As the NFL world turns its gaze this dark Monday morning to head coaches around the league already axed (Rex Ryan) and on the verge of being axed (Mike Smith), rumors have also begun to trickle out of other changes to come at other NFL destinations - changes involving the men who actually take the field week in and week out.
One such destination is Philadelphia, where a couple of high-profile players in running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin could suddenly find themselves on the outside, looking in at the organization.
"The season just ended, and . . . I'm an Eagle. I love it here," McCoy said, per Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer after the Eagles defeated the New York Giants 34-26. "My six years here have been excellent. I've been very, very, very productive here. I have a great relationship with my coaches, the owner.
"We'll see what happens. It's a business. Anything can happen; I know that. But I'm sure we can work something out. And hopefully, everything does work out. They know how I feel about them. I know how they feel about me. So we'll see what happens. At the end of the day, it's a business."
The 26-year-old McCoy had a difficult stretch to open the season, but was eventually able to regain his usual form, finishing the year with 1,319 yards rushing.
Things will soon get complicated for the Eagles front office and McCoy because he is due $10.25 million with a salary-cap hit of $11.95 million next season. He's a consistent Pro Bowler - he's headed to his third in a row - with electrifying skills playing a position of decreasing value.
Running backs are still vital pieces to the offensive puzzle, but many coaches simply believe they can be found in the later rounds of the draft and in free agency for much less money than McCoy is slated to make.
If he truly wants to stay in Midnight Green, he may be forced to restructure his deal.
Maclin, also 26, set career highs in both catches (85) and yards (1,318) this season. He will, barring a new pact with the team, become an unrestricted free agent. Maclin and the team have discussed a deal in the past, but were unable to come to an agreement on length and value, so the talented receiver chose to sign a one-year contract and bet on himself.
That bet has seemingly paid off, setting up yet another difficult financial situation for the Eagles. The franchise tag is always an option, but both player and team would most likely prefer to enter next season with a new deal done.
As for Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly, he was adamant that he wanted both players back for next year - but added the (somewhat sarcastic) caveat that he doesn't know what will come and that the team will be forced to listen if somebody makes a serious offer.
"Do I want LeSean back? Yeah. Do I want Jeremy back? Yeah. But I don't know what's going to happen. What if somebody offers us 17 picks," Kelly said, according to Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News.
McCoy admitted that while he has no desire to leave the team that drafted and developed him, last offseason's fiasco with receiver DeSean Jackson keeps him on edge about his future.
"I'd be lying if I say it never flashes in my mind," McCoy said. "Because it happened to [Jackson], off his best year. So you never know."
