Eagles cut Curtis and Howard
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles cut Curtis and Howard
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles continue to release aging players with expensive contracts.
To no surprise, the team announced today that it has cut wide receiver Kevin Curtis and defensive end Darren Howard.
Curtis, 31, was due to earn a $1.1 million roster bonus in early June. The 33-year-old Howard was slated to earn a $1 million bonus today. Curtis' 2010 base salary was to be $3.4 million; Howard's $3.5 million. Curtis was signed through 2012. Howard had a contract that expired in 2011. Of course, contracts aren't guaranteed in the NFL.
Both players were once highly-touted free agent signings, but in the end were mild disappointments.
"Darren Howard has been one of our most productive and versatile members of our defense in the last couple of years,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “He is nothing but a solid player, leader and person on and off the field."
Howard recorded 6.5 sacks last season and 10 the year before. Curtis was hurt most of last season and for a good part of the 2008 season.
"Kevin is one of the classiest players I have ever been around," Reid said. "He's the type of player and person we like to build our team with. We just feel good about the young core of receivers we have on our team at this point."
Howard joined the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 and played in all 64 regular season games and six postseason contests. During his four-year tenure in Philadelphia, he registered 22.5 sacks among his 122 tackles.
Curtis signed with Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent in 2007 and caught 116 passes for 1,577 yards and eight touchdowns in 28 games.
In his first season with the Eagles he was the team's leading receiver with 77 receptions for 1,110 yards.
Since the last week of February, the team has released or traded running back Brian Westbrook, linebacker Will Witherspoon, wide receiver Reggie Brown, defensive end Chris Clemons, guard Shawn Andrews, Curtis and Howard.
With the uncapped year and the potential for a lockout next season, the Eagles are obviously ridding themselves of unproductive players with long-term escalating deals.
and no one cares....- So where is all this money going to be spent? Discounts on season tickets? :-)— petergou
- How are we going to replace 6.5 sacks?— ajcash
- Cole at RDE, Bunk & Patt at DT's, Dixon backup, newguy at LDE, Parker backing up, Abiramiri somewhere, maybe Gocong stays to play joker, special teams and depth at SAM....Birds are cutting vets though, Curtis gone too...looks like Lurie is taking advantage of having no minimum salary this year. Who's next? If you're dead money, you're gone; Brown, Curtis, Howard, Westbrook, Andrews...thats probably 15 mill saved right?— Bleue
- Is it awful if they take advantage of the non-capped year to rid themselves of some mistake contracts? I don't see the sense in overspending on guys "just to make a splash." They're not going to be un-capped forever
- Can't wait to read Peter Pan Spadaro's spin on this. "Pedal to the Metal". The little puke...— wolves
- Offensive lineman and another safety perhaps????— dr.elektrika
- petergou... get a clue it's called business. Every team does this.— bobf876
- more money going into Lurie's pocket, he was really right about "gold standard".... too bad that doesn't mean the product on the field— fthebirds
- This is just business . . . cutting payroll . . in preparation for a lock out in 2011 . . this is the exact time to cut . . no cap means no cap hit for many . . Banner must be doing the irish jig over at novacare— ingy9
- mcNabb's the next one out. Im gonna frame that newspaper that day.— Pheagles
I'm glad they are getting rid of dead weight. One more Andrews to go!- The Eagles are really cleaning house. Curtis has been a non-contributor for a while now but Howard was fairly productive as an extra DE and nickel D tackle. After losing Babin and cutting Howard we will need to well in this years draft to replenish the depth along the D line.— PhillyTru
- Very sorry to see White Lightning get the boot. I hope his injuries are behind him and perhaps he will be part of the Iggles plans at a reduced pay schedule.— TBear
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