Jason Babin … Done

Posted: November 27th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 89 Comments »

Last night I complained a few times about Jason Babin losing contain.  He recklessly took inside angles and let Cam Newton get wide.  He did this on the final 3rd down play when Cam Newton rolled right and had time to get a pass off to his RB.  Babin jumped offside late in the game, which helped on a TD drive.  Babin had a penalty last week for hands to the face.  He had a bad penalty in the Atlanta game.  He’s had more than a few offsides penalties in 2 years.

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I’m also told that Babin could be a bit of a jerk.  If you follow the beat writers on Twitter, they seem to agree and are happy to see him go.  Apparently he was very defensive this year when asked about why the team wasn’t getting sacks.

I like the move.  Babin thrived in the Wide-9 in 2010 and 2011.  He’s been very up and down in the rest of his career (mostly down).  There is very little chance the Eagles run the Wide-9 next year so he was far from a lock to stick around.  Now we can give his reps to Vinny Curry or Phillip Hunt or a new guy.  Brandon Graham is already playing more and more.

This isn’t likely to start a purge or be the first of many cuts.  Babin’s personality, production, and penalties are what got him cut.  Trent Cole is having a down year, but he’s still a high character guy and isn’t getting flagged left and right.  You need to be careful not to just go around getting rid of guys having off years.  Some of them could be key figures in the future.  Babin wasn’t going to be that guy so there was little reason to keep him.

* * * * *

DeSean Jackson has some broken ribs and is headed to IR.  I’m sure the Eagles will add a WR from the P-squad.  Reuben Frank says he heard Marvin McNutt is ahead of BJ Cunningham.  McNutt has been here longer and does make sense.

* * * * *

No word who will take Babin’s spot.  Will be interesting to see if they go raid another team’s practice squad.

_

  • daveH

    CRAP!! I JUST GOT MATCHING TATS

    • Mac

      I think Tommy may be able to retool his lasik lasers and help you remove those unsightly lines. Best news of all… he offers in home care! You can’t beat that for convenience.

      • TommyLawlor

        Excellent sales job. You’ll get your commission.

  • goeagles55

    I wanted him gone after this season. Glad to see him go.

    Andy had to run this by Howie first, right? A coach waiting to be fired can’t cut a starter coming off a pro-bowl season.

    • Anders

      AR can. He is still vice president.

    • Mac

      I’m also glad to see him kicked to the curb. I started following players on twitter this year to get a new perspective on character issues and in some cases see high character. Babin was one player I thought had serious issues and was too focused on his outside of football life.

  • PhillyBirds

    Sadly, a top 5 moment of the season.

    The guy represented everything that this fan base dislikes about the team/culture. Even when he was good here I didn’t like him. Couldn’t be happier to see the heads start to roll.

  • Skeptic_Eagle

    It’s hard to tell from the TV angle, but it looked like the defensive line was positioned in a more conventional 4-3 for a lot of the night. Cole, particularly, seemed to be playing the 7 tech, which, I think, was why he was a little stronger against the run.

    Could have just been me, but even as the announcers were doing their obligatory mention of the wide 9, it seemed like Babin was the only one in that stance. Was he doing his own thing, when Bowles told everyone else to align conventionally? Might explain the release.

    I will be really interested to see if someone breaks down the all-22 and finds that Babin was the only one playing 9 tech, and I’m going to be curious if that’s the end of that alignment, in general.

    • TommyLawlor

      The Eagles have not been a pure Wide-9 since September of 2011. They were pinching down DEs vs Washington in Week 6 of last year. The DEs go way out in passing situations. They come in in some run situations.

      The Wide-9 as a boogeyman is such B.S. Nothing wrong with that style of D. Failure to execute properly is the problem.

      • ceteris_paribus1776

        Care to elaborate on what the difference in “execution” along the Dline is this year from last? How are these guys not “executing” their pass rushing assignments? I think the defensive line requires the least bit of executing than any other unit on the football field. They’ll stunt which requires some execution, but by and large, it’s about strength, technique, quickness, and motor.

        The eagles’ blown coverage problem on the back end have little to do with the fact that their front four cannot seem to get to the quarterback.

