The Redskins and the Eagles both cut starting linebackers today, but looking at how the teams released the news is an example of why Philadelphia usually wins and Washington loses.
The Redskins put out a release about the signing of LB Randall Godfrey and some obscure lineman. At the bottom, they mentioned they had cut Marshall, who had been with the team longer than anyone except tackles Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels and long snapper Ethan Albright. No mention of that. No mention of Marshall having started on the No. 3 defense in 2004 or the playoff defense in 2005. No quote from coach Joe Gibbs or assistant head coach/Gregg Williams. Marshall might as well have been a street free agent signed last week. And it's not like Marshall had become a problem as LaVar Arrington had before also being cut without comment last year.
In contrast, here's the Eagles' announcement about Jeremiah Trotter:
The Philadelphia Eagles today announced they have released LB Jeremiah Trotter.
"Jeremiah is one of my favorite guys," said head coach Andy Reid. "There's no question that this is the toughest part of this job. He and I met about this last night and it was very emotional for the both of us. Jeremiah and I have been together for many years and he's played a vital role in helping this team win a lot of football games. He developed himself into a Pro Bowl middle linebacker through a lot of hard work and desire. In my mind, he will always be a Philadelphia Eagle and I'm sure he feels the same way. I wish he and his family nothing but the best in the future."
Reid will be available to the media at the conclusion of today's practice on the field. Trotter will be available to the media in the NovaCare Complex auditorium following Reid's availability. Brian Dawkins and Takeo Spikes will also be available in the auditorium following Trotter's availability.
The 30-year-old Trotter was in his second stint in Philadelphia since being a third round draft choice of the Eagles in 1998. With four Pro Bowl selections on his resume, Trotter became just the fourth linebacker in team history to earn that distinction, joining Chuck Bednarik (8), Maxie Baughan (5), and Bill Bergey (4). He averaged over 147 tackles per year since becoming a full-time starter in 1999, including a career-high 202 in 1999. In 88 regular season starts as an Eagle, Trotter totaled 940 tackles (10.7 per game).
Trotter spent his first four seasons in Philadelphia and two in Washington before being released by the Redskins following the 2003 campaign. Without a contract offer, he somehow contacted Reid, who was on a fishing trip in a remote part of Utah where cell phone use was extremely limited. Trotter eventually signed a one-year contract at that time and parlayed it into a Pro Bowl season in 2004.
Trotter has been very successful off the field as well, as he owns a real estate company, Jeremiah Trotter Inc., and The Wash Sense Group, car wash facilities in the Philadelphia area. In addition, he established his own personal foundation, the Jeremiah Trotter Foundation, which is committed to the awareness and elimination of diabetes through research and education.
Wonder why Trotter liked playing in Philly more than D.C.?
Comments (11)
There is alot of other reasons why the birds are better than the skins too...
Posted by Donato | August 21, 2007 5:08 PM
This is what happens when you have a punk like Snyder as owner. keep up the good work Danny!!!
Posted by Dave O'Donnell | August 21, 2007 5:16 PM
I think we're making a bigger deal out of it. Gibbs will have a quick presser lately and say the great things about L.M. At least they've given him time to pick up another team and not waited another 2 wks. That's what should matter
Posted by michael | August 21, 2007 5:29 PM
Its a press release, your reading way...way...way too much into this. C'Mon David you even mentioned on WPL. This isnt worthy of a blog much less mentioning on TV. Are saying Gibbs isnt a class act....please! You hvae no idea what the coaches said to him. Here is the problem with local coverage of the skins, its way to critical, is Snyder a jerk.....yes, but dont become absurd with your coverage.
Posted by doke | August 21, 2007 5:33 PM
there are two news releases/articles on skins website. one is all about marshall and anticipates comments later by gibbs.
Posted by Anonymous | August 21, 2007 6:27 PM
Head coach Joe Gibbs said on Tuesday that coaches were impressed with some of its young linebackers. So they opted to release Marshall
"We had some other guys who we felt like we were coming through for us," Gibbs said. :Lemar has done a lot for us. We kind of made up our mind that we would go in a different direction, and now he has a chance to play with [another team].
Gibbs added: "Lemar is a high-quality guy and he has meant a lot to us."
Posted by Anonymous | August 21, 2007 6:30 PM
Some people will go to any length to take a shot at Snyder and the Redskins. This attempt by Elfin is laughable.
Lemar Marshall was a nice story. He was a surprise early in his career. But he was really poor last year-- some of the worst tackling I have ever seen. In the end, Marshall contributed three seasons as a regular to the Redskins, pretty much tapping out at the "average" level.
Trotter was a 4 time Pro Bowler for Philly and a vocal team leader.
You are NOT comparing apples to apples here.
So, I suppose the Redskins (and every other team) should throw a parade every time they cut a player that once contributed for them? Why didn't the Bucs petition for "Simeon Rice Day" when they released him?
The Redskins DID post the news of Marshall's release, and Gibbs DID make some nice comments about him. I'm just not sure what else they are supposed to do?
Lame attempt here Mr. Elfin. Very, very lame.
Posted by Ed Kleese | August 22, 2007 6:37 AM
Give me a break. If I remember correctly Trotter wanted to stay here when Gibbs was hired. They(the skins) released him. How did he make it here to DC in the first place? Because he had a falling out with the Eagles management including Andy Reid. If I remember correctly there were some pretty harsh words exchanged between the two. My how your memory is short sighted. Players are cut in the NFL all the time. It is a fact of life. Get over it. Don't let your own personal preferences show through in your coverage. Talk about class. As a reporter you should know better or did you not get an interview from someone you wanted at Redskin Park?
Posted by Anonymous | August 22, 2007 6:38 AM
First as a Redskin fan who the hell cares about Trotter and the freaking EAGLES!
Second the Redskins show a lot of unprofessionalism in dealing with players CEO Joe likes to call "core Redskins". Remember Antonio Pierce, Ryan Clark, and Fred Smoot the first time around yet they roll out the burgundy and gold carpet for Adam Archuleta..
I really think that without a general manager we will continually see these sort of blunders.Yet Danny finds another way to make tons of money by bringing in Johnny Rockets 10.00 hamburgers and 5.00 french fries give me a freaking break ..Only if this guy could figure out how to put football people in place to make football decisions and let him concentrate on marketing!
Is it me or does CEO Joe seem a little curt and uptight when talking about Jason Campbell? Brunell stunk up this place for the last 3 years and yet Gibbs alsways finds something positive to say about him.
Posted by Steve | August 22, 2007 8:18 AM
Hmm. Somehow they forgot to mention that Trotter averaged about $300,000 a year from the Eagles, but got about $8 million from the Redskins for his two years here doing absolutely NOTHING. When it comes to appreciation, I've always heard that money speaks loudest. Trotter was paid a ton of money by the Redskins and next to nothing by the Eagles. It's pretty slick how the Eagles can talk about how much they love a guy and make him believe it, but never show him the money.
Posted by Todd | August 22, 2007 9:56 AM
I think the Eagles do a lot of things right but this is a mountain out of a molehill story. Does anybody really think that Trotter cares that much about the press release regarding his release? He was released, who cares? I'm sure all he cares about is how the team told him, what Andy Reid said to him, and calling his agent to start finding him a job. He doesn't care about the press release.
Posted by SkinsFan#! | August 23, 2007 11:15 AM