Catch Phanatic Mag's founder John McMullen with his Eagles' day-after show

The Philadelphia Eagles opened up their 2026 regular season with another narrow win against the Washington Commanders.

Catch Phanatic founder John McMullen on his Monday morning show here: 

Or, when either technology fails or I get in trouble by reproducing the video, by clicking the link. 

Eagles need to think hard about succession plan for Reese

Courtesy of Philly Voice

by Bob Herpen

Phanatic Magazine

Once the airwaves crackle on 94 WIP at 4:25 pm sharp with the sound of an aged baritone, when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field, Merrill Reese will officially kick off his 50th season as play-by-play voice. 

He’s lapped the field so hard, he’s coming up behind everyone else.

The Dean, Bill Campbell, amassed more than 5 decades on the air in a variety of roles but never that long in one spot calling one team. Andy Musser, same thing over 4 decades. Richie Ashburn was a multi-generational fixture in baseball but wasn’t even close. Larry Andersen’s working on almost 30 years’ service as the goofball-in-chief on Phillies telecasts. Gene Hart only made it to 28 years with the Flyers. Marc Zumoff bid happy trails at the 27-year mark in 2021.

In his July 15 Substack post, former Eagles beat writer Paul Domowitch never really got to the point. After waxing poetic about a pair of Air Jordans and allowing Reese the space to confirm his robust sight, speech, memory and vigor for his job before delving into the tragic circumstances which led to his tenure as play-by-play icon – there was no hint that the end is close. 

It’s OK to give a legend his flowers, but let’s not be blinded by the elephant in the room if his eyes are sealed shut due to allergens in the bouquet. And if not done correctly, the path towards Reese’s eventual retirement will be a stain on the Eagles franchise that will linger a long time.

All concerned parties need to take lessons from two pivot points in Philadelphia broadcasting history.

The first occurred less than a year ago, when legendary WMMR midday magician Pierre Robert died in his sleep, sometime before his scheduled shift on Oct. 29. Robert, who’d been on the air here since 1981 in a variety of roles throughout the broadcast day, who appeared to be in the best of health, and who was saved from the Beasley Brothers’ chopping block just 3 years prior, had some years left on his current contract and so much more life to live. He was 70 years old. 

At a legacy rock station which simultaneously targets the 12-plus and 25-to-54 demographics, there should already have been a plan in place to send Robert into the sunset, an exit plan more appropriate than simply walking away at the end of his deal. 

When his untimely passing caught everyone off guard, instead of undergoing a search for comparable and younger talent, WMMR was forced to pull an old name and voice back from the void – Matt Cord – who’d been shifted to WMGK’s older classic-rock demographic about a decade prior.

Sports fans attuned to events outside the Delaware Valley can look to what the San Francisco Giants are dealing with, as longtime broadcaster Mike Krukow announced his retirement, during the first week of August, effective the end of the season. Already unable to make Eastern road trips due to a progressive muscle disorder, the 74-year-old – who pitched for the Phillies in 1982 amidst his 14-year career – has received kudos from every corner of the Bay Area and within the game itself. 

Although his farewell tour will last the final 50 games or so of a lost Giants campaign, he’s fully present for it. 

The second is ol’ Harry and Whitey. That old-time Phillies double act which opened every spring and closed every fall between 1971 and 1997. Neither of them received the proper farewell they so richly deserved in life after growing in reputation as the soundtrack to generations. Both died, from heart attacks, on the road. One with a season almost finished, the other with one just underway. They were both in their 70s when a higher authority suddenly decided they were needed elsewhere in the cosmos.

We all know Philadelphia’s reputation. If you do right by us, we’ll do right by you. If you come from away and want to make your home here, we’ll embrace you like born-and-bred natives. 

But the downside to the positive spin on provinciality is the comfort which creeps in and morphs into complacency over the long haul. And that complacency often manifests itself as misdirected anger when change occurs. 

In a strange way, death smooths over any fallout from impending painful personnel decisions that have to be made with the public’s opinion riding in the passenger seat. 

