At his Monday press conference, Chip Kelly spoke about Sam Bradford and his importance to the team's success in the past two weeks.
While doing so, he may have hinted at the quarterback's return beyond this season.
"We've always wanted Sam here," Kelly said. "We wouldn't have traded for him if we thought he was going to be here for a year."
Bradford is in the final year of a six-year, $78 million contract that has him making $13 million this season.
In November, it was reported that the Eagles had offered Bradford a four-year, $72 million contract to begin next season, but it was ultimately turned down. Bradford said he never was informed of an offer.
Kelly is keeping in mind that this is only the first year for Bradford in his system. He said he is noticing continual improvement on a weekly basis.
"Sam as a whole has progressed as the season's gone along," Kelly said. "It takes a long while to play quarterback in this league. There are so many different things you have to get. And when we got Sam, we knew — with any quarterback — it's going to take some time. Name any quarterback playing at a really high level now and they've been playing in the same system for years, not for months, and that's what Sam's case is.
"The guys that are playing really, really well right now, it's because they've got experience. It's something you can't manufacture. You have to let it play itself out."
As for the rest of this season, the Eagles continue their push for the playoffs by hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
