Eagles news: Paul Turner impressing everyone, Eric Rowe, not so much

Quick, to the news before roster cuts get announced

Cut Day: The darkest day in the NFL - The Undefeated

Let me take you back to Aug. 30, 2013 — all 32 teams had just concluded their final preseason game and it was the night before the front office of each organization would trim its roster from 75 players to the official 53-man roster. At the time, I was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. That Friday, our owner was kind enough to throw a team barbecue for the players, coaches, staff and all of their families. It all seemed pretty harmless. I finished packing my bags in preparation to head to the airport and watch my alma mater’s home opener directly after the barbecue. I was all but sure I was going to make the roster. I pulled up to 1 Novacare Way, the Eagles’ practice facility, and as the gate attendant let me in, I got a call from a teammate. “Bro, I just got cut,” he said. “What do you mean you just got cut, aren’t you at the barbecue?” I asked. He replied, “Yeah, but the grim reaper is inside.” My stomach dropped as I realized this wasn’t your normal barbecue.

What happened to Eric Rowe? - Philly Voice

So explains the Eagles' frustration with Rowe, and the reason for his tumble down the depth chart. Rowe is unsure if he'll even be on the roster this season.

“I can’t say that because it’s not in my control," he said. "All I can do is my thing in the game like I did today. I can’t really say yes or no.”

I'm beginning to wonder myself. A trade of Rowe doesn't make sense on paper. If Rowe were to simply play for the Eagles this season, his cap number would be roughly $1.1 million. If they traded him, the Eagles would have $1.36 million in dead money. The only way the Eagles should trade Rowe while taking that kind of hit would be if they got something worthwhile in return, which they likely won't.

Matthews: “I really want” Turner to make the team - Birds 24/7

Said Jordan Matthews: “I can’t say enough. I really want him to be on this team. I think that’s the biggest compliment. I know he belongs in this league. I want him in that room with me and these receivers because I know he’s a great player.”

Said Chase Daniel: “I absolutely believe he deserves a spot on this team. … Especially an undrafted player, no one expects anything out of you and he has come in from day one of training camp and day one of OTA’s and worked his tail off. It showed. He’s such a smart, smart receiver and it’s hard to find those type of guys when they’re young and don’t really know the offense. But this guy knows the offense backwards and forwards. And he catches everything literally thrown his way. So that’s really all you can ask for from a young receiver.”

Paul Turner caps impressive preseason, ‘making it hard’ on Eagles - CSN

Turner stands only 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, and ran a 4.55 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

So far, it hasn’t seemed to matter.

“If he goes to the combine, he’s going to be one of the bottom-tier guys in most of the categories,” tight end Zach Ertz said.

“He’s short, he’s not tall, he’s not that fast, but the best attribute is that he’s a really good football player, and I think he’s got a great chance to make this team, but I think he’s going to be successful wherever he winds up.”

Has Marcus Smith secured a spot with the Eagles? - Inquirer

"He's put himself in a good position as a defensive end," coach Doug Pederson said after the Eagles' final preseason game on Thursday.

Smith missed the preseason opener with a concussion. But he came back the next week and had a sack in the second preseason game and was active as a pass rusher during the final two games. Smith appears more comfortable at defensive end than outside linebacker, and he said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme has eased some of the burden on him from the last two seasons.

"I feel very comfortable," Smith said. "I feel that I've been playing really well. My confidence is really high. With Schwartz coming in and playing the defense we've been playing, it's helped me out a lot."