Fraley Goes Off Message With SI's Peter King

Right before training camp began, the Eagles signed center Jamaal Jackson to a seven-year contract extension that included a $1.75 million signing bonus -- not bad for a guy who used to be on the practice squad.  Outside observers wondered how veteran center Hank Fraley would take the news, since the coaches had told the two players that there would be an open competition for the starting job in training camp. 

In keeping with this year's peace, love and harmony theme, here was Fraley's public response to the news (The Morning Call (Allentown), July 30):

''Every year, there's always competition,'' Fraley said. ''I've always approached things that my job is never secure, and I've always had to battle. This is different because I'm not running with the ones [first team], but running with the twos [second team], so I'm just trying to compete and get the other twos to compete.''

Andy Reid chimed in as well:

''Hank understands that there is a competition there, and we have been very upfront with him,'' coach Andy Reid said in his initial training camp press briefing. ''I don't think Hank is too worried about Jamaal's contract. He just wants to get out and play.''

A different story, however, emerges from this week's Sports Illustrated.  The cover story, written by the inimitable Peter King, includes this tidbit:

Fraley was stunned. The Eagles had told him there would be a fair competition for the center job, and now they give the kid a contract extension? The next day, when Fraley reported to camp at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., he learned it was true: Jackson had signed an incentive-laden, six-year deal that, if he beat out Fraley for the starting job, would be worth about $14.9 million. Most significantly, the deal included a $1.75 million bonus, and the frugal club doesn't give bonuses to players they don't intend to keep. The 28-year-old Fraley was coming off eight months of grueling rehab and entering the final year of his contract, and the Eagles had said nothing to him about an extension. He was further shaken when Philadelphia offensive line coach Juan Castillo announced practice assignments at the unit's first meeting: Jackson would get most of the snaps with the No. 1 team. For the first time in five years Fraley would be practicing with the backups. When he called home that night he told [his wife] Danielle, "I am so pissed off right now."

Today, Fraley was quoted in yet another article going right back on message:

"I think he (Sports Illustrated's Peter King) asked me if initially I was surprised, and I said it was because I hadn't heard anything about it before," Fraley said. "But I'm happy for Jamaal. He had a great year last season and the Eagles rewarded him for that. It's nice to see a guy like Jamaal come in and play well and get a new contract."

Sometimes it's easy to forget there are real people in those uniforms.  Kudos to Fraley for bouncing back from a nasty blow to remain a team player. 

Today's rumor (scroll down) is that the Browns might be interested in acquiring Fraley to fill the gaping hole in the middle of their offensive line.  I don't think this is the year we want to hollow out our depth for future considerations, but it would be great to see Hank get another chance to start somewhere else.