With New Deal, Justice Is Long-Term Starter
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
With New Deal, Justice Is Long-Term Starter
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Both Winston Justice and Eagles general manager Tom Heckert indicated Tuesday that Justice's new contract extension -- reportedly worth $18.15 million over four years, with a $6 million signing bonus -- makes Justice the right tackle starter going forward.
Heckert said that with Shawn Andrews essentially sitting out his second successive season with back problems, the "question isn't even relevant right now."
It will be relevant next summer, of course, which was why the question was asked. Another source said the team views the commitment to Justice as very much "a quality starter deal." At this point, sources indicate, the Eagles will view Shawn Andrews' return as a bonus, if it happens, but they certainly aren't counting on it. Shawn Andrews could end up competing with his brother Stacy for the right guard job next year (assuming either of them is healthy/good enough to beat out Nick Cole).
Justice, meanwhile, said the money was less important to him than the faith the organization was showing in him by signing him through 2013. "That actually feels better than the whole financial security part," he said. Asked about being viewed as a starter henceforth, he said: "I think so, but again, I really don't play for money ... I don't play for the next contract ... I just play to glorify God and to go out there and enjoy playing."
Justice had been scheduled to become a free agent following this season. Whether he would have been restricted or unrestricted would have depended upon whether there is a new labor deal, but now that's moot, for Justice, anyway.
Until this summer, Justice was widely considered a huge bust, after being drafted in the second round out of USC in 2006. His lone start, at left tackle in 2007 against the Giants, was a memorable disaster, as New York sacked Donovan McNabb a dozen times, at least four of the sacks charged to Justice, who was nowhere near ready to handle Osi Umenyiora.
But Justice moved back to his more natural right side, where he'd played in college, and when Andrews' bad back flared up at the start of this year's training camp, Justice got a chance few had foreseen him ever earning. He has started every game, and though he hasn't been perfect, he has been solid and unflappable, as most of the components of the line around him have shifted through various injuries and recoveries.
justice just turned 25 this season. he has the next 5 years to improve in his prime. from day 1 with the eagles to today, hes improved a ton. lets hope it continues. shows that hard work, effort, and drive get you more than all the talent in the world with no heart.— daoust555- congratulations cousin! you derserve it, keep up the good work!— forjustice20
- Great for Justice and the Eagles. He has obviously busted his tail to get to the level he is at and deserves the reward he is getting. Great job, Winston, thanks for working your tail off to help this team! We, the fans, really needed you with all the injuries and you have not let us down.— cgrant
I never blamed Justice for that debacle of a gints game. Clearly, he had to play being the backup but AR needed to put someone next to him to help block at least some of the time & call plays that didn't depend on him holding back Osi by himself. I'm happy for him. It is a good story of perseverence & that game may just have been the fire he needed to get to this level.— Mabus- billgfc (Dorothy)are you are looking for the Tin Man (Andrews Brothers).....Don't you know "if I only had a heart"!— Lamby
- It makes good sense from the team point of view, and gives great $$$ to a (surprisingly!) good starter at R-OT. He'll only get better, and just MAYBE he'll learn how to run-block too. I was just as surprised as anybody when he wasn't cut during OTA's, but you had to figure he was just a cheap insurance policy for Andy. Then the Andrews Brothers started having their problems. I thought way back before camp opened that Shawn would never play a down this year. You do NOT recover that quickly from the type of problem he is suffering through. And Stacey is still not even close to being what he was before his knee operation. I'm kinda surprised that Andy was in the belief that he could be a starter. He, more than anybody, should know that a knee freshly repaired, and not arthroscopically, would be a long time healing to the point needed to be in the NFL.And just imagine: Justice actually feels more comfortable playing on the side he played HIS WHOLE ATHLETIC LIFE!!This is one of those things that bug me about Andy....not to the point of being a hater, or wanting him gone....but it just bothers me. Good luck to both sides.....ready, get set....FIGHT!!!— TBear
- Todd pratt, the most important factor in the giants winning that super bowl was the hand of god reaching down several times in the 4th qtr of that game (and I'm not religious, just trying to find a way to explain the unexplainable). Yeah, they put together a pass rush during their hot streak at the end of that season, but they were mediocre before that, and mediocre since.— eagle1971
- this is now winstons job, if shawn comes back and is healthy next year he will be the right guard. the eagles will not be paying winston this money and extra years to be a backup— brianmick1957
- Congrats to Winston...He was the only one in town that maintained confidence in himself, and worked his way back to a starting role. He deserves everything he got.— Bobphxville
You say you "listened to us" but having loud commercials auto-play when we open the page contradicts the spirit of that statement entirely.— ICDogg
Congrats to Winston. Shawn, ya could've been a contender.— Richard Saunders- Ya, those auto play videos are really annoying.— Richard Saunders
Comment removed.- He gets props, he pulled himself off the canvas. Good job!— Living_Legend
- Comment removed.
