*Official 2015 Philadelphia Eagles* - Winning when it doesnt count (1 Viewer)

[ZWK]

Last year, Houston led the NFL in both rushing attempts (with 551) and HB rushing attempts (with 474). Predicting Philly to have more than that in either category would be very bold. Last year's Eagles had 474 total rushing attempts and 415 HB rushing attempts.

 

[ShaHBucks]

Last year, Houston led the NFL in both rushing attempts (with 551) and HB rushing attempts (with 474). Predicting Philly to have more than that in either category would be very bold. Last year's Eagles had 474 total rushing attempts and 415 HB rushing attempts.

Tebow starts and we run the wishbone. [/thread]

 

[Insein]

Mathis released.

 

[unckeyherb]

Evan Mathis released per the Fanatic

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Pretty much:

@JordanRaanan: It's Chip's way or the highway. Shut up and play. https://t.co/NTeJbkyvgo

 

[Bigboy10182000]

@JimmyKempski: Evan Mathis' release is confusing. He isn't black.

 

[Bankerguy]

Mathis released.

WHAT? Why?

 

[Billy Bats]

Why is Chip trading and releasing all the good white players? Hurry, somebody ask Stephen ### Smith.

 

[Amused to Death]

Why is Chip trading and releasing all the good white players? Hurry, somebody ask Stephen ### Smith.

Clearly racist towards black *and* white players. He's an equal opportunity racist - the worst kind.

 

[babydemon90]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

 

[Ash]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.

If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

 

[Bob Magaw]

@JimmyKempski: Evan Mathis' release is confusing. He isn't black.

Equal opportunity, he will release you if you don't get with the program.

Kind of like Clint Eastwood's self-description as Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry. He hates EVERYBODY.

* Amused to Death beat me to it.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

Rosenhouse did the same thing to T.O. Got him in Dallas making less money than he was when he was here. Mathis is a scheme specific 34 year old guard. He won't make 5 million this season for anybody. He's back to being a journeyman now until he retires. Make no mistake, I would have loved to have him here but either him or his agent really screwed themselves with this move.

 

[Deamon]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.

If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

Seems dumb from both sides. I like Chip's attitude for the most part, but this can't ACTUALLY make our team better next year. Nor make Mathis more money elsewhere. How does anyone win here? Wish sometimes they could let bygones be bygones and do what is best for both sides.

So now what? Our oline was a slight concern once we got murray and mathews and knew we'd need a solid one to run so much. After the draft when we didn't address it, it became a more serious problem. Then no collins, then mathis. Someone give us some 'glass half full" outlook for our oline and running game going forward.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

Seems dumb from both sides. I like Chip's attitude for the most part, but this can't ACTUALLY make our team better next year. Nor make Mathis more money elsewhere. How does anyone win here? Wish sometimes they could let bygones be bygones and do what is best for both sides.So now what? Our oline was a slight concern once we got murray and mathews and knew we'd need a solid one to run so much. After the draft when we didn't address it, it became a more serious problem. Then no collins, then mathis. Someone give us some 'glass half full" outlook for our oline and running game going forward.

Sooner or later Mathis was going to decline. Heading into age 34 there's a good shot it was this season.

 

[Deamon]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

Seems dumb from both sides. I like Chip's attitude for the most part, but this can't ACTUALLY make our team better next year. Nor make Mathis more money elsewhere. How does anyone win here? Wish sometimes they could let bygones be bygones and do what is best for both sides.So now what? Our oline was a slight concern once we got murray and mathews and knew we'd need a solid one to run so much. After the draft when we didn't address it, it became a more serious problem. Then no collins, then mathis. Someone give us some 'glass half full" outlook for our oline and running game going forward.

Sooner or later Mathis was going to decline. Heading into age 34 there's a good shot it was this season.

THank you.

 

[Ash]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I thought so too, but Rosenhaus isn't dumb. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a handshake agreement in place already somewhere else.If not, then pushing the issue this way would be the dumbest move Mathis and his agent could have made.

