Mathis, Eagles reach five-year deal
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Mathis, Eagles reach five-year deal
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Evans Mathis isn't going anywhere after all.
The Eagles and the free agent guard agreed to a five-year on Saturday, the team announced. The deal is worth $25 million in base salary with $7 million guaranteed, an NFL source said. Mathis had offers from the Eagles and the Ravens as of Friday, but flew home to Arizona to mull over his decision.
The Eagles made a "competitive" offer on Friday, a league source said. It's unclear if they had to increase the offer to keep the 30-year old. Mathis, nevertheless, decided to stay in Philly where his career was resurrected.
With Mathis still in the fold the Eagles' improved starting offensive line will remain intact next season. All five starters -- tackles Jason Peters and Todd Herremans, center Jason Kelce, guard Danny Watkins and Mathis -- are signed through 2014.
Mathis started in only 22 games during his first seven seasons with three other teams. But he came to the Eagles as an unheralded free agent last summer and blossomed under the tutelage of line coach Howard Mudd.
Mathis visited Baltimore on Thursday but left the following day without signing a contract - a good sign for the Eagles. In the end, he chose comfort over playing for what would have been his fifth stop in the NFL.
That's great news! The O-line should be pretty good next year.— Peter527- Yea, I had a feeling he would sign here.— Norm3
- They still may draft David DeCastro if he's still available at 15. DeCastro is that good of a prospect. I bet there's an out clause in Mathis' contract after the first year.— soulman386
- Excellent!— dudega
- This is good news indeed...We really needed to keep that line intact with continuity.— citysims
- hell yes, great to see the organization locking up all the right guys. details of the contract re adam caplan:
5 years, $31.25 max, $9 m first 2 years, $7 guaranteed. Nice deal for the eagles and for mathis. good player, good guy, good deal.— ZPorges - Ok now get a big wr , either Plax or Floyd in the draft or both..Get a vet. lb n get it right for once on a rookie lb.... Dline(draft) help n a safety or 2 (draft n vet.) n I might be happy lol....— diehardeagle
- still need a QB— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011
- No wrong again, all we really need is for fans like you to find another team to root for. — charmaine
- Spectacular move! This O-Line should be Rock Solid enough to give Vick more time to think about what to do with the ball. He should be running less now and more throwing in the pocket— Ace-Philadelphia
- great news! now if the qb would learn to release the ball in less than half an hour.....— DONDEN31
- What about LeRon landry? They say he's visiting 4 teams and one of those is a mystery team? That would be the eagles and I think that he will visit us last with the eagles having an idea of what the other teams are offering— LMUNIZ
- awesome. quaterback can wait until next year there should be more good names. this years draft should be all about building the defense and adding some depth to the offensive line in the later rounds— HDemetriou
- Great ! Now all we need is posters who don't immediately find something else to complain about. Can I come up for air for a second fellas?— Eddie Spaghetti
- Didja guys hear, Eagles trading #15 and a third rounder to move down to the 2nd round? :) Lighten up guys...fa\r too early to jump off the bridge
— Hatfield_ham
