Eagles News: History might provide hope for a rebound

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

Knocked down in 2020, Eagles look to ‘get up again’ - PE.com
Hey, we all know this: Every team has these kinds of seasons every now and again. In Jeffrey Lurie’s era as Chairman & CEO, there have only been a few seasons to rival 2020 – 3-13 in 1998 (the final year of Ray Rhodes), 6-10 in 2005 (oh, T.O.?!?!), 4-12 in 2012 (the final season of Andy Reid). The measure of an outstanding NFL franchise, and the Eagles have certainly been one of the best in Lurie’s tenure, is to “get up again” quickly and return to the postseason. Consider since the time of Lurie’s purchase of the team in 1994-95 the “dry” periods of Eagles football. They can be broken down into three clumps of seasons. [...] Chip Kelly’s Eagles won the NFC East in 2013 and were 9-3 before struggling down the stretch in 2014. The Eagles of 2015 were a mess and Kelly’s time as the head coach ended after three seasons. Doug Pederson was hired in 2016 and the rebuilding began. One season later, the Eagles won a Super Bowl. So, if history is any indication, the Eagles are going to rebound from the 2020 season. They are in a “transition” period, as Lurie indicated at the press conference announcing Pederson’s dismissal, and we all know the challenges the team faces with regards to the 2021 NFL salary cap. There is a lot of work to do and the Eagles understand that because, well, they’ve been through this before.

What the Eagles should do at cornerback - BGN
OUTLOOK: I don’t think they will do it but the Eagles probably should trade Slay. He just turned 30 and the team can clear $6 million in cap space ($9.75 million in dead money) by trading him. The Eagles don’t really have ... anything ... at corner without him, yeah, but the Eagles aren’t (or at least shouldn’t be) in win-now mode anyway. It’s very possible Slay is coming off what will be his best season in Philly; it’s not like corners typically get better with age. The guess here is the Eagles will bring him back for at least one more season, though. They can easily move on from him after 2021 via cut or trade ($13.5 million cleared) if need be. That is unless they restructure his deal this offseason, which might be necessary to get under the cap limit. Such a maneuver would signal the Eagles’ belief in him as a long-term piece despite his age. [BLG Note: Would you rather have the Eagles 1) trade Slay now or 2) restructure the deal that extends the Eagles’ commitment to him?]

Eye On The Enemy #47: Carson Wentz Trade Rumors & Nick Sirianni Newser Reactions - BGN Radio
On Episode 47 of Eye on the Enemy, John Stolnis analyzes the fascinating Jared Goff-for-Matthew Stafford trade between the Lions and Rams and reacts to Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s first news conference. In this episode you’ll hear: The biggest difference between the Goff trade and any possible trade the Eagles make with Carson Wentz, GMs inside the NFL say they’d love to trade for Wentz. Would/should the Eagles trade Wentz inside the division? Why Nick Sirianni’s first news conference was less than impressive. How the Cowboys and Dak Prescott can throw a monkey wrench into the off-season QB carousel.

Eagles mailbag: Who inherited a better situation: Doug Pederson in 2016, or Nick Sirianni in 2021? - PhillyVoice
In other words, the Eagles are going to have to take a number of those contracts and kick the can down the road some more, just to get under the cap in 2021, and they are going to be among the league’s most unhealthy cap teams at least into 2022, and probably even beyond that. But beyond the atrocious cap situation the Eagles are in, many of the same core players were on that 2016 team, but they were younger and either entering their primes, or already in them, and they hadn’t yet lost some other good players as cap casualties. Jordan Hicks was 24, and had showed some legitimate promise. Cox, Johnson, and Ertz were all 26 years old. Graham was 28. Kelce and Malcolm Jenkins were both 29. We were only beginning to wonder when Jason Peters might retire, lol. And obviously, the great Donnie Jones was still on the team. And the team had money to spend in free agency.

