Jason Babin doing his QB sack celebration, something he hasn’t done much in 2012.
Bye bye, Jason Babin.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end was released on Tuesday, the first prominent player this season to see that fate. Babin, acquired during 2011’s free agent spending frenzy, has not performed anywhere near last season’s Pro Bowl level. His 18 sacks last year have been met with dramatically declined production in 2012, with Babin only having 5.5 sacks.
Andy Reid issued the following statement about Babin’s release:
“We appreciate everything that Jason has given this team over the last couple of years. We wish him all the best as he continues his career. By releasing him today, this gives us an opportunity to give more playing time to some of the younger guys in the defensive line rotation.”
To be sure, Babin isn’t the only player on the Eagles’ defensive line to go silent this season. But the fact that he was unpopular in the locker room, with CSNPhilly’s Geoff Mosher saying that several sources with the Eagles described Babin as arrogant and aloof, can’t have helped his plight. Babin also earned the ire of Eagles fans when he whined about their vile language at the Linc.
Bad language in football. The hell you say.
Perhaps if he had focused his attention on the sidelines to the job ahead things would have worked out better for Babin.
To prove once and for all that his attitude is just not what this team or this town needs, Babin laughed when Andy Reid told him that he was released, as he gleefully relayed to ESPN Radio.
“One, anytime you see Andy Reid come across your caller ID, you know it’s probably not a good thing,” said Babin. “Two, all I could do was — I laughed. I was like, ‘Alright, Coach, if that’s what you’ve got to do.’ I don’t know, caught me off guard.”
In fact, Babin was all over the airwaves just hours after his release and didn’t seem that bothered with his release. Perhaps he’s relieved to be free of a team whose fanbase holds players accountable. He certainly couldn’t have been pleased being on this Eagles team, as he only wants to play for winners. Babin stated on ESPN’s “NFL Live”:
“I like to win, I like to compete, and I like to sack the quarterback. I imagine there’s a team out there looking for that.”
There probably is, but they aren’t going to pay anything close to the contract Babin signed with the Eagles, a five-year, $29-million deal. Per CSNPhilly,
“Because he has already collected termination pay earlier in his career, Babin is owed nothing by the Eagles, who will save more than $16 million in cap space in the next three years by having Babin off their books.”
We’ll see if, unlike the firing of Juan Castillo, Babin’s release will shake up the locker room and in particular the Eagles defense to get them to improve their performance.
Good riddance, Jason Babin. If there’s any bull running happening in Spain these days, Eagles fans would love for you to go take part and fulfill your dreams.
You can listen to audio of Babin’s light-hearted view of his release from the team courtesy of Crossing Broad here.
Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.
Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports
Tags: All's Fair in Sports and War, Andy Reid, Brandyn Campbell, Jason Babin, Juan Castillo, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly Sports Muse, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, War Room Sports