The NFL Network reported that Eagles guard Evan Mathis, coming off an All-Pro season has been asked to restructure his contract. Mathis is due $5.15 million this season.

Evan Mathis.

Mathis is 14th on the pay scale among guards entering the 2014 season. Teammate Todd Herremans, the Eagles' right guard, is 10th at $6 million according to Spotrac.com.

At the coaches breakfast in Orlando Tuesday Eagles head coach Chip Kelly gave no definitive answer about Mathis.

Kelly did address the DeSean Jackson situation although he didn't confirm the wide receiver is on the trade block. To wit:

@BobGlauber Chip Kelly on DJax trade rumors: "I like DeSean but we're always going to do what's in the best interests of the organization."

Kelly said he spoke with Jackson and that "the offense isn't predicated around one guy.


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The third Eagles quarterback could be a physical away from joining the roster.

The Eagles are checking Mark Sanchez per an NFL source,  meaning the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft must prove his throwing shoulder is OK and agree to a contract. Reports are the Eagles will sign Sanchez.

The process is unlikely to be finalized tonight.

Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez (6-2, 225)  was released by the Jets after they signed Michael Vick, formerly of the Eagles.

Sanchez was 33-29 in a starting role with the Jets, throwing 68 touchdown passes and 69 interceptions. He lost the job to rookie Geno Smith after tearing a labrum in his shoulder late in a preseason game against the Giants last August.

Nick Foles is the Eagles starter, Matt Barkley the backup. Barkley followed Sanchez at USC.

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The Eagles furnished a statement in the wake of Michael Vick signing a one-year contract with the Jets Saturday.

“I want to personally wish Michael Vick and his family all the best as he heads into the next phase of his career in New York," majority owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "I really enjoyed getting to know him over the last five years. He always represented our team with a tremendous amount of class.

"Michael was a great teammate, a great leader and we’re thankful for everything he provided to our organization and to our community.”

DJack, left with Jolly.

Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson might join Vick, who will be reunited with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, formerly of the Birds.

The Jets, Panthers and Raiders all are interested in trading for Jackson according to multiple reports.

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The Eagles are listening to offers for leading wide receiver DeSean Jackson according to Derek Gunn of CSN Philly.

Rewind to January and it was Jackson, immediately after the 2013 season, who wanted the Eagles to accommodate him  with a contract restructuring.

Jackson said he and his agent had a good plan. It sure looks like we're learning about one of the components.

Any trade for Jackson won't be complete without a contract assurance on his end.

No team wants an unhappy Jackson. The Eagles went through that in 2011.

The Eagles have had to be concerned about Jackson  becoming an off the field distraction.

The latest example we know of is the reported burglary oh his Philly place.

Not long after Jackson said he wanted a new contract, he was away on vacation when his mother reported his house was burglarized. An estimated $300,000 in cash and jewellery was stolen.

Jackson, who documented the trip on social media offered a $50,000 reward the arrest and conviction of the burglars.

How would you like to be the police sorting that out?

The Eagles put walk-away prices on players. Right now it looks like
they're figuring out what it is for Jackson, who isn't the only guy capable of  stretching a defense.

Allow me to stray from football for awhile to tell you a little about Phillip Martelli.

Not that, Martelli. His grandchild.

Martelli's grandchild Phillip with PopPop and MeeMaw.

The four-year old is a chip off the old block of his father as you can see in this Bleachereport.com video. You've got to see it to believe it.

At the Selection Sunday gathering in Brooklyn Phillip introduced himself to guests in attendance as "I'm Phil Martelli." To which his PopPop said, "No you aren't now tell them who you are."

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NFL.com listed its choices for the 10 worst NFL free agent signees of all time.

Eagles had interest in Stubblefield.

Almost all were old school free agent signings. A lot has changed since then starting with the collective bargaining agreement and the way the salary cap was administered.

Four of the signings were by the Washington Redskins.

At any rate for the list click here.

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The Saints dealt Darren Sproles to the Eagles for a fifth-round draft pick.

The wife of Sproles has accused the Saints of reneging on overtures to release her husband enabling him to pick a team on his own in a rant on Instagram per TMZ.

Wrote Michel Sproles:

"I am so disappointed in the Saints organization & the way they are treating my husband.. 

