Big Deals for Everyone!!!

Posted: February 27th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 72 Comments »

Jason Peters? The Eagles gave him big money on Wednesday. Riley Cooper? The Eagles ponied up and gave him good money on Thursday. Jason Kelce? The Eagles threw pretty big money at him. Seems to be a good time to be an Eagles player in need of a new contract.

The Eagles offered me an extension, but we’re still negotiating. The amount is going to be 2 cases of PBR. The holdup is bottles vs cans. My agent and I feel that I’m worth the bottles.

I really do like the fact the Eagles are spending money on their own players. The best teams develop and keep their own players. The key to making that system work is drafting the right guys and then developing them into the kind of players you want to keep. Think about what the Eagles did today. They gave big money to a 5th round pick from 2010 and a 6th round pick from 2011. That’s pretty darn impressive.

Reuben Frank has some of the contract details.

The contracts the Eagles gave to offensive tackle Jason Peters on Wednesday and center Jason Kelce and wide receiver Riley Cooper on Thursday include a total of $13 million in guaranteed components for Kelce, $19.55 million guaranteed for Peters and $10 million guaranteed for Cooper.

Kelce’s deal makes him the NFL’s third-highest-paid center, behind only Ryan Kalil of the Panthers ($8.186 million average per year) and Nick Mangold of the Jets ($7.725 million average).

The three deals are worth a combined $109,698,000. More than a tenth of a billion dollars.

The combined cap hits come out to $12,714,358 in 2014, $17.55 million in 2015, $19.8 million in 2016, $22.45 million in 2017, $24 million in 2018, $6.5 million in 2018 and $7 million in 2019.

Of the $42.55 million in guaranteed money the Eagles committed to in these three deals, more than half is this year.

The guaranteed money comes out to $24.148 million this year, $13.8 million in 2015 and $4.602 million in 2016. There are no guaranteed components in any of the deals beyond 2016.

All of which gives the Eagles plenty of flexibility beyond 2015, despite the huge amounts of money in these deals. If they wanted, they could get out from under any of the deals in just two years. There would be cap hits but little guaranteed money to worry about.

Go check out the link to see the year-by-year details for the deals.

The Eagles didn’t overpay for Cooper or Kelce. They gave fair market value. That’s important. While you want to keep your own players, you can’t just throw money at them. I was listening to a radio station discussing the Carolina Panthers today. Apparently former GM Marty Hurney did a poor job of negotiating with his own players. He overpaid players because he had a personal relationship with them. Carolina has some cap issues and has even discussed releasing WR Steve Smith.

Howie Roseman learned from Joe Banner and that certainly doesn’t involve overpaying. You keep business and personal feelings separated. Banner was too obsessed with getting maximum value. Roseman has done a better job so far of balancing value and being reasonable.

Roseman will need good negotiating skills to get the Jeremy Maclin deal done. Today’s reports say that Maclin is looking for a one-year deal and the Eagles are hoping for multiple years. Mac wants to prove he’s back this year and then get a mega-deal next offseason. The Eagles would love to get him at a reasonable rate for a couple of years. Both sides want to work something out, but they need to find a deal that works for both sides.

Tim McManus wrote an interesting piece on value.

Roseman has called the receiver situation complicated, noting that the team wants to hold onto their own but “you can only put a limited amount of resources at a particular position before it starts taking out from other places.” He talked of establishing walkaway numbers with both Cooper and Maclin to ensure that they did not have to shortchange other positions on the roster. They established a number that they felt comfortable paying Cooper, were able to negotiate their way into that comfort zone, and pulled the trigger. Time will tell if it was money well spent.

* * * * *

Not all news is so good.

Avant will get picked up by another team. He can still be a solid slot receiver for a team that is focused on having a possession receiver to work the middle of the field. I hope Riley Cooper gives him a huge hug and heartfelt “thank you”. Without Avant, I don’t know that Cooper would have stayed with the Eagles, let alone had a breakout year and gotten a new deal.

I’ll miss Jason, but it is time for change. That’s just life in the NFL.

