Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/10/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Miles Sanders disappointed in lack of chances in Super Bowl, ready for more in Carolina - PFT
In the Super Bowl, Sanders had 26 snaps and seven carries for 16 yards. (He did fumble out of bounds on the opening play from scrimmage, which could have played into his playing time.) Sanders admits it was disappointing to stand and watch as the Eagles lost to the Chiefs. “Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question,” Sanders said, via Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don’t want to make headlines, [but] if it does, I don’t care.” Sanders signed with the Panthers in free agency, but he said the frustration of not playing more in the Super Bowl wasn’t the reason he left Philadelphia. “I can get into that another day, maybe,” Sanders said. “Maybe you should ask them why I’m moving here.”

Would You Rather: Jalen Hurts or Josh Allen as your Madden 24 QB? - BGN
Who would you prefer to play with in THIS year’s game, though? Allen will undoubtedly have great stats since he’s on the cover of the game, but Hurts was in the MVP conversation until he got banged up at the end of the year. He’s going to be pretty damn good too.

Eagles updates from the final OTA practice - BGN Radio
Brandon Lee Gowton and Jimmy Kempski discuss their takeaways from watching the Birds one final time until training camp begins in late July. Interact with us on Twitter: @BrandonGowton, @JimmyKempski, @BGN_Radio, @BleedingGreen. Use discount code BGN15 at RighteousFelon.com for 15% off your order! Same promotion applies at WildRangerPet.com. Check out Kristin Roach at RoachRealtors.com

Eagles player review: LB Christian Elliss edition - PhillyVoice
Those are pretty similar numbers, so it’s not as if Elliss is some unathletic slug who didn’t get drafted because he couldn’t move. Even if when the Eagles add another linebacker between now and the start of the 2023 regular season, I would still project Elliss to make the team and continue to contribute on special teams, at a minimum, with a starting role not out of the question if he crushes it in training camp and Morrow falters.

Best defensive player at each position in the NFC East - Blogging The Boys
LB - Haason Reddick, Eagles. Considered a first-round bust prior to joining the Eagles, the former 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft has become a difference-making type of defender. In a hybrid LB/EDGE role, he accumulated 16 QB sacks in 2022 and was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.

Big Blue View mailbag: Tyrod Taylor, Sterling Shepard, offensive line, more - Big Blue View
No, Bob, the offensive line is not “fixed.” I don’t know that I would ever say it was “fixed,” especially when we haven’t seen on-field evidence in some areas. Besides, keeping an offensive line functioning well means it should never be ignored, should never be treated like it is fixed and there is no work left to be done. GM Joe Schoen has made strides toward improving the line. The depth is better — it’s apparent the Giants have more functional options than in the past. Provided good health, the quality of the line in 2023 really comes down to how ready John Michael Schmitz is to succeed in the NFL, and how much improvement Evan Neal shows in Year 2.

State of the 2023 Arizona Cardinals: Question marks abound as Jonathan Gannon era begins - NFL.com
Gannon is a very interesting coaching hire for the Cardinals, who went for the defensive-minded name after firing the offensive-minded Kingsbury. It’s kind of like when you break up with somebody and you want to date a person who is the exact opposite. There was a little dispute between the Cardinals and Eagles, who settled a tampering investigation regarding the hiring of the former Philadelphia defensive coordinator. Gannon’s track record in that role was short and somewhat uneven, with the Eagles ranking 10th in yards allowed in his first season there (2021) and jumping to second in 2022. Still, it’s tough to deny the allure of hiring a coach who helped his team reach the Super Bowl.

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The new EA Sports cover star from Buffalo or the most handsome and talented player in the league out of Philadelphia?

Look, I’ll admit this here on Al Gore’s Internet in front of God and everybody...I’ve never been the biggest Madden guy. Growing up I always preferred to play NCAA and once that game stopped being made I switched over to FIFA. However, I still dabble in Madden occasionally and there is no better time to do it then when your favorite team is stacked with talent.

Earlier this week, EA Sports released the Madden 24 cover which featured Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Now, you can argue about who would have been a better choice all you want, but Allen is their choice.

In fact, according to EA Sports, Allen was the MOST USED player in any game mode on Madden 23. More than Patrick Mahomes (which is honestly pretty shocking), more than Aaron Rodgers, and more than Jalen Hurts. While I’m sure there were pockets of the country that used their preferred signal caller more often than Allen, he is clearly very popular.

Who would you prefer to play with in THIS year’s game, though? Allen will undoubtedly have great stats since he’s on the cover of the game, but Hurts was in the MVP conversation until he got banged up at the end of the year. He’s going to be pretty damn good too.

I know it’s impossible to remove bias in situations like this, but I think I’d still prefer to play with Hurts even if I weren’t an Eagles fan. His elusiveness in the running game would be really fun to play with and the Birds have so many exciting targets down the field to throw to as well.

There are a few other options to pick from in our poll, so let’s see who the BGN community would play with in the new Madden. Let us know down in the comments who you picked and why!

Are the Lions ready to make “the leap” in 2023?

If the NFL season had been just one week longer last season, it’s highly likely the Detroit Lions would have figured out a way to sneak into the playoffs. And they would have been a scary team to try and oust, too.

The journey for Detroit was long and winding, beginning with their 38-35 loss to the Eagles in Week 1 to their stunning defeat of Aaron Rodgers and Packers in Week 18 that prevented Green Bay from clinching a playoff spot, the 9-8 Lions certainly went through it. Buoyed by a terrific offense and slowly improving defense, Detroit recovered from a 1-6 start to go 8-2 in their final 10 games, just barely missing out on the last wild card spot.

Naturally, expectations are raised for 2023 and, in my opinion, the Lions pose as one of the biggest threats to Philadelphia in the NFC. Led by a rejuvenated Jared Goff, an outstanding core of skill position players, one of the best offensive lines in the league and a much-improved secondary, Detroit has the places in place to be a true Super Bowl contender this season.

Yes, the Detroit Lions. It’s as weird to type as it is to read.

As part of our continuing check-in on potential NFC contenders this off-season, Jeremy Reisman of Pride Of Detroit joined me on a recent Eye on the Enemy podcast to break down their off-season and the vibes surrounding the Lions right now.

Confidence Level Heading Into the Summer

“It’s been a pretty optimistic off-season for Detroit and this was already a fanbase... this is the time to be optimistic. So to add on actual results and actual reasons, to feel optimistic, it’s been a unique couple of months here.”

On Some Curious First Round Draft Moves

“I think a lot of people thought they were going to go Devin Weatherspoon at No. 6 but the Seahawks made him their pick, which surprised people. Trading down made some sense. There was some talk about Jalen Carter but that never made sense, there was never a personality match there... there were just too many red flags that I didn’t think he was going to fit into the culture they’ve developed there.”

“I’ve been pretty staunchly anti-running back in the first round and most of the conversation surrounded around Bijan Robinson so the fact the Lions went with the second guy [Jamyr Gibbs] on most people’s boards... I’m not sure it would have been the second guy on the Lions board, and there are some reports that if they hadn’t traded down, he might have been selected at No. 6 overall.”

“It’s controversial for a reason.”

Fixing the Secondary with C.J. Gardner Johnson and Cameron Sutton

“On paper, it’s a lot better. Expectations are much higher. Cameron Sutton was their priority, their 12:01 phone call to get him to Detroit. He’s a veteran guy they’ve been lacking in the secondary for a long time. They didn’t even have a veteran mentor to help the young guys out in recent seasons. He brings smarts, leadership, which is a much needed thing, and he’s a pretty talented corner. Maybe not a shutdown type, but definitely a No. 1 corner.”

“C.J. Gardner-Johnson was never really part of the free agency plan, I think Brad Holmes was just, like, ‘Oh, we’re at the end of week one and this guy isn’t signed yet?’ And two or three days later they made that deal. He reunites with Aaron Glenn, who he played with in New Orleans, he’ll probably play the nickel more than he did in Philly.”

Biggest Area of Need

“I think it’s defensive tackle. That was a target area of need in the draft and they waited until Round 3 to get Broderick Martin, a small school guy who probably isn’t going to play a ton right away.”

“Considering this wasn’t a team that was very good at stopping the run last year is a big concern. Obviously getting [linebacker] Jack Campbell in the first round, they’re hoping they’ll get some help there.”

“There’s also a little bit of question at wide receiver right now. You lose D.J. Chark in the off-season, you’re missing Jameson Williams for the first six weeks, you bring in Marvin Jones, which is a nice addition, you add receiving threats in Jamyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta, but specifically at the wide receiver position, it seems like they’re a little thin there.”

Amon Ra-St. Brown led the team with 106 catches for 1161 yards and 6 TDs, Kalif Raymond enters as the No. 2 or 3 receiver with Jones.

DeAndre Hopkins Rumors

“It’s why Detroit Lions fans really want him. I’m not sure the character fits what they’re trying to build there but the Lions have a ton of cap space right now and it would certainly make for a fun first six weeks before [Williams] gets here and then, pair them together, see what happens!”

Where Does Goff Rank Among NFC QBs?

“There’s been rumblings of starting a conversation for an extension, I’m hoping the Lions wait at least one more year on that conversation and just see how he does now with a slightly revamped room in terms of offensive weapons and really big expectations on the team’s shoulders. How does he respond to that? How does the team look? Has he grown at all? I need all those questions answered before I push him into the top two or three in the NFC.”

Where Does the Lions’ Roster Rank in the NFC?

“Probably four, I would say. In no particular order, 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys are probably my top three and then I have the Lions right behind them. I think they’re clear NFC North favorites, Packers might be the closest team to them because they kept most of their defensive roster intact... ...I think this team is going to be better defensively, and even if you look at how they played in their final 10 games, they were a top three team (in terms of DVOA) over that stretch.”

“I think expectations for the defense is top half of the league and if the offense can stay top five in the league, that’s a chemistry for a potential contender. You can hear me tremble over those words because I’m not used to saying them, but they really seem set up to be one of those teams that can be a Super Bowl contender.”

The Lions’ last playoff appearance was in 2016 when they lost in the wild card round for the sixth time in a row. Their last postseason victory was following the 1991 season, defeated in the NFC Championship Game by Washington, who was on their way to one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history.

No doubt, the Lions are due for some postseason success, and they may be well set-up to experience some in 2023.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/9/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Dolphins’ Vic Fangio says it’s ‘possible’ Cardinals’ tampering prevented him from becoming Eagles’ coordinator - CBS Sports
New Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio consulted with the Eagles during the 2022 season, and it turns out he might’ve landed a permanent job in Philadelphia if not for Jonathan Gannon’s polarizing departure. Weeks after ESPN indicated the Cardinals’ hiring of Gannon affected the Eagles’ succession plan, Fangio admitted Thursday it’s “possible” he would’ve otherwise been in Philly. “That’s possible,” he told reporters, “but I won’t — I’ll neither confirm nor deny it.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously speculated that Fangio had been the Eagles’ top target for a potential coordinator vacancy after the 2022 season. Gannon, meanwhile, proclaimed after Philly’s NFC Championship victory that he would return in 2023, only to then reportedly field an impermissible phone call from the Cardinals, who sought to interview him for their open head coaching job. Weeks later, Gannon left for Arizona’s top job, while Fangio had already agreed to become the Dolphins’ new coordinator.

Eagles OTA Practice Notes: Don’t sleep on Christian Elliss - BGN
Terrell Edmunds has a reputation for being a solid but unspectacular safety. The veteran safety did make a splash play today by knocking down a Hurts pass to Olamide Zaccheaus to prevent a 40-yard touchdown. I think some might be sleeping on Edmunds; I don’t think he’ll be so easily displaced by Sydney Brown. I’m expecting Edmunds and Reed Blankenship to be the Eagles’ starting safeties this season ... with Brown potentially playing some rotational snaps.

Above the Nest with Raichele #82: Poor air quality causes Eagles to move OTAs inside + Jalen Hurts stars in Teyana Taylor’s film for signature sneaker - BGN Radio
Raichele Privette gets you hip on the latest news surrounding the Birds including Thursday OTAs being moved inside due to the Canadian wildfires, Jalen Hurts’ appearance in Teyana Taylor’s short film for her signature sneaker release and joint training camp practice updates.

OTAs Over - Iggles Blitz
The Eagles wrapped up their OTAs on Thursday. That means the team will be off until Training Camp starts. The OTAs were short, non-contact practices so nothing definitive can be taken from them. Still, we got some interesting nuggets. The biggest revelation was LB Christian Elliss. I’ve written about him a couple of times this offseason. Elliss was a difference-maker on STs last season and played well on defense when he got a chance. The Eagles didn’t talk much about him this offseason so I didn’t know if I was overrating him. You’ll remember that last year they talked up Marcus Epps quite a bit during the offseason. He was much further along than Elliss, but I still thought they might mention Elliss as an in-house candidate to watch. Elliss picked off Jalen Hurts earlier in the OTAs and then again on Thursday. Both were good plays. This wasn’t a case of picking a tipped ball that hung in the air. These were legit INTs. Here is Brandon Lee Gowton on Ellis from yesterday.

Spadaro: Jalen Hurts reflects on life-changing offseason - PE.com
A new year, a new challenge, and, as quarterback Jalen Hurts sees it, that’s all great. The team’s Super Bowl LVII appearance is in the rear-view mirror and now it’s on to 2023 and Training Camp that begins in late July. The goal: Take it a step beyond. “Nothing that has been done prior will get us to where we want to be now,” Hurts said as the offseason ended and the players went their separate ways to begin a six-plus-week true away-from-the-facility down period of time. “There are a ton of experiences that we documented and definitely deposited in the bank, if you will, to learn from and we will learn from and have learned from. It’s a day-by-day thing and I think everybody is taking that approach and we’re excited to continue that progression.” This, of course, has been a huge 2023 to date for Hurts and he looks for more after his dominating (374 total yards, four total touchdowns) performance in the Super Bowl followed by a long-term contract extension. Hurts is constantly “fueled” and “motivated” and he has the goal, both individually and collectively as a team, of being the very best. There is no new message from Hurts and no drastic change in terms of how he plans to prepare for the season in front of him. He knows he has weaknesses – he keeps them to himself and his coaches – and he wants to turn them into strengths. “It’s all about getting better,” he said.

Dalvin Cook landing spots: Broncos, Dolphins among best NFL team fits - NFL.com
The Cowboys always seem to be part of the conversation when higher-profile veterans hit the market at this time of year, but this wouldn’t be a case of willy-nilly dot connecting. Dallas arguably does have a need in the backfield, even after Tony Pollard’s breakout season and franchise-tag signing this offseason. Pollard’s role shouldn’t be reduced if he’s healthy; if anything, it should be expanded. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t carries to be divvied up elsewhere. Releasing Ezekiel Elliott means that someone could be in line to scoop up some or all of his 248 touches from a year ago, and it’s hard to imagine Pollard taking a huge chunk of that at 209 pounds. Right now, the best options to play alongside Pollard in the backfield include Malik Davis (38 career carries), former second-rounder Ronald Jones (only 17 carries last season), Rico Dowdle (seven career carries) and rookie Deuce Vaughn, a sixth-rounder who checks in at 176 pounds. Plus, there has been some buzz that the Cowboys are open to bringing back Elliott. So, perhaps Cook isn’t the favorite here, but there should be some interest in kicking his tires in Dallas.

Best offensive player at each position in the NFC East - Blogging The Boys
QB - Dak Prescott, Cowboys. In a neck and neck race, the Cowboys two-time Pro Bowl player slightly edges out Jalen Hurts as the best QB in the NFC East. He may be coming off a down year by throwing 15 INT’s, but he remains the most consistent and longest tenured QB in the division.

Why the New York Giants could regress in 2023 - Big Blue View
Barnwell adds simply that the Giants “won in unsustainable ways” last season and that incremental improvements might not be enough to offset expected regression to the mean in many categories. In this case, I have a hard time poking holes in most of Barnwell’s arguments. We will just have to see if he ends up being right, or if the 2023 Giants can be an exception to the rule.

The 5 O’Clock Club: Let’s eliminate the NFL draft! - Hogs Haven
Dave Mangels of Bleeding Green Nation recently published an article in which he exhorted the NFL to “introduce a little anarchy” but introducing some huge changes to the way the league carries on its business. Honestly, I hated his first two suggestions. His third suggestion of a developmental league is one that I think most fans would agree with, but which has proven an elusive project for the NFL to date. I perked up when I got to Mangel’s last idea, which is to do away with the annual Player Selection Meeting, more commonly known as the Draft. I’ve been a proponent of this for many years, but I have never really spent the time to think through the implications very well. Mangels, on the other hand, laid out his reasoning pretty clearly and concisely.

Jets release Will Parks - PFT
Parks joined the Jets as a waiver claim in December 2021. He had nine tackles in three games that season and 17 tackles in 14 appearances during the 2022 season. Parks entered the league as a 2016 Broncos sixth-round pick and played 66 games for Denver before moving on to short stints with the Eagles and Dolphins.

The Vikings sticking with Kirk Cousins during ‘competitive rebuild’ is so risky - SB Nation
The reason a competitive rebuild is so risky is because of how much value is put in having a good QB. If you don’t have one of the top guys, you either have to trade for one, or draft one with a high pick. The literal arms race for a top signal caller forces teams that are in the middle of the pack to make a decision with their team. You either have to go get one of the top guys (a la the New York Jets trading for Aaron Rodgers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trading for Tom Brady, the Cleveland Browns trading for Deshaun Watson), or you go into rebuild mode and draft a QB with a top pick (Rams trading up for Jared Goff). There are very few teams who can pull off being competitive while also rebuilding and retooling their roster.

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The QB talked about how the team will find their new identity during training camp, but OTAs were a good place to get the guys together and meet everyone.

Just before the end of Eagles’ OTAs, quarterback Jalen Hurts spent a little time with reporters to talk about the offseason so far, what he learned last season, and how Quez Watkins looks this spring. He emphasized that the 2023 team is a whole new group, so they’re starting over and taking things day-by-day.

Hurts mentioned that once they come back for training camp they’ll start figuring out what this team’s identity is, it’s something they’ll have to develop, but the focus right now is everybody going home, making smart decisions, and coming back ready to work. He also noted that there will be an opportunity to get together with the wide receivers and throw the ball over the next several weeks.

Here’s what the QB had to say:

On OTAs and roster changes

“I think it was really good to get everybody together, meet the new guys, and kind of start from ground one again.”

Hurts talked about how every offseason he restarts his mindset, something he remembers specifically doing at Oklahoma. He noted that nothing done prior will get them to where they need to be now, while acknowledging that there were a ton of experiences that they can and will learn from.

“It’s the truth. Every team has their opportunity to go do something special, and this is a whole entire new team, and that’s something we’re all embracing. It’s something I’ve embraced, and it takes a special type of discipline and work to achieve what you want to achieve. You have to completely reset that, but also allow the things you’ve experienced to fuel you, fuel that fire, and grow.”

The QB later spoke about using the fuel from how last season ended moving forward, and acknowledged that he’ll use everything, but it doesn’t really take much to fuel or motivate him.

Hurts was also asked which of the offseason moves stood out to him, and after a pause, quipped that Jason Kelce coming back was something that stood out.

On what he learned personally from last season

“It’s everything that I’ve always known about myself. It’s just a matter of staying diligent. Stay diligent, embrace everything that comes with it. You know, the road is not always pretty, it’s not always what you think it would be, but embrace the different things that’ll come along that journey. I always say that there is no arrival, there’s only the journey.

And I use so many different things to fuel me, to keep going, and that’s all I ever want to do. That’s all I want to be. Just be the best player I can be. Be the best teammate I can be. And it takes a lot constructive criticism, self-criticism, and also self-awareness of knowing who you are and where you are and how far you’ve come.”

On Quez Watkins

“He’s been doing a really good job. He’s been playing a number of different positions, and he’s been doing a really good job at them. So, Quez is a guy that I came in with, I worked out with him before we both got drafted here, we tore it up on scout team our rookie year, and I have all the trust in him, and he’s hungry. He’s hungry and he’s used everything as fuel and I’m glad he’s taken that approach, and I’m excited to see the show he puts on this year.”

On his relationship with Brian Johnson

“He’s someone that’s always been around in my life. Always been someone that’s been a family friend, and me watching him play growing up, and kind of seeing how the things have kind of shaken out — him being a quarterback coach for two years and now being offensive coordinator — I think it’s going to be good for us, and I think that could definitely be a benefit for us, with the relationship that we have.”

Other notables

• Hurts didn’t say much about his plans for the next several weeks up until training camp, other than he will follow his gut and make sure he comes to work conditioned and prepared so he can get things rolling.
• The QB also didn’t say much about earning his Master’s Degree this spring, saying that it was something he started and wanted to finish, and that, “doesn’t necessarily needs everybody’s involvement.”
• He also said that his plan is to identify his weaknesses and turn them into strengths, and pre-empted a follow-up question by saying that his weaknesses are something “for me to know.” Hurts elaborated, saying he evaluates the season and looks at what he did a high level, and what things didn’t meet his standard.

Observations from Philadelphia’s final spring workout.

The Philadelphia Eagles held their final OTA practice — the second of two spring sessions open to media members — on Thursday afternoon and I watched the action unfold inside the bubble at the NovaCare Complex. Let’s get to some observations!

• DISCLAIMER: Before we get started, please remember that the Eagles don’t permit videos/photography after warmups and position drills. So, that’s why you’re not seeing any team drill highlights.
• ATTENDANCE UPDATES: A number of key players were missing from practice. It bears repeating that OTAs are voluntary, so it’s not the biggest deal that they were absent. A.J. Brown attended last week’s practice but wasn’t there today. DeVonta Smith was back after not being around last Thursday.
• INJURY UPDATES: Still no practice for Avonte Maddox, who watched from the sideline. Marlon Tuipulotu was able to participate to some extent after being limited to rehab work last week. Derek Barnett (be honest, did you remember he’s still on the team?) was at practice but did not participate. Still making his way back from his 2022 Week 1 ACL injury.
• JALEN HURTS UPDATE: This wasn’t the best Hurts practice I’ve ever seen. He got picked off twice by two unheralded players (Christian Elliss and undrafted rookie free agent Mekhi Garner) and had another deep shot down the left sideline knocked down. He also had a short target to Greg Ward Jr. broken up by 2022 UDFA signing Mario Goodrich. Hurts slightly overthrew Quez Watkins on another downfield throw. On the bright side, Hurts did have some good connections with DeVonta Smith. It’s impossible to get too troubled by a single OTA practice after what we saw Hurts accomplish last season. But I will say I thought he performed better in OTAs last year than he did in the two practices I watched this year. I expect him to be sharper in training camp.
• If you missed last week’s notes, I wrote the following about Christian Elliss:

The other memorable Mariota moment was when he threw a pass over the middle that didn’t get high enough to not be intercepted nicely by Christian Elliss. Nice play. I’ve mentioned on a couple BGN Radio podcasts that I believe Elliss might have the largest delta on the roster. He could conceivably not even make the roster ... or he could potentially steal a starting off-ball linebacker spot. The most likely outcome, of course, is that he falls between those two options. But I feel like Elliss has more of a chance to play meaningful snaps than most would think. He showed some juice in an incredibly small sample size last year. At the very least, he should be a good special teams contributor. Interesting under-the-radar candidate to monitor.

I bring this up because Elliss stood out again on Thursday. The 24-year-old took first team reps next to Nakobe Dean (not sure if Nicholas Morrow was around) and did his part to flash. Elliss broke up a short Hurts target intended for Jack Stoll and then intercepted Hurts in the middle of the field for a pick six. Elliss displaying athleticism to hang in coverage and instinctual play-making ability is certainly a positive development for the team. He continues to build a case for getting snaps on defense. Pairing the 6’3”, 231-pound Elliss with the 5’11, 231-pound Nakobe Dean could be ideal as opposed to having the 6’0”, 216-pound Morrow next to him instead. Dean and Morrow would make for a relatively small linebacker corps.

