Philadelphia Eagles fans already weren't big on cornerback Byron Maxwell. The big ticket free agent from a year ago signed a mammoth contract worth up to $63 million and promptly proceeded to play like a guy who just got paid and wasn't all that interested in tackling or defending or, really, winning. But then, out of the darkness and the gloom came the piercing light of Howie Roseman. Roseman somehow managed to swing a deal with the Miami Dolphins that would send Maxwell and his behemoth contract, along with linebacker Kiko Alonso, to South Beach in exchange for a swap of places in the first-round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Suddenly, the world looked a little brighter for Eagles fans. And with the impending trade of DeMarco Murray to the Tennessee Titans, there seemed real, tangible reason for optimism in Philly.
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Maxwell's agent, Alvin Keels, tweeted that his client was cleared by the Dolphins and is "ready to roll," ostensibly indicating that the trade will go through as planned.
But then Wednesday came and with it, the news that would shatter thousands of midnight green-tinged dreams - Maxwell had failed his physical and the Dolphins were considering nixing the trade.
Now, it's not dead yet, but it certainly sounds like the Dolphins have serious reservations. That being said, reports suggest there is still a "good chance" that Maxwell and Alonso land in Miami.
Still a good chance that Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso land with Dolphins, I'm told. But a lot of moving pieces (comp, contract) involved.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 9, 2016
But only time will tell.
The Eagles had cleared Maxwell on his year-ending physical and were said to be more concerned with whether or not Alonso, who struggled through 2015 with knee issues, would be medically cleared. Alonso passed with flying colors though, while Maxwell apparently revealed to the Dolphins doctors that he wasn't able to bench press or even do pushups due to a lingering shoulder injury.
In exchange for that major contract, Maxwell provided the Eagles with just 2 interceptions and 64 tackles last season. He suffered a "sprained shoulder" during the Eagles' Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and did not appear in another game.
Jettisoning him and his $9.7 million cap hit for 2016 as well as the remaining four years of the deal would have been a major coup for Roseman and the Eagles. And while it still may come to fruition, it sounds like there are some significant hurdles still to overcome.
So, I'm told Maxwell remains in Miami. Dolphins docs will anesthetise joint, put it under stress, evaulate joint stability.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) March 9, 2016
