Promote your business or product on 700level.com. For
more information about advertising with us CLICK HERE!

Throwing money at him isn't the answer.

You can't pay him the money he wants, because 1) it sends a bad message to the rest of the players (not to mention the rest of the league); and 2) to be quite frank, he hasn't earned it, due to his not playing a complete season in, how long?

Either he decides to play to his contract (which he and Brown both signed) or he hopes someone will offer the Birds enough to let him go, and then hope that team restructures his contract.

Right now, the only person on the team worthy of a restructuring is Westbrook, and that's more of an exception, not the rule.

Clark Judge of Sportsline.com got an opinion on Sheppard from four anonymous NFL GMs:

GM No. 1: "I wouldn't give you anything for him. I mean that. He's a zone corner who can't play in Cover Two because he won't tackle. He doesn't like to hit. Plus, he gets hurt too much, and he's limited in his coverage skills. He reacts to things, he's instinctive and he has ball skills. But he hasn't played a complete season in the last three years, and he's someone who doesn't want to tackle."

GM No. 2: "Now this is a guy I like. I think he's a terrific player, and I'd be willing to give a third or a future second for him. I don't know that I would look at him as a starter, but he would be no worse than my third cornerback -- and in today's game I think you need three good ones. Anyway, I like him. The downside is that he wants a new contract, and that's a concern. So are the injuries.

One thing I always admired about teams like the Eagles and the Patriots is they do what they want to do, not what the player wants them to do. If the Eagles want to trade him, and they get the right price, he's gone. If they believe they can win with him, they'll keep him. And if they believe he's a distraction they'll cut him. But if you're going to make the deal you better have the contract settled first. No way would I make the trade, then try to work something out."

GM No. 3: "I wouldn't want him, and one reason is that he missed an average of five games over the last three years. So he's always getting hurt. But he's not physical, and he wants a new contract. So you're looking at $6 million to $7 million a year for a guy who plays 10 or 11 games a year and doesn't hit anybody? No thanks."

GM No. 4: "I look at Sheppard as a solid cornerback, maybe the 10th or 11th best guy out there, but he's not someone you build a defense around. Which means I wouldn't be able to pay what I think he's asking. But I would be willing to deal a third-rounder for him because he's young, and he can step in and start for you tomorrow. He's not a physical player, so that will limit his options. He's not going to play for a Tampa-2 defense where your cornerbacks must support the run. But he can play."

Someone needs to put that article in Sheppards locker and leave him alone to read it and absorb it before the 1st day of camp.

That should hammer home the point that he needs to just go out and play.

It's funny how varied the opinions are of him.

One guy says he wouldn't want him on his team, one guy says he'd like him as a #3, one guy thinks he's the 10th best player at his position (in the league).

The only thing they agree on is his injury history and the fact that he's not physical. Honestly, I think they are underselling his tackling ability. He doesn't look for contact or lay big hits on WRs very often, but I've always been surprised how physically he plays the run, given his stature.

The point is definitely there, though. If you're Lito and you can see the entire league is telling you the same thing, you have to start wondering at some point if they are right/start trying to prove them wrong.

There's a market (somehow) for the Pillsbury Slowboy. I'm sure Lito looks at that and thinks someone will pay him.

That's a pretty easy fix. Tell him to go out and find his deal. It's probably a little late, but make it a transparent process with him and his agent.

1. Go find your deal.
2. Let us know when you find it.
3. We'll try to work out a trade.

Let him know that they can't accept a lowball trade offer any more than he can accept playing for his current contract and if you can't make the deal, tell him why.

The Patriots are the master of that move, which has allowed them to keep guys like Asante Samuel happy and allowed them to get a 1st round pick for Deion Branch.

I too was taken aback somewhat at all the talk of Lito being unwilling to tackle.
Ive never felt that way.

I realize he doesnt lay the lumber, but he's never seen like one of those arm tackling types.

I too was taken aback somewhat at all the talk of Lito being unwilling to tackle.
Ive never felt that way.

I realize he doesnt lay the lumber, but he's never seen like one of those arm tackling types.

