I sent a tweet to Nick Foles on Tuesday.
My tweet was motivated by one of Matt Lombardo’s tweets earlier in the day. Matt’s a host on 97.5 The Fanatic. He’s often teamed with Joe Staszak, and they’re perfect foils for each other. For my two cents – because I like the Eagles quarterback – Matt’s the Good Cop and Joe’s the Bad Cop.
Anyway, Matt Lombardo posed this question: Should the Eagles sign Nick Foles to a two-year extension? And he added a link to an interview that The Fanatic’s Harry Mayes and Eytan Shander conducted with Theismann earlier – “Joe Theismann weighs in.”
I thought about Matt’s question – and then I posed a question of my own: What makes people think Foles wants to stay with a team where the coach refuses to give him a vote of confidence?
So I tweeted Nick Foles and then went back to Matt’s link – which led me to a rehash of Theismann’s on-air interview.
“I think it makes sense,” Theismann told Harry Mayes and Eytan Shander. “I think when you talk about losing someone, or someone going into the last year of a deal, you have to understand what your options are. What are the options besides Nick Foles in Philadelphia? You don’t have an option. I think you work the deal and it makes an awful lot of sense to do that.”
Judging from Joe Theismann’s statements, it looks to me like he’s in my camp – that’s Camp Believe-in-Nick-Foles. But some Eagles fans, however, have differing opinions.
Many want the Eagles to mortgage the farm by trading away combinations and permutations of draft picks and players like Shaky McCoy, Fletcher Cox, and Nick Foles himself to move up in that draft and snatch Marcus Mariota. The rationale being that Mariota is Chip’s “boy” and that Mariota will instantly transport the Eagles to the Super Bowl. It matters not that Mariota is a pig in a poke who may, or may not, have the talent to be a starter in the NFL.
By the way, the last Oregon quarterback to be a star in the NFL was Dan Fouts, who spent his entire career with the San Diego Chargers. But he retired in 1987 and that’s going on 30 years ago. Yes, Oregon did produce Norm VanBrocklin – the last Eagles quarterback to win an NFL championship – but that’s going back better than 60 years.
On the flip side, Oregon’s produced clunkers like Dennis Dickson, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, A. J. Feeley, Tony Graziani, Bill Musgrave, and Norv Turner.
Besides, drafting Mariota is far-fetched at best. He’ll probably be taken with the first overall pick by Tampa Bay. But what if – as some folks suggest – Mariota drops in the draft? Then the Eagles would have a legitimate shot at him. But my question would then be: Why would the Eagles take him? Dropping in the draft would indicate to me that the other teams figured out he’s not all he’s cracked up to be.
And this just in – Marcus Mariota is now being prepped for the NFL by Kevin O’Connell – who will soon become the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns. This sparks speculation that the Browns – unhappy with Brian Hoyer and giving up on Johnny Rehab – are interested in drafting Mariota.
Some fans want the Eagles to draft Brett Hundley, a UCLA quarterback projected as a second-rounder. By the way, the last UCLA quarterback to make it big in the NFL was Troy Aikman. He spent his entire career with the Cowboys, but he retired 15 years ago in 2000.
Others suggest Bryce Petty, a Baylor quarterback who’s projected to be taken in the third or fourth round. Isn’t that the knock on Foles – that he wasn’t a first-rounder? By the way, Bobby Griffin and Cody Carlson are two Baylor quarterbacks – as are Brad Goebel and Adrian Burk who both played with the Eagles – Burk during the ’50s. Griffin looked like the real deal during his rookie season – which now seems to have been a mirage – but Baylor isn’t exactly known as Quarterback U.
There’s even talk about drafting Bryan Bennett, a quarterback out of Southeastern Louisiana who’s projected to be taken in the seventh round – or drop down to free-agent status. Seems Chip Kelly recruited him at Oregon and Bennett sat on the bench behind Mariota before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana. It’s hoped that those facts alone will magically transform Bennett into a star under the Chip-Kelly-offense. But I, for one, don’t see it that way.
And let’s not forget the trade rumors that are circulating. Nick Foles is going to the Rams, Titans, Texans, or Cardinals – take your pick. Plus lately, on New York sports radio, there are hosts and callers clamoring for the Jets and/or Giants to make a deal to land Nickie Football. At least somebody wants him. Which may not be the case with Chip Kelly.
Not once in three years have I heard Chip give a ringing endorsement about Nick Foles being his quarterback of the present or the future.
Somehow, all along, fans have just naturally assumed that Nick is satisfied with his treatment by Chip Kelly and by so many of the Eagles fans. It’s believed that Nick Foles wants to remain an Eagle – like he has no other options. It’s, like, he should be lucky he’s here.
But what if Nick Foles doesn’t give a rat’s ass if he stays in Philadelphia or not?
I couldn’t blame him. Quite frankly, I’d be weary of the constant criticism and aggravation by now and might seek a change of scene. If I were a spiteful man – which I’m not – I’d thumb my nose at Chip as I walked out the door telling him to kiss me where the sun don’t shine. And I’m willing to bet that more than one team covets Nick Foles and would love to ink him to a long-term deal. That’s why I reached out yesterday to Nick and asked him those questions.
Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t expect Nick to respond – not to such explosive questions. Heaven knows, I’ve reached out to Nick several times in the past and I’m still waiting for his first reply. But I keep hoping that one day one of his handlers will respond.
So I don’t really know if he wants out of Philly – or not. But I think it’s a fair question. I can see Nick Foles going to another team and leading that team to the promised land. For my money, I’d rather see Nick Foles remain in Philly and lead the Eagles to the promised land.
But if I were Nick, I’d pull a Jermey Maclin and refuse to sign a contract extension – if offered. I’d bet on myself to have a real good year and be in the driver’s seat when it was time to negotiate my next deal.
Barry Bowe is the author of 12 Best Eagles QBs and 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant.
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