While speaking with the Philadelphia media for the first time this offseason, Eagles veteran tight end Zach Ertz had to get something off his chest.
"This is the most fun I've had coming to work in a long time," said Ertz, who's entering a contract-year in Philadelphia. "Like I've said all along, this is the place I want to be. This is the place I want to retire."
A few short months ago, no one would have guessed that Ertz, whose 561 career catches rank second in franchise history behind Hall-of-Famer Harold Carmichael, would still be with the Eagles at this juncture, preparing for his ninth season in Philadelphia. Frustrated with his expiring contract and seemingly supplanted on the depth chart by the younger, more athletic likes of Dallas Goedert, the 30-year-old Stanford alum didn't attend OTAs this offseason, keeping his distance from the team in anticipation of a trade elsewhere.
But that deal never transpired, and while Ertz's presence at Eagles training camp may have led to some initial awkwardness, the three-time Pro Bowler has chosen to embrace his current circumstances, spending the summer building chemistry with second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts.
"I'm glad I'm here, I'm excited to be here. This has been one of the best camps I've had," insisted Ertz, whose career highlights include scoring the go-ahead touchdown in Super Bowl LII in 2018 when he set the franchise's single-season record for catches with 116, the most ever by an NFL tight end. "I told my agent, 'Don't leak anything.' This isn't about me ruffling feathers. I love this place. I love this team. I love this city."
Finally healthy after an injury-plagued 2020, Ertz isn't worried about his role, preferring to enjoy the "process" as the Eagles begin a new chapter under first-year head coach Nick Sirianni.
"I haven't looked at this as a competition between Dallas and I. We're two players for the Philadelphia Eagles," said Ertz, who admitted last year was an "emotional" time for him. "The coaches are going to decide who's on the field and who's not on the field. And whatever they decide, I'm going to roll with."
Sporting dyed blonde hair, Ertz had nothing but good things to say about Sirianni, a former wide receivers coach who brings plenty of expertise in that area.
"I've learned so much from Nick Sirianni," said Ertz in praise of his new head coach. "As a receivers coach and him implementing so much of his techniques and the details. He's so good as a technician that I'm just picking things each and every day from him that I had never even thought about."
So much for any potential trade to Buffalo.
The Eagles and Ertz begin their 2021 season a week from Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, who are led by Philadelphia products Matt Ryan (an alum of William Penn Charter School) and 2021 first round tight end Kyle Pitts, who graduated from Archbishop Wood in Warminster.
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