tr1
July-18th-2006, 07:35 AM
Ok, the point of this story was Justice's happy signing, but Tra Thomas is on blood thinners for blood clots in his leg. I know Philly fans will try to discount that as no big deal, but it is a serious condition. Hopefully, he'll recover quickly and will be able to play again...
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/15062368.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Eagles, Justice agree on 4-year contract
By PAUL DOMOWITCH
pdomo@aol.com
Seven down and one to go.
The Eagles moved another step closer yesterday toward getting all of their draft choices signed in time for the start of training camp on Thursday when they agreed to terms with their their second-round pick, offensive tackle Winston Justice.
Justice, seventh pick in the second round, signed a 4-year deal believed to be worth $4.7 million and included a $1.7 million signing bonus.
That leaves first-rounder Brodrick Bunkley as the only unsigned Eagles rookie. According to a club source, the Eagles are hopeful they'll have a deal done with Bunkley by Thursday when rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report to camp at Lehigh University.
But the fact that just one first-round pick - Houston defensive end Mario Williams, the draft's first overall selection - has signed so far could make it a little more difficult for the Eagles and Bunkley's agent, Gary Wichard, to hammer out an agreement. Most agents prefer to have someone else set the first-round market price before they do a deal so that they don't end up shortchanging their client and damaging their reputation.
Justice was selected with the 39th overall pick. His USC linemate, guard Deuce Lutui, who was taken by Arizona with the 41st selection, signed last week. But Justice's agent, Gary Uberstine, said Lutui's deal had "no impact whatsoever" on the terms of his client's contract.
"We had enough conceptual conversations and were far enough down the line with the Eagles that we were both comfortable doing what we both thought was a fair deal without outside legitimization," Uberstine said.
Both Uberstine and Justice recognized that it was important for him to report to camp on time. With starting left tackle William "Tra" Thomas coming off major back surgery and still taking blood thinners this spring for clots in his leg, Justice is expected to take the bulk of the snaps at left tackle during the early portion of camp.
"It was important for Winston and his family that the deal be completed before the start of camp, as it is for every rookie," Uberstine said. "Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot."
Because defensive tackle is a considerably easier position to learn than offensive tackle, it wouldn't be devastating if Bunkley missed the first few days of camp. In 2000, first-round pick, Corey Simon, missed the first 2 weeks of camp before he signed and he still was a Week 1 starter.
But Bunkley struggled a bit in the team's spring minicamps. And with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson expecting him to earn a spot in the club's four-man tackle rotation, he can ill-afford to miss much time.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/15062368.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Eagles, Justice agree on 4-year contract
By PAUL DOMOWITCH
pdomo@aol.com
Seven down and one to go.
The Eagles moved another step closer yesterday toward getting all of their draft choices signed in time for the start of training camp on Thursday when they agreed to terms with their their second-round pick, offensive tackle Winston Justice.
Justice, seventh pick in the second round, signed a 4-year deal believed to be worth $4.7 million and included a $1.7 million signing bonus.
That leaves first-rounder Brodrick Bunkley as the only unsigned Eagles rookie. According to a club source, the Eagles are hopeful they'll have a deal done with Bunkley by Thursday when rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report to camp at Lehigh University.
But the fact that just one first-round pick - Houston defensive end Mario Williams, the draft's first overall selection - has signed so far could make it a little more difficult for the Eagles and Bunkley's agent, Gary Wichard, to hammer out an agreement. Most agents prefer to have someone else set the first-round market price before they do a deal so that they don't end up shortchanging their client and damaging their reputation.
Justice was selected with the 39th overall pick. His USC linemate, guard Deuce Lutui, who was taken by Arizona with the 41st selection, signed last week. But Justice's agent, Gary Uberstine, said Lutui's deal had "no impact whatsoever" on the terms of his client's contract.
"We had enough conceptual conversations and were far enough down the line with the Eagles that we were both comfortable doing what we both thought was a fair deal without outside legitimization," Uberstine said.
Both Uberstine and Justice recognized that it was important for him to report to camp on time. With starting left tackle William "Tra" Thomas coming off major back surgery and still taking blood thinners this spring for clots in his leg, Justice is expected to take the bulk of the snaps at left tackle during the early portion of camp.
"It was important for Winston and his family that the deal be completed before the start of camp, as it is for every rookie," Uberstine said. "Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot."
Because defensive tackle is a considerably easier position to learn than offensive tackle, it wouldn't be devastating if Bunkley missed the first few days of camp. In 2000, first-round pick, Corey Simon, missed the first 2 weeks of camp before he signed and he still was a Week 1 starter.
But Bunkley struggled a bit in the team's spring minicamps. And with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson expecting him to earn a spot in the club's four-man tackle rotation, he can ill-afford to miss much time.