"I understand this is a brutal business but when u have a good guy who works hard & does a lot for the community u would think they would show a little more respect.

"To verbalize to him that they will release him so at least he can choose the team he wants to spend his last few years left in the NFL on & then take it back without a word & try to trade him is (expletive)."
 
"The way my God is set up he gets the last say & can get u back better than the Compton Curse out I wanna give these (expletives)!"

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Newly acquired Eagles running back Darren Sproles is coming off one of his least productive season since making the switch to the NFC from the AFC.

The Eagles think Sproles, who turns 31 in June, has enough explosion left in his legs to add another weapon to their offense.

Here's what the Eagles think they got from the Saints for a fifth-round pick:

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The Eagles aren't commenting on their interest or lack thereof in cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Unrestricted free agent.

But Tom Curran is a credible reporter and his sources tell him the Eagles are in the mix for the veteran cut Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To wit:

Tom E. Curran ‏@tomecurran  1h

Source tells me the Eagles are expected to be among the teams in mix for UFA Darrelle Revis.

The Eagles' policy is to avoid confirming or denying interest in free agents. But with all due respect to their apologists, if they're serious about getting better they would be foolish not to ask about Revis, assuming he's all the way back from a knee injury.

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The Eagles agreed to terms with linebacker Bryan Braman, a career special teams player, to a two-year, $3.15m  contract with $1m guaranteed.
Braman (6-5, 241) played for the Houston Texans, who signed him as an undrafted rookie. He was a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams in 2012 having sparked the Texans with 16 special teams tackles and a club record two blocked punts, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

The Birds also agreed to terms with safety Chris Maragos on a three-year contract,

Maragos was a special teams standout with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

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With hair.

The Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year deal with safety and special teams player Chris Maragos.

Maragos (5-10, 200) spent the past three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Without hair.

Maragos registered one special teams tackle and helped Percy Harvin return a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in.the Seahawks 43-8 Super Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos.

Chris Maragos ‏@ChrisMaragos  44m

So excited to be apart of the #Eagles and can't wait to get to work. Couldn't be anymore grateful for my time in Seattle. Thank You #12thMan

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The newest Eagle, Malcolm Jenkins, survived the so-so 40-yard dashes he ran at the 2009 NFL scouting combine to come off the board as the 14th overall draft pick of the Saints.

Jenkins clocked 4.53 in the sprint. Not exactly the speed NFL cornerbacks are noted for.

But Jenkins shows closing speed in this video clip (even if it looks like Vincent Jackson shut it down early).

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At the least, Jenkins is a terrific hustler.

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The Byrd Man.

Multiple tweets on a verified Twitter account by NBC News4 sports anchor Dianna Marie Russini in Washington, D.C. say the Eagles and the Redskins are vying for the services of safety Jairus Byrd, one of the top free agents on the market.

To wit:

Dianna Marie Russini ‏@NBCdianna  2h

Sources say it will be between the Eagles or The Redskins for Jairus Byrd #NFLFreeAgency 

The Eagles have an obvious need at safety where starter Nate Allen and reserves Colt Anderson and Kurt Coleman all are unrestricted free agents.

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Jesse Alkire's vision of Eagles uniforms.

It's been awhile since the Eagles did anything dramatic with their uniforms,

Designer Jesse Alkire reworked the outfits of the Eagles and all of the NFL teams. And it works judging by the art.

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Pick a safety.

Any of these safeties.

All are slated to hit the free agent market.







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The Eagles did the humane thing with Jason Avant, releasing the veteran wide receiver soon enough to give him a chance to find a job when free agency begins next Tuesday.

"In the year I spent with Jason he was unbelievable in terms of his work ethic and his selfless nature," head coach Chip Kelly said in a statement furnished by the team. "He was a great teammate. ... I had a chance to speak with him today and he handled himself like the true professional he is."

Last week the Eagles signed wide receiver Riley Cooper to a five-year contract and Jason Maclin to a one-year deal. With the 22nd and 54th overall picks, they're positioned to scoop up a solid wide receiver ... and possibly two ... in the May 8 NFL draft.

In eight seasons the fourth-round draft pick out of Michigan State had 297 receptions for 3,646 yards  (12.3 average) and 12 touchdowns.

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