Throughout the preseason, Chip Kelly steadfastly refused to declare Andrew Gardner the Eagles’ starting right guard.
“We’re swinging a bunch of guys in there,” Kelly would say, even when it became clear Gardner was the only guy the Eagles were still swinging through there.
Even after Gardner took all the first-team reps in all the preseason games, Kelly wouldn’t annoint Gardner the starter.
So when the Eagles announced earlier this week that they had signed Gardner to a three-year contract extension, a clear sign of their commitment to the veteran offensive lineman, beat writer Jeff McLane joked to Kelly that maybe now, finally, he could officially name Gardner the starter.
It was funny, but Kelly didn’t even crack a smile. And still wouldn't admit that Gardner is indeed the starter. Although he did acknowledge that Gardner will start at right guard Monday night in the season opener in Atlanta.
In any case, the Eagles did lock up Gardner on the eve of the 2015 season, adding three years to his contract and locking him up through 2018.
Gardner pocketed a modest $500,000 signing bonus, and the total value of the new money is $4.2 million from 2016 through 2018.
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“I’m just excited to be a part of the Philadelphia Eagles organization,” Gardner said after practice Wednesday. “It’s a great place to work. I really enjoy working with Coach (Jeff) Stoutland. I think he’s really helped me a lot.
“I want to be here, they want me to be here and when it comes down to it, that’s what it is. I’m excited to be here and a part of what they’re building. I think this team is going to be really good and really good for years to come and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Like so many offensive linemen, Gardner’s career took several twists and turns before he finally got his first chance to be an opening-day starter.
He was originally a sixth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2009 and spent time with the Dolphins, Ravens, Vikings, Bengals and Texans before signing with the Eagles as a free agent before last season.
The sum total of his stints with the Dolphins, Ravens, Vikings, Bengals and Texans? Eight games and no starts.
But he started eight games last year — two at right tackle, six at right guard — and put himself on the Eagles’ radar with solid play as a backup.
“Just think he's a lot more consistent [now],” Kelly said. “You know, we were excited with how he played during the end of last year. He played an extensive amount after Todd (Herremans) got hurt, so he's got a real good grasp of what we're doing.
“I think he's a real smart football player and he's always where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there. There's a lot of consistency in Andrew's play.”
Gardner’s base salary stays at $795,000 this year, and he’ll earn $1,183,333 both next year and in 2017 and $1,183,334 in 2018. The new deal includes $50,000 workout bonuses each year from 2016 through 2018.
His cap numbers are:
• $931,045 in 2015
• $1,358,333 in 2016
• $1,358,333 in 2017
• $1,658,334 in 2018
That final year’s cap number includes $300,000 in Likely to Be Earned playing-time incentives.
Taken as a four-year deal, including the final year of his old contract, the three new years are worth $5,001,045.
If Gardner didn’t sign and played well this year, he would have had an opportunity to hit the open market as a free agent and maybe make more money.
But he’s 29 years old and with his sixth team in six years. He opted to stay.
"That’s always the dilemma you face, but I like it here, and it’s an opportunity to have some stability for me and my family," Gardner said. “This is where I want to be, so I’m excited about it.
"Having a deal is always good, but it doesn’t really change the way I approach everything. Just working every day to get better. Doesn’t change my approach at all.
"It’s been a lot of hard work, but I feel very blessed to have been brought here and had a chance to work with these coaches. Very appreciative of this opportunity and glad that my career has trended this way instead of the other way."