There are countless thousands of Eagles fans who cannot envision their weekends without Merrill Reese. But life moves on and the older one gets, the less is guaranteed day to day. Merrill is 84 and, miraculously, still chugging along. That’s a lotta luck attached to good living. 

And while we’d all like to see him live to be 120, no one is eternally NFL Sunday sharp. Broadcasters lose something after about age 60. Their creativity. Their invention. Their speed and timing. I think the Eagles going through a decade of almost continual winning has helped things along, eventually that will come home to roost and there will be another rut of losing. 

Can you seriously imagine a propped-up Reese, at age 90, jolted awake for one last “It’s GOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!” on a dreary November Sunday for a 6-11 team?

Old heads remember how Hart clearly lost his timing and vision when the Flyers – stuck in a pit of subpar years without playoff berths and in need of a spiritual boost – brought him back from radio only to TV from 1993 to 1995. There are still many fans negatively vocal about Zumoff’s replacement, Kate Scott, 5 years on. 

Unless something is completely askew, it’s a foregone conclusion Merrill won’t tell anyone he thinks it’s time to go. He’s more than earned the right to call his shot – so long as *he* realizes it eventually needs to be called.

But he hasn’t earned the right to tell anyone in the organization their recommendations aren’t suitable – short of “this is your last year, like it or lump it.”

Reese will be officially honored by the Eagles during their Nov. 8 home game vs. the Giants for his half century of service. That would be a perfect time to make his call, or to have the team announce the structure of a phase out.

Whenever that day comes, don’t mourn. Don’t be angry. Don’t melt the phone lines at WIP or dogpile on social media in a vicious smear campaign. 

Reese has so many accolades trailing behind him that his road to retirement would look more like a smooth red carpet than the Belmont Avenue bridge in April after a snowy winter. Eagles Hall of Fame in 2016. Rozelle Award winner at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Even a Louis Braille Award for services to the blind and visually impaired from 2013. Called four Super Bowls, two victories. Recognition as the longest tenured PBP voice in NFL history. 

The only lingering question about his legacy should be: who has the guts and vision to make a graceful exit work?

Disclaimer: I worked for Merrill Reese at his Bucks County AM radio station in multiple capacities between 2004 and 2006.

Graham says he's done with football...again

According to a story published this morning in the Inquirer, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham has apparently called it quits from professional football for a second time.

If it's true, Graham will hit the dusty trail as the franchises' all-time leader in games played at 215.

The former University of Michigan product, born and raised in Detroit, was taken by the Birds with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and spent all but one season of his storied career as a DE -- that being 2015 when he was switched to the outside linebacker spot. 

In all, Graham racked up 363 solo tackles, 23 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries and 1 returned for a touchdown over 16 seasons. 

Inarguably, his greatest single play with the Eagles came in the waning moments of Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018, where his strip-sack of Patriots QB Tom Brady shifted momentum and led to the Jake Elliott field goal which provided the final margin in a 41-33 victory.

Graham had initially announced he was done following the 2024 season, but ducked back in last year to appear in 9 games. The Eagles made this subsequent decision easier when they officially released him back on June 2.

This announcement heralds a continuing changing of the guard for the Eagles' offensive and defensive lines, as Lane Johnson strongly hinted a month ago that 2026 would be his final pro campaign. 

Eagles, Carter agree to 4-year contract extension

It's the first official day of Training Camp 2026 and the Birds are angling to make the sports headline of the week across the Delaware Valley. 

As reported by multiple non-team sources, the Philadelphia Eagles and defensive tackle Jalen Carter have apparently agreed to terms on a mega 4-year contract extension.

The 25-year-old native of the Orlando region and University of Georgia product stands to make up to $160 million across the length of the deal, which would make him the highest paid player at the position in the National Football League. 

For all the details, watch Phanatic godfather Johnny Mac break it all down:

Eagles, Patriots consummate deal for WR A.J. Brown

On Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots finalized a trade which saw wide receiver A.J. Brown heading from the NFC East to the AFC East. 

