Stallworth, Hood gone; Edwards signs with Chiefs

by JasonB on Mar 11, 2007 12:52 PM EDT in News

Well it seems as though the reported Patriots offer wasn't real after all, but it was enough to have Stallworth playing in Foxboro next year. Stallworth signed with the Pats for an interesting 6 year deal that could only be a one year deal...

Stallworth will receive an initial signing bonus of $1 million, a roster bonus of $1.6 million and a $300,000 workout bonus, to go along with his 2007 base salary of $700,000. That totals $3.6 million for the coming season.

It's after the 2007 season, however, when the really big money kicks in.

For the Patriots to retain Stallworth for the 2008 season, they must pay him an option bonus of $6 million by Feb. 25, 2008. There is a subsequent roster bonus of $2 million due on March 1, a second roster bonus of $1.6 million based on playing time, a base salary of $1 million and a $400,000 workout bonus. That totals an exorbitant $11 million for 2008, or a two-year total of $14.6 million.

To keep Stallworth for 2009, the Patriots would have to pay another option bonus, this one of $2 million, by Feb. 25 of that year. In terms of bonuses and base salary, the 2009 season would be worth $5 million to Stallworth, for a three-year total of $19.6 million.

It's essentially a one year deal that the Pats could get out of if Stallworth can't stay healthy. Conversely, if Stallworth has a huge year the Pats are likely going to have to restructure him or cut him. The thought behind it is that Stallworth could get an even bigger deal next offseason.

Count me as officially upset. If no one was going to pony up the giant long term deal for Stallworth, why is he not an Eagle? How is a 1 year $3.6 million dollar too much for them? In fact, reports even said that the Eagles had offered a one year deal! How could they be so obsessed with saving a couple bucks here and there that they couldn't be the team that gets the one year deal done? I was ready to accept that a big 6 year, $30 million deal with $12 million guaranteed was too much to risk on Stallworth. But a 1 year $3.6 mil deal? Give me a break.

I'm struggling to understand why the Patriots, who have already won 2 superbowls under their current regime, feel the need to go all out for a title and the Eagles don't. Both teams won their division last year, both teams won a playoff game, both teams have some young players they hope could step up... but only one team is out there making moves like they are desperate for a title. The Eagles are not that team. So when this organization calls itself the "gold standard of the NFL" and then can't understand why we still aren't happy... this is why. I still think the Eagles will be a good team again next year and I still think they'll be the favorites to win the NFC East again... but that seems like enough for them. It's not enough for us fans.

Elswhere, Rod Hood signed with the Cardinals on a 5 year deal. I'm happy to hear Hood found a starting job, although I feel somewhat bad for him that it's in Arizona...

Another reported target of the Eagles was Chargers LB Donnie Edwards who signed with the Chiefs for a 3 year deal worth around $14 million.

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wait and see...

i agree with your remarks concerning the Pats vs. the Eagles.. but i'm going to elect to have a wait and see attitude. This Reid Regime has baffled me in the past and it has seemed to workout...

wait and see.

Fly Eagles Fly!
The Eagles Chronicles

by klkatz on Mar 11, 2007 1:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Stallworth not worth it

Get a grip on reality folks!

Without Stallworth, the Eagles offensive unit put up:

31 against the 49ers
31 against Green Bay ()
31 against Dallas
24 against New Orleans
21 against Tampa (turnovers by McNabb artificially lowered this number)
24 against the Falcons

() okay, he was there but severly limited

With Stallworth acting the part of the invisible man, the Eagles offense also put up:

29 against the Giants (turnover by Garcia artificially lowered this number)

With Stallworth, the Eagles put up:

24 against Houston
24 against the Giants
6 against Jacksonville
20 against Redskins
13 against Titans
21 against Colts
27 against Panthers
14 against Redskins
23 against Cowboys
23 against Giants
24 against Saints

The Eagles either performed the same or worse in all rematches where Stallworth was featured the 2nd time only, or featured both times.

I guess I'm failing to see the "need" for him here. He's a good player, and he's nice to have on the team, but he doesn't make or break the offense. Just like TO didn't.

Remember, if he makes no difference to the offense, letting him go is the equivalent of trading him for the compensatory draft pick the Eagles will receive.

