As Ryan Mathews walked through the NovaCare Complex on Thursday, he saw DeMarco Murray. He even stopped briefly to talk to him.
But Mathews claimed that didn’t make him think twice about signing with Philadelphia.
The running back signed a three-year deal to join the Eagles on Thursday, even though Murray was visiting on the same day and is joining the Eagles too. Mathews said Murray’s visit didn’t even give him pause.
“Not really,” said Mathews, whose deal is worth $11.5 million over three years, according to CSN’s Derrick Gunn. “Being able to play with a guy like that, it’d be great. I wouldn’t shy away from it at all.”
Mathews said that during discussions with the Eagles his role wasn’t brought up; his role, he said, will be to help the team win. He also said he isn’t worried about the possibility of not getting many touches in a backfield that already includes Darren Sproles and appears to be adding the NFL’s leading rusher from a year ago.
“It’s going to be a tough [backfield],” Mathews said. “It is. Three good backs. You got DeMarco … the leading rusher. You got [Sproles]. He can do anything and everything. It’s going to be fun. I can’t wait to really get working with the guys and start working out.”
Mathews knew the Eagles would likely be his next destination Tuesday. That was before news of the Eagles’ serious courtship of Murray surfaced. But Mathews said he thinks the Eagles’ plan all along was to have him too.
NFL
Mathews, 28, spent his first five seasons in the NFL in San Diego after being taken with the 12th overall pick in 2010.
When healthy, Mathews has been productive — he’s twice rushed for over 1,000 yards — but he's been injured quite a bit. Last season, he missed seven games with a knee injury and one with an ankle injury. He's missed games in several seasons with various injuries.
“I don’t know. I’ve had bad luck. It is what it is,” he said. “It’s a part of the game. It’s football. It’s not flag football. It’s not anything else. It’s a contact sport. It just has to go with luck. Like I said, my future starts now.”
Mathews said the Eagles’ emphasis on sports science was one thing that drew him to Philadelphia. He said the team made sure to highlight their procedures during their talks with him and Mathews thinks it’s something that will help his body. The running back is eager to collect his things from San Diego and return to Philadelphia to start working out with his new team.
Another draw to Philadelphia was the opportunity to play under head coach Chip Kelly and his fast-paced offense. Mathews has watched the offense from afar and was impressed with the way former running back LeSean McCoy found success. He is now looking forward to being a piece of the puzzle.
What does he like about Kelly’s offense?
“Just how Coach Chip likes to run the ball,” he said. “He likes to run the ball. He uses his running backs a lot and that’s one big thing I wanted to come here for, to be used like that. It’s going to be fun. I think it’s going to showcase my talents a little more. I can’t wait.”