Westbrook Wants LT Money

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook is being very vocal on his desire for a new contract. In a recent article by Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Westbrook voices his opinion on the matter.

“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.” “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.”

One question that always comes up in any contract situation, is how much does the player want? According to Brian he is looking for LaDanian Tomlinson money. In fact he thinks he should get more.

“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.”

While it is hard to argue his points, it is just disheartening to hear this. Money is the root of all evil, and it just gets sickening when you realize that sports are a business more than anything else. Hell will freeze over before the Eagles hand Brian Westbrook a $30 million signing bonus. They just will not put that much money into the RB position, even if that RB is great like Brian Westbrook. Knowing that the Eagles will not cave into that demand, a lot of questions start to surface. How far is Brian willing to take this fight for a new deal? Will he show up to training camp? Will he continue to speak about his displeasure with it to the media? Is there a solution in sight? Only time will tell what will happen, but we know that both sides(Eagles and Westbrook) are very far apart from getting a new deal done. This very quiet off season is turning ugly fast. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Kevin Kolb Interview

Eagles QB Kevin Kolb did an interview with 210 Student Ministry Second Baptist Church based in Houston, Texas. Kolb talks about his strong belief in his faith, high school and college football, the pressures of being a star QB, and his family values.

Blah On Blanton

The Phillies made a move yesterday, trading 3 minor league prospects to the Oakland A’s for right handed starting pitcher Joe Blanton. While I am happy the team made a move for an arm, I am not so happy about the guy they go after. The Phillies needed a top of the rotation horse much more than they needed a back end guy.

I know Blanton is better than Adam Eaton, but that is not saying much. Almost every pitcher n baseball is better than Adam Eaton. While Blanton(5-12 record) may improve the team, I do not think this move is definitely not enough. The ultimate goal should be to win a World Series, and this move basically ensures that they will not be participating in that event.

The D-Backs were able to land Dan Haren, the Mets got Johan Santana, the Brewers got CC Sabathia, and the Cubs managed to pull in Rich Harden. The Phillies counter those blockbuster moves, by making the major trade for Joe Blanton. Those 4 teams are now the favorites to come out of the National League, and the Phillies will be lucky to even win the division again.

I don’t want to hear any excuses either on why the Phillies could not land CC Sabathia or any of those other guys. The bottom line is they failed to get it done, and their season will once again end in failure. This is a team has back-to-back MVPs on the roster, and may possibly have a 3rd in Chase Utley. It will all be going to waste, because the Phillies management refuses to take a risk, and go for it.

I am tired of this team overrating it’s pitching prospects. They have turned out 1 friggin good pitcher in the last 25 years, and that is Cole Hamels. The Phillies could have trade for Randy Johnson in 1993, but decided it was better to hold on to their great pitching prospects of Tommy Greene, and Ben Rivera. Another failed Championship, and another wasted season.

You know that pitching is what wins Championships, yet they always refuse to go after a big time guy. When other teams are landing legitimate aces to their staff, the Phillies would rather bring in guys like Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton, and Freddy Garcia. That is the ultimate downfall of this team. The inability to go after big time pitchers.

I was listening to WIP last night, and had to hear that moron Mark Eckle sound so thrilled that the Phillies got Joe Blanton. Eckle kept trying his best to polish this turd, but everybody who has followed the Phillies can see right through this. This is nothing more than another bottom of the barrel move. They would have been better off with Ed Wade doing his usual deadline trade for a journey man middle relief pitcher.

This moves sucks, and the Phillies are going nowhere in 2008 because of it.

Westbrook Fires His Agent

Brian Westbrook has decided to follow Lito Sheppard, and has fired his current agent Fletcher Smith. Westbrook has to wait 5 days before he can sign with another agent, and the word is he will actually sign with Lito’s former agency All Pro Sports & Entertainment.

Westbrook is not happy with his current contract. Here is what he said on the matter.

“When I signed my contract with the Eagles 2½ years ago, they paid me for the level of play I was playing at the time,” Westbrook said. “I’m not at that level no more. I’m at a higher level of play. There’s no question about that. The numbers don’t lie. My numbers have steadily increased from that point until now. Now, I’m at the point where I’m one of the elite backs in the NFL, and I should be compensated that way.”

While I do understand Westbrook’s point, I also know that he was very happy to sign this contract when he did. In fact this is what Brian said back on November 7th, 2005.

