Westbrook fires agent Fletcher Smith

[shorebird]

Every fantasy ranking I've seen has Bwest third behind LT and Peterson for the top picks. When or if he gets paid by the Eagles, he should break the bank. If I were his agent, I'd start with a 10 mil signing bonus.

[ice grillin you]

good story on the contract situation...lots of good quotes and interesting points...doesnt sound too promising to me...westbrook is dropping the name of ladainian and we know the eagles arent paying a guy about to turn 30 anywhere close to that amount

Game On
By Bob Brookover

Inquirer Staff Writer

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Brian Westbrook, dressed in blue jeans and gray leather cowboy boots, stood casually next to his brown gelding Jo Jo on July 11. The Eagles' star running back was in the place where he goes to escape from the rugged life of professional football and his own thoughts of a contract extension he covets from the team that employs him.
"I try to take my mind off the game out here," Westbrook said as he combed his 10-year-old horse's pitch-black mane. "I try to get away from the contract talk."

An invited visitor to Westbrook's bucolic horse farm, which sits 30 minutes and a world away from the nation's capital, made it impossible for the running back to forget about football and his contract on this hot afternoon. Training camp starts tomorrow, with rookies and assorted veterans set to report to Lehigh University. Westbrook and the remaining veterans are scheduled to arrive Thursday afternoon.

After providing a lengthy explanation of how the man who provides the horsepower for the Eagles' offense got interested in owning and boarding horses, the subject of Westbrook's contract was raised. It was a hot-button topic for the running back just a few days before he fired agent Fletcher Smith.

"The contract thing is a sour point for me because when you deserve something you deserve something," Westbrook said. "What's right is right, and what's fair is fair."

A new contract, accompanied by a lucrative signing bonus, is what Westbrook said he and his former agent sought from the Eagles this entire off-season.

"I tried to get this thing done in the middle of last year," he said. "I tried to get it done from January until now. It still hasn't gotten done."


Eagles don't disagree
Westbrook is in the third season of a five-year deal he signed in 2005. He is scheduled to make a $3 million base salary and receive a $1.5 million roster bonus this season. He will be paid $3.5 million in 2009 and $4.5 million in 2010.
An Eagles source said the team does not disagree with Westbrook on the premise that the remaining three years of his contract are beneath his market value. The source said it was the Eagles who approached Smith and Westbrook about a contract extension, but the running back wanted to restructure his current deal instead. The Eagles, according to the source, agreed that they would attempt to rework the running back's current contract.

The Eagles said they made a fair offer to Westbrook and maintain that Smith also believed it was a reasonable deal. Smith has not returned phone calls since the news broke that he is no longer the running back's agent, and Westbrook also has not been available for comment.

It's obvious that Westbrook wasn't satisfied with the Eagles' offer, which is why he is hiring a new agent.

John Rickert of All Pro Sports and Entertainment said he still had not heard from Westbrook as of yesterday afternoon. One league source thought Rickert was the leading candidate to replace Smith.

Another league source said Todd France and Joel Segal are candidates for the job. Howard Shatsky, who was with the firm that negotiated Westbrook's rookie contract, has remained close with the running back, but he appears to be a long shot for the job. Shatsky, who formerly worked with Tony Agnone's Eastern Athletic Services, now works for ProStar Sports Agency.

"To me, it comes down to whether the team respects you," Westbrook said. "I look at it in dollars and cents. If you think you have a coach who is doing a great job, you pay him - the same way they did with Andy Reid a couple of years ago and the same way with [vice president of player personnel] Howie Roseman a few months ago. They respected him. They saw what he was doing, and they moved him up in the organization, and they paid him. I see that happening in the organization, and I wouldn't see why it wasn't happening with me as well."


Leadership counts
Westbrook mapped out a long list of reasons why he feels he should be better compensated for his services.
"My play on the field, I think that has spoke for itself. . . . But off the field, who are these young guys coming to for leadership?" Westbrook said. "Who did [rookie wide receiver] DeSean Jackson call just the other day wanting to know what to do about A, B and C? Who are Lorenzo Booker and Tony Hunt looking at to teach them? My leadership aspect on this team doesn't lie. What the coaches ask me to do for this team on the field and off the field, they can't lie about that, either."

Westbrook's final point about his contract is that if the Eagles gave him an extension, it would provide incentive for his teammates.

"Players see you getting compensated and that makes them want to go bust their butt," Westbrook said. "Nobody is going to quit on this team, but if you know you're going to be compensated, you might give that little extra. That's natural."


Works its way up
Exactly what it would take to execute a new deal between Westbrook and the Eagles isn't known, but the star running back did give a hint of what he's seeking as he stood on his horse farm 10 days ago.
"If LaDainian [Tomlinson] got paid $25 million guaranteed in 2003 and now it's 2008, the next person needs to be paid $30 million guaranteed," Westbrook said. "It works its way up. You can't sit here and say, 'I'm as good as LaDainian right now, and I'm getting paid five years after him. . . . So I'll take $15 million.' That doesn't make any sense."

Tomlinson, perceived by most people to be the best running back in the NFL, signed an eight-year, $60 million extension with the San Diego Chargers in 2004 when he was 25 years old. Westbrook will turn 29 five days before the Eagles' season opener against the St. Louis Rams, and the blue-book value on running backs works a lot like automobiles: the longer you drive them the less they are worth.

When that point was raised, Westbrook said he has a lot of good years left in his legs because he's not the kind of running back who is constantly being pounded by opposing defenders.

"Look at a guy like Eddie George," Westbrook said. "He was a big, bruising back who was done after six or seven years. That's not my style. There's no doubt in my mind that I can be great for this team for years to come, and I'm not saying that to get a contract."

In four days, Westbrook is scheduled to report to training camp to begin his seventh NFL season. Even with a new agent, it appears likely that he will report and continue to work on a new deal with the team.

[General_Failure]

If you're going to drop names of people coming to you asking for help, maybe you should drop a name that can be credited with some kind of success.

[PhillyPhreak54]

The source said it was the Eagles who approached Smith and Westbrook about a contract extension, but the running back wanted to restructure his current deal instead. The Eagles, according to the source, agreed that they would attempt to rework the running back's current contract.

The Eagles said they made a fair offer to Westbrook and maintain that Smith also believed it was a reasonable deal. Smith has not returned phone calls since the news broke that he is no longer the running back's agent, and Westbrook also has not been available for comment.

I like that the Eagles initiated it. But I don't like that what they and the ex-agent deemed fair was angering enough to Westbrook to fire the guy. That is a bad sign because it means he's shooting for the huge numbers.

But that's neither here nor there; the fact is the team has to make it work. They have to get it done and keep Westbrook happy.

On the same side, Westbrook has to be careful not to sound too "me, me, me" which I think he does when he talks about guys calling him. He's on point with everything else, but don't get too crazy Brian. We know you need to get paid.

[PhillyPhreak54]

For some reason I have a hard time imagining him wearing cowboy boots.

[ice grillin you]

The source said it was the Eagles who approached Smith and Westbrook about a contract extension, but the running back wanted to restructure his current deal instead. The Eagles, according to the source, agreed that they would attempt to rework the running back's current contract.

The Eagles said they made a fair offer to Westbrook and maintain that Smith also believed it was a reasonable deal. Smith has not returned phone calls since the news broke that he is no longer the running back's agent, and Westbrook also has not been available for comment.

I like that the Eagles initiated it. But I don't like that what they and the ex-agent deemed fair was angering enough to Westbrook to fire the guy. That is a bad sign because it means he's shooting for the huge numbers.

how do you know the eagles initiated it?...the eagles have not gone on record...the fact that all you get here is a "source" from their side means that banner (or one of his minions) told the reporter he would give him information but only if a name wasnt attached...so naturally the info they give is completely favorable to them...whether you agree with westbrook or not at least he is coming out and being upfront about what he wants

[PhillyPhreak54]

The source said it was the Eagles who approached Smith and Westbrook about a contract extension, but the running back wanted to restructure his current deal instead. The Eagles, according to the source, agreed that they would attempt to rework the running back's current contract.

The Eagles said they made a fair offer to Westbrook and maintain that Smith also believed it was a reasonable deal. Smith has not returned phone calls since the news broke that he is no longer the running back's agent, and Westbrook also has not been available for comment.

I like that the Eagles initiated it. But I don't like that what they and the ex-agent deemed fair was angering enough to Westbrook to fire the guy. That is a bad sign because it means he's shooting for the huge numbers.

how do you know the eagles initiated it?...the eagles have not gone on record...the fact that all you get here is a "source" from their side means that banner (or one of his minions) told the reporter he would give him information but only if a name wasnt attached...so naturally the info they give is completely favorable to them...whether you agree with westbrook or not at least he is coming out and being upfront about what he wants

You're right, I don't know for sure and I am only going off of this source.