Let the Matt Tobin era begin, I guess.

Rosenhouse did the same thing to T.O. Got him in Dallas making less money than he was when he was here. Mathis is a scheme specific 34 year old guard. He won't make 5 million this season for anybody. He's back to being a journeyman now until he retires. Make no mistake, I would have loved to have him here but either him or his agent really screwed themselves with this move.

We'll see if that ends up being the case. I always thought Mathis' best chance to maximise his income for the rest of his career was to do everything he could to keep this Eagles contract going right to the final year. The Eagles will still be worse off, but we'll know in a couple of weeks if Mathis "won" or not. If he gets less money or is still unsigned he'll be all at Rosenhaus you'd think.

There's also the chance there's something besides money behind him wanting to move on.

 

[jon007]

Didn't Mathis ask to be traded last season?

 

[ShaHBucks]

Mathis gets to play where he wants and sign a contract he and his agent agrees to. Chip gets to continue to be a dictator. I'm sure both parties got what they want.

 

[ShaHBucks]

Just wow

 

[Terpman22]

I liked Mathis but he waaaaay overplayed his hand here. Good luck. At least I know he won't go to Dallas tho.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Didn't Mathis ask to be traded last season?

Yep. No one wanted him in a trade for 2 years now.

If we cut him a month ago because of cap reasons and save the 4.5 then no one would bat an eye. Depth could be an issue but we still are VERY strong at all the key OL spots. I'm not that worried about replacing guards.

 

[Terpman22]

So we got Jake Long on speed dial right? Big, white, injured...

 

[Terpman22]

Remember when BB traded Logan Mankins for Tim Wright?

 

[Shane Falco]

So we got Jake Long on speed dial right? Big, white, injured...

not a guard

 

[JetMaxx]

Does Denver have the cap space to guarantee him more than $5 mil?

 

[sspunisher]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

 

[CentralPA]

Probably the best thing for both parties. I liked Mathis and he was great guard but somewhat immature (but funny) for his age. Although I'd be shocked if he signed for more than the 5.5 mill he would've received here. Gardner and Tobin now up to bat. Run blocking wise everything will be fine but pass protect will be the huge ?

 

[Billy Bats]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

 

[CentralPA]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

 

[Billy Bats]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

 

[unckeyherb]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I'll bet he get more guaranteed money somewhere else. Soon.

 

[Amused to Death]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because Kelly's different and people fear change.

People are freaking out yet again, including some Eagles fans, yet the last time I checked their 2015 record is still 0-0. Geez people, at least wait till they actually lose a game to start with the doomsday predictions.

 

[Insein]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Two years ago he was supposed to be back in college in 2 years.

 

[Freelove]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

 

[Amused to Death]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

Wow.

So yes, he had success with Reid's team; a team that went 8-8 and 4-12 the two years prior to Kelly taking over. He took that team to two 10 win seasons while he evaluated what he had and worked with what he could. And in those two years, the players he inherited had career years in almost every case.

Now in year 3 he's taken the GM role and building the team the way he wants. So far that team is 0-0. Maybe he fails. But so far he hasn't.

Haters gonna see what haters wanna see.

 

[unckeyherb]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

Ugh. What a bad post.

He won 10 games his first year with somebody else's team that could only win 4 games the year prior. Good fast decisions? The starting QB he inherited was Mike Vick, bro. Chip turned Foles into what he was that great year. Who were the two safest bets for production at RB? Two dynamic receiving threats? You mean Desean and Maclin that never played together under Chip?

He got rid of Desean, a small, fast WR that can only do one thing. Remind me of how much impact he had in Washington? Shady was great, but sorry he looked sub-par behind that stud line last year. He was replaced by TWO RBs, one of which was the leading rusher last year and they still have Sproles who was more effective than Shady last year in many ways. How is that 'gutting' the backfield?

