Unknown future awaits free agents, veterans
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. >> The Eagles bussed home from their win over the Giants Sunday with a dozen free agents, an interim head coach in Pat Shurmur and a lot of uncertainty ahead.
“Like Coach Shurm says, time for the unknown,” defensive end Vinny Curry said. “It feels good, though, to have the win.”
Curry is among the free agents. There will be no shortage of suitors for the pass rusher, who prefers to stay in Philly.
“Whatever it holds, whether I’m here, elsewhere it’s going to be fun,” said Curry, who has 3½ sacks. “I’m looking forward to the process. I think everybody who knows me knows where I want to be.”
It could be a tricky time for some of the older veterans although it was tough to argue with offensive tackle Jason Peters, who’s under contract the next three years.
Peters, 33, is due almost $7.55 million in base pay, a $750,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus in 2016.
It’s not a good idea to ask Peters if he wants to move to guard.
“I’m the best we got,” Peters said. “Who they going to put out there? Who better than me in this locker room? Nobody. Who can they draft better than me? Nobody. Who can they pick up better than me? Nobody. You’re going to get beat here and there. That’s part of it.”
Instead of playing their usual frantic pace under Chip Kelly, who was axed Tuesday, the Eagles played a relatively slower brand of offense that allowed quarterback Sam Bradford, a soon-to-be free agent, to make more checks. It worked. It also seems to keep the offensive linemen fresh.
“Sometimes you need to slow it down to get into the proper play, so when you call a play and we go out there it might be into the wrong defense,” Peters said. “But when you slow it down and you get the right play call, we’ve got a better chance of picking up positive yards. So slowing it down a little bit is good … like we did today.”
While Bradford wants to return, he conceded the decision will be based on who the next head coach is.
“That’s definitely going to be a factor,” he said. “It definitely depends on who they hire and what kind of offensive system he wants to run.”
The exit interviews for Eagles players are Monday. You already know what Peters will tell the interviewers.
“Yeah I want to be here,” Peters said. “I’ve still got gas in the tank. The last couple of games, from the Panthers game on I was playing a little banged up but that’s no excuse. I was out there trying to get to the playoffs.”