Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni

Q. The decision to give DT Jalen Carter the contract you did, what have you seen from him behind the scenes over the past few years that makes you confident you want him to be a big part of the team moving forward? (Eliot Shorr-Parks)

Howie Roseman: When I think about the timeline with Jalen Carter, we went into the offseason looking to extend him, looking to extend obviously JD [DT Jordan Davis] and kind of keep the strength of our team. That position group, not only with those two guys, I mean [DT] Moro [Ojomo], unbelievable player, unbelievable person for our team. BY [DT Byron Young] took a lot of steps and we’ve got a young group behind that that we’re really excited about. We felt like that was one of the strengths of our team and we wanted that to be one of the strengths of our team going forward. The defensive tackle position in the league, in college football, it’s a deficient position. It’s hard to find guys like that and we feel like it was a priority. Where the market was when March opened was kind of in transition. You had guys like Dex [Cincinnati Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence] ready to sign, obviously Simmons [Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons].

Some of the reasons that it got to this point were just because we were trying to figure out the market and from his perspective, he was trying to figure out the market. There hadn’t been a big jump in the market. We like to do contracts in March and April, obviously, get that situated before we go into the draft, before we go into our summer. This was a unique situation. By the same token, getting this done before camp was important for all of us. Good things happen when you get things off your plate and you’re able to focus on football.

Q. There was a Sports Illustrated report that there was some hesitation about giving DT Jalen Carter an extension. Can you speak to that? (Jeff McLane)

Howie Roseman: I can’t speak to the report. I didn’t see the SI report.

Q. Did you have hesitation about giving DT Jalen Carter the extension because of off-field concerns? (Jeff McLane)

Howie Roseman: I don’t know what off-field concerns. Since Jalen’s been here, he’s put his head down, he’s worked hard, and he’s made huge impact plays for this organization, for this team. Last year, he wasn’t 100%. He tried to fight through that and play through that. We understand that. Like anyone, when you’re 25 years old, you’re still growing as a person and as a player. I saw [LB] Zack Baun yesterday and he made a great comment. He said to me, ‘When I signed my contract, someone told me you don’t pay me for what I did, you’re paying me for what I’m going to do.’ And that’s why we do these deals. We don’t do anything based on retroactive performance; we’re doing things based on future performance. We were trying to sign Jalen in March, understood it was unique because of where the market was and where he thought and [Agent] Drew [Rosenhaus] thought it was going, but it was always positive and we were always trying to get him extended.

Q. Change is inevitable in the NFL. Head Coach Nick Sirianni, you’re going into your sixth year. There’s been a lot of changes on the staff, but Wide Receivers Coach Aaron Moorehead and Running Backs/Assistant Head Coach Jemal Singleton, they’re two of the soldiers that have been with you for your entire tenure. How much have you leaned on them during your tenure here, especially amongst the change? (Jason Dumas)

Nick Sirianni: Excited to have those guys back on staff. We’ve had some great staffs here and you have great relationships with all those guys. You always try to build those relationships. Jemal’s done a great job of doing a lot of the assistant head coach duties, and he’s a really good person. I’ve always leaned on him, now he has that title of assistant head coach. He just does a great job with everything that he does. Same with Aaron. Naturally– we’re doing a drill today and this wasn’t a drill that we did in OTAs. So, it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re doing this drill today. Aaron, Jemal, [Quarterbacks Coach] Parks [Frazier], why don’t you guys coach up what we’re looking for on this drill?’ There’re little things like that that happen every once in a while and you really value somebody that’s been here in the past to be able to explain some of those things of how we go about it.

But those two guys have been really valuable. Their players have played well. They’re really good coaches. They’re really good people. I’ve really appreciated having them on staff. Wash [Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach Jeremiah Washburn], [Assistant Linebackers Coach] Tyler Scudder, those guys have been here throughout the time as well. It goes to show you just what type of coaches they are. You want to continue to have them here and you want to continue to build that relationship and build what they’ve done with their players.

Q. As you enter training camp, what’s the plan at backup quarterback? Are those guys going to rotate and is that an open competition? (Dave Zangaro)

Nick Sirianni: First of all, I really love the room. To have four guys that you’re so excited about to be able to go to work with every single day, that just speaks to the way Howie and his staff have built the roster. So excited about that room. Everything is a competition. We’ll continue to rotate with those guys with what we’re doing, but that’s not– [QB] Andy [Dalton] has played a lot of football and Andy’s played a lot of good football. That doesn’t say anything about what we feel about [QB] Tanner [McKee]. Tanner has been here for four years and has played some really good moments, played some really good games, so consistent at practice with what he does and the type of player he is. So we’re really excited about that, but we also know that competition brings out the best in everybody. To be able to have a guy like Andy and Tanner working together and working to push each other to get better, that’s only going to make our team better. Again, can’t say how much I appreciate having Tanner and all the things that he’s done and the type of player that we continue to think that he can be. So, we’re excited about that room.