I do like Westbrook coming out and saying whats up. But I don't want to see him get too crazy with it. The teammate thing went overboard a little, I think.

State your case, do what you have to do to get it done and see what happens.

Perhaps he should have canned his agent during the off-season if he didn't like the way it was going then.

But I think we are all in agreement that they should pay him and get the deal done to have no problems going into this season.

[ice grillin you]

im certainly not a capologist but i do know that even after the eagles sign all their draft picks they will be more than 15 mil over the cap...is there any reason why they couldnt give westbrook a 15 mil sb and not prorate any of it...that way they protect themselves as westbrook gets into his thirties since he would only be on the books for his base salary

[SD_Eagle5]

I know they have to leave a few million open so they can write ridiculous performance clauses that certain players will never achieve. That's one of the loopholes Banner exposed to free up cap space for the following season.  But the rest of the money goes unspent, so give it to Westbrook. Not only would they be making their best player happy, they'd also be showing the rest of the team they'll be rewarded for outperforming their deal (if they actually deserve it).

[Eagaholic]

im certainly not a capologist but i do know that even after the eagles sign all their draft picks they will be more than 15 mil over the cap...is there any reason why they couldnt give westbrook a 15 mil sb and not prorate any of it...that way they protect themselves as westbrook gets into his thirties since he would only be on the books for his base salary

$15 million under the cap sounds like alot, but they probably want to keep much of that and try to re-sign a young player or two like Bunkley or Bradley to a 100 year extension, keep a few million for FA signings (maybe rolled over into next via LTBEs etc. as SD said), and keep at least a couple million in reserve through out the season. Giving it all as a big roster bonus up front now would would eat into this, and if there is a good chance of an uncapped year, better to give a big lump sum then and lock up the young guys now.

[ice grillin you]

$15 million under the cap sounds like alot, but they probably want to keep much of that and try to re-sign a young player or two like Bunkley or Bradley to a 100 year extension, keep a few million for FA signings (maybe rolled over into next via LTBEs etc. as SD said), and keep at least a couple million in reserve through out the season. Giving it all as a big roster bonus up front now would would eat into this, and if there is a good chance of an uncapped year, better to give a big lump sum then and lock up the young guys now.

after your picks are signed 15 mil under the cap IS a lot

and i disagree about the young players....id much rather give it to your best player whos earned it....if you wanna keep a few mil for a rainy day i can understand that...but what young players are even deserving of a re up...its not like this team is stocked with talent...who would you give the money to over westbrook

[Eagaholic]

$15 million under the cap sounds like alot, but they probably want to keep much of that and try to re-sign a young player or two like Bunkley or Bradley to a 100 year extension, keep a few million for FA signings (maybe rolled over into next via LTBEs etc. as SD said), and keep at least a couple million in reserve through out the season. Giving it all as a big roster bonus up front now would would eat into this, and if there is a good chance of an uncapped year, better to give a big lump sum then and lock up the young guys now.

after your picks are signed 15 mil under the cap IS a lot

and i disagree about the young players....id much rather give it to your best player whos earned it....if you wanna keep a few mil for a rainy day i can understand that...but what young players are even deserving of a re up...its not like this team is stocked with talent...who would you give the money to over westbrook

I'm just saying what the Eagles philosophy is  - build through the draft, entice promising but not yet proven young guys with long term deals and good signing bonuses but low yearly salaries, and save wads of cash so you can go after an Asante Samuel for $60 million and a Randy Moss at $9 million per year, or if not roll it over into the next years cap. They will weigh this against giving a RB who is already signed through 2010, at which time he'll be 30 yrs old, a big new signing bonus.  If that's what Westbrook is looking for it's just not in the cards, and I hope it doesn't get ugly.

[Diomedes]

quote function motherfargers, learn it

[shorebird]

I don't want to see them keep the money to sign young unproven players. Bwest is arguably the best offensive player, if not the best player on both sides of the ball that this team has ever had. Pay the man, dammitt!

[shorebird]

And if they have to overpay by their motherfargin' farged up standards, then do it. They've had the biggest bargin in the NFL the last two years.

PAY THE MAN!!