• It would’ve been ideal to see Dean flash more than he has to this point. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for him to do that much in training camp and the preseason games. But if it’s another quiet summer for him, that would be disappointing.
• Terrell Edmunds has a reputation for being a solid but unspectacular safety. The veteran safety did make a splash play today by knocking down a Hurts pass to Olamide Zaccheaus to prevent a 40-yard touchdown. I think some might be sleeping on Edmunds; I don’t think he’ll be so easily displaced by Sydney Brown. I’m expecting Edmunds and Reed Blankenship to be the Eagles’ starting safeties this season ... with Brown potentially playing some rotational snaps.
• DeVonta Smith: Still very good. He ran crisp routes and regularly got open at various levels of the field. He fooled UDFA cornerback Eli Ricks on a double move for an easy touchdown at one point.
• This is an especially anecdotal observation but I feel like Marcus Mariota doesn’t have great zip on his throws. Mariota didn’t do much that was noteworthy; the only thing I wrote down was when he overthrew Kenneth Gainwell in the flat.
• Tanner McKee seems to process the field well for a Day 3 rookie. He doesn’t look rattled back there. Nor should he in a 7-on-7 setting ... but that much can’t always be taken for granted. The same couldn’t be said about Carson Strong last year, for example.
• UDFA CB Mekhi Garner notching an interception on Hurts was nice but he got reprimanded by the coaching staff for punting the ball after making the play (obviously would be a penalty in a real game). Offensive players didn’t like that, either.
• Dan Arnold popped once again with a difficult leaping catch. It helped that he was being covered by Kyron Johnson, who is taking reps at off-ball linebacker as opposed to being an edge rusher.
• Adding my own commentary regarding Nick Sirianni’s pre-practice press conference where he hyped up Quez Watkins: it seems like he thinks Quez is a player who stands to benefit from being talked up. By contrast, other players might respond better to being challenged. While I believe the Eagles genuinely like Quez more than most fans do, it’s also true that Sirianni’s comments do nothing to harm Watkins’ trade value.

UP NEXT: Summer vacation! Eagles players and coaches are off until training camp begins in late July. We’ll still have daily coverage of the Birds in the meantime here at Bleeding Green Nation.

The head coach spoke to reporters ahead of the team’s final spring practice and talked about what he’s seen from young players and certain position groups.

As the Eagles head into their final OTA practice, head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters and discussed what he’s seen from players so far this spring, why he’s excited about the depth of the running back group, and how Jalen Hurts continues to improve.

Sirianni said that his message to rookies is the same as his message to everyone heading into the break, which is that he wants them to come back for training camp in great shape and to make sure they’re doing the right things off the field.

Here’s what else the head coach had to say:

On what’s impressed him during OTAs

“You see the fundamentals continuing to grow, and that’s from the guys that just got here, right — the fundamentals of what we’re trying to look like —, but then, just how much better too that the guys that have been here are with their fundamentals, and that they just keep getting better. That’s just our message, and that’s just what we strive to do, is just to get better everyday, and you’re really seeing that.”

Sirianni went on to say that the fundamentals are improving so much because of the hard work the players are putting in, combined with the amount of time they’re putting into it with the individual phases of OTAs.

On players who have stood out

“A lot of guys are standing out to me. I really have no problem singling one guy out that I think has just done a phenomenal job this offseason, is Quez Watkins.”

Sirianni went on to say that while no one in the building has doubted Watkins, he gets the sense that the WR is eager to silence some of the outside doubters. He’s attacked every day and every practice with that kind of attitude. The head coach said Watkins looks really good, and they know he has a lot of talent, and Sirianni is excited about that and about how the WR has taken care of business.

The head coach was also asked about rookies Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith and how they’ve acclimated this spring.

“I think you just see their athletic ability in the drill work. We’re doing a lot of 7-on-7, not team drills, but they’re getting a lot of individual work, and so you’re seeing the things that we saw obviously on tape of what they do well, and the power, their athletic ability, their personalities. You’re seeing that every day in drills, and so it’s not the same type of measuring stick that you get from maybe a skill guy who’s getting some team periods with the 7-on-7, but you’re seeing the development.”

On Jalen Hurts

“Jalen may be the most coachable person I’ve ever been around in my life. I mean, he’s just always looking to get better.

Now, that’s our job as coaches to make we’re feeding him good information. He’s so coachable, he just keeps getting better, and he keeps getting better, and he keeps getting better. So I do, I see another jump in everything that he’s done with accuracy, with the decision making.”

Sirianni acknowledged that they’re only doing 7-on-7’s right now, so there’s no pass rush to challenge the QB, but he is still developing all the time.

On the RB group

Sirianni was once again sure to point out that Trey Sermon is among the long list of talented backs on the team, and said Kenny Brooks is doing a nice job, in addition to D’Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Kenny Gainwell, and Boston Scott.

“We got a really deep room there, and you’re excited about the competition that we’re gonna have there.”

He noted that running backs get a little more chance to shine when they’re finally in pads, but so far, Gainwell and Swift have a done a nice job in the receiving area. Sirianni said that some of those competitions sort themselves out when the pads come on.

“It’s all gonna be great battles to who makes this football team, and they’re all going to be able to contribute in some sort of way.”

Other notables

• On Philly being a potential interest for free agent DeAndre Hopkins, Sirianni said that he and Howie Roseman are always looking for opportunities to make the team better, but the head coach is really happy with the wide receiver group they have in place.

“Never know what’s gonna happen, but I really like that room. I’m really pleased with that room.”

• Thursday’s practice had to move indoors due to the local air quality, but Sirianni said that they make the move during the season for various reasons, so it’s not new to them. Although, the head coach noted that even if it was new to them, it’s the NFL and you have to be able to adapt and handle adjustments.

“First and foremost, it’s always, always, always, always about our players’ health. We’re always going to put their health first.”

• Sirianni was glad to hear that Nicholas Morrow said he learned more about situational football in his six weeks in Philly than in the previous six years of his career. The head coach said they emphasize situations every practice, and he wants players to feel equipped to handle anything that comes at them in a game. Football IQ is one of the team’s core values, and that means coaching and teaching smart football.

One last look at the Birds prior to training camp.

One week after holding their first media-attended OTA practice, the Philadelphia Eagles are already hosting their second and final session on Thursday afternoon. It’s the last time we’ll get to see the Birds in action until training camp begins in late July.

As previously noted, the Eagles will be practicing indoors due to poor air quality. Practice action will be even more limited than usual since the team’s bubble facility is not nearly as big as their outdoor field space. We still might see some 7-on-7, though.

We’ll hear from Nick Sirianni prior to practice around 12:00 PM and then Jalen Hurts in his post-practice press conference.

We’ll be tracking all of this and more for you here at Bleeding Green Nation. Following today’s OTA session, we’ll be writing up practice notes and an accompanying BGN Radio podcast.

Use the list below to stay updated with the latest news and such. You can also follow me directly on Twitter: @BrandonGowton.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/8/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Ranking NFL roster cores: Stacking all 32 teams’ top five players - ESPN+
3. Philadelphia Eagles. Roster core: QB Jalen Hurts, WR A.J. Brown, OT Lane Johnson, OLB Haason Reddick, CB Darius Slay. Average core age: 28.8. The Eagles’ elite core checks every positional value box, with high-end players at quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher and corner. And in reality, this exercise undersells the strength of the Eagles as a whole, because there are very talented players left off the list, including cornerback James Bradberry, receiver DeVonta Smith and center Jason Kelce. But even just looking at the five above, it’s easy to see why the Eagles are favorites to win the NFC again.

Eagles move final OTA practice inside - BGN
There’s been a slight adjustment to the Philadelphia Eagles’ final (and second media-attended) OTA practice. Instead of practicing outdoors on the NovaCare Complex fields as they normally would, the Birds will be in their practice bubble (as seen in the feature picture for this article). For those unaware, the change in plans is related to the very poor air quality in Philadelphia as a result of Canada’s wildfires.

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: QB Tanner McKee - PhillyVoice
If you watch McKee’s highlight reel above, you can see what Zierlein is talking about with his “unorthodox delivery.” It actually reminds me quite a bit of former Panthers, Saints, Giants, Raiders, Titans, Colts, and Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins.

One pressing question for every new NFL defensive play-caller in 2023 - The Athletic
Philadelphia Eagles: Sean Desai. Can he ensure continued dominance despite a learning curve? Desai has big shoes to fill because Jonathan Gannon directed one of the most dominant defenses the league has seen in years. However, it’s unrealistic to expect the Eagles to avoid a statistical regression this season. For one, they’re learning a new defense and a new language, so initially, they won’t be able to play as fast. Second, many of the Eagles’ top remaining stars are over 30, so physical decline is likely. Philly also lost some key contributors to free agency. General manager Howie Roseman appears to have had another smart draft, so young players will eventually take over important roles, but they too will endure some growing pains.

Gainwell embracing what might be best battle in training camp - NBCSP
Gainwell, 24, was seemingly in line to be the Eagles’ RB1 after Sanders left in free agency but then the Birds brought in a couple of veterans. Still, Gainwell is expecting a big role in Year 3 of his career. And he’s excited to carve out that role in training camp. “I’m expecting a very high role,” Gainwell said. “I’m just going to continue to improve my game, stay on top of everything that I have done. But I’m expecting a high role this year.” In his second NFL season, Gainwell had 53 carries for 240 yards and 4 touchdowns as well as 23 catches for 169 yards in the regular season. But in the playoffs, Playoff Kenny was born. In three games in the postseason, Gainwell had 236 scrimmage yards in three games. After averaging 24 scrimmage yards per game in the regular season, that average ballooned to 78.7 in the playoffs. There’s a thought that Gainwell might be able to carry over some of that momentum into the 2023 season. He hopes so too. What was the key to Gainwell’s postseason success? “I felt like Coach Nick (Sirianni) trusted me,” Gainwell said. “He gave me an opportunity to go out and I took very advantage of that opportunity.”

2023 Eagles Playground Build - PE.com
The entire Eagles organization – from front office staff to coaches and players – transformed the Henry W. Lawton School in Northeast Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 7.

Poor air quality has teams in Northeast canceling practice or moving indoors - PFT
The Commanders, Eagles and Jets all plan to have their practices inside their facilities rather than on their outdoor practice fields because of the air quality. Air quality measurements in much of the country are among the worst ever recorded, although forecasts indicate that conditions should improve in the coming days.

The new Cowboys offense has officially been given a nickname from the quarterbacks - Blogging The Boys
As the new play-caller for the Cowboys it makes sense that we would see a little bit more of this type of action and/or aerial attack, and with the team practicing lately they have been implementing it. Quarterback Dak Prescott spoke on Wednesday and mentioned that the team has come up with a nickname of sorts for their offense, one that makes sense with their own geographic area but incorporates the principles that their system was born from - Texas Coast.

Philosoraptor’s Corner: Can the Giants afford to pay Saquon Barkley? - Big Blue View
Because as good a player as Barkley is, they probably don’t need to extend him. The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing pretty good without Bell. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl after parting ways with Kareem Hunt. They played the San Francisco 49ers who let Carlos Hyde walk in 2017 rather than pay him a big contract. None of this is to say that not paying a running back is a recipe for success, just that there’s life after parting ways with star runners. And as we’ve seen elsewhere, big paydays for running backs hasn’t been working out for teams either. Perhaps the most cold-bloodedly “Patriots” (considering the Giants’ new ties with New England) course of action is to let Barkley recover from his torn ACL, rebuild his value in 2021 and move him in a trade. After all, that would likely net more than the third round compensatory pick the Giants might get for letting him walk and leave his second contract be another team’s to figure out

The 5 O’Clock Club: 5 Commanders players (not named Howell) under the most pressure to perform in 2023 - Hogs Haven
Nothing has really gone to plan since the end of Young’s rookie season. He started off his sophomore campaign by skipping voluntary workouts, and his season got off to a sluggish start with 1.5 sacks in 8 games. An horrific knee injury mid-season took the focus off of his lack of production and put it squarely on his health. In this age of almost routine speedy returns from knee injuries, Young’s relatively slow return from injury (his first game back was Week 16 of 2022) frustrated and puzzled many fans. Clearly the injury deeply affected the player and his game. His lack of burst and confidence in the final 3 games of 2022 left fans with the impression of a tentative player still affected both mentally and physically by the injury. Everyone understood that Chase had been re-habbing in the 2022 offseason, but when he wasn’t at Washington’s 2023 voluntary OTAs recently, a lot of fans wondered whether he understood the optics of being a professional, a team leader, and a supposed league superstar. For Chase Young, 2023 is not about next season’s roster position or his paycheck. It’s not even about his next contract. For Chase Young, 2023 is about his legacy. He may not be able to cement his ‘generational talent’ legacy with one good season, but he can certainly lose it forever with another bad one.

