But Mathews had a year remaining on his contract. Releasing him while injured would cost the team more than $1.1 million, the money coming directly off the Eagles' meager cap space. So the decision was to wait for Mathews to pass a physical, at which point he could be released. He'll still count $1 million in dead cap money this year, but the Eagles won't be paying him; the only thing affected will be the cap space. If and when he passes the physical.