Can somebody explain in their own words (1 Viewer)

[yetiknight]

My personal opinion of Owens has evolved. TO, quite simply, is too stupid to keep his mouth shut. If you've followed his career closely, you know what I mean. Otherwise he is no different than alot of guys.

As a Pacer fan, I saw a similar situation with Ron Artest. I feel for Philly fans. You get nothing in return for this guy and worse, you have play him twice next year.

 

[SoloMatisse]

Look, just because you sit next to a couple of ugly girls in class every day in English who dont read very well, doesnt mean you need to come into class one day and call 'em UGLY and STUPID. Ya see?? Truth is one thing. We all admire truths. But its not always nessecary when its only purpose is SELF-SERVING. Do you get that? He's great at running with a football in his hands. But TO is SELFISH, INCONSIDERATE, OUT OF TOUCH, and CARELESS. Look up 'team player' in a dicitionary if you can find it.....these descriptives wont be anywhere to be found. But hey, he sure can run with the ball!

 

[Zaphod]

Here's the arbitrator's opinion incidentally

This thread should have started and ended with this post. There is simply no denying or defending the absolute disruptive force of TO in a team oriented environment.

 

[doomsdaydoc]

Badmouthing teammates publicly.

Badmouthing team management publicly.

Refusing to talk to coaches.

Refusing to practice like others on the team.

Trying to force a trade by disrupting a team.

Those come to mind that he has done. I think he'll do some or all of them again.

If the Cowboys are winning AND he is getting enough passes and TD'S AND if the QB's performance every game meets his expections, I expect he'll be quiet. It's hard to picture all 3 of those lasting. It's hard to picture him doing anything other than what he has done before. Look at all the admirers he has who will stick up for him no matter what he does.

BF addressed and refuted nearly every one of those points in his first post. The 'badmouthing' teamates was simply the truthful answer to questions. Badmouthing management is usually what happens during a holdout. Refusing to talk to coaches is better than not showing up at all. How did he refuse to practice like others? YMIA.

He did not say that the team would be better with a healthy QB- He never implied that the team was losing games cause McNabb was injured. He never once referred to the injury. I do not think people would have had a problem with Owens if he had said that the team would be doing better if McNabb were healthy. He said that if Favre was the QB we would be 7-0 and it is my belief that after the comments he was making about McNabb all season long, that he was not referring to the injury. What makes all this so bad is that TO acts like he is a victim and that he cannot understand why he is being maligned. He has had problems everywhere he has been and I would imagine that at some point his personality disorder will surface in Dallas.

 

[bostonfred]

He did not say that the team would be better with a healthy QB- He never implied that the team was losing games cause McNabb was injured. He never once referred to the injury. I do not think people would have had a problem with Owens if he had said that the team would be doing better if McNabb were healthy. He said that if Favre was the QB we would be 7-0 and it is my belief that after the comments he was making about McNabb all season long, that he was not referring to the injury. What makes all this so bad is that TO acts like he is a victim and that he cannot understand why he is being maligned. He has had problems everywhere he has been and I would imagine that at some point his personality disorder will surface in Dallas.

Here's Owens' exact quote:"If Donovan wasn't hurt our record would probably be better," Owens said Thursday night.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2213282

Good to see you on our side.

 

[bostonfred]

More from the full interview at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...gged/video/new:

GB: What do you make of the Eagles' 4-3 start this season?

TO: I think a lot of the injuries have played a big part in some of our losses. I just feel that if Donovan wasn't hurt as he was, our record probably would indicate we were better.

GB: Donovan has obviously had trouble throwing, especially deep. He didn't complete any of his first 12 passes vs. Denver. How has that affected the team?

TO: Well, obviously I think our wins and losses are really predicated on how he plays. I just feel like, you know, everybody can point fingers at our defense, but it doesn't matter. Even when we were 28 (points) down, I still had in the back of my mind that we could come back -- had our offense gotten in sync. I just honestly feel with playmakers like myself, LJ (Smith), and obviously Brian Westbrook, that we could have gotten back in the game. And that we did. You know, like I said, it's hard to win ballgames when you have turnovers, and we had a turnover right when we were about to go into probably tie the game. That killed our momentum, and it killed our drive.

