Philly should tell T.O. to take hike

[min0 lee]

Terrell Owens has turned the Eagles into a complete mess, dragging along Donovan McNabb for the out-of-contol ride. And now there is only one way out for the Eagles. They must get rid of T.O.
Trade or cut him immediately.

The Eagles can't be surprised how Owens has exploded after one relatively tranquil season. If they are, they're fools. T.O. came just as advertised: Great player who rips apart team chemistry, challenges his coach and demeans his quarterback. He did it in San Francisco, he's doing it in Philly.

T.O is all about T.O. This circus is all about Owens wanting more money one year into a seven-year deal. And with the Eagles refusing, he seems intent on taking the team down with him. No player is worth that aggravation. Owens certainly is not.

There is precedent for teams to say goodbye to disruptive players. Eric Dickerson might have finished his career as the NFL's all-time leading rusher if he stayed with the Rams, who had a great offensive line, and with coach John Robinson, who always knew how to get the best out of running backs. But Dickerson was so upset with his contract and was causing such a problem in 1987, the Rams traded him to the Colts. He still went on to the Hall of Fame, but he could have been the best ever.

Jon Gruden had enough of Keyshawn Johnson in 2003 and simply deactivated him the last six games of the season before trading him to Dallas.

Owens' act in the first nine days of camp before Andy Reid threw him out was transparent: He's doing all he can to force his way out of Philly. But will anybody want him? Remember last year, the Ravens and Eagles were the only teams willing to step up and trade for him. Now he's added a completely unattractive chapter to his resume that should scare off any team that otherwise could use the second best wide receiver in the league. As big a distraction as Randy Moss was in Minnesota, the Vikes still got a No. 1 pick for him. No one is doing that for Owens.

Besides, cap space is at a premium this time of the year and it's virtually inconceivable anybody can pay Owens what he wants. "It's fantasyland," one GM said.

Another general manager, who can use Owens, was asked if he would be interested. "I can't get myself into that mindset," he said. "I guess if you take him, you can't be thinking about team chemistry. You can't be considering what the other players want. He can't even get along with McNabb and Donovan is not that difficult."

McNabb lobbied Reid last year to acquire Owens, who wanted to play with McNabb. Now Owens has completely turned on him. "Keep my name out of your mouth," McNabb has said referring to Owens.

Owens came off as selfish and childish with agent Drew Rosenhaus by his side as they were pleading his case for a new contract. You watch these two in action and it's almost impossible not to say, "Who needs this?"

There were rumors of a deal months ago that would have sent Owens to the Raiders to team with Moss, which would likely send Norv Turner into therapy. The Redskins, after trading Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner, could use Owens and we know how Dan Snyder loves to collect big names. But Joe Gibbs couldn't keep Coles happy, so if Snyder brings in Owens, then Gibbs could be asking Tony Stewart to pick him up on his way to the next NASCAR race.

What about Tampa's Jon Gruden? Is there a veteran he doesn't want other than Keyshawn? The Bucs are set at receiver. What about Bill Parcells? Owens would send him right into retirement.

"If I'm the Eagles, I don't know what you do," one GM said. "I don't think you can trade him. They are trying to win a championship."

The Eagles cut Freddie Mitchell in the offseason and Todd Pinkston is out for the year with a torn Achilles. There is not much on the open market. Cincinnati's Peter Warrick may be available. Koren Robinson, a former No. 1 pick by Seattle, will be available once he gets out of alcohol rehab. Then there's ex-Jet Curtis Conway, who seems to play for a different team every year. The Eagles can never replace Owens on the field, but his deletion from the locker room would make up for it. They did get to three straight NFC title games with average receivers and when they finally broke through last year, Owens was injured.

Owens said Reid told him to shut up last week and he told him the same. He told offensive coordinator Brad Childress not to talk to him unless Owens spoke to him first. Reid can live with this. After all, it took Parcells four months to trade Antonio Bryant after Bryant threw a sweaty jersey in Parcells' face at an offseason practice in June of last year.

But Reid can't accept Owens undermining McNabb. After Owens was critical of him in the offseason, he has given McNabb the cold shoulder in camp. They have expressed no desire to speak to each other. And McNabb says that's no problem. "Oh, I can go the whole season without talking," McNabb said. "Oh, definitely."

The bottom line is nobody forced Owens to sign that contract with the Eagles last year. In the first two years he would make $12 million, hardly a sign of disrespect. So maybe the Eagles would cut him before $7.5 million in bonuses are due in March. But if he had another great season and behaved himself, he would still be able to cash in as a free agent. He has jeopardized all that. He's due back in camp Wednesday. The Eagles should get rid of him first.

What a jerk.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Yeah, but that jerk is the difference between making the playoffs and not for the Eagles right now. As they stand, they have a 3rd and 4th receiver, but no 1st or second.

 

[min0 lee]

Damn, that sucks.

 

[P-funk]

I can't stand TO. I wish they would just get rid of him. I hope he never plays football again. He ruins the game.

