I'm not completely sold on the idea that Shawn Andrews absence has nothing to do with his contract.
PFT says that about half of his sources say it is, and the other half says it isn’t. If he isn’t thrilled with the deal that will keep him in Philly until 2015 (and that’s entirely possible, he’s one of the best guards in the league), then the cracks in the Eagles’ “gold standard” approach to contracts are starting to show.
Andrews signed a seven-year, $40 million extension a couple years back and he is set to make $2.98 million this year. That really isn’t that much for a player at his level. Again, I don’t know for sure that his absence is money-related, but I don’t know of many holdouts that aren’t.
So, we all know the Eagles approach to contracts. The front office really did set a trend in building a team. Identify young talent on the roster. Give them contract extensions that are bigger than what they deserve right this second, but as they get better, the Eagles will have them locked up at bargain basement prices down the road. It’s a great plan if you draft well and correctly assess your talent. On paper, it’s the key to having a deep, talented team in the age of the salary cap.
But, we are seeing the problems with that theory now, with Lito Sheppard making a stink about wanting more dough. He is set to make $2 million this year in base salary. Over the first three seasons of his contract, fellow CB Asante Samuel is scheduled to average $10 million per season. I know there is the “you signed the contract, honor it” theory, but it’s not tough to look across the field and see a guy of comparable talent making almost five times (yes, it’s less than five when you consider Lito’s prorated bonus added to his base) what you are making. Human nature does factor into the equation.
I don’t add Brian Westbrook into this discussion because he isn’t a guy that signed this type of deal. His beef is more of the fact that he’s proven how good he is and has never been paid like it.
So, if Andrews’ holdout really does have something to do with his extension, can the Eagles move forward with this theory? Can they continue to approach young players and give them big deals that they will eventually outgrow? These holdouts can wreak havoc on a training camp. I think it depends on how these situations play out as to whether they stick to their guns, or have to develop an entirely new strategy.
People talk about what a pivotal year this is for Donovan McNabb, it might be much more so for the Eagles front office.