A collection of stories about the deal, its ramifications and the drama surrounding it below:

From Johnny Mac himself at Sports Illustrated: https://tinyurl.com/3ue9jfrj

From Bleeding Green Nation on the relationship between WR1 and QB1: https://tinyurl.com/3um9fuc3

From Mike Reiss and others at ESPN: https://tinyurl.com/4uk8t4y4

2026 Philadelphia Eagles schedule officially released

The National Football League made its master schedule for all 32 franchises official on Thursday night.

The defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles begin their slate on Sept. 13, Week 1 — vs. Washington Commanders at 4:25 PM.

Week 2 — at Tennessee Titans (September 20) Week 3 — at Chicago Bears (September 28, ESPN) Monday Night Football Week 4 — vs. Los Angeles Rams (October 4) Week 5 — at Jacksonville Jaguars in London(October 11) Week 6 — vs. Carolina Panthers (October 18) Week 7 — vs. Dallas Cowboys (October 26, ESPN) Monday Night Football Week 8 — at Washington Commanders (November 1, 8:20 PM, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 9 — vs. New York Giants (November 8) Week 10 — Bye Week 11 — vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (November 22) Week 12 — at Dallas Cowboys (November 26, 4:30 PM, FOX) Thanksgiving Week 13 — vs. Indianapolis Colts (December 6) Week 14 — at Arizona Week 15 — vs. Seattle Seahawks Week 16 — vs. Houston Texans (December 24, 8:15 PM, Prime Video) Thursday Night Football Week 17 — at San Francisco 49ers (January 3, 8:20 PM, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 18 — at New York Giants (TBD) Some #Eagles schedule notes: There are five scheduled primetime games for the fifth straight year. They have appeared in the third-most primetime games (114) in the NFL since 2000. -The Birds are slated for two Monday night games (at Chicago in Week 3 and vs. Dallas in Week 7) for the second consecutive season. Since 2000, the Eagles have played in the most Monday Night Football games (44) in the NFL. -The Midnight Green marauders travel to London for their third international regular-season game in Week 5 against Jacksonville at Tottenham Stadium. The Eagles previously defeated the Jaguars 24-18 on Oct. 28, 2018, at Wembley Stadium in London. -The Eagles will play on Thanksgiving Day for the eighth time in franchise history, last doing so in 2015. Overall, Philadelphia is 6-1 on Thanksgiving all-time. The .857 winning percentage on the uniquely American holiday is the highest of any team that has played at least 7 games.

Eagles, Cowboys to renew hostilities on Thanksgiving

In advance of the release of the National Football League's master schedule for the 2026 season, anticipated to occur on Thursday night, certain matchups have already been leaked.

One of those made known to the public late Monday afternoon, is the Dallas Cowboys' opponent on Thanksgiving.

This year, it will be the defending NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys have hosted the late afternoon start on the 4th Thursday in November almost every year since 1966, excepting 1975 and 1977. 

Philadelphia has been chosen as their foe twice previously, in 1989 and 2014, winning both.

The Cowboys have won each of their last four Thanksgiving matchups. Last season, it was a 31-28 triumph over the three-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Las Vegas Raiders were the last club to top America's Team on America's holiday, a 36-33 overtime decision on Nov. 25, 2021.

Distaste between the two NFC East franchises, simmering for decades, reached a boiling point at Texas Stadium in Irving, TX on Nov. 23, 1989. Retroactively nicknamed "Bounty Bowl I" for Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan instructing several Cowboys players to be targeted, including former kicker Luis Zendejas, the Birds won, 27-0. That marked the first time Dallas was shutout on the holiday.

In that blowout victory, Eagles QB Randall Cunningham finished 21-of-33 for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Cris Carter. The visitors' defense forced 5 Cowboys turnovers and held rookie QB Troy Aikman to 54 yards through the air on 7-of-21 completions. 

Flash forward to 25 years later, Nov. 27, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Embattled signal-caller Mark Sanchez -- who infamously was victimized by the "Butt Fumble" two years prior while playing for the New York Jets against the New England Patriots -- led the Birds to a rousing 33-10 victory. 

