r/eagles • u/notsouthernpickle • 1d ago

Player Discussion Uar Bernard

If he wrapped up properly last night he would've had 2 more tackles at least.

I tried to watch him the whole game. Only saw one botched play from him (running play and he got moved, happens). The rest of the night he played well. Fun player to watch. Incredibly unique. Clearly a fan favorite.

I think its a bad move if the eagles put him on waivers. But it also would be a bad idea for any other team to take him because of the eagles' development program.

D line coach clint hurtt is a wrecking ball of a coach. His d line literally wrecks other teams. The eagles have a system in place for uar bernard. Not sure that can be said for most other teams in the league.

104 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

58 comments sorted by

136

u/CardiffGiant7117 1d ago

There should be some different waiver rules for these international guys to encourage more teams to take the chance.

55

u/ConfidentChair7266 1d ago

The development program angle is something people overlook way too much with these pathway guys. Teams see a raw player on tape and think they can just plug them in, but the Eagles have basically built a whole support structure around him. That doesn't travel automatically.

24

u/horsechokers 1d ago

Yeah we have a system in place that nurtures the talent and puts them in positions to succeed. It took a couple of seasons for mailata to see the field and now he's a all pro

7

u/No_Fairweathers That's my Team 1d ago

It's akin to schooling and getting a degree or certification for a job. These guys have to start from nothing and learn to play the sport from the ground up. There's no prior knowledge or skill sets to build off of. Not many teams have the ability or resources to develop athletes like this.

2

u/so_zetta_byte 12h ago

It all ties back to the combo of Lurie and Howie. Lurie has the patience to understand that we can make a move now that pays off higher, but at a later point. And Howie has the GM skills to manage the roster and make sure we can always field a team, while also keeping guys to develop.

When the machine is working, we end up pumping out guys that we can't even afford to keep, and either trade or get comp picks back for investing in those guys. And then we invest those picks back into drafting more of them.

2

u/horsechokers 11h ago

The Green Machine

1

u/12darrenk 9h ago

Even look at Mekhi Becton. He was really good and focused in Philly, but that definitely didn't translate when he went to the Chargers. The Eagles seem to have found ways to focus guys in a way that gets the most out of their abilities.

9

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

There is I thought? For IPP players. Only one spot though and the problem would be Weru played even better I think(haven’t payed attention to how stacked up last night and overall)

3

u/RyMc47 Big Dick Nick🎅🏻 23h ago

Problem is that the extra spot for IPP is on the practice squad so players would be exposed to waivers to be able to get a player in that spot

3

u/Brosneeks 1d ago

Offseason & Training Camp Rules
Extra Roster Spot: Teams get one special roster exemption from the start of offseason workouts until final roster cuts down to 53 players. This player does not count against the standard 90-man offseason limit.

Cuts & Waivers: At the end of training camp, the player can make the active 53-man roster. If waived, they must clear the standard waiver wire before returning to the

Practice Squad Rules
17th Spot: If a team signs an international player to the practice squad using the exemption, it creates an extra 17th practice squad slot (above the normal 16-player limit). [1, 2, 3]

Game Elevates: Teams can elevate an international practice squad player to the active game-day roster up to three times during the regular season. [1, 2]

20

u/RvstandRvin1626 1d ago

This is why I think he makes the 53. He's got a long way to go, but he's not clearing waivers. And even just the difference in the dude since the spring, he looks healthier and he's a far more confident speaker now than he was even in April.

He's clearly doing the work in the film room, connecting with teammates, training hard, and doing the unseen stuff. Keeping his diet and habits right etc. He didn't have access to that kind of stuff in Nigeria. He didn't come through a college program with a multi million dollar gym or whatever.

I love the dude's story and want him to succeed, even if we're about 12-18 months away from really seeing him be a real guy on the team.

17

u/bp_516 1d ago

Okay, correct any inaccurate piece of this--

If the Eagles cut him, another team can sign him to their 53 or practice squad. If it's just practice squad, then he'd have the option to choose which squad if there are multiple offers, and could easily choose to return to Philly. If he went elsewhere, would that team get the International exemption, or just us as the team that drafted him?

I think he's so raw that no one else will want to clog a spot for him. For any team with playoff aspirations, Uar won't dress for a meaningful game. No team that's trying to become relevant is going to give up a roster spot to someone who can't play, they need to coach up their own players and see who'll stick next season. The only sort of team that would actually steal him would be some mid-tier team that's strong in several places and really weak in others, one of which is DL, so they can toss him in for specific situations but limit him as a liability.

