McCoy is in the final season of his rookie contract and is set to earn a meager $615,000 this year. As a comparison, the leagues highest paid back, Chris Johnson will be making an average of $13.4 million with a base of $8 million in 2012. Johnson finished last season with 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns. Arian Foster, who finished just behind McCoy in rushing yards, recently signed a 5 year, $43.5 million deal with the Houston Texans.

 
In an offseason that has seen the Eagles intent on locking up their young, talented players, McCoy almost seems to have fallen by the wayside. Dynamic, yet ostensibly unstable wide receiver DeSean Jackson recently inked a 5 year $45 million contract with Philadelphia. McCoy has been much more consistent in his production and has not been the headache in the locker room that Jackson has, either.

 
In a recent interview, Eagles head coach Andy Reid said of the contract talks with the talented young running back: “He and I talked. I can’t share (all of) that with everybody, but I will tell you it is heading in the right direction. That’s all I can tell you”. Reid also said that the organization wants to show McCoy just how valuable he is to the team, and one can only imagine that proof will come in the form of dollar signs.

 
All signs point to McCoy working out a deal with Philadelphia that will pay him as one of the elite running backs in the NFL, which is what he deserves. The details are still being worked out, but Eagles fans should feel comfortable in the fact that they will be seeing McCoy in a Philly uniform for several years to come.

You can view all of Carl’s RantSports articles here and follow him on Twitter @CarlConrad81.

The former star quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles is preparing for a comeback in the National Football League, according to ESPN.

He has been working with quarterbacks coach George Whitfield during the offseason. McNabb says that he is in great shape and has lost 15 to 20 pounds, although he also would not admit that he had ever been out of shape.

“It’s not really about that,” McNabb said on SportsCenter. “Because for me, people may have seen how strong I look. And they kind of equated that to ‘he may be out of shape,’ or whatever. But now that I’m lighter, people now all of a sudden say ‘well oh, now he’s in shape.’ I’ve been in shape.”

McNabb says that he really doesn’t care where he plays and has a full list of 32 NFL teams, of which none have made a move for the 35-year old.

McNabb’s career peaked during his 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he earned six Pro Bowl selections, and led the team to the NFC championship game five times, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX.

But he was traded to the Washington Redskins on Easter in 2010, and he struggled in Washington, throwing 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions before he was benched for Rex Grossman late in the season. This came a few weeks after he signed a six-year, $78 million contract extension.

He was then traded to the Minnesota Vikings last July, and he opened the season as Minnesota’s starter. But he led the Vikings to just one victory in six games before he was benched for first round draft pick Christian Ponder. He was released in December and has not had a team since.

Speculation has arisen over the past year or so that the Eagles may bring back McNabb as the backup quarterback to Michael Vick but I just don’t see it happening. The overly criticized quarterback will likely not be signed by any team, if you ask me.

Peters was maneuvering his Roll-A-Bout in his kitchen when the device broke. He fell on his face and re-ruptured his Achilles tendon, according to a league source.

He just had a second surgery. The surgery set back his initial recovery time by three weeks. It also ended any chance that the five-time Pro Bowl tackle would play in 2012, although no one expected him to anyway.

Peters has announced that he is planning to sue the maker of the device.

Peters’ first Achilles injury occurred on March 27th when he was working out near his home in Texas. As a result of the injury, the Eagles signed free agent left tackle Demetress Bell, who had also been a teammate of Jason Peters’ when they were both on the Buffalo Bills.

Bell was signed to a five-year deal, although only one year of his contract is guaranteed. If he plays well in 2012, though, and Peters’ recovery doesn’t go as planned, Bell could become the Eagles’ left tackle of the future. With legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd coaching him all offseason, expect Bell to have a productive season.

The second injury to Peters definitely puts his career in jeopardy. According to a study online, 67 percent of NFL players who suffer an Achilles tendon rupture are able to return to football, meaning that one-third never again return.

Because of Peters’ tremendous size (6’4 and probably close to 370 pounds), you have to wonder if he will be one of the unfortunate one-third who never again plays. This would be a terrible way to see the career of the NFL’s best offensive lineman end.

Peters was absolutely dominant in 2011, and it will be interesting to see how the Eagles’ offensive line does in 2012 after a very successful 2011 season.

