More Whining from Westbrook

[Zanshin]

I don't understand all this talk about cap room...probably because I'm slightly retarded.  That said, just because there's money to be spent doesn't mean they have to go on a bonehead spending spree.  How much money they have under the cap has just about nothing to do with how much they should pay Westbrook.  What dictates that is what the market will look like for RBs next year...coming off of a year when Edge James and Shaun Alexander couldn't really get paid.  That's market value.  The Jordan deal was an abberation, not the standard, and he's a different back who has a different kind of role. 

That said, I'd still feel fine if they split the difference between where the team is now and what Westbrook wants.  Structure it in a way that makes him feel like a big man, and move on.

[Rome]

Anyway, Westbrook is clearly worth a shteinlode of money.  I'm not going to deny that.  He's a very valuable weapon in the offense because of his versatility, but to suggest that he should be paid "franchise back" type money is stupid because he's never shown the aptitude to be an everydown back nor does the Eagles offense revolve around an every down back like Tomlinson, Portis, etc.

The bottom line here is, the Eagles are a pass first, run second team.  That's why they pay the big money to Donovan and T.O. and not to the running backs in the system.  They've made what THEY consider to be a very fair contract offer to Westbrook.  He's free to accept it or play on the contract tender he signed.  How is that the Eagles front office's fault?

I honestly can't understand how the front office should be criticized for prioritizing positions in terms of payroll expenditures but the use of reason and logic don't seem to be requirements when bashing the front office.  In certain quarters, it's plainly obvious that the front office is being vindictive and cheap in not paying Westbrook whatever he asks for or for not renegotiating T.O.'s contract despite all evidence to the contrary.

[MadMarchHare]

What were the Birds offering that was so "offensive"?  5MM up front, maybe 1-2MM a year?  He won't be nearly as productive on half-2/3 of the teams out there as he will be in Philly, based on his skill set.  And those kind of numbers make a nice nest egg.  I sure wish I had the potential to earn a tenth of that, ever in my lifetime.

[SunMo]

Excuse me but do you have anything of substance to offer to this discussion?

Care to discuss the merits/shortcomings of Westbrook?

Because if not you're just jerking yourself off at everyone else's expense here.

wow, that's funny from the guy who feels the need to use curse words and call everyone moron because they disagree with him. 

where's your "substance"?

[PhillyPhreak54]

1. The Eagles offered more than the $7M signing bonus Jordan got (reports have it at $8M or $9M).

2. Westbrook's beef is with the money over the first three years. The Eagles offer was like $14M and Jordan got $17M+.

3. I see this is going to be a thread where the people who like to say "You're drinkin the green kool-aid because you love the front office" so I'm not even going to get into it much other than this post.

Westbrook deserves an extension. I want him signed because I feel he'd be a HUGE loss.

But what cracks me up is the folks who think that because he isn't signed now he's not going to be signed. Did I miss something? It ain't the off-season yet and it hasn't even hit the deadline to use this years cap money.

So those of you who think Banner is going to sit on that load of cap money are nuts. Just because they're not rushing to accomodate Westbrook when he cries poor doesn't mean they're not going to sign him.

They must sign him. I believe they will sign him.

And I wish Westbrook would shut the farg up. I'm tired of all of these public contract squabbles. It's getting old.

[rjs246]

where's your "substance"?

Anyway, Westbrook is clearly worth a shteinlode of money. I'm not going to deny that. He's a very valuable weapon in the offense because of his versatility, but to suggest that he should be paid "franchise back" type money is stupid because he's never shown the aptitude to be an everydown back nor does the Eagles offense revolve around an every down back like Tomlinson, Portis, etc.

The bottom line here is, the Eagles are a pass first, run second team. That's why they pay the big money to Donovan and T.O. and not to the running backs in the system. They've made what THEY consider to be a very fair contract offer to Westbrook. He's free to accept it or play on the contract tender he signed. How is that the Eagles front office's fault?

I honestly can't understand how the front office should be criticized for prioritizing positions in terms of payroll expenditures but the use of reason and logic don't seem to be requirements when bashing the front office. In certain quarters, it's plainly obvious that the front office is being vindictive and cheap in not paying Westbrook whatever he asks for or for not renegotiating T.O.'s contract despite all evidence to the contrary.

[bobbyinlondon]

What were the Birds offering that was so "offensive"?  5MM up front, maybe 1-2MM a year?  He won't be nearly as productive on half-2/3 of the teams out there as he will be in Philly, based on his skill set.  And those kind of numbers make a nice nest egg.  I sure wish I had the potential to earn a tenth of that, ever in my lifetime.

