Eagles-Dolphins Trade Goes Through: Breaking Down the Chaos
Update: The trade has reportedly gone through. Several Philadelphia reports and Ian Rapoport have confirmed the deal is worked out.
According to agent @AlvinKeels, the #Dolphins deal with the #Eagles is going through.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2016
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Original Post
When Eagles fans learned they had dumped the contract of Byron Maxwell to the Miami Dolphins, they were thrilled. When they learned that Kiko Alonso was also heading to South Beach, they were estatic. When Ben Albright reported they would get the eight overall pick, they just about fainted in happiness.
Now, they along with the rest of the NFL are scratching their heads around a deal that seems to have hit a major snag.
Multiple reports are saying that Maxwell’s injured shoulder caused him to not fully pass his physical in Miami. Maxwell suffered a shoulder injury late in the season that forced him to miss a couple of games.
He reportedly told the Eagles he was fine and already working out, but then told Miami doctors he could not do a push up.
Source: Maxwell went to Miami for physical, told Dolphins’ doc he couldn’t do bench press or pushups. Told Eagles he was fine at end of year
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) March 9, 2016
It’s not like Maxwell did not want to play in Miami. He already changed his Twitter bio and tweeted an emoji filled goodbye to Philadelphia.
— George Stockburger (@StockburgerNews) March 9, 2016
What is even more amazing is that Kiko Alonso passed his physical. He was coming off an ACL tear in Buffalo when he was traded to Philadelphia and re-injured that knee early in the year.
So now what? Some report the trade is dead, while others say it’s a fluid situation. I can’t imagine Maxwell or Alonso returning to Philadelphia and have to face the media. A deal may still be done between the Eagles and Dolphins, but it may not include swapping first round picks.
Philadelphia could have been looking at someone like a Vernon Hargreaves or Myles Jack with that eight overall pick, while Reggie Ragland would make sense at 13 for Miami.
Philadelphia signed cornerback Leodis McKelvin yesterday to a free agent contract, proving that they are leaning on moving Maxwell’s massive contract.