Sanchez ended the day 20-of-29 for 217 yards, one score through the air and another on a rush. LeSean McCoy rolled for 159 yards on 25 carries and another ground TD. Conversely, Dallas QB Tony Romo was picked off twice and sacked 4 times and the hosts committed three turnovers.

For the Eagles, this will mark the eighth time the bellwether franchise has been selected to play on Thanksgiving, having gone 6-1 previously. Their only defeat came in their last Thanksgiving matchup, in Detroit, a 45-14 walloping by the Lions in 2015. Between 1968 and 2014, they bested the Pittsburgh Pirates (1939, 1940), the Lions (1968), Cowboys and Cardinals (2008). 

The remainder of the 2026 schedule for all NFL teams is expected to be revealed this Thursday, May 14, at 8 pm on NFL Network.

Quick Hits: Eagles-Colts edition

PHILADELPHIA – The first preseason game of any NFL season can be a tedious exercise, a necessary eight-to-10 play evil for the veterans — at least the ones not named Sam Bradford — and an opportunity for young unknowns to catch the eye of a coaching staff that regards them only as a useful body to abuse in the 90-degree heat of an August practice.

With Tim Tebow and his national fan club overblowing every single thing the former Heisman Trophy winner does, the third-team quarterback competition was the obvious storyline during Sunday’s 36-10 Eagles rout of the Indianapolis Colts. But, here’s the other areas you should have been paying attention to:

HOLDING DOWN THE FORT: With Zach Ertz gone until at least Week 1 of the regular season, an optimistic timetable if his core-muscle injury was indeed sports-hernia surgery as most surmise because Dr. William Myers was involved, the young tight ends behind Brent Celek become far more important.

Second-year man Trey Burton steps into the backup role for now and serves as more of a versatile h-back because he can line up in the backfield or in the slot. At just 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, however, Burton isn’t moving many off the ball as an in-line blocker. He can play a gloried fullback role, however, and had a few nice lead blocks against the Colts, while he also got behind the Indy defense on Philadelphia’s first offensive play but Mark Sanchez badly hung the football, resulting in an incompletion.

The Birds, meanwhile, brought in three rookie free agents at the position to ostensibly fight for a practice squad spot, a reality that could turn into a regular roster spot for at least  a few weeks as Ertz convalesces. Michigan State product Andrew Gleichert, Central Florida alum Justin Tukes and ex-UTEP starter Eric Tomlinson are all two-way tight ends in the Celek-mode rather than difference makers in the passing game. Tomlinson was the clear winner on Sunday, hauling in 5 catches for 61 yards.

THE YOUNG RECEIVERS: For all the talk about the ceiling of players like Nelson Agholor and Josh Huff, the only proven commodity among the Eagles’ young receiving corps is Jordan Matthews and the second-year wideout needs to step up as the true No. 1 on this team, a notion that is undermined by the coaching staff which has pigeonholed the ex-Vanderbilt star as a slot option.

Matthews caught two passes for 44 yards on five targets in limited action against the Colts and was lost in the shuffle due to the highlight-reel athleticism of Agholor, the team’s 2015 first-round pick. The former Southern California standout basically lived up to his scouting report. Like advertised, he’s a sudden athlete who can really stick his foot in the ground and go as evidenced by his brilliant 34-yard catch-and-run TD reception on a shaky Sanchez throw.

"It felt like a pass that I was targeted on in practice," the rookie said. "Good habits on the practice field carried over to the game. Sanchez and I connected on multiple hitches in practice and it wasn't any different today."

Agholor's also inconsistent, though, and needs to eliminate the drops (he had two Sunday) and mental mistakes.

"I need to just work on just finding the ball and not looking who is throwing the ball," he admitted. "I think my eyes just went to the quarterback. At the end of the day , I like the fact that (the drops) happened today. It's a good thing to learn from."

YOU’RE UP: Chip Kelly said all four entrants in the ongoing right-guard competition still have a chance but as expected Andrew Gardner got the nod in Game 1 and it’s his job to lose now if he can hold off the comeback attempt of John Moffitt.

