BROWN SAYS HE'LL REPORT FRIDAY; EAGLES SIGN NINE UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
BROWN SAYS HE'LL REPORT FRIDAY; EAGLES SIGN NINE UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
Bob Brookover
Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown still isn't happy about his contract situation and he has no regrets about going public with his trade request a week ago today.That doesn't mean he's about to boycott the team's mandatory post-draft camp at the NovaCare Complex that opens Friday.
"Yeah, I'll be there," Brown said before boarding a plane in South Carolina this afternoon.
The Eagles' veteran cornerback said he has no intention of being a disruptive force in the locker room.
"I didn't become a villain all of a sudden," he said. "I'm a professional. I've been in contact with Troy (Vincent)."
At the end of Vincent's eight-year run as a starting cornerback with the Eagles, he was unhappy about his contract situation, but he never protested by missing practice time during the offseason or training camp. Some players in the past -- Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor and Lito Sheppard -- have attended the team's mandatory post-draft camp, then skipped voluntary workouts later in the spring.
After this weekend's mandatory camp, the voluntary full-squad workouts are scheduled from June 2-5 and 8-11.
Brown was asked about a comment he made last week on 610 WIP radio in which he said, "They don't want me in that locker room."
"You can take that in another light," he said. "I'm the leader on the football team and it's bad for players to see me in a situation where I'm not happy. But I'm not going to blow up the NovaCare Complex. I'm not going to be one of the guys who puts on show week in and week out when the media comes to my locker."
Brown said he's also not worried about having to compete for a starting job with Ellis Hobbs, who the Eagles acquired for two fifth-round draft picks yesterday.
"I've always competed for my job," he said. "That doesn't matter to me. I have respect for Ellis. He's a guy who has played through injuries like me. He tore up his groin and didn't miss any time. He's a hard worker and he's trying to establish himself."
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Sunday he didn't feel the need to explain the acquisition of Hobbs to Brown.
"Well I am not going to go through and call every player here," Reid said. "I can't do that. He knows he is on the team, so I don't feel it's necessary to do that."
Brown, who has four years left on a six-year contract extension he signed in 2004, said he didn't need a call from Reid.
"Coach knows me," he said. "That doesn't need to be done. You don't have to do that kind of stuff."
I am sick and tired of these professional athletes complaining about contracts. If you are a "professional" then honor the contract you signed and if you don't like it then don't sign it in the first place. I wish I could do that everytime I was unhappy in my job. Sheldon, Andrews and all the rest of these athletes should zip it. he isn't complaining about the signing bonus he got and offering to give that back. is he.— Chookie- Sheldon will shape up mostly because he has to. He did hurt his reputation as a solid team guy a bit with all of this, but he can redeem himself by getting to work and shutting up. I don't see him pulling a Lito.— gaitherfan
- believe it or not, the signing of sam swank, the K from wake is a very good signing. very very good— belocki
Comment removed.- you cant blame brown for trying to get more money. he went public, it backfired, and now he is being a man about it and reporting to camp. i have no problem with it. if you knew that a new co-worker of yours made a lot more $$, you would probably try to get a raise too.— FireAndyReid
- OK, I can't believe I'm gonna defend this time but I was thinkin'....If I was feeling unappreciated by my employer and worked at a corporation with salaries based on performance (or lack of) and media mongrels were in my office every day....I think at some point I'd probably run my mouth...so would you.....just sayin'...— wvbillz
- Forget Brown send him to the Bengals, Browns or Lions and see how much fun it is going to work each week and being booed because you are always losing. Hey Sheldon just stay in North Carolina, we don't want you here.— LGbalsac
- Comment removed.
- Green Acres is good, but he loses his spot on the all-name team to Sam Swank!— doggybag
- Green Acres is good, but he loses his spot on the all-name team to Sam Swank!— doggybag
- I don't care if he's from BYU - I don't want ANYONE named DALLAS on this team!— doggybag
- And you people thought Sheldon lost a step in his backpedal. If Sheldon could backpedal like this in games, he would have made at least one Pro Bowl by now. I agree with the above person who commented that there is nothing like seeing your replacement to change your attitude about work. Great move on Hobbes Birds!— PhillyPhantastico
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- I like Sheldon, but I don't see his position. If you want to take the team up on the offer of garaunteed money early in your career to mitigate the risk of an injury or poor play, then you can't complain on the back end of the deal. I don't remember the numbers, but I think he's made $10 million so far? I think he's been fairly compensated for a better-than-average CB. Lets face it, he has never been the best DB on the team during his time here. Players have to stop looking at average salary and simply average out the total pay over the life of the deal. You made your cash Sheldon - with the team baring the risk if you got hurt or turned out to be a bust - now be a man and honor your committement.— ToughLove
- Sheldon Brown is a professional and will do his job..he always has and always will......not sure I would trust any of you stepfords to be that professional after your boss ignored you and then tried to pass you off to a 3rd level flunky in HR, then tried to make you the bad guy in the media.....yet you buy into the spin put out by the bean counter......I think you would whine and cry like a baby....and call for unionization and your shop steward.....Being respectful to an employee or to a boss is not a hard thing to do, unless your are an arrogant person....and since joe has lots of flunkys to do his work, you would think he would have time to talk with a loyal employee....be it Sheldon or BDawk.....It is only common sense you knuckleheads...— nuggett
