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The Eagles' offseason to-do list got a little bit shorter on Thursday when they placed the "non-exclusive" franchise tag on tight end L.J. Smith
.
Under the terms of the "non-exclusive" franchise tag designation, Smith has been offered a one-year tender in the amount of the average of the five highest-paid tight ends in the NFL in 2007. Smith can sign the one-year deal, continue to negotiate a long-term deal with the Eagles or listen to offers from other teams when free agency begins Feb. 29. If Smith signs an offer sheet from another team, the Eagles can either match that offer or allow Smith to join the new team and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
"L.J. Smith has been a very productive tight end in our offense," said head coach Andy Reid in a statement. "He is healthy and working his tail off so he can have a very successful 2008 season."
Smith spoke with the media Thursday evening and said that while he's OK with the franchise tag designation, he would like to get a long-term deal.
"Any player wants a long-term deal. That's what you want - (to be) secure in your job, in your family," said Smith. "I've always said I've wanted to be here and I think this is another opportunity to showcase myself."
"Smith is a terrific fit for the variation of the West Coast offense the Eagles use because he has such a good feel for the passing game and an innate knowledge of how to get open in intermediate zones."
- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
"He's been hungry from the first second that he got here. That's what makes a great player. He just continues to get better all of the time. With his physical abilities, he's going to be a dominant force for this team. He came in with a great work ethic and a determination to be the best player that he can be. I don't think he has any weaknesses. I think he is great."
- Former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis
"With as gifted a receiver as he is, you don't want to put limits on what L.J. can do."
- Former offensive coordinator and current Vikings head coach Brad Childress
"I'm so proud of him. I think we all go through it, just learning how to be a professional. It's hard, but he's done a great job of really learning the game and understanding what Andy (Reid) is asking of him."
- Former Eagles tight end Mike Bartrum
The 6-3, 258-pound Smith was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month. Quarterback Donovan McNabb certainly wanted Smith back in the Eagles huddle for 2008. While doing promotional apperances at the Super Bowl in Arizona, McNabb told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he "would love (to have) L.J. back." Don't be surprised if the Eagles and Smith work out a long term deal because over the past six years, the Eagles have had a total of 90 starters under their second (or more) contract with the team which is the highest total in the NFL.
In his five NFL campaigns, Smith already has had one of the most productive careers by a tight end in Eagles history with 194 receptions for 2,227 yards and 15 touchdowns in 73 games. Smith was the Eagles' second-round pick in 2003 out of Rutgers. In his first two seasons, Smith developed into a playmaking tight end under the tutelage of Chad Lewis with 61 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns. During the Eagles' playoff run in the 2004 season which ended with the franchise's second trip to the Super Bowl, Smith had nine catches for 100 yards. In Super Bowl XXXIX, he started after Lewis went down with a Lisfranc injury in the NFC title game and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb for the game's opening points.
Smith took over as the full-time starter at tight end in 2005 and emerged into one of the league's best young talents with 111 catches for 1,293 yards and eight touchdowns. During the run to the playoffs in 2006, Smith elevated his game and proved to be more than just a receiving tight end. The Eagles were not shy to run in Smith's direction as running back Brian Westbrook rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2007, Smith was expected to take flight and help strengthen an offense that saw McNabb return from a knee injury. However, Smith battled injuries of his own and was grounded for most of the year. He underwent offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia in May. Smith returned for training camp, but aggravated his groin in the same area as where he had the surgery. Smith was back in time for the beginning of the season, but was nowhere near 100 percent and underwent surgery on Sept. 21 to clean out scar tissue. While recovering from the surgery, Smith missed three games (Detroit, at Giants and Chicago).
Smith's best performance of the season came in the thrilling come-from-behind win at Washington in November where he had four catches for 49 yards and his only touchdown of the season. Almost a month later, Smith injured his knee in the loss at home to the Giants which would cause him to miss the season's final three games. In all, Smith had 22 catches for 236 yards and the one score.
"I understand why I didn't get a long-term deal," said Smith. "I feel great right now. I'm healthy. Nothing is going to keep me from performing at a high level again.
"I wasn't healthy (last year). I wasn't able to perform at a high level."
Smith's presence was certainly missed on the field. The Eagles' struggles in the red zone were well documented this season. In 51 trips, the Eagles converted 23 of those opportunities into touchdowns for a 45.1 percent conversion rate that ranked 24th in the NFL. Where does Smith factor into that? All 16 of Smith's career touchdowns - including postseason - have come in the red zone.