TO: Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, our record (4-3) really doesn't indicate the caliber (of) team that we are. But, we're maybe just a few plays here and there from really being like 6-1, something like that. But, you know, we really got our butts whooped down in Dallas. So, I think that's the only real whooping that we took. So, at this stage, we're 4-3, about to go into (a stretch of) divisional play -- the Redskins, the Giants and the Cowboys. We've got those guys coming up, so we're still in the hunt.

 

[bostonfred]

Here's the arbitrator's opinion incidentally

This thread should have started and ended with this post. There is simply no denying or defending the absolute disruptive force of TO in a team oriented environment.

There is no question that he handled his contract renegotiation poorly, although one could argue that he did more for the team by playing than he would have by holding out.

 

[bostonfred]

My personal opinion of Owens has evolved. TO, quite simply, is too stupid to keep his mouth shut. If you've followed his career closely, you know what I mean. Otherwise he is no different than alot of guys.

As a Pacer fan, I saw a similar situation with Ron Artest. I feel for Philly fans. You get nothing in return for this guy and worse, you have play him twice next year.

I guess I can understand the perspective that he's a guy you wouldn't want on your team, but you wouldn't want him on your opponent's team, either. As for the Eagles getting nothing in return for him, that's entirely their fault. They could have handled him a lot of different ways. Plenty of malcontent players have been traded for quality compensation. Gary Sheffield deliberately committed errors and refused to play well on the field, but the Brewers still traded him. Even if you agree with the way the Eagles handled Owens, they aired a lot of dirty laundry doing it, and killed their own trade value.

 

[bostonfred]

Owens put his needs at the forefront of all others (demand for a bigger contract), destroyed any hope of creating an "us vs them" mindset (refusing to adhere to the rules and norms that every other player on the Eagles adhered to, such as bringing his playbook to, or paying attention in, meetings), and did all in his power to prevent any semblance of cohesion (attacking McNabb and management because he was unhappy about his contract).

This is what is meant by a "team cancer" and this fits Owens to a "T".

This is fair. Owens handled his contract renegotiations poorly. I agree. He was deliberately disruptive, in lieu of holding out. In the meantime, he contributed to the team winning twice as many games in the seven games he played as they did during the nine games he didn't, so it's not like he was dragging the team down singlehandedly.

If performance on the field were the only thing necessary for winning then Owens would be fine, but as long as his insecurities require him to be in the public eye, he will always be a problem for whatever team he plays for.

Now we're getting somewhere. Do you think Parcells will help him to work with the media? I do.

He is the epitomy of ignorance as evidenced by his willingness to forego the opportunity to win a Super Bowl with a contending team and the associated wealth of endorsements that accompany that. 

He chose Philadelphia, and tried to renegotiate. Philadelphia played hardball, Owens tried to respond in kind, but with poor planning and execution, and Philadelphia put an end to it. Now he's signing with a contender. How does that mean he's foregoing a Superbowl opportunity?

Instead he alienates himself from fans and sponsors leaving his only income option from his salary.  Additionally, he allowed his ego to listen to the siren song of an even bigger ego maniac to get to this point.

Or he's just not that business savvy. For someone as dumb as you seem to think he is, I'm surprised that you think his giant ego was the problem and won't give him the benefit of the doubt that he was manipulated by two agents in a row.

Your opinion is that as long as what he says has even the slightest chance of being correct, that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. 

That's not my opinion.

I disagree.  A large part of his idiocy is his complete inability to execise any diplomacy whatsoever in virtually every situation.  I can say that you are a moron, and perhaps there are times that you are indeed a moron, but this doesn't make the method I used to state my opinion, nor the accuracy of my statement valid merely because there is a chance I could be right.

OK, so you don't like him because he's not diplomatic. Is that the standard you hold all players to?

The good news for everyone who watches the NFL is that he'll only play 12 games before getting hurt and then we can forget about him until he starts squawking in the off season.  Also, at 32 he shouldn't be around much longer.  I personally can hardly wait until he goes over the middle against the Eagles the first time.  I hope they ring his bell like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.   That's my opinion, and just like TO, I deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Glad to see you took the high road. Stay classy!

