Eagles release Simon

[Sgt PSN]

Hang onto it.  Maybe Kearse switches back to his old number.  Then all you gotta do is safety pin some new letters on the back and done!!

Actually thats a great idea.  I'll just throw some duct tape on the back and write Kearse on it.  That's a real Philly jersey.

I did that last year with my Ricky Watters jersey. I wrote "M. Lewis" on white fabric tape using a green Sharpie.

Damn.  That's ghetto. 

[JTrotter Fan]

I'll feel bad for all the people with #93 Kearse jersey's if he takes back his old #90.

[PhillyGirl]

I'll feel bad for all the people with #93 Kearse jersey's if he takes back his old #90.

shtein, MURP has a Simon jersey. He's going to end up with a Kearse #90 and I'll be shtein out of luck.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

This is seriously déjà vu.  So many people went to TOWN on the Eagles' front office for letting Trotter loose of the franchise tag without getting anything in return.  After only a couple of years, it was proved that Trotter has over-valued himself, and he came back with his tail between his legs.  Simon didn't know how good he had it here and how fair the $5.1 million was, so he decided to do his usual sitting-on-his-ass-as-long-as-possible routine.  Problem for him is that the DT's that actually showed are playing great, and they are in better shape (except for Marshall, probably), and they are cheaper.  So, he's not worth $5.1 million in real money in 2005.

I don't understand how anyone who watches every Eagles game closely could think that Simon can't be replaced fairly easily.  He disappears for whole games, and it's not only when he's double-teamed or up against good offensive lines.  His talent is top-notch, but his conditioning is sub-par.

I have an "innate ability" to point out whiners that like to see themselves post.  Sun_Mo and IGY are those guys.

i love how you resort to personal attacks when you can't combat with facts and reason

See above bolded comments, which I will explain for those of you that weren't paying attention below.

Facts:

1.  Simon has not shown a propensity to keep himself in "football shape".  Last season, he peaked in the middle of the season after warming up into shape and disappeared into the playoffs as his poor conditioning caught up with him.

2.  Keeping Simon on the team would mean telling Darwin Walker, Hollis Thomas, Mike Patterson, or Sam Rayburn that they aren't deserving to be on the team's regular DT rotation (the 5th DT is inactive).  All 4 have given reasons in this pre-season and/or in previous seasons to prove they are worthy of playing time.

3.  $5.1 million is a lot of cap money for one year and a lot of real money for a player that will likely only be in football shape for no more than slightly over half the season.  Frankly, unlike some others, I would even consider contending that putting that money in Lurie's pocket and not using it for anything else would be a BETTER use for it.  But with that said, I'm sure the Eagles will use a good chunk of it as a signing bonus (in roster bonus form) for a more deserving player... likely Westbrook and/or Akers and/or Michael Lewis.

[Tomahawk]

Could the Eagles have made him do anything?  The guy refused to sign the franchise tender and I'm guessing would have held out into the season. The only thing they could have done was offer him more money than he's worth.


he absolutely would have come in and played...thats not even an issue...and the fact that you bring up the possibility that he wouldnt have shows that you like me are not very comfortable with this move

I'm not really uncomfortable with the the move either.  The more above average to good players a team has, the better off they are, but the Eagles do benefit from depth at this position.

The only problem I ever had with Simon is he only played hard when he wanted to a la Randy Moss. As good as he's been, he wasn't showing the consistent effort that everybody fortunate to be in the NFL should.

GET DARRELL RUSSELL!!!!!

[Sgt PSN]

Nice post Fred.  Let's give the money to TO.  At least he showed up to camp on time and in shape. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The only problem I ever had with Simon is he only played hard when he wanted to a la Randy Moss. As good as he's been, he wasn't showing the consistent effort that everybody fortunate to be in the NFL should.

**DING, DING, DING!!**

Anyone who thinks otherwise does not watch enough games or does not pay enough close attention when they do.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Nice post Fred.  Let's give the money to TO.  At least he showed up to camp on time and in shape. 

T.O. is more deserving some of that money than is Simon.


He shouldn't and won't see any of it, but he makes a difference in every game and in mostly every play in which he is on the field.  T.O. is an outright superstar and difference-maker.  Simon is not.

[phattymatty]

I don't understand how anyone doesn't get the fact that Carlos is going to get the extra money.

[hunt]

yay...giving simon away for nothing is pure genius.  great move.

[PhillyGirl]

yay...giving simon away for nothing is pure genius.  great move.

Sign Westbrook, extend Lewis....if/when those 2 things happen, will that still be nothing?

[Cerevant]

you have a pro-bowl calibur DT for one more year, in a year that is supposed to be a balls-out super bowl run, this is TO's last year, you are putting all your effort into this year.  and you release a starting DT?  yeah, that's a great move.

EXACTLY

As has been pointed out, the Eagles never go "balls-out".  They play one game at a time.

First, it's funny that some are so willing to beat up on Simon

its sickening actually..."fat piece of shtein" "bad guy" ect...corey has been nothing but class thru this whole thing and his comments yesterday after being released were more of the same...you kool aiders should be ashamed

Let's take a look at his stellar career - his stats have declined every year since his rookie campaign.  He held out last year and "got off to a slow start (he didn't register a full sack until Week 12) after showing up out of shape. " (NFL.com).  His stats for the year are almost identical to Sam Rayburn - Simon had a half sack and 4 more tackles than him.  Anyone calling Rayburn a Pro Bowler?

Still, the Eagles franchise him, offering more money this season than any sane team would, yet he still holds out because he believes the Eagles don't see his true value.  Of course, teams willing to trade for him aren't willing to pay what he thinks he's worth either...

Westbrook was an ass for holding out.  It gained him nothing, and extended the time it would take to get his extension negotiated.  Now he is doing the right thing, and he'll get his pay day if he isn't too in love with himself.

As for TO - I've said before that the Eagles must make an example of him, or the concept of a contract goes right out the window.  Don't like your contract?  Want to be a free agent?  Just go whine to the press.  No, the Eagles have put their foot down, and it will end here.

C

[Wingspan]

yay...giving simon away for nothing is pure genius.  great move.

Sign Westbrook, extend Lewis....if/when those 2 things happen, will that still be nothing?

technically yes. because there werent any really telling signs that the eagles would not have been able to do both even if simon was still here.

you can even go as far to say that the cap management armor took a hit in thhat they needed to cut ties with simon in order to sign westbrook and lewis.

[phattymatty]

I am amazed at how many of you people think that every player should just keep their mouth shut and accept whatever a team is willing to give him.

You wouldn't be mad if a co-worker who was much less important to your company got paid more?  Well NFL players are in a position where they can try to get more, where most of us can't do that as easily.

I don't think Corey deserves what he was asking for either, but I don't blame anyone for trying. 

[PhillyGirl]

yay...giving simon away for nothing is pure genius.  great move.

Sign Westbrook, extend Lewis....if/when those 2 things happen, will that still be nothing?

technically yes. because there werent any really telling signs that the eagles would not have been able to do both even if simon was still here.

you can even go as far to say that the cap management armor took a hit in thhat they needed to cut ties with simon in order to sign westbrook and lewis.

Well, keep in mind the talks about possibly signing a vet WR and/or RB. Those are things they didn't think they were going to need until recently.