Eagles News: Nick Foles talks about having to humble himself as he returns to backup QB

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How Nick Foles Got Back Up - Huffington Post
“And pride does seep in, you know. You see a Super Bowl ad and you’re like, wow, that’s crazy! And you’d love the opportunity to start. But you have to reel back in. I think everyone deals with that in some sort of fashion. You know, it’s humbling. I have to humble myself daily to come in here and be a backup quarterback, sit in meetings, and I’m not the starter, though two months ago we were on stage holding the Lombardi Trophy. But it’s good for me. I’m learning a lot about myself and growing in ways I never could imagine. Everyone else looks at it like, “Oh, you should be starting, you should be getting paid this,” and it gets in your head a little bit, and then you have to get it out. Because it doesn’t matter. You really have to just focus on now and just being grateful. It goes back to perspective, like my family — seeing my daughter and my wife. We’re happy. We have great people here. Just sort of enjoying the moment, because eventually football will be over.”

10 Thoughts About the Eagles’ 2018 NFL Draft Haul - BGN
The knock on Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has always been his inability to create additional yardage after the catch. This aspect of his game has been downplayed lately as the rest of his game has flourished, but it’s of note that Dallas Goedert brings a new dimension to the Eagles potent passing attack. A caveat about level of competition aside, Goedert was the most effective player after the catch in college football last year, at any level. His 12 forced missed tackles were tied for first in the nation, while his 573 yards after catch (8.2avg) took top honors. Additionally no other tight end over the past two years has as many receptions (164) or receiving yards (2,404) as the South Dakota State stand-out. The Jackrabbits used Goedert in the slot frequently and often manufactured touches for him behind the line of scrimmage to take advantage of his play-making abilities in space. They also used him as an inline tight end more than is being talked about, logging 206 snaps last year in the more traditional alignment. He’s a willing blocker in need of technical refinement, but if he’s being used in the “Trey Burton role”, he’s an instant upgrade in that regard.

The Kist & Solak Show Ep. 32: Analyzing The Eagles 2018 Draft Class - BGN Radio
Michael Kist & Benjamin Solak wrap up on the Eagles 2018 NFL Draft haul with extra analysis on the undrafted free agents joining the team! Plus, Darren Sproles is back!

NFC East 2018 draft grades: Giants edition - PhillyVoice
Ultimately for me, however, this draft was all about the No. 2 overall pick. The Giants weren’t “in love” with any of the five quarterbacks who were taken in the first round of this draft. Do they all have their various warts and/or concerns? Sure, but so did every other quarterback not named Andrew Luck who was drafted in the first round over the last two decades. I say this all the time, but in the NFL, you either have a quarterback, or you don’t, and if you don’t you have no chance. The Giants seemingly believe they can win now, with a 37-year old Eli Manning and a Swiss cheese offensive line. That’s delusional. Saquon Barkley is indeed an incredible talent, and I’m certain he’ll have his beastly moments, which will undoubtedly provide “I told you so” moments for the folks who think that drafting a RB at No. 2 overall is a good idea. In the end, I simply can’t get past the notion that there’s a general manager employed by an NFL team who thinks that positional value is “a crock.”

Jernigan Hurting? - Iggles Blitz
A herniated disc isn’t good for anyone, but that would be exceptionally tough for a DT. Jernigan is involved in a collision virtually every snap he’s on the field. That had to be painful to deal with and I’m sure it affected his play. Jernigan missing the offseason program isn’t a big deal. He doesn’t need to develop chemistry with others the way OL do or a QB and his receivers do. DT is somewhat of an individual position. Jernigan is a veteran player who knows the scheme. Missing some passing camps won’t affect him. It also helps that he isn’t a bulky guy who would need to watch his weight. Jernigan is an athletic DT and is in good shape.

