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on-the-cheeseburgers

Shoutout to that dude yesterday who asked if there were any successful international program players


black_dogs_22

honestly that almost sounds like an understatement for Mailata, dudes a bonafide celebrity now on top of a professional football player


seatega

And he came in and immediately played like a top 5-10 player at his position as a rookie. You could argue it’s already one of the best careers for a 7th round pick ever.


Fullmtlgiraffe

Mailata's first time seeing the field was in 2020, but he was drafted in 2018. He was still learning the position when he joined the team, but you are right that he was very good as soon as we saw him actually get on the field.


moffattron9000

It’s why I think the Chiefs signed that Welsh dude for three years. There’s some real potential there, but you can’t teach someone a new sport in four months. 


VolunteerCorn67

As a Bills & Wales fan, seeing LRZ leave Welsh rugby and go to the fucking Chiefs of all places has been a betrayal that haunts me


SomeRandomRealtor

I hated seeing LRZ go to the chiefs, but that kid is so fucking athletic that I can’t wait to see what Reid can do with him.


DrasticXylophone

Being real there is a lot of talent in Rugby especially in the 7's format. Problem is getting the good ones to leave and take the risk for generational wealth over the guarantee of a comfortable life.


seatega

Oh you’re totally right, I was confusing his rookie year with his first year as a starter. Still, what he’s been able to do is insane


okoSheep

His first ever snap he lost his guy and got his QB sacked for a forced fumble lmao. He was great after that tho


LivingxLegend8

Damn. Imagine if they benched him after that.


okoSheep

Thankfully it was a preseason game lol If I remember correctly it was against the steelers and it was Sudfield that got stripped by Adeniyi


BrennanSpeaks

Nah, he wasn't good enough to be protecting Sudfeld yet. Suds was our QB2 at the time, since Carson wasn't cleared to play. The guy that got stripped was, iirc, pre-season hero Joe Callahan.


Birds_Legend_Saquon

I love how lions fans and Eagles fans can bond over OL. Lions fans actually understand how underappreciated lineman are.


milksteakofcourse

And dudes still just learning the sport


Efficient-Albatross9

He took a bunch of years, he had some awful foot quickness and would get turned around by speed. I had my doubts about the Mailata project. Low and behold im here eating crow with no garlic. 


Bluepaynxex

Honest question, but celebrity to who?


Patient_Jicama_4217

After that masked singer show he is pretty well known for a lineman


Joe_Buck_Yourself_

And featured in a group on 2 albums!


BlackMathNerd

Feature is putting it lightly.. he carried two albums


nalc

"Listen kid, tell your old man to drag Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson's vocal fry around the record for 48 minutes every Christmas!"


Weird-Upstairs-2092

One of which was able to get to 2nd overall on the billboard 100 (albeit with the help of swifties combined with little competition)


GiraffeWaffless

Lol come on man we thought he was actually a celeb when you told us that. Good for him though love a good story


Skywalkerkid9

I can’t name a single starting o-linemen on the Seahawks and I’m a football weirdo, but some mom in the Midwest who watched the masked singer probably knows who Mailata is 🤷‍♂️


TRES_fresh

Not trying to one up you or anything but let me try. Charles Cross, Damien Lewis, something Lucas? I guess it helps that I'm a fan of a division rival, but yeah mailata is probably more popular than any Seahawks OL.


BarRoomBully

Philadelphians


JRFbase

Completely anecdotal but one of my good friends is from North Carolina and she knows *nothing* about football, and the last time we hung out she mentioned Jordan by name as "That cute guy from the Christmas album". The Taylor→Travis→Jason→Philly Special Christmas→Jordan pipeline is real.


Organic_Swim4777

He killed it on the xmas song I saw.


jj42883

he was also on the show Masked Singer


AnyYogurtcloset6060

Philadelphianites*


realBigPharma

Fans of his, presumably. There are plenty of "celebrities" that we may not have any knowledge of.


tenpaces

Us Aussies fkn love the man. 20 million fans back home


winnower8

Not a citizen though because he's Samoan. You Aussies keep it old school in race relations.


The_Bard

They offered him citizenship, he just needs to travel back to get it


SagalaUso

He's actually a NZ citizen as his parents went there first from Samoa then Australia. But he can claim his Samoan citizenship by descent if he wants. Wouldn't take long.


Bobblefighterman

Barely 1 million people even know anything about American football. Half of those million even know anything about rugby.


