Letting Evan Mathis Go Was A Massive Mistake
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS)— Evan Mathis was the last man standing—literally—in a dumpster fire 4-12 season in 2012. The Eagles had already lost All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, who tore his Achilles tendon twice before the season.
Center Jason Kelce was lost when he tore his right knee up in Week 2 against Baltimore. Right guard Danny Watkins was a first-round bust who no one trusted next to them, and was eventually pushed out after an ankle injury. Then, right tackle Todd Herremans suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9 against New Orleans.
The so-called "Dream Team" season turned into a nightmare. One player stood out week-after-week in that mess, braved the media horde that were looking for answers to a hapless situation, played well and never relented when the team quit on coach Andy Reid.
That player was Mathis. He played in all 16 games in 2012 and never complained. He consistently went out and did his job—well—amidst a bunch of malcontents who had bailed by mid-season.
Mathis was rewarded with a five-year, $25 million contract, which he performed well under, becoming a two-time Pro Bowler.
He was one of the few Reid holdovers, you would think, that coach Chip Kelly, he of the culture-wins-football-games mantra, would want to keep. A stand-up guy who is one of the better offensive guards in the NFL. A strong, positive influence behind the scenes in the locker room. Doing the things not seen in box scores or on Instagram. A guy like Mathis.
But that ended Thursday when the Eagles reportedly released the 10-year veteran left guard over a contract squabble. It does leave the 33-year-old Mathis to go out and negotiate with any other NFL team. Mathis will turn 34 on Nov. 1.
Mathis' departure means the Eagles will enter the season with two guards with little experience in left guard Allen Barbre, who has been penciled in to replace the disgruntled Mathis, who held out of OTAs, and Matt Tobin who will start at right guard as Todd Herremans' replacement.
Now place Sam Bradford, a quarterback who's blown out the ACL in his left knee, behind the makeshift offensive line that lost 40-percent from a 10-6 team, and it's enough to raise some serious concerns as mandatory mini camp begins next week.
Another looming concern, can a team that will rely heavily on the run create holes for DeMarco Murray behind two dubious cogs? Murray may not have the open areas he did in Dallas behind one of the NFL's premier fronts that shoved defenses aside so he could produce a career-best 1,845 yards rushing and 13 TDs.
Can Murray do that behind fading left tackle Jason Peters, questionable Barbre, reliable Kelce, untested Tobin and solid right tackle Lane Johnson?
Probably not.
The Eagles didn't address the offensive line in the draft. Having Mathis back would have only helped. Some team will land an All-Pro level guard. The Eagles lost a viable component—on and off the field. Mathis is a player that Kelly may not be able to easily replace by simply plugging in anyone and uttering three magic words "technique beats talent."
The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants aren't Washington State and Colorado.