_

72 Comments on “Big Deals for Everyone!!!”

  1. 1 Flyin said at 12:13 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    With Cooper signing and the pursuit of Maclin… and the press videos of riley and howie… It seems a guarantee Avant is gone. Why… he was not in any discussion going forward. Awesome guy… hope he lands somewhere positive.

  2. 2 Mitchell said at 12:13 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I know the defense is a big concern right now but lets not forget our special teams. I think it is crucial that we add another return man to our roster to help with field position. Beckham, Gilbert, others in the lower rounds.

  3. 3 Flyin said at 12:20 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    BTW, Mr. Tommy, Calling JBama’s work 2nd rate sure sounds like favoritism.

    Corn cobs and sears catalogs have the same use back in the day.

  4. 4 Michael Winter Cho said at 9:49 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Come on, man, we should let Tommy do that 🙂 (although that was good)

  5. 5 ICDogg said at 12:20 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Pats should pick up Avant.

  6. 6 brza said at 4:18 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I could see Reid picking up Avant quickly. Pats would also be a good landing spot though.
    Pretty ironic that Avant pretty much saved Cooper’s career and now Cooper’s performance and new contract will lead to Avant being cut. Its good that Avant got a decent payday a few years ago though.

  7. 7 Phyxius said at 12:36 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I’m going to miss Avant.

    To me, he is the best damn WR on this team.

  8. 8 Buge Halls said at 2:55 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Unless you’re counting receptions, yards, touchdowns, then, yeah, he’s the best.

  9. 9 bubqr said at 12:37 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Only recent bad news is the cap raised by 10M$. It’s gonna help the Cowboys to get out of their huge mess, which I was enjoying watching an awful lot.

    Someone could think that Jerry Jones had a hand in that, but that would be pure, completely random speculation.

  10. 10 Baloophi said at 5:21 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Maybe Jerry opened the other owners’ eyes to the realities of inflation. How did he do that? Botox.

  11. 11 CrackSammich said at 9:12 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    No worries. He’ll screw it up again.

  12. 12 Weapon Y said at 12:17 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Jerry will eventually screw up again. We’ll just have to wait a little longer.

  13. 13 Insomniac said at 1:06 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Cutting Avant would be a shame but it’s the right decision. There’s probably no one else on this besides Demeco that would take a rookie and mentor him. Hopefully, we’ll still have a spot for him on our coaching staff when he decides to retire. Guys like him and Greg Lewis are always appreciated on the side lines for the wealth of knowledge on the little things that helped maximize their productivity.

  14. 14 anon said at 1:56 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Given the cap increase i’d ask him to restructure $5m for 2 yrs, $1m guaranteed every year. rest is basically same incentives we gave Vick — based on % of snaps played and if he retires and eagle we’ll put him on staff.

  15. 15 ICDogg said at 1:20 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    http://overthecap.com/riley-coopers-contract-draws-back-second-target-market/

    In essence this is a two year $9 million contract where Cooper has to prove he belongs as a secondary target. In terms of annual value Cooper ranks well behind Brian Hartline ($6 million) and Danny Amendola ($5.7 million) the two who seemed to be the standard bearers for the secondary WR’s last year. His guarantees are about what Amendola received.

  16. 16 SteveH said at 1:58 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I like the fact that we’re frontloading a lot of these contracts into this year. There’s not much out there that I think we’d be interested in spending on this year in FA, so using lots of our resources for this year helps keep us flexible for future years when there might be blue chippers available that we’d have actual interest in.

  17. 17 brza said at 4:35 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Isn’t that a bit irrelevant now with the cap carryover rule? Money that doesn’t get spent this year can be carried over to the following year to increase that year’s cap room right? So frontloading or backloading contracts doesn’t matter as much anymore because what you don’t spend now will be available to you next year anyway.
    Actually, if thats right then backloading makes more sense now than ever because you can carry over what you didn’t spend and then cut a player in a couple years when their cap number starts to shoot up and the guaranteed money is gone. At least thats the way it looks with how they structured Cooper’s contract.
    I may be wrong though as I’m not 100% sure how the cap carryover works.

