His relationship with the team “mended” and stronger than ever, tight end Zach Ertz plans to stay in Philadelphia as long as the Eagles will have him.
In a reversal from a strong springtime demand to be traded, Ertz said Wednesday he feels great physically and wants to commit to being with the franchise after apologies were made.
“This is the place I want to be, this is the place I want to retire,” Ertz said via Zoom. “I’m moving on from everything that happened this offseason. There have been apologies.”
The Eagles opted to keep Ertz and his $12,721,500 cap number for 2021 when minimal progress was made in trade talks, per reports.
The Eagles could have saved $8.5 million in cap space if they designated him as a post-June 1 cut.
Ertz said he hasn’t been this excited to come to work “in a long time.”
Ertz had a relatively unproductive 2020 season, catching only 36 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown while fighting an ankle injury.
A second-round pick of the Eagles in 2013 (35th overall), Ertz has more than 300 receptions and 3,000 yards – with 23 touchdowns – since the 2017 season began.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection has 36 touchdowns, 561 catches and 6,078 yards in 117 games (82 starts) over his eight seasons.
Ertz is a football hero in Philadelphia, having caught the fourth-quarter TD pass to put the team ahead during its Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots.
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–Field Level Media