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Fletcher Cox

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Cousins, Goldson, Eli

February 4th, 2016 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

After meeting with several candidates for their front office opening, the Eagles have halted their search for a new personnel chief for now, as we learned earlier this week. Speaking on Wednesday to reporters, including Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Howie Roseman explained why the team doesn’t plan to fill that position until after the draft.

“Just by the nature of the time of year, teams aren’t necessarily going to be so aligned with [a comprehensive search],” Roseman said. “We’re looking at this as a long-term decision for us – not just a five-month decision. The candidates we looked at were good, but we also want to make sure we’re looking at all the good candidates that are available.”

Roseman was also asked about the possibility of re-signing quarterback Sam Bradford and extending defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, and while he declined to go into specifics, he expressed some interest in locking up both players. “Everything is positive about Sam” and the Eagles have the cap space to re-sign him, according to Roseman, who said of Cox, “We’d love for him not only to start his career but finish his career as an Eagle.”

Here’s more out of the NFC East:

  • Although Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap initially thought the Eagles overpaid offensive tackle Lane Johnson on his new extension, a deeper dive into the number reveals the deal is more team-friendly than it looks on the surface, as Fitzgerald explains.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post weighs the pro and cons of Washington franchising Kirk Cousins or signing him to a multiyear deal, concluding that locking the quarterback up to a long-term deal now would “probably bring more benefits” than the franchise tag would.
  • Veteran safety Dashon Goldson is set to count for $8MM on Washington‘s books in 2016, and the team could clear that entire amount by cutting him. However, John Keim of ESPN.com thinks Goldson will stick around, perhaps after accepting a pay cut or restructure, since the club still values what he can provide both on the field and in the locker room.
  • As his 39-year-old brother prepares to play what could be his last game, Giants quarterback Eli Manning said this week that he believes he has several more good years of football in him and is optimistic about playing until he’s 40, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

East Notes: Jets, Curry, Cox, Deflategate

February 3rd, 2016 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

As first reported on Tuesday night by Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Jets have hired Brant Boyer as their new special teams coordinator, the team announced today in a press release. Boyer arrives in New York from Indianapolis, where he has served as the Colts’ assistant special teams coach for the last four seasons, working with Pro Bowlers Adam Vinatieri, Pat McAfee, and Matt Overton.

The Jets took their time finding a new special teams coordinator, after parting ways with Bobby April nearly a month ago. As Todd Bowles and the Jets considered their options, April found a new home in Tennessee, where he’ll serve as the Titans’ special teams coach.

Let’s round up a few more Wednesday notes from around the NFL’s East divisions….

  • Appearing today on ESPN’s First Take (video link), Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall was asked about the latest Colin Kaepernick rumors, and replied that he’d prefer the team to bring back Ryan Fitzpatrick rather than going after Kaepernick.
  • Having signed a lucrative new long-term deal with the Eagles, Vinny Curry said that it wouldn’t have happened if not for the team’s scheme change, per Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). With Jim Schwartz replacing Billy Davis as Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator, the club will be shifting from a 3-4 look to a 4-3 base, which should better suit Curry.
  • Curry added that he has been in constant contact with Fletcher Cox, and he thinks his fellow defensive lineman will get a contract extension done with the Eagles (Twitter link via Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal).
  • More than a year after the NFL began looking into the Patriots for what became known as Deflategate, the league is still mishandling the situation, writes Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports. As Wetzel notes, Roger Goodell‘s assertion that the NFL didn’t keep any of the information logged during the 2015 season on the air pressure of game-day footballs creates more questions than answers.
  • Eagles fans will see some familiar faces in this week’s Super Bowl, writes Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News, who points to Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and safety Kurt Coleman as “Eagles discards” who are thriving in Carolina.

East Rumors: A. Williams, Eagles, Cox, Jordan

January 29th, 2016 at 1:11pm CST by Luke Adams

Bills safety Aaron Williams is coming off a neck injury that sidelined him for most of the 2015 season, and he won’t know for sure if he’ll be able to continue playing in the NFL going forward until he gets back on the field in training camp, as he explains to John Murphy at BuffaloBills.com.

“After that first hit, if you feel like you can sustain those hits week in and week out, then continue to keep playing,” Williams said, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “But if it’s one of those where I hit it and it’s just like, ‘Man, this doesn’t look good,’ then I’ll have to reconsider.”

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

  • Former Browns executive Morocco Brown, mentioned on Thursday as a candidate for the Eagles‘ top personnel job, has indeed interviewed with Philadelphia, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Brown was let by Cleveland along with Ray Farmer and Bill Kuharich at season’s end.
  • It appears there’s mutual interest between Fletcher Cox and the Eagles in getting an extension done, with Cox telling Around the NFL on Thursday that he wants to be in Philadelphia “for the long haul,” adding that he believes “everyone wants me there from the owner all the way down” (link via Conor Orr of NFL.com). At the rate the Eagles are getting their players locked up, it would almost be a surprise if Cox doesn’t sign a new contract soon — Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, and Lane Johnson have all been extended by Philadelphia this week.
  • The Dolphins aren’t counting on him to be a 2016 contributor, but the team is open to giving defensive end Dion Jordan another shot if and when he’s reinstated from his suspension, as long as “he’s clean and has a good attitude,” writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
  • The Bills are focusing on Ralph Wilson Stadium for the time being, rather than working on a new stadium, team president Russ Brandon said on Thursday. Mike Rodak of ESPN.com has the details and the quotes.

Eagles Notes: Ertz, Celek, Bradford

January 27th, 2016 at 1:45pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been a busy week so far for the Eagles, who signed a pair of tight ends to new contracts and are still looking to hire a key personnel executive for their front office. Let’s check out the latest out of Philadelphia….

  • Using the contracts signed last winter by Julius Thomas and Charles Clay as points of comparison, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap breaks down Zach Ertz‘s new deal with the Eagles. Fitzgerald also explains why Brent Celek‘s extension has plenty of value for Philadelphia, assuming the team had already decided to carry the veteran tight end on its roster for 2016.
  • The new deals for Ertz and Celek show that – after ceding power to Chip Kelly for a year – Howie Roseman is re-committing to building an atmosphere in which players drafted by the Eagles feel valued by the organization, and stick with the team for the long term, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “It’s an important message to your team, that if you play really well and you do the right things and you’re drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, you’ve got a chance to stay for a long time,” Roseman said. “I think it’s important for the organization.”
  • Josh Paunil of PhillyMag.com spoke to former agent Joel Corry about the likely value of potential extensions for players like Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, and Vinny Curry. Corry also explained why he thinks Sam Bradford may ultimately sign a one-year contract this offseason rather than a long-term deal.
  • If the Eagles know whether they plan re-sign Bradford or let him walk, they’re not tipping their hand yet, as Bowen details in a Daily News piece.
  • Bowen and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter links) are both hearing rumblings that the personnel executive ultimately hired by the Eagles to work with Roseman will be a retread, rather than an up-and-comer.
  • The Eagles have hired Missouri’s Chris Wilson as their defensive line coach, Doug Pederson said today, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

NFC East Notes: Bradford, Cox, Harris, Giants

July 18th, 2015 at 7:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

For all of the Eagles’ fans who are getting excited about the team’s outlook heading into the season with Sam Bradford at the helm, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com is here to sober that optimism. He more or less tells the Philadelphia faithful to pump the breaks, pointing to the former first-overall pick’s poor record as a starter as well as his low completion percentage through this stage of his career. He doesn’t bury the fans for believing he will be good in Eagles green, but notes that they should be aware that they are rooting for him to dramatically turn his career around in a new city.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:

  • With Corey Liuget, Cameron Jordan, and Cameron Heyward all signing new and lucrative extensions this offseason, Eagles‘ 3-4 defensive end Fletcher Cox is becoming an overlooked commodity in Philadelphia, writes Joe Soriano of FanSided. Although Cox has been one of the best at his position according to Pro Football Focus since entering the league in 2012 (subscription required), he was dangled as trade bait in potential Marcus Mariota deals during the draft while his contemporaries are getting long-term commitments.
  • The Giants broke the bank in a move to sign return specialist Dwayne Harris away from the Cowboys offseason, and while the move was met with curiosity, Ryan Disdier writes that the team should see a great deal of value despite the high price tag, considering the inconsistency in their special teams recently.
  • The Giants also have a number of questions along their offensive line, including who should start at right tackle and center. Chris Schisler projects Justin Pugh at right tackle, although he believes Pugh would move to guard if they had a viable alternative, and picks Weston Richburg to start at center.

East Notes: Welker, Eagles, Boykin, JPP

June 2nd, 2015 at 5:16pm CST by Luke Adams

As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, free agent wideout Wes Welker told Toucher and Rich of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston that he wants to continue his playing career, and wouldn’t be opposed to rejoining the Patriots.

Examining potential fits for Welker, Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) agrees that perhaps New England could be a match, though he gets the sense that it’s unlikely to happen. Yates also identifies the Ravens and Texans as potential landing spots for the veteran receiver.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFL’s two East divisions….

  • Two Eagles players who were the subject of trade rumors in Philadelphia this offseason addressed those rumors recently. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the quotes from defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, while Mark Eckel of NJ.com passes along linebacker Mychal Kendricks‘ thoughts on the matter. Kendricks said he expects to still be on Philadelphia’s roster by the time the season gets underway, but admitted there haven’t been any extension talks with the team.
  • Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin is expecting to continue to play in the slot this season rather than getting a chance to start on the outside, and says that story is “getting real old,” writes McLane in a separate Inquirer piece. As Zach Berman of the Inquirer tweets, Boykin says if he plays well in his contract year, he expects he’ll get the chance to play a bigger role when free agency hits.
  • Cameron Jordan and Jason Pierre-Paul aren’t entirely comparable, but Jordan’s new five-year, $55MM contract (worth up to $60MM) could have an impact on JPP’s negotiations with the Giants, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Details On Eagles’ Proposed Trade Package

April 30th, 2015 at 7:05pm CST by Luke Adams

According to multiple reports, the Eagles have been most aggressive in their efforts to move up to the top of the draft to land quarterback Marcus Mariota, having had discussions with both the Titans at No. 2 and the Buccaneers at No. 1. Now, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has details on what Chip Kelly and the Eagles are offering to move up from No. 20.