Matt Tobin and Julian Vandervelde have taken a step back in the four-way competition and have an uphill battle to get back in the mix. Gardner was solid if unspectacular against the Colts and if the leader in the clubhouse continues that narrative, it’s his gig.

MARCUS MATTERS: Travis Long’s ACL injury created a vacuum behind starters Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin at outside linebacker. The Birds believed Long was ready to take the next step and step into Graham’s former role as the third edge player from last season when Trent Cole was still around.

The Long injury seemed like good news for former 2014 first-round bust Marcus Smith but Bill Davis and Co. are still wary of counting on the former Louisville pass rusher and are moving Vinny Curry outside in order to get his pass-rushing skills on the field more. As a 280-pound defensive end, though, it’s hard to imagine Curry being able to play in space consistently.Conversely, Smith may have changed the thought process on him at least a little bit against Indianapolis with his best effort as a professional, including one series where he assisted on a run stop, was solid in coverage and got after Matt Hasselbeck with a solid pass rush. If you didn’t know the back story of No. 90, you might have thought he was a true, three-down linebacker.

SAFETY HELP?: To the surprise of no one Earl Wolff wasn’t dressed Sunday, meaning special teams stalwarts Chris Maragos and Chris Prosinski were the top two options behind starters Malcolm Jenkins and Walter Thurmond at safety. That’s a level of depth that’s just not acceptable in this league, making the position the one spot to focus on at the final cutdown for a potential waiver wire pickup …. unless Ed Reynolds continues to show up.

The former fifth-round pick out of Stanford hasn’t exactly been Philadelphia’s best practice player but he showed up big on Gameday with a pair of interceptions and three PBUs.

"It felt amazing," Reynolds said. "It made me feel like I was back in college again. That was my thing in college -- to go out there and be a ball-hawk and give our offense more opportunities. It felt good."

Granted, Reynolds' heroics weren't against ex-Cardinal teammate Andrew Luck, TY Hilton and Frank Gore but his nose for the football shouldn't be dismissed because the Eagles are desperate for any help at the position.

"I just need to be conistent," Reynolds surmised. "It can't just be his one week. I need to show up this week, then show up the week after that, and hopefully carry it over into the regulaqr season and then into the playoffs."

PARKEY PANIC:Under any circumstances, it was going to be hard for Cody Parkey to live up to his impressive rookie season.

There was plenty of good against the team that originally signed him as a rookie free agent out of Auburn last season, including a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter but there was also plenty of bad, as he misfired on one of the now extended PAT tries as well as a 34-yard FG attempt.

Philadelphia fans were a little spoiled with Parkey’s performance last season and you can expect a bit of  market correction this time around.

TEBOW TIME: Kelly’s assertion that Tim Tebow is not a gimmick and rather a true signal caller in this league foreshadows his ultimate intent when it comes to the third spot. The Eagles would love to trade Matt Barkley in order to hand the job to Tebow and as injuries continue to pile up around the league that remains the most likely scenario.

If nothing materializes, however, Kelly would be forced to cut Barkley in order to move toward Tebow, a reality that would be much easier if the popular former Hesiman Trophy winner is at least competent in the preseason.

If the battle were a true competition, Barkley wins going away in Week 1 and was by far the Eagles’ most impressive signal caller against Indianapolis, finishing 12-of-20 for 192 yards with an interception. He’s gotten some of the arm strength back that has been missing since his shoulder injury at Southern California and while he’ll never be Brett Favre, Barkley belongs in this league.

You probably can’t say the same for Tebow, who still has the terribly elongated throwing motion and mechanics that remain subpar. Meanwhile, despite the talk of Tebow being a great runner he’s not exactly Michael Vick when tucking the football, although he set off his acolytes with a 7-yard TD run late. Overall Tebow finished 6-of-12 for 69 yards and added another 15 on the ground with the TD.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973ESPN.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com or on Twitter @jfmcmullen

Eagles' Shepherd carted off

Eagles rookie cornerback JaCorey Shepherd was carted off during Sunday's open practice at Lincoln Financial Field.

