February 04, 2016
For about a decade during the Andy Reid-Joe Banner-Howie Roseman years, the Eagles always kept a pretty clean salary cap. However, for the first time in a long time, many are wondering if the Eagles will be able to spend in free agency, especially after having signed Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Lane Johnson, and Vinny Curry to new contracts.
A season ago, Chip Kelly went on a shopping spree, signing a slew of free agents, including DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell, Ryan Mathews, Brandon Graham, Mark Sanchez, Walter Thurmond, Miles Austin, Seyi Ajirotutu, and E.J. Biggers. They also traded for Sam Bradford, who instantly became the highest-paid player on the team.
The Murray and Maxwell contracts were widely panned, and for good reason, as neither player came close to living up to their pay scale. ESPN went as far as to name both players among the five worst free agent signings in the NFL in 2015. Kelly's offseason a year ago has also forced the Eagles to make a tough decision on Sam Bradford this offseason, and has left the team without its second round pick.
Kelly, of course, is no longer around to clean up the mess left from last offseason's debacle, as he became the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. In his introductory press conference with the Niners, he was sure to note that he is now excited to work with "football guys."
Speaking to reporters at the NovaCare Complex earlier this week, Roseman was asked if he thought the Eagles were in cap trouble.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten that question in my life in Philadelphia here about that,” said Roseman. “It’s bizarre to me. Are we in cap trouble? Whoa.”
Translation -- "I'm only getting that question the year after Chip did his damage."
Let the passive aggressive sniping continue, please.
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