Street-Eagles deal denied

The city yesterday denied in court that former Mayor John Street ever made a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to settle a $8 million debt to the city for less than $1 million.

The Eagles on March 20 filed details of the alleged deal in court, including affidavits from team owner Jeffrey Lurie, team president Joe Banner and an attorney who represented the city.

But in a filing submitted to Common Pleas Court yesterday, peppered with sports analogies, the city stated that Street never cut such a deal.

And they said that making the claim midway through a multi-year legal battle was akin to asking to redo a sports play.

"The Eagles would not petition, and no NFL referee would allow the Eagles to redo a play or try a different play from one done unsuccessfully earlier in the game," the filing said.

Mayor Nutter yesterday said he wanted the Eagles to pay what they owe. "The Eagles play football," Nutter said. "This is not a game, we are serious about collecting what is outstanding to us in this particular matter."

The city wanted the $8 million payment for Eagles skybox revenue from the 2000 and 2001 seasons at Veterans Stadium.

The Eagles refused to pay, blaming the city for $8 million in lost revenue after turf problems caused cancellation of a 2001 pre-season game. The city sued the Eagles in 2004.

In a court filing last month, the Eagles alleged that Street agreed to settle the dispute quietly for less than $1 million as part of the deal to build Lincoln Financial Field. Yesterday's filing by the city included an affidavit from Street denying he ever approved such a deal.

The Eagles issued a statement yesterday, saying they were ready to prove in court that they had an agreement with Street.

"If given the opportunity by the judge, we are confident that we will be able to prove that," the statement said. *