Matthews shrugs off talking head’s nonsense
PHILADELPHIA » Baited into taking on an NFL Network talking head Sunday, Jordan Matthews shrugged and took the cheese.
In ripping Daniel Jeremiah, who almost certainly wouldn’t be around making predictions if his wild thoughts were tracked for accuracy by Pro Football Focus, Matthews proved he will do whatever is necessary to free himself of distractions to play his best football. He basically was asked over and over if he feared that Jeremiah, who worked for the Eagles years ago, was correct in saying that Nelson Agholor had locked down the slot receiver position, leaving Matthews’ future with the team uncertain.
Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith are the de facto Eagles starters outside. Jeremiah visited the NovaCare compound last week.
Weary of the question, Matthews expressed himself.
“My biggest thing is am I getting reps now?” Matthews said. “Am I getting opportunities to go out there and make plays? That’s my only focus. I can’t really worry too much about what Daniel Jeremiah says or any of those guys. They don’t play ball. They’re not in the front office. So I can’t really speculate on that too much.”
Matthews quickly intimated that he didn’t think Jeremiah was able to read the big picture, the responsibility of any legit player personnel type.
“I came in last year and knew I had a great opportunity to do a lot of stuff, especially early on with the first team and I got hurt,” Matthews said. “That’s one of those things that’s so unpredictable. It’s football. It’s so early in training camp. People make so many bold predictions. The crazy thing is I make a bold prediction and say something outlandish and it’s wrong and I get scrutinized. And he might do it and it’s like ‘OK.’ I mean, his mock drafts are pretty bad every year so nobody gets on him.”
How bad are mock drafts?
“They’re terrible,” Matthews said, explaining that no one can be so wrong in another profession and still have a job. “I just say, ‘What’s my job? What’s my focus?’ (I) come in, get to work and do what I’m supposed to do.”
Matthews absolutely feels there’s a competition for playing time with not just Agholor but the other receivers as well. Healthy and playing much faster than last year, Matthews is going to benefit the Eagles on the field or in a trade.
*** Jeffery made a token return to practice in front of a huge Lincoln Financial Field crowd estimated at 36,000 after sitting out four days of practices with a shoulder issue.
The Eagles’ best receiver confirmed what Doug Pederson said last week, which is that he’s healthy but might not play in the exhibition opener Thursday at Green Bay. Running back LeGarrette Blount also might not play in the game.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’d like to play but I don’t know how (the Eagles) do things.”
*** Veteran safety Corey Graham, 32, plays a lot of football games and as defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said, makes himself available to play a lot of games.
Graham said he signed with the Eagles because of Jim Schwartz.
“I enjoyed playing Jeremiah’s with him when he was in Buffalo,” Graham said. “His system is great. He allows you to really play fast. You don’t have to over-think things. And it’s a great city, an up-and-coming team and I think we’ve got an opportunity to be special.”
Schwartz said he’ll Graham at safety.
“But one of the things we like about him is he is a multidimensional player,” Schwartz said. “He’s even played nickel in the past. He’s played corner. He’s got the ability to match up against wide receivers. I think that’s one of his strong points.”
Graham said the reason he was still unsigned was partly because of his family situation.
“I could have joined a team,” Graham said. “But why not wait until training camp? You don’t have to do all the offseason stuff and that type of stuff. I just had a baby a month ago so I wanted to join my family. I didn’t want to leave my wife when she was getting ready to have a baby and things like that. So I had opportunities to go other places but when it all came down to it I thought this would be the best opportunity for me.”
*** NOTES » Linebacker Mychal Kendricks (quad) and rookie running back Donnel Pumphrey (hamstring) also returned to practice Sunday. ... The Eagles drew an estimated 59,000 to their two open practices at the Linc, including 36,000 Sunday . ... Eagles practice Monday and Tuesday, then hold a walkthrough Wednesday before leaving for the preseason opener Thursday against the Packers at Lambeau Field. That game will feature tackling to the ground . ... Zach Ertz and his soccer star wife Julie (Johnston) Ertz got together evaluate after the Eagles’ open practice. They both received compliments on being part of the Sports Illustrated Body Issue shoot, both featured nude in athletic poses accentuating their shapes. “Everyone tells us they like it,” said Julie, the women’s U.S. national team soccer star. “Either they’re all lying or they really do like it.”