Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Trent Cole doesn't know what his NFL future holds, but he's certain he's still got one.
Cole, who has spent his entire 10-year career with the Eagles, doesn't want to end up playing in another NFL destination next season. But he knows that the league is, first and foremost, a business, and if he wants to keep playing but the coaches in Philly don't want him, well that's just fine too.
"It wouldn't mean nothing for me to move on. I just know I'll be playing ball somewhere else. If I'm not here I'll be playing ball somewhere else. That's just the way it goes," Cole said, per Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com.
"I just know that I have no bitter feelings towards nobody. I love the Philadelphia Eagles. I'll be an Eagle for life regardless of what happens. Great organization here. They gave me an opportunity to play ball here and I respect that. It's business but there will never be hard feelings whatsoever."
Cole, a former fifth round pick out of the University of Cincinnati, spent the first eight seasons of his career as a defensive end in head coach Andy Reid's 4-3 scheme. After Chip Kelly took over, Cole made the difficult transition to 3-4 outside linebacker.
The 32-year-old has performed well the past two years - he finished third on the team in sacks and shared the team lead in hurries this season - but may be facing something of a crossroads in his Eagle career.
His base salary jumps from a pretty manageable $5 million to an entirely out of whack $10 million next season. His current deal, which still has three years remaining, is supposed to pay him $35 million over the next few seasons.
Cole is currently a valued member of the outside linebacker rotation, and with Brandon Graham talking to the team about an extension but also possibly set to hit free agency, still may very well be a part of the team's defensive future.
It simply won't be at the salary he's currently slated to make.
Cole, for his part, said that he's open to a restructuring if the team wants him back.
"Pretty much we're just going to have to measure out my age and how I'm producing. We just have to be real about it," said Cole. "I think that's the biggest key is be real about it, be realistic. I've had a good career, have had some contracts. There's going to be no fake here."
Whether or not Cole returns next season remains to be seen, but with his advancing age, decreasing production and as a member of a defensive unit that seriously faltered down the stretch, his only chance to continue on as a member of the Eagles may be with a new, restructured deal.
