On Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles released eight players.
Chris Givens, Rueben Randle, Andrew Gardner, Nick Perry, Randall Evans, Mike Martin, Denzell Rice, and John DePalma were all given their walking papers, reducing the roster to 73 players.
The most notable cuts on this list were Givens and Randle.
The two veteran receivers were given one-year ‘prove-it’ deals, and all they proved was that they were unworthy of cracking a roster desperate for any kind of playmaking ability at the receiver position. Undrafted rookie Paul Turner outworked both of them throughout training camp, while the two vets consistently underwhelmed.
I’m not surprised at the release of Randle. The former Giant was barely a factor in the preseason games, and the writing on the wall was clear for him when he didn’t take any snaps with the first-team on Saturday night. At that point it was clear that he wasn’t in the team’s plans. It’s a shame that Randle brought such a bad attitude and work ethic to the table; he has the physical talent to be a fine weapon in this league, and the lack of interest in him in free agency should have served as his final wake-up call.
Givens being let go was a little more surprising. The speedy wideout had taken a lot of reps with the starters throughout the preseason. He only recorded one catch, but did a decent job in other areas, such as blocking. I think Josh Huff’s performance against the Colts may have sealed Givens’ fate. The bottom line was that he just didn’t do enough.
Andrew Gardner’s release shows how far the offensive line has come in one year. Gardner entered last season as a starter, but now had been completely phased out by the additions of Brandon Brooks, Isaac Seumalo, Stefan Wisniewski, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
Defensive tackle Mike Martin never suited up for a single snap, and with the solid play of Beau Allen and Taylor Hart, it was easy to make the veteran expendable.
Denzell Rice and Randall Evans were a couple of Chip Kelly favorites that just didn’t have a place in a crowded secondary.
That’s the thing about Free-Agency,
Once you get past the big name Players who are going for the Bucks, these 2nd Tier Free-Agents and are Free-Agents for a reason .. When their own Teams don’t show an interest, it’s usually a red-flag about the Players Work ethic, lower room attitude, injuries, or a lack of smarts or in some cases, a combination of these things.. It was no secret to anyone what Reuben Randles short-comings were as a NFL WR.. Picking up re-treads from the NY Giants has not worked out at all for the Eagles (Steve Smith, The Safety from 2 Years ago who never played a game and now Reuben Randle)
No longer under Chip Kelly’s regime…by releasing Randle and Givens tells us that coach Pederson wants players who give it there all, and don’t half ass it in practice and in games. New attitude, a defensive coordinator that actually knows how to coach a defense…this team just might surprise us all..
WR process needs to change. I watched the Cardninals play and it seemed like they were 10 deep at the position. Theier WR all looked like John Browns catching everything. Its amazing that in the WR world we live in with all these good WR that the Eagles may have drafted the 2 worst high pick WR in early rounds Aglohar and Huff in the whole NFL. How is that possible. That their last 4 1st round picks have been L Johnson, Marcus Smith, Nelson Aglohar and Carson Wentz. None of whom will contribute to the 2016 team. That is totally unacceptable.
I wonder if Marcus Smith makes the team? – Is ST Coach Dave Fipp using him on special Teams this year?