This is refreshing. This is different. Heck, this may even be unprecedented.
Cullen Jenkins was not only willing to take a pay cut, he was happy to take a pay cut if it meant staying in Philly and -- he hopes -- retiring in Philly.
If by me doing this it can help the team in any way, thats something that you have to feel good about, Jenkins said Tuesday. Obviously we have to wait and see what direction the team wants to go in with the players that are currently coming up to be free agents, but if what I did helps them, then you feel good about it.
Jenkins, a Pro Bowl alternate defensive tackle in his first year with the Eagles, said Tuesday he suspected the Eagles would approach him and ask him to lower his salary can future cap numbers, and he said he had no problem doing so.
Although exact terms of the deal are not yet available, the 31-year-old Jenkins is now signed through 2014 instead of 2015 and at a significantly lower rate of pay.
The cap space the Jenkins deal opens up certainly could help the Eagles re-sign DeSean Jackson over the next couple weeks or presumably sign his replacement once free agency starts.
Ive been around the league long enough and seen enough to understand what happens or the possibility that can happen, Jenkins said. I knew going into the upcoming season and different people needing to be resigned and different moves needing to be made there was a possibility my number could be in the way of some of that, as high as it was. I knew the possibility was there.
NFL
Jenkins signed a five-year, 30 million dollar contract last July 31. He was due 7.5 million in 2012.
Jenkins said once the Eagles approached him and agent Brian Levy, it took only a couple days for the two sides to agree on a restructured deal.
Especially with all the Eagles salary-cap problems going around, the (NFL) salary cap has dropped obviously, and numbers that werent high suddenly were high now, so I knew there was a possibility, he said.
Im actually relieved because you hate to be in a waiting game, waiting to see whats going on, whats going to happen, you hear all the rumors that theyre going to release you and not going to pay you. Its a relief to have it over with and have the security.
Jenkins original deal included base salaries of 1 million in 2011, 2.5 million in 2012, 4 million in 2013, 4.5 million in 2014 and 6 million in 2015, plus roster bonuses ranging from 2 million in 2014 to 5 million in 2012.
His cap numbers for the next four years were 7.5 million in 2012, 6.5 million in 2013 and 2014 and 6 million in 2015.
Jenkins, who won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2010, had 5 12 sacks and seven tackles for loss last year.
We are very excited about having Cullen back on our football team, general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement. Cullen made an immediate impact for us this year on and off the field. We look forward to a great future together with him an Eagles uniform.
Jenkins, originally an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan in 2004, spent his first seven years with the Packers. He has 34 12 sacks and 332 tackles in eight NFL seasons.
Coming here last year, great team, great atmosphere -- Im not one of those type of players that wants to bounce around or get as much as he can get, Jenkins said. I wanted security, I wanted to be somewhere I liked, and I liked it here, and the opportunity presented itself and I was more than happy to turn this into more of a long-term deal.
Jenkins said he believes his reworked contract means hell have a great chance to play out the next four years of the deal and finish his career in Philadelphia, where he now lives year-round.
I didnt want to just do something that would solve a little problem for this year, he said. I wanted to have something where it would be a lot more realistic to move forward in the long term, and I think we were able to accomplish that.
Our kids are older now, oldest one is in middle school, in school out here. We like the schools theyre in, and I want to be able to retire an Eagle. I want to finish my career as an Eagle. Thats definitely something we took into consideration.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com