Trotter an Eagle again

[Blade]

Found on the Sports.Yahoo.com web site

Trotter agrees to one-year deal with Eagles
By ROB MAADDI, AP Sports Writer
July 14, 2004

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Former Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter returned to the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year contract.

Trotter's deal, believed to be worth less than $1 million, is contingent upon his passing a physical on Thursday.

Trotter, 27, spent the last two seasons with the Washington Redskins after playing four years for the Eagles and making the Pro Bowl twice. He left Philadelphia following a bitter contract dispute in 2002, but never lived up to the seven-year, $35 million contract he received from the Redskins.

Trotter's role is uncertain. Mark Simoneau is listed as Philadelphia's starting middle linebacker, with Dhani Jones and Nate Wayne at the other two starting spots.

Trotter led Washington with 129 tackles in 16 games last season. He had 104 tackles in 12 games in 2002, before going down with a knee injury.

Trotter has 774 tackles, 10 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles in his six-year career.

A third-round draft choice from Stephen F. Austin in 1998, Trotter established himself as one of the premier middle linebackers in the NFL during his time in Philadelphia, going to the Pro Bowl in 2000 and 2001.

He led the Eagles in tackles from 1999-2001, including a career-best 202 in his first season as a starter in 1999. Trotter strongly protested being designated Philadelphia's franchise player after the 2001 season, and signed with the Redskins soon after the Eagles removed the tag, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Eagles, runners-up in the NFC championship the last three years, have had a busy offseason, acquiring four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens, signing three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jevon Kearse and Jones.

They also have lost cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor and running back Duce Staley to free agency.

What does everyone think about this? After a bitter breakup, can everything be forgiven?

[Franklinnoble]

He was a disappointment in Washington. It's a good deal for Philly, since they got him cheap. My guess is he'll play his ass off in this "contract" year, just to secure another fat deal there, or elsewhere.

[cuervo72]

Philly won't give him a fat deal. Not their way.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Philly won't give him a fat deal. Not their way.

I agree. My theory is this is win-win for the Eagles. Either Trotter really has lost a step, and the Eagles haven't wasted much on a one-year deal for him, or he plays his ass off to earn another big free agent payday, and the Eagles get a great LB for one year cheap.

[Bee]

Maybe the Redskins will give him another one...

[QuikSand]

Great re-signing. I think the were basically vindicated for their tough stance with him a few years ago. Philly has been generally smart with this stuff, refusing to get caught up in overpaying players - and what Trotter wanted to re-up with them was overpaying, so they let him walk.

But I don't think he'll ever again be in a situation to command a really fat contract.

[Arles]

I don't know about this. I think it's a low risk/high reward move for Philly, but I talked with someone who covered the Giants and said that Trotter would not have passed a physical in any of the three periods with which they tried to sign him. So, New York just decided to pass. Supposedly his knees are pretty bad.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Great re-signing. I think the were basically vindicated for their tough stance with him a few years ago. Philly has been generally smart with this stuff, refusing to get caught up in overpaying players - and what Trotter wanted to re-up with them was overpaying, so they let him walk.

That's a little unfair. We'll never know if it was a good football move or not because Trotter suffered a torn ACL 9 games into his post-Eagle career. I don't think we can give Philadelphia credit for knowing he was going to suffer a torn ligamnet at age 26. In hindsight it looks pretty good I'll agree, but it's not as if they've made much use of that cap room the past few years.

I do agree it was a great pickup by Philadelphia now though. They signed the best player available to their weakest position.

[andy m]

i love this move for the eagles.

[Subby]

Unless Trotter has significantly progressed from last season, this move will have minimal impact on the Eagles defense. Trotter is slow and undisciplined - probably not much better than what Philly currently has...

[cuervo72]

Just for you, Subby:

http://www.nflshop.com/catalog/produ...sults&gridID=0

[Bonegavel]

as a life long eagles fan I wasn't sad to see Trotter go. Sure he made a bunch of great plays but he also took himself out of many others. In many defenses, the MLB is designed to be the leading tackler, so this isn't really as big an honor as it seems. I think, regardless of his ACL problem, he would have wound up being average (to slightly above) at best for the Skins and not live up to the money they gave him.

With all the problems I've had in the past with the Eagles, lately they have been very smart with contracts and making decent teams on a budget. We'll see how things go with the loss of Troy and Bobby which are bigger concerns for me.