Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/12/21.

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Zach Ertz speculation continues surrounding Buffalo Bills - Buffalo Rumblings
One of the biggest questions for the Buffalo Bills during the 2021 offseason has been around the tight end position. There was plenty of speculation heading into the 2021 NFL Draft that the Bills might trade for tight end for Zach Ertz, a trade that obviously did not happen. It has been almost six weeks since the conclusion of the draft, but the speculation around Ertz and the Bills continues. A recent tweet from ESPN’s Josina Anderson sounds as if there may still be some questions in Buffalo.

Aaron Rodgers trade? Richard Sherman re-sign? Big moves NFL teams should make this offseason - NFL.com
Jacksonville Jaguars trade for Zach Ertz. This is one of those situations that makes too much sense. The Philadelphia Eagles have been shopping Ertz for months. The Jaguars don’t have a legitimate receiving threat at that position and are so desperate for help that they’re giving Tim Tebow a look. Joining a bottom-feeder franchise probably wouldn’t be enticing for Ertz at this stage of his career — he turns 31 in November — but he would be a significant upgrade in talent. He had a combined 204 receptions between the 2018 and ‘19 seasons. Ertz’s career-worst production last year (36 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown) also had plenty to do with injuries, erratic quarterback play and the overall dysfunction that plagued the Eagles. And let’s repeat this for emphasis: The Jaguars signed a 33-year-old former quarterback who hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2012 to audition at tight end, which happens to be a position he’s never played. Somebody is eventually going to make a move for Ertz, and the Buffalo Bills have been rumored as a sensible destination, as well. If the Jaguars want to be serious about putting as many weapons around rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence as possible, they’d be wise to add Ertz to the mix.

Eagles re-re-re-re-sign Dick Rod - BGN
Now back in the fold, Rodgers will likely serve as the Eagles’ No. 2 tight end behind presumed starter Dallas Goedert. Zach Ertz is currently still on the roster but it only feels like a matter of time until he’s actually traded or released. On that front, Josina Anderson recently suggested the Buffalo Bills could still be in play.

Above the Nest with Raichele #13: Preseason schedule finalized and Jason Michael staying in touch with Zach Ertz - BGN Radio
The Eagles’ preseason schedule is set in stone and Raichele Privette kicks off the episode by going through the important dates this summer. She also recaps the Eagles’ recent roster moves, and touches on The Eagles’ tight ends coach Jason Michael announcing that he and Zach Ertz have open lines of communication.

Eagles rookie NFL player comparisons: Tarron Jackson - PhillyVoice
A player who might serve as something of a more realistic target profile than Graham, however, is Seahawks defensive lineman Kerry Hyder, who has had an interesting career. He’s not a perfect comp, because he entered the league as an undersized, 290-pound DT, who lost weight and became primarily a DE, whereas Jackson is entering the league as a DE, but will have to gain weight to also be able to play inside. Hyder, who is now listed at 6’2, 270, has carved out a decent career as a backup D-lineman, who has played inside and outside. He had 8 sacks with the Lions in 2016, and 8.5 sacks with the 49ers in 2020, but has otherwise not put up impressive numbers. Like Jackson, Hyder is a high-energy, high-effort player who has had pockets of good production despite not being blessed with good length or athleticism.

A Lot Went Wrong - Iggles Blitz
Avonte Maddox has looked really good at times. 2020 wasn’t one of them. I think he was out of position at outside corner, but the bottom line is that his team needed him to make some plays and he didn’t. Maddox broke up 3 passes and had one TFL in 10 games. The Eagles could have used a breakout season from Derek Barnett. Instead, they got 5.5 sacks. Barnett wasn’t bad by any stretch. But he didn’t have any FFs or FRs. He wasn’t an impact player. When you take a guy 14th overall, you hope for more than solid.

Where are they now? LB Steve Zabel - PE.com
University of Oklahoma Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks may have been on to something when he sensed that his junior tight end Steve Zabel should be the one doing the tackling instead of being tackled. “After the first four games, we were 1-3,” Zabel says. “Chuck Fairbanks called me in his office and said, ‘Steve, we’ve proven we can’t outscore people. We want you to play defensive end as well as tight end and see if we can’t win some games.’ For me, it was a great transition. I played both ways and punted, and we won our last six games in a row and won the Big Eight Championship.” Playing only tight end during his senior season, Zabel still made a bone-jarring-like hit with the Eagles, who chose him in the first round, No. 6 overall, of the 1970 NFL Draft. Making eight starts at tight end during his first season in Philadelphia, the following year was a flashback to Zabel’s college days when he was moved to defense.

Susan Tose Spencer broke glass ceiling for women in NFL front offices while saving Eagles from disaster - CBS Sports
Randall Cunningham was dubbed “The Ultimate Weapon” when he took over the NFL world in the late 1980s, changing the way the quarterback position was played. Alongside being a nightmare for defenses, Cunningham brought life back to a dormant Philadelphia Eagles franchise. The Eagles were thrust into the national spotlight and a new generation of fans was born from Cunningham joining the franchise. The untold story of the quarterback’s rise sits with one woman who spearheaded the braintrust that ensured Cunningham bore the “Kelly Green” jerseys that are still the most popular in the team’s history. Susan Tose Spencer, the first female general manager in the history of the NFL, is in large part to thank for the draft choice that went on to shape the franchise. “My mom never saw a player like Randall,” said Marnie Schneider, Tose Spencer’s daughter (Schneider spoke for Susan, who is suffering from dementia in her late 80s). “She knew the moment she watched him play she wanted to do whatever she could to get him in. Part of her job as general manager was to follow up with her personnel and this was the culmination of a five-year plan of our scouts watching him.”

Report — Giants’ Sam Beal pleads guilty to gun charges - Big Blue View
New York Giants cornerback Sam Beal has pled guilty to gun-related charges stemming from a June 2020 arrest that apparently came just a few days before he opted out of the 2020 NFL season, according to reporting from New Jersey Advance Media. Also per the report, Beal entered into a pre-trial diversion program and was placed on two years of probation that will run until June of 2022.

With Dak Prescott back, the Cowboys’ top receiver trio has another chance at rare feat - Blogging The Boys
It didn’t happen last year, but this receiving corps can hit 1,000 yards each in 2021.

The Look Ahead #40: NFL stars try to lie to our faces + Best snacks for road trips - The SB Nation NFL Show
Rob “Stats” Guerrera and RJ Ochoa react to comments about Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Julio Jones, and debate the best snacks for a long road trip. Is Aaron Rodgers just going to show up to training camp after all this? Russell Wilson claims he never asked to be traded - um, what? Julio Jones tells people who questioned his heath to “stay tuned.” The food combination you need to enjoy on your next road trip.

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