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Talon, thanks for my first chuckle of the day (and yes, it's almost 8 pm, it's been a long day).

Contract talk

The Eagles' smaller-than-usual salary-cap space is the result of two things: 1) contract extensions handed out last year to such young players as Shawn Andrews, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, Reggie Brown, Mike Patterson and Trent Cole; and 2) salary escalations of a number of vets.

Defensive end Jevon Kearse's base salary will jump from $2.1 million in '06 to $5.2 million in '07. Tackle Jon Runyan's increases from $1.15 million to $2.9 million. Westbrook, who signed an extension in November '05, will see his base salary jump from $585,000 to $2 million. Defensive end Darren Howard's doubles from $1 million to $2 million. Tackle William Thomas, who earned $3.65 million in '06, will make $4.55 million next season. Safety Brian Dawkins' salary, on the other hand, actually drops, from $3 million last season to $1.2 million on '07.

McNabb's salary and cap number stay flat. He earned $5.5 million in salary in '06 and will make the same in '07. His '07 cap number, which includes prorated bonuses, will be $8.6 million. McNabb's current deal runs through 2013. His base salaries and cap numbers for the final 6 years of his contract: 2008, $6.3 million ($9.4 million cap cost); 2009, $9.2 million ($10.4 million, one of two prorated bonuses expires); 2010, $10 million ($10 million, second prorated bonus expires); 2011, $12.1 million ($12.1 million); 2012, $14.1 million ($14.1 million); 2013, $16.2 million ($16.2 million).


Is Kearse REALLY worth 5.2 million next year. I'm not so sure, if it takes money away from signing Stallworth.

Can they cut Howard and move Walker to DE? Granted, he will have to slim down, but he couldn't be worse than what they got.

The other thing that scares the Hell out of me is our LB core next year. I'm just waiting for Trotter to get hurt, and LB core looks like....Gocong, Gaither and McCoy.....Scary!

I fully expect them to cut Howard. Kearse is a definite possibility, but, although it doesn't mean much, the way Reid was talking it sounded like he was coming back.

I don't think resigning Stallworth is even on their minds, no matter how much cap room they create. As I see it, they think he'll be the most coveted WR and cost too much money for a position they feel isn't very important. And he's oft-injured.

I really don't know what other free agents are out there that they would cut Kearse to make room for. Either way, cutting Tra Thomas is more likely now that they have Justice.

I think Walker has played DE in the past, but not sure if he did this past year.

From that article, Domo made it seem like like Trotter wouldn't be back and that would be the starting LB core.

It's hopeless I tell ya. Hopeless!

I think Kearse is worth keeping.

I don't think Howard is worth keeping, but from what I understand (which could be wrong) cutting him wouldn't reult in any real cap saving this year. The cap hit would roughly equal his cap charge this year if they keep him.

My question is. Why not make Stallworth a "legit" offer now? Let's say 85% of what they think he will command on the open market. Guarantee a chunk of it and tell him they would like him to stay, but they need to know ASAP.

That would put the ball in his court, and who knows, he might sign the thing.

It would also avert the eventual shit-storm that will come when he signs with the Giants or Redskins.

Won't happen, because where they value Stallworth isn't near where other teams might value him.

Stallworth would be foolish to sign an offer now, especially since the Birds have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they's not going to pay him more than what they think he's worth. And it's not enough.

But simply from a PR angle, it's better than no offer or low-ball/insult offer.

But then they would have to part with the "Precious".

Since when has the FO cared about PR?

And how can you be so in Love with the Passing Game and not want a very good receiver?

It's like saying "I love to fish, but I refuse to go anywhere near water."

SZR. I know, I just don't get it.

These Fuckers are lucky we love the team as much as we do.

And how can you be so in Love with the Passing Game and not want a very good receiver?

It makes me wonder if the Eagles and other organizations have some "moneyball-type" stats for WRs and other positions other than catches, drops, yards, tacklers, sacks etc. that they look at and determine why such and such position is more valuable than others and why it deserves a majority of the allotted cap space. Stats that aren't as publically known or something.

Because I see a lot of Billy Beane in Joe Banner, although football is easier because all teams are on the same playing field financially.

I know football is a much less numbers-oriented sport than baseball, but I still wonder how they reach these conclusions. Or maybe it's just watching a lot of film, or maybe it's just common sense, but yeah, to me, if you're gonna pass all the time, wouldn't you want the best wide receivers and not just "guys".

And how can you be so in Love with the Passing Game and not want a very good receiver?

It's like saying "I love to fish, but I refuse to go anywhere near water."

it's more like saying "i love to fish, and i have figured out such an ingenious system for catching the slimy bastards, it doesn't much matter if i put dried feces on the end of my hook"

I think the Eagles absolutely have a "money ball" type philosophy.

