Ford: Bradford bandwagon gains speed

The second-most emphatic endorsement on Monday by Eagles tight end Zach Ertz - after the one he put on the back of an $8 million signing bonus - was the one he bestowed on Sam Bradford, the free-agent quarterback also looking for a contract.

"I've played for five quarterbacks now in three years, which seems like a lot, and I want to play with Sam," Ertz said. "Ultimately, that's not my decision. But I think the chemistry that I developed with Sam and Jordan [Matthews] developed with Sam and some of the other guys developed - I think you saw the success firsthand with Donovan [McNabb]. He was a staple on this team for a long time, and when you're able to have that continuity, I think it goes a long way."

The Eagles signed Ertz to a five-year extension worth a reported $42 million, with $20 million of that guaranteed. It's a generous contract for a player who hasn't really had his breakout season yet. The team obviously expects that to happen, though, and put Ertz at the top of the list of young, core players it wanted to lock up.

"It's never easy with Howie [Roseman]," said agent Steve Caric, who indicated the team initiated negotiations as soon as the season was over. Easy or not, Ertz had no complaints. He said he just wants to play football here, be the best tight end in the game, and wouldn't mind continuing to catch passes from Bradford.

"I would love that. I know a lot of guys would love to have Sam back," Ertz said. "At the same time, we're very confident in Doug [Pederson] and Howie and Mr. [Jeffrey] Lurie to decide who is going to be the best person to play quarterback."

If the theme of this offseason is a return to stability, the chorus within the organization that Bradford represents that stability continues to grow. As the ownership and front office seek to settle a locker room that suffered through massive uncertainty last season, signing Bradford feels like a wise decision from a political, not just a football, standpoint.

"I think Sam, he's got the tools, there's no question," Pederson, the new head coach, said at his introductory news conference last week. "He's got good size, got a great arm, good mind for the game, and it's just a matter now [of] just plugging him in and cutting him loose and utilizing those strengths in this system."

As endorsements go, that one wasn't bad, either, although Pederson admitted that the evaluation process is still taking place, and Lurie seconded that hedge.

"Sam did a lot of good things, and he seemed to get better during the course of the season, but that's . . . it is the key," the team's owner said. "Structure is . . . accountability is crucial and franchise quarterback is very, very important."

The Eagles did not release an English translation of that, but Lurie was clearly walking a fine line between praising Bradford and substantially improving the quarterback's negotiating position. Bradford seemed to get better? Gee, thanks, boss.

Along with solving the Bradford contract dilemma - and in fairness to the organization, Chip Kelly left a mess in that regard - the Eagles have some other difficult and potentially expensive decisions to make.

Vinny Curry, Cedric Thornton, and Nolan Carroll are also unrestricted free agents right now. A year behind them, Ertz has been taken care of, but the team has to make plans to handle Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, and Malcolm Jenkins, all of whom are scheduled to become free agents after the 2016 season. If unable to reach a new contract with Lane Johnson, the team could exercise a fifth-year option on the former first-round pick to hold him through 2017, but a longer extension would probably be preferable.

That's a lot of number crunching for Roseman in the next few weeks, and the crunchiest numbers will belong to Bradford. Their options are to put a one-year franchise tag on him for more than $20 million; to sign him to a longer deal, presumably at a smaller seasonal salary; or to let him walk. According to Ertz, Bradford doesn't want door No. 3.

"I think he's excited. He wants to be in Philadelphia," Ertz said. "Whether he's back here or not, that's none of my business, honestly. He's going to do what's best for him, and the Eagles are going to do what's best for us. But at the end of the day, I think he wants to be here."

What's best for the Eagles also includes a hard look at the two alternatives, Mark Sanchez and Unknown. Professional players hoping to be on a team with a decent chance to win aren't going to be excited about either of those options.

A good front office can't be swayed by the opinion of the locker room, which is always that everyone should get paid. When it comes to the quarterback position, however, if there is a bandwagon picking up speed, and jittery nerves that need to be calmed, sometimes it's best to pay the fare and jump on. It is still early, but that seems to be where this ride is leading.

bford@phillynews.com

@bobfordsports