HEADLINES

Andrew Gardner

Eagles, Andrew Gardner Agree To Extension

September 8th, 2015 at 8:10pm CST by Zachary Links

8:10pm: Gardner’s deal has a base value of $4.7MM, including a $500K signing bonus, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Incentives can significantly raise the value of the deal, he adds.

7:37pm: The Eagles and starting right guard Andrew Gardner have agreed to a three-year contract extension, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The interior lineman is now signed through 2018.

Gardner was signed by the Eagles prior to the 2014 season to serve as a backup. Gardner proved to be a very valuable addition, however, as he went on to appear in every regular season game, including eight starts. The Eagles had an open competition for the starting right guard job this summer, but Gardner came away with the gig. Gardner is now with his sixth NFL team after stops with the Dolphins, Ravens, Vikings, Bengals, Texans, and Eagles, but it sounds like the 29-year-old has finally found a home at this late stage in his career.

In June of 2014, the Eagles hammered out an extension with fellow starting guard Allen Barbre, which means that the duo is under contract for at least the next three years.

Extra Points: Eagles, Raiders, 49ers, Colts

August 9th, 2015 at 8:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis spoke Sunday on the statuses of two of the team’s injured linebackers, Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans.

Regarding Alonso, who suffered a concussion Tuesday and has missed four practices: “Kiko’s fine,” said Davis, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’ve been coaching linebackers my whole career. It’s just part of that position, when it sneaks up on you nowadays, we have great protocol. It’s not an issue. Kiko’s doing great. He won’t miss a beat.”

Davis was more guarded when discussing Ryans, who is recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon for the second time in his nine-year career.

 “DeMeco is a pro all the way through and is taking strides ahead of where most people would be, but he still has a little ways to go,” Davis said.
Ryans has participated in all seven of the Eagles’ training camp practices, but next Sunday’s preseason opener against the Colts will be a much bigger litmus test.
“Any time you’re coming back from injury, you have to get in the game to see where you are,” said Ryans, who got hurt last November. “Go to the ground, tackle somebody, stand up, make sure everything is still intact. And mentally, I think that’s the last hurdle, going out and getting back in a game.”
More on Philly and the rest of the NFL:
  • The Eagles’ right guard situation could take some time to sort out, writes Jeff McLane of the Inquirer. The team has a vacancy there after cutting three-time Pro Bowl left guard Evan Mathis and replacing him with former RG Allen Barbre. John Moffitt, Matt Tobin, Andrew Gardner and Julian Vandervelde are competing for the job.
  • 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini is using his linebackers’ flexibility to his advantage as he tries to find a way to fill the void left by Aldon Smith, whom the team cut earlier this week because of off-field issues. “A guy like Aldon is not a guy that you just can replace,” Mangini said, per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “He’s got a unique skill set. But one of the things that we focused on defensively is building flexibility, in terms of what we can play, and then building flexibility with who’s going to play there.” The lion’s share of reps at Smith’s former spot have gone to Corey Lemonier and Eli Harold, writes Gutierrez.
  • The Raiders could have the biggest interior defensive line in the NFL when Dan Williams and Justin Ellis, who combine to weigh 665 pounds, line up side by side. The two have been paired together often in camp, writes Jerry McDonald of InsideBayArea.com. “To be able to have those guys in the front, we feel like you shouldn’t run the ball on us,” safety Charles Woodson said. “If they put those guys up there, we should be a very stout defense. That’s what we’re counting on.”
  • Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is bullish about the team’s secondary, which helped the defense finish a respectable 12th overall against the pass in 2014. “I think we have an excellent group. We got playmakers and smart guys that communicate well and play well together. I’m excited for that group,” Pagano said, according to USA Today.

Eagles Sign Andrew Gardner

April 1st, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Ben Levine

TUESDAY, 12:33pm: Gardner’s deal with the Eagles is a two-year, minimum salary contract that features a $10K signing bonus, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.

MONDAY, 3:14pm: The Eagles have signed offensive lineman Andrew Gardner to their 90-man roster, the Eagles Insider Twitter account reports. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer confirmed the news moments later (via Twitter).

The 6-6, 319 pound tackle was drafted by the Dolphins in the 6th round of the 2009 Draft. Gardner had a successful college career at Georgia Tech, but offseason surgery severely impacted his draft stock.

The 27-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the Texans, appearing in eight games. The Georgia-native has also spent time with the Ravens and the Bengals.

According to a tweet from Dave Zangaro of CSNHouston, Gardner joins seven former Texans in Philadelphia.