Eagles’ Interest Waning Philadelphia Prepared To Lose Evans After Issuing Final Offer
Both Philadelphia Eagles coach Ray Rhodes and owner Jeffrey Lurie have made it clear: If linebacker Byron Evans wants to be an Eagle, he has an offer.
If not, they’ll see him in New Orleans on Oct. 1.
That’s when the Eagles play the Saints, and all indications are they are ready to let the eight-year linebacker, who is making a comeback from a broken leg and torn ligaments in his knee, join former Eagle Eric Allen in New Orleans.
“I have to get this team ready,” Rhodes said after the Eagles’ intrasquad scrimmage at Lehigh University on Sunday. “It’s time to start preparing the guys who are here.
“We have an offer out to (Evans). There comes a time when you have to make up your mind what you want to do. Byron knows we want him back here. But at this point it is up to him.”
The Eagles latest, and believed to be final, offer to Evans was a two-year deal that included a $400,000 signing bonus. It was loaded with incentives based on both playing time and performance.
Evans’ agent, Bert Kinerk, turned down that contract proposal over the weekend and also rejected a three-year pact from the New Orleans Saints, the only other team that has expressed serious interest in the veteran linebacker.
“You do what’s best for the team, and we think we’ve done that,” Lurie said. “It’s time to move on and start the season. We have our pre-season opener this week and the regular season starts in a month.
“We feel we have gone very far with Byron. It’s time for him to decide whether he wants to be an Eagle or not. The seasons starts September 3 and Kurt Gouveia will be our middle linebacker.”
Brooks looking Sharpe
Robert Brooks caught four passes for 38 yards as the Green Bay Packers got a sneak preview of the post-Sterling Sharpe era Sunday during their annual intrasquad scrimmage in Green Bay, Wis.
An estimated 18,000 to 20,000 fans sat through 96-degree heat at Lambeau Field as the Packers ran 72 plays plus kicking and punting situations.
“I think there were a lot of good things on both sides of the ball and with our kicking game today,” said coach Mike Holmgren. “We set out to target some people and learn as much as we could in this first scrimmage about our young guys.”
Brett Favre completed 10 of 14 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown.
Favre’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Brooks came with 18 seconds left in a 2-minute drill.
Burns impresses teammates
Jason Burns is making an impact in the Cincinnati camp. He rushed for 50 yards on nine carries in Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Whew,” said Bengals No. 1 draft pick, Ki-Jana Carter. “They’d be stupid to let that guy go. I knew it from day one, this kid can fly.”
The Bengals picked up the unheralded Burns as a free agent shortly after draft day.
The team now has six backs in camp, but plan to keep only five. Burns is playing behind Carter, Harold Green, Eric Bieniemy, James Joseph and Jeff Cothran. Bieniemy, Joseph and Cothran are also valuable as special teams players.
Zeier challenging for back-up spot
Rookie quarterback Eric Zeier progressed so well during three days of workouts against the Chicago Bears that the Cleveland Browns are no longer calling Brad Goebel their No. 2 quarterback.
“Right now, it’s a fair, even competition,” said offensive coordinator Steve Crosby. “There’s no clear-cut No. 2 at this point. We’re giving them both an equal opportunity to win the job and neither one is considered ahead of the other at this point.”
End zone
Houston All-Pro center-guard Bruce Matthews, has agreed to a four-year, $10.3 million contract and is expected to sign with the Oilers today… . After eight days and $32,000 in fines, Pro Bowl running back Natrone Means and the San Diego Chargers remain about $10 million apart in their contract negotiations… . Cory Raymer, Washington’s second-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, underwent surgery for a broken ankle and will be out 10 to 12 weeks.