  • Iskar36

    In a post you wrote earlier this season (Reid, Vick, and the Future – Update 37), you wrote:

    “Guys like Vick, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Demetress Bell are
    goners. Jason Babin, Mike Patterson, and Cullen Jenkins will be more
    complicated. I know Babin is struggling right now, but he had 30 sacks
    the previous 2 years. You need to be careful about cutting that guy too
    quickly. Make sure he’s done before sending him on his way.”

    Now considering that AR is gone next year, does it really make sense for him to be the one making this decision? Shouldn’t the coach that replaces him make this decision instead? I don’t disagree with the decision itself really, I thought he looked terrible this year. I just don’t like the timing of the decision at all. I don’t think it benefits the Eagles in anyway. If you want to give more playing time to the other guys, you just bench Babin, you don’t need to cut him to do that. And on top of that, since you have already taken his playing time away in favor of Graham at times, I don’t see how this would disrupt the locker room either.

    • TommyLawlor

      I’m sure Howie was in on this with Reid. Andy knows he’s done, but Andy is close to Howie and Lurie. Andy will do the right thing for the franchise. This move is proof of that.

      Cutting Babin does send a signal. The season might be over, but you will be cut if you don’t do as your told. You wonder if they made this move a month ago…would that have helped the team.

      • Anders

        a month ago we had lost 7 straight, only 3. It would have been a very rushed thing to do back then.

        • TommyLawlor

          But would the move have gotten the locker room’s attention and caused them to play differently?

          • Mac

            My guess is that it would have perked some guys up.

          • Neil

            Quite debatable. Firing Juan certainly didn’t accomplish anything positive in that regard.

          • TommyLawlor

            He wasn’t a scapegoat as some have made him out to be. Juan was fired due to the blown leads and 4th Qtr struggles. Hope was that Bowles could keep the D playing well overall, but improve in those areas. Clearly that plan didn’t work.

          • ceteris_paribus1776

            He wasn’t the scapegoat? The defense blew leads but by and large was the only reason the team was ever in a game. The offense continuously put the defense in a bind. They made stop after stop until the final drive in consecutive games.

            Castillo wasn’t anyone’s favorite coordinator, but he certainly wasn’t the problem with this team as we now all see. Reid had two options once the team started losing: 1) get rid of someone on the offensive side of the ball. That’s either he or Marty. Either one would be an indictment against Reid’s offense. He knows this is his last year if they don’t perform. Why admit that your side of the ball is the biggest problem when still trying to salvage your job? 2) get rid of someone on defense. He did. It’s easy to point the finger at the unit that gives up the final drive of the game even when the only reason that final drive mattered was because that particular unit had been doing it’s job most of the afternoon.

    • D3Keith

      “If you want to give more playing time to the other guys, you just bench Babin, you don’t need to cut him to do that.”

      True. But if they have no use for him this year or next, don’t they save 1.6 million by letting him go? That alone is smart.

      • Iskar36

        My argument is more that the “They” you are referring to will not exist next year. “They” will be a new coach and new system and it should be up to that coach to make this decision. He very easily (read: likely) could have come to the same conclusion, but maybe in his evaluations he says actually, Babin does have value on this team as a situational pass rusher and if we can get him to take a pay cut and play that role, he is a guy worth keeping.

        Cutting him during the season versus during the offseason though doesn’t really make a huge difference on this team. Sending a message at this point is meaningless, and I don’t think you save all that much money by cutting him now versus in the offseason.

        • Neil

          I can see where you’re coming from, but Babin’s like 33 and apparently a butthead. Not much of a loss with the depth remaining on the team, many similar speed rusher types with youth. If it keeps the young guys playing hard, it was the right decision.

          • http://www.facebook.com/xbcsmith Brett Smith

            Reid has always been good about releasing a player when asked.

            There is a possibility Reid said “Babin you are benched” and Babin asked to be released.

            Not that I care I had no use for him. I like my DEs to play the run on the way to the QB.

            Babin couldn’t tackle Reno Mahe.

          • Iskar36

            According to multiple people on twitter apparently quoting Babin on ESPN, AR told Babin he was cut and Babin just laughed in disbelief when he heard it. Doesn’t sound like Babin was asking to be cut based on that.

        • D3Keith

          What’s weird is I make the same argument as you for Nnamdi and Vick elsewhere on this page, with the caveat being that there might not be better QBs and CBs available, even if both guys have played meh for two years in a row.

