The long, hot summer of wondering where former Eagles left guard Evan Mathis would end up has come to an end. He and the Denver Broncos agreed in principle to a one-year deal for the coming season, the team announced on Tuesday.
The deal is worth up to $4 million, taking playing time bonuses into consideration, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN. Mathis was released by the Eagles after he failed to show during the team's voluntary workouts in the spring as the result of an apparent disagreement on contract terms.
Mathis, 33, was then interested in a raise that would pay him north of $5.5 million, so he appeared willing to bring his price down for a chance to get back into the league for his 10th professional campaign and play for a contender.
The Broncos needed some veteran guidance up front after starting three linemen in their exhibition game on Saturday who until then had not started an NFL contest, and the two-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro was still on the market despite a visit this week to Seattle.
Denver is set to field what may be in contention for the best two guards in the league with the move. Mathis and right guard Louis Vasquez were listed as All-Pros as recently as 2013.
Mathis was the league's highest rated guard by Pro Football Focus for three straight seasons starting in 2011. He was ranked second-best last season despite missing seven games because of a sprained MCL.
No comments:
Post a Comment