More on the Coaches - Iggles Blitz
It really is interesting to look at the defensive coaches. Rocker and Valai worked in college football last year. Rallis will be new running a position in the NFL. Wilson is the veteran NFL coach. He’s been working in the NFL for almost a decade. The defensive coaches do not have ties to Sirianni. This is Gannon’s group. Gannon and Rocker were together with the Titans. Gannon and Rallis both worked for Mike Zimmer in Minnesota. They weren’t there at the same time, though. Gannon left after 2017 and Rallis got there in 2018. Gannon and Wilson both worked for Jeff Fisher with the Rams, but also weren’t there at the same time. They missed each other by a year. Valai seems to be the one guy who is the outsider. The Eagles are gambling that familiarity will give the young coaches a boost. It will be interesting to see if that is true.

Stafford-Goff deal shows a Carson Wentz trade is really possible - NBCSP
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said recently that he spoke with “several” NFL general managers who would be interested in Wentz. What kind of return would the Eagles get? Hard to say. But if multiple teams were interested, that would help give the Eagles some leverage and raise his value. Getting something back for Wentz would be nice, but it wouldn’t be the real reason to trade him. If the Eagles end up trading Wentz it will be because they (or Wentz) have deemed the relationship is too far gone and have decided it’s best to move on. That would mean the Eagles’ taking on a record dead salary cap hit. But if Saturday showed us anything, it’s that anything is possible.

Predictions for 43 NFL wide receivers who could change teams in 2021 free agency: Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay, more - ESPN+
Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles — Jeffery returned from offseason foot surgery and didn’t show much in an offense that didn’t give its receivers the opportunity to impress. The recipient of another disastrous contract likely to be cut short this spring in Philadelphia, the former Bears star can’t expect much more than a one-year deal for the minimum. He will get a look somewhere in camp, although there’s a chance he’s just done at this point. Projected: One year, $1 million from the Lions.

Super Bowl 2021: Chiefs’ Andy Reid says ex-Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is doing ‘well’ after being fired - NJ.com
During Monday’s press availability, Reid said he had spoken with former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, who was fired on Jan. 11. Pederson served as Reid’s offensive coordinator with the Chiefs before Pederson was hired by the Eagles in 2016. “I have talked to Doug, and he’s doing well,” Reid said. “Things happen in this business. I’m not privy to the behind-the-door issues, and I don’t really want to get involved in those issues. I’ve got enough things that I have to take care of with this team, and I don’t need to deal with the other part.”

2021 NFL Draft prospect profile: Asante Samuel Jr, CB, FSU - Big Blue View
The 2021 NFL Draft looks to have a very solid cornerback class. There are three players who each have the chance to hear their name called in the top half of the first round. Behind them there is another eight or so corners who could be drafted by the end of the third round. But even with a top 10 that is that deep and talented, one name jumps off the depth chart. That would be Asante Samuel Jr., son of former New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel. The elder Samuel was an excellent player, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors over the course of his career. He was also a consistent thorn in the side of the New York Giants. The Giants could also use an upgrade at both the outside cornerback and slot corner positions. Could we see a strange type of irony and see the son of the man who so often frustrated Eli Manning playing for the Giants?

Why Tom Brady is one of America’s most polarizing athletes - SB Nation
It difficult to find someone with a lukewarm opinion of Tom Brady. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and New England Patriots legend inspires strong feelings on both ends of the spectrum. To some, Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, with the legendary resume and hardware to prove it. Others see a cheater, a shameless a brand builder who benefitted from playing for a football dynasty, who refused to take a personal stand on anything to avoid alienating fans, his consumers. Like all things the truth likely falls somewhere in the middle. It makes Brady one of the most complicated figures in modern American sports, who can be viewed as the greatest athlete of our generation o tremendously overrated depending on your point of view. Now, with his 10th Super Bowl appearance on the horizon, we dig into the legacy of one of the NFL’s most decorated players, and understand why he elicits such strong emotions.

Monday Football Monday #22: Deion Sanders Interview + Who Won the Stafford-Goff Trade? - The SB Nation NFL Show
RJ Ochoa, Michael Kist and Pete Sweeney debate all the angles of the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade between the Lions and Rams PLUS a very special interview with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders!

...

Social Media Information:

BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen

BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta

BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton

BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio

BGN Cameo: Click here for a personalized video message