          Babin fits their mold in terms of we know who he is and what value he can bring to a team, but there are other defensive ends in the roster who can fill in just fine, if not better, and I don’t think they needed to wait for a new coach to figure that out. But I can get on board with that line of thinking with most everybody else.

          • Iskar36

            I agree with the Nnamdi and Vick comment. To me, AR has absolutely no business releasing either guy. Both have been extremely disappointing and if the new coach decides to cut them, I would fully support it, but that’s because the new coach knows what he is looking for within his own scheme and will do the necessary evaluations himself. I just think at this point, significant personnel decisions should be off limits to AR. At the 8 loss marker, to me, he became just a place holder for the next coach. Don’t do anything to make it worse.

            I think that argument also is true for Babin. I agree with almost everyone here that Babin was garbage this year and deserves to be cut from that stand point. But no one knows what the next coach will want and need and until that happens, particularly when we are talking about a starter, I don’t think it is in the best long term interest of the franchise for AR to be messing with the roster.

          • D3Keith

            I can back this, and I think it makes sense. If they went beyond benching or deactivating Babin, there might have been a reason beyond just what value he had — lockerroom or monetary. And if it’s lockerroom, they can’t say because they don’t want to discourage someone else from grabbing him.

            In any case, I agree the purge shouldn’t begin until after David Shaw or Chip Kelly or Mike Zimmer or Mike Holmgren takes over. (Just seeing how those sound)

          • Iskar36

            Two Mike’s and neither one of them is McCoy? Come on now!

  • Ark87

    I’ll admit, I didn’t like Babin, didn’t want to like him either. I’d grimace when he had a decent game this year. Kinda feel bad though, he and trent have had way too similar of seasons. Stat wise one could argue Babin had the better season. I hope he is just an A-hole or my boy Trent isn’t far behind.

  • ACViking

    Re: Eagles Back to the Future Next Year

    Jim Washburn’s W-9 scheme is gone. No doubt about that. I’ll be curious to read T-Law’s season-ending post mortem — or projection when the new HC comes aboard and we get a fix on the schemes to be run — how Graham and Curry will fit, given their size.

    Given the defensive-line personnel, T-Law’s argued (and said he’d nearly had a heart attack at its mere mention) that the Eagles shouldn’t go to a 3-4. Maybe. Or Maybe we’ll see a hybrid 4-3/3-4 next year.

    Also, I suppose that Howard Mudd and his unconventional o-line scheme are gone, too. (If memory serves, Reid convinced HM to relocate his
    motorcycle in Philadelphia with the help of Washburn.) Not unless
    Peyton Manning comes to Philadelphia.

    The O-line seems like it could transition back to a more conventional blocking style. Watkins might even thrive in scheme like that — if the new coach runs the ball more. J-Kelce’s the question mark, according to conventional wisdom. But if he’s already proven he can block a whole lot better than most NFL centers. And some of the greatest centers in NFL history were on the smallish side.

    But no matter whom the Eagles bring in to coach and play next year, what will matter most — as T-Law’s written recently — is execution.
    ____________

    RELEVANT QUOTATION.

    Back in 1976, former USC head coach great and 1st-year coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs had the following exchange with a reporter after another bad loss by his team:

    Question: “What do you think about the offensive line’s execution?”

    Answer: “I’m in favor of it.”

    • Anders

      I actually think Graham will do fine in a more traditional 4.3 scheme. He might only be 6-2 high, but he is around 260 lbs, meaning he is basicly the same size as Cole and Curry is listed at around the same size.

    • TommyLawlor

      Curry has good size at 6-3, 266. Graham is short, but he can be sleek or thick. He was close to 280 a couple years back when we wanted more bulk. Those guys can play in any 4-3 system. The 3-4 is trickier.

      We’ll probably be done with Mudd’s system of blocking, but could shift to something similar and the OL could all fit just fine. Doubt we make a radical move and switch back to wanting huge guys, but that’s possible.

      The John Mckay quote is the best in football’s history.

  • Baloophi

    There was a DE named Jason,
    The QB he was always a-chasin’,
    He’d sell out for sacks,
    And miss running backs,
    Now it’s unemployment he’s facing.

    • http://twitter.com/benjabad Ben Hert

      Bravo!