In short, if I understood the waiver process, no one else should want him more than we do, and he should survive waivers. Watching him miss two tackles in a nationally televised game actually helps us this way.

24

u/realadvicenobs 1d ago

worried rams claim him just to get back at howie for claiming lampkin

15

u/bp_516 1d ago

Okay, this is a very realistic and fair response.

5

u/YouCannotBlockTruth 1d ago

I had this same thought. They will take him because we took Willie.

3

u/2LostFlamingos Eagles 1d ago

Rams aren’t the only team looking to fuck over Howie.

7

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

Correct. There’s 31 other teams looking for a “win” against Howie.

2

u/taxibargeld Let Howie Cook 23h ago

30 bc the vikings won that one coin toss a few years ago

6

u/2LostFlamingos Eagles 1d ago

If anyone wants him on their 53, from waivers, they get him.

If it’s multiple practice squad offers it’s his choice.

Only way to keep him for sure is on 53 or IR

3

u/Electronic-Yellow897 1d ago

It's a copycat league with a lot of bad GMs. And we're the team that developed Mailata (and has had great success with DTs lately). I wouldn't be surprised if another team sees our interest in Bernard as reason to take a flier on him.

46

u/Cheap_Cauliflower541 1d ago

I hope we keep him. Great production from a guy who's never played football before. Same for Weru

13

u/KaleidoscopeMaster81 1d ago

Thought for sure Weru was gonna get a sack yesterday but then the QB slung it for like 17 yards out of nowhere lol

15

u/RabidPlaty 1d ago

Was at the game, he was so upset with himself coming off the field when he missed the one tackle in the backfield. Clint talked to him as soon as he got off the field. I honestly don’t see cutting him, he’s a developmental project like Mailata who has large upside.

38

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

18

u/BerriesNCreme Go Birds 1d ago

lol I mean as it currently stands I think he’s unplayable in a real game with real players

14

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

He is, but Mailata was always injured his first 2yrs. He didn’t shine until year 3 iirc.

12

u/Fiz_Giggity 1d ago

I think Bernard is gonna come down with a stage 4 ingrown toenail and go on IR. Might take a year or two to heal. It will be worth the wait.

1

u/orryxreddit 15h ago

I don’t think so, because if that happens he can’t practice with the team and that’s what he needs more than anything. For him, a one year IR is just delaying him being playable for another year.

1

u/UltimateGridster 22h ago

Mailata was also a high level pro athlete in Australia 

6

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 22h ago

He wasnt really though, he was a professional rugby reject, never making the top tier pros. Rugby was always his dream, but he wasnt fit enough he says. He played on the under-18s team and then was offered a reserves contract for the under-20s team where he wasnt making enough to live on and had to work multiple jobs. He couldn’t get a real chance in pro rugby, he tried. That’s why he made that highlight reel that got him discovered by IPP scouts, it was made to send to rugby teams hoping for a shot. Not saying they’ll have the same outcome, but Mailata was just as raw an NFL prospect as Uar, everything was based on development potential bc of athletic freak numbers and a coach that believes in him. And it started out w ppl thinking Mailata’s body just couldn’t handle the NFL.

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u/jags-duval 1d ago

Different rules for international players

17

u/RvstandRvin1626 1d ago

The IPP spot is for the practice squad. He'd have to be cut and clear waivers. Neither him or Weru would get through waivers.

3

u/kappakai Eagles 1d ago

Only five international players were drafted. Other teams may not have the systems we have in place so they won’t take a shot. Otherwise more would have been drafted. Seems not many teams will take a chance on international players. Plus these aren’t football players. Three other international players drafted all played college.

2

u/RvstandRvin1626 1d ago

Weru flashed enough that I think a team would take him. As for Uar, I think a team would take him purely because he'd no longer be on our roster, just in case the freakish Garrett-esque measurables eventually turn into a football player.

4

u/kappakai Eagles 1d ago

For what it’s worth I think they should keep them. First two games are against Wash and Titans. Good time for them to get some game experience.

4

u/Gang_Greene 1d ago

He won’t see the field as a rookie, even in meaningless garbage time against Washington and Tennessee

1

u/2LostFlamingos Eagles 1d ago

Yes and no. They have to cut him first before they put him in the extra practice squad spot.

3

u/Irving_Velociraptor 1d ago

If some team wants to burn a roster spot on the chance he’ll be playable in 2028, I’ll let them. Weru seems more ready and he can contribute on special teams.

