For Who, For Weaver?
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
For Who, For Weaver?
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
Some random thoughts while sitting around Boston waiting for a 10 p.m. basketball game (and some of those random thoughts involve the scheduling geniuses of the NCAA and CBS).
I don't know if Leonard's Weaver has great timing hitting the hole while carrying a football, but he does has great timing while backhanding the new city where he'll be working.
Weaver, signed to play fullback for the Eagles last weekend, didn't appear very excited about the prospect -- downright disappointed, in fact -- but his views got lscant attention during a busy time in which local interest was on the NCAA tournament and, of course, Andy Reid's "State of the Eggs" breakfast news conference from the NFL meetings in down-at-the-heels Dana Point, Calif.
The Eagles signed Weaver to a one-year, $1.75 million contract that could earn the fullback as much as $2.5 million if he meets incentive clauses. Good luck with that, Leonard, unless there is a clause for standing ready on the sideline.
All in all, of course, he'd rather still be a Seahawk.
"It's just been a hard deal knowing I want to be here, and I made that clear to the organization a number of times, and here it is we still can't get nothing done," Weaver told the Tacoma News-Tribune.
"And now it resorts to this," he added, "where I have to make a secondary choice, which I did. So, it makes it very tough."
Oh, no question. Having to accept a paltry $1.75 million is just a terrible insult, a fallback position that no one -- even someone who makes up verbs that don't agree with impersonal pronouns -- should not have to bear. Oh, the humanity. TO HAVE TO PLAY IN PHILADELPHIA FOR A TEAM THAT MADE THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND LEAVE THE STINKING SEAHAWKS. It is too much to take.
Leonard is going to be a man about it, though. He's going to show up and play and look for his deluxe payday in the sky. In Philly? Maybe, not that he really cares.
"It's a good opportunity to show what I can do, not only to Philly but to other teams out there," Weaver said. "And then if Philly offers a long-term deal, that would be great. But, if not, hey man, it was a great time and we move on."
I'd say he's all about Philadelphia and the Eagles. Not a bit of him that's all about Leonard Weaver. Welcome to town, Leonard. So far, your timing has been good.
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Cam someone tell #1WRneeded that Ricky Watters came from San Fran?— Nico Lange- I'm sorry, I don't see what was wrong with Weaver's statement. He didn't diss Philly and he sounds like he wanted to stay in Seattle. Sometimes its always about the team. Maybe he had some things going on in Seattle personally that he didn't want to leave. This is not news. NEXT.— eglassiter
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- Bob, half of these idiots don't realize you're one of the better sports writers and reporters this city has ever seen. Keep up the great work. I enjoy your blog.— Kenny Loggins
- He's overpaid to begin with....it's not like the birds are going to run 20+ times a game next year for him to earn his pay.— lev3472
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- So I guess in the new Amerika you shouldn't go after what you think you are worth. In the new Amerika you stand by and let everyone else decide what they think you are worth. That's swell. And if you don't get what you think you should be paid and aren't happy with management you should just shut up because there are other people (Who can't do your job) that don't have it as good as you do. Whatever. Amerika is dead.— Captainden
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- The writer owes Leonard Weaver and readers an apology. By NFL standards, the highly regarded Weaver is not overpaid. He answered questions honestly, but now has to deal with a writer who is obviously not ready for prime time.— tacklinjoe
- come on man, this is not even a story...the guy played in Seattle and was upset to leave. Dawkins was crying on comcast sportsnet interview about leaving philly, should denver fans be upset over that? Stop trying to make a story where there is none. Typical philly writer— meaned
- Growing up in Philly, yea it hurts a little. I lived in Seattle for many years, so it also hurts as a SEAHAWKS season ticket holder, that you would say the Stinkin Seahawks, when except for last year, we dominated you this decade, get your fact straight, and also, at least when we lost a super bowl, it was widely aknowledged that we got HOSED by refs. Whereas your loses were honestly EARNED!!!!!! Oh, I only changed teams in 1996 when it almost left, and I wanted to support a team in the city I moved to. A good reason to switch, so you can't call me a POSER!!— jjoeagle
- Didn't Dawkins say he wanted to stay in Philly , but was forced to look elsewhere?— Anthony77
- This is a pathetic column. Bob Ford should lose his job after writing such a mundane article. This is an atrocity to the journalism profession. Get a life!— dsh129
- This is a pathetic column. Bob Ford should lose his job after writing such a mundane article. This is an atrocity to the journalism profession. Get a life!— dsh129
