Eagle feathers ruffled
Pederson hot as QB plans leak
Eagles coach Doug Pederson lashed out at the media Sunday for revealing his quarterback plans to start the season.
In case you missed it: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport broke the news a day earlier that reigning Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles would start Week 1 against the Falcons.
“I appreciate y'all putting words in my mouth this week,” he said, referencing the report. “Therefore, I'm not going to discuss it.”
“Next question. Next question. Next question,” Pederson repeated when pressed on the matter.
Pederson later admitted Wentz, who is still rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL that cost him the end of his season, had not been cleared for contact.
The scene, though, had already appeared hostile and at least two members of the media didn't hold back.
“We're asking a fair question,” one countered.
“What's the point of this?” another asked.
Then Pederson doubled down.
“It's my decision,” the second-year coach said. “I'm trying to win a football game. And I don't want to put my game plan out there for everybody to see it and read it — and teams can scheme. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.”
GRUDEN TALKS MACK DEAL
Jon Gruden didn't mince words.
As excited as he was to coach Khalil Mack in his second stint with Oakland, Gruden believes the right move ultimately was to trade Mack to give the Raiders the draft picks and salary cap room needed to rebuild a depleted roster.
"It wasn't my goal to trade Khalil when we got here," Gruden said Sunday. "One of the reasons I'm here is because of him. Unfortunately, we had a standoff with a contract, and we could not come to terms. The Bears made us an offer of two first-round draft choices and here we are today."
“But we're going to be second-guessed until the cows come home on this. I understand that,” he added.
ELWAY CUTS LYNCH
John Elway cut ties with his biggest draft bust Sunday when he waived quarterback Paxton Lynch less than 24 hours after including him on the Denver Broncos' 53-man roster.
In another move, the Broncos placed safety Su'a Cravens on IR with an injured left knee and re-signed Isaiah McKenzie, the speedy returner/receiver who was among the team's cuts a day earlier.