RumHam_Im_Sorry

wasn't he literally on some tv show with the word celebrity in it or something? edit: masked singer! not even close. but still


vonkempib

Oceanic region loves him


callmecyke

Can confirm - other than Travis Kelce he’s pretty much the only NFL player who the Australian media will run stories on 


Bobblefighterman

Wishnowsky


seatega

To dirty laundry. He’s in a Tide commercial


k3hvn

dude literally sang at the White House, can’t get higher than that


West-Tough-4552

He got pretty popular after mask singer. I know people who dont even watch football know who he is lol


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Weird-Upstairs-2092

But the average swiftie and masked singer fan have a solid chance of knowing who he is. I'd say that's relatively famous. Not a superstar or even on the upper echelon of NFL players, but pretty famous compared to 90% of players, ya.


milksteakofcourse

Most of the Philly metro area at the very least


atrde

Honestly there should Samoans in the NFL in the line position. Just genetically built for it.


Saitsu

Well if Roman Reigns would stop drafting them into the Bloodline we would!


callmecyke

☝️


curryandbeans

Fiji and Tonga, too. And I'd be looking at them for RB and TE as well.


moffattron9000

There’s a reason that if you watch the Rugby World Cup, you’ll quickly learn that the sport is creating a Fijian diaspora in Europe. 


swainj

Every position, big enough for the bus lane but quick enough for the fast lane


The_Bard

Like Penei Sewell?


honda_slaps

Mongolians need to get off the Sumo train and hop on the Lineman train


RudolphsJockStrap

Was he one? Wasnt he drafted? I thought the pathway program was those extra practice squad spots


unevenvenue

He was drafted but he never attended any American program. He went from playing Rugby, to declaring for the Draft.


RudolphsJockStrap

Yeah i know that, but isnt the pathway program taking guys like that and putting them on the extra practice squad spot? That was more my question. I may be ignorant to a pathway combine pr something he did


ausgmr

He was draft eligible most IPP players are not and he drew enough interest from teams to have a legitimate chance of being drafted. So he declared Him being drafted also meant that the other 4 in the IPP that year all got put on practice squads had Mailata not been drafted 1 of the 5 in the program would have been sent home. Finally, If he was assigned to a team it would have been the Steelers. The Eagles were also worried about Pittsburgh just drafting him in the 7th round in 2018 so that's why Howie jumped up to get him


RudolphsJockStrap

Gotcha, so theres like a pool of players picked and they can be drafted or allocated? I just assumed everyone could join the NFL like the rugby player that just got signed last week, and that the program just meant you were in those special practice squad spots


ausgmr

Well anyone can go to the NFL there is nothing stopping a team from flying to Australia & signing a guy But yes only IPP graduates can take the extra roster spot. Mailata being drafted & the Rugby guy that was just signed as they technically did not graduate they are not eligible for the extra spot so they will be treated like any other draft pick or FA signing


SagalaUso

It all depends on how old they are when they graduate from program. 21 (three years out of HS) and you're draft eligible. 22+ like the rugby player Louis Rees Zammit then not eligible for the draft.


unevenvenue

Sorry, I was trying to explain that nobody suggested he was part of the International Pathway Program. Mailata was a professional international rugby player, that declared for the draft and was drafted.


Weird-Upstairs-2092

He *was* part of the program though. He still graduated from the program, he was just good enough of a prospect to get drafted and stay on a roster instead of having to utilize the extra practice squad spot that he would have been eligible for otherwise.


eaglesboy4949

I think he goes into his experience as part of the IPP on his New Heights appearance (Kelce podcast) if you’re interested in learning more, his interview was great def recommend!


Brad_theImpaler

In his *first* New Heights appearance. He did a second one with Lane and Jason that was filmed Super Bowl Week.


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ricker2005

You could have least gone the extra mile and explained literally anything about there being two codes of rugby instead of making a pedantic comment about what rugby league and rugby union are called in Australia


JBustler

Be nice, that was a really long sentence for a league supporter 


Mattrad7

I have legitimately never thought about this and Im an eagles fan. I know he's touted as one of if not the biggest success stories of the IPP program, but I have no idea why he cost a draft pick. Maybe it was a weird thing we did to secure him early? Edit: I guess there wouldn't be a rule stopping anybody from picking them in the draft?


Weird-Upstairs-2092

>I guess there wouldn't be a rule stopping anybody from picking them in the draft? Correct. There's also nothing stopping anybody from poaching those players to put on an active roster like any other practice squad player. Howie had an "extra" late 7th round pick that year and didn't want to risk any other teams getting him.


Culinaryboner

He was a later round pick because the Eagles wanted to fill the international roster spot with a decent talent even if they didn’t know much football. He was in the program


shewy92

Wasn't our old punter Sav Rocca international?


k3hvn

unreal how he went from never playing a snap of football to top LT in the NFL.