Q. DE Brandon Graham went on record somewhere this offseason and said he would hope to know his future in the early days of training camp. He doesn’t want to come back in the middle of the season, whatever. Where do things stand with him? (Ed Kracz)

Howie Roseman: Communication between BG, the Eagles, and me has always been consistent. BG was the first draft pick I ever made as GM. Those conversations, obviously between us and every player, we’re going to keep between us and the player. I want to be consistent with whoever that is that we do that. But obviously you’re talking about one of the greatest Eagles players and an unbelievable person. Last year, his ability to come back in and help us was huge for our football team. But again, those conversations we’ll keep private.

Q. DT Jalen Carter, from your perspective, how much does it help you to have somebody like that satisfied for the start of camp versus– (John McMullen)

Nick Sirianni: First of all, just really happy for him and his family. He’s worked his butt off to get rewarded the way he is. And like Howie said, we’re paying you for what you’re going to do in the future, and we have that confidence in him. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Jalen more and more each year. The time that I’ve spent with him, he’s put his head down, he’s worked, he’s made impactful plays, and we look for that to continue. He’s a heck of a football player that demands a lot of attention by the opposing offense. So, to be able to have him locked up– we know what that creates for the opposing offense. I know as a former offensive coordinator the problems that a player at that position with that talent creates and the things that you have to do for him game plan-wise.

You’re just excited that that portion’s out of the way and you’re able to go and focus completely on football, which he has, which I give him a lot of credit. He’s focused so much on football. He came back in phenomenal shape with his weight, with his conditioning test. Even with that contract still looming, he worked his ass off, and I’m proud of him for that. It shows you the type of guy he is and he’ll continue to be and excited for him to play ball.

Q. What further insight can you give on OLB Jonathan Greenard and what that means for the position group this summer? (Tim McManus)

Howie Roseman: He was lifting and he has a pec strain. One of the things that we know about Greenard is he’s going to be ready to play. Training camp’s so important, practice is so important, but when you have a guy like that who prepares the way he does, who has the experience in the NFL the way he does, you know he’s going to be ready to play when we start the season. We want to be smart with all our guys and get them ready, but at the same time, acknowledge the process that they have to take to make sure that they are 100% when they come back. This is not a long-term injury. This is nothing we’re concerned about, but when we can, we’re going to make sure that we take care of our guys and put them in the best position to have a great year.

Q. C Cam Jurgens and G Landon Dickerson, are they full-go going into this? How important is it to have them both healthy? (Reuben Frank)

Nick Sirianni: Obviously, you saw the PUP list, and then everybody else will be going. Again, two guys that have come back– I can’t say enough [about] what happened at our conditioning test yesterday. You just saw the complete focus of everybody, and you can’t cheat the conditioning test. You can’t cram for it in one week. The whole team was just so locked in, focused, it seemed easy for them. I know that test is hard. We’ve done that test plenty in these last five years. They came back in great shape, those two guys included, crushed it and excited to get out there and work.

Howie Roseman: You know, teams take on the personality of their leader. Have you seen Coach Sirianni? What great shape he’s in. You’ve got [Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Chief Security Officer/Head of Gameday Coaching Operations] Dom [DiSandro] in great shape. [SVP, Communications] Bob Lange’s in great shape right here. Everyone’s in great shape.

Q. To go back to DT Jalen Carter. Have you seen guys whose preparation and performance changed after they got a big contract and not necessarily for the better? Has that been something you’ve encountered in your career? (Mike Sielski)

Nick Sirianni: It’s hard to change who you are. It’s hard to change your habits. I know [NFL coach] Frank Reich used to always say to me, ‘No man suddenly becomes different than his cherished thoughts and habits.’ I truly believe that. You’re not going to just instantly change who you are. They’ve been rewarded, not only because they’re good players, but because they know how to work and they know how to be an Eagle of all the things that go into that. I won’t get into all those things that Howie and I look for, but it’s like, ‘Hey, what does it take to be an Eagle? Oh, this guy’s an Eagle.’ I think that’s something that we can say with confidence. We see a ton throughout the year of like, ‘Man, this guy is an Eagle.’ Howie and I say that it’s a great compliment to be able to pay somebody. It’s hard to change who you are when that’s what you do and that’s what your habits are.

So no, my experience with that here has been nothing but positive. When the guys come in and they get paid, they continue to be who they are. That speaks to who they are as people, but that also speaks to the culture that we have and the guys that we have in this locker room and the coaches that we have in this locker room and the leadership that we have on this football team where you continue to put your head down and work.