“I’m glad to have an opportunity to continue my career in Philadelphia,” Westbrook said in a statement Sunday. “I’ve worked very hard to put myself in a position to receive a long-term contract and I’m glad the Eagles have recognized my talents and dedication to this team.”

The problem with just tearing up his contract, and giving him a new deal is that once you give him a new deal, you have half the team lined up wanting to tear their contracts up. Guys like Shawn Andrews, Trent Cole, Sheldon Brown, and others will want their pay increase as well.

People give the argument that a player can be cut anytime, but how about the player who does not live up to his contract. Should the Eagles be allowed to go back to Jevon Kearse, and ask for some of that 16 million signing bonus back? They can’t do that, and Westbrook can’t expect to get a new deal. You liked the deal when you signed it, now it is time to live with it.

If Westbrook is that strapped for cash, maybe he should use his “elite status” to bring in some more endorsements. I am sure Gatorade, Vitamin Water, Nike, Under Armour, Reebok, or Visa would like to use Brian to sell their product.

I can’t see Lito or Westbrook actually going as far as holding out. The Eagles have historically played hard ball with these type of situations, and will fine players for every day of training camp that they miss. I also can not see the Eagles caving in on any contract demands. They just do not do business that way, and at most they would only be willing extend these players current contracts.

We’ll find out how this will turn out soon enough, because training camp starts.

Let the rocky off season begin.

Flashback: Eagles Chiefs 2005

This was a great game. In a season full of turmoil, the week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs was an all time classic. It is a very enjoyable game to watch despite the fact that TO was still an Eagle.

Hollis Thomas was starting at DT, Keith Adams was the WILL Linebacker, Michael Lewis was the SS, Artis Hicks was the starting LG, Hank Fraley was the Center, Dhani Jones was the SAM LinebackerTodd France was the kicker, and Andy Reid took his love for passing the football to an all time high.

It’s sad to see Paul Grasmanis in this game, because it would be the last of his career. He leaves the field on a cart with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

One play that really stands out is where Jared Allen had a sure sack, but was unable to bring McNabb down. With Allen hanging at McNabb’s ankles, Donovan throws a strike to long snapper Mike Bartrum for a touchdown.

When L.J. Smith pretending to shoot an arrow into the stands I lost it. That was probably the coolest thing Smith has done as an Eagle. It was hilarious.

Shawn Barber had some interesting comments about the Eagles conditioning habits. By the end of the game his comments just looked stupid.

PARTING OF THE RED SEA

Lito Hires Rosendouche

It looks like the Lito Sheppard situation just took a turn for the worst. He has dropped his old agent, and hired mega agent Drew Rosenhaus. Eagles fans will always remember Rosenhaus as the slime ball agent who did whatever it took to get TO out of Philadelphia. Players love Rosenhaus, and NFL teams have nightmares about dealing with him. He uses every trick in the book to get what he wants for his clients, even if that means holding his players out, or having them create a disturbance with their team. So what will happen with Lito now? I was convinced that Sheppard was going to do the right thing, but now I am not so sure. This move greatly increases the chance that he will possibly hold out, and also increases the chances of Lito being traded before the season starts. Rosenhaus has informed the Eagles of their new representation of Lito Sheppard, and both sides have said they do not want a repeat of the Terrell Owens saga. So how long until Lito starts doing sit ups in his driveway? NEXT QUESTION!

2004 Eagles Redskins Flash Intro

Remember the 2004 Eagles season had flash intros for each game on their website? This is one of Eagles Redskins intros. This is also one of the best ones from that year. They need to bring this back for 2008!

Boo? Fvck You!

Chase Utley is the man!

New York scum booed Utley last night at the MLB Home Run Derby. This is what Utley had to say in response to those boos:

FCUK YOU NEW YORK!

They Were Eagles

This is a very good video I came across, and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy.

Welcome To Philly Elton Brand

This is old news already, but I would like to welcome Elton Brand to Philadelphia. I was a little worried about Brand coming back from the Achilles injury, but the Sixers obviously were not.

Brand is only one of 4 active players who average a double double for their career. The other 3 are Shaquille O’neal, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett. That is very good company to be with, considering all three of those guys are sporting Championship rings. Hopefully Brand and the Sixers will be too.

Here is a highlight video of Brand, and the press conference of his signing.

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