LJ still wants a new deal

by JasonB on May 21, 2007 9:44 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

LJ Smith is entering the final year of his deal, and he wants a new contract. He's making no secret about it.

First, Shawn Andrews and Jamaal Jackson got theirs. Then, Mike Patterson got one. Trent Cole and Reggie Brown, too.

When the Eagles embarked on a contract extension spree last season, solidifying their core of young players for the long term, one person looked around the locker room and thought, "What about me?"

Eventually, tight end L.J. Smith stopped waiting around.

"I took it personal at first," Smith said last week. "Because during the season we had [contract] talks and guys were getting deals, young guys were getting extensions for only being here two years, and things like that. So, that's when I took it personal at first.

"But after the season, I was just at a point where I was just like, 'You know what? I just can't control it. It's out of my hands.' So, I'm not worried about that at all."

First off, LJ was made offers. He said there's been alot of talks over the past 2 years between the Eagles and his agent. The difference between LJ and those other players mentioned in the article is that they accepted the deals the Eagles offered. He hasn't.

LJ also went on to say he never entertained the idea of holding out because he's seen how previous hold outs have went here. He knows it wouldn't help him at all. The Eagles hard line stance on hold outs has apparently worked.

I do commend LJ's attitude here. I heard him interviewed during the minicamps and the reporters were really try to get him to say something controversial, but he didn't take the bait. One guy even asked if he was upset that his stats took a hit late last year because the Eagles used him less in the passing game and more in blocking. He wisely said the team was on such a great roll that his personal stats didn't matter. When you're negotiating with a team it's okay to say some things to the media to put some pressure on them. Especially when it's the appropriate time, like before the final season of your rookie contract. There's a line that LJ has not yet crossed where he'll look like the bad guy. See Lance Briggs for an example.

A few months ago I wrote about the cost of keeping LJ if he hit the free agent market. LJ wants the Eagles to pay him like an elite TE, but he isn't. That said, someone will pay him like one if he hit the open market. So do you overpay a guy because he plays a pretty important role in your offense? Or do you stick to the philosophy that if you produce like an elite player you get elite money?

The general feeling seems to be that a deal will no get done this year and LJ will go elsewhere in free agency after this year. I'm not so sure about that. I think there's a decent chance they'd franchise him, mostly because franchising a TE is cheap.

In fact, only kickers and punters are cheaper to franchise. The franchise tag value of a TE jumped over 31% this year but is still only $4.371 million. We'll see.

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totally agree...

Everyone is always quick to say that LJ is gone next year but forget about the franchise tag... i bet it will really piss him off if they do that though... isnt that the main reason trotter left a couple years ago?

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 21, 2007 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Why get mad?

Sure, it's only a one-year deal, but during that year, you're guaranteed of being one of the highest paid at your position. If LJ ends up getting franchised three years in a row, he should be thrilled about it.

I do hope they get something worked out, though.

by BrianS on May 21, 2007 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

because...

it seems to me that most players loathe the franchise tag because it keeps them from getting bigger long term deals. Sure, they like the money in that one year, but their long term future is still uncertain. Plus they have to wait another year which can change a lot of things

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 21, 2007 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

Franchise Tag

The players don't have to wait for a long term deal to avoid this or to get paid. They have to come to terms with the team about their real value.

Players usually get franchised because they hold unrealistic expectations about what they are really worth.

I'd suspect that the main problem is LJ wants a huge guarantee number like $10M, and the Eagles are willing to do $5-6M.

by Andrew @ Bleeding Green Nation on May 21, 2007 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

More like $15 mil at least

That's what Daniel Graham got this offseason and he's never produced to the level of LJ.

This is what I wrote after Graham was signed...

The Broncos and TE Daniel Graham agreed to terms on a five-year, $30 million contract, with $15 million guaranteed this week. A quick peek at Graham's stats the past few years shows nothing special. He's only caught over 30 balls twice. and has never played a full season. Over his last 2 years he's played 11 & 12 games respectively and caught just 37 balls for 470 yds and 5 TDs over that time. Over those same 2 years, LJ has never missed a game and has 111 receptions for 8 TDs and over 1,300 yards. For even further proff that LJ is going to cash in, ex-Giant tight end Visanthe Shiancoe was signed by the Minnesota Vikings for $18 million over 5 years with $7 million guaranteed. Shiancoe has a whopping 35 catches in his four-year career.

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by JasonB on May 21, 2007 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

other places

I wonder how LJ would fit in other places? Any thoughts?

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 21, 2007 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

Packers

and Broncos, and maybe Seattle would all love the kind of playmaking speed that he has. He's a solid receiving tight end, and has performed well in a west coast offense, so teams such as the Pack would be highly interested (especially considering that the Packers don't like Bubba Franks anymore, and LJ would fit in with the rebuilding plan in place there due to his young age).

by Alon on May 21, 2007 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

i wonder...

why nobody has ever forced LJ to change the way he carries the football. He friggin makes me nervous everytiem he turns up field after a catch

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 22, 2007 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

That said

He really doesn't fumble. He didn't fumble once last year and ha only fumbled twice in his whole career. Only one was lost.

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by JasonB on May 22, 2007 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Fumbling

Actually, 3 fumbles. The NFL site doesn't count the playoffs when the most famous one happend (the FredX TD).

The two famous fumbles (Vikings 04, Raiders 05) were just really memorable ones, and are combined in our memory with a couple of tipped balls becoming interceptions.

by Andrew @ Bleeding Green Nation on May 22, 2007 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Good point

You're right, they don't count the playoffs.

Still, the fact is that the guy secures the ball a whole lot better than he gets credit for.

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by JasonB on May 22, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

very true...

I guess you're right... Ya know why is it that I have more bad memories of LJ than good. Cuz thats kinda messed up. He's a great player but for some reason I always remember... The fumble against oakland, the fumble to freddie, last year when he merely patted Demarcus ware in the butt on his way to a fumble score... but i should remember his good stuff like the superbowl td, the near td against dallas where he almost went the length of the field, ect...ect.

700 Level

by 700 Level on May 22, 2007 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

The drops

I think a lot of us had high expectations for LJ that he hasn't quite fulfilled yet.

I hope they get a deal done because while I'm not sure I'd consider him an "elite" TE, I think he's definitely a playmaker and a good fit for this offense.

We just tend to focus too much on some of the key drops in his career, some of which you mentioned.

Freddie Mitchell's lucky TD, but don't forget his key drop against the Giants in September that would have kept the chains moving and probably prevented the meltdown, and how he dropped the first (I think) pass ever thrown to him, the fake FG in the embarrasing first game at the linc.

by BrianS on May 22, 2007 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Where LJ ranks

If you really look at his production, he ranks a notch below the elite TEs in the leauge, but a notch above average. Is that not pretty much in line with our expectations?

He's not in the mix right now with the Gates and Gonzales' of the world... but he's better than guys like Daniel Graham who got a big deal this offseason.

He's not a great pro bowl level player, but he's above average.

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by JasonB on May 22, 2007 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions