There’s no questioning that the spotlight of the offseason has been stolen by two men. Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell have been the subject of rumors and speculation since before the season began for differing reasons and while the appeal is easy to see, these two stars have to be treated as forbidden fruit.
On the surface, all you see is production. Le’Veon Bell posted back-to-back 1,200 yard rushing seasons prior to taking his fate into his own hands, while Antonio Brown has posted at LEAST 1,200 receiving yards yards for five consecutive season’s. I don’t need to sit here and tell you just how spectacular each player is, because you know that already. Arguably the best at their respective positions, you don’t need to make a case for their play on the field…but it’s their actions away from it that need to be discussed.
It all comes down to one thing; culture. The Eagles have worked tirelessly to rid their locker room of anyone, or anything, that would damage an environment that has every single player ‘bought in’. Whether it’s concerns due to DUI’s, or effort-levels, holdouts, to Umbrella incidents, Doug Pederson has excelled in expelling any kind of distractions from the locker room, be it by removing the player, or making it very clear it’s a line they won’t want to cross again.
Neither Bell nor Brown bring distractions to the table that are in the same vein as those aforementioned, bur arguably something more damaging.
Let’s start with Antonio Brown. Coming into the league, he was a total underdog and used that energy to fuel what would become a surge like no other. Within a few short seasons, Brown established himself as an elite talent and would soon be paid like one…but that’s where things started to get misty.
After receiving his big payday, like many wideouts do, Brown’s attitude started to alter. Brown became increasingly frustrated with the team, his quarterback and his lack of targets at times. There were missed practices, late meeting appearances and most notable of all, a benching in week 17 against the Bengals following some mid-week drama. There is a terrific article on ESPN that documents how Antonio Brown’s ‘star power’ slowly started to divide the Steelers locker room, or at the very least, cause some distractions which one of the most un-buttoned franchises in the league failed to fix.
“As the leash gets longer, [Brown] gets the feeling that he can do whatever he wants. That’s where Tomlin might have wished he would have squashed this earlier.”
The truth is, no matter how generationally talented Antonio Brown is, he has to fit a very selfless culture. With there already being concerns over how Carson Wentz spread the ball in 2018, would Antonio Brown really be comfortable seeing a tight end receive more attention, especially being paid the money he is?
Not only that, but by acquiring Brown, you’re automatically demoting Alshon Jeffery, who has a reason to be a little frustrated at the offensive shape, to WR2. You’re paying Jeffery $11M in 2019. That’s WAY too much for a second wide receiver and there would undoubtedly and understandably be a battle of territory emerging.
If you look at the free agent receivers the Eagles have brought in recently, you notice a pattern. Mike Wallace and Torrey Smith are both known as receivers who can take the top off a defense, burn corners with speed, and more importantly act as a veteran leader in the locker room. Brown is the most dominant receiver in football and his baggage is just as influential as a result.
Let’s turn our attention to Le’Veon Bell. Now here, you can make a slightly stronger case. The Eagles have a glaring need at running back given that the chances of Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles returning are minimal, leaving a questionable committee at best. Bell would not only transform the Eagles backfield, but the two-time pro Bowler would be paid in a way where Pederson would physically have to balance the offense, a stark contrast to being the after-thought we’ve seen in every season since the beginning of the Pederson-Wentz era, with a total imbalance until it’s too late.
However, if the Eagles are to pay the 27-year old the money he deserves, they have to kiss goodbye to the committee effort. During Pederson’s tenure, the featured back traditionally receives no more than around 16 carries per game at the very most. In 2017 Bell had just 6 games where he lad less than 15 carries…and in 2016, that number was just 1.
The Eagles simply could not afford to pay Bell and run with the committee effort they’ve been so desperate to perfect. It’s chalk and cheese; one or the other. Do you want the big, gritty truck to get you through the Winter months? Or would you rather spread the cost into a variety of different vehicles that suit every need?
The Eagles haven’t drafted a running back higher than the second round since LeSean McCoy. As of right now, the Eagles have just $3,114,088 in TOTAL invested in the running back position. That ranks 24th in the league.
Traditionally, the Eagles are able to find value in the lower rounds of the draft or through free agency when it comes to running back…and who can blame them?
After all, a huge concern for Le’Veon Bell was how another grueling season would impact his future. He led the NFL in carries and touches in 2017, despite missing week 17. Bell resisted playing under the franchise tag in order to control his own destiny, so maybe, just maybe, that reduced wear and tear would fit him well…but it’s a big maybe.
Whether it’s a battle of ego, a battle of bank balance or simply a case of fitting into culture and scheme, it’s hard to really justify breaking the bank or the farm for either of these stars. Don’t get me wrong, both are incredible, incredible talents…but as with the Sun shining in Philadelphia, it’s important to remember not to fly too close.
AP Photo/Don Wright
