The smart teams know that free agency begins in the home.
When it’s time to spend, it makes much more sense to spend a large chunk of available cash on the players who have been with the organization, proving their value and contributing to the effort to win games. The approach demonstrates loyalty to the men who have paid their dues, and it sends a message to the other young players that a reward is available for hard work and a high level of performance.
With new deals for tackle Jason Peters, receiver Riley Cooper, and center Jason Kelce, the Eagles have entered into contracts with a combined base value in excess of $100 million, as explained by Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. That amount includes more than $42 million in guaranteed money.
Making it easier for the Eagles to spend so much on other players is the presence of a starting quarterback who’ll earn a mere $615,000 in 2014, the third year of his third-round contract. Like Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Nick Foles can’t sign a new contract until after the coming season. Which gives the Eagles a chance to load up the cannon by paying other players now, knowing that they’ll eventually have to give Foles a contract commensurate with his performance as a budding franchise quarterback.