Q. Five trades last August for you. Is the roster similarly incomplete this year? And do you have the picks to be aggressive? (Zach Berman)

Howie Roseman: The roster’s always a work in progress. Every day we’re coming in, we’re trying to find ways to get better. We’re communicating with every team in the league to try to find fits, to see if there’s opportunities to make ourselves better. It’s certainly incomplete at this time. It will be incomplete throughout the course of the season. Any opportunity we have– and you look at our roster, it reminds me of just all the rooms that we have that evolve over the course of time. That’s not a reflection of how we feel about our players now, excited about it, can’t wait to see them out there, but any time we have a chance to get better, to improve our team, we’re going to look at that.

Q. Quite a bit of staff turnover this offseason. Can you speak to former Eagles Assistant General Manager Alec Halaby departing, former Eagles SVP/Tertiary Football Executive Bryce Johnston leaving for the Falcons? And what about the replacements, Director of Football Administration Grant Reiter and Assistant General Manager Adam Berry? (Jeff McLane)

Howie Roseman: Yeah, I’d add [former Vice President of Football Operations] Jeff Scott to that as well. It’s bittersweet because all of those guys have put themselves in position to make career choices, to improve their lot in life, which you hope for, for people that you’re really close to. I remember I was out to dinner with my wife at one point and just said, ‘It’s going to be an adjustment for me.’ The relationships that I have with those guys, the ability to communicate, really the language, to be able to say things very short and sweet and them understand what I’m looking for, that comes with time. They’re three incredibly valuable members, all of those guys. When I came in on Monday, it was obvious to me those are three of the four offices that surround me, so it’s a transition. For me, I have to evolve. I have to continue to get better and learn and to continue to develop people that are here, and I plan on doing that.

Q. What makes Assistant General Manager Adam Berry ready for that promotion? What do you see in him? (Bo Wulf)

Howie Roseman: Well, I think in any job and any role that you have when you get promoted, it’s an adjustment. Taking on responsibility, taking on different tasks. There’s going to be a responsibility that comes with it. I think about when I first became the GM, I go, ‘Man, I’m ready for this. I’ve done college scouting, pro scouting, cap, I’m prepared.’ And then I got my ass kicked a lot. I think for any of these roles, you’ve got to be in them and get the on-the-job training to be at your best. But he’s incredibly smart. He’s incredibly hardworking. He’s learned from a lot of great people inside and outside the building. I think the opportunity won’t be too big for him.

Q. It seems like it’s getting more expensive on defense, just in a management sense of the roster. How do you see that influencing the direction forward and on offense? (Brooks Kubena)

Howie Roseman: Well, when you talk about it, general managers get hired and they’ll stand up and they’ll have these microphones and they’ll say, ‘Well, how do you want to build your team?’ And they say, ‘We want to draft, we want to develop, we want to re-sign.’ Since Coach Sirianni’s here, that’s all we’ve done. We’ve drafted players, we’ve resigned our players.

When you talk about culture, that’s the first thing that comes to mind with culture: ‘If I do well, I’m going to get rewarded. I don’t have to go somewhere else to do that.’ That’s really a huge part of what we’re trying to build. So, we’re proud of that. That’s going to be our first priority as opposed to getting to March and trying to go outside the building. The way that these drafts go about, it also allows you to structure your contracts in a way that you can continue to keep guys. Now, you’re going to have to make sacrifices. You saw it in the offseason. We let players go that we care about, that we think are good players, that we think are really good people, that fit, but we had to move on because we have some game changing players and people that are part of this organization and we don’t intend to lose.

I would say to our fans, if you’re wearing a jersey with some of those guys with those names on the back, we fully intend for those guys to be here on the long term.

Q. You look at the offense that you guys are installing with Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion and everything. Do you expect some growing pains as camp goes along? I mean, how is that process going to work out? (Martin Frank)

Nick Sirianni: I think training camp has growing pains throughout both sides of the ball, whether it’s a new coordinator, whether it’s an old coordinator, it’s the way it goes. You want to make camp challenging. You want to make it hard. You want to make things difficult because when they’re going through a shared hardship, that’s when guys come together. There’s going to be days when the offense gets the best of the defense and there’s going to be days when the defense gets the best of the offense. I’m not really looking at it in that sense. I’m just looking at it in everyday terms of how do we get a little bit better each day? How do we put the work in? And really, it’s like, how do we put the work in to get better each day knowing that there’s going to be ups and downs?

I think we all want progress to look like this. That’s not the reality of progress, right? It’s going to feel like that, right? But generally speaking, it’s going to go up and then it’ll go back, and then it’ll go up and then go back. And that’s what you want the curve to look like, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to feel that way. What’s important to do in those situations is just put your head down, control what you can control and be faithful in the little things because those will be the things that end up being big things at the end of the day.

Q. Another training camp with an offensive coordinator change. Does the evaluation change now that QB Jalen Hurts is entering his seventh season versus those prior ones? (Jeff McLane)

Nick Sirianni: No, we’re very proud that we make the job description very clear for each and every one of our players and that we have a standard of what we do at each position. Obviously, there’ll be different requirements and slightly different job descriptions, but the standard remains the standard, and we’ll continue to grade upon that.