Since no one else has said anything about T.O.

[Gnomad]

Eagles front office says:
"If we were dealing with somebody who was looking at this logically and was going to come to a commonsense conclusion, you'd say [he would report]," Banners said. "But you're dealing with two people here who, frankly, don't think in commonsense terms. Anything can happen. They're not going to necessarily do what makes sense."

Rosenhaus says:
"We hope it's something we can work out with the Philadelphia Eagles," Rosenhaus told The Associated Press, adding he had talked recently with the Eagles. "If it's something we can work out with another team, that is not something we are opposed to."

TO says:
"What it all boils down to is I'm going to do what's best for my family. I don't even have to play for the Eagles, to be honest. I can go play with any other team and still be productive."
-

Now, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it ALL ABOUT playing for the Eagles. He pretty much refused to play for anyone but them? Wonder what would happen if the Ravens came calling?

Also, doing it for his family? Is he married? Kids? or is it just for mama? Not so long ago, it was ego based. He's saying 'hey, i don't think i get what i deserve.' and now he's 'doing it for his family'??

I love the player, i despise, detest, and loathe the person. What gives?

 

[Brian]

"I'm doing it for my family" is getting to be the standard BS company line.

Started by that jackass Sprewell.

No player is going to publicly admit "I'm a greedy bastard, and I no longer view the game as a sport, and to me it's not about the fact that I am a millionaire who got insanely rich because I play a GAME for a living.........now it's all about business, and I want mine"

Rosenhaus, T.O. and the like need to be flushed, the sport doesn't need them. The NFL existed before them, and will go on after them.

These people make me sick.

If the Eagles front office sticks to their guns and lets T.O. sit, I will become a closet Eagles fan. If they buckle, it will have a domino affect and Rosenhaus will become every players agent.

 

[Gnomad]

yeah, i have dreams of the Eagles retaining TO, and putting him on the IR, after withholding his pay for the season. sure TO, keep your signing bonus, or whatever. oh, and here's your christmas ham.

 

[joeshmo]

I dont think it is greed talking, I think it is ego talking.

They see another player get a new contract and make more then them and it hurts their ego that there may be a player out there that just might be better then them, or is valued to be better then them.

Owens wasnt crying about his contract until Harrison got his new deal.

Coincidence???

 

[Gnomad]

Coincidence???

I think not.

 

[Brian]

I dont think it is greed talking, I think it is ego talking.

They see another player get a new contract and make more then them and it hurts their ego that there may be a player out there that just might be better then them, or is valued to be better then them.

Owens wasnt crying about his contract until Harrison got his new deal.

Coincidence???

ego and greed are so closely intertwined.

innertwined?

indertwined?

innerwhined?

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I work the graveyard shift on an assembly line for 10 bucks an hour. I have seen people crying at work cuz they have to choose between feeding their families or buying prescription medicine they desperately need. I feel blessed as I am in a little better financial shape than most people in there. It breaks my heart to see hard working blue collar people suffer like this while million dollar athletes like TO TALK OF WANTING MORE. (although i do like him as a player.) If u want more money just come out and say it. But dont say u cant feed ur family on 40 million bones. The average american cant relate. I wonder if the man even thought twice about the character of the warrior known as PAT TILLMAN

 

[40yearfan]

I work the graveyard shift on an assembly line for 10 bucks an hour. I have seen people crying at work cuz they have to choose between feeding their families or buying prescription medicine they desperately need. I feel blessed as I am in a little better financial shape than most people in there. It breaks my heart to see hard working blue collar people suffer like this while million dollar athletes like TO TALK OF WANTING MORE. (although i do like him as a player.) If u want more money just come out and say it. But dont say u cant feed ur family on 40 million bones. The average american cant relate. I wonder if the man even thought twice about the character of the warrior known as PAT TILLMAN

Hey DGF, that's a tough job and the pay ain't so good. I sympathize with you.

What makes these big companies think that cheaper wages are better? All they look at is the bottom line. If they paid their workers a decent wage, they get more loyalty and better production. The increase in wages would be offset by the increase in production.

