Q. RB Darren Sproles, who is not here today, has he missed all voluntary workouts and why?

DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, he has. He and I are in direct communication. We have been talking all offseason and I have no issues with Darren. I fully expect him to be here for the mandatory camp. But again, this is a voluntary program, so I can't fault him for [not] being here.

Q. There was a report that there were trade offers for Sproles at the draft. Is that true?

DOUG PEDERSON: No. We had no decisions to do that whatsoever. I want Darren Sproles on this football team; we want him on this football team; he's a big part of this football team, and that's where we're at.

Q. Is he unhappy here in any way?

DOUG PEDERSON: No, not at all.

Q. Does he want to be traded?

DOUG PEDERSON: No, [he] does not.

Q. Where was CB Nolan Carroll?

DOUG PEDERSON: Nolan Carroll was out there. He actually went through individual and group install and then we took him in for just a normal procedure just to keep rehabbing and keep the conditioning going. But he's fine.

Q. Have you talked to DT Fletcher Cox at all?

DOUG PEDERSON: I have not talked to him. I have reached out a couple times, but that's between he and his agent. Obviously we want him here. I want him here. But again, it's part of the offseason, like we've talked about.

Q. What is the reason behind Sproles' absence?

DOUG PEDERSON: I think where he is in his career, I've been there before, too, where sometimes you want that break. I know with him and his family being apart during the season, this is a time for him to really spend quality time with the family, and he knows what it takes to get himself ready to go and I fully expect him to be here in a couple weeks.

Q. Since QB Sam Bradford's return, what has the relationship been like?

DOUG PEDERSON: You know what, it's been great. I've actually talked to Sam since he's been back and I've told him my feelings haven't changed. He's my guy. He's the No. 1 guy. I just want him to embrace that, and let's not look backward, but look forward.

Q. K Cody Parkey, didn't see him running today, is this a --

DOUG PEDERSON: Just part of the process, just part of the maintenance. Obviously you saw during the teams period they were working on the punts and things like that. But it's part of his rehab and this is not the time to really go full-go on that, and we'll probably wait down the line more in the training camp.

Q. What about LB Jordan Hicks? You told us he'd be ready for OTAs.

DOUG PEDERSON: Jordan's got a little tightness right now, so it's a maintenance thing – nothing severe with him at all. Just want to be precautionary more than anything. I told Jordan, 'Listen, now is not the time to test it. Let's make sure you're ready to go.'

Q. Shoulder?

DOUG PEDERSON: It's actually in his legs, yeah, his legs.

Q. Did Carroll have an injury today?

DOUG PEDERSON: No, not today. It's just part of his rehab. It's part of the doctor's protocol. He's not ready to necessarily get cut loose in team drills. It's all individual on-air stuff with him, and JaCorey Shepherd is in the same situation.

Q. Has there been any thought to opening up the starting quarterback job, a position battle between Bradford and QB Carson Wentz?

DOUG PEDERSON: Sam is still the starter. Carson has a long way to go with this system. He's learning every day, but Sam's the guy.

Q. Is Wentz going to get the reps that a No. 3 quarterback gets or is there a different program?

DOUG PEDERSON: It's probably going to be a few more reps. I don't know if you counted reps today but in all the scripted team periods it was equal, so all three quarterbacks got the same amount. I'm not sure what the last period was – it was unscripted – but it was probably pretty similar. And that's the way we're going to approach the offseason.

Q. Is there a negative to that, to splitting up the reps equally?

DOUG PEDERSON: This time of the year, no. All three of these guys are smart guys, they are sharp guys. I don't have any issues with dividing it up three ways. I know once we get later into camp, we need to get our starter, Sam, we need to give him more reps, but right now I'm not concerned with that.

Q. How far would you say QB Chase Daniel's advantage is in the offensive system?

DOUG PEDERSON: Well, he's been in it for three years and he knows the intricacies and details, things that Sam and Carson are learning. I saw some great things today with Sam, especially in that last period – just natural, instinctive things that he's capable of doing. So it just comes with time. It's a new system, new terminology and not a concern whatsoever.

