NFL notes: Eagles swap Nick Foles for Rams’ Sam Bradford in blockbuster QB trade
Nick Foles wasn’t Chip Kelly’s franchise quarterback after all.
The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to send Foles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford in a stunning quarterback swap. The Eagles will also get a fifth-round pick this season, while sending the Rams a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round pick in 2016.
And Kelly’s probably not done dealing yet.
His admiration for Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota is no secret, and Kelly may want to move up from the 20th pick in the draft to pick his former Oregon quarterback.
Bradford hasn’t played since his 2013 season ended after he tore his left ACL. The former No. 1 overall pick and 2008 Heisman winner tore it again in preseason last year.
Foles lacked the speed and mobility for Kelly’s offense, but he was 14-5 as a starter, including a playoff loss. After a breakout season in 2013, Foles missed the last eight games in 2014 with a broken collarbone.
The Eagles already agreed to a two-year contract with Mark Sanchez, who went 4-4 after Foles was injured last season.
49ers’ Willis retires
His eyelids swollen from tears, seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis bid farewell to football and called it one of his happiest days yet because he is leaving on his own terms.
His tender, size-13 feet can no longer handle the grind of NFL practices let alone the demands of game day. His 2014 season was cut short by a toe injury that required surgery and sore feet that make everything more of a challenge.
Willis announced Tuesday he will retire after his 2014 season was cut short by a toe injury that required surgery and sore feet that make everything more of a challenge.
“In my head, I’m already a Hall of Famer,” Willis said. “I am leaving this with closure. I’m happy today, more happy today than the day I was drafted.”
San Francisco is losing its defensive captain and locker-room leader, the player who often addressed the team before games with inspirational pep talks.
“I have no regrets. I’ve had the most amazing eight years of football of my life. I am so humbled to have had this opportunity.”
Gore joins Indianapolis
Indianapolis has agreed to a contract with free-agent running back Frank Gore.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 31-year-old ex-49ers star has eight 1,000-yard seasons and five Pro Bowl selections.
Revis returns to Jets
All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis is returning to the New York Jets.
After winning the Super Bowl with the NFC East-rival New England Patriots, Revis is going back to the team with which he spent his first six NFL seasons before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2013.
Arizona lands Iupati
The Arizona Cardinals and free-agent guard Mike Iupati have agreed on a five-year, $40 million contract with $22.5 million guaranteed.
The 6-foot-5, 331-pound lineman from the University of Idaho has played all five of his NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He is a three-time Pro Bowl player and made the All-Pro team in 2012.
Around the league
The Raiders opened free agency by agreeing to contracts with former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith and blocking TE Lee Smith. Malcom Smith won the Super Bowl MVP in 2014 when the LB returned an interception for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and had nine tackles in Seattle’s 43-8 win over Denver. Lee Smith had 20 catches in four seasons with Buffalo. … The Ravens traded nine-year DT Haloti Ngata to the Detroit Lions. The Ravens will receive a fourth- and fifth-round pick for Ngata, 31, and a seventh-round selection. … The Jaguars have agreed to a five-year deal with former Denver TE Julius Thomas. The contract is worth $46 million and includes $24 million guaranteed. … A person with knowledge of the agreement says free agent WR Torrey Smith has reached a five-year contract with the 49ers, pending a physical. … WR Brandon Marshall has passed his physical and his trade to the New York Jets from the Bears is official. … The New York Jets have released WR Percy Harvin. … The New York Giants signed former Patriots RB Shane Vereen, former Green Bay and Cincinnati OT Marshall Newhouse; Patriots LB Jonathan Casillas; and Cowboys return specialist/receiver Dwayne Harris. … The Bengals solidified their LB corps by signing former Packer A.J. Hawk. … The Panthers announced they’ve released RB DeAngelo Williams, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.