 

[The Monkey Man]

What's a T.O. -

 

[bigss75]

I would make him sit at home all season and not put up with his shit.

 

[Akkers]

T.O is a cockhead. Good reciever, yes, but still a fucking cockhead. I hate that man with a passion.

 

[007]

He's and idiot, but definetly makes football a bit more interesting.

 

[ponyboy]

He is one of the best examples of a guy's ego taking over and making him look like an idiot. Why can't more people be good and professional like Tiger, Larry Bird and Wayne Gretzky? He's a classless moron.

However, he's nothing compared to his agent - anyone see that guy get interviewed? He makes it easy to hate sports agents.

 

[Decker]

However, he's nothing compared to his agent - anyone see that guy get interviewed? He makes it easy to hate sports agents.

I hate that bastard too. Unfortunately this is the free market at work. Dale is right, as it stands, unless a trade is pulled off, Owens holds all the cards.

 

[musclepump]

Problem is, if they let him go, he signs with another team, gets more money, and complains some more. I think it's great that they won't release him, let him stew in his "I only make $50 million, I'm soooo poor and underpaid," sorry ass self.

 

[Doublebase]

I'm from Philly and a big time Eagles fan. This just sucks for us. I was on the fence about wanting him to play or not. Now I just want him to leave. I would rather not have him here. He will play though. I just think its messed up how he talks about McNabb and Reid. You just don't do that. Michael Irvin said thats the two people you never say shit about on your team, your coach and qb. Thats coming from Irvin who is outspoken himself. It just sucks. We'll just see what happens this season. They play the Steelers tonight.

 

[LAM]

I think the new Bills (aka Philadelphia Eagles) got what they deserve. T.O was an ass on the 49'ers, and an ass at Tennessee. people like him never change.

 

[goandykid]

As much as I hate to say it, T.O. is right... The NFL is a business and T.O. earned the right to tell the Eagles he wants more money. The Eagles have made the right decision in not paying him, but I can certainly see Owens' train of thought, especially with that devil agent of his. No1 likes Rosenhaus.

 

[Doublebase]

Wow I'm watching the game right now. Pretty pathetic. Nabb gets picked off, steelers td. 3 and out. steelers ball, 66 yard td run. I wonder what T.O is doing right now....

 

[soxmuscle]

As much as I hate to say it, T.O. is right... The NFL is a business and T.O. earned the right to tell the Eagles he wants more money. The Eagles have made the right decision in not paying him, but I can certainly see Owens' train of thought, especially with that devil agent of his. No1 likes Rosenhaus.

It's principle. Many players who are deserving of raises do so in a proper manner for instance in there 4th or 5th years of a long term deal that isn't netting them anywhere near where they rank for there position. Terrell Owens has completed one year of his seven year deal, and deserves no such negotiations. I hope he's suspended and sits out the year.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Say TO didn't cause shit this year, he plays, has record setting year, and at the last game of the season he tears his achilles tendon. Shattered from this injury and only half the player he was in 2004, he shows up to preseason in 2006 an d the Eagles cut him and sends him packing. They have every right to do this, yet TO doesn't have the right to ask for more after carrying them in the Super Bowl?

 

[soxmuscle]

I agree, Dale. However, like I said there are proper ways to do things and improper ways to do things. Terrell Owens always seems to do things the improper way. Typical..

 

[Dale Mabry]

Yes he does, but even if he went about it the proper way, the Eagles would not have changed their stance. The correct way to handle this, both from a Player and team standpoint is the way Pittsburgh and Ward are currently handling it. Pittsburgh simply said, "Unless you show up we won't talk." Hines shows up, now the ball is in Pittsburgh's court and you know a deal will be reached. The TO situation was TO threatening to stay out of camp and the Eagles saying there is no way they will restructure. Then Philly lambastes him in the papers and TO shows up for camp. He becomes a disruption and then they susp, end him. You have 2 sides completely unwilling to budge whereas pitts and ward each gave a little.

Everyone talks about how well the Eagles team is run. Tell you what, no TO, and they are a Wild Card at best. Everyone makes the statement that they made it to 4 NFC championships without him, problem is McNabb no longer runs with the ball and with only 3rd 4th and 5th receivers to throw it to, that offense is sunk. I think they should have all sit down and talked it over, but that never happened. I don't like the Eagles, but I think Donovan is a class act and it sucks what he is going to have to deal with this year. Hopefully he takes the ball and runs like he used to, because from the look of the game last night, teams are not falling for that Westbrook in the flat stuff without TO to take 2 guys with him.

 

[Doublebase]

It wasn't all McNabb's running that got us to the NFC championships, it was our defense. Our defense always keeps us in the game. I think T.O will play and everything will work out great.

 

[Dale Mabry]

It wasn't all McNabb's running that got us to the NFC championships, it was our defense. Our defense always keeps us in the game. I think T.O will play and everything will work out great.

We shall find out tomorrow shant we.

I think McNabb's playmaking won the games, the defense kept them in the game throughout.

No doubt they are a top 3 defense. I would give them at least 2nd, maybe even first. Special teams apparently needs soem work, though.