Malcolm Jenkins, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star safety is demanding a pay rise following another successful run in the 2019-2020 season.
And why not? During this time Jenkins pulled off 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and forced four fumbles. And in the season before this one, he came up with 97 tackles, a sack, an interception and three forced fumbles.
On top of this, the 31 year-old veteran’s durability is legendary. Since joining Eagles in 2014 he has yet to miss a game.
The CBS’s Cody Benjamin rates him as being among the NFL’s top 10 safeties right now.
He recently said of him: “Like Devin McCourtyl (Patriots), he’s been doing it the right way for Super Bowl contenders for a while now. Jenkins turnovers are not outrageous, but he’s good in the clutch. He is solid all round and maybe the most versatile of the bunch.
Jenkins most underpaid of the group
“A model of leadership and durability he is also the most underpaid of the group,” Benjamin added.
Jenkins, without doubt, played a key role in Eagles charge into the NFC wild-card playoffs on Sunday.
Unfortunately that’s where their charge ended. The Eagles went down 17-9 to the Seattle Seahawks and are now out of Super Bowl contention. However the 31-year-old two-time Super Bowl winner insists he did more than enough to warrant more money. He might also have seen Benjamin’s comment about his pay.
“I won’t be back under the same deal,” he told reporters on Monday. “That won’t happen. … It’s like anything else. You set your value on the market.
“The market is good for safeties right now, and I consider myself to be in the top tier of that group.”
“I’m not one to beg’; I’m a prideful person”
Jenkins, who joined the Eagles from the New Orleans Saints in 2014, said he was “not one to beg.”
“I am a very prideful person, so I feel like what I put out there this year, what I put on tape, what I’ve given to this team is more than enough. I can’t do any more.
“So for me, I feel good about that; that it’ll be good enough for me to go into this offseason with certainty that I’ll be fine.”
“I told myself I’ll make it to 10 and then go year by year after that, you know, as long as my body felt good, the money was what I wanted and it was a team I enjoy being on,” he said. “Right now I’m physically able, still love the game, I would love to be here, but I understand that this is a business.
“Honestly, I’ve reached the point where I’ve done what I can. At this point, it’s up to my agent and management. I let my soul bleed every time I touch the field, sacrifice myself, do whatever I’m asked to do. So I’m content with doing my part.”
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— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) 6 January 2020