Let's be fair to Stallworth here...

Just about every team in the league has $20- $40 million cap space and there aren't ANY free agents out there. Stallworth is the best WR out there and has two thing teams always covet- youth and pure speed.

Deion Branch got a $13 million signing bonus and a contract that averages over $6 million per year (and the Seahawks had exclusive negotiating rights).

Is it crazy to think Stallworth could get a contract with $16 million in bonuses (between a signing bonus and maybe a roster bonus next year) that averages over $7 million per year? I don't think it is.


I can't blame the Eagles for choking on that number...that would be the second biggest bonus they've paid out in team history (tied with Kearse) and there is a very good chance that he'll miss or be limited in about 4 games per year the rest of his career.

I'm not saying the Birds shouldn't sign him. I'm just saying, it IS a tough pill to swallow. That's the going rate for speedy WRs. It's a matter of figuring out if you can stomach the price.

And how can you be so in Love with the Passing Game and not want a very good receiver?

We have covered this already.

Stallworth was not drafted by the Eagles, so he has no value whatsoever. Avant was drafted, so he is worth a gold mine, and a mid-season extension is already in the works. Baskett was undrafted, but Childress signed him before the Eagles traded for him, so essentially he's an undrafted free agent, which makes him the most valuable player in team history. They've already completed his bust in Canton, and they just have to wait for his career to end as a formality.

Seriously, Joe Banner has published a thorough index of rules for Eagles fandom on Pravda. Some of you need to get over there and get with the program because this incessant questioning of the front-office is offensively treasonous.

Won't happen, because where they value Stallworth isn't near where other teams might value him.

Stallworth would be foolish to sign an offer now, especially since the Birds have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they's not going to pay him more than what they think he's worth. And it's not enough.

Plus, while an 85% offer might have worked at midseason when Stallworth was gimpy and had no stats for the season, it's too late for that. Stallworth will wait and see what kind of money is offered, even if he DOES prefer coming back to the Eagles. Floating an offer now only starts the bidding process for everyone else that is going to bid higher. No one likes to try and set the first bid when it's a guess at a guy's market value. After that gets out, it's open season. The Eagles might as well wait a few months and hope other teams wait it out too.

Is Spuds' talking about Softserve's knees? Or how gravity is ruining his bubble?

Anyway we look at it..... Could be a lot of angst in Iggleville this offseason..

Why should this off-season be different from any other (outside of 2004)?

Indeed. And we'll all be lined up around the block for every rinky dink 'news item' this offseason, and how many posts will be dedictated to F.A. departures/aquisitions, draft picks etc? Embarrassing actually.

I hear crack is Green and Black.

Just sayin'.

On Stallworth...it seems pretty clear now that the Eagles aren't even going to make him an offer.

They made this trade for a 4th round pick that jumps to a 3rd if they retain him. We all knew that. We all know how much they covert picks (particularly first day picks).

When Stallworth signs, he's going to get a monster deal. Compensatory picks are issued almost entirely on contract size. There are performance factors, but the single best determining factor is contract size and with the deal he will get, the Birds will be issued a 4th round compensatory pick in 2008.

We can book this one. They essentially traded Sim and a 4th round pick in 2007 for Stallworth and a 4th round pick in 2008.

Also, guess who voided his deal and will hit he free agent market? Good old Ashley Lelie.

"Also, guess who voided his deal and will hit he free agent market? Good old Ashley Lelie."

The words "void" and "Ashley Lelie" appeared a lot in the same sentence this season.

Question: don't the Eagles have to at least make an offer to Stallworth before they can receive a compensatory pick for his free agent departure?

That's not a rule I'm aware of, but if it's a rule, I'm sure they'll tender him something insulting.

Spuds has pretty much laid out the plan here:

- They would like to retain Stallworth.
- They have to convince him to accept the deal they offer now.
- If he hits free agency, he's gone.
- If he wants to go tyo the highest bidder, he's gone.
- I've also heard the phrase "If he can settle for just being very rich...", meaning the Eagles have an insulting number they will try to sell him. If they want a competitive offer, they'll have to look elsewhere.

"On Stallworth...it seems pretty clear now that the Eagles aren't even going to make him an offer."

I was responding to this comment, but your last post sounds like you saw that they will at least make him an insulting offer.

My glass is half filled - with murderous rage!

I hate this FO! If these clowns signed him during his hamstring injury, they'd have saved mad money. Now, we'll return you back to our regularly scheduled program of, "How to win with WRs of pedestrian speed" hosted by none other than the Fat Man.

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