Is it me or is any one else tired of the predictable story line every year of the media focusing on those Eagles on their last year of a contract? This story has repeated itself over and over since 2002 and Hugh Douglas's final year with the Birds (before coming back in 2004 disguised as ND Kalu and Jon Harris' illegitimate son). Seriously, I'm totally bored by the story.
The Birds have 21 of 22 of this year's projected starters tied up through at least 2008. L.J. Smith is the only guy that will be a free agent at year's end. And the media focus on the issue has started already. Being a Rutgers alum, I probably like the maddeningly inconsistent LJ better than most. However, even I realize that his presence on the Eagles is not life and death. He's not exactly Antonio Gates out there. If signs, he signs. If not, so what. The Birds will find someone to take his place....someone who might catch the ball more consistently and block better.
Anyhow, if I was LJ's agent, I wouldn't let him re-sign with the Birds. This offseaon, the Giants' backup TE, Visanthe Shianco got huge money ($18 million contract with $8 million in guaranteed money) from the Vikings. What did he do to justify this contract, you ask? Well, he has compiled 35 receptions over 4 years while never starting more than seven games in a season and never caught more than 12 passes in a season. Sorry, if that's the going rate for a guy like this, what can an above average starter like LJ command? Clearly, more than Bean Counter Banner wants to pay.
Therefore, in the final analysis, LJ is 99% gone. Just prepare yourself mentally. I know I will. I will also especially make sure to avoid the multitude of lazy ass articles on this issue that we can expect the rest of the year.
The Birds have 21 of 22 of this year's projected starters tied up through at least 2008. L.J. Smith is the only guy that will be a free agent at year's end. And the media focus on the issue has started already. Being a Rutgers alum, I probably like the maddeningly inconsistent LJ better than most. However, even I realize that his presence on the Eagles is not life and death. He's not exactly Antonio Gates out there. If signs, he signs. If not, so what. The Birds will find someone to take his place....someone who might catch the ball more consistently and block better.
Anyhow, if I was LJ's agent, I wouldn't let him re-sign with the Birds. This offseaon, the Giants' backup TE, Visanthe Shianco got huge money ($18 million contract with $8 million in guaranteed money) from the Vikings. What did he do to justify this contract, you ask? Well, he has compiled 35 receptions over 4 years while never starting more than seven games in a season and never caught more than 12 passes in a season. Sorry, if that's the going rate for a guy like this, what can an above average starter like LJ command? Clearly, more than Bean Counter Banner wants to pay.
Therefore, in the final analysis, LJ is 99% gone. Just prepare yourself mentally. I know I will. I will also especially make sure to avoid the multitude of lazy ass articles on this issue that we can expect the rest of the year.
1 comment:
I'd prefer to keep him sure, but fiscally it doesn't seem realistic. The piece of crap TE in Dallas who has exactly the same amount of TD's in his career as LJ got 10M guaranteed.
Post a Comment