Shepherd seemed to injure his right leg after a collision with veteran running back Darren Sproles during a 7-on-7 drill. The Kansas product, who has been in the mix as a potential starting nickel back, was seen flexing his right knee as he was driven off.

O'Brien searching for ways to improve Texans

South Texas held its collective breath Tuesday when it was reported that the projected centerpiece of the Houston Texans’ offense, running back Arian Foster, will need surgery for a groin injury suffered in the team’s first padded practice of the year.

ESPN.com first reported that Foster will probably be headed to short-term injured reserve and an NFL source confirmed that likelihood to Today’s Pigskin, a scenario which would put the dynamic back on the sidelines for at least eight weeks.

A significant injury to a high-profile player is going to be the lede in any NFL city but the oft-injured Foster’s latest setback has overshadowed some interesting developments surrounding the Texans and second-year head coach Bill O’Brien’s efforts to get his team back in the mix with AFC South heavyweight Indianapolis.

Continue reading at TodaysPigskin.com

Ravens' denials add another layer to 'Deflategate'

You don’t have to be Alex Jones to conjure up a conspiracy theory when it comes to the Baltimore Ravens and their influence on DeflateGate. After all John Harbaugh and Chuck Pagano are as thick as thieves and the former was hopping mad after being shown up by Bill Belichick’s alignment hijinks a week prior to the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

Tuesday’s release of documents by the NFL Players Association provided a number of interesting nuggets, not the least of which was the confirmation that Harbaugh’s Ravens did indeed tip off the Colts about concerns over kicking balls in the divisional-round postseason encounter between the Ravens and Patriots. From there it doesn’t exactly take a Jerry Fletcher-like leap to assume a vengeful Harbaugh also tipped off his good friend and former defensive coordinator about possible football deflation, a narrative the Ravens attempted to quash on Wednesday.

Continue reading at TodaysPigskin.com

The hero in St. Louis

St. Louis Rams special teams coach John Fassel was kidding himself if he thought the reporters waiting for him to speak at Rams training camp on Monday wanted to chat about Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, the returners or any of his core coverage guys.

As important as special teams can be to winning a football game, it’s not exactly the sexiest aspect of the profession so when Fassel, the son of ex-Giants coach Jim Fassel, took the podium, coverage and blocking schemes weren’t on the docket.

“How was your summer?” one scribe awkwardly asked.

Read the rest at TodaysPigskin.com

Chip Kelly’s real problem

PHILADELPHIA – If perception is indeed greater than reality, Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly has a problem.

That issue, however, isn’t racism

Brandon Boykin was the latest to take aim at the motives behind Kelly’s personnel decisions, hours after the slot cornerback was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2016 fifth-round draft choice.

Boykin texted his thoughts on the deal to a Philadelphia-area reporter, Derrick Gunn, who, like Boykin, is an African-American. Boykin told Gunn that Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture,” not exactly an exercise in subtlety especially after the veiled racism chargers coming from other ex-Eagles employees like LeSean McCoy and Tra Thomas.

Read the rest at TodaysPigskin.com

The numbers don't work out for Travis Long

Travis Long

PHILADELPHIA - Chip Kelly claims the numbers are in Sam Bradford's favor.

“Our research in terms of dealing with guys with two ACLs, there’s a 10-to-12 percent chance of re-injury,” Kelly said to reporters earlier this summer. “So that’s an 88-to-90 percent chance that they’re going to be successful.”

Those odds didn't work out for emerging outside linebacker Travis Long, who has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second straight year.

Long was injured in practice Monday, the second day of training camp. The second-year pro out of Washington State missed last season after damaging his ACL in the final preseason game. He also tore his right ACL during his senior year in college, making this his third ACL tear overall.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Long was in the mix to be the main backup behind starters Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham. His injury gives new life to last year's disappointing first-round pick, Marcus Smith, and it's now conceivable Mychal Kendricks moves outside due to the Eagles embarrassment of riches at ILB.

