By Peter Gleason
The clock is ticking on the Eagles and their ability to restructure their deal with primo running back LeSean McCoy, and guess what?
According to Shady’s agent, the dreaded Drew Rosenhaus, the team hasn’t even approached him, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
With total compensation of $10.25 million and a cap number of $11.95 million for McCoy, many have believed the Eagles eventually will ask McCoy to reduce his cap number, either by restructuring the contract or by taking less money.
The fact that it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen. The new league year doesn’t begin for eight days, and pro football is a deadline-driven business.
For the Eagles, the start of the new league year isn’t really a deadline, because the Eagles aren’t pressed against the cap. They can carry McCoy on the books until the start of the regular season before his $9.75 million salary becomes fully guaranteed and his $250,000 roster bonus begins being earned one game at a time.
For McCoy and any player, it’s better to be on the market sooner than later. The earlier the player is on the market, he’ll have more options — and likely more money.
However, if the Eagles are considering giving McCoy an ultimatum, they’ll likely do it before the offseason program begins, since a season-ending injury while working out at the team facility or engaging in OTA sessions will result in the Eagles owing McCoy his full base salary. That’s what the Eagles did with receiverDeSean Jackson a year ago, cutting him in April after a failed effort to trade him.
