Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Kelce weighs in on Nick Foles

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is just like you. He knows that Nick Foles is a starting quarterback, but let’s not start any controversy where there isn’t any.

Here’s something that you may have missed if you didn’t tune into Jon Johnson and Joe Giglio on 94 WIP-FM this past Tuesday. Philadelphia Eagles center, two-time Second-team All-Pro (2014, 2016) and First-team All-Pro in 2017 Jason Kelce spoke with the guys, and as you might imagine, the Nick Foles topic came up.

Look at it this way. Who better to ask about Foles and Carson Went’s ability than the guy who’s been snapping both of them the ball for a while?

To say that there’s been some debate within the Eagles fan base about who should be the long-term answer going forward would be an understatement. Some have even gone as far as to say that Philly would have already clinched a playoff spot if Foles would have stayed in the lineup all season.

Whether you prescribe to that theory or not, one thing’s certain. The Eagles lost their starting quarterback to injury again, and they still have the best quarterback in the NFC East leading them. Rather than debate, we should all be discussing that this is a nice spot to be in.

Here’s some of what Kelce had to say when he was asked about Foles’ future with ‘The Birds’.

"That’s above my pay grade… That comes down to salary cap things and obviously we already have Carson.. I, obviously, would love to keep Nick Foles.. He’s one of my all-time favorites as a teammate, but that’s not always the way it works unfortunately. I think that if you ask Nick, he’d love to stay here as well…"

Kelce, like the rest of us, knows that Foles is a starting quarterback and deserves the opportunity to be one if that’s his wish. Here’s more:

"There’s no question that being a backup quarterback is not what that guy should be, I think we all see that, and the reality is, that’s probably going to be someplace else. Even with him playing the incredible season he has, we’re just in a unique situation here in Philadelphia where we have a tremendous young quarterback whose future is all in front of him. He’s still on a rookie contract, and then you got another guy who’s, unfortunately, been in the league for a very long time. There’s a lot of different dynamics to it, so I’m going to stay out of that. I’m sure that the Eagles organization will figure that one out."

Foles turns 30 years old in January, and there’s a mutual option for 2019 in his deal. Philly could extend Foles’ contract through 2019. Doing so would cost them $20 million, which is highly unlikely with their cap restraints and with them needing to sign other players. That $20 million becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of 2019’s league year.

A decision will, no doubt, come long before then, but this, no doubt, falls under the category of a business decision. No one in the Eagles fan base or in the organization wants to see Foles go, including Kelce.

"Part of me, selfishly, wants to keep Nick Foles here as long as possible for situations like this. I get to play with a guy who is fun to play with. I get to play with a guy who is an incredible leader, a great teammate, a guy that I’ve played with a long time, but then you have the other aspect of it. This guy deserves to be making a lot of money and starting and being an incredible football player, and if the opportunity arises where he can go do that, as his friend and a guy that loves and appreciates him, I hope that he takes that opportunity."

Well, we can’t argue with any of that.