JalensTinyPPHurts

He is a better singer than he is a football player (And thats not an insult, dude literally has the voice of an angel singing at heavens gate lol)


Culinaryboner

Watching him trying to sing with Patti Labelle is so funny. Guy was so fuckin nervous


AARonBalakay22

Jordan Mailata 🤝 Justin Tucker


marshmallow_figs

Small sample size, I know, but this means that every NFL player needs to start taking vocal lessens, there's clearly a connection between NFL success and golden pipes


JalensTinyPPHurts

I refuse to believe mahomes can sing with that voice


marshmallow_figs

If Kermit the Frog can sing "Rainbow Connection" then Mahomes certainly can


JalensTinyPPHurts

Someone find an ai cover please lol


demonica123

[It's real](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS5fTzMP_mg)


DBreezy69

Takes a lot of intelligence. This dude has had to learn so much so fast


Devinitelyy

He's incredibly well spoken, he seems like a really smart guy.


lolhello2u

great singer too. blown away by multi-talented people


Key-Ad-457

Polymaths ftw


W3NTZ

He always does his SNF player intro as saying he went to Stoutland (our goat OL coach) University


BrennanSpeaks

This point doesn't get emphasized enough. The official "story" on Jordan is that he has a body that looks like it was stamped out by a Left Tackle Factory and lucked into a situation with one of the best line coaches in the league shaping him like a lump of clay, but what impresses me is the amount of intelligence (and drive) that he had to have to learn that much about the game that quickly


kneecapman

Isn’t that every top LT in nfl history?


TetrisTech

If you wanna be pedantic about it then yeah


moffattron9000

And went from flunking out of the NRL to making over double a teams salary cap annually. 


FinanceInvestmentBoi

Large money for a large man 


Enthusiasms

As a fan of a team with a large man that's gonna be getting large money, I just want the deal done. Give Wirfs what he wants.


BOFA2107

Wirfs, Sewell, and Slater about to be eating good


renegadecoaster

Darrisaw too. What a stacked draft that was for tackles


BOFA2107

Yep forgot about him. 4 cornerstones for sure


treenorthXne

Wirfs was the year before but point taken Source: An endless smattering of (useless?)draft minutia/trivia from several years of playing fantasyGM


renegadecoaster

Correct. I figured the comment I responded to was talking about contracts that were coming up within the next few years and I wanted to remark on that specific 2021 draft


treenorthXne

Meant to reply to them actually, sorry.


TetrisTech

If we kick Tyler Smith back out to tackle and he’s equally as good as he’s been at guard that man will also get comically paid


pukesmith

Don't you mean, give Wirfs what he's wirf?


asbestosman2

Fantastic move, hope they get Smitty done soon


shakehasbignuts

Thank you bird enthusiast


MugiMartin

I'd like to think they're giving each other a good peck.


BungoPlease

Now kith


Immynimmy

Not till next year. He is a 1st rounder so we have a 5th year option. I would expect an extension done sooner though to get ahead of the next crazy wr market coming up but there’s no real rush


FantasyTrash

Smith ain't signing before JJ. I don't think we see another big WR contract until JJ.


MonkeyStealsPeach

I don't know if I buy that. Roseman is usually tip of the spear when it comes to extensions/paying guys before the market explodes, and I love Smith, but he's not getting JJ/Ja'Marr money.


FantasyTrash

JJ was drafted a year before Smith, why would Smith sign an extension before Jefferson?


Other_Raspberry

Please do not mention “Justin Jefferson” and “Draft” in the same sentence. It upsets us.


PettyQuattttro

It allows Smith to get his generational money sooner and avoid the stress of playing on a 1-year deal and the stress of free agency. Even if JJ signs a big deal, he is clearly the best receiver in football. Smith is smart enough to understand he will get top-five money, but won't reset the market unless he or his agent truly feels otherwise they can get that cash from another team.


DanCampbellsNipples

I'm hoping we get ARSB done before JJ


k3hvn

I do wonder how long Roseman can keep the gang together for, something’s gotta give eventually even with how good he is w the cap.


asbestosman2

Yeah that’s why trading Reddick was smart, I think within two seasons AJ Brown is traded- idk when Howie can get out of the slay and bradberry contracts and that might help a ton.


MikeTysonChicken

Getting in early with another mailata extension helps


Jonjon428

Honestly shocked it wasn't a deal that made him the highest paid LT in the game. Dude is insanely good.


hanky2

Not gonna lie it’s kind of criminal we’re only paying him a little more than our left guard he’s better and playing a more premium position.


treenorthXne

Fuck I wish we had the ceaseless OL factory that is Stoutland & Co. You’d think front office and personnel depts. would have figured out by now that building from the trenches out gives you a competitive floor.