    • TommyLawlor

      Well done, sir.

    • TommyLawlor

      Posted this on Twitter. I’m guessing that it will be well received.

      • TommyLawlor

        Big hit on Twitter. Kudos.

        • Baloophi

          I’ll only consider it a success if your new BFF Seth Joyner responds with a sonnet…

    • The_Reddgie

      Slow clap Baloophi. Slow clap indeed.

  • SleepingDuck

    Is Graham going to become the starter? I think he should get consideration after playing well the last fast weeks.

  • http://twitter.com/alex_karklins Alex Karklins

    He can go run in front of a bull, for all I care.

    • Baloophi

      I had totally forgotten about that crap! Nice memory pull, Agent Alex!

  • Cal Setar

    Wow. Just wow.

    Not upset in the least, but definitely surprised.

    Kinda makes you wonder how much of this was Reid and how much was Roseman/Lurie…

    Either way, here’s to hoping Nnamdi’s not far behind.

    Question though…anyone else concerned about DeMeco Ryans? I know he’s got great tackle/tackle for loss numbers…but he just looks slow to me. Especially in coverage. I guess my worry is that he looks good in comparison to a really bad team and a linebacking unit devoid of talented players other than Kendricks.

    • Neil

      Ryans is staying. Very good linebacker.

      • Cal Setar

        I dunno. The game is shifting towards speed. Not exactly his strong suit. I’m not saying he’s gone this offseason because he offers so much in terms of leadership. But his physical skills are starting to seem…limited.

        • austinfan

          He’s a MLB. He’s actually very good as pass coverage, has a number of tackles on third down short of the marker. And he’s a leader on defense, if you’re bringing in another young OLB and some kids on the bench, you want someone like Ryans guiding them.

          You want speed in your OLBs, reliability in your MLB. Ryans isn’t slow, he’s just not a burner like Willis.

          • Cal Setar

            I get that he’s a leader and a great example for the young guys to come in and follow. In fact I genuinely appreciate him for these values. Learning from a quality seasoned vet can only be a good thing.

            But those coverage plays he’s making on third down short of the marker are because he recognizes the route, and comes up and whacks the guy within the 5 yards to disrupt it, then just hugs up next to him. It’s great, experienced, instinctual, MLB play. But it’s not exactly a turn and run kind of coverage play.

            All I’m saying is guys who are limited athletically due to age and injury and rely on instincts tend to hit a cliff in terms of play and production. And I worry DeMeco might be that kind of guy. I see him making a lot of downhill plays, and I also see him a fraction late on some coverages. Do I know if he’s gonna fall off? No. But guys around his age and with his injury history tend to do it.

          • Cafone

            Did you just become an Eagles fan and aren’t aware of the quality of the linebackers we’ve been putting on the field for the last 5 years? How about we at least find some young guys that are worth checking out before we discard the best guy we’ve had in years? I doubt his influence is hurting Kendrick’s development.

          • Cal Setar

            I’m fairly confident you just skimmed over and didn’t really read anything I said.

            I plainly stated that I’m not advocating getting rid of him and that I thought his presence was a positive in terms of the other young guys learning and growing.

            But to turn a blind eye to his limited athleticism just because he’s the best linebacker we’ve had in several years? When did “better than awful” become good enough? That’s what got us into this mess of relying on overpaid, aging veterans.

          • Neil

            I definitely agree a large dropoff is always possible, but I like to be optimistic. Especially now, I say wait for an injury to be worried like this. He’s only 28, so I’d say 3 more years of this play is a safe estimate assuming he doesn’t tear something major again. He seems to have come back from the achilles.

        • Neil

          At the worst, Ryans’ speed is functional. I would argue that’s too conservative, but speed certainly isn’t his game. As far as the rest of the characteristics you’d want in a MLB like tackling and instincts, he’s great. Jamar Chaney’s athletic and completely ineffective. Ryans is fast enough to produce stops on third down consistently. Overall, he’s well above average at his role.

          • Cal Setar

            I guess where we differ is, I think functional is the perfect word to describe his speed at this point. But I agree he’s great with the rest.

            The potential problem as I see it is the combination of the way the league is trending in terms of insane pass happiness…and the precipitousness of his physical decline.

