Adrian Fedkiw
He’s back!
Fletcher Cox checked in at the NovaCare Complex Monday to get his physical prior to the mandatory three-day mini camp that begins Tuesday.
Fletcher Cox is in the house at the NovaCare complex "
— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunn) June 6, 2016
I'm told both #eagles Fletcher Cox and Darren Sproles reported 2day for physicals at mandatory camp. @FOX29philly @SportsRadioWIP about time
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) June 6, 2016
Cox skipped the voluntary OTAs in an attempt to land a contract extension and despite numerous reports throughout the offseason saying that a deal was imminent, it never materialized.
WIP’s Howard Eskin reported on NFL Network in mid April that Cox turned down an offer worth $60 million guaranteed, which would’ve been over the $100 million mark. Cox’s agent, Todd France, however, appeared on WIP’s Mike and Ike Show a day later and called Eskin’s reporting “careless.”
Reading between the lines this offseason, however, I don’t think a pact is going to get done until the year is over. The Eagles have just $2.41 million in cap space for next season.
Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman likes to backload his deals, but when listening to France this offseason, it appears that Cox wants stability and his guaranteed money to be in the early portion of his contract. Well, it’s tough for Cox to get that guaranteed money early on with Philadelphia’s limited cap space for next offseason.
Once the Eagles most likely part with Sam Bradford following the 2016 campaign, however, that should open the space to get the Cox deal and this seemingly never-ending contract dispute done. Bradford has a cap hit of $22.5 million and if Philly can find a trade partner, that would open up $17 million. If the Eagles cut Bradford following the year, that would free up $13 million.
Roseman has remained adamant all offseason that Cox isn’t going anywhere.
Cox will make $7.79 million in base salary this season and the Eagles could elect to franchise tag him twice if need be, but I don’t think it’ll reach that point.
Was I overly concerned about Cox missing voluntary camp? No, not really. Cox was drafted into a 4-3 in 2012 when Andy Reid was the head coach and I think he can pick up on defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme fairly quickly. That was also the year the Eagles had Jim Washburn as the defensive line coach, so Cox does have experience playing in a Wide 9, but Schwartz isn’t as religious about using it as Washburn was.
Cox has done a fine job trolling the internet this offseason, sending out these tweets Thursday.
And the clock is still ticking ..
— fletcher cox (@fcoxx_91) June 2, 2016
Only a few days before my first invite only 7on7 camp im pretty pumped about it .. Two more days that's why I said time was ticking lol
— fletcher cox (@fcoxx_91) June 2, 2016
Prior to that he was tweeting out emojis of a stop watch.
⏱⏱⏱⏱⏱⏲⏲⏲⏲⏲⏲
— fletcher cox (@fcoxx_91) April 28, 2016
Darren Sproles also reported to get his physical Monday. If neither Cox or Sproles would’ve showed up to the mandatory camp this week, they could’ve been fined up to $76,580.