PHL Anon
Jordan Matthews does not get nearly the love that he should in this town. He is a guy that keeps his head down, mouth shut, puts up, and is going to be a big producer here in this city. Did he struggle earlier in the year with drops? Yes… badly. That being said, those issues make this year all that more impressive.
Matthews is and will be a key piece to our future, and quietly could be one of the most talented, yet unmentioned wideouts in the NFL. Keep in mind that with one game to go, Matthews, in just two seasons, has 145 receptions, 1,815 yards, and 14 touchdowns. That’s more receptions, yards, and tied for as many touchdowns as Jeremy Maclin had in his first two seasons. Also, Matthews is about to be in the top 15 most receptions by a wideout two years into their career.
With all that being said, I’m getting a bit nervous as to what could happen this offseason in regards to him signing with the Eagles long-term. Why is that? Well, Matthews commented on how he is “adamant” that the Eagles re-sign Bradford this off season. What was his reasoning?
I’m very adamant about that. Having a quarterback that you can build with, that you can grow with, is huge. I’ve only had it one time in my career … High school, college and Pros. It was coming out of my second year of college, going into my junior year. We started it and during the summer going into junior year we’d get together and work out. That was my best season in college because I had that relationship already built.”
I understand his thought process here, I really do. Has Bradford looked better the past few weeks? Yes. Am I confident in Bradford as a long-term solution and the guy that can take us to the next level? Not a chance! We, as a fan base, tend to reach for positivity because of how starved we are for success. I get that everyone wants to see the positive in Bradford, and hope that we found “our guy” moving forward. However, it is a very risky proposition to sell yourself on a guy because you’re hopeful.
I would be the first person to get up, apologize, and take a tar and feathering in public if I was wrong. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PROVE ME WRONG! But it won’t happen. When did we become happy and accepting of a guy whose stat line reads for the season as averaging 262 yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and one interception per game!? Am I the crazy one? He may not be the main problem, but he also is sure as shit not the answer, either!
So, why is Matthews so confident in him?
The way he’s talking saying ‘Guys, ya’ll go out and do this, we’ll tear these guys apart.’ When you hear your quarterback talk like that, that gets you up. You can tell he’s in his realm. He’s in his zone. You want the team to build that. You want to continue to have that.”
If you want to get fired up for a game, Jordan, the Eagles don’t need to spend 13 million dollars a year for that! We can just go get you a collection of the best movie pump up speeches and save approximately 99.99999999% of that cost. Matthews had more to say on the subject:
If you look at all of the great wide receivers who have put up great numbers, it’s always with quarterbacks that they’ve been with for awhile. They’ve had a guy they’ve been able to grow with. I think Odell Beckham’s been throwing with Eli Manning since he was in the sixth grade. You’ve gotta build that rapport and that friendship. I’m building it with Sam. I just want to keep that going. I don’t make that decision, but I’m adamant about wanting him back here next year.”
You know what else a lot of great receivers have, Jordan? Quarterbacks that are great, or are at very least way more skilled than Bradford! They don’t have Quarterbacks that are letting 23 more guys throwing more Touchdowns than them.
That’s right, in a weak, quarterback starving league, you have that many people better than you. I mean, Andrew Luck has only played 7 games all year, and only has 2 less touchdowns than Bradford. Let that sink in there for a moment.
So, I’m sure so many apologists will now say I’m an idiot for this post, and you’ll immediately point to dropped passes, and offensive line play. Yes, they have some impact on this, absolutely. But if you are being 100% honest with yourself. Laying in bed, alone, in the dark, no one but yourself completely honest with yourself, you know that Bradford is not the answer.
Also, if you negated every dropped pass that “should’ve been a catch” with every wide open receiver Bradford has straight up missed, well I think we’d be pretty much sitting in this same situation.
So, please Matthews. I know you want consistency in the Quarterback spot. I totally get it! However, can we attempt to find you a better answer than Bradford to build that relationship with? I’m begging you. I need my hope to be placed in the young talent we have on our roster, and not base on “but if” and “should have” dreams that we try to sell ourselves here in Philly.