Westbrook: Pay McCoy
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Westbrook: Pay McCoy
Daily News staff
The relationship between former Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook and current Eagles star running back LeSean McCoy has been well-documented. So has McCoy's contract situation.
He has one year remaining on the rookie contract he signed after he was drafted in 2009 and is coming off a Pro Bowl season with 20 total TDs.
Virtually everyone around the situation is hopeful that an extension can get done, but the questions are how much is McCoy looking for and the speed at which a resolution can come. What if McCoy feels he deserves an Adrian Peterson contract (7 years/$100 million, $36 million guaranteed) and the Eagles feel he deserves one closer to Arian Foster (5 years /$43.5M, $20.7M guaranteed) or Marshawn Lynch (4 years/$31M, $18M guaranteed)?
Westbrook took to Twitter today to gauge the fans' views on McCoy's contract situation, and add his own.
"So basically everyone feels that he should get paid??," he tweeted.
That was followed by Westbrook's opinion, including the hashtag payMccoy.
"Like Arian Foster? I think he is definitely if not the best, at least the second best back in the league right now and deserves it #payMccoy"
"The only leverage players have in this situation is to hold out! Unfortunately its still not a lot of leverage!! #payMccoy"
"Players dont want to have to worry about their contracts during the season which is why the off season is the time to get it done"
So, how soon could this happen, if it does?
"We like LeSean and we think he's good for our organization, both on the field and off of it," coach Andy Reid said at the NFL owners meetings. "And so, we'll work something out there as we go. But listen, these things take a little bit of time. That's how it works. But it'll work out. "
Shady is the real deal and deserves a good contract...quite sure the Eagles know his value. The N.F.L has devalued the RB position to some degree but elite talent like McCoy raises the bar.
like Desean........"PAY THE MAN!" NOOOOOOOW!— Panthro2011- Just pay the man already its not like he dosn't deserve it top 5 running back in the league come on Birds dont draw this out till training camp i want him in shape and ready to go slash and dash defenders on the field.— bernie27
- Joyner is dead on 6 years 50 mil+ with 24 mil bonus. You can replace Peters and neither can you replace Shady. Anything under or near 10 mil per year is a fuggin good deal for Banner and Crew. DJax got 5/51mil/15mil bonus....do the fuggin math FO and get this done. Assume that $ earmarked for Asante should go right to LeSean.— glove69
- i believe he will get paid sooner than later because the eagles dont need the media circling mccoy about a new contract all season (see jackson)they will pay mccoy but they have to be smart about it cant break the bank for one guy ..(2nd round pick eagles) remember the good picks too ijs— positive eagle
- They have to trade Asante first, then McCoy basically gets contract for that cap space. McCoy will get his deal after the draft. He should get more than Arian Foster. He's worth $50mil.— Joyner80
- All - please remember that part of what made LeSean "Shady" McCoy so good last year was the people blocking for him. With Jason Peters (part man, part wrecking ball, part monster) out for this season, Shady's game is likely to decline a little this year. If McCoy performs close to or better than last season, that will truly be a testament to the hard work of McCoy, Howard Mudd and the O-line.— knighn
- I, personally, was very disappointed to see Desean get his contract before McCoy was under a new contract. While Desean is "dynamic" and "explosive," McCoy is more consistently the Eagles' greatest weapon. He, like Westbrook, is versatile and can help the offense in rushing, passing, and blocking. He is a complete back. And, in some cases, he is the reason that Desean can get open to make the big plays. LeSean is a true team player and does whatever is needed of him to help the Eagles win ball games - and does so humbly. The same can't be said for everyone. LeSean deserves to get paid. #PAYMCCOY!— EaglesFan1
- play out the contract you signed.— osi is hurt boohoo
- As it stands right now, holding out would give McCoy a lot of leverage. As of now, the Eagles only other running back is Dion Lewis. Are they going to go into the season with Lewis as their starter and some draft choice as the backup? Bring back Ronnie Brown? I don't think so!— SteveS11
- if he get 25 touchdowns in can come pick out a gun from my shop and go on a bear hunting trip to MAINE with us the follow spring!he just has to add comment on here to get my info! I am from back home!— thinkinggreen
- Simple answer:pay the man now!! Get the money from Reid's contract. Reid is definitely overpaid; his salary should be cut by at least 90%. Reid hasn't missed any meals lately!!
Reid said "But listen, these things take a little bit of time. That's how it works." I wonder how long it took for his contract to be extended? Easy for the FAT MAN to say.— oneway - Pay the man what he deserves. If they can pay Desean, then McCoy definitely should get an honest and fair contract. At least McCoy, so far, has conducted himself in a professional manner. That is more than can be said about Desean.— oneway
- Zero. That is quite a fantasy world you have down there in your mom's basement.— Fritz and Alice
- Oooh mom's basement. So original. — Claire Voyant
- The Eagles game plan and you heard it here first. The Eagles are going to wait it out for an extension for McCoy in the same fashion they did Desean. What the Eagles are going to do is draft Bernard Pierce for insurance reasons and make it quite uncomfortable for McCoy the way they did DeSean. They will use the media to put out bull/ish information like McCoy wants a Peterson type deal just like they did with Desean in regards to Fitzgerald. Tell everybody he is asking for too much and low ball him with a contract comparable or less than Foster's deal. They will do the same thing when its time to sign Maclin too. Heard it here first. They will use Bernard Pierce drafted by the Eagles to back up McCoy and use it as the reason to lowball him.— Zeru
- Can't overpay because if you do, you'll have to let someone else walk in the near future. Be smart, but get it done. Hopefully he'll be reasonable and not ask for something that's going to cripple the team. But the kid is for real. Just might take it to the next level this year...top back in the league. I've heard quite a few commentators with credibility compare him to the great Barry Sanders...and people don't throw around that kind of comparison very often. But they're right...he's that good. And he seems like a good guy, unselfish, not a knucklehead. He's as blue chip as they come.— bpgavin1
- Bring Westbrook back as an assistant coach.— Penfold18
- Pay the man ! ! He's a beast ! ! ! !— BuddyBall92
- This is the one area where the Eagles just don't seem to get it. They paid Westbrook 3 years too late. As a result, they were stuck with a broken down Westbrook for 2 years. If they had paid him while he was out-performing his contract, that wouldn't have been case. The same holds true for DeSean Jackson. They should have paid him two seasons ago. After all 165-lb. players don't last very long in the NFL. If they had paid him previously, he wouldn't have been a distraction last season and he'd be approaching his final two years. If he holds up for the next two, you extend him, but in the likelihood he doesn't, you are able to cut/trade him.