    • http://twitter.com/RIPworms RIP Worms

      I’m happy with Ryans. I see him as a more balanced version of J Trot. Not as good attacking downhill but better against the pass. He’s definitely not someone I’d want matched up one-on-one against some of the more athletic tight ends in this league, but then there are very few MLB’s who are capable of that.

      • Cal Setar

        Hey, I’m as happy as any Eagles fan to finally have some good MLB play. I loved watching Trot abuse interior lineman.

        But let’s face it, Ryans was traded by a team that is 10-1 (Side note: I don’t buy the whole switch to a 3-4 excuse. He may be better sutied to/more comfortable in a 4-3, but he’s a professional. He should be able to adapt.) to a team that is presently 3-8. Just like their records indicate their overall talent levels, the fact that Ryans is a “good” player on a bad team says to me that he might not be viewed so highly if he were on another, better, team.

        Because I think this is the symptom of a really, really bad team. People are willing, and sometimes excited, to accept mediocrity because it’s more preferable to the awful play going on around it.

  • eagles2zc

    Babin’s firing might be the last sacking he’ll be involved in. Don’t know why any team would want a selfish player like him.

  • GermanEagle

    So I can unfollow this idiot on twitter finally. I am sure more will (un)follow…

    • Mac

      I unfollowed as soon as I heard…

      • ATLeagle

        Rolle was on twitter bitching about how many people unfollowed him as soon as he got cut.

        • Mac

          Yeah I remember seeing that.

    • eagles2zc

      I unfollowed a long time ago. Nothing but self promotion from him on twitter

    • D3Keith

      Pretty sure I never followed him.

      Recently went back and unfollowed Eldra Buckley, Moise Fokou et. al. … Kinda cool that guys on the team and cut players are still friends. Mike Kafka was tweeting at Riley Cooper from a Northwestern game earlier this year lol

  • Mac

    Why is Gilyard posting “farewell to Philly”?

    He has a hamstring injury and was brought in to be a special teamer right? So is this a case of the doctors not seeing him able to get on the field this year? Hamstrings seem to take about 6 weeks to heal up and even then they can be sketchy (in my non professional observation). Which would put him as being available the last couple of games this year.

    • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

      Gilyard was released prior to the MNF game and replaced by Greg Salas.

      • Mac

        Missed that one… thanks. I liked Gilyard’s effort.

    • Ark87

      he was released to make room for that guard we brought in I think.

    • TommyLawlor

      Signed with Jets today.

      • Mac

        That’s cool. I’m glad he’s getting an opportunity with another team.

  • Ark87

    Anybody know any particular reasons why he was released? Theories? His production was bad, but comparatively speaking you can’t justify his release on that alone.

  • austinfan

    I think you’ll see some more roster churn, not wholesale changes, but really, do you feel better having Bell come in than Menkin? If Tennant can’t push Reynolds, they can’t find a young OL on a PS with more potential? Should Aso play ahead of Marsh given he can’t run anymore and doesn’t know how to tackle? I’m not for cutting Coleman, but shouldn’t Sims be starting? And is there a reason to keep Chaney on the roster anymore? Isn’t there a fast small college LB on a PS who might make a tackle on STs?

    I think Lurie’s committed to Roseman, in which case they won’t wait for a new HC to shed high cost veterans like Vick Bell and Aso after the season, They might wait on Cole, Jenkins and Patterson, and let the new coach decide whether DRC is worth keeping (no, because he’s the poster child for this team’s attitude problem, I’m so talented I don’t need to work on coverage technique or learn how to tackle).

    • D3Keith

      Agree on Roseman and Bell.

      I think a new coach might want the opportunity to have Asomugha under a new scheme, and Vick on a renegotiated contract. Those two guys, the cuts should be delayed until the new coach chooses to make them. Would hate to cut them and then have the new coach come in and try to be competitive right away and be a cornerback short of a good team.

      But either way I wouldn’t be distraught.

      Definitely think Roseman has earned the right to stay. Talent acquisition was never this team’s issue.

      • A_T_G

        If I’m the new coach, especially an inexperienced we coach, I want Vick gone before I get there BECAUSE he is so popular with players everywhere. If it is my team and I foresee the possibility of developing a young QB to lead them, I don’t want the possibility of dealing with the chasm it could create.