Inside the ambitious idea for AAU football with Prep Super League founder Brian Woods - SB Nation
Prep Super League founder Brian Woods is no stranger to ambitious plans. Woods is formerly the president of the USFL, and his next major project is a super league for elite high school football players, independent of state high school athletic associations. The Prep Super League is intended to be somewhat like an AAU program for 11-on-11 football, with 12 teams in major markets across the country, from Los Angeles to Miami. The six-week season would be streamed for people to watch and follow along closely, with development and growing each individual players’ brand at the forefront of the league. The league would operate with NCAA rules and could supplement the 7-on-7 and prospect camps players go to now. SB Nation spoke with Woods about the Prep Super League, and what their plans are when it comes to player safety, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and streaming plans.

Philly Dominated the 2023 James Beard Awards - Eater
At a red-carpet ceremony in Chicago last night, a whopping three chefs and restaurants from Philly won James Beard Awards, considered one of the food industry’s highest honors, akin to the Oscars. It’s more than any other city scored — Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and host city Chicago had two winners each, while New York City, where the awards originated, only had one winner in its own statewide category. Philly nabbed two of the hotly contested national categories: Chad Williams’ tasting-menu darling, Friday Saturday Sunday, was named outstanding restaurant, while Ellen Yin of High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, High Street Philly, etc.) took home outstanding restaurateur. On a regional level, Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon won best chef, Mid-Atlantic for Kalaya (which was Eater’s 2019 Restaurant of the Year, now at a huge new location in Fishtown).

Why is eastern Canada on fire — and when will the smoke clear? - Vox
East Coasters finally understand what it’s like to live in California. Earlier this week, a giant cloud of wildfire smoke from Canada wafted into New York City, Boston, and other eastern metropolises, engulfing skylines and putting millions of people at risk from air pollution. On Tuesday evening, Wednesday, and Thursday morning, NYC had the worst air quality of any major city in the world.

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Thanks for nothing, Canada.

There’s been a slight adjustment to the Philadelphia Eagles’ final (and second media-attended) OTA practice.

Instead of practicing outdoors on the NovaCare Complex fields as they normally would, the Birds will be in their practice bubble (as seen in the feature picture for this article).

For those unaware, the change in plans is related to the very poor air quality in Philadelphia as a result of Canada’s wildfires. Here’s a look at just how bad it is as of me writing this article:

258 is described as “very unhealthy.” I can personally attest to it being difficult to breathe. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’ve felt generally unwell this week. Being indoors certainly feels better than being outside but it’s still not ideal. The New York Giants cancelled their today’s OTA practice entirely.

Getting back to the Eagles ... why does it matter to you that they’re moving inside? Well, their indoor practices are typically less eventful than their outdoor sessions since there’s much less room to operate. So, keep that in mind as it relates to today’s practice notes and BGN Radio recap podcast.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/7/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown take batting practice with the Phillies - Inquirer
A.J. Brown isn’t about to quit his day job, but the Eagles star wide receiver flashed his power in a guest batting practice session. Brown and Jalen Hurts dropped by Citizens Bank Park to take a few hacks, drawing an audience of Phillies players, including Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. The righty-swinging Brown, drafted out of high school by the Padres in 2016, took coach Bobby Dickerson deep to left field. Even Schwarber, reigning NL home-run king, was impressed. “He’s a strong guy,” Schwarber said upon walking back into the clubhouse. Said Thomson: “He’d be my four-hole hitter. Jalen would lead off.”

Eagles All-22 Film Review: What to make of Jordan Davis - BGN
I think that to be completely honest, Jordan Davis underachieved based on those expectations. I think we saw that he was a very good run defender on early downs, but he never jumped to the level of an elite run defender last year. Maybe I expected too much, as I did point out that he wasn’t the finished product, because I think he was a good starting nose tackle but didn’t perform to the heights I expected. I projected that he could one day play on 3rd down, but he certainly isn’t at that level yet. However, I did not expect this to be in year one so I am not worrying about that aspect yet.

NFC East Mixtape Vol.115: The Bearish Episode - BGN Radio
RJ Ochoa and Brandon Lee Gowton discussed reasons to be negative when looking at every team in the division going into the 2023 NFL season.

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: CB Kelee Ringo - PhillyVoice
We’ll see in time if Ringo’s ambiguous “makeup questions” ever amount to anything, but as a player the tools are certainly there, and the Eagles will have plenty of time to groom him for an eventual starting role behind Darius Slay and James Bradberry. The player Ringo reminds me of is the Buccaneers’ Jamel Dean, who like Ringo was a height/weight speed freak who played in the SEC at Auburn.

Hurts Talk - Iggles Blitz
I think Hurts will improve. QB is one of the positions where experience is absolutely crucial. Playing well is as much mental as physical. Hurts will have another year in the offensive system and that will help him to understand it even better. He can study game tape from last year and see how defenses tried to stop the Eagles passing game. The 2021 passing game wasn’t that good so the tape wasn’t as useful. The game slows down for veteran QBs. They see things quicker and are able to process information quicker. That helps them to make good decisions and get the ball out faster. Hurts has 34 starts and 4 playoff starts under his belt. That experience should help him to take the next step and play even better. He also will have another year of experience with DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown and Dallas Goedert. They should have improved chemistry, which will make them even more effective. I don’t think Hurts will make a dramatic jump this season. He played at a high level last year so that would make it hard to make a big leap.

DeVonta Smith is quite simply ‘one of the best in the game’ - PE.com
It is all very much a sense of purpose for DeVonta Smith and what he has mapped out for his third Eagles season: There is always room for improvement. He has a vision for greatness and he plans to reach those lofty heights. “Better routes, catch every pass thrown my way,” Smith said. “That’s what I’m looking to do. I can always get better and that’s what I’m working toward.” He’s still the same Smitty – mature beyond his years, laser-focused on the task at hand, and popular with his teammates for a sense of humor and mirth that he doesn’t show to the media. Smith has been on the path he planned – the exception the loss in Super Bowl LVII – and there is more growth ahead. After establishing a franchise record for receiving yards as a rookie (916 yards), Smith went to a new level in 2022, teaming with A.J. Brown to form a devastating pass-catching duo at wide receiver. Smith set an Eagles record for wide receivers with 95 receptions and his 1,196 yards, along with Brown’s 1,496, gave the Eagles their first wide receiver pair to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He is an elite receiver and that’s just a fact.

Johnson feeling good as he enters late career push - NBCSP
Lane Johnson this offseason got a nice little pay bump in the form of an extension that will keep him under contract with the Eagles through the 2026 season. He’ll be nearly 37 years old by then. So it seems very possible, likely even, that this will be Johnson’s final contract in the NFL. “Yeah, hopefully,” Johnson said with a smile on Tuesday. “Thirty-seven, that would be pretty old. Then again, [Jason Peters] is 41, so always chasing (him). I’m super fortunate to be where I’m at.” For now, Johnson is 33 and entering his 11th season in the NFL. The No. 4 overall pick from the 2013 draft has had a long and successful NFL career in Philadelphia and he’s somehow still getting better. In 2022, Johnson played as well as he ever has. He made his second All-Pro team and was a brick wall for the Eagles during their playoff run despite a torn adductor that needed surgery. He again didn’t allow a sack all season; he hasn’t given one up since 2020, according to ProFootballFocus.

The Cowboys should sign these free agents after their Monday tryout - Blogging The Boys
This isn’t the first time advocating for the Cowboys to add N’Keal Harry to the team. Harry was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2019, and came nowhere close to meeting expectations with the team. But Harry missed the first half of his rookie year with an injury, which meant his first full season in the NFL came in the first year without Tom Brady in Foxborough. That didn’t even go well for Bill Belichick, so it’s no surprise it didn’t go well for Harry. Last year, Harry was with the Bears but once again missed the start of the season with an injury. By the time he made his season debut, Chicago was operating such a run-heavy offense that there were hardly any opportunities for Harry to show what he could do. Harry was a stud in college, though, which is why he went in the first round. He was a contested catch king with shades of Dez Bryant to his game. He’s also been one of the best run-blocking receivers in the NFL over his brief career thus far, a role that just so happens to have been vacated in Dallas by Noah Brown. Harry comes cheap right now, but he has talent waiting to be tapped. At the worst, he’s just a camp body; but Harry could turn into a valuable move piece as the fourth receiver in Dallas if he can build a rapport with Dak Prescott.

Mark Glowinski is the veteran on Giants’ young offensive line - Big Blue View
At this point, Glowinski is what he is. He’ll probably never make a Pro Bowl, but he’s a decent guard that can play at a league-average level on his best days. Probably the best thing he can do in 2023 is be unnoticeable; more eyes will be on how Evan Neal fares next to him at right tackle. The question is whether Glowinski’s level of play is enough for the Giants to justify keeping him beyond this year. His contract keeps him in New York through 2024, but the guaranteed money runs out this year. The team would save $7.2 million against the cap by cutting Glowinski following this season. That decision will probably depend less on Glowinski and more on how the Giants’ other linemen develop. If a younger player like Joshua Ezeudu or Marcus McKethan can turn into a starting guard while still on their rookie contract, Glowinski’s services will suddenly seem much less necessary.

What a successful season could look like for Eric Bieniemy - Hogs Haven
“Eric Bieniemy is leaving the shadow of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. He didn’t get a head coaching job after interviewing for countless jobs; only one team in the league was willing to give him a job as offensive coordinator, and it was Washington. So, to me, this is the year of Eric Bieniemy in terms of the coaches. He’s got to do one of two things. He’s got to develop Sam Howell to the point where, even if they go 7-10 or 6-11 at the end of the year, we saw this progress with Sam Howell where it’s like, “Wow, Eric Bieniemy did an incredible job with a first-year starting quarterback, and this guy looks like a starting quarterback in the future.” Or, he realizes it’s not going to be Sam Howell, and with Jacoby Brissett and a bunch of really good playmakers and hopefully an improved offensive line, better scheme, and fit, the offense takes a big jump and is a contributor to a winning season.”

The Jaguars new stadium looks like the USS Enterprise and a sex toy had a baby - SB Nation
The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to boldly go where no team has gone before with renderings of their proposed new stadium.

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Before we truly get into the depths of the off-season, it’s time to review the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2022 NFL Draft class. I won’t review anyone unless they played enough snaps (so this will be a very short series!), and I did break down each pick’s college film, so I will use that as the basis for breaking down their film. First up is Jordan Davis. Here is my college review of Jordan Davis. I am going to summarize what I said about Jordan Davis last year and decide whether he outperformed expectations or underwhelmed, as well as some general thoughts about him, and what to expect from him moving forward.

Stats

Nothing too shocking from the Pro Football Focus numbers. There’s nothing too elite, but I wouldn’t worry too much about the run defense numbers in particular. Nose tackles are never going to have fantastic numbers and Davis probably won’t see a statistical uptick until he starts playing in more 4-man fronts and getting some more pass-rushing opportunities.

Strengths

This is what I said were Jordan Davis’ strengths from the college film review. Underneath each strength, I have highlighted a play or two from this year that showcase his ability to still do this at the next level. I will do the same for the weaknesses.

+ Impressive lateral movement and range for a big DT, can shut down outside runs. He is a big-time run defender.

+ Quick feet, moves like a man a lot lighter. The athleticism is out of this world for someone his size.

+ Simply enormous frame and strong anchor.

+ Has real power and will drive linemen back into the quarterback, especially in the rare instance he is not double-teamed.

+ Can ‘stack and shed’ offensive linemen and make them look silly at times. Can throw offensive lineman out of his way with insane strength

+ Does he ever miss a tackle? When he gets his hands on you, it seems to be over.

+ Has an absurd ability to shoot through gaps when not asked to 2gap considering his size.

Weaknesses

Jordan Davis was a fantastic player in college, but he absolutely had some weaknesses that we all knew about.

- His biggest weakness is conditioning and whether he can handle more snaps. We all know by now he only played 38% of the snaps last season and we obviously need him to play more.

He only played 364 snaps in 16 games this year (an average of 23 a game) and he didn’t look good down the stretch last year, was this injury related, or is this the impact of a long season having an impact?

- Limited pass rush moves, didn’t get the chance to see him ignore responsibilities and get after the quarterback on 3rd down.

- Doesn’t get as much of a consistent interior push as you would expect from a man his size. Plays high and loses the leverage battle at times.

- I would also add another weakness after this year... he plays high too often in the run game and can get stonewalled at times one-on-one. This was an issue down the stretch after his injury in particular. Your nose tackle pretty much has to take up two offensive linemen or you expect him to win in the run game.

