"You're Not Brian Westbrook"

When we were going through the Brian Westbrook contract fracas last offseason, there was a fair amount of public support for Brian's position.  We could throw stats around all day, talk about his value to the team, lament the poor contractual starting point he had from being under-drafted, etc., etc., etc., but the bottom line point was simply that he was Brian Westbrook.  This wasn't just a guy -- this was the guy.  He'd singlehandedly won you more games over the past five years than any player not named Donovan McNabb.  Pay him.

Sheldon Brown is not Brian Westbrook.  Everything else is just noise.

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Nor is he Jason Peters.

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And how's that new Westbrook deal working out for the Eagles, anyway? 

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About that Eagles' statement ... I'm having a hard time understanding one piece.  How exactly was Sheldon's new approach "counterproductive"?  Isn't the whole point that they'd flatly told him "no" when he asked about an extension.  What, exactly, would be less productive than that?

Unless they were already planning to trade him and he didn't know about it...

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Remember the stat I threw out when I mock-drafted Illinois CB Vontae Davis:

[E]veryone remembers the story of how the Eagles drafted Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown even though they already had Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor locked in as starters.  What most people don't realize is that Sheldon Brown is now older than Taylor was when his replacement was drafted (and only one year younger that Vincent was at the same time.) 

Cornerbacks don't age well.  You can never have enough guys around to keep pushing them.

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I think this argument is pretty much settled:

My only issue with Sheldon Brown is that he clearly seems to be in this thing for Sheldon Brown.  He's not a Brian Dawkins, who really does seem to live for the combat itself.  Instead, he's a guy who wants to play well > so he will be recognized for playing well > so he will be compensated for playing well > so he can then live the kind of life he wants to live.

This is, of course, the same way 99 percent of us feel about our jobs, too.  It's just that -- as with the previous topic -- it's a little easier to root for guys if we can hold on to the belief that they're in it for the game, just like we are. 

The response:

I don’t understand in re: Sheldon Brown.  What leads you to believe he’s only in it for himself?  Because he avoids the media-training cliches when talking about contracts?  The guy plays every single game and is by all appearances extremely irresponsible when it comes to contact.  You think he’s 100 percent healthy every week?  Big hits don’t get you contracts; gambling for picks does.  I bet Sheldon Brown has a lot of respect from the rest of the team.  And, frankly, I’d prefer it if you didn’t continue to impugn his good name!

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Last thing.  I can't even wrap my mind around this:

Don't look now, but the Eagles suddenly have a tidy little group of players who are unhappy with their contracts.

Sheldon Brown joined a group that already includes Donovan McNabb (who is seeking an extension), Shawn Andrews, Brian Westbrook and David Akers.

Unlike the others, Brown asked to be traded.

The Eagles said no.

Brian Westbrook?  He of the $10+ million salary?  David Akers, who makes totally reasonable money for a kicker?  Especially after the way the team stood by him as he struggled some the last couple years?

I find those names very, very hard to believe.