Link me to anything that points to a. Bradford not being able to walk or b. Tebow is the contingency plan.

Legendary bad GM moves when a snap has not been played with Chip as GM and this team is a bottom 3?

Fans want to see what they want to see, but you've been hitting the crack pipe a little too hard this morning.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Last year, Sproles was the MVP for the first 6 games or so. So Mathews definitely has value... if he stays healthy.

Sproles was so fun to watch last year. I wonder what his role will be now that we have Mathews here. Even when he took the ball as a regular rb, he was fun to watch, and there won't be many of those opportunities this year.

Haven't they been saying all offseason that Sproles role won't change?

Last year, Sproles was the MVP for the first 6 games or so. So Mathews definitely has value... if he stays healthy.

Sproles was so fun to watch last year. I wonder what his role will be now that we have Mathews here. Even when he took the ball as a regular rb, he was fun to watch, and there won't be many of those opportunities this year.

Haven't they been saying all offseason that Sproles role won't change?

I doubt sproles is going to get 60 carries out of the backfield this year.

That's 3-4 per game. That doesn't seem unreachable.

 

[Amused to Death]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

Ugh. What a bad post.

He won 10 games his first year with somebody else's team that could only win 4 games the year prior. Good fast decisions? The starting QB he inherited was Mike Vick, bro. Chip turned Foles into what he was that great year. Who were the two safest bets for production at RB? Two dynamic receiving threats? You mean Desean and Maclin that never played together under Chip?

He got rid of Desean, a small, fast WR that can only do one thing. Remind me of how much impact he had in Washington? Shady was great, but sorry he looked sub-par behind that stud line last year. He was replaced by TWO RBs, one of which was the leading rusher last year and they still have Sproles who was more effective than Shady last year in many ways. How is that 'gutting' the backfield?

Link me to anything that points to a. Bradford not being able to walk or b. Tebow is the contingency plan.

Legendary bad GM moves when a snap has not been played with Chip as GM and this team is a bottom 3?

Fans want to see what they want to see, but you've been hitting the crack pipe a little too hard this morning.

 

[unckeyherb]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

Ugh. What a bad post.

He won 10 games his first year with somebody else's team that could only win 4 games the year prior. Good fast decisions? The starting QB he inherited was Mike Vick, bro. Chip turned Foles into what he was that great year. Who were the two safest bets for production at RB? Two dynamic receiving threats? You mean Desean and Maclin that never played together under Chip?

He got rid of Desean, a small, fast WR that can only do one thing. Remind me of how much impact he had in Washington? Shady was great, but sorry he looked sub-par behind that stud line last year. He was replaced by TWO RBs, one of which was the leading rusher last year and they still have Sproles who was more effective than Shady last year in many ways. How is that 'gutting' the backfield?

Link me to anything that points to a. Bradford not being able to walk or b. Tebow is the contingency plan.

Legendary bad GM moves when a snap has not been played with Chip as GM and this team is a bottom 3?

Fans want to see what they want to see, but you've been hitting the crack pipe a little too hard this morning.

beat me to it

 

[CentralPA]

Wow Kelly is something else. He'll be back in college in two years, max.

Why?

Because it's the "chic" thing to say.

That's why I asked. Pretty common and easy statement to make but I never see reasons why they believe it.

Sure you have, you just choose to ignore them.

Kelly came into the league and had instant success with somebody else's team. The reasons that team worked for him were easy to see. He had a QB able to make good, fast decisions, two of the safest bets for steady production in the entire league at running back, two of the most dynamic young receiving talents in the NFL, and a line that had a decent shot at protecting them.

Since then, he's gutted the entire backfield -- QB, RB's and all -- and replaced the fundamental parts with three of the most notoriously fragile and overpaid models in the NFL. He backed up that plan by gutting the offensive line, practically guaranteeing failure by all three guys. He allowed the entire WR corps that propped him up to walk and is now rolling into the season with a couple WR 3's instead of Probowl caliber guys. New reports come out daily that Bradford still can't walk, and the contingency plan is Tebow.