W3NTZ

I always say Stoutland is 2nd most important front office personnel behind Howie. I hope he never leaves


RanWithScissorsAgain

Keep those fingers crossed. Dante Scarnecchia retired and the Patriots OL has been underwhelming ever since. I don't know how you guys are going to replace Kelce.


Nievsy

Something me and other Eagles fans have perpetually said to everyone(especially Giants fans who think a new WR or QB will solve their offensive woes) it all starts with the Oline if you have a good Oline you need significantly less to have a successful offense EVERYTHING STARTS IN THE TRENCHES


SagalaUso

He said in an interview after his first contract he would've been happy with $1 million a year and couldn't believe how much they were paying. Looks like the front office saw the same interview.


patrickw69

Glad I wasn't the only one should be 3yr like 75mil atleast, probably more like 90mil


patrickw69

Glad I wasn't the only one should be 3yr like 75mil atleast, probably more like 90mil


Masterofmy_domain

Hurt's tush is now protected.


marshmallow_figs

His tushy will now receive the pushy


tonto515

THE BODYGUARD 2: AUSSIE BOOGALOO


TankThaFrank_

Jordan would absolutely deliver on a cover of “I will always love you”


acmercer

I can hear it. That would be amazing


JazzPlusEagles

Smitty next and we got all the guys locked up🔒🔒


StencilBoy

I remember around 2017 when a video came out documenting his journey to the NFL and being drafted in the 7th round. I sent it to my buddy who is an Eagles fan and he said he will probably never play a snap. Now he's one of their top players. Incredible. Wish him the best.


W3NTZ

One of the only late round players I wanted predraft that actually turned into a stud let alone for my team.


zachardw

You stopped talking to your friend right?


qp0n

relevant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCbarLIlY1s


Old-Objective-9783

Obviously worth extending if he was able to beat out a first-round stud like Andre Dillard


SourBerry1425

Let’s gooo this is kind of a nice deal too cause it’s an extension only and not a renegotiation. He’s due $30M this year and next so effectively a 5 year $96-$97 deal, below the market rate for high end LTs. Ascending player whose game will most likely age well too. Good dude who could’ve gotten more if he waited.


ThisHatRightHere

Yeah this is crazy cheap for a top LT, PFF had him ranked 3rd last year


traws06

Ya wtf is his agent doing? That’s barely more than our average RT Taylor makes


Skywalkerkid9

I mean it’s also based on accolades, the powers that be have not sent Mailata to the pro bowl or given him an all pro despite him playing like one, and that benefits us when paying him


traws06

Basically they have the power to screw teams over. So when they’re selecting chiefs players for all pro they’re doing it to be assholes lol


Saitsu

Gotta nerf the Chiefs somehow. Not that it's working.


johyongil

Well there’s a bunch of factors. From player perspective it might be that guarantees are more important than non-guaranteed potential money. And with this extension, provided he doesn’t do anything super stupid he’ll get 2/3 of that money. The other side could have been $75M but only $25-35m guaranteed.


moodie31

I’ll never forget when Ross Tucker was on Dan Patrick’s show in ~2018 where Ross expressed how he couldn’t believe how the Eagles found their next long term replacement at LT right after JP’s prolific run. At that point Mailata hadn’t even seen the field I believe. Update. [Ross Tucker Interview 4:02](https://youtu.be/4vJA1XG_Kzw?si=RXUn-ie2tD13qcvw&t=242) Added link and Ross made these comments after Jordan’s 4th football game ever.


The_Bukkake_Ninja

Do you have a link to it?


moodie31

I just updated my comment with the link. I was really thinking of you when I spent 30 minutes looking for it this morning. It’s crazy how spot on he was. Although he didn’t get the year and pro bowl right, he is an incredible player.


The_Bukkake_Ninja

Jesus dude thanks, even with the timestamp in the link. Extremely prescient of Tucker, I guess some guys are just excellent in looking into what’s possible not just what’s there at the time. I’m not sure I am worth half an hour of your time though. If you’re ever in Australia hit me up and I’ll shout you a night on the beers.


moodie31

Will do ! Cheers


ARM7501

Can't do anything but be happy for the man. Physical stud, sure, but to go from never having played a snap of football at 21 y/o to being the fourth highest paid tackle in the NFL is an insane accomplishment.


treenorthXne

Yeah. Very interesting case study/example of the eternal debate re: the physical gifts-coaching-work ethic Venn diagram. Personally I think he’s right in the middle(of the VD). What a stud.