        • http://twitter.com/RIPworms RIP Worms

          Interesting point with respect to Vick. I still think there’s a chance he re-structures his contract and stays at least another year or two as a stop-gap. I’m not suggesting that would be a good or bad thing, just that it might happen.

        • shah8

          The NFL is a cold business. All the players recognize that. They also recognize their meal tickets. I know it isn’t really worth saying this again, but it’s just totally delusional to think that players have an irrational commitment to a poorly playing QB. Seriously.

          I mean it.

          Just look at Desean Jackson and his half-assed effort last year because he wanted the money. Or the way Vernon Davis praises QB one day when he gets the ball, and gets all moody when he doesn’t. Nobody seriously worries about someone other than numero uno in the NFL. Too short, too bloody, too cruel in the League. Vick has support because team members still think he can help the team win. And the longer I think about it and check out alternatives, the more I think that Vick will be here next year, regardless of the “hide your beagles” fanbase hatred. Infamy is just as money-making and compelling as anything else. Ticket sales and wins matter. Alex Smith won’t sell, and he won’t help you win games, and his WR here will probably hate him, given his style of play.

  • D3Keith

    This makes sense no matter which way you look at it.

    They can play their younger DEs.
    Babin can catch on with a contender
    If he was a bad locker room guy/self-centered, cutting him was good.
    Sends a message to other vets to play the last five games hard, even if there’s not positional depth at some of those places to let a guy go.
    Lets fans know that they are taking this seriously and aren’t going to dawdle with the rebuild.

    That said, he must have been pretty bad to get cut now. I would hope they don’t make any more major moves until the new coach is hired. The glut of misorganized and unmotivated talent is a major draw for whoever the next coach is going to be. And I think until they know what they’ll be running, there’s no way to tell who’s a “fit.”

    The team has lots of assets to work with to try to make itself competitive next year, assuming we have a QB.

    • The_Reddgie

      I agree with all of this (except for the Babout catching on with a contender part).

      As for QB, that will be the most interesting development this off-season. I would be okay with giving Foles the inside track, but I would make sure that we have as much competition for him as possible. (No Geno or Barkley though, too high of a cost).

  • dislikedisqus

    Good riddance. Never liked him. 1-dimensional. Penalty yards and first downs that came from penalties offset his sack yards and then you have to factor in his run mediocrity. Overrated.

  • Julescat

    now who do I blame the Eagles losses on?

  • SleepingDuck

    Anyone if AJ McCarron is going to declare for the draft?

    • TommyLawlor

      My guess is no, but it won’t shock me since this is such a mediocre QB class.

      • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

        Speaking of the Crimson Tide, thoughts on Barret Jones?

      • SleepingDuck

        If he does declare where do you think he goes?

      • BlindChow

        If he wins a title game, I could see it.

  • The_Reddgie

    I have a HUGE problem with this move.

    It should have happened weeks ago.

    That is all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/vinicfc Vini Gonçalves

    Am I wrong or Babin missed part of the begining of TC because he was hunting in Alaska?? This is not the kind of attittude you want for a player of a SB contender team!!

    • D3Keith

      I think he was excused because it was unsafe to get out, and it might have been a voluntary camp anyway. Don’t remember it being a big deal.

  • the midatlantic

    DJax kicked too.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565087931 Jeppe Elmelund van Ee

    Tommy,

    When scouting players for the upcoming draft, how will the Eagles scouting dep. make sure, that the players are ‘Dawkins-like’ in accountability of their own, and teammates play? What traits to look for when we are in dire need of team leaders?

    Clearly players I thought of as leaders; K. Coleman, D. Ryans, T. Cole, C. Jenkins, T. Herremans. D. Jackson etc. doesn’t have it, whatever it may be.

    • D3FB

      You look for the team captains and the guys who play those roles in college. For example Mauti at Penn State. In regards to those types of players on this current team, remember that when you are personally struggling to perform (for whatever reason, thats a seperate discussion) its hard to get the guy next to you to follow your lead.

  • Cafone

    He looked really old, but that was mostly because he has those goofy looking tribal tattoos that went out of style years ago.

  • quest4fire

    Good bye Babin. Loved ya but its for the best that you move on. Need to play the young uns to see what they got and Andy did you a favor letting you go instead of sulking on the bench.