Jalen Hurts is the Eagles’ quarterback and for that, fans should be grateful. Controversy, weirdness, injuries, turmoil and conflict define some of the current batch of starting NFL quarterbacks.
Hurts appears to be a model citizen, dedicated to his team and his craft. At 24, he already is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He’s not a braggart. When he talks about himself, it’s about his quest to improve, on and off the field.
He’s a team-first, team-always guy.
Hurts is eligible for a contract extension but the Eagles could wait until next year. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman recently expressed confidence the deal will get done. The right extension could benefit both sides.
- “I think we have a good sense of what we need to do here,” Roseman said days after the Super Bowl. “We have a little bit of time here, too, to kind of figure it out and get away and discuss that.
- “But at the end of the day, the most important thing is keeping our best players here. And Jalen’s certainly one of our best players.”
That’s fine and all, and the Eagles and Hurts can only hope things go smoothly in negotiations. When you’re talking money and ego, you never know.
THE RAVENS’ MESS
Look at the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and Baltimore couldn’t agree to a deal last offseason. Now, ESPN reports all of Jackson’s counter-offers were for guaranteed money that exceeds the contract of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
ESPN said the Ravens offered a five-year, $250 million contract that included $130 million in guaranteed money. Jackson turned it down.
Watson has a $230 million contract *guaranteed*. He returned to the NFL in December after paying a $5 million fine and serving an 11-game suspension. Twenty-two women filed civil complaints against Watson alleging various forms of sexual misconduct. Watson has not been charged criminally. Jackson must think: If Watson is worth that much money, what about me?
RODGERS’ ODD RETREAT
Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, who has threatened to retire the past several seasons, just emerged from a “darkness retreat” where he reportedly spent four days in a 300-square-foot dark room to clear his mind.
He retreated to “have a better sense of where I’m at in my life,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Rodgers, 39, is under contract for $59.4 million in guaranteed money to play in 2023. Can’t imagine him walking away from that kind of money no matter what he learned in the dark.
Which brings us to the Jets. Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in 2021, was benched twice in 2022. The Jets reportedly reached out to the Packers to discuss Rodgers’ availability.
CARR IN DEMAND
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr recently visited the Jets.
Carr left the Raiders with two games to play after a nine-year career. The break-up reportedly was because Carr and coach Josh McDaniels weren’t on the same page about how the offense should be run.
The Jets shouldn’t get too comfortable about Carr because ESPN reported the Saints and three other teams “called and connected” with Carr.
There’s more. The NFL’s greatest quarterback, Tom Brady, has retired. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa’s future is uncertain after suffering multiple concussions last season.
Russell Wilson, according to The Athletic, tried to have Seahawks ownership fire coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. Wilson wanted former Saints coach Sean Payton to replace Carroll in midseason 2021, according to The Athletic. Wilson denied the story.
Wilson was traded to Denver before the 2022 season … where Payton now is the new coach.
COWBOYS’ DRAMA
In Dallas, Dak Prescott tied for the league lead in interceptions with 15 despite missing five-plus games. Cooper Rush started five games and won four of them — the loss was at the Eagles.
Rush’s play prompted Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to ponder a quarterback controversy on his own team: “Wouldn’t it be something if you had a dilemma as to which way to go?” Jones said. “You do that if he [Rush] gets to 10 wins.”
You’d want that controversy? Jones was asked.
“Of course I would,” Jones said.
Giants third-string quarterback Davis Webb, 28, started Week 18 against Eagles. Today, Webb is the new quarterbacks coach for the Broncos. Hope he gets along with Russell Wilson.
More from the Giants. ESPN reported that Daniel Jones is concerned he won’t be among the top 10 quarterbacks in salary after Hurts, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jackson get paid. Does anyone think Jones deserves top-10 money? Besides him?
In Washington, Carson Wentz is still someone’s headache. He is guaranteed $26 million for 2023. Not bad money for a guy who could be on his fourth team in four years because he no longer is any good at his own profession.
In Arizona, new coach Jonathan Gannon inherits Kyler Murray, who suffered a torn left ACL and meniscus on Dec. 12. He might miss half of the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have 20 free agents and they have to hire two coordinators. But they have smooth sailing at quarterback with Hurts.
In the NFL these days, that’s saying something.