They agreed on Tuesday with linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the Eagles’ first of two second round selections. On Wednesday, they agreed to four-year deals with defensive end Vinny Curry, the second of two second round draft picks, as well as offensive tackle Dennis Kelly, a fifth round draft pick, and wide receiver Marvin McNutt, a sixth round draft pick.

Each player is signed through the 2015 season.

The Eagles still need to agree to contracts with five of their draft picks, which includes defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, the team’s first round draft pick; quarterback Nick Foles, the team’s third round draft pick; cornerback Brandon Boykin, the team’s fourth round pick; offensive guard Brandon Washington, the team’s sixth round pick; and running back Bryce Brown, the team’s seventh round pick.

The good news is that the Eagles have all offseason to try to work out the contracts with their draft picks. They didn’t have the luxury of a full offseason last year, and it didn’t help when first round draft pick Danny Watkins, the team’s projected starting right guard, and the team couldn’t come to a contract agreement for the first two weeks of training camp.

I have complete confidence, however, that the Eagles will be able to sign each of their remaining five players to contracts, well before the start of training camp, which is scheduled to begin in late July, as usual.

Left guard Evan Mathis was a journeyman veteran who was not brought into camp to even compete for a starting job. Center Jason Kelce and right guard Danny Watkins were rookies, and right tackle Todd Herremans was still learning a position that he hadn’t played in seven years.

Only left tackle Jason Peters, a reigning four-time Pro Bowl selection, was completely stable on the line.

Yet against all odds, it was Mathis who turned in the most impressive season by an Eagles’ offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, Mathis rated as the best offensive lineman in the entire league, registering a positive rating in all 15 games he played, and earning a five-year, $25 million contract extension following the season.

Heading into 2012, the Eagles are expected to be much better on the offensive line.

Mathis and Herremans return, and Kelce and Watkins should be a year better and more experienced. But the big blow came in late March when Peters was likely lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, easily one of the most severe injuries a professional athlete can suffer.

To replace Peters, the Eagles signed Demetress Bell, formerly of the Buffalo Bills.

Bell was arguably the top talent on the free agent market and rated as a slightly above average starting offensive tackle during his four seasons in Buffalo. He did struggle with injuries though, and missed nine games in 2011.

With Bell already named the starter for 2012, is it possible that the 28-year old becomes the next Evan Mathis?

Bell will have a full offseason working with legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd, unlike Mathis, who had just a few weeks with Mathis.

He’s always been a decent tackle but injuries have been his main concern. If he can stay healthy for the entire 2012 season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rate as one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL.

I think it’s impossible to project that any player could suddenly become as dominant as Evan Mathis was in 2011. But if Demetress Bell turned in a very good season for the Eagles in 2012, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Fletcher Cox was seen by most scouts as a top 15 pick.  At Mississippi State, Cox was touted as a tough, quick tackle who provided a formidable force in the middle.   In college, Cox displayed an explosive burst  and often required a double team.  Insiders feel that Fletcher is an athletic defender who projects solidly to either 4-3 tackle spots.

Consensually, Fletcher Cox was scouted as a terrific athlete for his sheer size.   Scouts love Cox’s great arm length, that should assuredly give him a nice advantage on the interior.  Cox’s rare explosiveness on the snap propels him with the  power to finish a play with authority.

The Eagles not only drafted a need, they drafted a stud.   From day one, Fletcher Cox will provide the front four the force they desperately needed.   With the addition of  Middle Linebacker DeMeco Ryans, Cox will inject a certain stability in the middle that the Eagles have been lacking since Corey Simon and Jeremiah Trotter.

I love the mind-set of the Eagles:  Sure up the middle of the defense and let your smaller, quicker linebackers and safeties make plays. Rush the quarterback, cover the sidelines and plug the middle of the field.  That, sounds like a recipe for success.

contact:  frank-benditt@comcast.net

Round 1- Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State: Fletcher Cox was regarded by most to be the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL draft. He is a DT from Mississippi State. He is 6-4 and ranges around the 300 LB range. He is an inside pass rusher who has ability to stop the run. He has a quick first step and is often disruptive in the backfield. With his size and speed, he will be an instant fit in the Jim Washburn scheme.

Round 2- Mychal Kendricks LB University of California: A few people were puzzled with this pick because of his size. He is 5-11 and 240 lbs, which makes Eagles fans wonder if he will be any different then the undersized LBs we currently have on our roster. When you turn on the tape you see a distinct difference. He plays bigger than he really is, using his speed and tenacity to disrupt the offense. I think he instantly takes Brian Rolle’s spot as a starter and can hopefully become the star LBer on the outside that we need.

