BROWN SAYS OTHER EAGLES FEEL THE SAME WAY
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BROWN SAYS OTHER EAGLES FEEL THE SAME WAY
Bob Brookover
Cornerback Sheldon Brown, still plenty steamed about his contract situation, said this morning that he knows he's not the only player on the Eagles' roster feeling underpaid and underappreciated."Without a doubt there are going to be more problems," Brown said this morning. "I'm not the first guy and I'm not going to be the last guy. What's the incentive for guys like Trent Cole and Mike Patterson to play above their heads? Everybody's situation is different and everybody handles their business in a different way. This situation could have been handled in a different way. I was forced to put it out there."
The veteran cornerback said his decision to go public with his trade request and contract dispute was triggered by team president Joe Banner's unwillingness to recognize that a dispute existed.
"Joe did an interview with 610 (WIP) and he said my contract has not been presented as an issue," Brown said. "I take that personal. My agent (Jason Chayut) has been talking to him for four months. (Banner) was throwing him off to some guy I don't even know."
Chayut, according to Brown, was told to talk to Andrew Brandt, who was hired by the Eagles this offseason to help with salary-cap matters.
Brown said his invitation to go public about his dispute came when Banner said Sunday that he had contacted the Buffalo Bills about the availability of Jason Peters while the left tackle was in the midst of a holdout from training camp last summer.
"What's my only option?" Brown said. "That's my key to the exit. Joe was going to deny until he dies there is not a problem. He forced my hand to make a statement and make a statement in a strong way. It has been like a slap in the face."
Brown also addressed the predictable backlash from some fans who are upset that a person making $2 million next season can complain about their contract in these troubled economic times.
"Everybody is saying this is only about the money and that I don't know what's going on in the world," Brown said. "Don't you think I have family members who live in the real world? Don't you think I have family that has struggled in this recession? I'm not worried about how people feel about me. When I'm done playing football, I'm going back to South Carolina and I won't have to listen to 610 (WIP) or Joe Banner. Everybody has the right to their opinion, but if you think it's about the money, you're crazy."
Brown acknowledged that the six-year contract extension he signed in 2004 was a fair deal, but he said the economic climate of the NFL changed drastically with a new collective bargaining agreement in 2006.
"When I did the deal, I knew it was a good deal," he said. "Nobody could anticipate that the CBA was going to go up 40 to 50 percent. Nobody wants to talk about the owners being billionaires and how they won't open their books."
Brown said his current salary ranks 36th among NFL cornerbacks, but it wasn't clear if he was talking about this year's salary or the average value of his deal. He said he's not trying to become the highest-paid cornerback in the game.
"It's not like I'm trying to get near the top of the tier," Brown said. "I want them to pay me somewhere in the middle of the pack."
The Eagles, in a statement yesterday, said they have no intention of reworking Brown's deal or trading him. So where does that leave the cornerback? Will he boycott the mandatory camp scheduled to begin May 1? Will he boycott the voluntary camps later this spring? Will he hold out of training camp? His hope remains that the Eagles will trade him this weekend, which is an unlikely scenario.
Brown said he's flying back to his home in South Carolina Thursday.
"I have considered (holdouts)," he said. "I'll deal with that stuff when it comes around. I'm really not in the right state of mind to talk about it right now. I didn't want it to get to this point. I tried to handle this in a professional way."
Comments (187)
All the Eagles players need to do is look at Brian Westbrook - if you legitimately outplay your contract, and if you make yourself indespensible to the team, AND if you keep things civil with the team, you're going to get paid big time. Sheldon Brown is not generally seen as the best DB on the team (most would rank Asante Samuel and Quentin Mikell above him). Learn this lesson, rookies - you can either: A) take a contract extension early and risk missing out on bigger money later (like Lito or Sheldon) or B) you can pass on a big contract with the belief that you're going to keep playing at a high level and make big money in Free Agency. Of course, you could get hurt, your play could decline, and you could end up paid close to the veteran minimum (like L.J. Smith). ------------- Unless you're really one of the best on the team (and in the NFL) at your position, I really, really don't want to hear you crying. That means you, Sheldon. ------- You think things are so good for Lito Sheppard? He's in a situation now where he HAS to stay really healthy and play really well this year, otherwise he misses out on the big bonuses, and he might have been better off (in the long run) staying with the Eagles. I'll be curious to see how that turns out for him.— knighn- This is not good for the Eagles. First the Dawkins drama, then Tra Thomas and now the remaining leader of the defense is not happy. There is definitely a problem between players and management in Eagles nation. We are talking players with good character here, not the TO's of the world.— EL Zorro
- There's *always* drama on every team, every year. Until the NFL establishes guaranteed contracts like other sports do, there will be the huge "phantom" contracts and continuing player/manager disputes over re-doing contracts. By the way, the first comment about the Westbrook example is a great one.— reb
