Jeremy Maclin Says He's 'Ahead Of Schedule'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Jeremy Maclin wanted something that most athletes don't go looking for: a shorter contract.
Maclin requested, and received, a one-year contract from the Eagles. The team, reportedly, wanted to sign the wide receiver to a five-year deal. Maclin missed the entire 2013 season with a torn ACL that he suffered early in training camp.
The one year deal shows that Maclin is confident he'll return to form this year.
"I'm going out there, I'm running, I'm sprinting. Obviously I'm not close to being cleared yet, but today I'll have a chance to run routes and stuff," Maclin told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Team on Tuesday. "There's no rush, but at the same time the progress is going very well and I'm ahead of schedule."
As for his return to the Eagles specifically, Maclin says there were many reasons he wanted to stay in Philadelphia.
"I wanted to be here. I wanted to be here in Chip Kelly's offense. I wanted to continue to be a part of a winning program---I think the Eagles are going to win here for a long time, so I'm excited," he said. "Like I said earlier, I don't view this as being a one year deal. I think this is something that can go into a long-term contract under the right circumstances so that's what I'm looking forward too."
Maclin will return to a receiving corps that at this point, looks very similar to last season's. DeSean Jackson is still under contract, and the Eagles re-signed Riley Cooper to a five year, $25 million deal.
"I think any time you make a decision like it's kind of tough, but I think at the end of the day this is the place I wanted to be. And I kind of knew in the back of my mind that something would get done eventually," Maclin said. "I think I am one of the guys this off-season could have really benefited, because I'm so versatile and I got the skill set to play any position on the field. I think Chip Kelly does a good job of putting his guys in position to be successful and I think I was one of those guys that could play anywhere on the football field. So yeah, I had thoughts of kinda what I could and I think that factored in my decision about coming back as well."
