Surprising details about Lito Sheppard's new deal

by JasonB on Mar 2, 2009 11:34 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

Lito Sheppard was traded to the Jets over the weekend in a deal that netted the Eagles a 5th round pick this year and a conditional pick next year. The conditional pick could be anything from a 4th to a 2nd rounder. Lito also got a new contract as part of the deal... Now we've finally got details on that contract and how it affects the Eagles.

Pretty surprising how far this guy's stock has fallen.

• Technically, there's no guaranteed money in the contract. Sheppard will make $3 million this season, the same he would've made with the Eagles.

• In March, 2010, there's a $10 million option bonus. If the Jets decide to pay it, a new four-year, $27.2 million kicks in.

• If Sheppard is injured and misses considerable time, the Jets can get out of the deal after one year and they wouldn't owe the Eagles a draft pick in 2010. If that's the case, all it would've cost them is a fifth-round pick in the '09 draft. One person familiar with the deal said it could amount to a "one-year test drive" for the Jets.

• The conditional pick in '10 can rise to a second-rounder, but only if he hits an 85% playing-time plateau AND receives the four-year extension. And if that does happen, the Jets would get a fifth-rounder back from the Eagles.

• If Sheppard makes 85%, but doesn't receive the extension, the Jets would owe a third-rounder to the Eagles and would recoup a fifth rounder.

Not as good a deal for the Eagles as it first sounded. It certainly could be good, but watching Lito these past 2 years I can't say that I'm confident in ever seeing that second rounder. On the other hand, Lito is basically playing for a big contract this year and hopefully that's motivation enough for him to stay on the field and play like he was 3 or 4 years ago.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Well, I’m rooting for him, because it helps us if he does well, and he was a freakin’ Cowboy killer.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Mar 2, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions

so basically the pick will be decieded next year, and we got the 5th rounder this year as a little added value.

I’m assuming we get a 4th round pick if he doesn’t play 85%?

by Clyde Simmons on Mar 2, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Fuck

I didn’t realize all these caveats existed. If he doesn’t play 85% of the time (when did he last do that) and/or they don’t give him the contract extension then we really didn’t get great value for him. Here I was thinking they had actually made a good move.

by ajay on Mar 2, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

in reality it was probably take this or release him, so at least they got something.

With Revis on the other side you can bet Sheppard is going to see a lot of balls his way hopefully he is up for it.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Mar 2, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

in reality it was probably take this or release him

Or trade him to the CFL.

by ajay on Mar 2, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

Sheppard is going to see a lot of balls his way

hehe

http://www.libertyballers.com/

by Remis on Mar 2, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

to the face?

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 2, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

haha

I laughed while typing that … in the case of Lito I decided to keep it as worded.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Mar 2, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

He wasn’t going to play here and was taking up a roster spot. Something is better than nothing.

by MRPH on Mar 2, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions

Pirate's Booty

If they decided to keep him Lito gets a $10M roster bonus!?

Even in the event of an uncapped year, that sounds like a considerable chunk of change.

Quick glance of potential FA DB’s next year.

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=DB&y=2010

by andyreidswaistline on Mar 2, 2009 12:33 PM EST reply actions

Pirate’s Booty

hehe

http://www.libertyballers.com/

by Remis on Mar 2, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

Gez Remis, you’re giggling like a schoolgirl in this thread man… lol

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 2, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Well, it’s basically a signing bonus on a new contract that will kick in. That new contract is basically right in line with what other corners were getting.

The idea is that if he plays like he deserves it, they’ll just give him the same contract he would be likely to get on the open market.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 2, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

I know hindsight is 20-20

But it sure seems like they should have taken the alleged 2nd round pick for him last season. I’d be surprised if the Jets decide to pick up that 4 year option.

by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Mar 2, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions

I don;t buy that they were offered a second at all. They would have made that deal.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 2, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

And I heard

that Lito was making noise about not going anywhere where they would not give him a new contract. Other teams didn’t want that headache.

So thanks, Lito.

Idiot.

by ajay on Mar 2, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully he stays healthy

I know he has played bad the past 2 years but I think that this year if he is healthy that were getting that 2nd rounder. Lito is naturally gifted enough to have a good season and I think in a whole season he could get around 3-5 picks

by homestar2281 on Mar 2, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions