Birds looking to extend contracts...

[DH]

Westbrook, MLewis, Rod Hood, DA, and The Bullet...

Does anyone else think releasing that fat slob last week will help us for years to come? 


Eagles working on long-term contracts
Saturday, September 03, 2005
By MARK ECKEL
Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - With over $12 million of salary-cap space, the Eagles' front office is busy trying to extend the contracts of some of its younger players whose contracts have two or fewer years remaining.

Sources close to the Eagles revealed the team is in talks on a long-term deals for Pro Bowl safety Mike Lewis, nickel cornerback Rod Hood, starting weakside linebacker Keith Adams, and, as first reported in The Times, kicker David Akers. Of course, the team has been and still is trying to get a long-term deal done with running back Brian Westbrook.

Also, don't be surprised if quarterback Donovan McNabb is not in line for a new deal soon, even though his current pact runs through the 2010 season.

Lewis, who was voted to his first Pro Bowl last year, has two years remaining on his five-year rookie contract. He will earn $455,000 this year and $545,000 next year. The team attempted to get a new deal done with him last year when they extended the contracts of his draftmates Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, but Lewis resisted. It was probably a smart move on his part, because his play warranted him an even bigger payday now.

Hood, an undrafted free agent who has exceeded all expectations and has become a very good nickel back, is in the final year of his contract and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He will earn the minimum $380,000 this year. If a new deal is not worked out, the Eagles can simply tender him during the offseason. But the team would rather avoid that mess and get him to sign a long-term deal now. The team might also be forced to give him at least the middle tender, since he was undrafted; the low tender would result in no compensation. There are more than a few teams in the league where Hood would be a starting cornerback and demand starting money.

Adams has played on one-year deals each of the past two seasons. He was a restricted free agent in 2004 and signed the team's one-year tender of $565,000. This year, as an unrestricted free agent, he visited a few places, but signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Eagles which included a $400,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $600,000.

Akers' saga has been well-documented. He has three years remaining on his current contract, but ranks in the middle of the league among highest-paid kickers.

Westbrook, who held out at the start of training camp, is currently playing for the one-year restricted tender of $1.43 million. The team has offered a long-term deal with a nice signing bonus, but he wants more money in the first three years than the team is willing to pay.

Now, with more cap space after the release of defensive tackle Corey Simon, the team could offer roster bonuses instead of signing bonuses. The difference is the roster bonus counts entirely against this year's cap, while a signing bonus gets prorated over the life of the contract.

Other Eagles players whose contracts expire at the end of this season include defensive ends N.D. Kalu and Hugh Douglas, fullback Jon Ritchie, tackle Jon Runyan and punter Dirk Johnson.

[Sgt PSN]

Was it Phreak who said that the Eagles might be looking at getting a deal done with Hood?  Whoever said it, nice call. 

[Drunkmasterflex]

If they extend all of those contracts before the season is out I would want to have Banner's man babies.

[Eagles 3x]

Also, don't be surprised if quarterback Donovan McNabb is not in line for a new deal soon, even though his current pact runs through the 2010 season

Oh boy, here we go again. The only sentence in this whole article that TO will see.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Was it Phreak who said that the Eagles might be looking at getting a deal done with Hood?  Whoever said it, nice call. 

Yup

But I'm glad to see Keith Adams' name on there. If they sign Adams long term and he's back next year it would be the first year under Reid/JJ that we've had the same trio at LB in back to back years.

[Sgt PSN]

Was it Phreak who said that the Eagles might be looking at getting a deal done with Hood?  Whoever said it, nice call. 

Yup

But I'm glad to see Keith Adams' name on there. If they sign Adams long term and he's back next year it would be the first year under Reid/JJ that we've had the same trio at LB in back to back years.

Yeah, you didn't predict the Adams extension did ya?  You suck. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

 

I'm just worried because Ms. Kevin Johnson and I are on the same page here.

[DH]

How come Michael Gasperson's name isnt on that list?

[Diomedes]

How come Michael Gasperson's name isnt on that list?

Because he sucks?  Because he's been on the team for all of what, a day?

No but seriously, you're joking, right?

[DH]

How come Michael Gasperson's name isnt on that list?

Because he sucks?  Because he's been on the team for all of what, a day?

No but seriously, you're joking, right?

No, I was serious. Very, very serious. Seriously.

[Diomedes]

Gasperson just got cut.  Hope you'll be alright, Die-Hard

[hunt]

i'd kinda like to see how adams does this season before offering him more $$$...the rest are no brainers, except maybe hood...but he'll come cheap so it makes sense.

[MURP]

what else were they going to do with the money, sit on it?   Obviously they are gonna resign some guys just as last year.

[Rome]

what else were they going to do with the money, sit on it?   Obviously they are gonna resign some guys just as last year.

They could always offer to lower ticket prices a bit.

[MURP]

ha!