Now Westbrook has fired his agent

[MDFAN]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

Oh for pete's sake...........

MD, you're right. More often than not it's the emplyee asing for a rasie...just like in the real world. Rarely does an employer as and emplyee to take a pay cut. If they are not happy with the employee's performance they fire(cut) them. The NFL is not terribly unique in those regards. They ARE unique in the fact that the job is VERY dangerous, certainly far moreso than pushing a pencil around a desk all day. And their careers are FAR shorter than the average profession. Don't have to call it the "plight" of NFL players, but it is what it is.

And LT, lighten up. You're going to have to manage a bit more backbone, and defend your positions. They WILL be challenged here. But please don't take offense to that.

But in the real world most employees don't get a 10 million dollar deposit in their bank accounts before the first day of work.

And we are talking about a class of people that have representation in how this all works --- via the CBA --- which they agreed to and support --- until it's time to whine about it when it works against them. They got to choose to get the upfront money and take the chance of being cut .... that was their choice. You can't then come back and after you've spent the 10 mill whine about "outperforming" and expect to not be looked at as a POS, IMO.

[FRESH]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

And I can't understand whining when the market bears what it bears. Why does that bother you so much? Teams aren't giving out these bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts, it's a business INVESTMENT for the teams/owners, and it returns a profit or they wouldn't do it.

[BIGPHILLY]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

My opinion:

Of all players who should be able to do this and be above the rule for this team it is Westbrook. He should be making the most of any player on this team. And while I would not give him a 6-7 year deal or something absurd - I would certainly break the bank and pay the man. He is the heart of this team. Period.

Without Westbrook we are a 6-10 team. With him - we are a 12-4 team. That's how major his impact is.

I am 100% in B-West's corner here.

If you argue that the man signed a contract and he should live with it - well I trypically agree with that. In this case the market has shifted and he's proven to be worth much more than his contract. This is a not an office job where he's 30 years old and has till he's 60 to make this worth his while. He's only got about 5 more stellar years left in his entire life. Eagles need to pay him as such and he needs to perform as such (He will).

He's been quiet and he's been patient. Nothing has come from that. Time for him to be vocal. Eagles owe him.

[FRESH]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

Great post Biggie. What BWest has already brought to this team is priceless, and has made the past few seasons so much more enjoyable. Just how boring would the Reid offense be without BWest creating chicken salad out of chicken shit? Pay the man.

[Vet Turf]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

I agree that BWest deserves a bump more than anyone else on the team and maybe the league.

BUT

.../init rant/

I wish players would STFU about this stuff. Public posturing to the media and the fans is counterproductive IMO. Go to the FO and discuss privately what your concerns/demands are and work it out behind the scenes. Players say that they don't want to get involved with other players business so don't talk about it to the media and force your teammates to skirt questions about it. It becomes a distraction when they create a media circus around something that should be private.

.../end rant/

[MDFAN]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

I agree that BWest deserves a bump more than anyone else on the team and maybe the league.

BUT

.../init rant/

I wish players would STFU about this stuff. Public posturing to the media and the fans is counterproductive IMO. Go to the FO and discuss privately what your concerns/demands are and work it out behind the scenes. Players say that they don't want to get involved with other players business so don't talk about it to the media and force your teammates to skirt questions about it. It becomes a distraction when they create a media circus around something that should be private.

.../end rant/

Zactly!

And just for the record, I have not heard one person say that Westy should not get a raise or ask for a raise. And the Eagles know that and are trying to work out a deal and they initiated the talks.

[MDFAN]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

And I can't understand whining when the market bears what it bears. Why does that bother you so much? Teams aren't giving out these bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts, it's a business INVESTMENT for the teams/owners, and it returns a profit or they wouldn't do it.

They give out the bonuses in order to 1. be able to cut a player anytime. 2. they can get the player to sign a longer term deal thus giving the team more options and the players less. And the players know this and agree to it by signing the deals. Thus when they start whining, yeah it does bother me.

Does Westy deserve a raise? Yup, and the Eagles knew this and initiated talks to get it done.

Does Westy have the right to disrupt this team over it? No he doesn't.

Does Lito deserve a raise? Probably not. Does he have the right to ask for one? Of course. Does he have a right to disrupt this team to force a raise or trade? No.......... at that should, IMHO, piss everyone off.