Interesting that I am held to a higher standard than TO. He said much worse than I did in a much larger forum and you choose to defend his actions as misunderstood. Yet I state an opinion on a small fantasy football board with absolutely no media attention and I am castigated for it and expected to "stay classy." Why not hold Owens to this standard? Why is classlessness okay for him?As for diplomacy, it is a necessary tool for human interaction. By choosing not to use it Owens simply supports my contention that he is ignorant.

I hold Owens to the same standard. I don't think he's classy. And that's even without him wishing injury on someone that they've never met because they said something you didn't like.

 

[cstu]

He did not say that the team would be better with a healthy QB- He never implied that the team was losing games cause McNabb was injured. He never once referred to the injury. I do not think people would have had a problem with Owens if he had said that the team would be doing better if McNabb were healthy. He said that if Favre was the QB we would be 7-0 and it is my belief that after the comments he was making about McNabb all season long, that he was not referring to the injury. What makes all this so bad is that TO acts like he is a victim and that he cannot understand why he is being maligned. He has had problems everywhere he has been and I would imagine that at some point his personality disorder will surface in Dallas.

Here's Owens' exact quote:"If Donovan wasn't hurt our record would probably be better," Owens said Thursday night.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2213282

Good to see you on our side.

I know you're fishing, but what the hell I'll continue playing along...In other words TO stated that the Eagles would be better than 4-3 with a healthy McNabb, but 7-0 " with what [Favre] brings to the table".

There's one thing I can't stand in the game of football and that's a player critisizing his teammates and saying the the team be better off with another player. Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - teammates should stick by each other and help each get better. Look at all the crap Manning got for even mentioning breakdowns in protections and he didn't even call out a specific player.

If you remember, I was one of the few people supporting TO when he first wanted a new contract. I thought he deserved it based on how he played and because his original contract was set up as essentially a two year deal that allowed the Eagles to cut him without much penalty after the 2005 season.

However, he was childish in the way he handled it after the Eagles made it clear they weren't going to redo the deal. I let the comment about McNabb being tired in the Super Bowl since anyone can say something stupid once but I lost all respect for TO after he bad-mouthed McNabb repeatedly in interviews during the season.

 

[bostonfred]

There's one thing I can't stand in the game of football and that's a player critisizing his teammates and saying the the team be better off with another player. Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - teammates should stick by each other and help each get better. Look at all the crap Manning got for even mentioning breakdowns in protections and he didn't even call out a specific player.

I can understand why you feel that way, and I don't disagree with it. In an ideal world, players - especially great players - wouldn't call each other out, especially in public. And there are some people who really just don't get it. Owens is one of them. I don't think that's enough to say that he's going to sink whatever team he goes to. His record certainly reflects that, and apparently Parcells and Jones agree. And I don't think it's such a huge sin that he's going to be a locker room cancer. Especially in a locker room that just got rid of Keyshawn and, before that, Irvin. And gets yelled at on a constant basis in a state that lives and breathes football. I think professional football players have a thicker skin than that, and that's why - while I agree that I don't like his comments - I don't think he's the cancer that so many here say he is.

With regards to Manning, what made his comments so bad, and IMO (not fishing here) possibly worse than Owens', is that Owens had a great game in the Superbowl, and called out his teammate. Manning had a bad game in the playoffs, far from the first time it's happened, and he blamed it on his teammates. That's a huge difference - there's a certain moral highground that comes from playing your best that Manning doesn't get to claim here, but Owens - despite all the other things you may not like about him - does.

 

[massraider]

I don't think he's the cancer that so many here say he is.

Don't take our word for it. Take the word of the entire NFL. How many teams have significant cap room right now?And how many rushed out to offer him a deal? Kansas City said no thanks, period. They didn't even wanna talk to him. Denver? Talking a one year deal, incentive-laden. Chicago? They could use a receiver. No call. Pats? Same thing.

And while I understand why Terrell might've thought he signed a below market deal, here's PFT's take on what he finally got with his freedom:

Given that he was operating in a one-team market for a multi-year deal, Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, finagled a respectable package, in light of Owens' considerable baggage. The numbers as we hear them are $5 million to sign, a $5 million salary in 2006, a $3 million roster bonus in 2007, a $5 million salary in 2007, a $3 million roster bonus in 2008, and a $4 million salary in 2008.

As one league insider told us, "It's three one-year deals." And we agree.

