Westbrook can be free agent after next season
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Westbrook can be free agent after next season
Daily News staff
Nothing like a slow early season Tuesday in Eagles land. Along with Shawn Andrews' move to injured reserve, Michael Vick's addition to the active roster and Hank Baskett's release comes this ...
ESPN.com is reporting that an option in Brian Westbrook's contract has been declined by the team and that the running back can now become a free agent after the 2010 season. An Eagles executive confirmed the report to the Daily News' Paul Domowitch.
Citing sources, the report said Westbrook, who would turn 32 just before the 2011 season, was to be due a $7 million option for 2010, but the option was not excercised, according to a revision of the contract. His deal gave the team the right to extend the deal to 2013.
The executive said both Westbrook and agent Todd France understood that this probably was money he was never going to see, and that he would become a free agent after 2010. France has not returned message from the Daily News.
According to the report, Westbrook's base salary increased from $4 million to $5.85 million this season and goes to $7.25 million next season. His cap numbers increase to $13.25 million in 2009 and $10.59 million in 2010.
Westbrook signed a complicated 5-year, $32 mllion extension last August after protracted negotiations and a change in agent to France. The deal was 52 pages of addendeums, the parties said at the time.
Before the deal, Westbrook was due to make about $9 million over 2008 and 2009 non-guaranteed. The extension guaranteed $13 million in that period, a source close to the situation told the Daily News at the time. He should make about $21 million over the next 3 years, and could make as much as $24 million, the source said. The deal included three extra seasons at prohibitively high numbers, the source said, though Joe Banner had indicated the first extra year might actually be used.
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WHAT ANDY SAID, WHAT ANDY MEANT
This is usually a staple of Monday afternoons here on Eagletarian, but in light of all the news, we have not had a chance to post it.
On whether you’ve had any previous experiences with a quarterback who’s played with a broken rib:
What Andy said: ``I have. But it was later in the year. Rib injuries are all different. They’re hard to compare. This one is displaced a little bit and pretty painful. I know other guys that have played with broken ribs. We’ve just got to see.’’
What Andy meant: ``Well, Favre played with a broken rib once when I was with the Packers. But that was back in his Vicodin days when he was sucking down those babies like they were Tic Tacs. He would’ve played with a gunshot wound to the chest back then.’’
On whether he thought the hit on McNabb by Panthers defensive tackle Damione Lewis was a cheap shot:
What Andy said: ``I can’t say anything on that. You get those big guys with that 300-plus pounds motoring, it’s a little hard to stop. Sometimes they come in a little bit late.’’
What Andy meant: ``I’m gonna give him a pass. As a longtime fat guy, it’s easier getting a cruise liner to make a sudden stop. I almost killed our dog once when he bolted in front of me during a midnight-snack run to the fridge.’’
On how Winston Justice has managed to bounce back from his ``Nightmare At the Meadowlands’’ experience in 2007:
What Andy said: ``I put him in a bad situation that game. We were on the road. He’s going against an All-Pro player. I should’ve given him help. I put him out there on an island by himself. He was playing left tackle. The tight end was on the right side the majority of the game. That was a short corner and I shouldn’t have put him in that situation. And we used a silent count up there and he wasn’t as familiar with that.’’
What Andy meant: ``Clearly not one of my better coaching moments.’’
On the number of missed tackles by the defense vs. Carolina:
What Andy said: ``One thing we need to go back and work on, we had too many missed tackles early and late. We tackled well in second and third (quarters). The first and fourth we missed some tackles we should’ve made.’’
What Andy meant: ``Asante Samuel continues to have trouble with the concept of using his arms as a tackling aid.’’
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To read our report on today's other developements, click here.
Thank you Brian, again. If Trotter hadn't gone to the Redskins, you wouldn't have dislocated that elbow, and we'd have that Super Bowl. I hope you have many great years left. Thank you.— hallux- Back to that "two years to win the SuperBowl" presser. Joe Banner and Lurie are going to close the window after 2010. Reid, McNabb and Westy are all up. We have two more years to enjoy the Best Football this town has seen since the 40's. It's Championships or bust for Lurie, that's why he bought the team. I still remember what he said at Andy Reids introduction press conference..."Not just one, but, many championships to the city. I think his patience has run out...— eagledon
Comment removed.- Funny— TDW 21
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- True Dierte, the NFLPA contract is up after 2010. Teams are going to wait on signing aging vets, regardless of how much gas is left in their tank. Westbrook makes the team better, just ask Justice.— Joe Funk
Better to release a player a year too early than a year too late. Westbrook has been great for this franchise for a number of years.— bigcityballer- that's how football is. so westbrook will be overpaid for the next 2 seasons and will underproduce. he will be complimented by shady so it's no big deal. earlier in westy's career his performance far outweighed his pay. it all evens out.— philly57
- are you westbrook haters on CRACK?? he's been the best player in our offense since 2004, BY FAR! yes, more important than Donovan, more important than TO (when he was here)... All this talk, now resurfacing, about how well Garcia played when he replaced McNabb a couple of years ago - the thing is Garcia didn't replace McNabb, WESTBROOK DID!! They stopped throwing 70% of the time and started running!! Forget practice or nagging injuries, this guy shows up on gameday and gets it done. I don't care if he ever practices. And after one preseason and a couple of carries in garbage time of the regular season opener, you're ready to annoint McCoy and show Westbrook the door???? Hey, McCoy might end up being really good; I'm an Eagles fan, I hope he does!! But to can our best offensive player of the last 5 years based on a glimpse of decent play from somebody else??? Cuh-razy. On another note - the late hit on McNabb in the endzone. The "momentum" argument might be relevant if McNabb had been down on the field anywhere between the goal lines; but 2-3 yards deep in the endzone??? There is no scenario in which you would EVER tackle a runner 2-3 yards deep in the endzone, because, as we all know, as soon as you cross the plane, the play is over. If McNabb is down at the 1 yard line, or right at the goal line, maybe; but 2-3 yards deep? It was def a dirty hit, and I didn't even mention the deliberate knee to the back.— bobby-d
- Great comment bobby-d. I think that some people on here just like talking smack because unsatified with thier lives or they just want to fire off a slavo. Looking bakc on it the Eagles did change their whole philosphy by running the ball with Westbrook. For whatever reason Reid never runs the ball when McNabb is the QB except for that 2003 season (3-headed RB).— Nothing but the truth
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- There have been times when Wstie kept this team alive and they have done worse in games when he was not active than games when McNabb was out. When his contract expires it may be after the salary cap is gone unless they can come up with a master labor contract next year.— atp2007
- Bwest has been a remarkable player for this team. and who has ever heard of a (starting)football player never taking a week off due to injury-besides Favre or Sheldon Brown? give the guy a break i hope he retires an Eagle because we all know he is dynamic on the field wherever he lines up. besides how could we have another Westbrook(McCoy) without the original to show him the ropes— Eagles4SB
