Did you see the latest Eagles rumor? No, not that one, the other one. Yeah, that one with the Bears and Nick Foles.
The latest “buckle up” offer is Carson Wentz and 2021 second-round pick to the Bears for the 20th overall selection, Tarik Cohen, and… Nick Foles.
1 – Tarik Cohen already shot it down AND shot down his Instagram conspiracy:
https://twitter.com/TarikCohen/status/1358255667006627841?s=20
I took my photos off insta like a month ago , y’all just now noticing ?! ? I’m tryna get a whole new look. Professional pics only .
— Tarik Cohen (@TarikCohen) February 7, 2021
2 – This reeks of a “salary dump move” from the Bears.
If that’s the case, why are the Eagles giving up their second-round pick? Allowing the Bears to rid themselves of two bad contracts so you can move up 17 spots? Doesn’t make sense.
3 – The arguments for Doug Pederson’s and Carson Wentz’s departures largely included: “Stop hanging on to 2017”. So if that’s the argument for them leaving, why is the opposite true for Foles returning?
“Well Chris, you idiot, he’s ALWAYS BEEN GOOD IN PHILLY”
You are correct, mean person.
Foles’ Eagles career
Between two different head coaches in two different Eagles stints, Foles has played in 40 games and started 32 of them. In those 32 starts, he’s 21-11. In his Eagles career, he has 58 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, and 8,703 passing yards. His TDs rank 8th in Eagles history, his interceptions are the least among QBs with 32 or more starts, and his 93.2 passer rating is the highest in Eagles history. Oh, and he won the team’s only Super Bowl.
But what has he done since he left after the 2018 season?
Post-Eagles Foles (second time)
The Foles magic landed him a four-year $88 million deal with the Jaguars. He started week one and was injured in that game. He went on to start three more games after coming back from injury in October but was benched for Gardner Minshew.
A year later he was traded to the Bears for a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick. After losing the training camp battle to the incumbent Mitchell Trubisky, he replaced Trubisky in week three. He went on to start the next seven games, finishing with a 2-5 record. During that seventh game, he left due to another injury, and Mitchell Trubisky never relinquished the starting spot again.
In his two years since leaving the Eagles, Foles is 2-9, with 2,588 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs, an 81.8 rating, and averaged 199.8 yards per game.
But, it’s Philly
The Eagles have one offensive coach left since Foles departed in 2018: Jeff Stoutland.
While there are still players left from that team, some of them are projected to be gone:
- Kelce – retired?
- Ertz – traded?
- Jeffery – cut?
- Jackson – cut?
- Clement – free agent
Every player, except one (Goedert), who had over 100 receiving yards that season is either no longer on the team or projected to be elsewhere.
“BUT IT’S PHILLY!”
If the scheme is different, if the players are different, if the coaches are different, is the location a justifiable reason to bring someone in?
Other options for the Eagles
Jacoby Brissett – Brissett, 28, has been with the Colts the last four seasons. Three of those seasons (2018-20) he was coached by Sirianni. As a starter in 2019, he went 7-8 with 2,942 yards, 18 TDs, and only six INTs. He’d be able to help guide Hurts through the new system and also provide some production if needed.
Tyrod Taylor – “Hurts is just another Tyrod Taylor,” said the trolls. Well if he is, then bring in the original. Taylor, while unspectacular, has been nothing short of steady his entire career. His most INTs in a season is six, and he had a 22-20 record with Buffalo in three seasons. He was set to be the Chargers’ starting QB this season until a doctor punctured his lung during treatment. I’m not sure Taylor would like to go from that medical staff to the Eagles’ medical staff, but he is familiar with new Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Fitzmagic in Philly? I’m sure Kevin Patullo would love that. The new Eagles passing game coordinator was Fitzpatrick’s QB coach with the Jets in 2015 and 2016. 2015 was also Fitzpatrick’s best year of his career. Fitzpatrick would bring veteran leadership and provide extensive knowledge of defenses and how to beat them. If he signs with the Eagles, they would be his ninth team.
Conclusion
Eagles, stay away
This whole article isn’t to dismiss Foles as a person or what he has done for this team. He will forever be an Eagles legend and I will always appreciate him. My views on this have been misconstrued as me hating Foles. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
However, if we are supposed to hope things happen that benefit the team over our own personal feelings, then Foles isn’t the answer.
This isn’t 2017.
Photo Credit: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