Round 2- Vinny Curry DE Michigan State: This was one of my personal favorites. This kid has a lot of heart. He got a first round grade from many NFL scouts, but slipped to the second round. I personally think hes better than Quinton Coples, the New York Jets first round pick. During his press conference, he explained that he grew up in New Jersey and was an eagles fan all of his life. He then told us the depressing story of losing his mother, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the press conference. If he brings that heart and passion to his favorite team, he will be a disruptor. In a league where you need to rush the passer on every play, he will be loved.

Round 3- Nick Foles QB University of Arizona: This was the pick that made people scratch their heads. Scouting reports are all over about this kid, some say hes a great pressure QB, some say otherwise. But the definitive things I have heard about this kid is that he has a big arm. He wasn’t used in an NFL style offense which means he is a project. He also needs to work on his footwork. But Nick Foles is a big kid. He is 6-4 and around 250 lbs. Many people like his size because it will hopefully mean less batted balls and more durability. But in order to be a starting QB he has to get used to an NFL system, and work on his shaky footwork. Overall, he is a project, and Andy loves projects. I like the kid, just don’t know if he fits at this pick.

Round 4- Brandon Boykin CB University of Georgia: Brandon is said to be another steal, a player who had 2nd or 3rd round talent but dropped due to injury concerns. Last year the Eagles had 3 big names at CB, but neither of them had slot experience. Brandon Boykin played both outside and slot, so he brings a lot of versatility to the position. He is also heralded as having great skills as a kick and punt returner. Having that kinda skill set expands your roster capabilities. You no longer have to keep a player like Chad Hall, who is a good kick returner but can’t play WR very well.

Round 5- Dennis Kelly OT Purdue: to be completely honest, I don’t know much about Dennis Kelly. What Eagles scouts have said is that he has King Dunlap type size, lets just hope he doesn’t share his lack of ability.

Round 6- Marvin McNutt WR Iowa: Its hard to get excited about a 6th round pick, but I really like this kid. hes a tall WR with great hands. The Eagles currently have Jackson, Maclin, Avant, Cooper, and Hall as WRs on their roster. I see Marvin beating out Hall as the number 5 receiver. Hopefully McNutt can be a great red zone threat.

Round 6- Brandon Washington OG Miami: Again, I don’t know a lot about this kid except that he plays offensive guard, a position that could always use a little depth. With the Eagles already having health problems along the offensive line, any depth could help.

Round 7-Bryce Brown RB Kansas State: Bryce Brown is a head scratcher, not because of being drafted, but just because in HS he had a lot of potential but never lived up to it in college. When he declared eligible, he was the second top prospect going into college aside from Trent Richardson. Injuries, transfers, and bad decisions led to him only getting a handful of carries last year. He is a 7th round pick, but I don’t see him competing for the third backup spot, I see that spot going to a UFA or a veteran free agent.

It hasn’t received near the hype that linebacker or safety has, and rightfully so, but the truth is that the Eagles’ kick returners have been just dreadful recently.

The team hit rock bottom in 2011, as the Eagles averaged just 20.9 yards per kick return, with a long of 33 yards.

Rookie running back Dion Lewis handled the majority of the kick return duties, and was very consistent. Consistently subpar, that is. Lewis averaged 21.6 yards on 31 returns and never came close to breaking a return for a long gain.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie showed some promise, averaging 26 yards on two returns before injuring his ankle and missing three games late in the season.

And wide receiver Chad Hall and running back Ronnie Brown failed to impress in limited opportunities.

Heading into 2012, the Eagles need a kick returner who can at least occasionally break off a long return.

Thankfully, the team has a number of players who will be able to do just that.

Cornerback Brandon Boykin was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round and will likely serve as the team’s slot corner. He won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player in 2011, and returned four kicks for touchdowns during his college career.

Another option is rookie free agent wide receiver, Damaris Johnson, who enjoyed a record-setting career at Tulsa. Johnson broke the NCAA career record for total kickoff return yardage (3417 yards), including two touchdowns. Johnson has a lot of work to do to secure a spot on the roster for the 2012 Eagles, and a solid showing in special teams play at camp could go a long way.

