Jaelan Phillips ended up being a mid-season rental for the Philadelphia Eagles, who acquired the linebacker at the trade deadline in November and let him sign elsewhere at the beginning of free agency, a little over a week ago.
Now that Eagles fans know why Phillips declined a return to Philly, who very much wanted him back, but not at a bank-breaking price, it's hard to be upset that he landed with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $120 million contract.
As Phillips would reveal, there was one factor that separated the Panthers from the Birds in terms of feeling believed in: the amount of money he was offered.
"They (Eagles) definitely did want me to come back. And that's something they knew after the season — that they were gonna be making a push ... But ultimately, the Panthers, they just came with a more attractive offer. And clearly, that just shows the belief they have in me, the belief they have in their team—that they're willing to invest in pieces to try to take this team to the next level," Phillips said on Monday, via Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio1340.
Good for Phillips for maximizing his earnings. The average length of an NFL linebacker's career is roughly four years. Phillips is going on his sixth year and may be on his last eight-figure long-term contract. Make that money while you can.
Equating "belief" with the dollar amount on the dotted line is a trait of a player who belongs on Carolina or Miami, not a championship-caliber franchise. Phillips is right where he needs to be in that sense.
Eagles Fans Liberated By Jaelan Phillips' Statement
Phillips' sudden departure felt like a letdown. It seemed like the two sides would reach an agreement, so to see so much bitterness in hindsight from the 26-year-old is a bit jarring. With that said, maybe those words are just bitterness for Phillips, who had the taste of an organized organization for a few months before going back to a bottom-dweller in the South.
Whatever it is, it should set Eagles fans free. There's still enough of a culture not to let a newcomer name his price and hamstring your books in the City of Brotherly Love. Perhaps the team can set straight the offensive players who have complained about their roles, but it's one battle at a time.
The Eagles didn't look like it initially, but they definitely won the Phillips breakup. The Panthers might have lost it if that pass-rush doesn't improve from a No. 28 ranking in the NFL with 30 sacks and a No. 24 ranking in pass rush win rate at 34.4 percent.
Now, it is Carolina's problem whether or not Phillips lives up to the lucrative contract he signed with the Panthers. Howie Roseman and the Eagles' front office will be just fine.