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Eagles - Westbrook watch at Eagles training camp
By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News
bowenl@phillynews.com
Jul 24, 2008
BETHLEHEM - Everybody seems to expect Brian Westbrook to report to Eagles camp on time tonight. For one thing, holding out when you're under contract, which cost Westbrook "only'' $7,000 a day, times 6 days, in 2005, today is fined at $15,000 a day plus a prorated portion of the player's signing bonus, proving that something really is going up faster than gas prices. The signing-bonus thing is complicated - in this case, think in terms of a potential seven-figure fine, a league source said. Also, the ball is pretty much in Westbrook's court right now when it comes to negotiating a new contract with the team, to replace the one he doesn't like. The Eagles have made it clear they are eager to sit down with Westbrook's new agent, once he officially designates one. Last night, that still hadn't happened, more than 24 hours after Westbrook apparently text-messaged teammates that he was going with Atlanta-based Todd France.
Is Westbrook changing his mind? That seemed very possible last night, when a league source said Westbrook is talking to other agents. J.R. Rickert, who looked like the leading contender earlier in the week, could be back in contention.
Any how, a holdout would get in the way of getting back to the table, which you would think would be of keen interest to the Birds' franchise running back. He is under contract through 2010, in Year 2 of the 5-year, $25 million extension he signed in 2005. Eagles management agrees an adjustment is in order, but says Westbrook wanted the deal restructured rather than extended again, which limits the amount of money the team can guarantee, under NFL rules. Long story short, even if the Eagles were willing to come up with the $30 million guarantee Westbrook has said he wants, they would have to extend the deal to do it, they say. Another problem would be that, as you've heard several times now, nobody is guaranteeing $30 million to a running back who turns 29 in September, even if you can amortize it until the apocalypse. The future "dead money'' would be prohibitive.
The Eagles are worried that Westbrook's agent sweepstakes, in the 10 days since he dismissed Fletcher Smith, has largely been about who will tell him they can get him the most outrageous deal. One agent who figured in the mix there for a while said yesterday he thought he could have gotten Westbrook more than the $15.1 million guarantee Shaun Alexander got from the Seahawks 2 years ago, but way less than $30 million guaranteed.
Eagles coach Andy Reid reiterated yesterday that he expects Westbrook to report on time. Reid was asked about handling his roles as coach and personnel decision-maker, in such a conflict with a player.
"It's not a tough thing,'' he said. "I think honesty is probably the best way to go. You shoot people straight. Not always the easiest way, but I think that's the best way.''
France, meanwhile, told the Daily News he was on the phone with a team about a contract (not Westbrook's) yesterday afternoon and couldn't talk. On Tuesday, he'd told reporters to call him back in 24 hours, and he would be able to comment then on his status with Westbrook.
France's only current client on the Eagles, linebacker Omar Gaither, declined to talk to a reporter who wanted to know more about the agent. Former Eagle Takeo Spikes was one of the first star-level clients handled by France, who broke loose from the CSM agency in 2003 and formed his own group. France negotiated the 8-year, $80 million free-agent deal corner Nate Clements got from the 49ers last year.
France is not related to the former Eagles and Soul kicker with the same name.
Birdseed
* Defensive tackle Trevor Laws and defensive end Bryan Smith worked out yesterday in rehab mode, Andy Reid said. He said Laws (foot) seems a little closer to returning to practice than Smith (hamstring) . . . Reid, on the difference in Kevin Kolb's camp this year as opposed to the quarterback's rookie year: "He's tough on himself. He's a coach's kid. He's been raised to where he expects perfection from himself. Last year, he was swimming. This year, he expects a lot of himself, as do the coaches and the players around him.'' . . . Donovan McNabb won't work out again until the veterans arrive, Reid said, just to give McNabb a break, not because of any shoulder issues. *
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