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Posted on Wed, Jul. 26, 2006
Bunkley, Birds getting entrenched in contract dispute
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
BETHLEHEM - Suddenly, both sides in the Brodrick Bunkley signing drama seem to be settling in for a long, cold war.
Officially, there was little comment on the talks from either side yesterday, as the Eagles' first-round draft choice missed the first day of live, two-a-day full-squad workouts. Unofficially, sources close to each party say they're getting extremely exasperated with each another. They also say that what has been reported recently is true - the holdup is not money, but the term of the deal.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, draftees No. 1 through 16 in the first round can be signed to 6-year contracts. Draftees 17 through 32 can't be signed for longer than 5 years. The Eagles, who drafted Bunkley at No. 14, seem dug in on the idea of getting 6 years before the defensive tackle from Florida State can become a free agent. Gary Wich-ard, who represents Bunkley, seems adamant about taking nothing longer than 5 years, except perhaps a 6-year deal that voids to 5 if Bunkley becomes a starter.
The sides seem to be trying hard not to say anything inflammatory, though that could change, as the impasse deepens. Through a spokesman, Eagles coach Andy Reid conveyed yesterday that he is officially disappointed in Wichard for not getting Bunkley to camp by now. The coach's position is that Bunkley, penciled in as part of a four-man d-tackle rotation, is falling behind and imperiling his rookie year.
Wichard refused to comment yesterday when told of Reid's statement. A players association source sympathetic to Wichard's position said Wichard has represented quite a few players around the middle of the first round in recent years, and has never taken a 6-year deal. Before this year and the new CBA, there was no limit on the length of first-round deals.
Team president Joe Banner declined to specify why the Eagles think a 6-year deal is important. Obviously, the longer the deal, the longer the player waits to become a free agent, and the longer the term over which the team can amortize a signing bonus. Last year, the Birds' first-round pick was defensive tackle Mike Patterson, taken 31st overall. He signed a 5-year deal. Guard Shawn Andrews, taken 16th in 2004, and defensive end Jerome McDougle, taken 15th in 2003, signed 6-year deals that both sides agreed were easily voidable to 5, the kind of deal Wichard apparently wants for Bunkley. Andrews has since signed through 2015.
That, too, is said to frustrate the Bunkley camp - the Eagles have a history of approaching good, young players for extensions long before their rookie deals expire. If they ultimately do the same with Bunkley, the difference between 5 and 6 years will be only a bit of leverage in extension talks.
In McDougle's case, the term was a big enough issue that 6 days elapsed between the time rookies were supposed to report and the eventual agreement between the Birds and agent Drew Rosenhaus. That was the Eagles' longest rookie impasse since defensive tackle Corey Simon, taken sixth overall in 2000, missed the first 2 weeks of camp.
This year's Eagles rookies reported 6 days ago. They have been on the field 5 days now. Initially, team sources downplayed Bunkley's absence; the feeling seemed to be that he would sign within a few days. That feeling clearly has changed.
Eagles management hoped that when Cleveland signed defensive end Kamerion Wimbley over the weekend, the Bunkley deal would fall into place, since Wimbley was drafted 13th. Sources on both sides of the matter say Wichard does not like the Wimbley deal, which was only the second contract signed in the first round, with most teams not reporting until late this week. The Eagles went to Lehigh a week early because they have an extra preseason game, the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.
Wimbley and agent Joe Linta took a 6-year deal. Other agents raised their eyebrows at that, since Linta also represents Browns coach Romeo Crennel. A source close to the Bunkley situation said yesterday that the catalyst probably will be more deals getting done in the middle of the first round. If other players among the top 16 take 6-year deals, Wichard and Bunkley presumably will have to concede. But every time a pick eligible to be signed for 6 years signs for 5 - as seventh overall pick Michael Huff did this week, with the Raiders - it's more reinforcement for Bunkley and Wichard.
Bunkley, Birds getting entrenched in contract dispute
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
BETHLEHEM - Suddenly, both sides in the Brodrick Bunkley signing drama seem to be settling in for a long, cold war.
Officially, there was little comment on the talks from either side yesterday, as the Eagles' first-round draft choice missed the first day of live, two-a-day full-squad workouts. Unofficially, sources close to each party say they're getting extremely exasperated with each another. They also say that what has been reported recently is true - the holdup is not money, but the term of the deal.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, draftees No. 1 through 16 in the first round can be signed to 6-year contracts. Draftees 17 through 32 can't be signed for longer than 5 years. The Eagles, who drafted Bunkley at No. 14, seem dug in on the idea of getting 6 years before the defensive tackle from Florida State can become a free agent. Gary Wich-ard, who represents Bunkley, seems adamant about taking nothing longer than 5 years, except perhaps a 6-year deal that voids to 5 if Bunkley becomes a starter.
The sides seem to be trying hard not to say anything inflammatory, though that could change, as the impasse deepens. Through a spokesman, Eagles coach Andy Reid conveyed yesterday that he is officially disappointed in Wichard for not getting Bunkley to camp by now. The coach's position is that Bunkley, penciled in as part of a four-man d-tackle rotation, is falling behind and imperiling his rookie year.
Wichard refused to comment yesterday when told of Reid's statement. A players association source sympathetic to Wichard's position said Wichard has represented quite a few players around the middle of the first round in recent years, and has never taken a 6-year deal. Before this year and the new CBA, there was no limit on the length of first-round deals.
Team president Joe Banner declined to specify why the Eagles think a 6-year deal is important. Obviously, the longer the deal, the longer the player waits to become a free agent, and the longer the term over which the team can amortize a signing bonus. Last year, the Birds' first-round pick was defensive tackle Mike Patterson, taken 31st overall. He signed a 5-year deal. Guard Shawn Andrews, taken 16th in 2004, and defensive end Jerome McDougle, taken 15th in 2003, signed 6-year deals that both sides agreed were easily voidable to 5, the kind of deal Wichard apparently wants for Bunkley. Andrews has since signed through 2015.
That, too, is said to frustrate the Bunkley camp - the Eagles have a history of approaching good, young players for extensions long before their rookie deals expire. If they ultimately do the same with Bunkley, the difference between 5 and 6 years will be only a bit of leverage in extension talks.
In McDougle's case, the term was a big enough issue that 6 days elapsed between the time rookies were supposed to report and the eventual agreement between the Birds and agent Drew Rosenhaus. That was the Eagles' longest rookie impasse since defensive tackle Corey Simon, taken sixth overall in 2000, missed the first 2 weeks of camp.
This year's Eagles rookies reported 6 days ago. They have been on the field 5 days now. Initially, team sources downplayed Bunkley's absence; the feeling seemed to be that he would sign within a few days. That feeling clearly has changed.
Eagles management hoped that when Cleveland signed defensive end Kamerion Wimbley over the weekend, the Bunkley deal would fall into place, since Wimbley was drafted 13th. Sources on both sides of the matter say Wichard does not like the Wimbley deal, which was only the second contract signed in the first round, with most teams not reporting until late this week. The Eagles went to Lehigh a week early because they have an extra preseason game, the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.
Wimbley and agent Joe Linta took a 6-year deal. Other agents raised their eyebrows at that, since Linta also represents Browns coach Romeo Crennel. A source close to the Bunkley situation said yesterday that the catalyst probably will be more deals getting done in the middle of the first round. If other players among the top 16 take 6-year deals, Wichard and Bunkley presumably will have to concede. But every time a pick eligible to be signed for 6 years signs for 5 - as seventh overall pick Michael Huff did this week, with the Raiders - it's more reinforcement for Bunkley and Wichard.