Overall

This is what I finished up by saying about Jordan Davis last year.

I think Davis is going to walk into the NFL as a very good starter on early downs. I don’t think it will take too long before Davis is seen as an elite early down run defender. He isn’t the finished project and does need some coaching but the talent jumps out on film and you clearly see elite traits from him, in terms of the quickness and power of a man that size.

In terms of projecting him moving forward, I do think he will have the chance to play on 3rd down as he progresses throughout his career. I think he will have the strength and quickness to take on offensive guards and I think teams will instantly want to double-team him which will help free up the other defensive tackles and give the EDGE defenders one on ones on the outside.

I think that to be completely honest, Jordan Davis underachieved based on those expectations. I think we saw that he was a very good run defender on early downs, but he never jumped to the level of an elite run defender last year. Maybe I expected too much, as I did point out that he wasn’t the finished product, because I think he was a good starting nose tackle but didn’t perform to the heights I expected. I projected that he could one day play on 3rd down, but he certainly isn’t at that level yet. However, I did not expect this to be in year one so I am not worrying about that aspect yet.

Judging Jordan Davis’ first year is really tricky because I think we saw a far better player before his Week 8 injury. Davis missed 4 games and I don’t think he ever looked the same when coming back, and he struggled to even win his starting job back from Linval Joseph. It is easy to forget that on the biggest stage of them all, the Super Bowl, Davis only played 10 snaps when the Eagles simply could not stop the Chiefs' running game. To be blunt: Davis just didn’t look very good down the stretch of last season.

I think Jordan Davis was on his way to becoming an outstanding early down-run defender before his injury. I do think the injury is a slight worry, considering the size of Davis, and the fact that his conditioning in college was an issue. But as long as the injury doesn’t impact him over the long term, we should see a better Jordan Davis in the future.

I have pretty much zero doubts about Davis developing into the elite-run defender we saw at times last year. There are 2 things I am really looking out for from Jordan Davis next year, which he needs to achieve to take his game to the next level.

1. The ability to play as a 1-tech in a 4-down front more, and not just as a nose in a 5-man front.
2. The ability to get more pressure on the quarterback.

If Davis can achieve both of those goals, he should become an outstanding overall player. If he only ever achieves the 1st one, a top run-stuffing tackle is still a huge part of a defense. I would love to see Jordan Davis add some pass rush to his game, and I really hope we see that part of his game develop over the course of the next season. My concerns with Davis are largely around injuries and conditioning, and I am still very optimistic that he develops into the player I thought he would become.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/6/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

‘Madden NFL 24’ cover reveal: Five players who deserve consideration - NFL.com
1) Jalen Hurts. Surely it can’t be Patrick Mahomes again, right?! The reigning AP Most Valuable Player has been chosen twice in the last four years. EA Sports should instead consider turning to Hurts, the quarterback who finished second to Mahomes in both Super Bowl LVII and MVP voting and has the talent to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes for years to come. Not only did Hurts throw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions last season, but he also rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. He made a compelling case to become the face of this year’s game by putting up the video game-like numbers Madden players strive for.

4 insane ideas to change the NFL - BGN
Rather than reward bad teams with top prospects on “merit”, every team would have to earn the rookies they sign. But this wouldn’t cause the NFL to get top heavy with a handful of teams hoarding the best players like we are seeing with college football. Caleb Williams is not going to sign with the Chiefs or Bills, because he’s not going to get playing time there. But he might also not sign with, say, the Raiders or Texans because of the direction those franchises are going. Maybe instead he signs with the Lions, a good team in need of a long term solution at QB, or maybe he signs with his home town Commanders to kick off a rebuild under new ownership. Everyone would have a chance. That’s parity.

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: S Sydney Brown - PhillyVoice
I’ve seen a number of interesting comps for Brown, including the Cardinals’ Budda Baker and the 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga, but the player that he reminds me of is Donte Whitner, who formerly played for the Bills, 49ers, Browns, and Washington. Like Brown, Whitner was a short safety with some heft who displayed impressive speed, explosiveness, and strength at the Combine.

Desai and Duffy - Iggles Blitz
My only frustration with this is that Desai talks about how he wants his guys to play and tries to focus on that. Fair enough, but his description of defense fits all 32 teams in the league and every team in organized football. That’s as simple and generalized as you can get. I assume Nick Sirianni has told Desai there are 2 primary goals: come up with takeaways and limit explosive plays. Those were the goals under Jonathan Gannon, because those are Sirianni’s goals. Desai would be wise to talk about something like that, to give us a better sense of what he’s trying to accomplish. Saying “fast, physical, smart” isn’t going to cut it when you coach the Eagles. The fans are smart and there is too much media content out there. You’ve got to open up a bit. I did like Desai talking about how he’s got to have answers for his players. Gannon did a good job as the Eagles DC, unless he faced a top QB. He just didn’t have the answers for how to deal with them. That’s where Desai can prove his value. Beating Kirk Cousins is nice, but what are you going to do against Dak Prescott or Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes? This is where Desai’s time with a lot of good coaches can be a difference maker. He saw first hand how Vic Fangio put together gameplans for star QBs. He saw the adjustments that were made.

Is Jalen Hurts still too low on Chris Simms’ QB list? - NBCSP
While Simms praised Hurts for his decision-making, saying the Eagles’ QB seems to make the right decision on every play, he still doesn’t think Hurts is a finished product as a passer. “There’s more meat on the bone,” Simms said. “There’s still a lot of throws when you watch him, you go … he misses throws. Now, they’re so good, like we talked about with Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson and some of these other instances we’ve had, they’re so good that the next play they run for 15 up the middle or somebody else is open over the middle and he hits it and we forget about it. So there’s a little bit more room for error there. And I’m not saying it as a negative. That’s just the facts of the matter there. And, yeah, he took advantage of a lot of it. But, yes, there is another level here that he can go in that department.

5 takeaways from Sean Desai’s exclusive interview on the Eagle Eye in the Sky podcast - PE.com
4. Desai served under a litany of outstanding coaches in the NFL ranging from Mel Tucker and Vic Fangio and Chuck Pagano in Chicago to Pete Carroll with the Seahawks last season. Here’s what he learned from Fangio. “I would say first, in terms of NFL football experience, how to be a coach in the NFL is the biggest thing that he’s taught me. That was the biggest influence and then going down the list a little bit would be how to prepare for an NFL game week in and week out and how to make sure that you’re adaptable and flexible enough to suit the needs of your players while responding to offensive trends and needs,” Desai said. “You can never go into a game without having an answer. And you got to make sure that you get to your answer fast. You’ve played enough football and coached enough games, you have ups and downs. You stay poised with what you got and you trust your process and you rely on putting your players in the best position that they can handle and be in to execute at a high level. And it’s about that process, right? It wasn’t about the outcome. It was about the process and focusing on that detail to make sure that we’re playing good fundamental, sound, tough, physical football and that we’ve got the answers to put them in different spots and then create havoc and create confusion and create different things for an offense to prepare for.”

Five Games From the 2022 Season That Explain the Next Level of the NFL Scheme Wars - The Ringer
What it means for 2023: On this night, we watched a hobbled Mahomes burn down Philly’s elite but hardly complex defense while Hurts’s dynamic skill set laid waste to a well-thought-out defensive plan. This new batch of elite quarterbacks can throw, they can run, and they’re getting pretty damn good at the mental aspects of the position. Offensive coordinators lucky enough to work with one of these dynamic talents are bound only by their own imaginations. With defenses getting better at defending more complex concepts, schematic flexibility will become a necessity for a successful offense rather than a luxury. If defenses are going to keep pace, they’ll have to get more creative. Simply lining up in static two-high coverages isn’t as effective a solution as it may have been a year ago. Quarterbacks are already learning how to pick those defenses apart, and the dual-threat QBs don’t even need to put the ball in the air to do it. The 2022 season showed us that the only way to keep pace with the league’s increasingly creative offensive strategies is with equally creative defensive answers. This means more shrewdly designed coverage disguises, more simulated pressures, and even more game plans specifically tailored to stopping individual offenses. In that way, the NFL’s scheme war is becoming an arms race in which quantity is just as vital as quality.

LeSean McCoy Could Replace Shannon Sharpe As Skip Bayless’ Partner - Front Office Sports
LeSean McCoy is emerging as an early possible contender to succeed Shannon Sharpe as Skip Bayless’ debate partner on “Undisputed.” The former NFL star turned co-host of FS1’s “SPEAK” is expected to have an extended audition with the irascible Bayless once Sharpe takes his contractual buyout from Fox Sports, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports.

Can the Giants, Vikings continue their success in 2023? - ESPN
Red flag No. 2: Relying on wins in close games. Well, you knew this was coming. I like using a team’s record in games decided by seven points or less as the best measure of what they did in close games, but stretching it to eight points might do more justice to what the Giants and Vikings did a year ago. The Giants went 8-4-1 in games decided by eight or fewer, with their only win by more than eight points coming in a blowout victory over a tanking Colts team with Foles and Sam Ehlinger at quarterback in December. The Vikings, meanwhile, were without historical precedent. They became the first team in NFL history to go 11-0 in games decided by eight points or less. No team had ever gone 9-0 or 10-0 in those same contests, let alone making it all the way to 11. A surprising number of teams who post gaudy records in one-score games during the regular season then lose a close game in the playoffs, with the 2020 and 2021 Packers as recent examples. So of course, the Vikings proceeded to then lose by seven points to the Giants in the wild-card round. Teams that win all of their close games in a given year don’t keep that up the following season. If we go back through 1950 and look at the NFL franchises that played at least five games decided by eight points or less and went undefeated in those contests, they weren’t able to hold onto their mastery of the narrow margins. After going 110-0 in those close games, those teams went a combined 73-68-4 (.518) the following season. Convincing yourself you can win coinflips is a dangerous way to survive in the NFL.

Cowboys updates from Stephen Jones on DeAndre Hopkins and pending contract situations - Blogging The Boys
While the prospect of Hopkins joining the offense is a fun one to talk about, there is legitimate logic to the Cowboys passing, presuming Hopkins wants a sizable contract wherever he winds up. The salary cap can certainly be manipulated but it is a real thing that has to be accounted for (no pun intended). And the Cowboys have a handful of contractually-related things to address as well.

Leslie Frazier, ex-Bills DC, might join Giants’ coaching staff - Big Blue View
The New York Giants might be on the verge of making a huge addition to their defensive coaching staff. CBS Sports is reporting that Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills from 2017-2022, is in discussion with the Giants to join their staff. Frazier, though, has options. He is also reportedly being sought by the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders. Frazier, 64, was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from the middle of the 2010 season thru 2013.

Steelers sign Darius Hagans, Jarrid Williams - PFT
Williams spent time on the practice squads in Detroit and Philadelphia last year. He was undrafted out of Miami and also played at Houston during his time in college.

Hakeem Butler could be the cherry on the top of the Chase Claypool trade - Behind The Steel Curtain
The funny thought is what if Chase Claypool continues to struggle in Chicago, and somehow ends up having a less productive season than Hakeem Butler. Because that would be a huge amount of salt to pour into the wound from that trade. But even if Claypool bounces back and is a solid #2 receiver for the Bears and Hakeem Butler isn’t able to be more than a #4 receiver on the Steelers who plays few snaps and doesn’t produce much, the 2022 season showed Claypool had lost most of his value in the Steelers offense once he lost the #2 receiver spot to George Pickens.

Apple’s AR goggles are coming to change sports if anyone can afford them - SB Nation
Apple announced it’s entering the VR space with “Apple Vision Pro,” which was unveiled at WWDC on Monday. Little is known about how the headset will work in practice, outside of being the crispest, highest-fidelity set of goggles on the market.

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Introduce a little anarchy

We are in the slowest part of the NFL offseason. So why not throw around some absolutely crazy ideas that will never happen.

Re-align the league

College football is currently undergoing a seismic re-alignment as schools chase the money. Hope you enjoy the future UCLA-Minnesota rivalry and the burgeoning UCF-Cincinnati rivalry. Let’s get the NFL in on the action.

An NFL realignment wouldn’t be about money, it would be about entertainment. The league’s divisional and conference structure has been unchanged since the Texans entered the league in 2002. Rivalries have gotten a little stale since then. Eagles-Cowboys, one of the biggest rivalries in the sport, hasn’t been an actual big game in years, they’ve either played so early in the season to make the impact feel minimal, or later in the season key starters have been missing or rested.

