Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
2021 offseason NFL quarterback dominoes: What if the Jets keep Sam Darnold? What if Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott get traded? – ESPN+
The Eagles trade Wentz to the Colts for a third-round pick and a conditional 2022 selection. The Colts are the best candidate for Wentz. Eagles fans won’t be thrilled about the price tag, but the organization has virtually no leverage in making this deal and can’t afford to take on an expensive replacement. The addition that makes this deal work is that conditional pick; let’s say that the Eagles get a third-round pick in 2022 if Wentz makes it to the Pro Bowl or a second-round pick if he’s a Pro Bowler and the Colts make it to the AFC Championship Game. The Eagles would move forward with Jalen Hurts as their starter, but they would still want to add a backup in case Hurts struggles or gets injured. With limited cap space, the Eagles can pursue an old friend … The Bears trade QB Nick Foles to the Eagles for TE Zach Ertz and a 2021 sixth-round pick. Chicago doesn’t have much cap space either, but Ertz’s $8.3 million salary would swap in as a replacement for Jimmy Graham, who is likely to be cut after the season. We all know how much general manager Ryan Pace loves his tight ends, and Ertz would step in alongside Cole Kmet in two-tight end sets for the Bears. Foles has a $4 million base salary in 2021, which makes him financially feasible for his former team.
Weapon X Mailbag: What is Jalen Hurts’ ceiling? – BGN
I said on From the Bleachers on BGN Radio that there’s a 97th-percentile outcome where he’s basically Russell Wilson, right? The narrative is there at least. College transfers who didn’t go in the first round and were thrust into starting roles quicker than expected. Seattle had just given Matt Flynn over $20 million the same offseason they drafted Wilson, but Russ just flat-out beat him for the job and the franchise has never looked back since. Wilson is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen in terms of avoiding hits and unnecessary contacts, remaining durable as a mobile quarterback even as others have had their bodies betray them. It feels like a preternatural quality, one that cannot be taught. Michael Vick is the most electric athlete I’ve ever seen, but the dude didn’t know how to slide and got clobbered constantly. Hurts’ vibe in this department feels more akin to the way Wilson protects himself. Hurts’ talent is undeniable. He’s run for 100+ yards in a game and he’s also passed for 300+ yards and three TDs in a game. He’s got the goods. That doesn’t necessarily equate to guaranteed NFL stardom, but it’s a prominent component.
From the Bleachers #46: Hurts Brings the Juice into Dallas Week – BGN Radio
Shamus Clancy talks Eagles-Cowboys, Carson Wentz/Jalen Hurts, and more.
Eytan Shander: ‘If we are having this conversation in the first place, Wentz has already lost’ – PhillyVoice
It’s time. It’s a little crazy (maybe more than a little) that after four years of solid to great QB play, we find ourselves here. Right here. The moment that makes the most sense from the point of view of the person who is at the epicenter of all of this mess, Carson Wentz. It’s time for Carson Wentz to move on from Philadelphia, because it’s in the best interest for Carson Wentz to move on from Philadelphia. The fact that people are debating – once again – which QB would you rather have starting for the Eagles, and one of those QBs is Wentz, means Carson has already lost the war.
Things Change – Iggles Blitz
Hurts was special in college. He helped Alabama win a national title in 2017. Hurts then transferred to Oklahoma and finished second in Heisman voting in 2019. He has had some special moments already in the NFL, mostly due to his mobility. He’s got a few very impressive runs and has made some terrific throws on the move. Think about the fact that Hurts first win as a starter came against the top-ranked defense in the league. I doubt many rookies can say that. I don’t think Hurts has shown us anything that can’t be sustained, beyond the TDs on fourth down. That is somewhat of a fluke. As he progresses, hopefully the Eagles will score before fourth down. Hurts is playing well, but there aren’t a bunch of fluky, wild plays. He’s not spinning away from three tacklers and throwing a ball into traffic for a miracle catch. Hurts is executing the offense and getting the ball to open receivers. He makes plays with his legs when needed.
