$33M for Celek; WR Norwood Added
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
$33M for Celek; WR Norwood Added
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
One week after signing tackle Winston Justice to a 4-year contract extension, the Eagles announced a 6-year deal with tight end Brent Celek that will keep him with the team through 2016.
A source close to the situation said Celek will make $33 million over the life of the contract, with $11 million in bonus money.
"I'm happy that I can spend the rest of my career here, hopefully," Celek said.
Meanwhile, with only three healthy wideouts, assuming DeSean Jackson sits Sunday with a concussion, the Eagles made a roster move Tuesday. Former Penn State wideout Jordan Norwood is up from the practice squad and corner Ramzee Robinson is cut.
Is this a good deal for Celek? The average is $5.5 million per year, with incentives, and last offseason, you could franchise a tight end for $4.62 million, so by current standards, certainly. The potential problem is the familiar one the Birds have faced many times in these situations -- is Celek going to feel underpaid, say, four years from now?
Of course, he gets $11 million in security, in a league where contracts aren't guaranteed and a player can suffer a career-ending injury at any time.
"I'll tell you right now that I'm set and I'm happy with my deal," Celek said. "I can promise you that I won't be up here complaining about my deal (in a few years), because they put trust in me by signing me early and giving me financial security for the rest of my life. I owe it to them to play out my deal."
The Eagles said they have now signed 22 players on the current roster (including players on injured reserve) to multiple contracts. Twenty-two players are signed through 2012 and beyond.
"Obviously, everybody talks about the financial aspects of it, but it’s nice, we always say this before the draft, before free agency, it’s nice to have basically your core group of guys locked up one way or another and not have to go out into free agency or the draft saying we need this position, we need that position," general manager Tom Heckert said. "That’s when the mistakes happen. The more guys we can have under contract and obviously the young guys and the guys we expect to be here for a long time, it’s the best case scenario.”
Asked about the team's philosophy on long-term extensions, general manager Tom Heckert said: "We're taking some of the risk, and so is [Celek]. "
Celek is one of four players from the Eagles' 2007 draft class still on the roster. Celek was a fifth-round pick. The others are second-rounders Kevin Kolb and Victor Abiamiri and third-rounder Stewart Bradley.
Celek has emerged as one of the NFL’s top tight ends in 2009, ranking tied for seventh in receptions (54), fifth in yards (601), and tied for fourth in touchdowns (5) among all tight ends. His reception and touchdown totals also lead the team.
Celek earned the starting job this season after a strong postseason performance in 2008, when he led the team with 19 receptions and three touchdowns. He set a franchise playoffs record with his 10-catch performance in the NFC Championship game at Arizona.
For his career, Celek has played in all 43 games (22 starts) since entering the league, posting 97 catches for 1,097 yards and seven touchdowns. His reception and yardage total have improved in each of his three seasons.
Celek suffered a thumb strain against Washington, which he termed torn ligaments. Celek said he "should be OK for this week." He wasn't wearing any sort of wrapping on his thumb during the press conference.
thingfish...this is the NFL. thre's no such thing as long term security. if he starts playing like LJ Smith, the eagles can cut him and not pay him the rest of his deal. win-win.— djacobs5582- Good move to lock up a talented young tight end. Celek shows delivers on all the potential LJ seemed to have had. A tough kid and a good fit for Philly.— mdkelly99
- Great move, get Avant next and redo D-Jax's and we will have a great receiving corps for the next 5-7 years, who would have ever thought that would happen?— cgrant
- kelprod, let's see you catch some passes with your hand all screwed up..the guy has been having a very good year, so lets give him a break...though good point hillbillybirds fan- it drives me nuts when guys get the security, then complain when others come along and get more money...though with NFL contracts, the key is how much is guaranteed, which isnt mentioned here...— jim715
Hurrah for Captain Morgan! Great move.— Richard Saunders- Hahahaha. hillbillybirdsfan, so true.— MVKrum
- To all the doofuses who are talking about the dropped balls....he partially tore a couple of ligaments in his hand, went to the sideline, got it wrapped and came back in the game. Lemme see one of you chumps try to catch a cold with an injury like that.— stonemason
- i agree that he is better than LJ, however it is quite amusing that he he has his worst game of his young career and gets rewarded with a contract ext. What was it 4 or 5 dropped passes agaisnt Washington? Whats the name of the TE they drafted this year with the bad knee? I cant remember his name right now but I bet if he responds well to the knee surgery by Dr. Andrews he will be giving Celek a run for the starting job when he is healthy.— Atlas
Atlas, see stonemason, who is 100% correct.— tpizza
Comment removed.- modernday mesh, I agree! I love Brent, but I was at the game Sunday and he couldn't catch a cold. Hope he redeems himself this week. he's my man crush1 LOL!— phillynupe4
- "The potential problem is the familiar one the Birds have faced many times in these situations -- is Celek going to feel underpaid, say, four years from now?" Players always feel underpaid. Doesn't matter if they sign a 1 year contract or a 6 year contract. You cross that bridge when you get to it. You don't stop giving out multi-year deals to good young players because you're afraid 4 years down the road, they may want to re-negotiate. It's the NFL. Guys can get career-ending injuries on pretty much any play. A lot of things can happen in 4 years. They may want to cut Celek in 4 years. They are rewarding the guy for his talent level now and his projected talent level. If he wants to holdout in 4 years, then they'll deal with it then. No sit around worrying about it now.— JimG
- Celek deserves it! Everyone have bad games; a career is not defined by low points only; Celek had lot more high points than low points in last year and half.— Seed
- KK is not going anywhere; there is no need to rush unless AJ Feeley becomes interested in Eagles as back up again. Eagles will have a decision to make at that point.— Seed
- Let's pull your thumb back until the nail is touching your wrist then fire a 70mph piece of pigskin at your hands and see how may you'll catch.— tommy_the_k