Ah, I'm not going to ramble on about this. It just sticks in my craw.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Thanks 40 year fan. No need for symphany as I feel blessed to have what I have. Good post

 

[joeshmo]

OK things just took a complete 180.

Now he is going to report?

Eagles | Owens to Report?
Fri, 22 Jul 2005 14:57:54 -0700

Stephen A. Smith, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports Philadelphia Eagles WR Terrell Owens said he will report to training camp August 1. "I'll be there," Owens said this afternoon by telephone. "I mean, the bottom line is that I still believe I deserve a new contract. I still believe I deserve more than what they've given me. But I'm not stupid. I'm not about to miss training camp, get fined every day and give them even more reasons to keep from paying me. I'll be there. But I won't be happy, I can tell you that much. Take from that whatever you want." Owens added he wants the situation rectified so both sides can move on.

 

[CardinalLaw]

Good Job Eagles.

Looks like Javon Walker is the only holdout this year. I hope the Packers don't cave in either. Javon is saying he wants to be traded.

 

[CardinalChris]

Also, doing it for his family? Is he married? Kids? or is it just for mama? Not so long ago, it was ego based. He's saying 'hey, i don't think i get what i deserve.' and now he's 'doing it for his family'??

I love the player, i despise, detest, and loathe the person. What gives?

Colin Cowherd brought up the family thing. He's unmarried, has one son who does not live with him, and his mother and I think he said 2 brothers. Doesn't sound like his family is too desperate for help.

 

[8ndkorner]

Great news for the NFL. Very bad for DR. He must be worried. His reputation is based on taking players with contracts in place and getting them more money (and a lot for him). Boldin and TO's turn of events are not good for business.

Of course Boldin will be welcomed back with open arms. TO took shots at his team mates in a public forum. What kind of idiot shoots down the man who throws to him?

I would like for the eagles to take this up a notch and sit him. That would kill a man with an ego as big as TO. And I also would secretly root for the eagles.
But it's not going to happen.

 

[BigRedRage]

granted i would publicly applaud the eagles for doing it, but what busnessman in his right mind would shell out that kind of jack for the best WR in football and not play him

 

[8ndkorner]

granted i would publicly applaud the eagles for doing it, but what busnessman in his right mind would shell out that kind of jack for the best WR in football and not play him

And that is why it will not happen. But it's a team game and he is anti-team. If the eagles continue their success it's because of TO. If not it's everyone else. I think I would introduce him to a blanket party in the locker room.

 

[O]

Jeff Blake and Owens on the same team.

That is way to much Leon for one team.

 

[8ndkorner]

Here's an interesting view

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/michael_silver/07/22/owens/index.html?cnn=yes

 

[8ndkorner]

Show him the money
Owens deserves team's respect after gutsy play
Posted: Friday July 22, 2005 7:53PM; Updated: Friday July 22, 2005 10:25PM


Terrell Owens inspired the Eagles with nine catches for 122 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX after signing an injury waiver.
John Biever/SI
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I have four words for Jeffrey Lurie, Joe Banner and Andy Reid, the men who control the Philadelphia Eagles' utopian universe, and they're not going to be very popular: Give T.O. the dough.

Yes, I know Terrell Owens is bound by the seven-year, $49-million contract he signed last year, and I'm well aware that the emotive wideout can be a royal pain in the ass to his coaches, teammates, fans and -- most important -- me. I'm still mad at him for the irresponsible comments he made about Jeff Garcia's sexuality in Playboy a year ago, and we haven't had a good conversation since before he left the 49ers.

I am also well aware that his premature demand for a new contract and the possibility that he may miss some or all of training camp because of it -- as well as his statement Friday to Comcast SportsNet Southeast that the Eagles could feel free to "get rid of me" -- are undoubtedly causing much bigger headaches for you three Philly poobahs.

That said, let's get real. The man is good. He is, despite what many in the Eagles organization would have you believe, the biggest reason the team finally shed its big-game choker label and reached a Super Bowl. And, most of all, when the franchise faced its biggest moment in nearly a quarter-decade, T.O. shook off a severe ankle injury and took one for the team -- OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART.

