Mathis: "I'd like to return"
Evan Mathis wants to remain an Eagle.
Mathis: "I'd like to return"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Evan Mathis wants to remain an Eagle.
The Eagles left guard, who will become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, said during a Q&A via e-mail that he was under the impression the Eagles want him back, as well.
Sounds like a perfect marriage, right? With free agency, though, nothing is certain.
Mathis, a seven-year veteran, is coming off his best season. And after playing on a one-year, league minimum salary last year, he will certainly be looking for some security. So no one could fault the 30-year old if he chooses to sign with the highest bidder.
But will there be many bidders? There are sure to be several even if some teams are put off by Mathis' 22 career starts before this season. He had, by even the lowest of estimates, a solid season. Some may even say great. In certain circles he was Pro Bowl worthy.
Mathis flourished under offensive line coach Howard Mudd. Signed amid a flurry of high-priced free agent acquisitions during training camp, Mathis slipped into Lehigh virtually unnoticed. By the start of the season, though, everyone knew who he was.
With right tackle a camp-long issue, Eagles coach Andy Reid was forced to move Todd Herremans from left guard. That move wouldn't have been possible if Reid and Mudd didn't feel comfortable with Mathis as Herremans' replacement.
Mathis rewarded their confidence. With All Pro Jason Peters playing on his left at tackle, Mathis was one of the best run blocking guards in the game. By the end of the season, the Eagles' offensive line was perhaps their most consistent unit.
Needless to say, the Eagles would prefer not to break up their line. Knowing Mudd, though, he probably believes he can turn other journeyman lineman into productive blockers as he did last year with Mathis. Perhaps the Eagles think second-year guard Julian Vandervelde is ready to play.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Mathis fits the Mudd mold perfectly, though. He's athletic, tough and took to Mudd's aggressive blocking techniques. Both the Eagles and Mathis appear to have good reason to come to terms. But as Mathis detailed in the following interview, there are possible obstacles to getting a deal done:
Question: I understand the Eagles can't approach you about a new deal before the start of free agency because you were signed for the league minimum last year. Is that true? If so, is that frustrating or are you excited to see what free agency has to offer?
Mathis: Yes that's true. It guarantees that I will always know what I was worth when I hit the market. I won't have the chance to look back and wonder what could have been if I was to sign a deal before FA.
Q: Do you want to return to the Eagles? If so, would you be willing to give them a home discount?
Mathis: I'd like to return. Of course, just throw me $20 and a pizza and I'm in.
Q: Have you spoken to anyone with the Eagles recently and gotten the impression that they want you back?
Mathis: I do get the impression that they want me back.
Q: Other teams obviously can't approach you yet, but have you heard -- through your agent Drew Rosenhaus -- if other teams are interested and, if so, who they may be? Or how many there are?
Mathis: I believe it's tampering if any NFL teams were to approach myself or my agent before March 13th. However, the LA Dodgers, Allen Wranglers, and WWE have all expressed high interest.
Q:What do you think accounted more for your success in 2011: Your improvement and hard work or playing in Howard Mudd's system alongside Jason Peters?
Mathis: It was a combination of things. First, it was being allowed to play. When I've been on the field, I've always performed well. Add to that the fact that I put in 28 straight weeks of high level training during the lockout. Last but not least, the techniques that Howard taught me made the game much easier for me. It's not about a "system" as much as it is about the techniques. The techniques would work anywhere, Howard's just one of the best OL coaches the game has ever seen and I've been absorbing as much knowledge as I can from him.
Q:With Mudd returning how much will he factor in your decision on whether to re-sign with the Eagles?
Mathis: I learned a lot from him in a short time last year. Being able to learn more in the future is something that would help me grow as a player.
Q: This may be your last chance at a long-term deal, have you set parameters for how many guaranteed years you want?
Mathis:I have no idea what the market will be for me. I'm 30 and some people consider that old by NFL standards. Objectively, I have limited mileage on my body, no serious injuries, a new CBA that focuses on player safety, a gym that will keep me in peak physical condition, and a drive to be the best. I have 6-8 seasons left to play at a very high level.
Q: If you answered above that you want to return to the Eagles, how confident are you that it will happen?
Mathis: I have no idea how it will all play out. If someone else offered me twice the money and the Eagles wouldn't match it, would it make sense to return? There's just a lot of possible scenarios and factors that are out of my control for me to be confident in predicting anything.
Q: You took some heat about your tweet in Jan. after Jeffrey Lurie said that Andy Reid was returning. Do you regret saying what you said?