The guy's not just a bad GM -- he's legendarily idiotic. Completely overmatched by the other guy every time he insists on making a deal. He's systematically annihilating his own team while buffing up the competition, and when he can't do that, he's just releasing good players outright over ego clashes.

I do still happen to think he's got a novel offensive mind, but he's showing over and over again that he's hopelessly lost as anything but a glorified OC. At this point, this team's forseeable future is bottom three in the NFL, and the choices that this moron has made are going to ensure it stays that way for a while. They're teetering on the brink of a full-on 49'ers style implosion, and the natives just don't see it yet because their pseudo-opinions are being manufactured entirely out of feel-good camp blurbs and off-season puff pieces. Anyone with a clue is seeing a massive Harbaugh redux, complete with everybody who escapes Chip's orbit eager to tell anyone who will listen that the guy is a trainwreck.

But fans gonna see what fans wanna see.

Ugh. What a bad post.

He won 10 games his first year with somebody else's team that could only win 4 games the year prior. Good fast decisions? The starting QB he inherited was Mike Vick, bro. Chip turned Foles into what he was that great year. Who were the two safest bets for production at RB? Two dynamic receiving threats? You mean Desean and Maclin that never played together under Chip?

He got rid of Desean, a small, fast WR that can only do one thing. Remind me of how much impact he had in Washington? Shady was great, but sorry he looked sub-par behind that stud line last year. He was replaced by TWO RBs, one of which was the leading rusher last year and they still have Sproles who was more effective than Shady last year in many ways. How is that 'gutting' the backfield?

Link me to anything that points to a. Bradford not being able to walk or b. Tebow is the contingency plan.

Legendary bad GM moves when a snap has not been played with Chip as GM and this team is a bottom 3?

Fans want to see what they want to see, but you've been hitting the crack pipe a little too hard this morning.

beat me to it

Preach it AtD!

 

[babydemon90]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I'll bet he get more guaranteed money somewhere else. Soon.

He would have made 11.5 mil over the next 2 years - and if he actually reported to camp and not complained, very unlikely he'd have been cut, at least this year. We'll see what he gets - I'd be surprised if he seems more $$ then that over the next 2 years, but we shall see!

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Growth Mindset: The Idea Shaping the Eagles’ Offseason

By Sheil Kapadia |

June 11, 2015 at 9:51 am
This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way— in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments— everyone can change and grow through application and experience. Do people with this mindset believe that anyone can be anything, that anyone with proper motivation or education can become Einstein or Beethoven? No, but they believe that a person’s true potential is unknown (and unknowable); that it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training.

***

When informed recently that copies of her book were circulating around the NovaCare Complex this offseason, Carol Dweck was thrilled.

The Stanford psychology professor has heard the name Chip Kelly before, but she knows very little about him. Kelly and his coaching staff, however, are very familiar with Dweck. They've been using her 2007 book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, as a teaching tool all offseason. The book focuses on the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

"A growth mindset is the belief that people can develop their talents and abilities," Dweck said during a phone interview with Birds 24/7. "It doesn’t mean everyone’s the same. It doesn’t mean they have the same abilities now, but it’s the idea that everyone can get better with good practice, good strategies, good coaching."

The idea is relatively straightforward as it pertains to football and athletics. Those with a fixed mindset believe they have a ceiling, that their talent will take them to a predetermined limit.

Those with a growth mindset operate without such boundaries and are able to better overcome failure, take coaching and develop.

"It applies to everybody in the building, from the coaches all the way to veterans all the way to the rookies," said safety Malcolm Jenkins. "Each person can take that and apply it to themselves. Whether you’re a veteran who feels like you’ve been playing the game all your life and you know it pretty well, you kind of check yourself. Are you trying to grow? Or are you fixed in the mind frame that you’ve got it?

