The Philadelphia Eagles began their final series of voluntary OTAs this with two notable absences. Pro-Bowl CB Asante Samuel has left the team because of a recent death in the family while electrifying WR DeSean Jackson is a holdout because he is unhappy with his contract situation. I’m not really bothered by this hold out because it is entirely a business decision and Jackson has displayed absolutely no animosity toward the team despite voicing his desire to be paid what he deserves. It is unlikely that Jackson will receive the contract extension he is seeking this offseason for two reasons. First the Eagles’ management has been notoriously stinging when it comes to contract extensions and has rarely caved to players’ holdouts and trade demands (a relevant case is that of CB Sheldon Brown a few years ago, the often-underrated Brown wanted a contract extension after a terrific 2007 campaign and demanded an offseason trade. The Eagles had him under contract through last season and played hardball knowing Brown was nearing the end of his NFL effectiveness. There was no ill will afterwards and Brown continued to be a stalwart fan favorite for the next two seasons.) Secondly the prospect of a lockout following the 2010 has become a near certainty at this time and teams are clearly unwilling to commit large salaries and years to players in the face of that. In fact don’t expect any major contract extensions anywhere in the league this summer (with the possible exception of a guy like Colts QB Peyton Manning, but then again he’s no run-of-the-mill NFL superstar).
Offseason holdouts have become a normal procedure for players seeking a pay increase and don’t carry the same sinister implications they used to. Generally the only really serious holdouts tend to come from highly drafted rookies like Michael Crabtree last year or Jamarcus Russell in 2007 which lasted nearly the entire season. Everyone in the Eagles’ organization knows that DeSean Jackson deserves to be paid like one of the best WRs in the game (which of course he is) but they are further limited by a rule which only allows salary increases of up to 30% on existing contracts. I think the best way the team could handle this situation would be to hand Jackson a big chunk of guaranteed money in excess of $10 million. That would allay his contract demands and allow him to get back to work with QB Kevin Kolb as he prepares for his first season as the team’s undisputed starter. I believe the Eagles’ offense is set to explode this year in a way most people don’t think possible. People tend to forget that starters Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy were rookies last year despite their heavy workload. Jackson and Maclin had very similar rookie campaigns and we all know what happened in Jackson’s sophomore season, if Maclin can come anywhere near the production we saw from Jackson last year it could be a long 2010 for NFC secondaries.
On a side note that Washington Redskins have been courting former Eagles RB Brian Westbrook. The ‘Skins have been stockpiling veteran running backs this year with additions of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker but I wouldn’t be surprised if they shipped Parker out in training camp if they brought Westbrook in. If Westbrook can be somewhat healthy in 2010 he could be a nice albeit not-as-explosive safety blanket for QB Donovan McNabb. Personally I wouldn’t mind seeing that reunion, especially since I am much more content with their replacements in Philadelphia and am only minutely concerned that those two might come back to haunt the Eags.
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