What's an Extra $3 million

The Brian Westbrook $3 million overpayment saga continues. Though it appears near resolution in how #36 will repay the Eagles the double bonus he was paid earlier, the Eagles have gone ahead and started withholding his paychecks to recoup their cash.

 

It’s all very strange. I mean, how does a billion dollar enterprise, as the Eagles are as a business entity, pay an employee $3 million – twice – and take so long to notice. And then there’s the Villanova alum. Did B. Westbrook not notice the mistaken extra payment? Did he not think the Eagles would eventually catch their mistake and want the money back? Left unasked is if Westbrook actually spent the money which would explain why he’s having a hard time paying it back. Then again, maybe it’s a simple cash flow problem.

 

Of course, those of us that have ever been overpayed by our employers – as I have and my friend ML too – can attest, it’s not so simple to just give an extra paycheck back. Indeed, as the Inqy notes “the Eagles have acknowledged the matter is complicated by the fact that the team has to get $3 million back from Westbrook , even though he only received about an extra $1.7 million because of taxes. Apparently, Westbrook must pursue the refunding of that money from city, state and federal governments.” And that doesn’t count any retirement plan accounts, pension payments, etc for which a slice of that money may have been diverted.

 

Wouldn’t it just be easier to extend/renegotiate 36’s contract to include some sort of new $3 million bonus – for which he’s already been paid – and call it a day?