NFC Notes: Eagles, Giants, Panthers

Eagles

• Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer expects Eagles’ second-year RB Miles Sanders to get the largest workload for a Philadelphia running back since LeSean McCoy. 
• McLane writes that the Eagles will sign a veteran running back at some point this offseason, but he thinks third-year RB Boston Scott has a “leg up” for a roster spot, considering how well he played last year. 
• As for Eagles’ second-year RB Elijah Holyfield, McLane believes he’ll get “plenty of touches” during training camp. 

Giants

Fumbles were one of Giants QB Daniel Jones‘ biggest issues in his first season in the NFL. The former first-round pick coughed up the ball 18 times last year, continuing an issue he had at Duke when he had 19 fumbles in three seasons as the starter. Jones has worked to get stronger, adding more muscle to bulk up from 221 pounds to 230, and he’s working with his former college HC David Cutcliffe on improving his ball security. 

“He was too fearless as a runner here. I said, ‘In that league, it’s simple. Those guys hit you — they’re six or seven years older, they’re stronger than anything that’s ever hit you before. Quit running the ball like a back. Get on the ground. Run like a quarterback. Unless it’s to win the Super Bowl, quit taking on tacklers,’” Cutcliffe said via the Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “He’s a great athlete, he can get out of trouble, make yards and then you get the hell knocked out of you by a guy that has been continuing to train his body for seven or eight years. I tell him, ‘Don’t take those hits. The ball is coming out. I don’t care what you do.’”

Panthers

The Panthers moved on from a number of franchise stalwarts this offseason, including TE Greg Olsen and QB Cam Newton. Both players were released but the timing was very different for both. Carolina cut Olsen in early February, giving him time to go on visits with other teams and sign before the start of free agency. The Panthers didn’t release Newton until the middle of March, right before they signed his replacement, QB Teddy Bridgewater in free agency. Newton remains unsigned and some have criticized the team for not doing him any favors with the timing of his release. 

“I’ve been asked that question before. When we made the decision on Greg, we informed Greg and we released Greg. And when we made the decision on Cam, we released Cam,” Panthers GM Marty Hurney said via the Athletic’s Joe Person. “You go through a lot of thought process and a lot of discussions, and different decisions are made at different times. But as soon as we make decisions, we address them.”

As for why the player he picked No. 1 overall who won an MVP and took Carolina to the Super Bowl remains unsigned, Hurney didn’t have much to say. 

“I don’t know. I’m just focused on us and trying to get us the best we can be for this season. I can’t speak for other teams,” Hurney said. “I do have great respect for him, but I can’t answer for other teams.”