The Cowboys can cut the cord after each of the first two seasons and suffer a relatively modest cap hit. If released before his 2007 roster bonus comes due (and assuming it comes due before June 1), the cap hit will be $3.33 million. If cut after 2007, the cap his will be only $1.66 million.

Heck, if for some reason the Tuna and the Turd don't mesh during training camp, the Cowboys can cut Owens after June 1 but before the start of the 2006 season and carry only a $1.67 million cap charge in 2006, pushing the balance of the cap hit due to the signing bonus (i.e., $3.33 million) into 2007.

So before the media begins gushing about the manner in which Owens' three-year contract compares to the first three years of contracts paid to receivers Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison, the key fact to remember is that the magnitude of their signing bonuses made the money payable in the first three seasons virtually guaranteed, since the cap hit resulting from the eight-figure signing bonuses hauled in by Moss and Harrison would have been crippling.

Judging the contract by the amount of guaranteed money, it's average at best. Owens gets $5 million to sign, identical to the amounts paid to guys like Antwaan Randle El and Antonio Bryant. David Givens received an $8 million signing bonus in Tennessee, and Reggie Wayne hauled in a whopping $12.5 million bonus in Indy.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we were to assess T.O.'s new deal without comparing it to the contract that he already had in Philly. Due to his misconduct, he blew $7.5 million in bonus money that would have been earned this month, $810,000 in 2006 salary, $1.8 million (we're told) in deferred signing bonus money that the team withheld due to his four-game suspension, and roughly $800,000 in lost salary as a result of said suspension.

So if being $900,000 in the hole as compared to where he would have been is considered a good deal, then it was a good deal.

 

[BassNBrew]

BFred...have you ever watched the Pats play? How are they successful?

 

[SoloMatisse]

There's one thing I can't stand in the game of football and that's a player critisizing his teammates and saying the the team be better off with another player.  Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - teammates should stick by each other and help each get better.  Look at all the crap Manning got for even mentioning breakdowns in protections and he didn't even call out a specific player. 

I can understand why you feel that way, and I don't disagree with it. In an ideal world, players - especially great players - wouldn't call each other out, especially in public. And there are some people who really just don't get it. Owens is one of them. I don't think that's enough to say that he's going to sink whatever team he goes to. His record certainly reflects that, and apparently Parcells and Jones agree. And I don't think it's such a huge sin that he's going to be a locker room cancer. Especially in a locker room that just got rid of Keyshawn and, before that, Irvin. And gets yelled at on a constant basis in a state that lives and breathes football. I think professional football players have a thicker skin than that, and that's why - while I agree that I don't like his comments - I don't think he's the cancer that so many here say he is.

With regards to Manning, what made his comments so bad, and IMO (not fishing here) possibly worse than Owens', is that Owens had a great game in the Superbowl, and called out his teammate. Manning had a bad game in the playoffs, far from the first time it's happened, and he blamed it on his teammates. That's a huge difference - there's a certain moral highground that comes from playing your best that Manning doesn't get to claim here, but Owens - despite all the other things you may not like about him - does.

Owens had a 'nice' game. A GREAT game would have been 130something and a COUPLE OF TDS.....one possibly a game winner. Thats greatness. How many TDs did he actually score in that game? Not a single friggin' one in the most OVERRATED "great" game Ive never seen. Not a great game.....nice game, yes....'great' game?...uh, uh. Great games usually result in wins. Very admirable that he played well in the Superbowl, and we all know he was the first to tell us all as soon as the game was over how much the doubters were all wrong, but his team lost and the guy was celebrating his "GREAT" game like he'd just hit the lottery. Team just lost the biggest game of their lives and he's jumpin' hoops! Guy just doesnt get it.....what else do you need to know?

 

[SoloMatisse]

Wow, and Im no Manning fan, but to compare the behavior of TO to that of Peyton Manning is about as big a slap in the face as Ive seen. Manning was needled and needled and needled and needled and needled by reporters for that half second blurb of a sound byte. TO opens his mouth up when noone asks and just starts acting like a friggin' idiot and throws everyone he's got a gripe with under the bus. he's volunterring this type of BS....Manning his being tortured just to say a bad word. These two guys have nothing in common. As a Pats DIEHARD, believe me I am anything BUT a Manning backer, but I admire his grit and most importantly his RESPECT for THE GAME. He may not be clutch, obviously, but the respect is there. With TO, the only respect he's showing is for the name on the back of his own jersey above the "81".