At CB: Talent, Depth, And Great Competition - PE.com
In a league where teams scuffle to stock the roster with quality cornerbacks, the Eagles have aggressively addressed the position the last couple of years and now, as they step back and look at cornerback as a group, they like what they see. There are still questions, but the possibilities are tantalizing ...

Thoughts on the Eagles’ draft - Inquirer
What’s left? The only areas in which I’d say the Eagles should look for help is safety depth and competition at punter. If those are your issues in May, it’s a good sign. As it turns out, safety is probably the deepest position left in the free-agent market. The Eagles are set with their starters, but I think the defense is dangerous with three safeties on the field because of the versatility it allows. That’s how they played through most of the playoffs, when Corey Graham took 60 percent of the snaps. Perhaps they re-sign Graham, who is still available. Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid, and Tre Boston are the top safeties left on the market, and that’s a good group. Tre Sullivan, a practice-squad rookie last year, is an internal candidate the Eagles are encouraged about going into OTAs. The Eagles could also try a cornerback in that role considering the depth they have at the position. But if you’re looking for areas to upgrade, I’d say safety depth.

Kiper’s instant-impact rookies: 2018 NFL draft picks who will play early - ESPN
Former No. 2 Eagles tight end Trey Burton just got a four-year, $32 million deal in free agency, which means the spot behind Zach Ertz is wide open. Goedert can fill that in Year 1. He was my top-ranked tight end in this class. Philadelphia played with at least two tight ends on 350 snaps last season, so there’s plenty of ways to get Ertz and Goedert on the field together. (And, as I noted in my grades, the Eagles led the league with 110 receptions by tight ends.) That will stretch opposing defenses because Goedert is such a good pass-catcher, and he’s an underrated route runner. Goedert isn’t a great blocker, but he should improve there, and free-agent signing Richard Rodgers could get some of those snaps lined up next to offensive tackles. Goedert could also be a weapon from the slot.

2018 NFL Draft Breakdown: Philadelphia Eagles - PFF
Avonte Maddox is an aggressive cornerback who knows how to make a play on the ball, which is highlighted by the fact that he got his hands on 12 passes (two interceptions and 10 pass breakups) last season while he allowed just 24 receptions. The biggest knock on him is his size as at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and he’s most likely to play inside where he lined up just 40 times over his last two seasons at Pittsburgh. While the Eagles are looking for a replacement for Patrick Robinson, who successfully covered the slot for them in 2017, a healthy Ronald Darby and Sidney Jones will mean that Maddox may rarely see the field in his rookie season.

2018 NFL Draft class power rankings: Teams 25-32 - NFL.com
30) Analysis: The Eagles are the world champs and they’re staring at a heavy batch of free agents after the 2018 season, so this draft was about adding developmental talent. By trading out of the first round, the Eagles added an additional second-rounder for next year. Goedert is a Zach Ertz clone who’ll be another weapon for Carson Wentz. Sweat’s durability will determine if the fourth-rounder will be a factor in the NFL. I could see Pryor becoming a contributor along the offensive line at either tackle or guard. Mailata, a former rugby player, is a lottery ticket that they hope strikes gold after he learns to play the sport.

2018 Draft Report Card Report - Football Outsiders
3) David Akers’ on-stage presence delivering the Eagles’ draft pick while simultaneously riling up Cowboys fans was probably the most exciting thing about Philadelphia’s draft weekend. Reigning champions usually draft for depth, and this year’s Eagles were no exceptions to that. Philadelphia traded out of the first round in order to secure more future picks, then took tight end Dallas Goedert with their first pick of the draft. Those who love the Eagles’ draft this year cite Goedert as someone Eagles fans should be excited about going forward. Reuter went as far as likening him to Jimmy Graham. Others merely refer to Goedert as “a decent contributor.”