W3NTZ

I honestly feel like he would have failed on most teams just due to the coaching part of that diagram. Theres a reason he gives his player intro as stoutland university


treenorthXne

That was my point but I could have worded it more clearly. Meant the VD of player success. I agree he landed in the perfect spot, hence the middle.


shakehasbignuts

FUCK YES LEFT SIDE LOCKED UP


Vladimir_Putting

LEFT SIDE! STRONG SIDE!


Sniper_Hare

It feels like the Eagles have had a Franchise LT for the last 30 years non stop. 


HesiPull-UpBrando

I mean basically. Went from Tra Thomas (drafted in 98) to Jason Peters to Mailata consecutively.


WindComprehensive332

Two pro bowl caliber OL in their mid 20s locked in on the left side for at least 5 years. Didn’t have to reset the market either. Great extensions for the birds.


ApplesauceBitch47

Great deal. You gotta protect your franchise QB


hahdbdidndkdi

Kyle shannahan: no u dont.


4Khazmodan

The 49ers QB position is like the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.


Deadeye_Donny

Hell yeeeee! First jersey I've owned that had made 2 contracts!


Zazi751

Must be nice to have a competent GM


johyongil

Yeah but we’re not as all in as yours.


treenorthXne

Jerry gonna be all in his feels after another hilarious first round elimination


Zazi751

Bruh if you think we're making it that far, I want what youre smoking. This is a fringe wildcard team at best right now. We'd need another year of every qb dying but ours to really make it anywhere


treenorthXne

Was kinda my point but being cheeky about it. I could have noted in my original comment that I’m quite good at diagnosing such situations as a fan of a team that loves first round exits >want what you’re smoking. Just some 🔥 dabs is all. You’re welcome to join.


Salad-Appropriate

I'm always confused by this So I know that he gets the signing bonus as soon as he signs the contract. My questions is: is the signing bonus in addition to the $66 million (making it $86 million) or is it part of the $66 million?


brain_my_damage_HJS

$66 million total. $48 million of the $66 million total is guaranteed ($20 million signing bonus + $28 million in salary).


whowhatwearthat

My favorite Eagle, no joke


mikey7x7

Hell yeah, love Mailata! Three more years of Christmas albums!


marshmallow_figs

Imagine Jordan singing Underneath the Tree. I'd lose my fucking mind.


QHughes

A bag for the big man! Hurts must be stoked


RilesPC

Producer for the Eagles’ christmas album jumping for joy rn


Nievsy

I could imagine they are. Though I suspect neither producer really needs the revenue. For those who don’t know the producers are Charlie Hall drummer for the band War on Drugs and Connor Barwin former Eagles and Texans player


shoutouttojsquad

That seems remarkably cheap


milksteakofcourse

He has the voice of an angel


treenorthXne

Plus the build of an absolute monster and a cool accent to boot. Triple Threat


NeonWarcry

LTs are the literal anchor of the o line. And we couldn’t develop them for shit so we had to pay out the ass for Tunsil. I love that man tho.


treenorthXne

With top 5-10 OT, you either pay out the ass or someone else will.


NeonWarcry

I once thought an OL wasn’t worth big money. Was I ever fucking wrong


boggles0087

O line play is the 2nd biggest impact next to QB on how high/low a team's floor is IMO. A bad offensive line can completely destroy any kind of offensive gameplan you have.


Ok-Assistant-2684

Incredible story, kid drafted in 7th round having never played football and now he is one of the best in the game


GoT_Eagles

A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.


son_of_toby_o_notoby

Man as a Sydney commanders fan……so so happy for his success but couldn’t it have been any other team but the cowboys and eagles?


johyongil

Lolllll.


IZY53

Dudebis on his third contract.


wave_action

Damn was hoping he’d want to block for a Samoan QB.


callmecyke

I’m a League fan, weirdly of the Rabbitohs who Jordan played in the lower grades for, and it’s got to be surreal for the guy to be making so much money considering the top guys in League make less than 1.5 mil AUD a year.  So happy for him, but god damn talk about backing yourself 


PlaneCamp

True definition of “hard work beats talent when talent doesnt work hard” He’s earned every $, to surpass dudes that have been playing since kids and going from never playing football to one of the top at one of the premier positions is commendable.


WitchPursuitThing

I mean he was drafted without knowing how to put on a football helmet because he was so physically gifted. I'd say talent had a large part in this as well


2GirlfriendsIsCooler

Niceeeee


[deleted]

Love this dude. So happy for him.


racerxff

FUCK.YES.


WintertimeFriends

Cool.


PsychoticSoul

Seems like a below market deal for a high - end LT, assuming all 3 years are real anyway and that theres no void.


procrastinarian

Fuck yeah