It makes you wonder what all these scouts are getting paid for if that's what they've come up with on a higher profile type of guy. How on earth can they expect to nail these 3rd and 4th round draft picks if they don't have a good idea of what a 4 or 5 year starter in the league can/can't do?

From the Inky today:

Sheppard was asked by a local television station about his status with the Eagles. (You can access the video from the link above, too.)

"That part of the business has to take care of itself," Sheppard said. "I'm just preparing myself to play, wherever that might be, but I'm going to be ready."


***************************

"Wherever".

Do with that what you will...

Do with that what you will...

It's just whining and general unhappiness. It sounds like he's starting to accept that he's probably going to be playing for the Eagles this year even if he's not in love with that idea right now.

Camp is going to be interesting at CB this year. I suspect we're going to have Lito and Samuel starting with Brown as the nickel back. He's not as quick as either of the other guys, he doesn't come up with the giant interceptions like they do, he can shut down almost anyone in the slot who's name isn't "Wes Welker", and getting him on the inside means you're less likely to know when he comes after the QB and he's a terror when he does. He's also closer to the line and I think he's an excellent CB against the run.

If Brown is okay with being the nickel corner, I think he'd be a good fit for it.

I could be wrong.

Uber droppin knowledge, yall.

That's kinda how I envisoned they'd have to do this (Sheldon playing the nickel), but the one lingering thing out there is the comment from Jim Johnson that Lito is more of a LCB and that's all Asante plays, too.

I guess I never thought about it too much before, but if you've been playing on one side exclusively for years, learnign to do your job well on the other side would be difficult because everything is backwards. I know some DE's have the same issue where they learn everything from one side and aren't nearly as effective on the other.

So, the question (if Lito ends up playing in Philly year, as it looks he will) is whether or not he can learn to play the right side effectively on an very down basis. If he can, that makes the most sense and allows him to save some of his pride. If he can't, he'll still be playing a great deal, but the perception will be he's been demoted to 3rd corner and I can't imagine that will make him happy OR improve his trade stock/contract prospects when this whoile cycle replays itself next year.

I think the Eagles never envisioned they wouldn't be able to deal him, honestly.

Pardon my ignorance, but if you're a nickelback, dimeback, or safety, don't you have to be able to play on both sides? I mean, don't you have to be able to cover that additional wide receiver, no matter where he lines up? What happens if your man goes in motion? Do you stop when he crosses to the other side of the field?

I only ask because I would think that most defensive backs need to be able to cover from both sides.

If the Eagles corners are Joselio Hanson and Lito Sheppard, and the Eagles are facing Dallas and T.O. lines up on the right (or left-- whichever would be the opposite of Lito's normal position) side for several plays, does Lito say, "I can't cover on that side. Philadelphia, your fate lies in the hands of Joselio Hanson"?

I'm sure guys can get into a groove on one particular side and may prefer one particular side, but I'm fairly certain I've seen defensive backs move from one side to another.

But why demote Sheldon? Now you have two unhappy corners.

I haven't heard one word about Sheldon's job being on the line to Lito, so I think we are talking about nothing here.

If Lito stays, we'll keep hearing the message they gave soon after Samuel was signed:

"We don't really look at it as having two starting corners and a nickel back. Teams play so many 3 wide sets these days, you can't really say that you have 2 startes and a nickel. Who's to say who's the starter and who's the nickes when there are three and four wide outs on the field? We see each of our three guys as having their own strengths, making them contribute in their own unique way. Maybe to stop the run you'll see Brown and Samuel on the field. Depending on the matchups we want on their receivers, you might see Samuel sit when his guy isn't on the field. In today's NFL and with this defense, you just can't say you have 2 starters and a nickel. We have 3 guys that could be the number 1 on most of the teams out there."


"Now someone get me a cheeseburger."