- "I tried to handle this in a professional way". Earth to Sheldon, no you didn't. Calling out your bosses publicly will get you nowhere, not with this regime. Unless you start doing sit ups on your lawn. You signed a fair contract at the time, by your own admission, and if you or your agents were so blind not to see that salaries would go up over time, then shame on all of you. It was great at the time, now you feel "disrespected"?? See you at Lehigh.— deanwermer
- Who does this guy think he is? 2 comments that REALLY bother me: 1)"I'm not the first guy and I'm not going to be the last guy. What's the incentive for guys like Trent Cole and Mike Patterson to play above their heads?"...What's the incentive? Why do you need any incentive other thnn the more than generous paycheck you get for playing a kid's game? You sound like a little brat Sheldon! 2)"When I'm done playing football, I'm going back to South Carolina and I won't have to listen to 610 (WIP) or Joe Banner. Everybody has the right to their opinion, but if you think it's about the money, you're crazy."...My answer to you is good riddance. It's not about the money...that's hilarious.— bostoneagle104
- These athletes make sick complaining about money and they already made millions! They sign these contracts and now want to change the terms in the middle of it. A contract is a contract. You must exceed expectations fromt he contract and maybe management will entertain the idea of a new one. I agree with the Eagles management 100%. Besides, Sheldon still has fours years left on the contract. Sheldon do your or in fact exceed expectations. He shoudl be glad he has a job making millions while there are many people out there without one in this economy. What his Sheldon thinking so because the CBA changes every NFL tema should change all players salary?? Desean Jackson will have a easy time getting his extention because he exceeds expectations. Hopefully, he will continue this season.— knmcmahon
- Pay the 8 million you owe the city you thief Laurie and Banner. How could anyone root for this organization.— Joseph060701
- “Everybody has the right to their opinion, but if you think it's about the money, you're crazy."… so asking for more money, is not about the money… it’s about?!?! And, “Brown said his current salary ranks 36th among NFL cornerbacks”… "It's not like I'm trying to get near the top of the tier," Brown said. "I want them to pay me somewhere in the middle of the pack."… so let’s see, 32 teams, 2 starting corners per team, equals 64 starting corners… you’re ranked 36th… yep, right in the middle… SO QUIT YER B!TCHIN!!!!— oTTo the CzAR
- Sheldon says it's not about the money, but the money is what he's complaining about. Maybe I'm simple-minded, and just don't get it. He feels slighted that Joe Banner lied, and I understand that. I understand that he feels underpaid, although that was his choice. I also made a bad choice, and my 401K has lost so much value that I will have to work many years past the time I thought I could retire. That's the gamble he took by taking the contract in 2004 that was the safe way out. Sheldon, go to practice and demonstrate that your worth way more money. THAT's what will getyou a new contract.— dlscholt
- Actually I sick that Lurie is a billionaire. And funny owners won't open their books. Get ready for a strike coming up soon. Has there ever been a character question on Brown before, cricket, cricket. Nope. Funny how people get mad at players who earn the OWNERS billions and billions of dollars and get made when said players ask for more. Mark my words a strike is looming. NFL teams began furloughing and laying off personnel last year in anticipation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The NFL owners/mgmt is posturing for the new deal that they will op out of after the year. Players may be posturing soon as well (like Brown/Bouldin).— scphillyguy
- Hey Sheldon....YOU signed a contract. Some of these guys apparently don't understand what a contract is. Does this mean that players who "underperform" their contracts have to give their teams money back? I think Jevon Kearse owes the Eagles money. How many games did Lito Sheppard miss? I think Sheppard owes the Eagles money.— p-diddy
- "What's the incentive for guys like Trent Cole and Mike Patterson to play above their heads?" I dunno Sheldon...how about professional integrity?— djsaitta
- a bigger crime is Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews making more than Shawn Andrews. It is difficult for players to respect Joe Banner. Lurie needs to realize that.— Sports4Life
- Of course it's not about money. It's about "respect", and "respect" is measured in.....money, of course.— p-diddy
- I like Sheldon and he has done a great job for the Eagles. I believe the real problem is there does not seem to be a true understanding between labor (the players) and management (the front offices of all the teams). This is not about owners making billions that they either choose or not choose to share with the players, it is about when do players deserve to have their contracts revisited. Why not make it part of the collective bargaining agreement that a player who has performed at a certain level in so many years since their last contract can seek renegotiation. Everyone else, shut up and play! Of course, if I am a player, I probably think my worth to the team is more than management does. That's how it is in any business, and the NFL is a business. Another solution could be to keep salaries from being made made public. In my business, each employee's salary is personal information. You don't always get paid what you think you are worth, rather you get what you can negotiate. Some times you are lucky enough to be paid more than you are actually worth. I don't think Seldon can win this one.— Bill_C
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