Howard Smith – USA TODAY Sports
If Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin needs any extra motivation entering the 2013 season he need look no further than his contract.
Maclin, chosen by the Eagles in the first round of the 2009 draft, is in the final year of his deal that he signed as a rookie.
There have been whispers about a new contract being in the works for the 25-year old receiver who finished last season with 857 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. However, it appears Maclin is eying the type of mega deal that has been handed down to some of the elite pass catchers in recent years.
“I’m excited,” Maclin proclaimed to a gaggle of reporters outside the Novacare Complex as he checked in for his fifth NFL training camp, Thursday. “Like I said earlier, I’m not going to get caught up in all that,” Maclin said. “I’m aware of everything that happens around me, but I’m excited to go out there and prove what I’m worth.”
One such deal that may have caught Maclin’s attention is that of Mike Williams, who inked a $40.25 million deal with $15 million in guarantees with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week.
Elsewhere, Calvin Johnson signed a seven-year, $132 million extension with the Detroit Lions last year.
Despite never eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in a season, Maclin appeared to be on the road to becoming one of the game’s best receivers after his first two seasons. But injuries have taken a toll since then.
Given Maclin’s status and fellow wide out DeSean Jackson‘s virtual contract year along with the fact that the Eagles can walk away from him with very little penalty against the cap after this season, it isn’t a stretch to call this one of the most pivotal seasons in the young careers of the Birds’ top receivers.
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