The Eagles and Brian Westbrook Could Use Some Business 101
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by JuTMSY4
On April 13, 2007 it was reported by Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia that the Philadelphia Eagles had “accidentally” paid pro-bowl running back Brian Westbrook his 2007 three million dollar bonus twice due to an accounting error. Westbrook, according to CSN’s Derrick Gunn has stated that he intends to pay the money back, but as of this date, has yet to do so. As a result, the Eagles have filed a grievance with the league office in as to avoid disciplinary action.
Numerous message board posters and bloggers have suggested that this “accidental” payment was actually a subversive method for the eagles to pay Westbrook even more while avoiding salary cap implications. The Eagles, however, are attempting to right their “wrong” by deducting the amount from the bird’s running back’s paycheck each week, which is, incidentally, $176,470.00 per week for a total of three million dollars for the year. The result is that B-West is now playing for free and essentially not receiving a pay check, but he is certainly unhappy about the situation.
“It would be the same thing as if you guys went out and wrote papers or whatever, and didn’t get a paycheck,” Westbrook said. “You would be disappointed. It’s a situation that my agent and I are trying to get resolved. It hasn’t gotten resolved yet. By this time, I thought it would have been resolved.” -Quote via Bob Grotz of DelcoTimes.com
The Eagles, fairly, are contending that Westbrook is (or rather did) getting paid for his work this season, he just happened to get it early, but Westbrook clearly sees it in a different light. Unfortunately, the Eagles are right in this case and their mistake is actually benefiting Westbrook. What Brian does not seem to understand is that a fundamentally sound business person would be excited at the notion of getting paid early, as he now has the financial advantage of time (something between six and nine months or so). One could assume that if Mr. Westbrook had the ability to budget his money (and let’s hope he does not spend $176 thousand a week!), this would be an advantage but he’s upset. On the other hand, a general principle in business is that if someone sends you something you did not ask for, you can keep in anyways. Of course, with the NFL governing the Eagles and the situation involving money rather than products or goods for sale, this principle is altered, but the Eagles should still try to appease Westbrook, if for no other reason than the fact that he is the most important player on the team.
Alas, the bottom line is, in an age of Sarbanes-Oxley and Enron, one would think a model NFL franchise such as the Philadelphia Eagles would not make such a mistake but more importantly, a fiscally sound person such as Brian Westbrook would see the opportunity in this mistake. Someone needs to go back to business school.
Citations
Derrick Gunn of ComcastSportsnet