Q. How has Daniel been with the other guys in terms of helping them along?

DOUG PEDERSON: He's been good. Again, he's been sort of that coach on the field for me, for [offensive coordinator] Frank [Reich], and he's been able to coach up receivers, quarterbacks, especially the younger guys that are working with him, the Smallwoods and guys like that. It's great having him on the field to be that coach.

Q. What do you expect from Bradford when it comes to Wentz? How do you expect him to be? Do you expect him to try to help the kid or do you think that's a lot to ask?

DOUG PEDERSON: I expect Sam not to look over his shoulder. I expect Sam to look forward. He's getting himself ready for the season. He's getting ready for Cleveland. That's what I expect from Sam.

Q. Is that the message you gave him?

DOUG PEDERSON: That is the message I gave him. No need to look over your shoulder. You're the guy. Let's embrace it and let's go.

Q. What about helping Wentz along?

DOUG PEDERSON: Well, today was the first day, and there wasn't a lot of – it's hard when you're on the football field. Of course, I'm standing in the middle, so I don't know necessarily what's going on on the sideline. But as this thing goes, again, both those guys are learning the system for the first time. It's just a matter of each one getting themselves ready.

Q. Can you take us through how it went with Bradford coming back in the building and you had not talked to him while he was away, and then he comes back, does he seek you out? Do you guys have a meeting? What's been said? Does he address the team?

DOUG PEDERSON: Sam comes back, I think his teammates really did a great job of just welcoming him back, embracing him. I said all along that I'd welcome him back, worked well. Of course last week it was a little different because Carson [Wentz] wasn't in until later in the week, so really, this is going to be our first full week with the two, and really the three guys together.

I expect it to be a great room. Sam came back, he was ready to go. He was eager to go. You know, it showed today, the motivation that he has.

Q. How do you ultimately look now – did Bradford prove a point? Did you learn something?

DOUG PEDERSON: You know, it's – I'm okay. I understand the situation. I understand. I go back to 1999: I was brought here by Andy Reid to do a job and [the Eagles] drafted Donovan McNabb, so I understand the situation. I get the feelings. I get the emotions.

But at the same time we're professionals about it and I've told Sam all along and I've told you guys all along that he's my guy. I'm not looking back over my shoulder, and the message to him was the same thing.

Q. There's obviously speculation in this town, so what is your plan for Wentz? Bradford is your guy, but everybody speculates, 'When is Carson Wentz going to play?' What is your plan?

DOUG PEDERSON: My plan is to keep developing Carson. Again: Sam, Chase [Daniel], Carson. Carson has a lot to learn, not only from just the playbook, but just how to be a professional quarterback, how to handle the media, how to handle Philadelphia, his teammates, get to know his teammates. There's a lot involved, and that's the beauty of having two veteran guys in front of Carson Wentz. That's the plan. Keep developing Carson and keep developing Chase and get Sam ready to go for opening day.

Q. I know you're the head coach, I know you played in the league, but what makes you the right guy to develop those guys?

DOUG PEDERSON: I just think, one, my experience of being around great quarterbacks – Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Jim McMahon – guys that I've had the experience to rub shoulders [with] and see how those guys operate on and off the football field. I think that's first and foremost. I think having 17, 18 games to actually start in this league and to understand what it means to stand in front of the media, to stand in front of your teammates, to lead your teammates, as a player.

I think those are important. Those are things that you can sort of build with a young quarterback. And then on top of that, just my experience as a coach, being able to study the tape and study offense and study technique and where to put my eyes and where to drop and how to – it's one of the things I loved out there today, a chance for me and Carson [Wentz], when he was down there with the tight ends and running backs, teach him how to slow his drop down, how to be methodical about it. Things like that are things that I've learned being in the league now 21, 22 years, those are things you learn to appreciate and then you can pour it into a young quarterback. And it's not just him I'm doing that with. I'm also doing that with Sam [Bradford] and I'm going to continue to do that with Chase [Daniel]. But those are things that I think from an experience standpoint that I can pour into Carson.

Q. What did you specifically learn from Andy Reid about how to handle the big picture, being a coach in your rookie year with a rookie quarterback?

