x
Breaking News
More () »

REPORT: Reigning Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles nixed trade from Philadelphia Eagles to Cleveland Browns

Reigning Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles reportedly nixed a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Cleveland Browns.
Credit: Matthew Emmons
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles points to a spot down the field while scrambling out of the pocket during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns added a veteran quarterback in Tyrod Taylor through a trade with the Buffalo Bills in the first few hours of free agency back in March, but he may not have been their first choice of signal-callers.

According to a report from NFL.com, the Browns offered to send the No. 35 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Nick Foles, but the one-time Pro Bowler and reigning Super Bowl Most Valuable Player “made it clear that he wanted to stay in Philadelphia.”

Foles engineered a 14-play, 75-yard drive and finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz with 2:37 to play, and then, the defense forced New England’s only turnover of the game to help seal the 41-33 win in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis back in February.

Inserted into the lineup in mid-December for injured starter Carson Wentz, Foles completed 28 of his 43 attempts for 373 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score, against just one interception.

On one of the game’s deciding plays, the Eagles faced a third-and-seven from New England’s 11-yard line. Foles took the shotgun snap and fired a pass to Ertz on the left side of the field, and the veteran tight end had enough separation to dive for the goal line with the ball. Although the ball came loose after hitting the ground, Ertz regained possession as he rolled from his side to his back.

A replay review upheld the touchdown call.

But the late-game heroics were only a small part of why Foles led the Eagles to their upset of the Patriots.

After being stopped short of the goal line on three consecutive plays late in the first half, the Eagles ran a trick play as Foles walked out of the backfield and lined up as a tight end on the right side while running back Corey Clement took the direct snap.

While running left, Clement pitched the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who aired out a throw to Foles. Foles released off the line of scrimmage, ran an unguarded out route toward the right sideline and hauled in the touchdown catch, which gave the Eagles a 22-12 advantage.

Over three postseason games last year, Foles completed 77 of his 106 attempts for 971 yards and six touchdowns against one interception.

With their New Year’s Eve loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns went winless in a 16-game season for the first time in franchise history, and their 17th consecutive loss overall dropped the organization to a league-worst 1-31 since the opening game of 2016.

The Browns have not won on a Sunday afternoon since December 13, 2015. The 33 straight Sunday losses are an NFL record, and their 4-49 mark in the last 53 outings is the worst in the league in that four-year span.

Credit: Matthew Emmons
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles holds up the Lombardi Trophy while standing on the podium after leading the team to a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nashville to host 2019 NFL Draft, Canton-Cleveland bid still in play for 2020

Additionally, this past season, the Browns set the record for the worst 28-game stretch in NFL history, as they bested the previous mark of 2-26 set by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1976-1977 seasons with a 1-27 mark that got four losses worse since Week 13.

Over the last four-plus years, the Browns have gone 4-49, and the record has not been much better since Dee and Jimmy Haslam officially purchased the team in October of 2012.

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles catches a touchdown pass late in the first half of Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Excitement abound in Berea as Cleveland Browns start Phase 2 of offseason workouts

In five seasons under Haslam’s majority ownership, the Browns have posted an NFL-worst 15-65 record. Factoring in the remaining games of the 2012 season after the sale was approved at an NFL Owners Meeting in Chicago, the Browns have gone 19-70.

Also, with Buffalo clinching a wildcard berth in the AFC, the Browns have the longest-standing playoff drought in the NFL.

Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial

Before You Leave, Check This Out