Posted: Friday, January 6, 2012, 1:06 PM | 33 comments |
 

Eagles sign WR/KR to futures contract
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Wide receiver Mardy Gilyard signed a futures contract with the Eagles, the team announced Friday.

Gilayrd, who was an All-American kick returner in college, could help solve the Eagles woes in that department.

Gilyard, who caught 204 passes at the University of Cincinnati, was drafted by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. He was cut before the 2011 season and then briefly picked up off waivers by the New York Jets before they released him five days later.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Gilyard was an All-American receiver in 2009 with the Bearcats after he had 87 receptions for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also an All-American as a kick returner in 2008.
Posted by Jeff McLane @ 1:06 PM  Permalink | 33 comments
33
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 01/06/2012
    Good move I loved him in College and he'll be better then Chad Hall and others they've used back there
    — connorjr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 01/06/2012
    He couldn't stick with the Rams and the Jets - He won't see the field here. He'll be lucky to wind up on the practice squad.
    — mikegdj
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:49 PM, 01/06/2012
    Cannon fodder...sorry kid....merely a ploy to make DeSean think his job is in jeopardy.....and we know this is Nickels move jsut like the stupid signing of SSmith...Could have used that money to make DeSean a reasonable deal.....Good Job Joe....your fantasy football strategy worked well this year....right ????
    — nuggett
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:00 PM, 01/06/2012
    Can't hurt to give him a shot. Dion Lewis wasn't even close to breaking any kickoff returns this season. I like Lewis as a runningback, but he doesn't look comfortable returning kicks.
    — mish798798
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:01 PM, 01/06/2012
    I love these people who see other teams who sign street free agents that pan out and say "Why don't the Eagles do that?" Then they take a shot at a guy (no idea if he will help) and right away they rip the move. NFL teams have rosters of nearly 90 players for camp Wake up clowns they aren't all top draft picks
    — mcat13
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:02 PM, 01/06/2012
    What the heck is a futures contract? I've never heard of such thing in the NFL before.
    — Controlled Chaos
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:08 PM, 01/06/2012
    What is a futures contract in sports? Is it convertible to pork bellies or crude oil if it doesn't work out?
    — dawk2020
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:23 PM, 01/06/2012
    Another short guy who will get crushed. Hey, still, he could be a gem in the rough.
    — Koons
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:54 PM, 01/06/2012
    people criticize what they dont know. thats usually the theme of eagles fans if they're not being negative and ignorant first..smh..give the kid a chance he was very good in college..hes young and didnt get a shot yet..sheesh..no team has pro bowlers at every position..wake up u jerks
    — bigjay215
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:14 PM, 01/06/2012
    I can't see this as a bad move; it is consistent with the front office's character. A little guy who has experience running back kicks, and can be a fourth or fifth WR when required. Not much money to spend on him, either. Yep, that's typical, but who knows? Gilyard might just work out.
    — MidStaterUXB
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:19 PM, 01/06/2012
    OK - had to look it up, but there is a such thing as a "futures contract":

    "They are called futures contracts because they technically are premised on future performance, as the NFL season does not officially begin until March. The only players who are eligible to sign this type of contract are those who were not on their teams’ active rosters at the conclusion of this past season.

    It is common for futures contract signees to have finished the previous season on their respective team’s practice squad."

    I just never heard that term before...
    — dawk2020
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:38 PM, 01/06/2012
    Good pick up wonder why they didn't sign him earlier, I mean Chad Hall are you kidding me this is what we the fans continue to scratch our heads pertaining to the Eagles moves. Like Reno Mahe you mean to tell me all the teams excluding your team so that's what 31 teams have practice squad players and the best you can come up with is Chad Hall and before Reno Mahe and reid still has a job WOW anyway this kid was unreal when he played college ball I used to watched him play a lot and he was real good, I was hoping the Eagles would Draft him as well. Maybe a change will help.
    — william20
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:18 PM, 01/06/2012
    Don't discount the thunderous punishment and hits,AHEM, that Hall meted out while covering kicks this year too........with our stud at the run / pass 1 yard line play backup RB Brown
    — PhillyMike5959
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:45 PM, 01/06/2012
    HAH! Gilyard is just a better Reno Mahe..........
    — Panthro2011
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:02 PM, 01/06/2012
    a better Reno with loads more speedo.
    — Romus


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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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