Well, for two questions . . .
1) Despite the fact that it would make sense to tab the other team's best wideout with your best cornerback, this actually happens vary rarely. Because receivers go in motion so often before the snap, most defenses leave their corners where they're initially at, preventing any disruption in the scheme. It also serves to disguise the pre-snap differences between zone and man coverages (although I'm told that anyone who played quarterback for more than a year in college knows the difference). That's why you, in fact, saw Hoselio Hanson cover T.O. on certain plays. If Hanson was tabbed as the slot and T.O. lined up in the slot (which he often does), then he belonged to Hanson.
2) I think you'll see Brown remain on his side and simply move into the slot when the team brings in the Nickel. Despite his penchant for big time plays, Sheppard, on average, plays far more inconsistenly than Brown, and, in the defensive backfield, consistency is sort of the name off the game.

i think talon's point is valid. i mean, changing sides for a DE (or any line player) would seem difficult as f-d pointed out, because it would be like playing the mirror-image of the position, with everything backwards.

once you get into the back field, however, there is so much motion that it would seem to become basically irrelevant which side you lined up.

Has anyone mentioned that Lito having a chip on his shoulder is probably a good thing? That his performance this year will possibly be better than ever due to the fact that he feels he has to prove that he's better than the guy they brought in to replace him? But it's also guaranteed that "Tastycake" and Co. will screw the good situation up...I'm willing to bet that not only does he not get hurt, but you are going to see "the next Deion or Rod Woodson" out of Lito, and then the Eagles will cut him due to cap considerations.

I like to compare it to the American car industry- for so long they had a stranglehold on the market, they felt no compulsion other than to keep profits high while the product suffered. Meanwhile the competitors gained ground and all of a sudden- everybody's buying Japanese and calling out the exploding Pintos and Chryslers for what they were.

Until there is "embargo" or somebody sues the Eagles for "fraud", you will see maddening moves designed to titillate, then disappoint you and your wallet.

f-b, if youre betting lito is not going to be hurt at any point next year, i'd like a piece of that action.

I can see Lito staying healthy all year as well. I don't think you will see Lito give the extra effort, especially in tackling, because he will try to shake the injury label. That seems to be more of a concern than his abilities (to himself and other teams). He shakes that label, he gets a good contract elsewhere.

I can see Lito staying healthy all year as well. I don't think you will see Lito give the extra effort, especially in tackling, because he will try to shake the injury label. That seems to be more of a concern than his abilities (to himself and other teams). He shakes that label, he gets a good contract elsewhere.

you're entitled to think whatever you want, but there is really no basis for your reasoning at all. lito hasn't played a full season since 2004. wanting to shake the injury label isn't a real strong indication that he will be able to. and i don't really think lito's thinking "i'll just half-ass it out there. teams won't care if i don't actually produce, as long as i stay healthy".

and for the record, holding back has generally been acknowledged as one of the best ways to get yourself injured in sports.

flesh, I am not saying he will play "half-ass." I am just thinking the Eagles will use him predominantly in passing situations, not full time. His plays against the run will be very limited. He will get plenty of plays off. He will absolutely try to show everyone he is a shut down corner, but may end up playing the run like Prime Time. I do not see him making open field tackles against running backs (especially the size of NFC East opponents like Jacobs and Barber).

To date, the biggest knock against him is his ability to stay healthy. This year is his absolute best chance to play 16 games since 04.

I am just thinking the Eagles will use him predominantly in passing situations, not full time. His plays against the run will be very limited. He will get plenty of plays off.

ok, that's more of a legit argument of why he might stay healthy.

YEAH!!!





It’s a move that likely will provoke bad memories in Philadelphia.

Per a league source, Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus.

We’re told that the team and Rosenhaus held an initial meeting on Wednesday, and that both sides hope to avoid a repeat of the ugliness that unfolded in 2005 between the team and another Rosenhaus client, receiver Terrell Owens.

Sheppard has been available via trade ever since the team signed cornerback Asante Samuel, formerly of the Patriots. But no deal has been even close, and there has been no serious talk regarding a new contract for Sheppard in Philly.

Sheppard is due to earn a base salary of $2 million in 2008, which is less than 10 percent of the value of Samuel’s guaranteed money in his Eagles contract, which runs through 2011.

HA! Things just got interesting.

1 2 3 4 5  6