For two seasons, eliminate divisions. The AFC and NFC would be two 16 team conferences, top 7 teams make the playoffs, no more teams with a losing record hosting a playoff game. They might still get in, but they’ll have to travel. For those two seasons everyone plays their former division rivals just once a year: at home in one season, on the road in the other. Only playing a team once rather than twice, would raise the stakes. No evening out a loss in the rematch, everything matters in that one game.

After this two year period the NFL can rearrange the league however it wants. Two divisions per conference? Why not. Or keep four divisions but swap entire divisions between conferences? Do it. Switch up some AFC and NFC teams? Sure.

We’d get used to a new alignment. The Seahawks have spent longer in the AFC than they did the NFC, and they had no problems developing new rivalries when they moved to the NFC West in 2002. We’ll get used to a Week 18 game between the Titans and Colts to determine who faces the Lions in the playoffs, or the Dolphins playing the Bucs to determine a division title.

Change the way the salary cap works

Every league with a salary cap has their own specific rules. Let’s borrow a few.

Part 1: Designated players

The NBA, NHL, and MLS have limits on how much of the salary cap a single player can earn, 25% for the NBA, 20% for the NHL, and 12.5% for MLS. The NFL has no such limit, at some point it could be ugly. Top QBs are not going to agree to not to get more than their peers did, so the end of this escalation is not going to come from the player’s side. The simplest and most realistic solution is an NBA-style max contract. 20% of the salary cap but fully guaranteed (for 2023 would be $45M guaranteed). But that’s not as much fun as we could get from fixing this potential issue.

Another way is a Designated Player-type of rule. In MLS, Designated Players can earn unlimited salary but count against the salary cap for only 12.5% of the cap. A similar structure in the NFL would allow QBs to get their money without hamstringing their team’s ability to surround them with talent, but we can still get the drama of protracted and contentious negotiations as players and teams disagree on how much the contract will be worth. Players get their money, everyone else gets their talking points.

Part 2: Allow cap space to be traded

This one isn’t that crazy, other sports essentially already do this. In the NHL a team trading away a player can retain up to half of the player’s contract. In MLS there is a pool of “money” (it’s not actually money) that teams can use to trade straight up for players or draft picks, or they can use it to reduce a player’s cap hit (but not their earnings). In the NBA you can straight up a draft pick for cash. Sending money in trades has happened for decades in the MLB and has happened in the NHL, Babe Ruth and Wayne Gretzky were both traded in deals that involved a monetary amount. We’ve already seen trades in the NFL where teams eat dead money in exchange for draft picks, most famously the Browns giving up a 4th to the Texans for Brock Osweiler, a 2nd, and a 7th. Osweiler never played a down for them, the Browns simply bought a 2nd round pick. More recently teams have restructured an outgoing player’s contract to take on a dead cap hit in order to get a good draft pick in return, such as the Bears trading Robert Quinn to the Eagles for a 4th rounder.

So let teams trade cap space for draft picks one for one. There will have to be some guardrails, as there are in other sports, in the NHL you can only retain salary on three trades, in the NBA there is a limit on the amount of cash you can trade for a pick, (this season it is $6.4M), the MLS pool of “allocation money” is also limited.

The challenge with this is deciding what a proper amount is, because in the NFL salary cap space rolls over from one year to the next, unlike other sports. You don’t want teams giving away 1st round picks because they can’t manage their cap, but you also want to encourage teams to use it.

Would the total cap space of the equivalent rookie contract be enough? The total value of a rookie contract for 2023 ranges from $38M for the #1 overall pick to $3.9M for a 7th rounder. The league will never let an owner give up the #1 pick for nothing tangible in return, but trading a 6th for $4M in cap space would help teams out.

Make an actual developmental league

This is insane because owners will never go for it. The benefits to the league for player development are obvious. (As to why the NFL doesn’t just let the XFL and USFL use their players, it’s because the NFLPA will not allow their members to participate in non-NFL games.) The league has had some minor interest in being a part investor in a spring league, they basically told the Alliance of American Football to check back with them in a few years, the league folded midway through their first year in 2019.

But owners don’t want to put up the money for a fully owned spring league, a big reason why they closed NFL Europe was that they didn’t want to pay for it. But times have changed since then. Live TV is a huge money maker. The XFL and USFL average over 600,000 viewers for their games. That’s not a ton but that’s more than an average MLS or afternoon college football game. Not bad for two competing leagues with players most viewers have no knowledge of and teams that nobody has any connection with. A proper developmental offseason league with recent draft picks and other young players under direct contract with NFL teams would draw more viewers, which could command a decent TV contract.

Eliminate the draft

This one will never, ever happen without the federal government declaring drafts illegal, which would throw American and Canadian sports into complete chaos for a few years. But let’s assume for a moment the draft was eliminated for whatever reason. What would happen?

One benefit is that it could completely eliminate tanking. Tanking isn’t much of an issue in the NFL as it is in other sports, but it exists. But with no better draft picks to play for, there is no reason for a team to not try to compete. Which opens everything up for everyone.

Rather than reward bad teams with top prospects on “merit”, every team would have to earn the rookies they sign. But this wouldn’t cause the NFL to get top heavy with a handful of teams hoarding the best players like we are seeing with college football. Caleb Williams is not going to sign with the Chiefs or Bills, because he’s not going to get playing time there. But he might also not sign with, say, the Raiders or Texans because of the direction those franchises are going. Maybe instead he signs with the Lions, a good team in need of a long term solution at QB, or maybe he signs with his home town Commanders to kick off a rebuild under new ownership. Everyone would have a chance. That’s parity.

With no draft there would, or should, be no rookie wage pool, which would take us back to the pre-2011 CBA days of top rookies earning top dollar. During the 2011 lockout the first thing ownership and the NFLPA agreed on was to limit the amount of money rookies could earn. The owners, who love not spending money, didn’t want to pay unproven rookies drafted with top picks contracts in line with established starters, and the NFLPA wanted that money spread out to veterans. Unfortunately it backfired on the NFLPA. Rookies are now more valuable than ever because they’re so cheap, which has squeezed out veterans from backup and role playing jobs. In 2010 34 WRs and TEs aged 31 or older caught a pass, in 2022 only 20 did. In 2010 114 defensive players aged 31 or older played in a game, in 2022 only 88 did. With veteran role players and rookies on a level playing field for contracts, veterans should benefit. Contending teams can fill the spots that late round draft picks occupy on their rosters for a similar price.

Everybody wins here, unless your team isn’t trying.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/5/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

2023 NFL All-Breakout Team, Defense: Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown poised to make noise in Carolina - NFL.com
LB Nakobe Dean. The Eagles’ new green-dot defender could make his mark immediately as a first-time starter. The second-year pro was regarded as a high-IQ defender with excellent communication and playmaking skills at Georgia, but the league did not get a real chance to see him in action last season, as he served an apprenticeship behind veteran LBs Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards. After the free-agent departures of White and Edwards, Dean has assumed signal-calling duties. The undersized linebacker will get a chance to show out as a tackling machine playing behind a monstrous group of defensive tackles (including fellow Georgia products Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter) that will allow him to flow freely to the ball.

Hopefully the Eagles’ collective self-confidence will rub off on Jalen Carter - BGN
The Eagles feel that they now carry the kind of collective confidence to fix players like Carter; that the risk they are taking will be worth the reward. We’ll see. Roseman told ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio recently, “I think you’re left your own devices in those situations, and you’re putting yourself out there when, I mean there are situations where you’re trading for nothing, right? I’m not saying it was in this situation necessarily, but you’re doing it and you have to be comfortable with the outcome either way, and so, you have to be comfortable with the outcome of, ‘Hey, I traded a fourth-round pick’ and understanding that could be a good player for your team a year from now, but at the same situation being OK with not getting the player and who is next. And so, you know, that’s not to say we wouldn’t have been ok staying at 10 and taking another player, we just felt for us and our team and where we were that Jalen Carter was the right selection for us.”

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: OL Tyler Steen - PhillyVoice
While the Eagles listed Steen at guard, they think that he has guard/tackle versatility, which makes sense. The player he reminds me of is the Dolphins’ Robert Hunt, who started games at Louisiana-Lafayette at LG, LT, and RT, but has found a home along Miami’s offensive line as the starting RG. He is probably best known for the greatest moment in Thursday Night Football history.

Why Kelce apologized to Jurgens after decision to return - NBCSP
“Yeah, I’m sorry I’m coming back for another year,” Kelce said. Had Kelce retired, Jurgens would have slid into the center role for 2023 and probably beyond. After all, the Eagles drafted Jurgens in the second round out of Nebraska last year to be Kelce’s eventual replacement. But with the news that Kelce was returning for his 13th season, that plan has been put on hold. And Jurgens is totally fine with that. “I’m like, ‘Dude, you owe me nothing,’” Jurgens said. “He’s done so much for me already. I’m pumped he’s back. You can’t have a better locker room guy, a team leader than that.”

4 unexpected predictions for the Cowboys’ 2023 season - Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys will not lose in December. At first glance, the schedule looks like a challenging slate of games. First, at home versus Philadelphia, on the road against Miami and Buffalo, before coming home to face the Lions. The one thing the Cowboys have in their favor is their defense. After drafting Mazi Smith, their defense has improved along the interior and will be better at stopping the inside run. They are adept at rushing the passer and can line up Micah Parsons wherever they choose to get to the quarterback. The passing defense should be better after adding Stephon Gilmore, and the Cowboys have several good options who can play the slot, with DaRon Bland recording five interceptions as a rookie.

Graham Gano looks to build on Giants legacy in 2023 - Big Blue View
Gano is one of the most reliable players on the Giants roster, and there’s no reason to expect anything besides excellence in 2023. He made of eight of nine field goals from beyond 50 yards last year, proving that age hasn’t slowed down his leg. Gano will be a 37-year-old free agent after this year, and the Giants will presumably want to bring him back. He hasn’t given any indication that he’s nearing retirement, and there are five other kickers in the league older than him. It’s possible his Giants career is just beginning.

The 5 O’Clock Club: Seven Washington Commanders players who are “on the bubble” - Hogs Haven
Jonathan Williams was selected by the Bills in the 4th round of the 2017 draft. He bounced around several teams, and is currently on his 2nd stint with Washington, but he is probably a better running back than you would think, based on that brief summary.

...

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When the Eagles won Super Bowl LII in 2018, team management tended to run around reminding everyone what they did, and were not exactly too giving in their credit, other than to themselves, multiple NFL resources revealed a few years back. It was a lesson learned, because soon after, what was built came crumbling down quickly in the disaster that became their starting quarterback (now on the verge of being with his fourth team in four years ... or out of the league entirely) and having their Super Bowl-winning coach fired and labeled as a scapegoat for their downfall.

For years, the Dallas Cowboys walked and talked with a swagger that they’re champions, even though they were far from. That collective attitude pervades a building and stirs an attitude. The Cowboys, like the old-school Oakland Raiders, felt anything and anyone they touched would turn to gold.

It’s why teams like the Raiders and for a time the Cowboys were able to take “risky choices” in players. Those teams felt anyone that would come into our building, regardless of how dubious their character may be off the field (see the Cowboys’ Michael Irvin, and 1970’s Raiders’ John Matuszak for blatant examples), would transform into someone responsible and great football players for the time that they were there.

The Eagles, like numerous other teams, passed on Randy Moss and Warren Sapp in the past because of character questions off the field. Maybe it was a lack of confidence the Eagles felt in keeping Moss and Sapp in check.

Under owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman, that’s changed. It changed when the Eagles shocked the football world in August 2009 when they signed Michael Vick after his suspension and three-year hiatus from football.

Now comes another challenge to the Eagles in first-round draft choice Jalen Carter, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Georgia defensive tackle that the Eagles traded up one place with the Chicago Bears to take with the ninth-overall pick. The reason why nine teams passed on Carter was because he was charged with reckless driving and racing back in March, charges in which he pled no contest.

The Eagles feel that they now carry the kind of collective confidence to fix players like Carter; that the risk they are taking will be worth the reward.

We’ll see.

Roseman told ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio recently, “I think you’re left your own devices in those situations, and you’re putting yourself out there when, I mean there are situations where you’re trading for nothing, right? I’m not saying it was in this situation necessarily, but you’re doing it and you have to be comfortable with the outcome either way, and so, you have to be comfortable with the outcome of, ‘Hey, I traded a fourth-round pick’ and understanding that could be a good player for your team a year from now, but at the same situation being OK with not getting the player and who is next. And so, you know, that’s not to say we wouldn’t have been ok staying at 10 and taking another player, we just felt for us and our team and where we were that Jalen Carter was the right selection for us.”

