The Dirtiest Players In The Game

Sorry guys, I'm not referring to the Nature Boy Ric Flair (but I simply could not pass up the chance to include the above picture of Flair in his prime). This article is about our Birds and how they operate their business.

Every time I read an article about how the Eagles do business, I just feel like I need a shower. Their negotiating style usually leaves me feeling dirty and used. By far, they are the biggest pricks in all of sports. I just read Les Bowen's article in the Daily News detailing the behind scenes happenings on the Garcia/Feeley affair this past weekend, and I can't help but feel bad for Jeff Garcia.

Here are some of the highlights:

How did the fans' favorite Eagle, who helped turn the team around to the tune of a 6-2 record after stepping in for McNabb, become just a memory so quickly?

Eagles officials don't want to be quoted as saying anything that could fan the flames of public indignation, but they said they wanted to either re-sign Garcia or extend Feeley before free agency started, and they never felt confident Garcia was ready to do a deal, even though Baker said yesterday that he was willing.

Baker might have overplayed his hand initially, telling the Birds he wanted 5 days of free agency to assess the market before signing with them. Although Baker said he subsequently let it be known he and Garcia would be open to an offer before free agency, the Eagles said they couldn't be sure Baker and Garcia wouldn't just use their offer as a springboard to up the bidding when free agency starts Friday. And if Garcia really was so intent on returning, couldn't Baker have called the Eagles' bluff and made them an offer?

On the other side of the tango, everybody knows how it is with the Eagles and negotiations. They like to be in the driver's seat. They set conditions - such as the bit about needing to get a deal done before free agency or not doing one at all - designed to turn up the heat on the other party. It's legitimate to wonder, if the Birds really wanted Garcia back, why they never made him an offer, and why they absolutely had to have a deal with either Garcia or Feeley this week. Feeley was under contract for the coming season.

"The Eagles make it a challenge," Baker said yesterday, as he prepared to leave the annual NFL scouting combine having not accomplished what he said was his main reason for coming - to sit down and talk contract with the Birds. "I respect that they make it a challenge. They are one of the most successful teams in the league at managing the salary cap. The fact of the matter is that their model works, and I respect that their model works. While I believe Jeff should have been given an offer by the Eagles, and I've expressed that for the last month... they've been too successful that you can question their ability to do deals."

Baker acknowledged yesterday that "Jeff was uncomfortable with being given an ultimatum after he said he was prepared to come back as a backup," and Baker said that discomfort led to Garcia's statement on "The Tonight Show" that he intended to play the field in free agency.

"Privately, we told them several times that we would negotiate with them before free agency," Baker said.

"There's absolutely no question Jeff would have signed in Philadelphia for substantially less money than anywhere else," Baker said. "I think Jeff was their No. 1 choice to be brought back, but at their numbers. And the only person who ever knew their numbers was them... any deal from the Eagles, Jeff would have seriously considered."

I sure hope the Eagles know what they are doing because they are going to look pretty friggin stupid if McNabb suffers any sort of complications while trying to come back from his torn ACL. I don't think A.J. can do what Garcia did this season for any prolonged stretch of time. Does anyone else other than Bean Counter Banner think he can?