"Whereas a rookie, you’re coming in and you were the man, do you feel like you still need to improve to make this league? Or have you just arrived? Same thing with coaches. Are there different ways we can be going about this to make the team better? I think when everybody’s trying to get better, it just makes the whole team that much better as a collective whole."

***

The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

Sam Bradford has admitted he thought about calling it quits. He didn't know if he wanted to go through months of rehab yet again after suffering a torn ACL for the second straight season. But eventually, he decided he had more football left in him. Now he finds himself in Philadelphia looking to resurrect his career at the age of 27.

Asked if the emphasis on growth mindset has resonated with him, Bradford said: "Yeah, absolutely. Especially with my knee, it’s easy to get down and get frustrated and say, ‘Hey, I’m just worried about my knee. I just hope it gets better.’ But when you come in and you’re positive every day and you’re looking for other ways to improve... I can’t be out there on the field, but there’s a million other things I can do to get better. I think that’s what has really been brought to light to me. And there are things that I am doing to improve my game."

Dweck focuses quite a bit on failure when explaining the difference in mindsets.

"In the fixed mindset, a failure means that you’re a failure," she said. "It’s a test of your fixed ability and your fixed potential, and it says, ‘Hey, it’s not there, and everyone sees it’s not there.’ In a growth mindset, it’s not always necessarily a happy thing, but it means these are things you have to work on. And you don’t waste time wallowing in self-doubt. You get going on what needs to be done."

Trending: Eagles Wake-Up Call: The State Of the O-Line
There's also an emphasis on process over results, an idea many coaches harp on. Kelly has been obsessive about this point since he got to Philadelphia.

In his third game as an NFL head coach, the Eagles dropped a Thursday night matchup to Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. That put them at 1-2 with a matchup against Peyton Manning and the Broncos looming. In the days leading up to that game, Kelly's message was clear.

"The one thing I do know about it, when you do lose, you can't feel sorry for yourself," he said at the time. "That's not going to solve any problems. It's about putting your head down, going to work, understanding mistakes are made. If you continue to make the same mistake, that's where we really have an issue. Let's fix what we saw that went wrong on Thursday night and try to build upon it."

Kelly has repeated some version of this philosophy over and over in the last two-plus years.


***

Managers with a growth mindset think it’s nice to have talent, but that’s just the starting point. These managers are more committed to their employees’ development, and to their own. They give a great deal more developmental coaching, they notice improvement in employees’ performance, and they welcome critiques from their employees.

Rick Minter has been a football coach since 1977 and made 13 different stops in the college ranks before Kelly called on him to direct the Eagles inside linebackers in 2013.

The 60 year old has read Dweck's book and has been referencing it constantly with his players all spring.

"The majority of our coaches have read it," said Minter. "We’ve offered it up to all of our players to read, and a lot of my meetings every day, I try to hit on something, just a coaching point or two, about that. Just to keep it in front of them and to keep it in front of myself."

New defensive backs coach Cory Undlin has been referencing it often as well.

"At the start of every meeting," said Jenkins. "It’s not just always about what we do on the field. It might be what you do in the weight room, how you take care of your body, sleep, everything. It’s just, are you fixed in your mindset? Or are you trying to continually get better?

"Each position coach kind of broke the book down to their position, and then it’s just been a theme that’s circling around the team, really, in everything we do."

The concepts in the book most directly apply to players who are trying to perfect their craft. But Dweck writes a lot about management and leadership as well.

The ideas have led Minter to identify and accept new teaching methods.

"I’ll tell you this," Minter said. "Before I came here, I was more of a fixed than a growth. I was more fixed, been doing it my way forever. Then all of a sudden I came here, got revealed a lot of different things by the way Chip Kelly does things, the way our defensive staff does things, and all of a sudden it’s opening up a whole new world through different eyes as an assistant coach rather than a head coach/coordinator.

