Eagles Wake-Up Call: Foles Unfazed By Kaepernick Deal

Nick Foles had to know the question was coming.

After finishing up a conversation with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie at the end of Monday’s practice, Foles made his way to the podium to meet with reporters.

What went through your mind when you saw the Colin Kaepernick deal?

“Nothing,” Foles said. “I was just happy for him. He’s played really well. I followed him in college when he was at Nevada, and I thought he had a great college career, so I was excited to see him be able to provide for his family and do great things with it. So I was happy in that aspect.”

Kaepernick signed a new deal with the 49ers last week. Initially, it seemed like a monstrous sum: $126 million and $61 million guaranteed. But as details emerged, Kaepernick’s deal actually proved to be team-friendly. He gets about $13 million guaranteed, and the team can get out of the deal after one season.

Foles, meanwhile, is up for an extension after the 2014 season. He continues to insist that he’s not worried about cashing in.

“Like I’ve said before, there’s been so many times where careers are cut short, so I’m really just trying to make the most of it,” Foles said. “And if I’m fortunate enough to get to that down the road, then I’ll be thankful. But I’m really just thankful right now with what I’m doing.”

It’s unlikely that Chip Kelly or anyone else in the organization is worried about the contract being a distraction for Foles. They saw all they needed to see about Foles’ mental makeup when he rebounded from last year’s Cowboys game with one of the more impressive statistical runs in NFL history.

Foles knows he can earn big money with a strong 2014 performance, but he also knows he still has plenty to prove.

“I think you start worrying about numbers and you stop worrying about what you’re doing, that’s where you mess up because none of that really matters,” he said. “I’m happy for those guys if they’re doing well. But my most important thing is being successful with my teammates. All that business stuff, all that other stuff will take care of itself down the road.

“But the most important thing is you get a contract like that because you’ve played well and you’ve shown that you can be that guy for the franchise, whereas I have to continue to prove that each and every day. I have a lot of guys on this team that look to me to go out here and work hard. When I’m playing out there, there’s no dollar sign on me when I’m throwing the ball. I’ve gotta throw the ball because I’ve grown up playing this game, grown up being a quarterback. So I have to do it to the best of my ability, and at the end of the day, we’ll see what happens.”

WHAT YOU MISSED

First-round pick Marcus Smith signed his rookie deal Monday.

Here’s yesterday’s running diary of Eagles practice observations.

Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce say the Eagles’ dinner bill of more than $17,000 was no big deal.

An All-22 look at the Eagles’ mesh concept, one of Kelly’s favorite calls against man coverage.

Are other teams going to copy the Eagles?

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

DeSean Jackson is accusing NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith of bias towards Drew Rosenhaus. From Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports:

Though NFLPA regulations prohibit agents from giving players money or other things of value in order to convince them to sign with them or keep them as clients, Jackson says Rosenhaus paid the wide receiver $50,000 cash in a Louis Vuitton travel bag during an exchange made in a gas station parking lot and more for those very purposes. Rosenhaus also agreed to give Jackson a $90,000 check and a $200,000 interest-free loan. Over time, Jackson says Rosenhaus provided him and his family with an additional $143,088 in order to keep him as a client.

Zach Berman of the Inquirer caught up with Eagles nose tackle Bennie Logan:

“Most people, when they picture a nose tackle, they picture a 330-plus guy, just clogging up the middle,” Logan said. “But the way we play our defense, you’ve got to be able to run. And I don’t feel I’d be able to run or do the things our coaches, in our scheme, require us to do. That’s why I’m not 330, or put on that much weight.”

COMING UP

Another open practice. Check back for much more this afternoon.