Eagles interest in Bradford extension is nothing new

Bradford tests his knee at camp

PHILADELPHIA - In the nothing-has-really-changed department the Eagles have interest in extending quarterback Sam Bradford, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.

While painted as breaking news, Philadelphia's interest in locking up Bradford past 2015 has always been on the table but the logical conclusion for the Eagles is hardly one Bradford will embrace and that's the issue.

Of course the Birds would like to get their oft-injured starting QB under a deal that is salary-cap friendly for the franchise but Bradford, as the last big-money bonus baby under the old CBA, is used to big money and realizes if he has a good season in Chip Kelly's quarterback-friendly offense, he stands to make a monster payday after raking in just under $13 million this season.

If that scenario plays out, Bradford could command well over $15 million in '16 and those are numbers the Eagles would be crazy to touch at this point even though the University of Oklahoma product was ready for team drills at the start of training camp as advertised.

In fact Bradford has taken every first-team rep through the first two days of camp ahead of veteran Mark Sanchez with Monday's practice being key because it indicated Bradford bounced back from the first workout with little problem.

Bradford, though, remains fresh off the second ACL surgery of his career and has also had issues with a high-angle sprain while with the Rams.  He also underwent shoulder surgery in college with the Sooners.

Is Tebow really in play for the Eagles?

Tim Tebow

By John McMullen
jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com

PHILADELPHIA — There are a host of now ex-Eagles who can confirm Chip Kelly doesn't like players who speak out of turn.

"I look at it from the Navy SEALs' point of view: 'I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor do I seek recognition for my actions,' " Kelly told Philadelphia-area reporters earlier this summer when describing his insular personality and coaching style.

When now-Seahawks cornerback Cary Williams expressed displeasure on how hard Kelly's up-tempo practice regimen can be on the players, it wasn't a matter of if the veteran cornerback was leaving Philadelphia, it was a matter of when. And when so-called "big" personalities like DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy went off script, they felt the wrath of Kelly, resulting in their new addresses.

If you want to be in Philadelphia these days you must buy in to Kelly's vision and part of that is letting those deputized to talk handle the heavy lifting when it comes to the media. After any open Eagles practice you will see team leaders like center Jason Kelce and linebackers Connor Barwin and DeMeco Ryans holding court as extensions of what Kelly wants released to the public.

Brandon Graham isn't one of those trusted mouthpieces but he is Philadelphia's best pure outside pass rusher and an emerging playmaker who got a big-money, four-year extension in the offseason, one that was at least partially fueled by the interest of the NFC East rival Giants.

Graham didn't say anything disparaging about his organization or Kelly so his future employment isn't at risk but he did offer up some information the coach probably wanted kept under wraps on the possible impact of polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow, the perceived fourth-stringer when the Birds open training camp on Sunday.

“Tim Tebow is going to shock a lot of people, because he is going to make the team,” Graham, a University of Michigan alum, told Detroit-area radio host Lauren Beasley recently. “And I think he will play a lot.”

In most NFL cities Occam's razor would be applied here (the simplest answer is usually the correct one). And what does a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end know about the inner workings of Kelly's quarterback plans anyway?

It's conceivable Graham just likes Tebow personally or perhaps the former first-round pick is just a poor talent evaluator who can't see the mechanical issues that were still on display during offseason work, most notably Tebow's elongated throwing motion and sometimes laughable footwork.

But, this is no longer the B.C. age of the NFL (Before Chip) and if any coach has a plan for the former Florida Heisman Trophy winner it's going to be the guy who believes his football program should be run like the Navy SEALs.

Tebow's skill set of speed and strength could be maximized in Philadelphia where Kelly's offense is a simplistic one based on the read-option and tempo. There is no asking the quarterback to make Peyton Manning-like progressions from receiver to receiver. It's one-read and go, and that first outlet is picked by the sideline not the signal caller.

In theory that scales down the decision-making and makes anticipatory throws, something Tebow struggles mightily with, off the table in what some have called a quarterback-proof offense.

