Eagles News: Marcus Mariota hasn't signed his rookie contract yet

Let's get to the links...

Eagles 53-man roster projection after OTAs/minicamp - PhillyVoice
Matthews, Agholor, and Huff are the only 100% locks to make the team here, with Cooper not all that far behind, in my opinion. Ajirotutu has shown some ability as a receiver in OTAs and minicamp, and is a special teams maven. I really don't see the fit for Austin as an aging, oft-injured player who hasn't been good in years, and hasn't contributed on special teams in a half decade. However, the team will take a million dollar cap hit if they cut him, which is a strong indication they expect him to be on the team.

Hey Eagles and Chip Kelly: Marcus Mariota is still unsigned by Titans - NJ.com
Why the Titans and Mariota haven't come to terms on a deal is kind of puzzling. Why wouldn't he get the same basic deal as No. 1 pick Jameis Winston, of Tampa Bay, just a little bit less? It can't be that difficult a negotiation in these times of slotted picks. That's why 253 of the 256 are completed. And it could get done by the end of the day. It could just be something as simple as a clause here or there. If one were to be a conspiracy theorist, however, there could be all kinds of reasons.

Ryan Mathews - Iggles Blitz
The other thing that stands out is how square Mathews stays to the line of scrimmage. This term refers to when a RB keeps his shoulder pads parallel to the LOS. You want this because it means the RB is running north-south. That helps the runner to break tackles and also leads to more big plays. If there is a gap to hit, the RB gets to it and through it quickly. RBs that run parallel to the LOS (going E-W) are much easier to tackle. You can hit them in the side of the legs, where they have less power and balance. Mathews isn’t just a power runner. He has enough speed to get out wide and turn the corner. That speed is one of the reasons that Kelly also wants to use him as a KOR.

Thoughts On A Potential Quarterback Competition - Birds 24/7
The expectation is that Bradford will be ready for 11-on-11 work when training camp opens in six weeks. Things start moving very quickly once you get to that time of year. The team's preseason opener against the Colts is August 16, just two weeks after camp begins. At that point, the shadow of opening day is in sight. How much will Bradford be able to do? How comfortable will he look? Will he get to full form by the time the curtain lifts in Atlanta?

Fan-Demonium: Time For The 'D' To Stand Up - PE.com
Could the Eagles actually be even better at outside linebacker this year? I don't think Connor Barwin is likely to have 14.5 sacks again, but he could have another outstanding season. Graham could turn out to be an upgrade on Cole. Cole had 6.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 755 snaps last season. Graham had 5.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 466 snaps. Statistics don't tell the whole story to be sure. Cole was great in some subtle ways. Graham has to show he can do the little things and be productive as well, but it is possible he could turn out to be an upgrade over the 2014 version of Trent Cole. Graham has a long way to go to get anywhere close to where Cole was when he was at his peak.

Life changed for Eagles rookie Bailey after death of a friend - Inquirer
The story of how Bailey came to be standing in the sun at the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday - a 21-year-old undrafted rookie wide receiver out of Division III Delaware Valley University competing for a spot on the Eagles roster - begins with his life at Abbotsford, and with Anderson's death. The two were so close that, when Anderson sat in the stands to watch Roxborough's football games, he wore Bailey's No. 10 jersey.

Miles Austin could be X-factor to Eagles' receiving core - CSN Philly
He’s five years removed from his last 1,000-yard season and has managed to get through 16 games just once in the last four years. He’s with his third team in three seasons and fourth offensive coordinator in five years. Miles Austin is an X-factor with the Eagles. His name doesn’t come up in conversations about the wide receiver position. His role is vaguely defined right now. He hasn’t been a star since 2010. Nonetheless, the Eagles believe Austin can revive his career, and they believe it enough that they guaranteed $1 million of his one-year, $2.3 million contract.

Dear sports writers, stick to sports - SB Nation
A open letter to all my colleagues from a frustrated sports writer: Will everyone else please just stick to sports?

Pre-order the Eagles Almanac 2015! - BGN
It's the moment you've all been waiting for: the Eagles Almanac 2015 is back. The Eagles Almanac features detailed analysis, essays, scouting, statistics, and more from your favorite writers and bloggers.

PDF: $15

PAPERBACK + PDF: $29 (shipping included)

2 PAPERBACKS + PDF: $49 (shipping included)

Social Media Information:

BGN Facebook Page:

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen

Philly sports attire: Check out Philly Phaithful!

Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton Follow @BrandonGowton