Eagles Weekend Reading: 82 Catches For Maclin?

Here are some links to pass along this weekend…

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Jeremy Maclin and the Eagles agreed on a one-year deal this offseason. Maclin opted not to test the open market in search of a better deal. The Eagles offered him a long-term contract, but it didn’t have the money he was looking for.

Now, Maclin will play for the team in 2014, and then both teams will revisit the situation.

Which brings us to an interesting post by Mike Sando of ESPN.com. Sando writes that the 2015 wide receiver free agent class is loaded. Guys like Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Michael Crabtree, Jordy Nelson and others are in the final years of their deals. Now, this list is going to look different by the time next March rolls around and guys sign early extensions with their current teams.

But the 2015 WR market will be worth keeping an eye on. The Eagles have Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff signed already for the 2015 season. If they like what they see out of Maclin, given the market, they could be in a favorable position to sign him to a long-term deal.

I normally don’t put much stock in the “he wants to be here” storyline, but in this case, it applies. If Maclin wanted to cash in above all else, he could have almost certainly found more guaranteed money on the open market this offseason. But there were other factors to consider, and now he’s looking to be an impact player in Chip Kelly’s offense.

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Speaking of Maclin, Adam Schein of NFL.com lists nine players he still believes in:

DeSean Jackson became a problem for Chip Kelly, so the coach jettisoned his leading receiver. (Yes, that’s how you translate the amusingly vague “football reasons” explanation.) It was a major statement. But Kelly also knew he was getting back Maclin.

Maclin, of course, tore his ACL last July and missed out on all the fun of Kelly’s first season. While the sixth-year pro won’t stretch the field like Jackson, I bet he reaches 82 catches (the amount Jackson hauled in last season) and shines as a prime-time target for Nick Foles in Kelly’s high-octane attack.

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If you’re wondering about Evan Mathis’ $64,000 Twitter hoax, friend of the blog Dan McQuade has all the details.

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NFL coaching legend Chuck Noll passed away at the age of 82. His Steelers teams won four Super Bowls in a six-season span.

I am about to dig in to this Sports Illustrated feature by Paul Zimmerman on Noll. Without having read it yet, I can still guarantee it’s probably worth your time.