Nick Foles Admits He Wants to be a Starter

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - To date, Nick Foles has always been portrayed as the ultimate team guy, comfortable with his role as the safety net behind the face of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, superstar quarterback Carson Wentz.

And for the most part, that narrative is true for a one-time starter who went through the roller-coaster of 27-and-2 with the Eagles under Chip Kelly, as well as the depths of trying to play QB for Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.

After the latter Foles, 29, seriously thought about walking away from the game before deciding fit was the most important part, first reuniting with the man who drafted him [Andy Reid] in Kansas City as Alex Smith's backup and moving back to Philly at his first position coach's request [Doug Pederson] to caddie for Carson Wentz.

When Wentz went down with a torn ACL and LCL against the Rams on Dec. 10 of last year, Foles got his opportunity and despite some struggles finishing off the regular season, particularly against Oakland and for one quarter against Dallas, he flourished in the postseason especially on the biggest stages, dominating the favored Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, and then standing in the middle of the ring for a slugfest against the greatest of all-time, Tom Brady, and somehow coming out on top.

Foles proved to be the greatest closer since Mariano Rivera was in his prime, leading the Eagles to their first championship since 1960.

From a football perspective, Howie Roseman understood Foles' value was never going to be higher and also realized he was a luxury for the Eagles as long as Wentz is still around.

Roseman was asking for a king's ransom when the new league year opened for Foles, however, and the rare heavily-stocked QB market assured that Philadelphia wasn't going to get swept away by any offers.

The contingency was moving forward with the "best quarterback room in the NFL," something Philadelphia can afford to do from a monetary standpoint for one more year because Wentz is still under his cost-effective rookie deal.

The more important part to that, however, was Foles himself and the confidence the Eagles had in him to be a good soldier, a man content in his mantra of faith, family and football.

That remains the case as the Eagles report to the NovaCare Complex for Phase 1 of their nine-week offseason program Monday but for the first time Foles has opened up and admitted he, in fact, does want to be a starting QB in the NFL, something he realizes isn't going to happen with the Eagles.

He did it nearly 1,700 miles away in his home of Austin, Texas.

"I know there was some stuff going around, a possible trade, and I would love the opportunity to be a starter again," Foles admitted to KVUE television.

Before you identify that as the start of a potential issue, however, Foles also proved he is everything the Eagles believe he is, most notably a top-tier person and teammate.

"I know my spot in Philly," Foles insisted. "I think I’ve shown what I can do. I’m signed for one more year and I love the team, I love the city. I’m excited for Carson [Wentz] to get back on his feet. I’ll be ready to go whenever they need me."

The one thing missing from the spin coming out of NovaCare, however, is the same thing that enabled Foles to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII win in Minneapolis, his competitiveness.

Foles will do his job as the Eagles' caretaker until Wentz is medically cleared but he's also not content with that being his lot in life.

"I don’t know what my career holds from here on out," Foles admitted. "I’ve been very blessed for the six years I’ve played. I would love to start again and do all that, but we go year by year and we’ll just enjoy Monday and seeing all the guys after an offseason away of being Super Bowl champs."

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen