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Trent Cole Signs 5 Year Extension


OWUeagleMD

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I'm surprised to see there's no thread on this yet.

I like this signing more than Patterson's. Cole has proven himself to me as much as any second-year player is able to.

Cole Gets 5-Year Extension

November 6, 2006

By DAVE SPADARO

The Eagles locked up another young piece of their core, signing defensive end Trent Cole to a five-year contract extension through the 2013 season.

Cole, who leads the team with 6 1/2 quarterback sacks, was a fifth-round draft pick last year.

"I can get all the money in the world, but I'm still going to play hard and I'm going to be the same person," Cole said. "I'm happy right now. I love to play this game."

Cole, a product of the University of Cincinnati, has an incredible motor, is very strong off the edge and is a relentless pass rusher. He has made his mark as one of the game's best young defensive ends, and the Eagles have inked him to a long-term deal.

Cole's dedication to the game has paid off thanks to an offseason during which he worked on fundamentals and added some weight without sacrificing speed.

"I think I'm a more sound player. I use my hands a lot more. I use a lot more moves and I use my moves better when I attack my opponent," Cole said. "Coming in as a rookie, I used to come off real fast and wild.

"I think I've been more successful being more sound."

One of the league's top, young pass rushing defensive ends, Cole has posted 11.5 sacks in his first 23 career games (13 starts), including four multi-sack outings. Since joining the Eagles in 2005, Cole leads the Eagles in sacks (11.5) and is ranked second in quarterback hurries (19) during that time span. He has totaled 99 tackles, including seven stops for a loss.

Cole credits his early success to "heart and determination."

But he's far from satisfied.

"I don't think I'll ever be satisfied," Cole said. "I still want to rise to the top. I still want to be the best. I want to be known as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL."

Injuries along the defensive line allowed Cole to showcase his wares during his rookie season last year.

Cole got off to a quick start, posting five sacks and earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in November. He earned a starting role at right defensive end midway through his first season and finished fourth among NFL rookies in sacks.

He is the second young defensive player locked up by the Eagles in the last week. Defensive tackle Mike Patterson, another of the '05 draft class, inked a deal on Thursday that keeps him in Philadelphia through 2016.

"The Eagles know what they have," Cole said. "I think this ('05 draft) class is going to be great for the team now and in the years ahead."

Cole becomes the sixth Eagles player to sign a long-term extension in the past five months. The Eagles have inked Patterson (through 2016), as well as offensive lineman Shawn Andrews (2015), center Jamaal Jackson (2013), free safety Brian Dawkins (2008) and punter Dirk Johnson (2011).

The deadline for signing players and using their signing bonuses in this year's cap is Tuesday.

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Cole becomes the sixth Eagles player to sign a long-term extension in the past five months. The Eagles have inked Patterson (through 2016), as well as offensive lineman Shawn Andrews (2015), center Jamaal Jackson (2013), free safety Brian Dawkins (2008) and punter Dirk Johnson (2011).

The deadline for signing players and using their signing bonuses in this year's cap is Tuesday.

I must give the Eagles organization credit for locking up their talent. :applause:

The question will be if in a couple years these guys are viewed as underpaid, will the organization adjust! I know they didn't for TO, but was that really a wrong decision?

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The Eagles call it locking up a player long term before he hits the FA market. They are still taking a risk that this player will be worth the contract. I don't know long term if he will or will not, however, what happens if he outperforms the contract. The Birds don't treat these players as well as they should. Also, what is the difference between this method and the method other teams employ? The Eagles don't hit on every player they lock up. Other teams wait and give big contracts to the ones they know will succeed and let go of the ones that fail. They replenish with less costly players to replace the failed ones evening out the cap.

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The Eagles call it locking up a player long term before he hits the FA market. They are still taking a risk that this player will be worth the contract. I don't know long term if he will or will not, however, what happens if he outperforms the contract. The Birds don't treat these players as well as they should. Also, what is the difference between this method and the method other teams employ? The Eagles don't hit on every player they lock up. Other teams wait and give big contracts to the ones they know will succeed and let go of the ones that fail. They replenish with less costly players to replace the failed ones evening out the cap.

I hope no one is suggesting that the strategy is seamless. As with everything, it has both risks and rewards.

To me, it would be a spectacular strategy if they coupled the long-term extensions with specific upgrades from outside the organization each March. If the primary strategy works, then the free agent additions wouldn't need be more than 1-2 guys in key positions at a time.

I think there is something to be said for these deals potentially taking advantage of younger players. I suppose if that's the case agents will begin discouraging players from signing them.

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The Eagles have hit on most players they have offered extensions too. Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown come to mind. Also, the contract extensions are usually not very high or penalizing if the player is released. One thing true about the Eagles is they do not treat their superstars with the same amount of money as another team would, however, you haven't seen too many complaining.

I still think it's a much better system. If the player is underperforming, there is not as much of a hit. If the player really overperforms and demands a new contract, they can re-evaluate it then, and usually will have teh space for it due to the moderate contracts of every other player. It's not like our situation where we give out superstar contracts and then cannot or will not give out those contracts to players who have performed.

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