Eagles News: Dallas Goedert thought he’d have a contract extension by now

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

Goedert says contract talks with Eagles have stalled - NBCSP
As Dallas Goedert enters the final year of his rookie contract, he’s doing so without a long-term contract extension. That’s a bit of a surprise to him. “My representation, we talked about it earlier, we thought we’d have a deal done by this time of the year,” Goedert said on Monday afternoon, “but the team decided to go a different way. We haven’t got that done yet.” Back in early June, the 26-year-old Goedert said talks were ongoing. So sometime between then and now they broke down. If you’re wondering, Goedert said he doesn’t think Zach Ertz’s presence on the roster changed the course of these talks. Goedert said when the negotiations were cut off it was still unclear whether or not Ertz would be back. “I’m not too worried about it,” Goedert said. “I believe in what I can do. I believe in going out and being able to perform and whatever happens, happens. Not too worried about my contract right now. Just want to focus on winning games, winning the division and ultimately winning the Super Bowl.”

David Culley’s Unsurprising QB Decision Isn’t Unprecedented in NFL - MAQB
While we’re on contracts—Dallas Goedert bringing up his own contract situation on Monday highlights the interesting spot the Eagles are in at tight end. Both Goedert and Zach Ertz put together outstanding training camps, and both guys are headed into contract years. And on paper, you’d think it’d be relatively easy to decide to pay the younger Goedert and let Ertz walk. Thing is, Ertz is just four years older than Goedert, and the production level of the two isn’t close (Ertz has posted five seasons of 74 catches or more, Goedert’s never had one with more than 58). Add to that the rising cost of tight ends, and that guys like Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski have now produced into their 30s (and Jimmy Graham’s played forever), and you can see where things aren’t quite as easy as they were a few months ago, when Ertz wanted out and there was real concern about his future after a very down 2020. [BLG Note: Perhaps this paragraph is truly just Albert Breer opining but I can’t help but think he’s reflecting some team sentiment here.]

The history of the Eagles opening the season against the Falcons - BGN
The Eagles open their season THIS WEEK down in Atlanta. It feels like just yesterday I was amping myself up for a 2020 Super Bowl run behind Carson Wentz. Hell, it feels like it was just a year or two ago that I was amping myself up for a 2015 Super Bowl run behind Sam Bradford (more on that in the bit). For a non-NFC East team, Eagles fans have seen their share of big time matchups against the Falcons over the last handful of decades, including three Week 1 matchups this century. There’s a line of thinking among fans that going down to Atlanta is always a worrisome game. Looking at the history of these two teams squaring off, it’s more of a mixed bag and I wouldn’t use any historical precedent as a reason that the Eagles can’t go and demonstrate that they are the TRUE Birds of the NFL.

FROM THE SB NATION NFL SHOW: Can the Eagles really win the NFC East this year? - BGN Radio
The SB Nation NFL Show brings together the greatest fan-alysts from across SB Nation’s NFL team communities in one place for the first time ever. Expect deep analysis, irreverent jokes, and plenty of bickering between rivals. It’s a show for NFL fans, by NFL fans.

NFC Hierarchy/Obituary: Week 1 - PhillyVoice
It feels like whenever someone makes an argument that the Eagles will achieve some modest accomplishment in 2021, it is always accompanied by a bunch of major “ifs.” Like, “If the offensive line stays healthy, and if Jalen Hurts makes huge strides forward, and if the receivers finally resemble players who belong in the NFL, etc., then the Eagles can win the NFC East! Woohoo! The reality is that they have an unproven quarterback, an unproven coaching staff, an old-ish, injury-prone roster, and the owner already admitted that this will be a “retooling” year. So probably best to keep your expectations in check.

Headed in the Right Direction - Iggles Blitz
The Eagles play their season opener six days from now. We’ve gone through free agency, the draft, OTAs, Training Camp and the preseason. This team still feels like a mystery to me. The bloated 4-11-1 team feels ages ago, but many of those players are back. There is new talent and a new coaching staff. There is hope. Hope was lacking last year as an aging team fell apart and had a disaster of a season. The cohesion and chemistry that helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2017 was long since gone. Too many injuries and too many agendas ripped apart a team that was already lacking in talent. Not only was the team bad, it was boring on the field. Most of the drama came off the field. This summer feels very different.

Eagles’ tough love helping Jordan Mailata thrive in Philadelphia - ESPN
But in that “tough love” of coach Stoutland, and the work ethic he drives to match it with, Mailata feels the value of all that his family has given him. “My mum, especially growing up, she worked full-time, six days a week, probably like 12 hours a day,” Mailata explained. “My dad was a handyman, he worked two jobs; the bloke could fix anything.” “I don’t know how he did it, the guy came straight from Samoa, and this guy knew how to fix everything: the car, the toilet, he even did gardening and planted trees... for me it was inspiring as a kid.” Growing up in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, Mailata often wondered if the stern words he earned at home were par for the course, only to head to school and get assurance from friends within the Polynesian community. “It’s a Samoan thing, a Polynesian thing. It’s that tough love,” Mailata said.

DeVonta Smith is all business eyeing the opener - PE.com
For a young man preparing to play his first NFL regular-season game, Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith sure sounds seasoned. He isn’t one to boast. He isn’t going to make outlandish predictions. And for sure you aren’t going to get any bulletin-board material from No. 6. Instead, he’s keeping it professional and earnest and – ssshhhh – quiet. Asked how he responds to expectations for his rookie campaign, starting on Sunday against the Falcons in Atlanta – where he spent this past Saturday watching his alma mater Alabama Crimson Tide roll Miami in college football’s opening weekend – Smith responded with no emotion. Just the truth. “Just control what I can control, do my job,” he said. “When you control what you can control, everything is going to work out for you. Just focus on the task at hand.”