[bullwinkle]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

The Eagles have a right to terminate a contract like they did with Spikes and Kearse. They even have a right to after bonus money already paid under certain circumstances like they did in TO's case. Players have a right not to play. They are fined for exercising that right. But that is their right.

Westbrook kept this low key for over a year and nothing happened. If Westbrook comes to camp and blows out a knee, nothing will happen. Every time a player steps out on the field, they put their career on the line. They have to decide if the risk-reward ratio is acceptable.

Both sides seem to agree that Westbrook should get a new deal. I don't know which side is being unreasonable. But it is a shame that this is still unresolved after all of this time.

[FRESH]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

And I can't understand whining when the market bears what it bears. Why does that bother you so much? Teams aren't giving out these bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts, it's a business INVESTMENT for the teams/owners, and it returns a profit or they wouldn't do it.

They give out the bonuses in order to 1. be able to cut a player anytime. 2. they can get the player to sign a longer term deal thus giving the team more options and the players less. And the players know this and agree to it by signing the deals. Thus when they start whining, yeah it does bother me.

Does Westy deserve a raise? Yup, and the Eagles knew this and initiated talks to get it done.

Does Westy have the right to disrupt this team over it? No he doesn't.

Does Lito deserve a raise? Probably not. Does he have the right to ask for one? Of course. Does he have a right to disrupt this team to force a raise or trade? No.......... at that should, IMHO, piss everyone off.

MD, I don't disagree, but what qualifies as disrupting the team? Has Westy done something to disrupt the team?

[MDFAN]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

And I can't understand whining when the market bears what it bears. Why does that bother you so much? Teams aren't giving out these bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts, it's a business INVESTMENT for the teams/owners, and it returns a profit or they wouldn't do it.

They give out the bonuses in order to 1. be able to cut a player anytime. 2. they can get the player to sign a longer term deal thus giving the team more options and the players less. And the players know this and agree to it by signing the deals. Thus when they start whining, yeah it does bother me.

Does Westy deserve a raise? Yup, and the Eagles knew this and initiated talks to get it done.

Does Westy have the right to disrupt this team over it? No he doesn't.

Does Lito deserve a raise? Probably not. Does he have the right to ask for one? Of course. Does he have a right to disrupt this team to force a raise or trade? No.......... at that should, IMHO, piss everyone off.

MD, I don't disagree, but what qualifies as disrupting the team? Has Westy done something to disrupt the team?

Never said he has --- this was in reference to the discussion that he might and that he "has the right to",,, and again down the road a bit here if he or his agents use the media --- IMO, that would also be adding a disruption.

[leifdawg]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

Westbrook's per year average salary ranks among the top 5 in the league. He needs to just STFU and play ball. He is still closer to the begining of his contract than the end. Not to mention odds are that by the end of his current contract he won't be anywhere near the player he is here.

[Pedro]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

I believe players should honor their contract.
I KNOW that teams don't always honor contracts.
I believe players get paid TOO much and other players don't get paid enough. With a salary cap, this will always happen.
I KNOW you CAN'T pay everyone what THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE WORTH in a salary cap world (or other worlds neither).
I know the Iggles are salary cap conscious.
I know Westy deserves more.
I know Westy signed a deal after a bit of a "media campaign" during camp a couple years ago and I believe EVERYONE'S sticking point was Westy's INJURY HISTORY. Westy MAY HAVE given in due to not being able to argue about the RISK of a big contract for someone who could end up like BUCKY.
I KNOW Westy has been injured, but STILL played at superstar level last year....despite not being able to practice for half the season.
I KNOW Westy is loved by Philly phans for his play, his leadership and his class act....not to mention being from Villanova.
I DO NOT KNOW what the future holds for Westy, but being that he has outperformed his contract for several years, I would be willing to risk a bit of the future cap money on making sure one of our favorite Iggles is actually happy and rewarded during at least a part of his career here.
I only hope he gets much of what he deserves and that he AND the Iggles BOTH come out winners on the deal after Superbowl victories.

If you had the patience to read all of that, you may be confused on where I really stand. That is because I love Westy and I love the Iggles, so I just want a superbowl and I want it with players that I love and respect...like Westy, Donnie, Brian, Big Jon, Shawn, David, Sheldon, Jerimiah (ooops too late) and Trent. The money crap just ruins it all.

[leifdawg]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

Let the crazy mofo rot.

[ekravitz]

Re: Now Westbrook has fired his agent

think he's going to hold out