Carter revealed the Eagles never really delved deeply into the fatal car accident. The Eagles were more interested in, “Just getting to know my personality and stuff like that,” Carter said. The night the Eagles drafted Carter, Roseman, “We’re going to wrap our arms around him and do the best we can to help him.”

Right now, Carter has to know all eyes will be on him as training camp nears and during training camp. Eagles’ management will certainly be feeling the same.

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who has written feature stories for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Daily News. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a special project piece for ESPN.com called “Love at First Beep.” He is most noted for his award-winning ESPN.com feature on high school wrestler A.J. Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015, he was elected president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/4/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Next Gen Stats’ top 10 NFL deep passers of 2022: Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa excel at airing it out - NFL.com
3rd) JALEN HURTS. Hurts landing here shouldn’t surprise anyone. As quarterback of the NFL’s third-ranked offense, he accounted for a large number of Eagles highlights in 2022. He fit in seamlessly with his team’s major acquisition from last offseason, receiver A.J. Brown, powering the ninth-best passing offense in the league. Hurts was stellar in every area of the game, including throwing downfield, breaking double digits in deep touchdown passes — an accomplishment only half of the quarterbacks on this list can claim. But he trailed Prescott in deep CPOE and passer rating. So why did Hurts end up ranked ahead of the Cowboys QB? Well, with so many players deadlocked at 99 in passing score, the best way to separate them was by diving deeper into the categories that help determine that metric. In EPA, which factors heavily into passing score, Hurts (37.3) was clearly better than Prescott (28.9), producing nearly 10 more expected points added, thanks to his 10:2 TD-INT ratio, which doubled Prescott’s output with only 17 more such attempts. Hurts also gained nearly 300 more yards on deep attempts than Prescott, although that is a result of Hurts’ advantage in volume. Ultimately, points are what win you games. Hurts helped his team in that category more than Prescott, giving him a narrow edge over his Dallas counterpart after a season in which the teams split their matchups.

Eye on the Enemy check-in: the San Francisco 49ers - BGN
The last time we saw the San Francisco 49ers, they were trudging off the field, dispirited and depressed, after a crushing 31-7 loss in the NFC Championship Game in which their third-string-turned-starting quarterback was knocked out of the game in the 1st quarter and their fourth-string-turned-second-string QB was forced out in the third quarter. It’s easy to forget it was only a 7-0 game when Brock Purdy’s elbow got messed up by Haason Reddick, or that it was 14-7 when Josh Johnson committed an awful turnover just before halftime to give the Eagles a 21-7 halftime lead. Of course, arguments that the Niners lost that game because they were left without a human being who could throw a football for the final quarter-and-a-half rings hollow, given Johnson’s abysmal play after coming into the game for Purdy, but that hasn’t stopped many San Francisco players from whining incessantly throughout the off-season. That being said, head coach Kyle Shanahan still possesses one of the conference’s best overall rosters and the 49ers are likely the most significant obstacle to the Eagles repeating as conference champs.

Eye on the Enemy #140: Jeremy Reisman on where the Lions stand after the draft and free agency - BGN Radio
John Stolnis checks in with Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman about his thoughts on where the Lions stand after the draft and free agency.

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: Edge Nolan Smith - PhillyVoice
The popular comp for Smith throughout the draft process was Haason Reddick, which we even made here. However, after some consideration I think his game more closely resembles former Packers and Rams edge rusher Clay Matthews. Above we noted that in Smith’s best college season he had 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 3 forced fumbles. Interestingly, in Matthews’ best season at USC, he had 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles while playing on a loaded defense that included 13 future NFL players. Matthews’ hallmark traits over his 11-year NFL career were his motor, toughness, instincts, versatility, and ability to bend around the edge with his athleticism. During his NFL career, Matthews played at around 250 pounds, but he weighed in at just 240 at the 2009 Combine, just two pounds heavier than Smith at the 2023 Combine.

Lucky Break - Iggles Blitz
For those who question the Eagles moving on from Hurts after 2021, you have to erase last year. The Eagles made the playoffs in 2021, but fell behind Tampa 31-0 in that game and you could see Hurts was in over his head. He failed to see open receivers and made some bad decisions. Hurts was a gifted runner, but had a long way to go as a passer. He threw 16 TDs in 15 starts. That’s hardly a QB you “know” is going to be a star. The Eagles couldn’t find a better option so they stuck with Hurts and gave him the weapons he needed. That led to a magical season and hopefully more of those to come.

Roob’s Observations: Could Christian Elliss solve a huge question mark? - NBCSP
1. Am I nuts for thinking, “Don’t count out Christian Elliss for a starting linebacker spot?” Or at least a significant role in a rotation? First of all, Elliss has one thing that none of the Eagles’ other off-ball linebackers have and that’s size. The Eagles might list him at 231 – only six pounds more than Nick Morrow – but he sure looks closer to 240 if not a little more. Elliss languished on the bench most of last year before the Eagles were forced to activate him in Week 13 to add some juice to special teams. Which he did immediately. And when he got a handful of defensive reps he made the most of them – how about 11 tackles on 22 defensive snaps vs. the Titans and Giants? And while I’m definitely not going to get carried away with OTAs, his interception of Marcus Mariota Thursday gave a glimpse of his athleticism and coverage ability. The thing about playing Nakobe Dean and Morrow is that you have two guys who are smallish backers at around 225. Dean obviously isn’t going anywhere, but why not give Elliss a shot in the mix? Whenever he’s on the field, Elliss does something to get your attention. And there’s a reason the Eagles kept him around all last year. They must like him. Morrow has been OK with the Raiders and Bears, but I find Elliss intriguing, and I’d like to see him get some reps with the 1’s at camp to truly get a sense of what kind of player he can be.

1-on-1 With Eagles DC Sean Desai - PE.com
Eagles Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai joins Fran Duffy to talk about his journey back to Philadelphia, where his coaching career began. Other topics include his first nickname in coaching, where his philosophy comes from on defense, and the various influences in his career.

Cowboys rumors: Dallas and Trevon Diggs have had ‘check-ins’ on long-term contract - Blogging The Boys
Now firmly in the month of June, the Dallas Cowboys have received an infusion of salary cap space by way of the release of Ezekiel Elliott that happened a few months back. Sometimes money like that can burn a hole in one’s pocket, but the Cowboys are known to be a bit more measured in situations like this. It can be argued that using the money they just found within the couch cushions on someone like wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins makes the most sense, but perhaps the better move is the pending extensions that have to happen with various players. Players like CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons have contracts that the team will have to address in the near future but they are not pressing in our current moment. Quarterback Dak Prescott needs a re-worked deal, but there is still a bit of sand in that hourglass. The most pressing matter for the Cowboys right now is easily cornerback Trevon Diggs as he is entering a contract year with the team. It seems they are getting to work on that.

The Giants face a difficult 2023 schedule..or do they? - Big Blue View
None of that means that the 2023 Giants can improve on their surprise 2022 performance despite what looks like a tougher schedule. Injuries to key players, 50-50 plays that go the wrong way, and a dozen other things can lead to a season playing out differently than was envisioned. Giants fans need look no further back than 2017. A surprise 2016 Giants team with a supposed offensive genius as head coach that got “smoked” in the playoffs (to use a Daboll term) collapsed in 2017 to 3-13. Vegas’ forecast for the 2017 Giants was 8.5 wins, and the experts surveyed for this article predicted a record anywhere from 8-8 to 12-4. But perhaps more than the perceived quality of opponents, the quality and flexibility of the coaches on the Giants’ sideline is the best predictor for the season ahead. Are the Giants more or less “roster-proof” with Daboll and his staff at the helm? The Pittsburgh Steelers have pretty much been that way under Mike Tomlin, who has never had a losing season in his 16 years there, has been to two Super Bowls, and has won one. Would you sign up for that kind of career from Brian Daboll, Giants fans?

The 5 O’Clock Club: Washington Commanders - the most improved team in the NFL in 2023 - Hogs Haven
In a recent article published on ESPN, Bill Barnwell ranked the 32 franchises on the basis of “most improved”. Barnwell’s definition was: “what a team did during the offseason to increase its chances of winning a Super Bowl, in the short term and long term, given the roster and resources it had to work with at the end of the 2022 season.” Barnwell ranked the Commanders #1 out of 32.

Sources: Josh Harris to see committee about Commanders sale - ESPN
Josh Harris, who reached an agreement to buy the Washington Commanders last month, will meet with the NFL’s finance committee Wednesday, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN. It’s another step towards a possible vote by NFL owners to approve the sale this summer. Harris has been working with the NFL to make the required adjustments to his offer to complete the sale, a source told ESPN. He’ll meet with the eight finance committee members in New York. The Washington Post first reported the meeting.

SEC football teams look scared to compete against each other with 8-game schedule - SB Nation
I never knew that the S and C in SEC stood for Scared Competition. With powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma coming into the SEC next year, the annual coaches’ meeting in Destin was a chance to revise things such as the schedule and divisions for the season following this upcoming one. There were some small changes made, but otherwise, it was kind of slow. Except for this.

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In the first part of our off-season series looking at the Eagles’ chief NFC contenders, we break down the 49ers’ off-season so far.

The last time we saw the San Francisco 49ers, they were trudging off the field, dispirited and depressed, after a crushing 31-7 loss in the NFC Championship Game in which their third-string-turned-starting quarterback was knocked out of the game in the 1st quarter and their fourth-string-turned-second-string QB was forced out in the third quarter.

It’s easy to forget it was only a 7-0 game when Brock Purdy’s elbow got messed up by Haason Reddick, or that it was 14-7 when Josh Johnson committed an awful turnover just before halftime to give the Eagles a 21-7 halftime lead. Of course, arguments that the Niners lost that game because they were left without a human being who could throw a football for the final quarter-and-a-half rings hollow, given Johnson’s abysmal play after coming into the game for Purdy, but that hasn’t stopped many San Francisco players from whining incessantly throughout the off-season.

That being said, head coach Kyle Shanahan still possesses one of the conference’s best overall rosters and the 49ers are likely the most significant obstacle to the Eagles repeating as conference champs.

On a recent Eye on the Enemy podcast, I talked with Rob “Stats” Guerrera of The Gold Standard podcast to get his take on the Niners’ off-season and what may lie ahead for them in 2023.

Off-Season Whining

On whether 49ers players have been whining too much about what happened in the NFC Championship Game or whether there is a legitimate beef.

“For me it’s both. I totally understand why they said, ‘We didn’t get a chance to see who was better.’ I get that. Brock Purdy went down, then Josh Johnson, and you literally ran out of quarterbacks. But also, like, shut up about it now. It’s over. You lost. The Eagles didn’t do anything wrong, it wasn’t a dirty play that took out these quarterbacks. You lost, it’s over. If they had won the Super Bowl, they wouldn’t have had to give the trophy back. It’s done now, just stop talking about it.”

Are the 49ers players obsessing too much with the Eagles and that game?

“What I am worried about is they are too focused on the Eagles, that they’re going to be too concerned about that Week 13 matchup, that is one of 17 games. You can lose that game 100-0 and still win the Super Bowl. But the way they are all talking about it and focused on it, it’s like they want to prove to everyone that they could have won, or they should have won.”

Adding Javon Hargrave

“I think it could be massive. What the 49ers are trying to do is recreate the defense they had in 2019. DeForest Bucknor in the middle, [Nick] Bosa on one edge and Dee Ford on the other. Bosa and Dee Ford were so fast at getting back to the quarterback that they would force the quarterback to have to step up. The problem was DeForest Bucknor was getting pressure in the middle and there was literally nowhere for QBs to go.

“They haven’t had that same push up the middle to recreate what they see is the best version of their defense. Now, with Javon Hargrave, they hope that they can get back to that, and that last year’s second round pick, Drake Jackson, will be sort of that Dee Ford speed rusher coming off the edge, to recreate what they had in 2019.”

Lack of Additions in Free Agency

“I think they are counting on an improvement from the draft class in 2022, and also just improvement of the guys they already have. They didn’t have a lot of money to spend in free agency. I’d love to see them go out and sign one of these veteran pass rushers that are still on the market. Yannick Ngakoue or even Justin Houston, because depending on Drake Jackson is iffy.”

