Putting family first, Cox unapologetic for his ‘voluntary’ absence

PHILADELPHIA >> Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox refused to apologize Tuesday for skipping the first week of Eagles Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

There was no looking back — at least not in front of reporters — for the AllPro defender who prides himself on leading by example.

“We’re grown men,” Cox said after practice. “People in this locker room have families. And we know how important our family is. To me, my family is very important because I’ve lost a bunch of important people in my family.

“The rules are the rules. It’s voluntary.”

The Eagles’ highest-paid player was unrepentant. And he suggested the problem was created by head coach Doug Pederson, who last week said he’d wanted Cox to show up and provide leadership.

“Doug knew,” Cox said. “I know they wanted me here. But it was just one of those times when family was very important to me at that moment. I’ve been here during the offseason. Last week was just one of those weeks that had already been planned a long time ago. I had talked to Doug about it a long time ago. So it was no surprise.”

It’s safe to say Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was happy to see Cox. one of the few returning veterans on the defensive line due to turnover via free agency and the draft. The Eagles still are getting to know each other on both sides of the ball.

Schwartz kept his distance, though.

“I think I’m going to stay away from the attendance questions,” Schwartz said. “We all realize this is a voluntary part of the offseason program. When we get to mandatory minicamp, it becomes a little bit different. I think anything that a coach says — whether it’s praising a guy for being here or being critical of a guy for not being here, or even, sort of excusing a guy that’s not here — it all sort of takes away from the voluntary nature of it. We’ve worked through things like that before. There are players that have been here, players that haven’t. Players miss for a lot of different reasons. Our job is to coach the guys that are here.”

Pederson couldn’t have been happy with the lengthy list of veterans who didn’t show up Tuesday for the second round of OTAs.

Add the new absences to the growing list of walking wounded and the Eagles were considerably shorthanded at practice.

Here are the people who didn’t practice:

Jason Peters: Nothing new with the 35-year-old offensive tackle, who has frequently taken time off from OTAs in the past. The Eagles generally let him do what he wants to do providing he stays out of offseason trouble. ETA: Mandatory minicamp.

Marcus Smith: No one expects the 2014 first-round pick to show up until the mandatory mini, as the Eagles fortified the defensive end position in the draft with Derek Barnett, and in signing Chris Long in free agency.

Donnie Jones: Nothing new on the veteran punter. Rookie Cameron Johnston of Ohio State had an awful day, however, and has a lot of work to do before he can even think about threatening his 36-year-old counterpart.

Vinny Curry: The veteran defensive end coming off one of his worst seasons is legitimately ill, according to the Eagles. Out indefinitely.

LeGarrette Blount: The newly signed running back is expected to return Wednesday, having informed the Eagles of a family wedding he was scheduled to attend. No mention whether it was a Patriots thing.

Darren Sproles: Like Peters, the 33-year-old Sproles doesn’t generally attend much, if any of the OTAs partly so he doesn’t burn out. He’s not expected back until next week, at the soonest.

Tim Jernigan: The newly acquired defensive tackle is taking care of family business. His return this week is questionable.

Jordan Matthews: Tendinitis in the knee for the likable wide receiver, who just cannot seem to catch a healthy break.

Cox is back. He bristled when asked if he’d be around for Week 3 of OTAs, next Monday.

“Wasn’t I here today?” Cox said. “Well, I’ll be here next week.”

••• Cox jumping offside on the first snap of 11 on 11’s brought back memories of last season.

Only three teams had more pre-snap penalties in 2016 than the Eagles, who committed 49. The Chiefs led the league with 53. Oakland had 51, the Seahawks 50.

The Eagles were fourth in the NFC and first in the NFC East with 113 penalties accepted.

Two of the teams assessed more penalties — Seattle and Atlanta — reached their numbers in two and three more games, respectively.

••• Finally, it’s not too early to visualize that Eagles’ season-opener at Washington.

The 1 p.m., Sept. 10th affair at FedEx Field pits Carson Wentz against Kirk Cousins.

It’s also the regular season debut of Jay Cutler, former Bears quarterback, as a Fox TV analyst.

Charles Davis and Kevin Burkhart will get Cutler through the day.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Fletcher Cox didn’t feel he owed an explanation to the media regarding his absence from the start of OTA’s last week, saying he informed head coach Doug Pederson well in advance that he would be tending to family matters.