Miles Sanders Sends Strong Message to Eagles Amid Contract Talk

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• By Mike Greger

• Updated Apr 7, 2022 at 9:54am

Getty: Miles Sanders gained 57 yards in Week 16 and averaged 5.3 yards per carry for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020.

Miles Sanders is looking for a lucrative contract extension, something the Philadelphia Eagles don’t seem interested in supplying until he can grind out a 17-game schedule. Injuries have overshadowed production during his first three NFL seasons.

To help improve his strength and conditioning, Sanders has linked up with famed trainer Craig Williams at Rice University (Houston, Texas). Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson caught up with the Eagles standout down there and asked him about his goals. Sanders wore a shirt reading "They Will Ignore You, Until They Can’t” while explaining what motivates him.

"I still got a lot to prove,” Sanders told Wilson. "A lot of people don’t respect all the work that I’ve done. I got a lot to prove and I’m taking it real personal this year.”

Sanders did lead all Eagles’ running backs in yards (754) last season despite missing five games. He finished second on the team in that department to quarterback Jalen Hurts (784). The Penn State product is out to prove he can carry the load and stay healthy in 2022.

"Just to stay healthy, to be available this year, that’s probably my main goal this year,” Sanders told Aaron Wilson. "Just be noticed, find a way to get noticed, and demand that respect. I’m not taking no for an answer this year.”

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Howie Roseman Non-Committal on Sanders

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was asked to comment on Sanders’ uncertain future in Philly. The 24-year-old running back is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Roseman called him a "heck of player, heck of a person” but wouldn’t reveal whether contract negotiations were underway.

"We haven’t even seen everything Miles can give this team,” Roseman said. "Obviously, he’s been really productive. I know he wants to get in the end zone, as well. But I think the best is yet to come from Miles.”

There has been a lot of speculation that the Eagles might target a running back in April’s draft. In fact, Iowa State’s Breece Hall met with Philadelphia brass at the NFL Scouting Combine. Isaiah Spiller out of Texas A&M is another prospect to watch.

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Can’t Wait to Get That Chemistry Going

Sanders has his eyes on a deep playoff run this season, not a one-and-done matchup in the Wild Card round. He has been watching what the Eagles are doing in free agency and he likes what he sees. Chemistry is the key to a successful year.

"We had potential last year and you see what we did with it, still made the playoffs but that’s not good enough for us,” Sanders told Wilson. "We got a lot of new pieces and just can’t wait to get together with the guys, and get that chemistry going, and start the season off right.”

One of those new pieces is linebacker Kyzir White. He name-dropped Sanders and Hurts while describing what excites him about the Eagles’ offense.

"Jalen Hurts is a real good quarterback,” White said. "He’s fast. I remember I was coming on blitzes a few times trying to catch him [last season], he could move — and I like the running back Miles, he real good. There’s a lot of pieces on the offensive end that I’m excited about.”

https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/miles-sanders-respect/

I don't think he's getting an extension here. He's a very good player no doubt but he's had injury issues and I don't see us giving him a lucrative deal. 

I don’t think the Eagles should even talk to him about an extension.  Let a bunch of guys on rookie deals, +\- a Howard type vet, man the rb rotation in 2023.

I wouldn’t want to insult Sanders with a low ball offer.  Just tell him to play hard, increase his value, and go to the highest bidder next year so we get a nice comp pick.

4 hours ago, eagle45 said:

I don’t think the Eagles should even talk to him about an extension.  Let a bunch of guys on rookie deals, +\- a Howard type vet, man the rb rotation in 2023.

I wouldn’t want to insult Sanders with a low ball offer.  Just tell him to play hard, increase his value, and go to the highest bidder next year so we get a nice comp pick.

Agreed. I'd give Gainwell more touches this year and I'd draft another RB. I'd still heavily use Sanders and I'd be open to bringing him back but not on a huge deal. 

Running backs have a short life span in the NFL so I can understand him trying to get all that he can but he is often injured and quite frankly not worth it, IMHO.

He lacks consistent power in his runs and dances too often because of it. He's an average HB1 and I wish him well wherever he ends up. the Eagles need an upgrade there.

I'm of the same mindset as everyone else ... I’ve been long of the belief that, unless you are a special player, in today's NFL it just doesn't make much sense to pay a RB on a 2nd contract.  Better strategy is to draft them, play them until their rookie contracts run out, then let them walk and replace them with another draft pick.  We very well may have his replacement on the roster already ... Gainwell.  But I still wouldn't object to using a day 3 pick (or late day 2 ... perhaps pick 101 from NO) to add a complementary piece to Gainwell - someone who is more of a Howard replacement (a RB that excels at running between the tackles and gets the tough yards).  

He’s a good player but hardly irreplaceable. I wouldn’t invest any long term money in him or the position. RB’s are a dime a dozen and when they decline, they decline quickly. Look at guys like Zeke, Bell, Gurley, etc.