Dave Uram
If entering 676-West off 16th Street in Center City, safely keep your eyes out for Nick Foles.
Someone cleverly, and hopefully without harm, plopped up a small half cutout of “Nicky 6” and placed it on a wall underneath Vine Street.
No debate Foles is a legend for life in Philadelphia. The humble 29-year-old from Austin, Texas is in the same sentence as your heroes that won championships dating back decades. He’s a folk hero you’ll tell your kids and grandkids about. As Mychal Kendricks appropriately said on 94 WIP moments after winning the Super Bowl, “etch his name in stone.”
But, not only is Foles an icon for closing the 2017-18 Eagles with the capturing of the Lombardi Trophy, but he’s also one of the most important off-season decisions the Birds must make.
Just like Nigel Bradham, LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles and Trey Burton, de facto general manager Howie Roseman will need to figure out the future of Foles because a team could very well seek the starters quality quarterback in a trade.
What should Roseman do if presented with such opportunity?
Don’t blink for a second.
Keep Foles.
Unless a team offers a first-round pick, there should be no second thought whatsoever. And even if another franchise is willing to part ways with such asset, the Birds would probably be wise to pass.
Currently, whether a guest of The Ellen DeGeneres Show or speaking to members of the local and national media, Foles is dodging questions about his future.
Yet, there will be a time where we learn what Foles wants, and if for some reason he ays he wants a chance to start elsewhere, give him the same answer Kendricks received heading into 2017.
No.
Foles is under contract for one more year with Philadelphia. There is no position in the game more important than quarterback. None of the others require a reliable backup as much as QB.
If Chase Daniel stayed with the Birds, February 8th’s parade wouldn’t exist.
Foles is certainly not a backup like Daniel. He’s a really good quarterback that is starter quality in the NFL, even if Jeff Fisher or Chip Kelly couldn’t figure that out.
Carson Wentz intends on being ready for Week 1 of the 2018 season. Whether he is or not, the susceptibility the North Dakota State product injures himself is high. The window is more than open for the Birds to go for a repeat. Why risk that not happening with unknown Nate Sudfeld as Wentz’s No. 2.?
As we learned with the long developments of Brandon Graham and Nelson Agholor, as well as the failures of Marcus Smith and Danny Watkins, first-round picks aren’t sure things. Everyone knows Foles can play.
There is no reason to mess with quarterback depth that’s already the best in the NFL.
If a team offers a first-round pick for Foles, Roseman should responsibly consider the move, but lean towards a polite no.
It’s not worth the risk.
Before I Forget…
• Let’s stick on the topic of Foles, but focus solely on him. To be clear, I always thought highly of the quarterback’s skills, even during his first stint in Philadelphia. But, there can’t be a more awkward professional athlete in sports, and I mean that with all due respect. I’m arguably the most awkward human on Earth. Whether it’s being asked entertainment questions during Super Bowl Opening Night, standing a top a float with Mickey Mouse in Disney World or being a guest of Ellen, he doesn’t meet the eye test of a pro athlete. Yet, when DeGeneres asks him to hit remote controlled moving targets with a football, Clark Kent removes his everyday clothes and reveal that Superman suit. Facts are the guy can sling the rock. Amazing. Makes him even more likable.
In all seriousness though, Foles and Doug Pederson taught this city an important lesson this season. Foles showed us failure is OK and makes you a better person in whatever you’re trying do. Pederson proved that everyone deserves a chance, even if no one wants or believes in them. Whether it’s sports or life, those lessons ring true. I think those are two of the reasons why America was rooting for the Eagles against the Patriots. Not only were they the underdogs, but they were the most relatable.
• Pederson let reporters know before heading to Super Bowl LII that he possesses no interest in gaining more control over personnel. The head coach feels it would take him away from the job of coaching. In addition to winning the Super Bowl, which predecessors Chip Kelly and Andy Reid obviously didn’t do, Pederson is proving why he’s light-years better than those guys. Most of the time, being successful is about collaborative work with a group of talented people. Bill Belichick is a rarity, and might be near the end of his Hall of Fame run anyway. Times are different. Focusing on one job is the way to go.
Still, will be interesting to see how much Pederson’s play calling and decision making takes a hit with the departures of Frank Reich and John DeFilippo. Would be hard to argue that those guys did nothing during their time here. Question is, how impactful were they on Pederson’s success?
• The World Champion Eagles were a team that kept it loose, but avoided talking trash at the same time, except for one guy, Lane Johnson. The right tackle’s latest headline capturing dig went towards the team he just beat in the Super Bowl, the five time champion Patriots. Johnson on the Pardon My Take podcast said the Pats were a “fear-based organization” and he’d rather win one title while having fun instead of capturing five while being unhappy. Sorry Lane, I’d go the rest of my life miserable if I could win five Super Bowls, because you’re likely not upset. Good thing the Patriots can’t use that as bulletin board material until Super Bowl LIII, if the two teams were to meet there again.
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham made it pretty evident on NBC Sports Philadelphia that he’d like to retire a Bird, but receiving a new contract is certainly a priority of his entering the final year of his current deal. In no way did Graham step out of bounds by publicly making this statement. He’s about to turn 30, but is playing at a very high level. “BG” is a vital part of the defensive line and Roseman should make it a priority to avoid any controversy.
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is “screaming” in his pillow because the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl. Icing on the cake for Birds fans.
• The 76ers need to shut Markelle Fultz down for the season. It’s pretty evident that president Bryan Colangelo doesn’t know when or if the top pick will return before the playoffs. Making the postseason is the priority for this growing group of players and constantly answering Fultz questions is an unnecessary distraction. Not to diminish the importance of this story, as once again this franchise is basically redshirting a lottery pick, but the mystery of Fultz is too alarming to overshadow a team that can reach as high as a four seed in the East. Colangelo and Brett Brown should effectively end Fultz’s season and let the fanbase worry about him next season with a clean slate.
• Speaking of said Sixers, if Joel Embiid can stay healthy and Marco Belinelli is the offensive help off the bench he showed he can be in the win over Miami, start expecting noise from the Sixers. They’re good enough on paper to give teams fits. If this young core can avoid turnovers and giving up big leads, expect a fun April and May. To be clear, making a Finals run is unrealistic. But, getting to the second round and being a tough out isn’t. Remember, the 2011-12 Sixers were one bad game by Boston from going to the Eastern Conference Finals.
• “Camp Kapler,” as I like to call it, is underway in Clearwater! New manager Gabe Kapler and the Phillies are officially in spring training, and it’s already extremely fascinating. Kapler is starting practices a little later in the morning, and conceded it’s OK for players to turn off their alarms so they can basically wake up naturally. Admit it, you’d like your boss to say the same thing too.
Dave Uram is a weekly contributor to Philly Influencer. You can follow him on Twitter (@MrUram) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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