"I mean, I’ve improved my teaching techniques. Never too old to learn new tricks. Tried to reach guys differently. Tried to have them see things differently, more clearly. ...I can’t play on the field. So it doesn’t matter what I know. It’s what I can get my players to know. And the guy that has the open mind and the growth-oriented mindset is actually the guy who’s very, very receptive to being taught and to being coached. The guy who’s a fixed mindset guy is not gonna be coached very easy because you’re invading his territory. ‘I’ve got the answers, coach. That’s OK. I’ve got the answers.’

"So that’s what we’re training our guys to do is when crap hits the fan up there in the stadium, our guys can have their answers themselves. I’ll be there with them on the side, but a well-prepared team can answer its own questions and its own problems."

***

Isn’t potential someone’s capacity to develop their skills with effort over time? And that’s just the point. How can we know where effort and time will take someone?

The first time Kelly talked about growth mindset was back in April after the Eagles spent their first-round pick on wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

"It’s about guys that look to grow every day, exactly what the title explains," Agholor said. "Guys that have a fixed mindset are the ‘I got it’ guys. Guys that think they’ve arrived. We have a team full of guys that just want to progress every day and grow."

The Eagles take a three-pronged approach to scouting and the draft. They look at physical measurables and scheme fit, but also appear to be obsessed with how guys will fit into their culture.

Vice president of player personnel Ed Marynowitz categorized the third prong as character, attitude and intelligence.

"That’s really the hardest part of our job is figuring out the wiring and the makeup of these guys," he said earlier this offseason.

"What we’re looking for, and I’ll use the term a lot, is we want guys that are wired the right way. So an old [bill] Parcells saying is when the best players are your best people is really when you have something. That’s the type of culture that we want, where the best people, the best players are the guys that have the best intangibles. We’re big on culture here and the right fit. And I think it’s important that we continue to bring guys in that are wired the right way."

There's no doubt that identifying prospects with a growth mindset is a significant part of the equation. Once the rookies arrive, nothing is handed to them. Most start out with the second or third team in practice until they work their way up.

Tight end Zach Ertz has proven to be one of the Eagles' best pass-catching options. He might be unhappy about seeing limited snaps, but Ertz now seems to realize he's not going to get on the field more unless his run blocking improves.

"You don’t want a fixed mindset," he said. "There’s always room to improve. You never want to be complacent or satisfied in any way. And that’s kind of what we want to work on each and every day, whether it’s blocking for me in particular, I know there’s room to improve. Even a guy like Brent Celek who’s probably one of the best blocking tight ends, there’s room to improve. And my receiving game, there’s room to improve. Just having that mindset where there’s something to improve each and every day. And ultimately, that’s gonna get you better."

In the book, Dweck discusses the idea that some people don't want to rehearse, they just want to perform. Those types of players don't last too long in Kelly's program, even if they produce results.

Dweck would make a lousy draft analyst because she scoffs at the idea of projecting ceilings with anyone, but especially 20-somethings who are just entering the league.

"The whole idea of a ceiling is a terrible concept," Dweck said. "And also, even worse is the idea that you can know in advance what someone is capable of. You know what they can do right now, but you have no idea who or what they could become with great coaching and dedication."

***

True self-confidence is "the courage to be open— to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source."

Asked who introduced him to the book, Kelly responded as if it just fell out of the sky into his lap one day.

"I don't think anybody introduced anything to us," he said. "I think a lot of us just felt that way. I think it puts it in better terms for us to be able to discuss it, and most of our players here have that mindset anyway. It's just something that they bring when they're here."

Added assistant head coach and defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro: "I think it applies to all organizations. You’re just looking for people that are willing to grow. That’s basically it. How do I view this practice? Am I willing to take direction? Am I willing to take constructive criticism? Can I view myself in real time, and say, ‘Hey, I need to work on those things.’? It’s not like hocus-pocus dust or anything."

Perhaps the parts of the book that best apply to Kelly are the ones that discuss leadership in business, best practices in management and how to foster a culture that encourages healthy debate.

