Akers, Vick Tagged; Akers' Agent 'Disappointed'
The Eagles today announced they have placed the franchise tag on QB Michael Vick and the transition tag on K David Akers.
Akers, Vick Tagged; Akers' Agent 'Disappointed'
DAILY NEWS STAFF and Les Bowen
The Eagles today announced they have placed the franchise tag on QB Michael Vick and the transition tag on K David Akers.
The Vick move was expected -- a source close to the situation had told the Daily News last month that because Vick hit incentives that raised his compensation more than 30 percent from 2009 to 2010, the team cannot negotiate a new agreement with him until it tags him (and presumably, he accepts). The Akers move came as "a surprise and a disappointment," said agent Jerrold Colton.
As Colton noted, the NFLPA is contending the tags are invalid, with the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 4 and the league expected to move into a lockout then. But the Eagles probably want to attend to all procedures the league deems necessary to retain their rights going forward, whether the tags exist in their current form in a new CBA or not.
By franchising Vick, the Eagles guarantee that he will make the average of the top 5 players at his position last season; those figures haven't been releasedi, but $20 million for 2011 might be a good guess, again, assuming there is a tag and that a long-term deal is not reached.
Vick's agent, Joel Segal, has not responded to a request for comment.
Akers, 36, is in a trickier spot than Vick, 30. Akers gave a tearful farewell address following the Birds' 21-16 wild-card round playoff loss to the Packers, in which Akers missed two field goals he normally would make, against the backdrop of his young daughter's ovarian cancer diagnosis. Eagles coach Andy Reid noted after the game that anyone who could count could figure out that the field goals cost six points in a five-point loss.
By transition tagging Akers -- a designation the team has not used since 1998, on defensive tackle Rhett Hall -- the Eagles get the right of first refusal, should he get an offer elsewhere (which, again, is not going to happen until there is a CBA.) If he plays under the tag, Akers will get a minimum offer of the avrerage of the top 10 at his position, or 120 percent of his 2010 salary, whichever is greater. Akers would seem to be in line to make close to $3 million.
Colton acknowledged that talks toward a longer term deal during the 2010 season were not productive. "We were very far apart on financial terms and structure," Colton said.
Akers is known to have lost the bulk of his savings over the past few years in an investment recommended by close friend and former teammate Koy Detmer. Triton Financial of Austin, Tx., the company in question, has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for defrauding investors. So a signing bonus, which would only come with a longer-term deal, might be important to him as a way of rebuilding his assets.
Colton said that while Akers appreciates that the tag means the Eagles want him to be their kicker in 2011, he hopes the tag will be the prelude to "an appropriate, longer-term contract" for a man who has been "a great player here for 12 years, a good citizen, loyal, who wants to finish his career here."
Here's what the team said in a release:
"Michael Vick and David Akers were two of our most valuable players last year," said head coach Andy Reid. "They were well deserving of their Pro Bowl berths and we’re happy to take this step to ensure that they’ll be back in Philadelphia next season."
Vick enjoyed his finest season as pro in 2010 with career highs in QB rating (100.2), completion percentage (62.6), and passing yards (3,018) while becoming just the 2nd player in league history to throw for 3,000+ yards, rush for 500+ yards and accrue a 100+ QB rating in one season, joining Steve Young (1992). Along the way, Vick earned a starting spot on the NFC Pro Bowl squad while garnering NFL Comeback player of the year honors.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection and the leading scorer in Eagles history (1,323 points), Akers completed his 12th season in Philadelphia in 2010 by leading the NFL in scoring with 143 points. Since 2000, Akers leads the NFL in points scored (1,312) and field goals (291) and was named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 2000s. The Eagles all-time leader in games played with 188, Akers also ranks third in league history with 134 career postseason points.
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The Eagles also announced that defensive end Trent Cole has undergone an arthroscopic "debridement" of his right elbow.
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Why do players and agents always offer the opinion that players should be paid based on what they've done in the past? The fact of the matter is that Akers was never great from 40+ yards out and now he's 36 years old. If the Eagles are okay with an older kicker that can still be reliable inside 40 yards that's their choice, but their not going to overpay for it.— Raggamonkey
Comment removed.
so because akers screwed the pooch on his investments we're supposed to feel bad for the guy?