Of all the insane things I've seen in pro sports, and there have been a lot of them, few rival the fact that before Super Bowl XXXIX, Owens signed an injury waiver before being cleared to play in the game. It's stunning that he was asked to do so by the Eagles, even more so that he agreed.

To review: Owens broke his right leg and suffered severe ligament damage to his ankle in the team's third-to-last regular season game and, after undergoing surgery, was told by doctors he'd need at least two months to heal. The Eagles won a pair of playoff games without him to reach the Super Bowl, at which point T.O. pronounced himself fit to return more than a week-and-a-half ahead of schedule.

Sure, the Eagles said. Go ahead. As long as you sign this injury waiver indemnifying us in case you reinjure the ankle.

Say WHAT?

Again, to review: Owens hurt the ankle while playing football -- and very good football at that -- for the Philadelphia Eagles. His desire was to return to the football field to help the Eagles win the Super Bowl. And if Owens, in the midst of doing that, were to have suffered further injury to the leg?

Uh, sorry man, but you'll have to pay for that out of your own pocket.

Only in the NFL could a scenario this twisted even be broached. For perspective's sake, think back to Willis Reed's dramatic and inspirational limp through the Madison Square Garden tunnel and onto the floor for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed, who'd suffered a torn right thigh muscle in Game 5, scored just four points -- the game's first two baskets -- but his act of bravery was widely credited with inspiring the Knicks to a 113-99 victory.

Now imagine if this conversation had taken place as Reed was gingerly lacing up his low-tops while preparing to leave the locker room:

Knicks GM: "Hey, Big Guy, do you think you can go?"

Reed: "I can barely walk. But I'm gonna try."

Knicks GM: "That's great, Willis. You're a true warrior. Now, if you could just sign here."

Reed: "Sign what? What's that piece of paper?"

Knicks GM: "It's called an injury waiver. It means if anything happens to you out there tonight -- well, we know this orthopedist in Staten Island who offers really good discounts."

Reed (unlacing his shoes): "Uh, you know what? My leg hurts."

Yet Owens, bless his gambling heart, signed the waiver anyway -- and got away with it. He played, with a metal plate and two screws in his ankle, and played amazingly well, and he walked off the field without having reaggravated the injury. He caught nine passes for 122 yards and was arguably the Eagles' best player that day. His catch near the sideline with 3:42 remaining, which came after he planted on the tender ankle and lunged to snatch the ball a few inches from the ground, was one of the more memorable plays in recent Super Bowl history. Had some of Owens's teammates played a bit better -- in other words, as well as he did -- Philly's 24-21 defeat might have instead been a triumph.

You can call Owens selfish and speculate that his motivation for playing in that game wasn't entirely team-oriented. And I would say to you: What difference does it make? The bottom line is that Owens was willing to risk his career, physically and financially, to play in that game, and his performance directly benefited the Eagles, their fans and, yes, Messrs. Lurie, Banner and Reid.

Now, I know that Reid has this 'I'm the Sheriff' complex, even more so than most of his control-freak coaching peers, and that any perceived sign of weakness would be a ***** in his aura of supremacy. He will not be cowed by player/agent terrorism, even if it means losing the services of a player who transformed the Eagles' offense from flawed to flamboyant.

And please, Philly fans, spare me the rants about how the Eagles won two playoff games with T.O. on the sideline. For one thing, the NFC sucks, so don't read too much into those triumphs over the Vikings and Falcons, each of whom was flummoxed by the Philly D. Need I remind you that with T.O. out, Donovan McNabb's targets were Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell. Next argument?

Look, I'm not particularly worried about how much money T.O. has in his checking account, and I doubt he has the stomach for a long and messy holdout in order to prove his point. But that doesn't change the basic fact that his point is a valid one. When Owens offered to make a sacrifice for the good of the franchise, the Eagles made him assume all the risk. Had things gone wrong, he would have been the one who had to pay.

It's only fair that the Eagles should at least be willing to consider paying now.