognito and the Chiefs. The writer tweeted that the lineman has not worked out for Kansas City.
  • Bills quarterback EJ Manuel will not become a consistent starter in the NFL, opines CBS NFL analyst Steve Beuerlein (via Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today Sports). “There’s no doubt Kyle Orton is not the guy for the future, but you’ve got to decide whether or not EJ Manuel is,” said Beuerlein. “There are just so many questions there, that I don’t know how you make that decision in his favor.”
  • There is no reason that Mark Sanchez‘s apparent turnaround couldn’t have happened with the Jets, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Nick Foles Avoids Surgery, Out 6-8 Weeks

November 3rd, 2014 at 4:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 4:00pm: Foles won’t require surgery on his fractured collarbone, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). While that’s good news for the signal-caller, he’s still expected to be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks or so, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). That would put him in line to return near the end of the regular season.

SUNDAY, 9:14pm: Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles has a broken clavicle, reports Derrick Gunn of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). Collarbone injuries often take between four and six weeks to fully heal, and Foles would most likely be expected to miss at least four games with the injury. He will have an MRI tomorrow to confirm how long he will miss, according to Gunn.

If Foles does miss that amount of time, Mark Sanchez will have ample opportunity to run the team’s offense. If the Eagles struggle, they could fall behind in the NFC East race by the time Foles returns. However, if Sanchez keeps the team winning over the next few weeks, head coach Chip Kelly is would have a hard time moving Sanchez back to the bench, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter).

Aside from Sanchez, the only other quarterback on the roster is second-year player Matt Barkley, who has struggled in his limited game action so far.

If it has been confirmed that Foles has a broken clavicle, it is concerning that the team still has him scheduled for an MRI, writes Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). Mosher suspects the team is worried that the Foles could have additional structural damage to his shoulder stemming from the hit he took that knocked him out of the game.

NFC East Links: Ryans, Sanchez, Washington

November 2nd, 2014 at 7:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

Eagles‘ inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans will miss the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon earlier today. The team will have trouble replacing him, but if they are looking for help from outside the roster, Adam Caplan of ESPN lists a few of the top inside linebackers available (via Twitter). His best options are Jonathan Vilma, Erin Henderson, Paris Lenon, Marvin Mitchell, and Nick Barnett.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:

  • Eagles‘ head coach Chip Kelly was happy with the performance of backup quarterback Mark Sanchez, saying that the offense “didn’t miss a beat,” reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). The team had total confidence in his ability to lead the offense, and that was evident in his first pass where he connected on a deep post with Jeremy Maclin.
  • Eagles‘ top receiver Maclin had high praise for Sanchez after his first game action with the team, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “I don’t know the extent of [Foles’ injury], but we’ve got a guy in Mark who can step up and win some games,” Maclin said. “I’m excited about him being back there.”
  • Sanchez returned the favor, noting that Maclin “picked a great year to sign a one-year deal.” Maclin took the one-year deal this offseason with hopes to receive a larger extension either during or after the season.
  • Prior to the start of Washington’s matchup against the Vikings, thousands gathered to protest the team’s racially insensitive nickname, including Minneapolis Mayor Betsey Hodges, writes Nolan Feeney of Time Magazine.
  • Washington’s coach Jay Gruden has addressed a report that Robert Griffin III has alienated his teammates, reports Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. Steinberg writes that the players were responding to the team’s PR allowing more reporters in the locker room.

East Notes: Sanchez, Hill, Schwartz, Cowboys

August 26th, 2014 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

As one of the league’s premier backups, Eagles signal-caller Mark Sanchez figures to be the subject of trade rumors when starting QBs like Sam Bradford go down for the season. However, as he tells Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sanchez isn’t interested in listening to that sort of speculation.

“I’m an Eagle. I love being an Eagle,” Sanchez said. “There’s a ton of quarterbacks. Talk about someone else.”

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • With final cuts approaching, some trade chatter is starting to surround Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter) notes that the team has already tried to move Hill this summer, with no takers so far, while Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter) is skeptical that the Jets could get anything for the wideout. On the other hand, one AFC exec tells Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com that he thinks there’d be some interest, since the free agent market for receivers is thin.
  • The Giants received some good news on Geoff Schwartz’s foot injury, announcing today in a press release that the guard will be in a walking boot for the next seven to 10 days, then will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The timetable suggests that Schwartz will avoid hitting any sort of PUP or IR list.
  • Cowboys linebacker DeVonte Holloman tells Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that it was an “easy decision” to retire after sustaining his latest neck injury, though he admitted it’ll be “tough not to be out there” on the field with the team.
  • As Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram outlines, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones weighed in on position battles at a few key positions in Dallas as the team prepares to cut its roster down to 53 players.
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