DOUG PEDERSON: It goes back to 'lean on your gut instincts.' Lean on the things that you were taught as a player. Lean on your experiences. My whole professional career as a coach has been with Coach Reid, so seeing how he operates, seeing how he handled Donovan McNabb, seeing how he handled Alex Smith in Kansas City.

You're more than a coach – you're observing and you're watching just like players are observing and watching. I think all of that together has given me an opportunity here with a guy like Carson [Wentz] and all three of those guys, to really teach them the ropes and the bigger picture of how to handle the locker room and how to handle the media. Bottom line is just be yourself and go have fun.

Q. In '99, starting with the Tampa game, Week 2, about every other week, he would give you two or three series. Do you envision a scenario in which you do that with Wentz this year?

DOUG PEDERSON: That's hard to say when I got Chase Daniel sitting there.

Q. Is left guard Allen Barbre's job to lose at this point or will you rotate that throughout spring?

DOUG PEDERSON: Right now it is Allen Barbre's job, and I think again that's something we did through the draft and a little bit of free agency is to kind of shore up that spot.

I really like where we're at. I like the depth at that position right now. But yeah, Allen Barbre is my guy and he's our starter.

Q. Being here with G Isaac Seumalo, drafting him, not being here, really kind of affect his chances?

DOUG PEDERSON: I tell you what, one thing I notice about Isaac is how sharp he is during that rookie camp we just had. He's a smart guy.

And the one thing, the beauty of the thing, too, in the off-season is we still as coaches get to communicate with the guys that are not here. We can teach Isaac and we can get him caught up and really spend the Byron Marshalls and get those guys caught up so they are not missing too much time.

Q. You said the locker room welcomed Bradford back with open arms. Did you talk to any of the guys that are leaders on this team about making sure that happened?

DOUG PEDERSON: I did not.

Q. Do you sense that the locker room has welcomed him back with open arms?

DOUG PEDERSON: My sense is that they have, yes.

Q. You've said Bradford is your guy. Would it worry you that he had the tag of a player who didn't want to have to compete for his job?

DOUG PEDERSON: You know what, as professionals, it is our job. It is his job. I know he's going to embrace it. That's the type of guy he is. So I have no doubt in my mind that he is going to be my guy and he's going to be starting against Cleveland day one. We're not looking back over our shoulder.

Q. How is Wentz taking the plan?

DOUG PEDERSON: Good. He's a great guy. He's willing to learn. He wants to learn and he's just getting better every day.

Q. What have you seen out of RB Wendell Smallwood so far?

DOUG PEDERSON: Here is a guy I think can be explosive, has shown some explosiveness. I really like the fact how he catches the football out of the backfield. I think that is something that is just a gift that he has. He's a natural, a natural pass catcher. I like that part of him. Pretty good vision.

Again, he's another one of those rookies that's learning the game. I think today was a good lesson for him to be out there exposed to the bigger picture of everything. But I really like where he's headed and the direction we can take him.

Q. Bradford decision to ask for a trade and sit out when Wentz was drafted doesn't necessarily speak to a guy who is looking for competition. What did he say coming back to kind of explain his actions as to why he chose the path that he did when he made that move?

DOUG PEDERSON: He didn't have to explain anything to me. You know, again, it's just he knew where I stood, and I think that's enough said. He knew exactly how I felt and how I approached it and I just told him when he came back that nothing's changed.

Q. Are you comfortable with his explanation?

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, and again, those are A-B conversations and private conversations that he and I are going to continue to have. But I'm very comfortable [with] where he's at, yeah.

Q. What have you seen from Wentz over the last couple days?

DOUG PEDERSON: Very smart. Intelligent guy. Picked up our system, even though it was a little bit watered down for rookie camp. We had no-huddle issues with him, meaning he's just spitting the plays out. As a quarterback, this offense can be a little wordy there. [He] did a nice job with that.

I think he sees the field extremely well. Big, tall guy, good arm, athletic. Some of the RPO plays during camp this past weekend, you saw some of the explosiveness, and he's accustomed to that and he'll fit in. The more [he is] exposed to it, he'll get a lot more comfortable.

And he's a leader, too. He's a guy that you could see it a little bit today. He's clapping, he's cheering, he's rallying the guys. If a guy makes a mistake, he's like, 'Let's get it again.' And that's the type of guy Carson is.