Former Eagle and now Indianapolis Colts guard Todd Herremans called into Anthony Gargano’s Morning Show on 97.5 The Fannatic this week, and he gave us his take on the release of Evan Mathis. I listened closely to what he had to say because if there’s anybody who would know what was going on behind the scenes it would be Herremans.
He played the right guard position on the offensive line for Chip Kelly and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland in the 2013 and part of the 2014 seasons. He knows all of these coaches and these offensive linemen personally. The veteran understands why Evan Mathis might have made a mistake by missing the entire offseason and these OTA’s.
“Chip’s kind of got that vision that no player is greater than the team itself. Think about what’s happening to the offensive line this offseason. Evan and I are both not there anymore. Kelce has been working with two new guards. Peters has been working with a new guard. Lane has been working with a new guard.”
“That’s a whole mix of guys that are new to each other. If he’s going to sit around and wait for Evan to get back, he’s going have to plug Evan back in there. which isn’t fair to Kelce and Peters who have been working with these other guys all off-season.”
“I don’t know who’s been playing left. I think it’s Al. Will they take Al and move him over to the right side to make Lane comfortable all over again? To a certain extent there’s a comfort level that you have to achieve in the offseason, if you’re going to play with these guys. It’s tough upfront like that You like your guys to be interchangeable, but there’s a comfort level that you have to achieve in the offseason. That’s what the off-season is for.”
“You can’t sit there and beg guys to show up or hinge on the fact they might come. That’s the way it’s always been, if guys weren’t at minicamp or at training camp, you have to be next man up and you have to try to become the best team without that person there. I think they’re approaching it right.”
Not only did Herremans think the Eagles did the right thing in working as if they had to go on without him, the Colts guard believes Mathis made a mistake in not showing up for Chip Kelly’s OTA’s. If he had been here Kelly might have listened to his complaints of them taking the million dollar raise off the table.
“I think it’s unfortunate for Evan. He kind of brought it on himself by not showing up. We expect them (NFL teams) to stick to the contract that they offer us, and they expect us to do the same. If you’re going to violate some of the things that are expected of you, then you have to able to deal with what comes next.”
Kelly was definitely bothered by Mathis not coming in for the OTA’s. He wants everybody with their mind focused on getting better and finding ways to win. He doesn’t want his guys focused on their contract.
“I think that his main goal is to get everybody on his roster to want the same thing. The way that he looks at it is, if you’re not here during the voluntary stuff when all your teammates are here and trying to win. You don’t want the same thing everybody else wants. You want money but you don’t want the same thing everybody else does. You want money, but you don’t want to win…….. What’s going to make you think if somebody doesn’t come to all of the voluntary stuff, that doesn’t give you a real good feeling they’re going to show up to the mandatory stuff.”
Herremans says the fact that he and Mathis were sidelined last year with injuries allowed Kelly and Stoutland to gain confidence in the backups at the guard positions. Replacing both guards in one off season.
“Just the fact, that the Eagles depth got so much action last year and playing time, I think that had to make them feel a little better about doing that. He’s know’s he’s got Al who can play, and Tobin can play, and Gardner can play. Given a chance to start they can become starting guards in this league. From the outside looking in, it’s a tough move.”
Herremans concludes that he and Mathis hurt their own standing with the Eagles by giving Barbre and the young guards a chance to show what they can do. It convinced Kelly and Stoutland, that they can move on without the veterans if they need to do so. We’ll be able to see if Kelly and Stoutland were right in evaluating that a combination of Barbre, Tobin and Gardner can get the job done at the guard position.
The old days of do your own thing and show up to play are long gone under Chip Kelly which is refreshing to see….
Eagles have had too much of this recently with Players like TO, Assante Samuel, D-Jackson, Cary Wiiliams, Evan Mathis, etc…
Players who don’t remain in the Philly area in the Off-Season and work out at NovaCare Ctr or participate in their Community Service events are goners..
Working out on their own is not what Chip Kelly considers as “Fully Committed”
Wow, the sky really isn’t falling! refreshing comments from Herremans!
Mathis is just plain stupid. I don’t see him making $11.5mil over the next two years anywhere else. Stoutland remarked that Barbre was more comfortable on the left side. So, we have a small dropoff (maybe) from Mathis to Barbre. Getting rid of a malcontent who just happens to have Drew “next question” Rosenhaus as an agent is a no brainer. There is a bigger message here – “walk in with an agent like Rosenhaus asking for more money is not going to be tolerated”, particularly if you are backed up by someone who is nearly as good, younger and cheaper
Reporter: “Chip, did Drew Rosenhaus have any impact on your decision to cut Evan Mathis”
Chip: “Next question”
Many thanks , Todd for clearing that issue up.Real informative to get that kind of honesty from a n.f.l. player, while talking about a former teammate ,and possible friend.also helps shed some light on the racist garbage . for those not thinking clearly enough.OR who cant think deeply enough. or those who merely like to parrot another’s thoughts,as it were uniquely their own.It was well said.
You cannot ask for a better, unbiased perspective then from an offensive lineman who is no longer on the team. He was able to tell us what motivates the coach and how he views the commitment of the players. Herremans has no reason to lie or bend the truth. Mathis and his agent misplayed this.
La El collins paid a hooker to eat his ass and then stiffed her, she is blowing him up… said he would fail a drug test if he was tested today…
There are some Reports that he had someone else take his Drug Screen
Test
North Dallas 40 all over again!
Got to be honest…. This hooker eating the ass of a 340 lb lineman … Yuck! So awkward situation she goes home next thanksgiving and goes to kiss dad and uncle Al and wish them a happy holiday…?dad and uncle Al have to be saying ‘I am not kissing those lips’
Baker released give him a smoothie and boom injury gone and no more mathis talk