.Under the terms of the "non-exclusive" franchise tag designation, Smith has been offered a one-year tender in the amount of the average of the five highest-paid tight ends in the NFL in 2007. Smith can sign the one-year deal, continue to negotiate a long-term deal with the Eagles or listen to offers from other teams when free agency begins Feb. 29. If Smith signs an offer sheet from another team, the Eagles can either match that offer or allow Smith to join the new team and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
"L.J. Smith has been a very productive tight end in our offense," said head coach Andy Reid in a statement. "He is healthy and working his tail off so he can have a very successful 2008 season."
Smith spoke with the media Thursday evening and said that while he's OK with the franchise tag designation, he would like to get a long-term deal.
"Any player wants a long-term deal. That's what you want - (to be) secure in your job, in your family," said Smith. "I've always said I've wanted to be here and I think this is another opportunity to showcase myself."
"Smith is a terrific fit for the variation of the West Coast offense the Eagles use because he has such a good feel for the passing game and an innate knowledge of how to get open in intermediate zones."
- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
"He's been hungry from the first second that he got here. That's what makes a great player. He just continues to get better all of the time. With his physical abilities, he's going to be a dominant force for this team. He came in with a great work ethic and a determination to be the best player that he can be. I don't think he has any weaknesses. I think he is great."
- Former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis
"With as gifted a receiver as he is, you don't want to put limits on what L.J. can do."
- Former offensive coordinator and current Vikings head coach Brad Childress
"I'm so proud of him. I think we all go through it, just learning how to be a professional. It's hard, but he's done a great job of really learning the game and understanding what Andy (Reid) is asking of him."
- Former Eagles tight end Mike Bartrum
The 6-3, 258-pound Smith was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month. Quarterback Donovan McNabb certainly wanted Smith back in the Eagles huddle for 2008. While doing promotional apperances at the Super Bowl in Arizona, McNabb told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he "would love (to have) L.J. back." Don't be surprised if the Eagles and Smith work out a long term deal because over the past six years, the Eagles have had a total of 90 starters under their second (or more) contract with the team which is the highest total in the NFL.
In his five NFL campaigns, Smith already has had one of the most productive careers by a tight end in Eagles history with 194 receptions for 2,227 yards and 15 touchdowns in 73 games. Smith was the Eagles' second-round pick in 2003 out of Rutgers. In his first two seasons, Smith developed into a playmaking tight end under the tutelage of Chad Lewis with 61 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns. During the Eagles' playoff run in the 2004 season which ended with the franchise's second trip to the Super Bowl, Smith had nine catches for 100 yards. In Super Bowl XXXIX, he started after Lewis went down with a Lisfranc injury in the NFC title game and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb for the game's opening points.
Smith took over as the full-time starter at tight end in 2005 and emerged into one of the league's best young talents with 111 catches for 1,293 yards and eight touchdowns. During the run to the playoffs in 2006, Smith elevated his game and proved to be more than just a receiving tight end. The Eagles were not shy to run in Smith's direction as running back Brian Westbrook rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2007, Smith was expected to take flight and help strengthen an offense that saw McNabb return from a knee injury. However, Smith battled injuries of his own and was grounded for most of the year. He underwent offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia in May. Smith returned for training camp, but aggravated his groin in the same area as where he had the surgery. Smith was back in time for the beginning of the season, but was nowhere near 100 percent and underwent surgery on Sept. 21 to clean out scar tissue. While recovering from the surgery, Smith missed three games (Detroit, at Giants and Chicago).
Smith's best performance of the season came in the thrilling come-from-behind win at Washington in November where he had four catches for 49 yards and his only touchdown of the season. Almost a month later, Smith injured his knee in the loss at home to the Giants which would cause him to miss the season's final three games. In all, Smith had 22 catches for 236 yards and the one score.
"I understand why I didn't get a long-term deal," said Smith. "I feel great right now. I'm healthy. Nothing is going to keep me from performing at a high level again.
"I wasn't healthy (last year). I wasn't able to perform at a high level."
Smith's presence was certainly missed on the field. The Eagles' struggles in the red zone were well documented this season. In 51 trips, the Eagles converted 23 of those opportunities into touchdowns for a 45.1 percent conversion rate that ranked 24th in the NFL. Where does Smith factor into that? All 16 of Smith's career touchdowns - including postseason - have come in the red zone.
