The exit of Joe Banner as the Philadelphia Eagles president last week has resulted in the redistribution of additional power to a well-liked executive within the organization, general manager Howie Roseman.
The Eagles announced that Banner's duties would be split between COO Don Smolenski and Roseman, who gets along really well with players and agents according to comments made to Jonathan Tamari of the Philadelphia Inquirer published on Sunday.
"He is a relationship guy," player agent Jerrold Colton said of Roseman. "That matters to him a lot ... It seems to me (the Eagles) are much more concerned with the atmosphere in their locker room than in the past."
Banner, on the other hand, tended to keep things business-like, Tamari reported. Colton told Tamari that under Banner, "there were some things (the Eagles) could have done better... and those were on the personal side."
Roseman, who entered the organization as a salary-cap analyst in 2000, had already taken over player contract negotiations for the club, with coach Andy Reid having significant input, as well, and the two put their stamp on the Eagles' approach.
In recent months, as Tamari noted, the club has extended the contracts of right tackle Todd Herremans and defensive end Trent Cole, who had time remaining on their previous contracts. The Eagles were also able to secure long-term deals with franchised wide receiver DeSean Jackson and running back LeSean McCoy, avoiding two potential holdout situations in each of the next training camps.
Roseman has "a great relationship with players," Eagles tight end Brent Celek said. "I knew Howie before he was GM, was always friendly with him. He knows how to communicate with the guys, connect with the guys, and I think you need to be that as a GM."
Thanks in part to the trade of Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles currently have more than $18 million in cap space, which can be rolled over into a 2013 offseason. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the top Eagles player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. With the club likely pressed up against a salary cap that is expected to remain flat, the Eagles will need that extra cap space just to remain cap-compliant next offseason, and Roseman might have to make a few of the difficult and unpopular decisions Banner made during his tenure.
