We’ve already been speculating here for a week or so about the fallout casulaties from the Eagles’ less-than-dreamy run for the Lombardi in 2011… I honestly don’t see a need for major changes in personnel as I believe the learning curve for all the new faces from last season (coaches included) has evened out into a kind of “understanding”among all parties.
But the sudden reality is— CB Asante Samuel turns 31 years old today and is due to make $9.5 million from the Eagles next season and $11.5 million the season after that.
Evan Mathis, who became a surprise starter at left guard after being signed as a free agent last summer, has an expiring contract and has already gone on record as saying he wants to return.
Like Mathis, wide receiver and punt returner DeSean Jackson is due to become an unrestricted free agent after playing out the final year of a rookie contract he signed in 2008. He and agent Drew Rosenhaus have been unsuccessful in their attempt to garner an extension.
Defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, a starter for part of the 2010 season and a valuable part of the playing rotation this past year until tearing a triceps in Week 5 and landing on the Injured Reserve List, is a restricted free agent.
These are just four of more than a dozen players who might have played their last down for the Eagles, who have some extremely difficult decisions coming up when it comes to shaping their roster for 2012. And several of these determinations could play a significant role in how the team plays on the field next fall.
Losing DJax to free agency would suck big time… I’m not just talking about his stats and his big-play potential but about how he stretches a defense to allow other Eagles to shine… I guess he could be replaced, but it would take someone like Victor Cruz (who is not available) or Vincent Jackson (who is)…
Most decisions are strictly contract issues, whether the agreements are due to expire or pay more than the Eagles might be willing to give.
Defensive end Juqua Parker (age 31), for example, took a pay cut to remain in 2011. Now he has an expiring contract and is not sure if the Eagles will even offer him another.
Likewise, tackle Sir Winston Justice took a pay cut to stay on after losing his starting job this summer. He’s signed through 2013, but could be let go now without the Eagles taking a significant cap hit.
Here’s a breakdown of players whose contracts are either expiring or might be deemed too burdensome by management.
• QB Vince Young: Backup with expiring contract who did little to impress. Doubtful to return….
• WR Chad Hall: Contract up. Fits in well with this team. Should be re-signed….Probable to return.
• WR DeSean Jackson: Contract up. Eagles could designate him as their franchise player and keep him for a season or trade him.
Owner Jeff Lurie on Tuesday expressed interest in bringing DJax back.
“I think his attitude and his overall approach in the final month of the season was terrific,” Lurie said. “High energy. … I would welcome him back. I think if the right terms develop, he would be welcomed back.
“We have the leverage in obviously being able to do what we choose to do and control his situation, but terrific player. And I really don’t agree with those who think he’s tapped his potential. I think he hasn’t. He has a chance to get even better.”
Jackson said he would gladly accept a franchise tender, which would pay him approximately $10 million for the 2012 season and delay his free agency until 2013. Still, this is a toss-up because the Eagles might not want to pay him that much even for one season.
• WR: Ron Johnson: Contract up. Added for depth this season. Could be in training camp, but not likely to survive final cuts. Doubtful to return…
• FB Owen Schmitt: Contract up. He wants to be back but doesn’t believe he will be. Not a good sign…Questionable to return.
• G Evan Mathis: Contract up. Performed better than expected this season and expects to be back, but “I really don’t have a sense of that right now,” he said Monday….Probable to return.
• T Winston Justice: Signed through 2013. Lost his starting job and is reluctant to talk about his future as an Eagle. “I can’t say how I really feel,” Justice said when approached last month…Doubtful to return.
• OL King Dunlap: Contract up. Has proved to be a competent backup who can contribute on special teams as well. Questionable to return….
• C Jamaal Jackson: Signed through 2013. Eagles likely will wait to see what happens in free agency and the draft before making a decision. They could easily afford his $1.75 million salary, though, and would be best served by not messing around with this position too much. If something happens to center Jason Kelce and they don’t have a good backup who knows their playbook inside and out, they could pay a much higher price…
Probable to return.
• RB Ronnie Brown: Contract up. They already tried to trade him before the deadline. That didn’t work out. He won’t be here next year…Doubtful to return.
• CB Asante Samuel: Signed through 2013. His salary and the emergence of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie likely spells the end of his four-year run in Philly…Doubtful to return.
• DE Juqua Parker: Contract up. Elder statesman of team is likely gone, even though he’s expressed a preference to finish his career here…Doubtful to return.
• DT Trevor Laws: Contract up. One of the toughest decisions to be made…Has played well enough to stay in rotation, but it might come down to a negotiation process. Questionable to return…
• DT Derek Landri: Contract up. Another tough call similar to that of Laws. If they can get him for the right price, they’ll bring him back…Questionable to return.
• LB Greg Lloyd: Contract up. Should be at training camp. No guarantees after that…Doubtful to return.
This is the crazy side of the business of NFL football. For all the glamor and bragging rights of being able to say you are a professional football player in the NFL, your actual job security is quite thin. And even if you last in the league for more than the 4-year average length of career, you may end up spending it with three or more different teams.
But like JB once told Broz and Broz told me, “get it while you can…” Or as Satchell Paige is reported to have once said: “Don’t look back, someone may be gaining on you…”
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