One PO'd RB

Boy, the Eagles have one seriously disgruntled all-pro RB in Brian Westbrook. Aside from his bitterness and inferiority complex (3rd round pick, 5'8", small school Villanova grad) which have conspired to prevent him from cashing in on his NFL production so far, and which I can understand, the thing that I don't get is why contract talks were suspended and how a deal can't be done.

First let me say that the Eagles sometimes get grief for playing "hardball" in salary negotiations. But going all the way back to the first Trotter talks, the Eagles usually offer fair deals. Certainly not extravagant and over the top, but not low ball offers either. It's when the player doesn't come to terms that the hard hearted Eagles basically cut a player loose, which you really can't blame them for if the team and player can't come to a financial agreement. What is there left to say or do at that point?

It seems, if the source reports are true, the $12 million over 3 years deal ($9 mill signing bonus) that Domanick Davis got and which the Eagles are offering to Westbrook is a fair deal. I think Westbrook is slightly over inflating his worth by seeking LaMont Jordan money at $16 million/ 3 years.

On the other hand, aside from the frachise player in #5, Westbrook is the most valuable offensive player - TO included. The simple fact is that he's a game changer and that when he's played in the NFC championship, the Eagles have gone to the Super Bowl. When he has not been in the lineup for the most biggest most important game of the year the past couple of seasons, the Eagles have lost.

Sure, Westbrook isn't your prototypical feature back. But he is nearly perfect for the Andy Reid offense. If the Eagles can admit that, then maybe Westbrook can bring himself to appreciate how anomlous the Jordan deal is.

With the Eagles $15 million under the '05 cap, how can they not get a deal done with Westbrook right now? Go to $13 million over 3 years and give him $10 million up front as a roster bonus applicable to this year's cap. Hell, split the difference between Davis and Jordan and make it $14 million, 3 years, and a $10.5 million roster bonus.

Westbrook doesn't get $16 million, but he does get extra guaranteed cash which can be banked immediately and start earning interest rather than waiting on slightly more deferred money in 2006 or 07. Didn't Villanova's Commerce and Finance classes teach the young lad anything about opportunity costs? Plus, he's financially set for life. In addition, he starts working on fulfilling the new contract so he's that much closer to another payoff in 3-4 years if he is still producing at even a reduced level.

From the Eagles standpoint, they get a happy RB and fairly reward him for past and future performance. It still leaves them $5 million under this year's cap to extend other players (can you say Michael Lewis?), and gives them super insurance from a salary cap standpoint if Westbrook were to suffer a career ending injury. With the roster bonus, they won't take a hit on future salary caps if they have to release him in the out years. They can also start grooming Ryan Moats to take over in 2-3 years when Moats will be where Westbrook is now in terms of familiarity with the offense and league.

This compromise makes so much sense from everybody's vantage point I can't believe it doesn't get done.