Not everybody is enthusiastic about the news of Sam Bradford signing a two-year, $36 million contract with the Eagles, but I can think of two people who are absolutely ecstatic. Oh, and their opinion probably matters a little bit more than yours or mine.
Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz were strong in their endorsements of Bradford last season and very adamant that the Eagles should keep the quarterback. It's not exactly difficult to understand why, either. Looking at their numbers down the stretch, Bradford was really beginning to gain a rapport with his two most dangerous weapons.
In Matthews' final three games, the wide receiver hauled in 21 receptions for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Ertz's last four were literally historic, with 35 catches for 450 yards the most ever by a tight end in the closing four weeks of the regular season. Extrapolate those numbers over a full year, and we're talking about a pair of first-time Pro Bowlers.
During Bradford's much ballyhooed final seven games, in which the signal-caller is believed by some to have taken a big step forward, Matthews and Ertz combined for eight touchdowns. Matthews racked up 39 receptions for 526 yards, 49 catches for 571 yards. That accounts for a healthy chunk of their production over the entire season -- over 50 percent of their yards, and for Ertz, receptions as well.
There's no denying the growth there, nor is it surprising it took some time as Bradford gained confidence in both the scheme and his surgically repaired knee.
"Now I know that's going to be my guy, and I want him to be my guy, and I wholeheartedly believe he has to be the guy moving forward," Matthews said of Bradford late last season. "You've seen progression. You've seen how much better he's gotten. You've seen the chemistry that he's been able to build with me, Zach (Ertz), some of the other receivers."
“I’ve played for five quarterbacks now in three years, which seems like a lot,” Ertz said in January. “I want to play with Sam.
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"Ultimately, it’s not my decision but I think the chemistry I developed with Sam, Jordan developed with Sam, some of the other guys developed, I think it goes a long way."
With the deal done, it's safe to say they can breathe a sigh of relief.
Bradford and Matthews established more of a connection from the onset, with the wideout coming up just three yards shy of 1,000 for the season. It's no wonder it took a little longer to get on the same page with Ertz after the tight end missed most of training camp and the entire preseason with a core muscle injury.
Those connections improved as the season went along, and that's not even taking into account all the passes Matthews and Ertz dropped. There was a ton of production left on the field last year.
It remains to be seen whether Bradford will work out for the Eagles both as a short-term solution and in the long run. However, it speaks volumes that inside the locker room, the two most established offensive weapons threw their full support behind this quarterback and were beginning to break out with Bradford at the helm.
Even if you're not excited about Bradford's return, that should count for something.
"I told [Bradford], 'How big's your house?' Because in March, I'm coming," Matthews said in January. "We're gonna get this show on the road, we're gonna get to work."