Philadelphia Eagles Have a History of Turning Down Requests for Re-Negotiations

In a 2006 NFC Divisional Playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown established an image for himself as one of the hardest hitting tacklers in the league with one single play.

When Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees tossed a screen pass toward the beginning of the game, Brown laid a hit so hard on running back Reggie Bush that it took him a few minutes just to get back into the game.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown has asked for a trade after the team refused to renegotiate his current contract. Brown’s previous deal has four years remaining on his contract and is expected to make around $2 million this season. His deal also includes a $7.5 million contract.

From a performance perception, Brown may feel it’s only fair for him to receive a contract extension after his 2008 season.

• 51 tackles
• 12 pass deflections
• One interception
• One forced fumble
• One touchdown allowed to opposing receivers

The numbers are decent for a cornerback in the NFL. However, some can argue that these numbers are a perfect fit for the type of money Brown will be making the next couple of seasons.

Unfortunately for Brown, he is part of an Eagles organization that has a history of refusing to renegotiate contracts with their players, no matter how much of an impact player they are. Take a look at a few former Eagles who attempted a similar action Brown is taking now:

Terrell Owens

Everybody and their mother has heard the story about Terrell Owens’ departure from the Philadelphia Eagles. While playing in just 14 games in 2004, Owens appeared to have a bright career ahead with Donovan McNabb as his quarterback after catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Even though the Eagles lost in Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots, there would be plenty of expectations for the team to return to the promised land the following season. Unfortunately, that was far from the case.

A few months after the Super Bowl loss, Terrell Owens hired Drew Rosenhaus to be his new agent. His first task as his agent: renegotiate his contract with the Eagles.

In 2005, Owens would begin the second year of his seven-year $49 million contract with the Eagles. He was expected to make $4.5 million that year but apparently that was not enough for the star wide receiver.

He was upset because he would not be one of the top ten wide receivers paid that season, despite the 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns he recorded the season before. Other wide receivers such as Eric Moulds and Derrick Mason would make millions more than Owens.

Owens did everything in his right mind to grab the attention of the Eagles and give him a new contract. He threatened to hold out of mini-camp. He made certain comments that some believe were directed towards Donovan McNabb.

At one point, he even set up a bench press outside of his house to work out in front of the media.

Eventually, Owens showed up to camp under his current contract. Despite all of his actions, Owens was unable to convince the Eagles to give in and renegotiate his contract.

Owens continued to make comments about how unhappy he was throughout the 2005 season. He would only play in seven games that year before his suspension and release.

Corey Simon

In 2000, the Eagles could not have asked for a better rookie season from defensive tackle Corey Simon. After drafting Simon with the sixth overall pick in the 2000 draft, he went on to set the franchise record with 9.5 sacks.

Over the next three seasons, Simon went on to record 17 sacks for the Eagles and played a contributing role to their NFC Championship runs.

His numbers for a defensive tackle were very impressive and he appeared to have major potential for the franchise. That is until the 2004 season rolled around.

Even though he had one year left on his rookie contract, Simon wanted to receive a long-term deal now instead of waiting an extra year. Unfortunately for him, the Eagles had other ideas in mind.

When the Eagles refused to renegotiate Simon’s contract, he decided to hold out in hope of convincing the Eagles to renegotiate his contract. Once again, Simon did not realize the Eagles have a reputation for not renegotiating players’ contracts.

Simon’s holdout was the downfall of his career with the Eagles. Apparently, instead of staying in shape while holding out in 2004, Simon gained more weight and showed up to camp in terrible shape.

His 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks may have been decent, but Simon did not return to his normal shaped-self until towards the end of the regular season.

When 2005 rolled around, Corey Simon and the Eagles found themselves in a similar situation from the year before. Once again, Simon decided to holdout from camp in hopes of negotiating a contract for a long-term deal.

Instead, the Eagles placed the franchise tag on Simon, which ended up backfiring. Eventually, Simon would be released from the team and sign with the Indianapolis Colts. He finally received the long-term deal he always dreamed of after the Colts signed him to a five-year $30 million contract.

With everything that happened with Simon after his departure from Philadelphia, it almost seems as if the Eagles knew what they were doing the whole time. Before the start of the 2007 season, the Colts terminated Simon’s contract after a disappointing first two seasons with the team.

In his first season with the Colts, Simon played in 13 games while recording just 25 tackles and zero sacks. Prior to the 2005 season, Simon only recorded less than five sacks only once in his career (in 2002 he finished with a disappointing two sacks).

Simon was unable to play during the 2006 season after undergoing surgery for an unknown ailment. The worst part about Simon’s two year run with the Colts is that the team lost over $14 million in salaries and bonuses from his contract.

Throughout the years, we have seen numerous Eagles who want to renegotiate their contracts they are currently on. Lito Sheppard’s name was thrown around last year after he was unhappy about the previous contract extension he signed that lasted until 2011.

Even though the Eagles have established a reputation as a team who refuses to renegotiate contracts, there is one player who we have seen work out a deal to his benefit: Brian Westbrook.

In November 2005, the Eagles signed Westbrook to a five-year extension worth a little under $25 million. If the Eagles hadn’t signed Westbrook then, he would have been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent the following season.

If the Eagles have a history of denying players’ requests for renegotiating contracts, then why was Westbrook treated differently?

Westbrook’s situation was different for the Eagles because they were aware of the chance that he may not return the following season since he would be eligible for unrestricted free agency the following year.

The rest of the players in the past who have tried to renegotiate their contracts were already under long enough deals where the Eagles did not have to worry about their departure the following season.

As far as Sheldon Brown’s situation goes, the city of Philadelphia wishes him the best of luck regarding a new contract. Unfortunately for him, the history of the Eagles in this type of situation does not appear to be on his side.