"Groupthink can also happen when a fixed-mindset leader punishes dissent," writes Dweck. "People may not stop thinking critically, but they stop speaking up.

"Remember, people can be independent thinkers and team players at the same time. Help them fill both roles."

This is the challenge for coaches: Finding the balance between keeping an open mind and staying true to their convictions. Encouraging debate, but getting players to buy in.

Dweck suggests four key points for creating an environment that fosters a growth mindset:

1. Presenting skills as learnable.
2. Conveying that the organization values learning and perseverance, not just ready-made genius or talent.
3. Giving feedback in a way that promotes learning and future success.
4. Presenting managers as resources for learning

These concepts are central to the Eagles' operation, and coaches will continue to harp on them going forward.

"We all need to realize that 10 wins is not enough," Minter said. "We’ve gotta find ways to do more. And so if everybody, coach and player, reaches down and finds more, then perhaps the outcome will be better."

 

[Long Ball Larry]

pfft. college boy with all his "books".

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I actually got that book a couple years ago, but never read it. Will have to pull it out.

 

[unckeyherb]

So, any chance they cut Mathis? I gotta imagine he'll show up to the mandatory camp so as to not get fined, but who knows.... Have a bad feeling we're going to end up trading him for a 7th or some garbage pick, really would prefer we keep the OL depth this year. You want to get rid of him, draft someone next year.

guess so...

Such a bad move on his part to keep pressing this issue. He was making 5+ million and probably won't see half of that again.

I'll bet he get more guaranteed money somewhere else. Soon.

He would have made 11.5 mil over the next 2 years - and if he actually reported to camp and not complained, very unlikely he'd have been cut, at least this year. We'll see what he gets - I'd be surprised if he seems more $$ then that over the next 2 years, but we shall see!

He is due 5 Million this year and its very possible that he wouldn't have played out his contract through next year. I'll bet he can get more than 5 Mill guaranteed.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Fletcher Cox: Eagles' front seven 'No. 1 in the league'

June 12, 2015, 9:15 am

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Fletcher Cox made second-team All-Pro last season after recording 61 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. (USA Today Images)

They return Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton and Bennie Logan up front.

Theyve got DeMeco Ryans and Kiko Alonso at inside linebacker and Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham at outside linebacker.

They bring Vinny Curry off the bench to rush the passer and Mychal Kendricks is one heck of an extra inside linebacker.

Theyre talented, theyre experienced and theyre deep.

And Cox, who had a monster breakthrough season in 2014, believes the Eagles now have the best defensive front seven in the NFL.

Being honest, I think we should be No. 1 in the league, Cox said. I say that for (several) reasons.

We have a bunch of great guys, and they are going to put everything they got on the field. They are going to leave it on the field. They are a bunch of selfless guy thats going to play for another and to let each other know they are there to win the games.

Cox, speaking Thursday on Comcast SportsNets Quick Slants, singled out Thornton, a former undrafted free agent, as the Eagles most underrated player.

Because he's a hard-nose guy who comes out every day in practice, even on game day, just to show the whole NFL that he can be one of the top guys, Cox said. I talk to him every day [about] how he just wants to better himself. We watch each other, learn from each other and we compete against each other.

Although the Eagles return everybody up front, theyve torn apart the secondary, cutting ties with Bradley Fletcher, Cary Williams and Nate Allen and adding Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and three draft picks.

Any change is a great change, Cox said. I think the players that we did have, Cary and Bradley Fletcher, all those guys are great players in this league.

This is a business, and you got to understand it. But I think Byron Maxwell is a great addition to the defense. He brings a lot of swagger, and one of the funniest guys on the team. I think its a great thing.

Cox enters his fourth NFL season as one of the NFLs most accomplished 3-4 linemen, both against the run and collapsing the pocket. He made second-team All-Pro last year and its only a matter of time before he makes a Pro Bowl team.