Mathis: If I regretted it I would have deleted it. I can be very amicable and approachable but I can also be abrasive and outspoken. I'm mean on the field and that's the only one that matters to me. I also do not regret it because I gave my favorite beat writers some material for the week. And apparently some material for March.
Q: Who's the best tweeter on the Eagles offensive line: You, Jason Kelce or Herremans?
Mathis: Why would you ask such an easy question?
Mathis is a good player and they'll probably re-sign him but they may draft David DeCastro if he's available at 15. DeCastro is such a good prospect and so well suited to Mudd's scheme I don't think they can pass on him. Go watch his game tape on youtube. His technique is almost flawless.— soulman386- Solid player, needs to stop coming at the rabid fanbase though. It won't get him very far.— gordon7
- They need to bring him back just on the basis of keeping some continuity. O-line is a unit of strength. He shouldn't be too expensive. Soulman, offensive guard is not an immediate need, so I don't understand why thy would pick the kid from Stanford. From Andy Reid's perspective, he needs double digit wins to keep his job this year. So I'm not seeing his immediate value to the team. However, a guy like Kuechly will come in and make an immediate impact. It's just a matter of if he's available at 15 and if Reid's willing to correct his bad habits when it comes to the draft. They cannot fail in this year's draft. It is not an option.— beegal99
- Bring this man back, he was the anchor of the O-Line last year— Titanic
- One thing the Eagles do not want is for Mathis to walk and to have to start the year with yet another question mark on the O line. If he goes does that mean Herremanns will have to move back to OG? Will that force the Eagles to spend another high pick on a RT thereby taking a pick away from the D where it's really needed? Playing Vandervelde means 3-2nd year players on the OL...is that the way to protect Vick? Sounds like the end of an old Batman episode doesn't it? Tune in next week to see what happens next...anywhoooo, the elephant in the room is Ratboy so don't be surprised at anything.— tpizza
- Too many players to sign, where is all the $ coming from?
Mathis, Jackson, McCoy, and Maclin all want contracts, and are do big bucks— camasbud - Mudd got the top pick last year, Washburn called dibs this year...— tpizza
- Tpizza, you hit the nail on the head with a pepperoni stick.— tommy_the_k
- I would not be surprised at all if the Eagles are thinking about "fooling" everyone by taking a tackle at #15. Then move Herremans back to Guard and they wouldnt have to pay a raise to Mathis to do what Herremans is already being paid to do. and a rookie OT is cheaper then Herremans who would also require a raise to stay at OT. I dont see them keeping Herremans long term at OT. Be ready for a tackle with the #15 pick in the draft, because no one could possibly see that coming.— CharlieGarner25
- Yeah, always a good idea to draft a rookie RT to protect the QB's blind side...and then you'd have a second year C, a second year RG and a rookie RT...now what better way to get the QB killed and for Reid to have job security than that?— tpizza
- Continuity on the OL is critical. They jelled very nicely last year. Hard to believe the Eagles would let Mathis get away.
... but then, the Eagles do a lot of things that are hard to believe ...— FishFryFrank - If you want to win a super bowl go... if you don't stay. How come Rosenhaus has a the immature players?— Same Old
- uh "pizza" was it a good idea to go into a season with an undersized rookie Center, a guy off the street, a rookie Guard, and a guard playing OT for the first time ? Thats what they went into the 2010 season with. I am not saying thats what I Would do, but I am telling you its something they are considering doing and wouldnt be any dumber then what they did at the start of 2010. All those moves with new guys on 0-ine at the start of the season resulted in massive mistakes, missed -blocked, missed assignments and a 1-4 start and 4-8 at midseason. Its EXACTLY the type of thing the Eagles would do and wouldnt be any dumber then what they did the year before. No amount of stupidity would surprise me from this organization.— CharlieGarner25
- I suppose the Eagles have no choice but to be the highest bidder for this guy... do they have any other options? (The draft NOT being an option given other needs at this point...)— Mr. Magee
- Uh, that's not what they planned on and that's not what they went into the season with. They planned on Ryan Harris and Chicken DeVan...They were forced into moving Herremann's, were lucky to have had Mathis and Watkins had to play because DeVan stuuuuuhnk. Planning on it and being forced into it are two different things and none of it revolved around a rookie RT. The fact that you said it was a bad idea then should mean they won't do it now. Worst case is that Mathis leaves, herremanns goes back to guard and they bring in a vet RT. BTW, Herremanns played LT and was a T in college. Too bad you had to throw in that pompous, childish "uh"...you were almost worth responding to as an adult.— tpizza