9M  up front, 13M over the first 3 years. He wants more than 17M over the first three.

[rjs246]

And I wish Westbrook would shut the farg up. I'm tired of all of these public contract squabbles. It's getting old.

good. Someone else gets it.

[SunMo]

They must sign him.

the truth emerges.

I believe they will sign him

i don't know, we've seen this movie before, and the ending isn't good.  unless you like when the player who leaves comes back because the team hasn't replaced him since he left.

[bobbyinlondon]

it's called market value

Teams had a chance to pay him MARKET VALUE during the time he was a RFA. What is the difference in paying a back MARKET VALUE who has 3 years experience in the NFL and giving that team their 1st round pick, or maybe a 2nd AND 3rd round pick as compensation, or drafting a complete unknown and lavishing millions on them? Right now, Miami and Chicago are looking foolish for drafting Brown and Benson as their holdouts have apparently retarded their growth. Various media outlets are saying JJ Arrington is already displaying a complete lack of wanting to take punishment--I guess my question for all of those who think Westbrook deserves millions more than the Eagles want to pay him, is WHY DIDN'T THESE TEAMS SIGN HIM WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE?

[SunMo]

it's called market value

Teams had a chance to pay him MARKET VALUE during the time he was a RFA. What is the difference in paying a back MARKET VALUE who has 3 years experience in the NFL and giving that team their 1st round pick, or maybe a 2nd AND 3rd round pick as compensation, or drafting a complete unknown and lavishing millions on them? Right now, Miami and Chicago are looking foolish for drafting Brown and Benson as their holdouts have apparently retarded their growth. Various media outlets are saying JJ Arrington is already displaying a complete lack of wanting to take punishment--I guess my question for all of those who think Westbrook deserves millions more than the Eagles want to pay him, is WHY DIDN'T THESE TEAMS SIGN HIM WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE?

name me ONE restricted free agent that changed teams this year

[MadMarchHare]

it's called market value

Teams had a chance to pay him MARKET VALUE during the time he was a RFA. What is the difference in paying a back MARKET VALUE who has 3 years experience in the NFL and giving that team their 1st round pick, or maybe a 2nd AND 3rd round pick as compensation, or drafting a complete unknown and lavishing millions on them? Right now, Miami and Chicago are looking foolish for drafting Brown and Benson as their holdouts have apparently retarded their growth. Various media outlets are saying JJ Arrington is already displaying a complete lack of wanting to take punishment--I guess my question for all of those who think Westbrook deserves millions more than the Eagles want to pay him, is WHY DIDN'T THESE TEAMS SIGN HIM WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE?

Yeah, but Tampa looks brilliant for drafting Brown's backup.

[PhillyPhreak54]

They must sign him.

the truth emerges.

I believe they will sign him

i don't know, we've seen this movie before, and the ending isn't good.  unless you like when the player who leaves comes back because the team hasn't replaced him since he left.

I know the Birds FO are some hardasses, but they're not dumb. They know they need Westbrook and what his presence gives that offense.

And Mr. Franchise is publicly saying how great he is to the team. They listen to Donovan.

[Larry]

Westbrook is complaining now because his worst fear is no deal will get done and he'll get the franchise tagged slapped on him next year, which, I believe, is the most likely scenario.

[bobbyinlondon]

Anyway, Westbrook is clearly worth a shteinlode of money.  I'm not going to deny that.  He's a very valuable weapon in the offense because of his versatility, but to suggest that he should be paid "franchise back" type money is stupid because he's never shown the aptitude to be an everydown back nor does the Eagles offense revolve around an every down back like Tomlinson, Portis, etc.

The bottom line here is, the Eagles are a pass first, run second team.  That's why they pay the big money to Donovan and T.O. and not to the running backs in the system.  They've made what THEY consider to be a very fair contract offer to Westbrook.  He's free to accept it or play on the contract tender he signed.  How is that the Eagles front office's fault?

I honestly can't understand how the front office should be criticized for prioritizing positions in terms of payroll expenditures but the use of reason and logic don't seem to be requirements when bashing the front office.  In certain quarters, it's plainly obvious that the front office is being vindictive and cheap in not paying Westbrook whatever he asks for or for not renegotiating T.O.'s contract despite all evidence to the contrary.

Exactly. the Eagles establish how much they'll pay each position. Their positions of importance--or where they'll invest the most money: QB, WR, OL, DE, CB.  As we have all noted, LB and RB in this system will not garner a whole lot of money. In some of his comments he made earlier, it sounded  as if Westy was trying to make up for the money that he lost by being a 3rd round pick. But his injury history in college is what made him a 3rd round pick.