- the overpayment of 20 mil to mcVick should have been used for the Defense,with a big name D-lineman and linebacker..if mcVick plays in 12 games as he did Last Season because of injuries he will make $1.666 mil. PER GAME..we all know he will get injured again he's a 31 YR OLD run first QB..horrible decision by BIG RED he has to go..this move will hurt the Team in the long run-book it..$1.666 mil PER GAME=not worth it...MV=0/SB...w.— wolf 4
- You are a MORON, first of all he won't be paid the 20 million. The tag is for show, more then likely they will extend him after the CBA. If there is no agreement he doesn't get paid. Say they don't keep him, he goes to another team and leads them to the SB then what? You have to franchise the guy who finished in the top 3 for MVP. I don't even know why I am responding to you, nobody listens to you. You said "book it" a year ago when McNabb was traded and "Kevin Kolb with lead the team to a SB". We all know how that went.... — bobf876
- Does anything about Koy Detmer make you think he would be a good person to listen to regarding investments? I'm sure Koy got ripped off too but this is the guy who never used to pack anything but a toothbrush when heading out for road games. Not the exactly the kind of dirtbag I would solicit advice from regarding investing my fortune. I feel bad for Akers but I am glad it happened to someone who can still easily amass another small fortune rather than someone who would be ruined for life.— Twocents
- Typical Eagles treatment of a veteran who has been a loyal trooper for so many years! It's saheds of Dawk all over again!
The Eagles make Akers a below market offer knowing he would not accept it (sound familiar? I hear B Dawk in the shadows). To punish Akers, they put this non-exclusive tag on him which only serves one purpose; it ruins a player's marketability!
You don't want the guy Reid, you went out of your way to humiliate the guy while his daughter lays in a hospital bed in CHOP's cancer ward; what more do you want? How deep does your vengenance run?
Just let the guy be a free agent; all you're doing is going out of your way to ruin his marketability. You're so transparent Reid; you make it really difficult to be a fan of this team!
I hope all free agents notice how you treat loyal veterans; you deserve for them to go elsewhere.— JBinPA - They aren't even close to the same. Dawkins was at the end of his career, you can't overpay a guy because you like him, it's a business. They tagged him because they want to keep him. He has the opportunity to test FA, the Eagles can match the offer. If he doesn't get a gig, then he get's paid 3 million next year which nearly doubles his salary from last year. Ya what a raw deal they are giving him.
PS I hope his daughter get's healthy.— bobf876 - A very fair deal for Akers, he made $1.6 million in 2010 salary, so this is a $1.4 million (or 40%) raise for him.— tagryn
Why does know one talk about the field goals Akers missed? 1. The first field goal should never have been attempted, it was a 4th and 1 situation. The wind was very strong that day. It was something like 40-50 years, with wind AGAINST him. Reid set Akers up to fail for the first kick. The second kick, yes he should have hit, but his confidence I believe was shot. Akers is one of my favorite players and the truth is we should have been able to win that game even WITHOUT his two field goals, one of which, never should have been attempted. Ugh, I hate all the turncoats that go against Akers, one of the best kickers ever to wear an Eagles uniform. Honestly, you guys suck.- Agree corporatehuman.....those that slam Akers either are idiots that don't know football or have short memories. And anyone that thinks it's as simple as saying the Eagles would have won if he had made both FG's is delusional. Even the second FG shouldn't have been attempted - it was 4th and 1 and at the time, the Eagles needed a TD and Reid didn't have enough confidence in his offense to get one yard. Akers is the best kicker in Eagles history and isn't a wimpy PK that's afraid to hit and tackle! — jimyd0315
- The call was made, Akers was on the field. Regardless of the circumstances he MISSED two field goals that would have made the difference. — DonovanMcNabb
- Who are the Eagles???— Luriesucks
- First, off-topic: Chad Johnson is not a thug, or "hoodlum". Look for a track record. It's not there. He's a good guy, a bit out-spoken, but he was speaking out about Carson Palmer. Wasn't he right all along?
Second, most importantly, Akers has been Mr. Eagles since his unceremonious arrival. Yes, his two field goals would have won it, but so would not throwing that INT at the end, or not giving up all those points to the Packers in the previous 59 minutes of the game.
I don't think Reid's comments after that game were as mean as people made it out to be.
Who knew about this Detmer thing, though? Wild stuff. Pay the man his money. His agent is just doing what an agent is supposed to do. He'll be back.— pamuckraker - Im not a huge fan of Eagles mgmt and I certainly feel for Akers daughter, its not the Eagles responsibility tp make up for yet another millionaire athlete who risked it all trying to double their millions instead of being satisfied with smaller growth of their wealth in much more secure investments. When are these guy's going to learn?— Sewellmatt