Furthermore, it's not all that far-fetched to speculate that Sam Bradford might tear his ACL getting out of his car at the NovaCare Complex Sunday and you know that four-interception game from Mark Sanchez is right around the corner. So, only Kelly punching-bag Matt Barkley stands between Tebow and the roster spot which could spur opportunity.

Most have speculated that chance would only be as a red-zone threat or a two-point specialist but the only certainty about the Eagles quarterback position is the uncertainty.

So maybe Brandon Graham knows a little more than we think and you can bet Chip will have a little talk with him about that.

Eagles made a mistake in acquiring Sam Bradford

By John McMullen
jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com

PHILADELPHIA - Every transaction in the NFL is essentially a cost-benefit analysis. You try to determine the upside of a potential move, and weigh that against what it takes to get it done.

From a traditional general manager's perspective, the Eagles acquisition of oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford didn't make a lot of sense from both a football and financial context.

On one hand. Chip Kelly certainly does like Bradford's skill set because he gave up a quarterback who put up better numbers while being paid significantly less in Nick Foles, and added a second-round draft choice on top of it. Meanwhile, the Eagles' football czar also reportedly fended off Cleveland's overtures in the form of a first-round pick or Johnny Manziel for the former No. 1 overall pick.

However, Kelly also tried to load up the U-Haul with everything from Bradford, draft picks and proven veteran players in a thinly veiled attempt to acquire Marcus Mariota, and he has also refused to give Bradford anything resembling a viable extension offer to this point.

"I'm not 100 percent confident in anything," Kelly said earlier this offseason when asked about Bradford and his future. "No one is ... We're going to put together a team. We think Sam has a great skill set. The
research our doctors have given us in terms of the guys coming off (ACL) injuries in terms of their recovery rate is 90 percent, so we feel real confident in that."

Confidence is good but what is the ceiling here for the Eagles?

NFL Media created a bit of a stir on Monday by reporting that Bradford, the presumptive Week 1 starter, plans to play out the final year of his massive rookie deal rather than sign an extension.

The spin from the Bradford camp being that he is "betting on himself."

Of course, that narrative assumes Philadelphia has more than a passing interest in signing Bradford to anything other than a bargain-basement deal right now, rather specious logic.

After all the phrase "betting on one's self" intimates you have a viable option and that's simply not the case for Bradford, who is owed nearly $13 million in 2015 and has played just seven games over the past two campaigns due to back-to-back ACL tears over a 20-month period.

The Eagles had to take the wait-and-see approach but the real problem here stems from an eventual outcome that paints Bradford as successful in 2015.

Think about it?

If he's a disaster ... no problem, you wash your hands of a bad trade and move on to the next candidate at the position. But if Bradford's really good, anything short of the University of Oklahoma product turning into Tom Brady and piloting Philadelphia to a Super Bowl championship, a scenario even the most ardent Kelly acolytes would have a tough time picturing, is an issue.

Let's say the Eagles remain stuck at 10 wins but take a step forward and win a playoff encounter behind a healthy Bradford who throws for over 4,000 yards and 35 TDs in Kelly's supposed quarterback-proof offense. That's a pretty high ceiling for this player and a scenario still not worthy of investing significant money and time into because of Bradford's prior history in St. Louis. However, it's also an end game which will not allow the Eagles to just walk away unfettered.

More than ever, it's obvious Kelly's envisioned long-term answer at the position now calls Nashville home, and his Plan B has no discernible exit strategy absent Bradford's failure as a player.

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A civics lesson courtesy of the Vikings' Josh Robinson

By John McMullen

Time for a civics lesson courtesy of the NFL and embattled Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson.

Robinson has been excoriated in the court of public opinion in recent days for his perceived anti-gay tweets in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex couples having the right to marry.

To many, the most objectionable of the 24-year-old’s thoughts was when he compared allowing two gay men to marry to allowing a man to wed his own 6-year-old child. The rebukes were swift and harsh forcing Robinson to delete the tweet and issue an apology.

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