How Jalen Hurts has jumpstarted the Eagles offense – The Athletic
Hurts missed some passes against the Cardinals but his overall completion percentage was hurt by drops, tipped passes and some heaves he had to make at the end of the game. He looked in full control throughout the game. Some could argue that the move away from Carson Wentz came too late, but I think Pederson deserves a lot of credit for making this move to Hurts and adjusting his offense with more read options. Equating the numbers in the box with option runs and having a quarterback who can slip away from pressure has masked some of the issues with the Eagles’ injury-riddled offensive line and they look night-and-day better. But it’s not as simple as inserting a mobile quarterback into the lineup, Hurts looks poised and prepared. He still has work to do but his polish as a dropback passer has been a pleasant surprise.
Mailbag: Justin Herbert or Justin Jefferson for Offensive Rookie of the Year? – MMQB
And all this comes with a caveat—if you think the guy is shot, then bail now. He still has value and, as it stands, his contract is an asset for someone else. If you deal for him, you gamble with cap space in the short term ($25.4 million for 2020), but if he hits, that average is below $25 million over the next four years, a bargain for a starting quarterback in the NFL. And that sets it up so Philly should be able to get something back for him. Conversely, if the Eagles wait and he bombs, that trade value is gone, and they’re left to cut him and swallow the cap repercussions. Yes, trading him would mean dealing with the dead-money hit. But they’re going to have to deal with that at some point anyhow, and if you’re trading your quarterback, you’re probably planning a pretty massive rebuild—which means taking on salary-cap water is a litter easier and more justifiable.
Every NFL team’s 2021 QB situation: Nine are in good shape, two could get ugly and everyone in between – CBS Sports
And anytime you have to bench a young starter so soon after giving him a top-of-the-market deal it’s going to lead to some difficult conversations, both internally and externally. Will ownership eat a $10M bonus payment in March to help fortify trade returns? Will the market be tepid given the way the offense has improved since the change? Many within the game are already pointing to the Colts, but Wentz won’t be their only option, either. How long into the offseason does this situation linger?
NFL Week 16 Preview: Fantasy football advice, betting tips and matchups to watch – PFF
There was a point this season where this game was sure to produce bad football. To be fair, there’s a decent chance it still may, but both the Eagles and the Cowboys have have made strides in recent weeks toward being competitive again. A lot of that has to do with the quarterback position stabilizing under Jalen Hurts and Andy Dalton. The PFF grades for Hurts’ past two starts against New Orleans and Arizona highlight that the rookie still has significant room for improvement, but at the same time, his athleticism has provided new life to this offense. Hurts is 12-of-23 for 197 yards and four touchdowns on third and fourth down over the past two weeks, securing five additional first downs on the ground on 10 carries Dalton, meanwhile, has quietly turned in solid performance after solid performance since returning in Week 11 from injury. He has graded between 69.0 and 75.5 in each of the five games since coming back. He and Hurts will each look to keep their team’s slim chances of winning the division alive in this one.
Duffy: Here’s what I learned from the All-22 | Cardinals edition – PE.com
There were a lot of interesting takeaways from the film on Monday morning after Sunday’s loss to Arizona. Obviously, the No. 1 topic on a lot of people’s minds is the performance of quarterback Jalen Hurts. The rookie made the second start of his career. Overall, I thought he did pretty well. There were certainly some plays he would like to have back, but there were a lot of positives to take away from the film. The top one for me? The anticipation he showed on throws outside the numbers.
How Brandon Graham buried the hatchet with a bitter enemy – NBCSP
And B.G. and Jim Washburn? After years of animosity, they worked through their differences. “Me and Wash now, have buried that, we really good, everything is cool,” B.G. said Wednesday. “I’m older now and I can understand why some things happened the way it did and I really could appreciate it. Some stuff that he taught back then is really still helping me to this day because when we got back in this (4-3) defense, all I could hear is Washburn saying, ‘Get off the ball! Run to the ball and show your personality and show your athleticism!’ That’s pretty much how it is in this defense, so I was so excited when Schwartz ended up coming and man I’m happy that me and Wash are real cool now, compared to back then when I was a young guy and immature.” If B.G. and Wash can bury the hatchet, who knows? Maybe there’s still hope for Donovan and T.O.
