March 25, 2015
According to the Vikings' Twitter account, Casey Matthews will be bringing his football dinner conversation talents to Minnesota, where he signed a contract with the Vikings.
The #Vikings have agreed to terms with Casey Matthews: http://t.co/K3M8EaB6xe pic.twitter.com/jVTFswjTOi
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 24, 2015
Matthews played 440 snaps for the Eagles last year after DeMeco Ryans was lost for the season with an Achilles tear. The Eagles were confident he could be a Day 1 starter when they drafted him in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, but the reality was that Matthews simply didn't have NFL size or athleticism. This is among the worst spider charts (which measures NFL Combine results) I've ever seen:
To Matthews' credit, he managed to stick in the NFL because of his smarts and special teams contributions, but he's a cautionary example of valuing intangibles over ability.
Matthews signing in Minnesota gives me the opportunity to update the old Andy Reid guys who departed the Eagles this offseason:
Seven down, more to come.
And here are the Eagles' gains and losses, in stick figure form:
According to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly, the Eagles might release Mathis if they can't find a trade partner for him.
If the Eagles can’t find a trade partner for left guard Evan Mathis, they could be just as willing to show him the door as they were two years ago for DeSean Jackson.
Mathis, who was on the trade block last offseason and is back there again, might be cast off into the free-agent waters if the Eagles can’t deal him, according to a source close to the situation.
The offensive line was already a huge need this offseason before the Eagles released OG Todd Herremans. That need became greater after Herremans' release and will only accelerate if they jettison their other starting guard. Mathis garnered two All-Pro votes in 2014 (tied for sixth) despite missing seven games. He also made the Pro Bowl.
According to NFL Network's Heath Evans, fullbacks = toughness.
@Nelson81 Nope....but every SB champ since 2007 has used a FB. It's called toughness. Something your @Eagles team knows nothing about.
— Heath Evans (@HeathEvans44) March 23, 2015
I agree. In fact, Heath Evans was on the Saints' roster the year they won the Super Bowl against the Colts. Despite his fullback toughness, Evans was injured and placed on IR. Fullback fill-in Kyle Eckel played in nine games and closed the season as the Saints' fullback. He played one snap in the Conference Championship Game against the Vikings, and three snaps against the Colts in the Super Bowl. As we all know, Eckel's four snaps in those two games were the toughest, most magical 20 seconds in the history of the NFL, and without them the Saints never would have won the Super Bowl.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