Remember also, the Patriots are having to make all these big free agent signings because:

They've been unable to retain their own receivers (think Terry Glenn, Daniel Graham, David Patten, David Givens, Deion Branch). Or their players have failed to develop (Sean Morey, Bethel Johnson, Arthur Love, Andy Stokes, Chad Jackson)
They've been unable to figure out how to draft any linebackers at all for their system. Remember all the exciting plays made by the immortal Hakim Akbar, TJ Turner, Tully Banta-Cain, or Ryan Claridge? Neither does anyone else. At least Gardner, McCoy, and Gaither have actually made some plays.

by Andrew on Mar 11, 2007 4:21 PM EDT 0 recs

eagles didn't want him

It seems to me that these are the three key facts. (1) Stallworth wanted to play in Philadelphia. (2) Stallworth signed a moderate deal (one year, $3.6 million). (3) The Eagles have a smart front office.

If those are all true (and they might not be), you can't help but conclude that the Eagles simply didn't want him. He was a known quantity and he was affordable. Maybe an extra $4 million in cap room is critical for some other signing, but I think it's more likely that the Eagles reached the same conclusion you did - they just didn't want him.

by dave in san mateo on Mar 11, 2007 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good points.

I'm very comfortable with letting Donte walk. This is now Reggie Brown's time to shine.

Fly Eagles Fly!
The Eagles Chronicles

by klkatz on Mar 12, 2007 8:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Baskett vs. Stallworth

Baskett in just 5 starts and a role as the 3rd/4th receiver was just 300 yards and 3 touchdowns behind Stallworth, who had 11 starts and a role as the 1st/2nd receiver.

Baskett has more upside than Stallworth, who has never had 1000 yards or 10 touchdowns, and Stallworth has more downside (injury history).

I'd say save the money for LJ Smith and Baskett.

by Andrew on Mar 11, 2007 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Its over...

Let's just forget about stallworth. and i'm saying this in advance... it would not surprise me if stallworth has a huge year this year, but that doesnt mean the birds made a bad decision. Once again, I'll back our amazing front office. I'd say in the long run they made the right decision. I will say however, in agreement with bleedinggreen, that I am shocked how minimal his contract with the patriots is... i thought the whole issue was that he had to have a long term deal... apparently not

-Denver

by 700 Level on Mar 12, 2007 8:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Let's be clear

My main problem with not bringing Stallworth back was that he went so cheap to the Pats. I don't think anyone is going to deny that when he was on the field he was a playmaker and a threat. I agree that the Eagles offense will be alright without him since they certainly made plenty of plays and scored plenty of points without him... but for 1 year at $3.6 million?

I like Baskett's upside too... but why not hedge our bets with a proven playmaker at 1 year for only $3.6 million? That money would not have prevented them from doing anything they wanted to do.

Again, it's just the money he got that confuses me... This is usually the kind of deal the Eagles are orchestrating. Oh well, I suppose we have to see the other shoe drop before we fully pass judgement on the Stallworth situation. If later today Kevin Curtis signs, I honestly will feel alot better.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 12, 2007 8:59 AM EDT 0 recs

but see, thats just it...

I wonder if stallworth really wanted to come here... i cant imagine that the birds werent matching the patriots offer

-Denver

by 700 Level on Mar 12, 2007 9:57 AM EDT 0 recs

Eskin's Theory

Eskin is floating a 'Rosenhaus screwed the Eagles out of Stallworth' story. The story goes that he was supposed to come back to the Eagles w/ the Patriots offer and that the Eagles would have matched or slightly upped that offer to keep him here. But, Rosenhaus instead told Dante that the Eagles offered only 2 mil per year and never got back to the Eagles for their offer. Perhaps to do the Pats a favor in return for their help with other clients.

Does anyone believe this? Does anyone care, anymore? I'm officially now ready to move on.

by greenheart on Mar 13, 2007 3:45 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't

In the end Rosenhaus has nothing to gain from screwing any team. He has lots of clients that all need jobs. Agents that burn bridges with teams are not very attractive to perspective clients.

Plus, if that happened and ever got back to Stallworth he'd probably be fired.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 13, 2007 4:15 PM EDT up 0 recs