Eight Eagles thoughts, from Jordan Mailata at LT to Gardner Minshew in H-O-R-S-E - The Athletic
So now what for Dillard? Pay attention to how the Eagles handle reserve offensive linemen on game days. Jack Driscoll is on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. Assuming Dillard is active, it would be more helpful if he can be the swing tackle — capable of playing both the left side and right side if Mailata or Lane Johnson goes down. He’s been a left tackle-only player to this point in his career, and he bombed as a right tackle as a rookie. With Driscoll out, Brett Toth can also dress as a reserve lineman who can play either side.

2021 NFC win-total projections: 49ers, Rams, Cards make playoffs; Seahawks odd team out in West - NFL.com
Ceiling: 7.2 wins. Floor: 4.4 wins. FanDuel over/under: 6.5 wins. Rookie receiver DeVonta Smith forecasts to produce 826 or more receiving yards in 59.7 percent of simulations.

2021 Season Preview: The Top Valued Rosters in the NFL - Over The Cap
Finally the bottom left is a rough spot. These are teams who don’t have the high valued rosters and do not have good cap projections for next year. These teams are likely a WYSIWYG situation for two years which can be very difficult if the team winds up flopping this year. The Giants and Rams are right at the edge of this while the Falcons and Eagles are in a bad spot.

Arthur Smith expresses confidence in Jalen Mayfield ahead of potential first start - The Falcoholic
It was reported the Wednesday after roster cuts that left guard Josh Andrews, the expected starter, was being placed on injured reserve due to a broken hand. None of the challengers in the left guard competition appeared to have done enough to take the No. 1 spot, but this injury requires someone to be the proverbial next man up. As of now, it would appear that person is rookie Jalen Mayfield, who the Falcons selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The NFL is all about overcoming adversity, and both the Falcons and Mayfield will have to do that right out of the gate. If coach Arthur Smith has his reservations, he’s not showing them publicly. [BLG Note: That’s former Eagles OG Josh Andrews who was set to start for Atlanta. Seems safe to say the Falcons don’t have the best interior offensive line.]

Cowboys at Buccaneers game preview: Five things to watch - Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys were dealt another unforeseen challenge four days prior to kick off when Zack Martin was basically ruled out for testing positive for COVID-19. It’s never easy to lose arguably your best player, and it just emphasizes the importance of what we as a world are still dealing with, coupled with the old next man up mentality teams often adopt. Martin’s misfortune is an opportunity for Connor McGovern, and he has a chance to make a name for himself right out the gate in year three.

Giants 9/6 practice report: Saquon Barkley update, tight end shortage, more - Big Blue View
Somehow, the Giants have arrived at a situation where the healthiest tight end on the 53-man roster is veteran Kyle Rudolph, who had foot surgery this offseason and was on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list until two weeks ago. The Giants have three tight ends on the roster, and per reporters who saw the beginning of Thursday’s practice, Rudolph was the only one participating. Evan Engram (calf) and Kaden Smith (unknown) were said to be working with trainers. There are three tight ends — Jake Hausmann, Ryan Izzo and Chris Myarick — on the practice squad. As of now, it would seem a safe bet that at least one of those players will be part of the game day roster on Sunday vs. the Denver Broncos.

Curtis Samuel returns to practice as the team prepares for Week 1 vs the Chargers - Hogs Haven
Curtis Samuel has been out for a long time due to a lingering groin injury. He also spent over a week on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The last time he participated in individual drills was August 15th, but he was shut down again after that practice. Washington kept 7 WRs on their initial 53-man roster, and Samuel’s absence has given rookies like Dyami Brown and Dax Milne time to develop and learn the offense.

Game-by-game predictions for Indianapolis Colts’ 2021-22 season - Stampede Blue
The Colts’ rollercoaster 2021-22 season comes to a screeching halt once again at the hands of Patrick Mahomes. The Colts keep it close early, but, if this scenario were to occur, I think Kansas City finds their rhythm later in the game. Carson Wentz would need to be perfect for the Colts to make a deep playoff run, and I don’t see back-to-back weeks occurring. So, there you have it, Colts fans. An 11-6 regular season followed by a playoff win in Baltimore, which leads to a loss in Kansas City. Would you be satisfied with that result for the 2021-22 season? Let’s see how right or wrong I am as the Colts’ season officially kicks off next Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Miami Dolphins place Austin Jackson and Adam Shaheen on Reserve/COVID-19 List - The Phinsider
Austin Jackson’s poor play has been the talk of the preseason. So, from a pure football standpoint, the dropoff between Jackson and the next guy might not be as earth-shattering as some expect. Nevertheless, losing your starting left tackle six days before the beginning of the season is #notgood— especially for an offensive line that struggled a season ago. If Jackson can’t play, the team will turn to rookie offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, veteran Jesse Davis, or the most likely candidate—Greg Little. Little was traded to the Dolphins on August 17th from the Carolina Panthers.

Ravens sign tight end Mark Andrews to 4-year extension - Baltimore Beatdown
The Baltimore Ravens gave their Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews the best birthday present a young NFL player could ask for. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Andrews signed a four-year contract worth $56 million. [BLG Note: $14 million annually is the third highest salary among NFL tight ends. Goedert hasn’t been as productive as Andrews but he could be looking for similar money.]

Monday Football Monday #52: Division and Wildcard Predictions - The SB Nation NFL Show
Week 1 is finally here! Pete Sweeney and RJ Ochoa share their predictions for what teams will win each division and who will be the wildcard teams.

...

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