Eagles Face Tough Decision On Brent Celek

Brent Celek is set to make four million dollars in salary next season, is that too much for the Eagles to pay? (Image courtesy of Philly.com)

Brent Celek stands as one of the Eagles longest tenured players, selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. With that tenure, he likewise enjoys a comfortable salary.  Yet over a seven-year career with the Eagles, Celek has been the recipient of lots of punishment. Will the combination of his high salary and slowing body result in an abrupt end to his Eagles career?

In the midst of a career year during his third season, one in which he posted 76 receptions for 971 yards and eight touchdowns, the Birds rewarded Celek with a six-year contract extension worth 33 million dollars.  Since signing that extension, Celek has been the ultimate team player for the Eagles, watching his role within the offense change from a primary receiver to a blocker and back to a primary receiver when Michael Vick took over the reins in 2011. The tight end would continue to be Vick’s security blanket, putting up 119 receptions in two years with Vick at the helm.

Despite an ever-changing quarterback carousel, the Cincinnati alumnus has been a model of consistency, missing just one game over a seven-year career. This past draft, however, the Eagles drafted Celek’s potential replacement in second-round pick Zach Ertz. A true professional, Celek took Ertz under his wing and proved a great mentor.

The Eagles offense often played in a two-tight end set, featuring both Celek and Ertz.  Towards the beginning of the season, Celek saw his targets decrease as he often stayed in to block oncoming rushers. As the season progressed, Celek was targeted more, specifically on tight end screens, in doing so, however, he took some hard hits.

Taking punishment from tacklers has been a staple of Celek’s Eagles career, but he has also known to deliver just as much punishment to oncoming tacklers.  The question, however, is whether the abuse begun to slow down Celek’s productivity.  Celek caught just 32 passes for 502 yards in 2013, both his lowest totals since his sophomore season. The tight end did catch six touchdowns, the second highest total in his career. With his diminishing statistics and large salary (he is scheduled to make a little more than four million dollars next year and around 13 million over the next three years), could a contract restructuring be in the future?

The Eagles have already identified Celek’s replacement in Zach Ertz. Furthermore, the Eagles signed James Casey to a three-year contract last offseason. As such, the writing appears to be on the wall for Brent Celek. The Eagles will almost certainly ask the veteran to take a pay cut to remain in Philadelphia. If he chooses not to, he could be released.

In the NFL, it is a “what have you done for me lately” league. Despite his leadership, intangibles, and character, Celek faces an uncertain future in Philadelphia. To remain an Eagle, Celek will once again have to change his role (and salary) to live another day in the City of Brotherly Love.

 Hal Greenblatt covers the Eagles for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter: @HMGreenblatt