Nothing against Jaws – one of the few knowledgable, smart, hardworking and well-liked pontificators out there – but the paint began to chip off his facade when he allowed the Eagles to use him as their pitchman during their coaching search. There’s a symbiotic relationship between much of the local media and the sports teams (this you know), but Jaws is beginning to become fully transparent. Here’s what he told John Clark about Sam Bradford:

“I think it’s kind of insulting to the city, I think it’s insulting to the Eagles and I think it’s insulting to teammates,” Jaworski said on SportsNet Central Monday night in an interview with Comcast SportsNet’s John Clark.

“I think when a player literally walks out on a team, he’s got some apologizing to do when he walks back in that locker room. And I’m sure he’s done that, he’s a standup guy.”

 

Argh. Here’s that silly notion of disrespect, of somehow dishonoring the fan base with business-like behavior. These make for great talking points with hardcore Philly fans, many of whom gobble them up like squirrels nosing through piles of trail mix. BUT. But, Jaworski has little room to talk.

Here’s an Inquirer article from 1986 about the time Jaws held out:

Ron Jaworski ended five months of painstaking, problematic negotiations with the Eagles yesterday by agreeing to terms on a new four-year contract that could earn him more than $2 million.

The 13-year veteran quarterback is planning to sign the deal this morning and to rejoin the team for this afternoon’s training-camp workout at West Chester University, where he will have to win back the starting job that he lost during a four-day holdout.

“I’m happy and Ron’s happy,” agent John Langel said. “Ron is very comfortable with the agreement.”

When camp opened on Thursday, Ryan immediately promoted backup Matt Cavanaugh to the starting job and said Jaworski would have to win back the No. 1 position that he had held for the last nine seasons.

Yesterday, Ryan reiterated that decision with a snarling, “Hell, yes, he’s got to win his job back.”

As recently as last week, Jaworski’s future with the team seemed in serious jeopardy because of the latest – and most public – in a series of disputes involving the often-bitter negotiations.

The bitter tone of the talks was set last winter, when Ryan met with Jaworski and, amid threats of a boycott of the team’s first minicamp, told him to “get your butt” to the site of the drills in Tampa, Fla.

Jaworski later decided to attend both minicamps.

Nevertheless, little progress was made in the intervening months, as Langel maintained his demand for salaries of $700,000 this year and $800,000 in 1987, while the Eagles were offering only $500,000 and $600,000.

Finally, on Thursday, the agent charged that the Eagles had begun arguing among themselves over whether the four-year, $2 million proposal they had made was guaranteed beyond the first season. Accusations were hurled back and forth, but the furor ended that same night when Braman called Jaworski.

Funny how it’s easy to provide great soundbites as a commentator when, ah, you know, you did the exact same thing as Bradford. Now, some context: Bradford, who had little leverage, was being a big baby. He just signed a contract that will overpay him. He’s done little to earn the clout to pull such a stunt. Jaws, on the other hand, was a veteran who once took his team to a Super Bowl. The circumstances were much different. But, when push came to shove, Jaws was in no way above “insulting” the team, city and its fans. Ergo, that gives you little room to use that sort of thing as a convenient soundbite while you’re stumping on the Eagles’ behalf. Lame. Bradford didn’t offend anyone, he’s just an idiot. He looks bad. He overvalues himself. He’s delusional. Nothing more.

Side note: You know who wrote that story about Jaws? Angelo Cataldi.