April 13, 2016
Over the weekend, Howard Eskin of 94.1 WIP said on his Saturday radio show that Fletcher Cox turned down an offer from the Eagles worth $60 million in guaranteed money. Our transcription below:
"Fletcher Cox, he listens too much to his agent," said Eskin. "His agent is trying to break the bank with Fletcher Cox because he’s got other players he represents at those positions, and he represents Bennie Logan. So he’s trying to get more than anyone has gotten at that position in the NFL so the other numbers go up. It changes the numbers. He’s using Fletcher Cox to try to help himself, the agent, Todd France, to help himself with the representation of other players that play on the defensive line. That’s not the right way to approach it. From the beginning they were offering, basically offering Fletcher Cox $60 million guaranteed. And what is that, chopped liver? It’s unbelievable.
"Here’s the problem with players. They listen too much to their agents. Fletcher Cox isn’t a guy who goes out and spends a lot of money. He doesn’t buy a lot of cars. That would be enough for three lifetimes for Fletcher Cox. The Eagles can have him for the next three years and don’t have to sign him to a contract -- this year, then they can franchise him for two more years after that. And suppose he gets hurt this year or the next year?
"He didn’t have a lot of back problems last year, but he’s had in the past some back problems. He plays a very, very, very physical position. Take the money. This guy is just trying to use Fletcher Cox to get more money for his other players that he represents, and I don’t think that’s a good sign."
France did not respond to an inquiry from PhillyVoice, but he did appear as a guest on the Mike and Ike show on WIP yesterday afternoon, via Brandon Gowton of BGN:
"For Howard Eskin to come out and say how insane it is and how ridiculous it is — and then to have a personal attack on me, when I literally don’t know if I’ve ever talked to the guy. OK? And if it was it’s gotta be years, and years, and years and it surely wasn’t about this. I think it’s unfair to myself, I think it’s unfair to Fletcher Cox to put out that type of misinformation. And you know who else it’s unfair to? The fans. Because you’re misleading your Philly fan base."
"To me it’s just wrong, careless, and bad reporting. That’s my opinion because I actually know the facts.
"To say a contract is worth — whatever I’m gonna use $60 million guaranteed — and a certain amount of it he gets today, but the next year he gets some if he’s on the roster is guaranteed. And the next year he gets it guaranteed if he’s on the roster then. And the next year he gets it if he’s on the roster — those are year-to-year guarantees.
"Any person that’s got any intelligence to the football business will write and say, ‘That really isn’t X amount guaranteed.’ Because the team can do what? Get rid of the guy and cut him at any point and that quote-unquote guaranteed money the player never really receives."
Four interior defensive linemen were recently signed to enormous contracts in the last 19 months:
| Date | Player | Team | Years | Money |
| 9/2/2014 | J.J. Watt | Texans | 6 | $100 million ($51.8 million guaranteed) |
| 10/25/14 | Gerald McCoy | Buccaneers | 7 | 95.2 million ($51.5 million guaranteed) |
| 3/11/15 | Ndamukong Suh | Dolphins | 6 | $114.4 million ($59.96 million guaranteed) |
| 9/10/15 | Marcell Dareus | Bills | 6 | $95.1 million ($60 million guaranteed) |
France correctly points out that guarantees are often not exactly "guaranteed." Marcell Dareus for example, another France client, did not get all of his money guaranteed up front like Ndamukong Suh, although the contract was structured in a way in which it was likely Dareus would see all of his guaranteed money.
Dareus' situation closely mirrors Cox's. Like Cox, Dareus was scheduled to make $8 million during the 2015 season. Cox is scheduled to make $7.799 million in 2016. Dareus' negotiations became contentious, but he and the Bills eventually hammered out a deal three days before the start of the 2015 season.
While Eskin may have gone a little overboard in his criticisms of France, his point that the Eagles have their share of leverage is absolutely valid. As noted, Cox is schedule to make just under $8 million this season, and if the Eagles franchise tag him in 2017, he'll make significantly less than what he would make if he signs a deal anywhere near the contracts listed above. The franchise tag amount for defensive tackles in 2015 was $11.19 million, and $13.65 million in 2016. If we were to project a similar increase in 2017, Cox is looking at a franchise tag amount of about $16 million. If Cox and the Eagles cannot get a deal done, he'll essentially be playing for something close to $24 million over the next two seasons.
Back in January, Cox said that he wants to finish his career in Philadelphia.
"I'm making eight million dollars so why wouldn't I be excited to play," asked Cox. "Who wouldn't be excited to make eight million dollars? Wouldn't you? Why complain about that?"
Meanwhile, Howie Roseman said at the NFL Combine that the Eagles will make sure there's enough money to pay Cox.
"We have to make sure that we’re always in a place where we have to get Fletcher done," said Roseman. "Anything that we do is in our mind, in the back of our mind, that we want to get Fletcher done, whether that’s today, tomorrow, whatever point in time. We want Fletcher to be here.
"For us, we haven’t been shy. He’s a great player. He’s going to get 'great player money.' We’re not shy about saying that. It still comes down to structure, and all the things that kind of complicate the negotiation, but I think the intention is right from him, from his representatives, and certainly from us and how we feel about him."
When the Eagles' offseason began, Cox was among three no-shows, although attendance was voluntary.
The Eagles would like to keep Cox happy, but at the same time, they hold the cards and don't have to pay him like he's on the open market.