The 2023 Draft

Noting that San Francisco had no picks in the 1st or 2nd round of this year’s NFL Draft, Guerrera noted the 49ers generally redshirt players in their rookie seasons and that they’ll be relying on the 2021 draft class to take a step forward this year.

Their first pick, third rounder safety Ji’Ayir Brown out of Penn State, could start for the 49ers this year. Their second pick, another third rounder, was Michigan kicker Jake Moody. They had a third pick in the third round, tight end Cameron Latu out of Alabama, as well. Recently, SB Nation asked Niners fans which rookie they thought would make the greatest impact in 2023.

What’s Going to Happen at QB?

Of course the big question is what’s going to happen at quarterback. Purdy reportedly had his first throwing session this week, with GM John Lynch saying he was “encouraged” by what he saw. The team is hopeful he’ll be ready for training camp or the regular season. If not, the unproven Trey Lance remains with the team, as does free agent signee Sam Darnold. Guerrera says if the team must start the season with Darnold, it could be brutal news for Niners’ title hopes.

“They reached an agreement with [Darnold] on the very first day of free agency. They love San Darnold and that is terrifying!”

Niners fans, however, believe the roster around him is good enough for the tide to lift all boats.

Boy, I dunno, guys.

Niners fans undoubtedly would rather see Purdy be ready for Week 1 but, it’s important to remember, the second-year player has just eight NFL games under his belt and is still largely unproven. Although, he is by far, the best option.

There is lots more off-season to go and no one’s roster is finalized yet. Where things stand right now, despite some holes, San Francisco remains a tremendously talented team, certainly capable of knocking the Eagles out of the top spot in the NFC.

Provided they can stop talking about the NFC title game.

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/3/23.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Eagles had serious interest in a Russell Wilson trade... but Wilson nixed it - TouchdownWire
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is among the best in the business right now, given the deals he’s made and the players he’s selected in the draft to build one of the NFL’s most stacked rosters. That roster made it to Super Bowl LVII and nearly beat the Chiefs. However, as is the case in all areas of life, there are those times when the things you want, and don’t get, work out the best for you. Per Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop, appearing on Seattle’s ESPN radio affiliate, the Eagles had serious interest in a deal with the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson that Wilson nixed before the deal that eventually sent Wilson to the Denver Broncos for players and a flurry of draft picks. [BLG Note: How do we talk about Howie Roseman and the Eagles in the world where they get Russell Wilson and Allen Robinson (who both turned down going to Philly) instead of keeping Jalen Hurts and acquiring A.J. Brown? ]

Nicholas Morrow talks Nakobe Dean, defending Jalen Hurts, and more - BGN
Eagles OTAs are underway and one of the team’s newest linebackers, Nicholas Morrow, spoke to reporters on Thursday about how much they’ve already done this offseason, and how much they’ve focused on situational football — something head coach Nick Sirianni often talks about. It’s still early, but Morrow said that at this point of the offseason, you can see how the team looks by the work the guys are putting in everyday. He highlighted how much situational football he’s learned in the 5-6 weeks he’s been in Philly.

Eagles OTA Practice Takeaways: Day 1 - BGN Radio
We got our first look at the 2023 Eagles on Thursday with the team holding their first media-attended OTA practice. Brandon Lee Gowton and Jimmy Kempski were there to watch the action! The guys run through their main takeaways, including notes on Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jalen Hurts, and many others. Interact with us on Twitter: @BrandonGowton, @JimmyKempski, @BGN_Radio, @BleedingGreen. Use discount code BGN15 at RighteousFelon.com for 15% off your order! Same promotion applies at WildRangerPet.com. Check out Kristin Roach at RoachRealtors.com.

Jalen Hurts is locked in and impressing his newest Eagles teammates - ESPN
Hurts took a major leap as a passer in 2022, climbing from 19th (54.6) to fourth (66.4) in QBR and 26th (61.3%) to 11th (66.5%) in completion percentage. He dropped his average time before throw from 3.12 seconds (31st) to 2.76 seconds (16th) on average. The Eagles believe there’s further room for growth, as evidenced by the five-year, $255 million contract extension they signed him to in April. His fourth year as a pro, and third in coach Nick Sirianni’s offense, is off to an encouraging start. Two items to note: it looks like he added some muscle mass and definition in his arms/upper body this offseason, and the ball appears to be jumping out of his hand more noticeably than in years past.

Report: Colts To Have Joint Practices With Philadelphia Eagles Prior to Third Preseason Game - Stampede Blue
The Eagles are considered by many to be the NFL’s top team in the NFC, so the joint practices and preseason game will provide fans with a closer look into how different the team could look with a young rookie signal caller in Anthony Richardson potentially facing off against one of the league’s best defenses, even if it is only for a drive or two. With that said, some teams around the league opt to give their starters more playing time in the final preseason game because of the gap that follows prior to the regular season kicking off, so there’s a chance the new-look Indy offense could see more of Philly’s starters for a longer period of time.

State of the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts and Co. appear poised to avoid Super Bowl hangover - NFL.com
Quarterback: Jalen Hurts. You don’t have to pretend that you’ve been on the Jalen Hype Train since Day 1, like I have. But I understand the impulse, the way Hurts put his doubters in their place. (They’ve all moved on to questioning Justin Fields.) He just inked a massive extension. Nobody questions Jalen anymore, save for a few haters. And kickers for the 49ers. Interestingly, there’s still room for the 24-year-old fourth-year pro to grow into his role as a quarterback. He’s not a finished product. And he’s coming off a season in which he won Offensive Player of the Year! Oh, damn, that was actually Justin Jefferson. Come on, people. (Seriously, if Hurts hadn’t missed a few games toward the end of the regular season, I feel like he would have been a lock for OPOY. I really do.) Projected 2023 MVP: Hurts. When the Eagles traded for Gardner Minshew in August of 2021, it was possible to view Minshew as an insurance policy in case Hurts didn’t make the leap. Spoiler alert: He made the leap. Now, Minshew is gone, replaced by Marcus Mariota, who knows exactly where he stands on the depth chart. This team will go as far as Hurts can take it.

Jason and Travis Kelce are hosting a $50,000 ‘Beer Bowl’ in Sea Isle — and you can compete - Inquirer
Jason Kelce and his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, are bringing their popular “New Heights Show” podcast to a Shore town near you — specifically Sea Isle City, N.J., where the Eagles center has made annual appearances as a guest bartender for charity. Kelce will be back down the Shore later this month. And this week, the Kelce Brothers upped the ante for 2023 by putting the call out to all fun-loving, beer-drinking, flip-cup-playing listeners to compete in the first-ever “Beer Bowl.” The Bowl will be a “Beerfest”-style competition which will coincide with Kelce’s annual charity event at The Ocean Drive on June 28. “We’re doing our first-ever fan competition. It’s going to be the first of many. It’s going to be ‘The 2023 New Heights Beer Bowl’ at our charity event at The Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, for the Eagles Autism Foundation,” Jason said on his podcast.

‘A different type of love:’ How Jordan Davis is taking care of the Georgia guys - NBCSP
“Just knowing those guys, they came from not one but two national championships, which is the longest season in college football,” Davis said. “Luckily, I’m not too far removed (from it) and I understand what it takes. It’s going to be hard for them and that’s what we’re here for. You know, they’re in a hotel, that takes a toll on your body. That’s like being trapped and seeing the same four walls. So anytime I can go over there and get those boys out, get Kelee out, get all those guys out, just to show them around the city I’ve been in the past year and going out to explore more places, it means a lot and it builds that bond again.

Why there is hope on this National Gun Violence Awareness Day - PE.com
Friday marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the start of Wear Orange Weekend, created to honor the victims of gun violence. Awareness? What about action?!? That response would be understandable considering the following statistics: According to Everytown for Gun Safety, the organization behind the Wear Orange movement, 120 Americans are killed with guns every day. Guns are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for children under the age of 18, according to a study by the New England Journal of Medicine. There have been another 14,807 injuries this year in the United States due to gun violence as of May 31, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In Philadelphia alone, there have been 149 lives lost this year due to gun violence as of May 31. This is coming off a year in which Philadelphia experienced 514 homicides, setting a record for the second year in a row.

3 free agents who’d make sense for the Dallas Cowboys - Blogging The Boys
LB Deion Jones. The Cowboys have already proven they have a thing for Dan Quinn’s former Falcons players (e.g. Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, Takk McKinley). Why not Jones, who not only helps at a position of need but is still just 28 years old. Jones was a Pro Bowler in 2017 under Quinn as an off-ball linebacker. While the Cowboys do have Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, Jabril Cox, and rookie DeMarvion Overshown to fill most of the LB depth chart, there is a woeful lack of experience there outside of Vander Esch. On the small side at just 6’1” and 222 lbs, Jones plays linebacker similarly to how the Cowboys deploys safety Jayron Kearse at times. He has the athleticism and ball skills to make plays in space. Jones would also help replace the veteran presence lost with Anthony Barr’s departure. Even if Dallas is content to make Clark a starting LB this year, Cox is still wildly unproven and Overshown may not be ready for much right away. Jones would not only shore these concerns but could even challenge Clark and Vander Esch for playing time if his reunion with Dan Quinn brings back his previous form.

Big Blue View mailbag: Brian Daboll, Kayvon Thibodeaux, wide receiver, more - Big Blue View
Now, to really answer your question. This is a topic I have broached previously. There is a massive difference between Brian Daboll and both Ben McAdoo and Joe Judge. Daboll builds relationships with everyone — players, coaches, groundskeepers, secretaries, media members. Ben McAdoo didn’t know how to do that, and when things went south in his second year he had no allies. Judge could have done that, but he was too wrapped up in doing things his way — the New England way — and with surrounding himself with buddies on his coaching staff who would agree with him rather than challenge him and open him to new ideas. With both McAdoo and Judge, the other reality is they were not hired on the same cycle as the general managers they worked with. Ownership hired those men with entrenched GMs, and specifically in the case of Judge and Dave Gettleman we are finding out as time goes by that the relationship between the two wasn’t good. Daboll has surrounded himself with great people, and he listens. Plus, he and GM Joe Schoen were hired together. The coach and GM on the same page, the same cycle, functioning as a team is important. They will succeed and fail together, and will have a better chance of working their way through the down times because of their trust in each other.

Colts sign Genard Avery, waive Darius Hagans - PFT
Avery was a fifth-round pick by the Browns in 2018. He recorded 4.5 sacks as a rookie but fell out of favor under Cleveland’s next coaching staff and was traded to the Eagles midway through the 2019 season. He played with Philadelphia through 2021, recording 3.0 sacks in 35 games with the Eagles. While he signed with the Steelers as a free agent in March 2022, he was released in August.

ChiefsAholic’s bank robbing story keeps getting wilder with Most Wanted list - SB Nation
Officials in Oklahoma have added him to their “Most Wanted Fugitives” list. According to the posting, he is wanted in Tulsa for “Failure to Appear” in connection with the bank robbery. In this story from FOX 4, it is noted that there is an active arrest warrant out for Babudar, and if found he will be held on a $1 million bond. “There is an active arrest warrant for Babudar. If found, he will be arrested and held on a $1 million bond. “There is also a reward offered for information leading to Babudar’s arrest. Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.” Internet sleuths, do what you do.

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Eagles former OC Shane Steichen will return to Philly in the days leading up to the final game of the preseason.

The Eagles announced they will host another joint practice during the 2023 preseason, on August 22nd, with the Colts coming to Philly ahead of the final preseason game.

This is great news for head coach Nick Sirianni who has talked about how much he values the joint practices leading up to preseason games. It gives him a chance to see things he needs to, and for the starters to get in their competitive work, without also having to risk any sort of in-game issue — injury or strategic advantage — ahead of the season.

It’ll also be a great reunion for Sirianni and former Eagles OC Shane Steichen, now the Colts head coach. Throughout the months since Steichen was hired by Indy, both coaches have talked about how much they respect each other and enjoyed working together. There was no bad blood when Steichen moved on, and that relationship with the Eagles organization is still in tact.

Having to face Steichen on the practice field will be a good challenge for Jalen Hurts and the offense, with the former OC knowing many of their weaknesses. It will be good for the Eagles to work out any last minute issues before Week 1.

The Eagles will also host the Browns for joint practice ahead of their Week 2 preseason game, welcoming former DC Jim Schwartz back to Philly.