This is a subject that I have been thinking about for a few weeks now because of how the Eagles handled the Brian Dawkins situation.
I'm a part of the fan base that can't possibly understand how Brian Dawkins isn't worth 3 million a year for 3-4 more years, given our team is 30 million under the cap, his deteriorating football skills yet unbelievable inspirational leadership skills. I'm not going to lie, it's been tough, I've never had to deal with something like this before.
Let me explain what I'm talking about...this film is my favorite clip on youtube. I watch it at least twice a week for some reason or another. It explains so much about why Philly loves him, and who he is as a football player.
"When he's not on the field, we definitely miss a beat" - Sheldon Brown
"He's helped so many young players develop." - Sheldon Brown
"Whatever we need, you be that thang. You be that leader that I know you will be. That heart, in that chest, be that tonight." - Brian Dawkins (with Quentin Mikell in his arms, after getting injured)
"I'm like Michael Jackson before he went crazy...I'll be there." - Brian Dawkins
This clip explains in PERFECT English (favorite clip is at 4:07) why Brian Dawkins is worth 3 million a year. He is worth 5 million a year. He has been a Pro-Bowl safety for 11 seasons and was awarded player of the month last December during one of the most important months in a football teams season, and he's (excuse me Brian) bat shit crazy with a Christian mouth.
EVERYONE in Philly has been, for lack of a phrase that correctly describes their attitude, utterly disgusted, with the way Jeffrey Lurie and Andy Reid handled the contract situation of Brian Dawkins. He has taken less money from the Eagles when he knows his market value is more. He has given every ounce of effort he has on every play for 12 seasons. He, has earned the respect of questionably the toughest sports town in all
of America, because of how he plays and how he handles himself. But he's 35, so who cares?
Listen to how much Brian cared...he couldn't even finish this interview...
Brian Dawkins Comcast Interview
Is it the right philosophy to let go of your older players?
The answer is: "It depends"
Every team uses "it's only business" in contract talks with older players. However, two teams in the NFL have been using it as a team philosophy for 20 years, both of them happen to be in Pennsylvania; one team does it the right way, and one team does it the wrong way, let's take a look at both of them.
The Steelers are the first franchise to use this philosophy . They are notorious for not paying big time contracts, but they choose them wisely. They look at players who they feel are at the peak of their career (Alan Faneca, Larry Foote to be recent) and they let them go elsewhere, if they believe they have someone else that can perform.
The thing with the Steelers is they sign important leaders to long term contracts. When they saw what Troy Polomalu could do to a football game, they signed him to a monster 5 year $40 million contract. When they saw what Big Ben could do, they awarded him with a 8 year $102 million deal. Who are the leaders in that locker room? Probably Big Ben and James Harrison, but Troy leas with his play. Oh yeah, they signed Harrison to a $51 million extension. Makes sense right? Sign your leaders to big contracts, sign your role players to fitting contracts or let them go and have a young player fill in...
The Eagles are different, they don't resign their veterans. Their locker room knows all about how their franchise works...On my way to work this morning, former Eagle Jeremiah Trotter was joking about the current Sheldon Brown situation on 950 ESPN...I can't make this crap up:
Trotter: "Man, this ain't new, everyone in that locker room knows what is goin on. Sheldon was boys with Dawk, he knows he's 30, he wants to know what his future on the team is."
Host: "What d'ya mean?"
Trotter: "It was an on-going joke every year in the Eagles locker room that if you were over 30, you better watch yo butt. I would look over at Donovan and say 'Hey ain't you 29? You better start throwin it deep if you want a job next year.' I'd follow that with a jab at West gettin' a little old....we all joked about it to make it easier to focus on football but it was always in the back of your mind."
When I was driving down the road this morning I was laughing. Laughing at the fact that A) Trotter just said that B) this was a well known thing in the Eagles locker room C) that Andy hasn't done shit about it, and D) that it is affecting our current players willingness to play for our team.
Sheldon Brown isn't stupid. He knows he is 30 years old. He knows Asante Samuel (28) was signed last season to a 6 year deal. He knows the Eagles traded Lito Sheppard after he complained about not being the #1 corner. He wants out of this regime, he wants out of the "it's only business," mentality.
The Eagles are different than the Steelers in the fact that they don't look at the off-field credentials of a player.
During an interview with Brian Dawkins, the local hero stated that:
"Jeff and Andy simply stated that 'this is how much we see you worth, given your age and the years left in you on the field.'"
"They didn't see any value in the fact that I wanted to finish my career as an Eagle. All they cared about was the financial responsibility to the club."
"I love Philly, I never wanted to leave. I wanted to end my career here."
So did we, and you should have.
Listen to how much Brian cared...he couldn't even finish this interview...
Brian Dawkins Comcast Interview
Is it the right philosophy to let go of your older players?
The answer is: "It depends"
Every team uses "it's only business" in contract talks with older players. However, two teams in the NFL have been using it as a team philosophy for 20 years, both of them happen to be in Pennsylvania; one team does it the right way, and one team does it the wrong way, let's take a look at both of them.
The Steelers are the first franchise to use this philosophy . They are notorious for not paying big time contracts, but they choose them wisely. They look at players who they feel are at the peak of their career (Alan Faneca, Larry Foote to be recent) and they let them go elsewhere, if they believe they have someone else that can perform.
The thing with the Steelers is they sign important leaders to long term contracts. When they saw what Troy Polomalu could do to a football game, they signed him to a monster 5 year $40 million contract. When they saw what Big Ben could do, they awarded him with a 8 year $102 million deal. Who are the leaders in that locker room? Probably Big Ben and James Harrison, but Troy leas with his play. Oh yeah, they signed Harrison to a $51 million extension. Makes sense right? Sign your leaders to big contracts, sign your role players to fitting contracts or let them go and have a young player fill in...The Eagles are different, they don't resign their veterans. Their locker room knows all about how their franchise works...On my way to work this morning, former Eagle Jeremiah Trotter was joking about the current Sheldon Brown situation on 950 ESPN...I can't make this crap up:
Trotter: "Man, this ain't new, everyone in that locker room knows what is goin on. Sheldon was boys with Dawk, he knows he's 30, he wants to know what his future on the team is."
Host: "What d'ya mean?"
Trotter: "It was an on-going joke every year in the Eagles locker room that if you were over 30, you better watch yo butt. I would look over at Donovan and say 'Hey ain't you 29? You better start throwin it deep if you want a job next year.' I'd follow that with a jab at West gettin' a little old....we all joked about it to make it easier to focus on football but it was always in the back of your mind."
When I was driving down the road this morning I was laughing. Laughing at the fact that A) Trotter just said that B) this was a well known thing in the Eagles locker room C) that Andy hasn't done shit about it, and D) that it is affecting our current players willingness to play for our team.
Sheldon Brown isn't stupid. He knows he is 30 years old. He knows Asante Samuel (28) was signed last season to a 6 year deal. He knows the Eagles traded Lito Sheppard after he complained about not being the #1 corner. He wants out of this regime, he wants out of the "it's only business," mentality.
The Eagles are different than the Steelers in the fact that they don't look at the off-field credentials of a player.
During an interview with Brian Dawkins, the local hero stated that:
"Jeff and Andy simply stated that 'this is how much we see you worth, given your age and the years left in you on the field.'"
"They didn't see any value in the fact that I wanted to finish my career as an Eagle. All they cared about was the financial responsibility to the club."
"I love Philly, I never wanted to leave. I wanted to end my career here."
So did we, and you should have.
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