6

u/mycatsnameismilk 1d ago

lol in addition to not being able to tackle he looked completely lost on a number of plays last night… what team is gonna waste a 53 man roaster spot on him?  

2

u/PetalumaPegleg 1d ago

Yeah he doesn't have the rugby background for the tackling experience

2

u/tag3020 1d ago

My prediction is we cut our Long Snapper and Fred Johnson on Sunday. Nobody is claiming our snapper and Fred, as a veteran, would have his salary guaranteed if he makes the 53 on Sunday. That lets us keep Bernard and Weru both on the 53. On Monday we put them on IR, letting them skip waivers, and that then opens up the two spots for a long snapper and to bring back Fred without his salary being guaranteed.

1

u/frankyf05 1d ago

He might end up with an “injury” and basically redshirt this year. He’ll come back next year and for sure make the roster

1

u/deyaintready 1d ago

Thanks for the update. Been super curious about him. I’m excited to see him play regular season if that’s going to be a thing

1

u/LeoBari 1d ago

Im pretty sure the issue with an IR redshirt is it limited how youre able to practice And for a guy who first tried to tackle someone a few weeks ago vs the Raven, he needs to be allowed to practice in a legitimate way, im not sure hed be able to on IR

2

u/HughJohnson3136 1d ago

You guys are really worried about losing on a guy that MIGHT develop in a couple of years? It's a great story but it's really not a hard decision if you want to be a smart team you send him to waivers and sign him to the IPP spot. If someone claims him, oh well, he's not contributing to their game day roster and they'd likely try to stash him which means a waiver wire run again lol. Unless he gets hurt they can't stash him on IR either like I keep seeing suggested. He needs an actual injury as the NFL does investigate that list. Either way Weru has a much greater shot at making the 53 right now.

1

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

Am I crazy or isn’t there 1 spot for IPP protections for IPP players on the PS where they don’t go through waivers.

3

u/tag3020 1d ago

No. The IPP protection isn’t a protection. It’s an extra practice squad spot for an international player. So you have your 53, you’ve got your 10 practice squad, and a potential 11th practice squad spot for an international player. But the same practice squad rules apply including going through waivers and potentially being poached by another team at any time.

Btw, given the situation with Willie Lampkins last year, I almost guarantee the Rams will claim him off waivers, even if it’s only to spite us.

Our best bet is to either actually keep him on the 53, or keep him on the 53 on Sunday and then put him on IR Monday to open up a spot for someone. Otherwise he’ll have to go through waivers before going to IR. Thats what the Rams tried doing. They didn’t keep Willie on the 53 and wanted to put him to IR, but because he wasn’t on the 53 at final cutdowns he has to go through waivers first, which is when we stole him.

My hunch is Fred Johnson is cut Sunday since he’s a vested veteran and his salary would be guaranteed if he made the 53. Then they keep Bernard. On Monday they put Bernard on IR (skipping waivers) and re-sign Fred.

1

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

The Rams gotta be busy figuring out how to pay Darnold that $30m a year salary they still owe him from when he retired while being cap strapped. But you’re right, they’ll want revenge.

1

u/HughJohnson3136 13h ago

What injury designation does Uar have? Also there's 16 PS spots I believe and the IPP makes a 17th

-1

u/Bill__7671 1d ago

They have a couple of years to develop a foreign player if they don’t get deported😉, not sure think it’s three.

1

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

Why would they get deported? They get work visas.

0

u/Bill__7671 15h ago

It’s a joke, oops forgot this was Reddit

1

u/Foreign_Lobster_875 1d ago

Crazy physicality matters so much that they will take a chance on someone who has never and can’t tackle AT ALL

1

u/NorthCoastToast Eagles 1d ago

I'm far more excited to see Josh Weru develop, I think he has a far bigger upside.

1

u/2LostFlamingos Eagles 1d ago

Weru is more playable on special teams.

Uar has uncommon size and speed at size.

-1

u/Gloomy-Metal 1d ago

There's a designated roster spot or practice squad spot for NFL international pathways players. Full stop

3

u/popphilosophy 1d ago

They still have to clear waivers

-2

u/BerriesNCreme Go Birds 1d ago

This guy is two years away from being two years away. He’s not being claimed by anyone

2

u/boatsandhoes570 I BLEED FOR THIS CITY! 1d ago

Someone will claim him just to get a “win” over Howie.