  18. 18 Anders said at 7:17 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Front loading the guaranteed money makes the most sense as that give you more flexibility down the stretch.
    Cole’s contract has all the guaranteed money towards the cap early, but is overall back loaded. That means he really only end up getting the guaranteed money+some low base salary because he will 99% be cut next year

  19. 19 gherbox said at 10:27 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    We do still have to spend a certain percent of the cap on a rolling 3 year basis so frontloading a bunch this year will help in that aspect if Im understanding correctly?

  20. 20 D3FB said at 11:16 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I think you have to spend 95% of available cap over a 5 year period.

  21. 21 anon said at 1:45 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Rather not handcuff yourself. Rather every year be a 2 year deal than a 5 year deal.

  22. 22 ICDogg said at 4:05 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Eagles are stepping up selling their offer

    http://coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/pabst-blue-ribbon.jpg

  23. 23 TommyLawlor said at 7:16 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Where do I sign???

  24. 24 A_T_G said at 7:40 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I’d post an image showing you where, but this is a family-friendly site.

  25. 25 Buge Halls said at 2:53 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I’ll sign for ONE case!!!! Lowest bidder wins!

  26. 26 Anders said at 4:15 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    http://www.draftmecca.com/newslink.php?id=75
    Very good statistic break down of pass rushers based on the combine only. With very good hit rate, while he hasnt posted this years prospects yet, I do know that Barr and Mack was the only two pass rushers to get through his filter.
    We are not getting Mack after he just blew up the combine with one of the best all around performances in a long time, but Barr wasnt far after and he got perfect size. I be honest I wouldnt mind trading up for Barr because his ceiling is Aldon Smith/Ware like.

  27. 27 brza said at 4:26 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    This is also an excellent article about the pass rushing prospects. Barr comes up pretty good in the comparison but Attaochu is neck and neck with him in every category. And if we don’t have to move up to get Attaochu like we probably would have to in order to land Barr then Att might be the better pick.

  28. 28 Media Mike said at 5:23 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    A QB killer at ROLB is the one ingredient missing from our 3-4 to really make it a top D. Good article.

  29. 29 Anders said at 7:15 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I have seen that. I linked it here yesterday 🙂
    I still give up a pick for Barr (a 3rd) over getting Attaochu.

  30. 30 brza said at 10:04 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Sorry, didn’t see that. But the article is worth a double post anyway.
    I don’t know that I’d want to give up a pick in this draft with all the depth there is. But I understand the thinking. If the FO feels Barr is a unique prospect and the dropoff to the next prospect is too big then they need to go get him. Better to have an all-star at a key position like rush LB than two average starters.

  31. 31 Anders said at 12:36 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I rather have a pro bowl olb than a good olb+a back up or average starter and one shouldn’t expect a 3rd to be more than that

  32. 32 Media Mike said at 5:24 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    And Aldon Smith is a month or two away from being in a cell with a low ceiling and concrete walls. His legal issues haven’t been resolved yet for the car and gun and party assault business. He’s looking at some jail time and a new suspension from Mr. Goodell.

  33. 33 Anders said at 5:26 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    true, but I was talking more of what Barr might become, a 14+ sack guy a year

  34. 34 Media Mike said at 5:28 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    True enough. And the fact that Barr measured true to height makes it even more upsetting that he won’t be there for us to draft.

  35. 35 Baloophi said at 5:30 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Ironically, Aldon Smith couldn’t escape the long arm of the law.

  36. 36 A_T_G said at 12:53 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    If you compare rankings in a few months, his might be behind Barr’s.

  37. 37 eagleyankfan said at 7:44 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    reading your (and a few others) work on here is better than any talk show in my area…..good stuff…

  38. 38 quiyaomah said at 4:43 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Going to miss Avant, here’s to you.
    http://youtu.be/XagvsSXSxnY

  39. 39 Media Mike said at 5:09 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I wish Avant all the best, but if he signs with the Giants (and they’re new West Coast attack) I wish him all the worst.

  40. 40 Anders said at 5:25 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I could see the Chiefs liking him or a team with a young QB like the Bucs or Vikings to be a lesser version of what Boldin did for Flacco and Kapernick

  41. 41 Media Mike said at 5:26 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Good call. I think he’d be a good security blanket for a few guys.

  42. 42 anon said at 1:42 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    MUCH lesser.

  43. 43 Anders said at 5:39 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    my point was more that a sure handed reliable WR is a young QBs best friend

  44. 44 Daz said at 6:48 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Hey all – off topic favour to ask…

    GF and I are looking at booking flights to the US and will be in NYC/PHI area from the 19th of September until the 1st of October. Which basically gives me two weekends to get to the Linc for an Eagles home-game. I know the schedule doesn’t get released until mid-April, but what do you reckon the chances are of scoring two away-games for those weekends?

    Looking at flights from Australia that are 25+ hours and not cheap (although the longer we wait to book them, the more expensive they get). So definitely want to get this right and not miss the Eagles playing at home! 🙂

    Part B – if this all pans out, what’s the best way to get some decent tickets for a game?!

    Cheers and many thanks! Daz

  45. 45 A Roy said at 10:49 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Easiest way, but not cheapest, is to use StubHub or a similar site.

  46. 46 D3Keith said at 1:17 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Teams have been known to play two or three weekends in a row on the road, or you might get stuck with the bye, when they don’t play at all. Unfortunately you just have to wait for the schedule to come out, but since they play once in NYC (2 hours from Phi) and once in Landover, Md. (2.5 hours), you have 10 chances to see them on your trip, so I think you have good odds.

  47. 47 eagleyankfan said at 7:39 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I argued last year Avant was “nice to have” but easily replaced. People argued that his leadership was needed. Now that the transition from AR to Chip is complete – his leadership is no longer needed. Avant will find work and be useful. We won’t miss him.

  48. 48 P_P_K said at 9:37 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    His leadership was apparently crucial in helping Coop. We won’t miss him on the field but I think most fans feel he was a quality guy.

  49. 49 A Roy said at 10:47 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Concur w/PPK. True leadership (as opposed to phony rah rah) is always welcome. It’s just too bad Avant’s skills have eroded to where it’s very easy to upgrade the position.

  50. 50 A_T_G said at 7:50 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I posted this at the tail end of the last discussion…

    I would like to see us get Maclin signed to at least a two-year deal, if
    just so we can renegotiate with him next year before free agency
    starts. That rule about not being able to resign guys after a one-year
    deal until free agency starts makes me want to avoid them.

  51. 51 Andy124 said at 8:15 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I want the same, but wouldn’t be upset about having to settle for a 1-year deal.

  52. 52 RobNE said at 8:54 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    What’s the point of the one year deal for the Eagles? we aren’t winning the SB this year (ok, maybe, but likely not). So we do a one year deal, Maclin looks fantastic in our offense and then we are in a bidding war. I think this offense is very stat friendly for offensive players and I don’t see why we should get used like this.

    I just think we kind of get used, and he isn’t the last guy needed for the SB. If he wants to look great in our offense then sign for more than one year.

  53. 53 A Roy said at 10:45 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    He would be the bridge to this year’s WR draft pick starting in 2015.

  54. 54 planetx1971 said at 9:46 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I can’t recall where I traditional recently, but it was actually more than one source actually, that although he (Maclin has gone on record stating that he’d be willing to sign a 1 yr “show me” contract, he is in fact seeking a multi year deal preferably. If that works out that should please you. Anyone else, myself included, for that matter.

  55. 55 planetx1971 said at 8:27 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I still have a gut feeling that good ole “self tacklin” will end up taking his services to either the NYJ or K.C. And I’m oddly ok with that, if that is indeed how it turns out. I will really miss Avant as a person & Eagle. He’s the kind of human being/player you I just want on the team. I know it’s completely ludicrous, but Avant makes me wish the NFL would institute an “NFL Ambassador” spot on each team. Player #54 on the roster who the team selects as a shining example of what a player SHOULD be to his team, his city & the league. His salary shouldn’t count against the cap either. LOL like in “Shawshank Redemption” “I guess I’ll just miss my friend….” Lastly As impressed as I am at the work Howie is clearly putting in regarding locking up the guys we want, I feel this list is WOEFULLY incomplete until a deal is done with Donnie Football! 🙂

  56. 56 Mike Roman said at 8:58 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    You seriously prefer PBR in bottles? I feel that cheap beer needs to be drank from a can. Cans stay colder longer and help mask the horrible taste. With that being said, I’m not much of a beer drinker these days.

