Dolphins' Byron Maxwell admits being 'petty' in return to Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Byron Maxwell’s return to The City of Brotherly Love did not go as planned.

The former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins last year, struggled in a joint practice against his old squad. However that didn’t stop Maxwell from admitting that he still thinks about his time in Philly and uses the experience as motivation.

“I would be lying if I told you I don't want to do better than the Eagles,” he said. “I do. I want to win more games than them. I want to prove them wrong.”

The Eagles dealt Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso to Miami 17 months ago in order to climb from 13th to eighth in the 2016 draft, a moved that later allowed Philadelphia to complete a deal with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the second overall pick, which was used to select quarterback Carson Wentz.

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During Chip Kelly's regime, the Eagles originally signed Maxwell in March 2015 to a six-year, $63 million contract, one he struggled to justify on the field.

Maxwell did not speak with any current coaches on the Philadelphia staff before or after Monday's practice.

“You can call it petty," Maxwell said. "I don't know what it is, but that's what I do. That's how I feel. Realistically, I know what it is, but I still want to do better than my old team. When they get rid of you, you do better.”

He did not do better Monday, allowing three touchdowns during drills, two to new Philadelphia receiver against Torrey Smith. 

Alonso was far more laid back.

“Given the year we had, I wasn't that surprised,” Alonso said of Philadelphia’s 7-9 campaign in 2015, which resulted in the firing of Kelly. “I didn't really get caught up in that. I was just like: ‘I go with the flow. They traded me.’

"I was like: 'All right, going to Miami.' "

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