LJ Smith quote on negotiating with Eagles

[General_Failure]

Rae Carruth?

[Wingspan]

 

[PhillyPhreak54]

Shiancoe, Visanthe...formerly of the New York Giants of the NFC. Now with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFC. $7M guaranteed US dollars for a TE who caught practically no footballs.

[Sgt PSN]

And yet we've got people like Chuggie, who catches balls on his chin all day long and get's paid absolutely nothing.  What a crazy world we live in.

[ice grillin you]

This whole "change-one-part-of-a-name-to-sound-insulting" has gotten so stupid...I don't even know who the hell you are referring too there.

now that his real name has been revealed i still dont know who it is

[Feva]

I'm too lazy to go dig it up, but LJ had some interesting quotes in the papers today about his contract. He mentioned how bums like Shank-a-ho got paid big money for doing nothing.

Say goodbye to Littlejohn after 2007; say hello to Schoboat and Celek in 2008

Here's the article...

Smith, who caught 50 passes for 611 yards and five touchdowns last season, noted that it has been an offseason in which even "very average tight ends got paid."

"I look at a guy like Visanthe Shiancoe from the Giants," Smith said. Shiancoe signed a reported 5-year, $18.2 million free-agent contract with the Vikings. "Even he got $7 million guaranteed. I think he's caught like 20 balls in 4 years [actually 35 balls]. The market's definitely changed."

[methdeez]

This whole "change-one-part-of-a-name-to-sound-insulting" has gotten so stupid...I don't even know who the hell you are referring too there.

now that his real name has been revealed i still dont know who it is

That's becuase you don't actually like football. You just like to argue.

[ice grillin you]

That's becuase you don't actually like football. You just like to argue.

[Seabiscuit36]

.J. Smith hopes for big payday
Coming off surgery, tight end knows Eagles time may end
By GEOFF MOSHER, The News Journal

Posted Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Jeremy Bloom carries the ball Tuesday during Eagles training camp at Lehigh University. It was the first official day of full-squad workouts. (Buy photo)

The News Journal/SHANNON LEE ZIRKLE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- It had an uncomfortable feel about it, the red mesh jersey covering L.J. Smith's upper body.

Red is reserved for the Eagles players excused from taking hits in practice, usually quarterbacks.

Ducking contact never has been Smith's style.

"It felt kind of corny, man, it did," Smith said. "I think Coach [Andy Reid] was just trying to protect me for right now. So he knows that right now, it's all about timing, getting a rhythm, and I can do that without getting blown up."

Smith missed most of the minicamps after having surgery May 27 to repair a sports hernia. On Tuesday, the first official day of full-squad practice at Lehigh University, the tight end estimated himself to be 85 percent recovered, with some slight roadblocks.

"I felt kind of clumsy, but my feet didn't feel real good," he said, adding that it's nothing a couple weeks of two-a-days can't cure. "I don't know exactly how much I'm going to be doing, but it feels good to be out here."

Smith might not be fond of the red pinafore, but he could use an adjustment to wearing new colors. He might be wearing them sooner than he'd like.

About five months have passed since his agent, Brian Mackler, and Eagles management last discussed a contract extension for the fifth-year tight end.

At the moment, Smith can't say he's optimistic about his future with the Eagles. Much like the situation Michael Lewis faced last year, when the strong safety couldn't work out an extension in the final year of his contract, Smith is resigned to the fact that he'll probably walk the same path.

Except he won't necessarily follow in Lewis' footsteps. Unlike Lewis, who Smith said couldn't separate business from personal, Smith said he sees the bigger picture.

"I think he took it a little personal," Smith said. "Everybody handles things differently. Mike was my example of what not to do. I think if he would have had somebody in his position go through it that he was close to, he probably would have reacted a little differently."
Can this contract situation work itself out?

"Maybe. I'm not going to say yes or no but maybe, and hopefully, it'll work out for the better," Smith said. "Like I've said all the time, I want to be here, but it's a numbers game sometimes, and it's something I definitely understand.

"The way the league is now, guys are getting paid and guys are getting overpaid, so to speak. The market is changing every time someone gets a new deal, pretty much. Those are things I have to consider. Every guy just wants a fair market value. Like I said, and like Coach asked, I don't want to sit here and discuss everything, but that's all any guy wants, is fair market value."

Smith said he's "definitely top 10" among NFL tight ends, though he ranked 12th last year with 611 receiving yards. His NFC East counterparts -- the Giants' Jeremy Shockey, Washington's Chris Cooley and Dallas' Jason Witten -- each had more receptions and yards.

Still, Smith figures he'll command top dollar if he gets to free agency, which is why it's in his best interests to stay committed to playing hard every snap.

"It's different for everybody. You've got to handle the situation the best way you can," said middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, no stranger to contract disputes with the Eagles.

Trotter left the nest after the 2001 season for rival Washington.

After two disappointing seasons that led to his release, Trotter came back to Philadelphia.

"I think if each individual just tried their best to concentrate on football, ... there's a time to worry about that," he said. "You take care of that after the season, if that's the case."

For now, Smith considers the upcoming season a series of 16 auditions, but he won't put too much pressure on himself.

"I feel like every time I step on the practice field I have to prove myself, and that's what the league is about, proving yourself every practice and every Sunday, definitely more so on Sundays," he said. "But it feels good to go out there and audition. I mean, why not? I'm going to wind up where I'm supposed to."

Contact Geoff Mosher at gemosher@delawareonline.com.

SCHEDULE

TODAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2:45


THURSDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2:45


FRIDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2:45


SATURDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2


SUNDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2:45


MONDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2


TUESDAY: Workouts at 8:15 and 2:45


Autograph sessions


All autograph sessions are held following the morning practice. Numbered tickets will be handed out to fans as they enter training camp.


TODAY: Offensive line


THURSDAY: Quarterbacks, tight ends, specialists


FRIDAY: Defensive backs, running backs


SATURDAY: Wide receivers


SUNDAY: Offensive line


MONDAY: Defensive line, linebackers

[PhillyPhreak54]

I'd be curious to see (ahem...ED!!) who the FA TEs are for this upcoming off-season. We already know that position is getting huge money for small production now, but I am curious as to who the other guys out there are.

The TE position is important to this offense. So they better take it easy on him in camp and make sure he's ready to roll week 1. Because Schobel, Vickers and Kyle Hunt strike fear into exactly no one. Schobel is a good complimentary guy, but thats it.

[Rome]

I think Smith walks after the season and the Eagles draft a tight end early - either first or second round - next year.

[Philly Crew]

I think Smith walks after the season and the Eagles draft a tight end early - either first or second round - next year.

I don't.  Since Reid was able to turn Chad Lewis into a pro-bowl TE, he probably thinks he can do the same with Schobel and Celek.

[SD_Eagle5]

Shame there weren't any good tight end prospects around like Greg Olsen when we picked

[Philly Crew]

I'd be curious to see (ahem...ED!!) who the FA TEs are for this upcoming off-season. We already know that position is getting huge money for small production now, but I am curious as to who the other guys out there are.

The TE position is important to this offense. So they better take it easy on him in camp and make sure he's ready to roll week 1. Because Schobel, Vickers and Kyle Hunt strike fear into exactly no one. Schobel is a good complimentary guy, but thats it.

Per KFFL:

TE - Dallas Clark - Colts
TE - Chris Cooley - taterskins
TE - Ben Troupe - Titans

I wouldn't mind Dallas Clark or Cooley, but once again, I think Reid will want to see what Schobel and Celek can do.

[Rome]

Shame there weren't any good tight end prospects around like Greg Olsen when we picked

Ugh - don't remind me.  I couldn't believe they didn't take him at 26.  He was right farging there too.