  57. 57 A Roy said at 10:43 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    …so now you’re drinking cheap champagne instead?

  58. 58 Mike Roman said at 11:30 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Drinking isn’t quite the word for it. Gulp, guzzle or absorb may be more appropriate.

  59. 59 91mr2t said at 11:18 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Mimosas!!

  60. 60 Alex Karklins said at 11:37 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    Even really good beer comes in cans these days:
    http://www.totalwine.com/_static/webupload/730/1_98463162_3.jpg
    Although I tend to always pour my beer into a glass, cans are nice for camping or bringing to the local par-3 golf course.

  61. 61 Tumtum said at 1:16 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Oh really good beers like this? You are so right.

  62. 62 Alex Karklins said at 1:32 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I really love the unattributed quotation on the can. And why is there a crosshairs on the top? So many questions.

  63. 63 Buge Halls said at 2:48 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    And why does he only have one eye?

  64. 64 Tumtum said at 5:30 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    Wait a second. You are not familiar with the like the 5th best thing to ever come from Baltimore? There is, of course, the Orioles, Under Armor, The Wire, Old Bay, then Natural Bohemian or as we MDers affectionately call it “Natty Boh”. He is winking by the way.

    Real talk though? It tastes like what I imagine spray paint would taste like. It is a disgusting beer, but I drink as many as I can at every Os game I attend. Its not so bad once you get a few down though.

    BTW not available in a bottle….

    **edit** we will also intentionally ignore that I forgot about the star spangled banner coming from the land of Natty Boh and Old Bay…

  65. 65 Tumtum said at 5:32 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    “Oh boy, what a beer!” Ahhh truer words have never been spoken.

  66. 66 A Roy said at 7:01 PM on March 1st, 2014:

    My understanding is that it’s brewed on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. (Goes great with crabs.)

  67. 67 SteveH said at 11:55 AM on February 28th, 2014:

    I’m not sure I appreciate the casual disregard you show for PBR.

  68. 68 Tumtum said at 1:13 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I agree with your point that PBR is best served in a can. However, your accusation of terrible taste is blaspheme, for which I will not stand!

  69. 69 Derrick Carter said at 12:12 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I’m sorry to see Jason Avant go as well. As you stated just a classy, team first player. However, with a draft as deep as this and the money slated to be saved, it’s unfortunately time. Here’s to hoping for Odell Beckham or Jarvis Landry.

  70. 70 Jerry Pomroy said at 12:53 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    I have to admit that since I didn’t think we had a chance in drafting Barr, I never took a look at him until now & WOW. I honestly thought I was basically going to be looking at a long/lean guy that was pretty much all speed & no strength. Basically somewhat a rewind of watching Dion last year. He is that and then some. There is violence to his game and I absolutely LOVE IT! If we have the opportunity to move up and snag him, I’m ALL FOR IT. It is extremely rare to find a guy with his blend of size and athleticism that actually plays with a violent demeanor of “kill the QB & do it quickly”, if you will. I think I found my new OLB man crush. I need to go watch more!

  71. 71 Zack Porges said at 1:20 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    How much does the cap increase projections (133 this year, up to 150 by 16′), factor into the eagles push to get long term deals done this offseason? With maclin for example, pushing to get a long-term deal instead of one year show-me contract, seems to be in anticipation of a free agency landscape in the next couple of years where free agent salaries start to go up again after stagnating the past couple years.

  72. 72 anon said at 1:33 PM on February 28th, 2014:

    They want to give Mac a discount for the knee that’s why he’s not signing. But i think your instincts are right.