So what’s the deal between the Eagles and guard Evan Mathis? On the surface, the impression is that Mathis wants more money, but the team won’t give it to him. At a deeper level, Mathis believes the truth is that the team previously offered to adjust his contract, but that it now won’t.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Mathis contends that the Eagles previously offered to increase the salary paid to Mathis by roughly $1 million per year, from 2014 through 2016. Mathis opted not to accept it in 2014, but he was interested in accepting it in 2015. But the Eagles, per the source, told Mathis that the offer was no longer available because Howie Roseman, who had made the offer, was no longer the General Manager.
Coach Chip Kelly, who now runs the show in Philly, was asked on Tuesday about whether Mathis wants more money, but Kelly refused to say anything.
“We’re not going to discuss any players’ contracts,” Kelly said. “We never have, never will.”
The question is whether the team privately will honor the offer made a year ago to Mathis. For now, it appears they won’t.