Walter Thurmond ended his season on the highest note possible as he returned his third interception of the season for a touchdown in the Eagles win over the New York Giants yesterday and has easily been one of the most impressive additions to the team..but will he return?
According to CSNPhilly, Thurmond would love to return next season..but isn’t holding a lot of hope:
“The decision’s not up to me at the end of the day,” Thurmond said. “Everyone’s talking about me wanting to stay. It’s not up to me. If you look at the numbers, they only have $17 million in cap space. I mean, do the numbers. It has nothing to do with me. I would love to be here, but it’s just economically, it doesn’t work, and I’m just being a realist with the situation.
“They could probably make it work cutting some guys. [It’s up to] whoever the GM is going to be, as far as how they make that situation work. But at the end of the day, it’s out of my control.”
Thurmond was signed to a one year deal and with Sam Bradford potentially needing a new contract alongside a number of players that’s well into double digits..the future of the 28 year old seems clouded. He went on to say
“I think it’s a possible situation, but then I think it could be an impossible situation, just as far as the monetary situation is concerned with the team and the cap space,” Thurmond said. “The issues they need to address that are more important than signing a safety at the end of the day.”
“You can go draft a safety for a lot cheaper than it would be to retain me. It’s just economical. It’s business. I understand that.”
“I would love to be back here,” he said. “It’s a great team here. I love the group of guys that I played with this season, and I see the potential that we do have. I think it’s one of those things where there were a lot of new additions in the offseason that came in, and guys have to jell.”
Thurmond played a full season for the first time in his career and ended the year with some career high numbers. 71 total tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups and two sacks cemented Thurmond among the best safeties in the NFL and at one stage was ranked in PFF’s top five.
The Eagles don’t have a lot of Cap Space to work with and it’s clear that the decision to release or re-sign Thurmond will be a tough one that will all come down to the views of the new Head Coach or Personnel committee once the moves begin to happen.
Thurmond has been incredibly important to an Eagles Secondary that has lost some key parts this year and letting him walk could be a big mistake..but can they find a way to keep him and retain some of the other players that they need?
