Sheldon gets paid; Asante's tackling
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Sheldon gets paid; Asante's tackling
Daily News staff
The trade of Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown to Cleveland last month was contingent on Brown agreeing to a restructured contract with the Browns, something the Eagles were unwilling to offer.
Details of that contract have emerged with the key point being a $5 million signing bonus that Brown, 31, received after the trade, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. The Browns did not extend the deal beyond its original expiration in 2012, but added the bonus and made some minor adustments.
The contract essentially becomes a 3-year, $15.25 million deal with base salaries of $2.5 million in 2010, $3.5 million in 2011 and $4.25 million in 2012, plus the bonus.
Brown is fighting for a starting spot with first-round pick Joe Haden and Eric Wright.
Brown's expected repacement as the starter opposite Asante Samuel is Ellis Hobbs. The Eagles opted not to use a high draft pick on a cornerback, selecting Kentucky's Trevard Lindley in the fourth round.
As Paul Domowitch wrote after the draft, the Eagles' cornerback situation will be a focus of questions heading into the season:
"A ballhawk who can't tackle and doesn't like to play press coverage (Samuel). An undersized guy coming off a serious neck injury (Hobbs). A rookie with durability issues and without elite speed (Lindley).
"A 'tweener coming off his second ACL tear in as many seasons (Marlin Jackson) and may or may not have lost a step. Another 'tweener with so-so speed who was drafted as a corner, but was moved to safety (Macho Harris).
"On the other side of the line in 2010, a Murderer's Row list of opposing quarterbacks, including seven guys who threw at least 26 touchdown passes last season. Buckle your seat belts. If the pass rush isn't as good as Reid hopes it will be, it could be a bumpy ride."
As you might expect, the subject of Samuel's tackling was brought up during the Media Chalk Talk with the Eagles' coordinators at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday night.
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said Samuel "personally recognizes" that tackling is a weakness and he said the coaches are working with him on it to improve.
Asked how a veteran player could be lacking in a basic area, McDermott said that coaches can never get away from teaching fundamentals.
McDermott said there are three kinds of coaches: guys who teach scheme, guys who teach fundamentals and guys who teach both. He said he hopes to be a guy who teaches both.
The window for this team has officially closed!— marst88- Stop your worrying. This is the most talented roster in the NFL. What's that? Oh that was last season's brilliant revelation? The Tonner can't wait to hear what genius comes out of Joe "I may have gotten beat up everyday in high school but look at me now" Banner's mouth.
- One way to help a questionable defense is for the offense to stay on the field longer this coming year. The quick strike scoring was exciting but poor third down conversion rates meant a lot of short, three and out drives. Sometimes a good defense is to keep the opposing offense on the sidelines.— gtmguy
- I really don't see why the defense should be significantly worse than last year. They lost Sheldon Brown, but they get Stewart Bradley back in addition to a bunch of new players. Plus, the pass rush should be significantly better. Last year, they had a slightly above average defense (despite the two Dallas games at the end). Losing Sheldon Brown, who wasn't even that great in coverage, is going to automatically make the defense "flat out stink"?— clonewolf
- The linebackers will be better with Bradley back. Sims may be an upgrade there as well. The D-line has a chance to be better - certainly it will more guys with a "high motor". Allen should help the DBs. Brown was solid, but I don't believe his loss will make much difference unless there are injuries. It wasn't like he was a shut down corner.
- lostinphilly...you must be lost. he plays for the browns. typical philly fan not understanding what is going on...— crohnkiller
@ Caz - stick with the 5 bashing if that helps you feel better but this team will be lucky to win 6 games this year. Then who will you blame? I know who you won't blame, Andy Reid, Joe Banner, Howie Roseman or Jeff Lurie.- @ Caz - stick with the 5 bashing if that helps you feel better but this team will be lucky to win 6 games this year. Then who will you blame? I know who you won't blame, Andy Reid, Joe Banner, Howie Roseman or Jeff Lurie.
- Lito Sheppard was better than Brown. Brown also got called for pass interference or gave up big plays all the time, glad he is gone. It's amazing they have no plan at CB & RB. No playoffs this year. Palmyra21 it was #5's fault in a way, if they didn't have to be out there 75% of the time because #5 couldn't sustain a drive they might have been rested enough to make plays.— lgdoran
- Any chance Eagles go after FS Atogwe after June 1st when he'll become a free agent? He's a potential pro bowler on a good defense who can be had relatively cheap?— Ascher
- One problem that seems to occur every year is cap management and taking huge risks by trying to convert players to different positions and ending up getting burnt. One year it was kick/punt return, another year it was fullback, another year it was linebacker. Now it appears they are doing the same with cornerback. Each time it has backfired horribly which lost games. This year one or two losses because of ineptitude at CB would make it very difficult to make the playoffs. Seems like they never learn.— shoedaman
- This defense is gonna get shredded this year. The offense can put up points and may win a few shootouts against the lesser teams. But the absolute failure to address the CB position will be the major reason for a 5-11 campaign. Just one man's prediction ...— Tacklebury
- One problem that seems to occur every year is cap management and taking huge risks by trying to convert players to different positions and ending up getting burnt. One year it was kick/punt return, another year it was fullback, another year it was linebacker. Now it appears they are doing the same with cornerback. Each time it has backfired horribly which lost games. This year one or two losses because of ineptitude at CB would make it very difficult to make the playoffs. Seems like they never learn.— shoedaman
- I have said it since the draft - we do NOT have enough quality at CB and it will absolutely kill us this year. we will end up getting burned time after time until the owners recognize what we are missing on the D side. Any WR with enough speed is going to blow by these guys for the big YAC. Undersized DE's are not going to get it done all the time— Tom Man
- Sheldon Brown = over-rated. Never made a pro-bowl, almost lost the Denver game single-handedly last year. Gave up the winning touchdown, to Dallas at home last year. Yea we really needed to keep him on the field. Time to give someone else a shot. We can replace mediocre easy enough.— brickhead
