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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Honesty is something this organization has lacked for years; he'll be gone in a year anyways....— craigaroo74- i like his honesty. if he's good, fans won't care, if not...— ag
- 5isaking... Dude, what's wrong with you? First off thanks for sharing your thoughts on Westbrook and letting the rest of us know that your a moron. Secondly, that kid the Eagles fired was physically challenged not mentally(which is something I'm sure you know alot about). And finally if "Philthadelphia" is so awful LEAVE. I'll even help you pack.— greggo
- Don't like what he said but at least he spoke his mind and gave a real answer unlike Andy Reid.— davekrieg
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- This is exactly what Dawk said in his press conference in Denver and he is all your heroes. He did not say anything wrong....and as long as he plays well it's all good.— Captain
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- Hey Bob...Wasn't this story covered in the Eagletarian on Tuesday? Not only are you piling on in what is basically a nonstory, but you're attacking the guy for grammatical errors while managing to bungle the English language yourself. Imagine the fun that your peers at the Tacoma News-Tribune will have with "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. That's ok though...make him think Philly is real tough! And not to be too nickpicky but shouldn't it be "State of the Eags" instead of Eggs? Unless you're giving a backhanded reference to the state of AR's brunch choices. Please pardon the hostile tone in my comments. It's just that Bird fans have had to endure converted, DTs, LBs and HBs at the FB position in recent years. There's finally a guy with the pedigree to man the position and here you are pounding him for a little apprehension in leaving his former team. Imagine that, the guy wanted to stay with his former employer. Perhaps, if Philly welcomes him with some degree of civility he'll want to remain a productive member of this team and community. He did take less to come to this team and system...and he also spoke glowingly of DMac and Bwest. But you'd have to read the original story to catch those little tidbits.— hope55
- In all honesty, can you blame him for not wanting to live in Philadelphia. The crime, conrupt officials, poor roads, bad schools, etc. I'm a Philadlephia sports fan, but don't live in Philadelphia (thank God).— MasterOFunk
- Hey bob- here's a "random thought"- write an article worthy of an adult's time- what a waste of space- geez- better yet, here's a thought- You should move to another city, across the country, like weaver did- stay there for a year- while you're at it, take that fat idiot bill with you!— justatc1
- Give me a break. We're going to criticize the guy for preferring to stay with his team? Before he even puts on a Eagles uniform, he's supposed to have undying loyalty already? Please, if he had gone from Philly to Seattle, we'd want him to say the same thing about the Eagles. Stop trying to stir up the pot...— Joyner80
- You're crazy if you don't appreciate what Watters brought to the table while he was here. He ran the ball hard. I always thought the staff underutilized him in the passing game. And he left Philly to go to Seattle so comparing him to Weaver makes absolutely zero sense. So at least you've been consistent.— PhlyPhn
- Overreact much, Bob? He said the same thing as hundreds of other players that got low-balled by the team they came up with before leaving for a better deal elsewhere. His comments were to the Seattle media and I don't have any problem with him expressing to Seattle fans that he didn't want to leave. Obviously you haven't watched the interview Weaver on the Eagles website, the guy seems like a hard-working, dedicated, high character guy and I didn't sense the slightest bit of selfishness or big ego in him. I didn't know a lot about him before, but after reading up on him, watching his video highlights and seeing that interview, I'm pretty stoked to have this guy on the Eagles. I think he's going to be a great fit for the offense and a great fit in the lockerman.— JimG
- ford's articles are often fluff. reaching to far for a story here. ford: your author notes say it all;here since '81 still trying to figure it out. weaver's been here what? a week, and this c-grade journalist is already giving him sh**. ridiculous. find areal story you hack!— 82tank