The third option is wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who was signed by the Eagles following the 2011 season. A fourth round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2010, Gilyard didn’t play in the NFL in 2011 after the Rams released him before the start of the season. He was signed to a futures contract by the Eagles in January 2012. He has 16 career kick returns for 356 yards, an average of 22.3 yards per return. Those numbers are just average, but Gilyard could easily find himself as the team’s week one kick returner if he outshines Boykin and Johnson in camp.

Other options include rookie free agent cornerback Cliff Harris from Oregon, although he was mostly a punt returner during his college career, as well as rookie free agent running back Chris Polk, who returned kicks as a freshman at Washington in 2009.

And if worst comes to worst, the Eagles can default back to Lewis for another year. Hopefully a full offseason and a year of maturity and experience will make him a more efficient kick returner.

Now, the NFL is encouraging the Eagles (and the other 31 NFL teams) to offer fan conduct classes.  That’s right, the NFL wants teams to teach fans how to not act like complete idiots during their trips to the stadium.  According to CBS Philly:

The NFL is pushing the Eagles (and every other team in the league) to add a “fan conduct class,” designed to improve stadium safety.

If a fan gets kicked out of a game for bad behavior, some venues won’t let him back in until he takes the online course by anger management expert Ari Novick.

“The focus of the class really addresses issues related to alcohol abuse, disruptive behavior, and teaches coping skills to fans who are ejected for violating the stadium’s code of conduct policy,” Novick tells KYW Newsradio.

To sum that up for everyone; the NFL wants teams to teach classes to people who get kicked out of the stadium before they’re allowed back in.  This, in my opinion, is a complete and utter waste of time.  If some drunken slob gets kicked out for starting a fight with a fan of the opposing team, he isn’t going to learn one thing from a class that is supposed to teach him how not to be a jackass.

Just a couple questions that immediately come to mind:

Who determines what is “bad behavior” that warrants being required to go to the classes?  Does everyone that gets kicked out for any reason have to attend a class?

Is there a test?  And if so, is it pass/fail or a percentage grade?  If there’s a grade, what is considered passing?  Do they grade on a curve?

What is the cost for this course?

Can they be fined/cited on top of this?

Idiot fans exist in every sport, in every town and every venue.  Arrest, fine or cite these morons for their behavior.  At least that revenue will go back to the municipality where the incident occurred, instead of into the pocket of Ari Novick.  What a complete sham.

The eight players are as follows: running back Chris Polk from Washington, fullback/tight end Emil Igwenagu from UMass, wide receiver Damaris Johnson from Tulsa, wide receiver Darnell Williams from Louisiana College, wide receiver Elvis Akpla from Montana State, tight end Chase Ford from Miami, cornerback Cliff Harris from Oregon, and safety Phillip Thomas from Syracuse.

The biggest name is probably Chris Polk. Many speculated that he would be a mid-round draft pick, but nobody selected Polk, including the Eagles, who chose running back Bryce Brown instead of Polk in the seventh round.

Polk rushed for 1000 yards three times during his career at Washington, and ranked 11th in Division I this past year with 1488 rushing yards. He scored 12 touchdowns and averaged 5.1 yards per carry.

But he has had major injury concerns. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury as a freshman and had three separate MRIs by doctors at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He is a low-risk, high-reward guy for the Eagles, and is expected to compete for a roster spot with running backs Dion Lewis and Bryce Brown.

Another intriguing signing by the Eagles is Damaris Johnson, who holds the NCAA Division I all-time record for career all-purpose yards, as well as the NCAA all-time record for kickoff return yardage. He topped 200 all-purpose yards in 19 career college games, and scored 29 touchdowns during his college career (17 receiving, 8 rushing, 2 kick returns, 2 punt returns).

However, Johnson has had some character issues. He was kicked off the Tulsa football team and left school for pleading guilty to felony embezzlement in connection with a case in which he was charged with receiving unpaid merchandise from a Macy’s department store where his friend worked.

The final big name for the Eagles is cornerback Cliff Harris.

Harris has also had some off-the-field issues. He was kicked off the Oregon football team in 2010 for a series of off-the-field issues of his own last season, including an incident in which he was caught by police for driving 118 miles per hour with a suspended license.

He was an All-American selection that same year though, and he tied for fifth in Division I football with six interceptions. He also returned four punts for touchdowns, including two in one game against New Mexico.

It will be interesting to see if any of these undrafted rookie free agents becomes a key contributor to the Eagles in 2012.