Scout.com’s Adam Caplan reports that the Jets are not expected exercise cornerback Lito Sheppard’s $10 million offseason roster bonus, which will come due on March 11th.
Sheppard was traded from the Eagles to the Jets last February in exchange for a 2009 fifth-round pick, and a conditional 2010 selection. The latter pick could escalate to as high as a second-rounder, pending Sheppard’s playing time.
Sheppard had to play 85 percent of New York’s defensive snaps this season for Philadelphia to get back a second-round pick. He’s missed five full games and parts of several others due to injury.
Thus, Sheppard will likely head to unrestricted free agency in 2010. Caplan notes that the two-time Pro Bowler has “played better of late,” but Sheppard’s lengthy injury history will limit his market value. He also appeared to lose his starting job to Dwight Lowery, before Lowery was lost indefinitely with a high left ankle sprain in Week 11.
Well that sucks, Florio what should the Eagles expect for Sheppard now?
No way….Lito has been injured and missed 5 full games? Never saw that coming. Did he really think he was actually going to get this bonus? They should have traded him for the bag of peanut shells he’s worth….
I wonder why he’s not chirping that he deserves a new contract now?
I don’t have a problem with players that are injured a lot. Its really not their fault, and I’m sure they’d love to never be injured. What I do have a problem with, is players that are frequently injured and then act shocked that they aren’t gonna make millions of dollars.
If Sheppard took the money he’s been paid, and divided it by the number of games he ACTUALLY played in, he’s probably among the highest paid corners in the game on a per game basis.
Lito was injured?? Surely not – he’s Mr. Ironman aint he. Oh wait THAT Lito, as you were.