BROWN SAYS OTHER EAGLES FEEL THE SAME WAY
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."
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.
Oh please Sheldon..shut up and do your job. You signed a contract so honor it. I thought that when you sign a contract you stand by it. Your name on the dotted line seals the deal and you have to stand by that deal. Maybe the Eagles can trade Brown so that he can languish with another team that will be going nowhere fast. This he deserves....a new contract he does not deserve.— Constance- Where's the incentive? WHERE'S THE INCENTIVE!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME SHELDON BROWN? How about you are a FOOTBALL PLAYER. How is this team every going to bring a trophy home with attitudes like this. You let us down dude. Did you blow you last paycheck or what?— R3
- sports4life- How is it a crime those 2 guys make mroe than Shawn Andrews? Did he not miss just about all of last year and is a huge question mark this year? He is hardly has any room to argue.— davekrieg
- How many people who work for a living feel underpaid and not appreciated? I would guess to say at least 50% on the conservative side and maybe even 75%...— 93phils
- I think Sheldon needs to fire his agent. His agent seems to have negotiated a contract that Sheldon is not happy with and now he is letting Sheldon address the media in a way that makes him look like he doesn't know what he is talking about. Those aren't signs of a good agent.— jwalkmusic
- djsaitta - you hit the nail on the head. the incentive to play is because you are a man, you have pride, and that instinct to be the best. sheldon, the fact that you asked that question just goes to show that it IS all about the money. i haven't seen you make an impact play since the Reggie Bush hit. try wrapping guys up or grabbing an INT before you start mouthing off - and wait till you have 1 or 2 years left. I lost a lot of respect for you.— Mayanman
- WAH, I'm a millionaire, everyone cry for me. WAH WAH! I signed a contract and now I want more money. Join the club man, we all want more money but the problem is, you already make plenty of it. Quit your whining and play football like a man. Men don't whine, they do what they have to do. Sheldon Brown is acting like a child and should be treated as such.— DirtyBirds
- Quick Question: Following Sheldon's logic...can't the Eagles request money back from Jevon Kearse, McDougle, Reggie Brown since they have vastly UNDER performed to their contracts? Does management then get to say "where's my incentive to pay you" if you play below expectations? NO. They still have to eat those game checks and take a cap hit if they cut the player.— Joyner80
- 32 teams. Say 4 CBs per team = roughly 130 CBs in the NFL. Brown's paid 36th. Isn't that beyond middle of the pack? Whatever, they'll draft someone else and Sheldon WILL be replaced. Why overpay for someone who WILL be replaced?— tdcuse
- When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money.— mikemaddog
- What do you think his value is? a 3rd round pick? Getting rid of him makes it seem easy for players who are unhappy to get off a team...— 93phils
- "What's the incentive [to play to the best of our ability]?" You've got to be kidding. The incentive is your professional reputation. The incentive is your character. The incentive is to work hard for yor paycheck, whether it's $2 million or $20,000. I work 70 hours a week, 12 months a year as a school administrator, and I make 5% of what Sheldon makes. I do my best because I'm a professional and it's my responsibility to do my best. If someone is working only for a paycheck, he's in the wrong line of work. Sheldon signed the deal in 2004. If he's upset about the way that the owners can terminate players' contracts, take it up with his union. They signed off on this CBA, and he should be angry with them for agreeing to such a lopsided contract. Do your job, Sheldon, and quit crying.— farside37
- Dear Sheldon: In the NFL, the owners take the risk that the player underperforms but still gets to keep his bonus. The player takes the risk that he overperforms and is locked into his contract's salary. Those are the rules, you know them, and you know how they applied to Lito Sheppard. You also know that the rules don't necessarily apply to those who are special enough to break them, i.e. Brian Westbrook. Do you think you are more like Lito or Westbrook? I've got 2 words for you Sheldon... "Joselio Hanson"— CMI
- I like Sheldon but he signed a contract several years ago, got the bonus money etc...now play up to the contract and stick to it just like Joe average does in the workplace at his job. Sure we all want more money but you can't cry a few years into a deal that you want more. Play to your contract and above and earn a better deal when your contract is up. Sheldon is a good player but he's not a pro bowl player either. It's not like he's at the top of his profession and he's getting paid 30th in his position. He's not close to the top. Bottom line. play hard, work hard and you'll be rewarded when your deal is up. Until then just be a good teammate and player and keep quiet.— ynot716
"...Nobody wants to talk about the owners being billionaires and how they won't open their books." Well tough sh#t!! There are plenty of professional athletes that are involved in business interests outside of their respective sport. Theses business interests have employees that are necessary to keep the day to day operations going. What would these athletes say if those employees said, "Open your books. You have to pay us more because you make millions of dollars." I doubt they would say 'OK!' My head almost explodes everytime I here someone try to justify a demand for higher pay based on what an owner is worth. An employees pay rate is based on performance, occupational guidelines, market demand,...NOT ON WHAT THE OWNER IS WORTH!! Any athlete that wants to break his contract and demand more money because the owners are billionaires should go out and by his own team and see how easy it is.— snad264