According to Rapoport (via Twitter), Philadelphia’s proposed package would include two first-round picks (including this year’s), a third-round pick, defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, cornerback Brandon Boykin, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, and more. Rapoport adds that Sam Bradford has also been included in the Eagles’ offers (Twitter link).

Rapoport’s report on the Eagles’ proposal backs up Jason La Canfora’s tweet that Philadelphia’s offer is “substantial.” According to La Canfora, the Browns remain willing to include both their first-round picks in an offer to the Titans, but Cleveland likely won’t come close to trumping the Eagles’ offer (Twitter links).

For now, at least, the Titans and Buccaneers both appear inclined to stay put.

Marcus Mariota Rumors: Thursday

April 30th, 2015 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the consensus top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and while Winston is considered by many to be the more NFL-ready QB, it’s Mariota who is dominating headlines as the first round nears. With Winston viewed as a near-lock to come off the board first overall to the Buccaneers, the big question heading into tonight is which team will end up with Mariota, either at No. 2 or a little later.

Here’s the latest on Mariota and that No. 2 overall pick:

  • Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) identifies the Eagles and Browns as the top two contenders for Mariota and the No. 2 pick, suggesting that Philadelphia is willing to put Sam Bradford, Mychal Kendricks, and Fletcher Cox on the table in trade talks. According to Cole, the Titans want a 2016 first-round pick in any deal, and are looking to somehow come away with a potential franchise quarterback, since that would raise the value of an organization that may be sold within the next couple years.
  • If the Eagles want to get from No. 20 to No. 2, they may need to go through the Browns at No. 12, sending Bradford to Cleveland, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. I don’t think the Browns would give up the No. 12 pick for Bradford straight up, and it would still take quite a bit to move from No. 12 to No. 2.
  • Despite the obstacles, the Eagles continue to make a serious bid for the second overall pick, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • While there are no offers currently on the table that would make the Titans bite, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) fully expects those offers to improve over the next few hours.
  • Earlier today, the Rams, Jets, and Bears were also mentioned as teams that have spoken to Tennessee about the No. 2 overall pick.

Eagles Pick Up Option On Fletcher Cox

April 27th, 2015 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles have exercised their fifth-year option on defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, sources tell Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link). Will Brinson of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) first reported the decision, which has since been confirmed by the team (Twitter link).

Although Breer identifies Cox as a defensive tackle, the assumption is that he’ll receive a defensive end salary for 2016, since he plays end in the Eagles’ 3-4 system. So while a defensive tackle like Michael Brockers will be in line for a $6.146MM option-year salary, Cox will earn $7.799MM in his fifth year.

Cox’s 2016 salary is initially only guaranteed for injury, but it will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the ’16 league year, and I suspect the Eagles won’t have a problem with that. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 24-year-old was the fifth-best 3-4 DE in the NFL last season, behind standout players like J.J. Watt, Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Calais Campbell. Cox graded well above average as both a run defender and a pass rusher.

NFC East Notes: Rolle, Murray, Dez, Cox

February 11th, 2015 at 10:21am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week, Giants safety Antrel Rolle explained why he wants to return to New York, despite being eligible for free agency next month. As Rolle tells it, he feels like there’s unfinished business to take care of with the G-Men.

“I want to go back to the Giants for the mere fact that I feel like I still have work to do,” Rolle said. “No matter how good or bad the season may have been for myself, we’ve got one championship and I feel like that’s not enough. I feel like there’s more, obviously there’s more in the tank and I feel like there’s more that I need to provide as far as my services with that organization to try and help them win another title. That’s something that weighs heavy on my mind.”

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • As he has said before, running back DeMarco Murray would like to stay with the Cowboys, and intends to remain in Dallas if he feels like the club gives him the best chance to win a Super Bowl. “Obviously I think they want me here,” Murray said Tuesday night, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. “I want to be here. It’s just finding the … just what helps them, what helps me. Things like that. I think both sides want to be here, so I think we’ll see where it goes.” After being named the 2014 offensive player of the year and leading the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards, Murray headlines this year’s free agent market for running backs, which I examined yesterday.
  • As Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal wrote yesterday, Roc Nation Sports and CAA have ended their two-year partnership, as planned. That parting of ways would seem to come at an inopportune time for Dez Bryant, who is represented by Roc Nation’s Kimberly Miale and CAA’s Tom Condon. However, Miale tells Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News that she and Condon are still representing the Cowboys wideout as he nears free agency.
  • Defensive lineman Fletcher Cox is exactly the sort of homegrown talent the Eagles should try to lock up and make a part of their long-term core, writes Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com in his look at the team’s defensive line situation. As a 2012 draftee, Cox is extension-eligible for the first time this offseason, though the club also holds a fifth-year option on him for 2016.

Zach Links contributed to this post.