Roast & Ghost: Starts & sits for Week 16 fantasy football – Fake Teams
Roast: Amari Cooper vs Philadelphia Eagles. I really want to just saw all the Cowboys wide receivers but that’s too broad and I’m already going to be picking two guys for my WR ghost this wee (spoiler alert). But trust that I like all the Cowboys receivers this week. And that is because the Eagles secondary has been down right trash in recent weeks. Only the helpless Lions have allowed more receiving yards to wide receivers over the last six games and no team is allowing more yards per target during that time (10.8). Despite a down game against the 49ers, I have full faith that Cooper is still the top receiver in Dallas as he’s seen less than five targets only twice this season. Cooper will likely see a lot of Darius Slay who, despite having name recognition, has not been good this season. Slay is allowing a 102.4 QBR against and has given up 626 yards and three touchdowns in coverage this season. I’m fully expecting Amari to be able to put together a stellar game especially with the NFC East still up for grabs for Dallas.
Cowboys vs. Eagles injury report: Dallas could be without Leighton Vander Esch, Xavier Woods and Antwaun Woods Sunday – Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys are facing the Philadelphia Eagles this week and they have a new challenge on their hands. The Eagles have changed quarterbacks and the very mobile Jalen Hurts is now under center in place of Carson Wentz. That means the Cowboys defense is going to have to keep an eye on Hurts and his running ability. According to Mike McCarthy earlier today, they may have to do that without a few of their starters on defense. Safety Xavier Woods, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and defensive tackle Antwaun Woods all missed practice today. At the press conference this morning, McCarthy didn’t sound very optimistic about any of them playing this week. Cornerback Rashard Robinson also missed practice today.
Dwayne Haskins Jr. fined $40k for breaking COVID-19 protocols again – Hogs Haven
We learned that Dwayne Haskins Jr. had lost his captain’s patch today during practice. Ron Rivera talked about it during his post-game presser. He said Haskins was honest about what happened, and apologized to the team today. Haskins now has to be tested twice a day, practice with a mask on, and attend all team meetings virtually. The team had several other options available for punishment including fines and a suspension. Rivera did say Haskins was fined, but didn’t say how much, and was very eager to move on from the issue.
Panthers at Football Team injury report: Christian McCaffrey still not practicing – Cat Scratch Reader
The Panthers are back at practice today ahead of their Week 16 matchup with the Football Team, and star running back Christian McCaffrey is once again not participating in practice. Head coach Matt Rhule had said earlier in the week that he would like to see McCaffrey practice today before speculating on his potential for playing on Sunday. Well, today is Wednesday and he’s not practicing, so that’s probably not good for his chances to suit up this weekend.
Giants’ injury report: Daniel Jones “doing everything I can” to play – Big Blue View
Quarterback Daniel Jones was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice for the New York Giants. Media members in attendance for the early portion of practice said that Jones, rehabbing hamstring and ankle injuries, was the first quarterback to take reps in early drills. The Giants are hoping to have Jones, who missed Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and has played in only one of the team’s last three games, for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. “I’m doing everything I can to get back out there,” Jones said on Wednesday. “Every week you want to play … I’m working as hard as I can. I really do want to be out there.”
49ers sign Josh Rosen and sign Jordan Matthews to the practice squad – Niners Nation
The 49ers today announced they have signed QB Josh Rosen to a one-year deal and WR Jordan Matthews to the practice squad.
Review: Nnamdi Asomugha Covers In Sylvie’s Love – The Philadelphia Globe
Sylvie’s Love is a refreshing romantic feature starring veteran actor Tessa Thompson and relative newcomer Nnamdi Asomugha. Set in 1960s New York City, the film dabbles in the excitement of the city’s entertainment renaissance. Jazz, television, and record stores are integral parts of the charming romance. Eagles fans may recall Asomugha’s rocky tenure in Philadelphia. The high-priced free agent cornerback was notoriously distracted off the field. As it turns out, his future interests are something that may have impacted his underwhelming play on the gridiron. Asomugha, who is married to actor Kerry Washington, now has a post-football career in the movie industry.
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