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  4. title => "Eagles reportedly push back Chris Long\u2019s bonus as he ponders future"
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  6. article_body => "<p>Chris Long has been very transparent as he tries to figure out whether or not he wants to keep playing football.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The 34-year-old defensive end has been consistent, saying his decision will have nothing to do with money and will be based upon his role in the Eagles\u2019 defense and whether or not he\u2019d be willing to subject himself to the rigors of an NFL season for that role.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since he hasn\u2019t reached a decision yet, the Eagles and Long have reportedly agreed to push back a roster bonus that was due today.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Source: as he contemplates his football future, the Eagles and DE Chris Long agreed to move the $1M roster bonus he was due today until the first day veterans report to training camp. This allows Long plenty of time to make his decision about continuing to play football.<\/p>&mdash; Field Yates (@FieldYates) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FieldYates\/status\/1123560217210433536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>This seems like a pretty logical solution for now. There\u2019s no reason for Long to show up for OTAs, so this will give him some extra time to see if the itch to keep playing returns. Veterans will likely report in late July, so this gives him another three months. On Philly.com\u2019s Birds\u2019 Eye View podcast, Long recently said he told the Eagles to plan as if he isn\u2019t going to return. They kind of have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I haven\u2019t said a word today. Anyone w this take is an exceptional kind of stupid. I\u2019ve made a decision. I told them IN MARCH to proceed like I won\u2019t be back when I was told my *2018* role was gone. DE signings, the draft don\u2019t affect it. I won\u2019t be back unless a real need arises. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dFW42D7Kcg\">https:\/\/t.co\/dFW42D7Kcg<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JOEL9ONE\/status\/1123655961477111808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Only addressing it for ppl like you, so I\u2019ll speak slowly. The bonus is for 19 + I haven\u2019t earned it. Not a hero move. I\u2019ll gladly collect if I\u2019m back + pay someone to help you better decipher context surrounding the news you consume. Ironically, this article spells it out well.<\/p>&mdash; Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JOEL9ONE\/status\/1123655964580876289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>For now, the Eagles have Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat, Daeshon Hall and recently-drafted Shareef Miller at defensive end. Getting Long back in 2019 would help the Eagles, but even before the Birds took Miller with a fourth-round pick, it seemed like Long was leaning toward walking away.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This shouldn\u2019t be a money issue on either side. Long is scheduled to have a cap hit of $5.6 million in 2019, which shouldn\u2019t be a problem for the Eagles, who still have around $24 million in cap space. And Long showed last season that he\u2019s still worth that kind of money after his 6\u00bd-sack 2018 season.<\/p>\n<p>Likely at the crux of the issue here is the addition of Malik Jackson in free agency. No, Jackson doesn\u2019t even play Long\u2019s position, but Jackson is a three-down defensive tackle. In the last two years with Long on the roster, Graham or Curry would bump inside on third downs, which was when Long would get the bulk of his snaps. But Jackson will likely be on the field for third downs, which means Long will have less opportunity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Throughout this offseason, Long said he wouldn\u2019t want to return as just a \u201clocker room guy.\u201d He wants to still have a significant role and it looks like that might not be possible here, even though I think the Eagles would clearly still be better off with him on the roster.<\/p>\n<p>Long is a guy with a lot of other passions, his charity work being at the forefront. When he came back last year, he said part of the reason was because he knows his charity work gets more exposure as long as he keeps playing. But this is a football decision for him. Is it worth putting his body through a grueling training camp and season for a limited role? That\u2019s one of the questions Long will have to answer over the next couple months.&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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Eagles

Eagles

Chris Long has been very transparent as he tries to figure out whether or not he wants to keep playing football. 

The 34-year-old defensive end has been consistent, saying his decision will have nothing to do with money and will be based upon his role in the Eagles’ defense and whether or not he’d be willing to subject himself to the rigors of an NFL season for that role. 

Since he hasn’t reached a decision yet, the Eagles and Long have reportedly agreed to push back a roster bonus that was due today. 

This seems like a pretty logical solution for now. There’s no reason for Long to show up for OTAs, so this will give him some extra time to see if the itch to keep playing returns. Veterans will likely report in late July, so this gives him another three months. On Philly.com’s Birds’ Eye View podcast, Long recently said he told the Eagles to plan as if he isn’t going to return. They kind of have. 

For now, the Eagles have Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat, Daeshon Hall and recently-drafted Shareef Miller at defensive end. Getting Long back in 2019 would help the Eagles, but even before the Birds took Miller with a fourth-round pick, it seemed like Long was leaning toward walking away. 

This shouldn’t be a money issue on either side. Long is scheduled to have a cap hit of $5.6 million in 2019, which shouldn’t be a problem for the Eagles, who still have around $24 million in cap space. And Long showed last season that he’s still worth that kind of money after his 6½-sack 2018 season.

Likely at the crux of the issue here is the addition of Malik Jackson in free agency. No, Jackson doesn’t even play Long’s position, but Jackson is a three-down defensive tackle. In the last two years with Long on the roster, Graham or Curry would bump inside on third downs, which was when Long would get the bulk of his snaps. But Jackson will likely be on the field for third downs, which means Long will have less opportunity. 

Throughout this offseason, Long said he wouldn’t want to return as just a “locker room guy.” He wants to still have a significant role and it looks like that might not be possible here, even though I think the Eagles would clearly still be better off with him on the roster.

Long is a guy with a lot of other passions, his charity work being at the forefront. When he came back last year, he said part of the reason was because he knows his charity work gets more exposure as long as he keeps playing. But this is a football decision for him. Is it worth putting his body through a grueling training camp and season for a limited role? That’s one of the questions Long will have to answer over the next couple months.