Fletcher Cox 'expecting' to be at training camp
The absences of Fletcher Cox and Darren Sproles might have been conspicuous during the last two months, but their return to the Eagles this week has been anticlimactic. Cox and Sproles spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time this offseason, and neither player gave any reasons for headaches among the higher-ups at the NovaCare Complex.
Cox would not address his absence - "I'm here today. That's all that matters," he said - and wants any discussion of his contract negotiations to remain private. Sproles missed time for family reasons and denied rumors that he was unhappy with his contract or the Eagles.
Their workloads remain different. Cox, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle, continued to be a limited participant during the second day of mandatory minicamp, while Sproles looked like he had been with the first-team offense since April.
"Just wanted to make sure that he's in the right frame of mind and the right situation before you stick him out there," coach Doug Pederson said of Cox, who is taking part in other parts of practice and in meetings. "So again . . . now is not the time to try to push things and possibly risk an injury.
"Darren's a little different animal, and he had an opportunity to get a couple reps yesterday. He's also a special-teams guy, so you saw him catch some punts."
Cox said his workload was "Coach's decision" because the other players have been with the team for weeks, and he called it a "smart move" by the coaching staff. He focused on the fact that he reported to the camp, refusing to discuss the last two months.
The next big question for Cox is whether he reports to training camp - and whether he has a new contract by then.
"I'm expecting to be at training camp, yes," Cox said.
He would not discuss his contract, but Pederson expressed optimism Tuesday that Cox would have a new contract by then.
Cox is meeting new teammates, spending time with old ones, and learning defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme.
He said he believes he was "made for" this defense. Cox said his favorite part of the defense is the "negative plays" it creates.
"That's why they brought me here" in 2012, Cox said of the 4-3 attacking defense. "That's what I played in college [at Mississippi State], that's what I played in my first year in the league. I'm really excited to really see what it brings to the table and what we can do as a team."
Cox said he's in appropriate shape and has been training near his hometown of Yazoo City, Miss. But he could not experience the installation of the defense. Pederson said it wouldn't take long for Cox to catch up.
"When I got here on Monday, I got the playbook, and I'm a professional athlete so it was my job to dive straight in," Cox said.
Even though Sproles was not in Philadelphia, he was able to understand the scheme from daily conversations with running backs coach Duce Staley. That allowed Sproles to take the field quickly even though his first on-field exposure to the offense came Tuesday.
Sproles said he appreciated that Pederson understood his absence. He said he's fine entering the final year of his contract with the Eagles.
"I don't know where all the rumors came from," Sproles said. "People just writing stuff, I guess."
When asked if he wants a contract extension, the veteran said he needs to "wait and see."
Pederson said Sproles' work with the first-team offense was not necessarily an indication that he's atop the depth chart, but rather because the coach wanted to finally see him in the system. Sproles expects to be involved in the screen game - he averaged 73.3 catches in the three seasons before coming to Philadelphia, and 47.5 catches during his two seasons with the Eagles.
"They say they're going to have me everywhere, so I'm ready for that," Sproles said.
Pederson's first impressions were positive. He said the 32-year old looked fast, quick, and ready to go. Chip Kelly used to say that Sproles was the best practice player he had ever been around, and similar endorsements made sense after Pederson watched him.
"From what everybody has told me, it holds true: He's the hardest worker on the football team, works hard in the offseason, and gets himself ready to go," Pederson said. "He's a [12]-year guy that knows how to get himself prepared."
Extra points
Wide receiver Josh Huff was sent home because of illness. . . . Former Eagles personnel executive Ed Marynowitz was hired by Alabama as associate athletic director for football. Marynowitz worked for the Crimson Tide before joining the Eagles.
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