The Most Fun Pairings Coming Out of the NFL Draft - The Ringer
Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had perhaps the best tight end group in football last year with Ertz, Trey Burton, and Brent Celek. Burton and Celek are gone, but Philly added Goedert, who has Ertz-like size (6-foot-5, 256 pounds) and athleticism and an Odell Beckham–esque penchant for making one-handed grabs. The Eagles used multiple tight ends on a third of their offensive snaps last year. If Goedert is anywhere near the matchup problem in the NFL that he was at South Dakota State, the Eagles will be a nightmare in those packages. (It remains to be seen if he can run the Philly Special.)

One Question, 32 Answers: What Do You Think About Every Team’s Offseason? - Sports Illustrated
Philadelphia. Two players are atop the Eagles’ offseason menu, and neither was a draft pick. Cornerback Sidney Jones was a second-rounder last year, recovering from an Achilles tear that never allowed him to be the real Sidney Jones all season. He and Ronald Darby should be the Eagles’ long-term hopes at corner. And Michael Bennett, in what may be his last NFL season, looks for one last hurrah on a really strong defensive front.

Forget the grades, here are The Athletic’s 2018 NFL Draft team-by-team superlatives - The Athletic
Best Pick: He won’t make the most immediate impact, but Josh Sweat fits the mold of foresight the Eagles will need to maintain a Super Bowl-caliber roster once Carson Wentz signs a mega-extension. The Eagles may have the league’s best defensive line right now, but it’s an aging unit, especially on the outside. At 21, Sweat may be inactive through much of his rookie season. But the former top recruit who was miscast as a four-technique with Florida State offers upside down the road as a potential third-down running mate for Derek Barnett.

Any Eagles fans in an existential crisis after Super Bowl win? - NBC Sports Philadelphia
It was a nice, sunny March day and I was back at the NovaCare Complex for the first time since the Eagles won the Super Bowl. It was strange. I got there early to get a good seat for a press conference like I normally do, walked through the same gate as always, dropped my bag at the same desk I have used for a couple years now. Then I began to walk down the sidewalk toward the main building as I have done countless times through sun, wind, rain and snow, wins and losses, good times and bad, over the past several years. But something felt different. I couldn’t shake the feeling. “What’s it all matter?” I thought. “They already won the Super Bowl. It’s over. What are we still doing?”

London tickets sell out fast, and UK NFL fans aren’t happy - PFT
The good news for the NFL is that its London fan base is big enough that games at Wembley Stadium sell out quickly. The bad news is there’s a growing perception among the UK fan base that the NFL is a greedy interloper fixated on maximizing profits while pricing out average fans. Tickets for two games at Wembley Stadium went on sale yesterday, and the NFL announced early today that the Eagles-Jaguars game on October 28 has already sold out, while the Titans-Chargers game a week earlier has only “very limited single tickets available.”

2018 NFL Strength of Schedule using Betting Win Totals - Bet The Board
New York Giants fans seem to be overly optimistic heading into the season. Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy again, Evan Engram looks electric, and GM Dave Gettleman finally addressed Eli’s blindside by signing Nate Solder to a contract worth more than the entire country of Cameroon. Oh, and all indicators point to Saquon Barkley trading in Nittany Lion blue for a different shade in 2018. While that all sounds great, the Giants aren’t projected to be favored in a game until right around the time you’re answering the door for trick-or-treateers. That’s right, the G-Men are projected to be underdogs their first 7 games; by far the toughest opening stretch facing 5 teams in 7 weeks projected to win 9 or more games (and no team projected to win less than 8.5).

NFL kickoffs aren’t dead yet, but they will be - SB Nation
There are doings afoot in New York City. The NFL is convening a gathering of coaches, players, owners, retired players, and league executives to talk about some big changes to the game, like pushing the kickoff to its eventual extinction. Troy Vincent, the league’s executive VP of football operations, said Tuesday morning that the group wants to present changes to the kickoff rule that could go into effect as soon as this season, according to Judy Battista of the NFL Network. Vincent added that they are NOT going to eliminate kickoffs. But they do want to make the play safer.

Get your Sixers playoff shirts! - BreakingT

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