Well the key thing was to get comfortable with everything I was doing, he said. To get comfortable with the defense. The players playing next to me, and to let everyone around me Im here and Im here to make a statement and be the best player I can be every down and every game.

The Pro Bowl snub? Cox admitted it bothers him.

It bothers me maybe just a little, he said. It doesnt hurt sometimes to be under the radar, to be an underrated player. It gives me a lot more to be proud about. To go out every day and prove to the world and to the NFL that I can be a top player in this league.

Cox is due to earn $1.786 million this year on the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Eagles exercised his 2016 option year at just under $8 million, but theres a good chance the Eagles will sign him to a long-term extension before that kicks in.

Cox said he expects to be in Philly for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I see that happening, and it was a great thing they picked up my fifth year option, he said. Im glad to be here, and for another year its going to be a great season. Itll be fun.

 

[CentralPA]

Fletcher Cox: Eagles' front seven 'No. 1 in the league'

June 12, 2015, 9:15 am

SHARE THIS POST

Fletcher Cox made second-team All-Pro last season after recording 61 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. (USA Today Images)

They return Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton and Bennie Logan up front.

Theyve got DeMeco Ryans and Kiko Alonso at inside linebacker and Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham at outside linebacker.

They bring Vinny Curry off the bench to rush the passer and Mychal Kendricks is one heck of an extra inside linebacker.

Theyre talented, theyre experienced and theyre deep.

And Cox, who had a monster breakthrough season in 2014, believes the Eagles now have the best defensive front seven in the NFL.

Being honest, I think we should be No. 1 in the league, Cox said. I say that for (several) reasons.

We have a bunch of great guys, and they are going to put everything they got on the field. They are going to leave it on the field. They are a bunch of selfless guy thats going to play for another and to let each other know they are there to win the games.

Cox, speaking Thursday on Comcast SportsNets Quick Slants, singled out Thornton, a former undrafted free agent, as the Eagles most underrated player.

Because he's a hard-nose guy who comes out every day in practice, even on game day, just to show the whole NFL that he can be one of the top guys, Cox said. I talk to him every day [about] how he just wants to better himself. We watch each other, learn from each other and we compete against each other.

Although the Eagles return everybody up front, theyve torn apart the secondary, cutting ties with Bradley Fletcher, Cary Williams and Nate Allen and adding Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and three draft picks.

Any change is a great change, Cox said. I think the players that we did have, Cary and Bradley Fletcher, all those guys are great players in this league.

This is a business, and you got to understand it. But I think Byron Maxwell is a great addition to the defense. He brings a lot of swagger, and one of the funniest guys on the team. I think its a great thing.

Cox enters his fourth NFL season as one of the NFLs most accomplished 3-4 linemen, both against the run and collapsing the pocket. He made second-team All-Pro last year and its only a matter of time before he makes a Pro Bowl team.

Well the key thing was to get comfortable with everything I was doing, he said. To get comfortable with the defense. The players playing next to me, and to let everyone around me Im here and Im here to make a statement and be the best player I can be every down and every game.

The Pro Bowl snub? Cox admitted it bothers him.

It bothers me maybe just a little, he said. It doesnt hurt sometimes to be under the radar, to be an underrated player. It gives me a lot more to be proud about. To go out every day and prove to the world and to the NFL that I can be a top player in this league.

Cox is due to earn $1.786 million this year on the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Eagles exercised his 2016 option year at just under $8 million, but theres a good chance the Eagles will sign him to a long-term extension before that kicks in.

Cox said he expects to be in Philly for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I see that happening, and it was a great thing they picked up my fifth year option, he said. Im glad to be here, and for another year its going to be a great season. Itll be fun.

Cox is arguably the best 3-4 tackle in the league. Maybe even out of any scheme. He's going to have a monster year.

 

[babydemon90]

Now that we saved the $$ on Mathis, if we spend it on Cox, I will not be disappointed.