Predict The Date/Time That Westbrook Receives His Contract Extension.

[SunMo]

it's not about what the players do elsewhere, it's about how they are replaced on this team.  they never replaced Trotter until they got.... oh wait, Trotter.

Actually it is. Trotter was a product of the system. Nothing more. he left and sucked. We went just as far without him. The team didn't miss a beat. A horrible example. Keep trying....you might nail one.

so if player X is a pro-bowler in your system, leaves because of a money dispute and players Y and Z are not even close to as good in your system, that's not a personel mistake?

[General_Failure]

"And Trotter jumps on the pile 6 yards downfield for another assisted tackle. What a great play!"

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Trotter is also a better and smarter player now than he was in his first stint with the Eagles.

Trying to learn Marvin Lewis's defense and having to fight to get his starting spot back both taught him quite a lot.

i agree.  there's no doubt that he didn't play as well in DC.  but while the FO was patting themselves on the back, Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardener, and then Simoneau were getting abused.

That's true.....but did it affect the outcome of the season? Was there a dropoff of overall team performance from losing Trotter?

[SunMo]

That's true.....but did it affect the outcome of the season? Was there a dropoff of overall team performance from losing Trotter?

overall team performance?  no.  defensive performance?  I say yes.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

it's not about what the players do elsewhere, it's about how they are replaced on this team.  they never replaced Trotter until they got.... oh wait, Trotter.

Actually it is. Trotter was a product of the system. Nothing more. he left and sucked. We went just as far without him. The team didn't miss a beat. A horrible example. Keep trying....you might nail one.

so if player X is a pro-bowler in your system, leaves because of a money dispute and players Y and Z are not even close to as good in your system, that's not a personel mistake?

It's a mistake only if it will cripple the teams chances the equaling or bettering their performance. The FO and Coaches didn't feel Trotter leaving would....and guess what? It didn't.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

That's true.....but did it affect the outcome of the season? Was there a dropoff of overall team performance from losing Trotter?

overall team performance?  no.  defensive performance?  I say yes.

Overall team performance > Defensive performance

[phattymatty]

Maybe they can stash the money they're going to save from Wetbrook and hide it under the bed with the 5 mil they saved by letting Corey go. 

Interest rates are great right now.  No use in putting it towards locking up some guys long term.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

i was on board.  i thought maybe they should've kept Vincent for the nickel but other than that i was ok with Taylor and Vincent.

i thought Hugh was a small mistake, but obviously was wrong on that.  the one thing about that is that he is another player they didn't replace the following year.  they had to wait an extra year until they got Kearse.  but Hugh did nothing in Jacksonville, so that's a win for FO.

i still think they should've kept Corey for the franchise tender, but only time will see how that plays out.

So, there's no doubt you tend to lean to siding against the front office when they decide to allow a popular, productive player seek greener pastures.  The problem with that is they will continue to prove you wrong a lot more often than you get the last laugh.  When I'm unsure, I would bet on this FO anytime.

That said, I still believe allowing negotiations with Westbrook to deteriorate to this extent is a mistake.  Westbrook also made a huge mistake by reinforcing his distaste with the negotiations publicly, unless his goal is to make sure he hits the open market, and he doesn't want to be tempted to re-sign.

I personally feel the Eagles are high on Lamar Gordon's future and would have taken him in 2002 if he were still on the board in the 3rd round, and not Brian Westbrook.  Westbrook may have been there in the 4th, because other teams' scouting departments had written him off as a small school guy with a blown knee.  The Eagles like what they've seen from Moats so far, so that only reduces the reason for them to cave and overpay Brian Westbrook.

He got frustrated with them, and he went public to shut off negotiations.  It's definitely his fault for doing that, but it's the Eagles fault for allowing a key contributor to their team to get that frustrated without more of an explanation.

[ice grillin you]

That's true.....but did it affect the outcome of the season? Was there a dropoff of overall team performance from losing Trotter?

it was a huge factor in losing the nfc championship...so yeah id say it affected the season

theres nothing wrong with letting people walk...if you have something to replace them with...in trotters case they let him walk and had no plan b...this is also wny i oppose the simon release

as for overall mistakes not getting a #1 wide receiver before TO was a huge mistake...that single handedly wasted two seasons of possible superbowl wins...very comparable to clarke never getting a goalie and wasting lindros years...tho andy must also get credit for bringing in TO...

[rjs246]

Whatever. We all agree on just about everything here:
1. Trotter is a system player, the team didn't drop off when he left, he fits with us, we fit with him. Fine.
2. Westbrook is awesome for our offense.
3. The front office has never and probably will never overpay for a player that they feel they can replace.

The end. Yeesh.

[SunMo]

That's true.....but did it affect the outcome of the season? Was there a dropoff of overall team performance from losing Trotter?

overall team performance?  no.  defensive performance?  I say yes.

Overall team performance > Defensive performance

they gave up 27 points to Tampa in the NFCCG, Jurevicioius over the middle anybody?

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Don't know why I feel the need to explain it again, but I am all for Westbrook getting he is due. I am just not for Westbrook getting what he feels he is due.

[SunMo]

Don't know why I feel the need to explain it again, but I am all for Westbrook getting he is due. I am just not for Westbrook getting what he feels he is due.

obviously, that's where the dispute is.

and i think he is worth Edge, Preist, LT money.... to this team

[SD_Eagle5]

Didn't see this posted, yet.

WESTBROOK BREAKS HIS SILENCE 




September 8, 2005
By BOB KENT


Starting tailback Brian Westbrook broke his silence Thursday, saying that he was "disappointed" that he and his agent have not been able to hammer out a long-term contract with Eagles management.
And though he says his camp is "no longer interested in talking to them (Eagles' front office) as far as the contract situation goes," Westbrook said that doesn't mean this is his last season in Philadelphia.


RB Brian Westbrook 
"I'm not saying that," said Westbrook, in his first remarks to the media since June. "At this point, until the Eagles feel as though they can give me a proposal that really shows that they want me to stay here, our contract talks are no longer."

Westbrook is currently playing under a one-year tender and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Westbrook said his camp has told the Eagles' brass that they are "no longer interested in talking to them as far as the contract situation goes because we don't feel as though we've received a proposal from them that really represents the value that I bring to this team."

Westbrook's contract situation is just another chaper in what has been a wild and whacky pre-season that has included the Terrell Owens soap opera as well as the Jerome McDougle shooting.

Prior to Thursday, Westbrook believed it was in his best interest to remain tight-lipped and let the contract negotiations go on behind closed doors. But

"I'm not angry; I'm diappointed," Westbrook said. "From my side, it feels as though I'm not being appreciated. I think everybody notices what I bring to this team; but at the same, the Eagles management have not stepped up to the plate and said, 'since you bring this, that and the other to the table, here's your reward for that."

[rjs246]

obviously, that's where the dispute is.

and i think he is worth Edge, Preist, LT money.... to this team

Priest and LT average tons of yards and tons of TDs a year. They are elite players in the league, not just good players on their team. Comparing Westbrook to them is laughable.