Report: Eagles, Bradford discuss extension

AS WE NEAR the end of the Marcus Mariota watch, with the first round of the NFL draft set for tomorrow evening, a couple of interesting reports about the Eagles have surfaced.

The first, from ESPN's Chris Mortensen, alleges that the Eagles and quarterback Sam Bradford are discussing a contract extension, but that Bradford wants a no-trade clause for this season and will not sign an extension with any other team. You have to wonder if that will still be a consideration after tomorrow, since the Eagles are hardly going to look to trade their presumptive starting quarterback during training camp, or after the season starts.

But for now, floating it out there that Bradford won't extend with anyone other than the Eagles certainly could help agent Tom Condon ensure that Bradford won't be traded, since he is scheduled to make $13 million this season in the final year of his record-setting rookie contract, and he will either be a free agent or have to be franchised at an even higher figure in 2016.

The Eagles' interest in extending Bradford is obvious - if you think he will be your healthy starter this year, you don't want to wait until that happens, driving up his market value. From Bradford's end, the only real benefit to an extension would be some guaranteed money, and maybe that doing a deal here would underscore his commitment to the Chip Kelly regime.

Bradford's six-year, $78 million rookie deal, signed after the Rams drafted him first overall in 2010, led to a rookie salary structure in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that has made such pacts much less lucrative.

The other report, from ESPN's Adam Schefter, concerned Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordon, who was suspended for a year by the NFL yesterday. Schefter said that a while back, before Jordan's latest failed drug test came to light, the Eagles were close to dealing for Jordan, who played for Kelly at Oregon. Jordan was thought to be an Eagles draft target until he was selected third overall by the Dolphins. The Birds, picking fourth, took offensive tackle Lane Johnson.

Jordan has already served two drug suspensions; he now has as many drug suspensions as career sacks. This time he apparently produced a diluted sample, near the end of the 2014 season. He probably would not have been an expensive acquisition, but the trade question is now moot.

Former Eagles running back Chris Polk agreed to terms yesterday with the Houston Texans. The Houston Chronicle reported he will get a one-year deal with a $660,000 base, which can pay him an extra $100,000 if he is active for all 16 games.

Polk would have made $1.542 million this year under the terms of his Eagles restricted free-agent tender, but he would have been vying for a spot behind DeMarco Murray, Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews. In Houston he has a good shot to be Arian Foster's primary backup.

Blog: ph.ly/Eagletarian