 

[Despyzer]

I'm going to approach this in another way...

* The Eagles had been in the NFC championship game three straight years prior to Owens arriving.

* TO was having a season for the ages before he got injured in the 14th game of that NFC championship season. Phiily won that game and clinched the top spot in the conference. The Eagles rested most of their starters for the remaining two games of the season.

* Even though the Eagles had relied heavily on Owens throughtout the regular season, they managed to make it back to the NFC title game without him, and even WON that game with Owens in street clothes.

* Owens had a huge game in the Super Bowl, but the Eagles ended up losing.

Conclusion? Despite his great individual accomplishments, Owens really did not have much influence on his team's success or failure. The Eagles had won a bunch of playoff games before TO got there and lost the only game he contributed to. The team was just as successful in the postseason without him as they had been in the regular season with him.

Considering that, how could he be worth even a little bit of trouble, unless you just want to brag about having a guy on your team who puts up big numbers?

 

[scoobygang]

Once a star player joins your favorite team all past actions are justifiable?

I'm a Redskins fan. I hope TO is a disaster with the Cowboys, and if Bill Parcells benches TO because he calls Bledsoe a nasty name, I will be very happy. I also don't think Parcells is stupid enough to do that.

 

[Christo]

I'm going to approach this in another way...

* The Eagles had been in the NFC championship game three straight years prior to Owens arriving.

* TO was having a season for the ages before he got injured in the 14th game of that NFC championship season. Phiily won that game and clinched the top spot in the conference. The Eagles rested most of their starters for the remaining two games of the season.

* Even though the Eagles had relied heavily on Owens throughtout the regular season, they managed to make it back to the NFC title game without him, and even WON that game with Owens in street clothes.

* Owens had a huge game in the Super Bowl, but the Eagles ended up losing.

Conclusion? Despite his great individual accomplishments, Owens really did not have much influence on his team's success or failure. The Eagles had won a bunch of playoff games before TO got there and lost the only game he contributed to. The team was just as successful in the postseason without him as they had been in the regular season with him.

Considering that, how could he be worth even a little bit of trouble, unless you just want to brag about having a guy on your team who puts up big numbers?

Very I've read through this entire thread convinced that it was just one big

But I've come to the realization that the point that bostonfred is trying to make (poorly in my opinion) is that as long as you are talented, you should be given a free pass for any unrelated transgressions. Well, that just not how the world works. No matter who we are, we have to accept the consequences of our actions.

As previous posters have said, TO's psychological faults (narcisism being the most obvious one) have given him the drive to be one of the best WRs the game has ever seen. But those same faults have caused people to reject him despite his great talent.

Whether or not he helps the Cowboys (or whatever team(s) he lands on after that) to win the Superbowl, his legacy will forever be tied to his off-field antics.

 

[JAA]

An employee is pissed about his salary. He cant get out of his contract or a new contract so he does what it takes for him to be fired.

While I DO NOT AGREE with his actions, what is so absurd about all of this?

 

[Aaronur]

I just want to know if TO is such a bad teammate and a cancer then why were there players on the Eagles that wanted him to comeback and play.

I think it is very similar to Barry Bonds in that whatever he does that is negative becomes bigger than it should be.

Is his ego to big, yes. Is he a cancer I don't think so because nothing he has done has actually caused a team to die. The Eagles sucked this year because they didn't improve from the year before, if anything they got worse, and their only QB got hurt in the second game.

The Niners sucked because Garcia couldn't throw the ball over 25 yards anymore and Greg Knapp was too conservitive a play caller, look at Atl's offense.

It has nothing to do with TO. Sure he is a jerk but not a cancer.

 

[BlueOnion]

I just want to know if TO is such a bad teammate and a cancer then why were there players on the Eagles that wanted him to comeback and play.

By definition, a cancer is somebody who divides a team. The point you mentioned above about some players wanting T.O. back only validates that Owens is a cancer. Personally - I think the majority of players who wanted T.O. back were defensive players, so they were probably only around T.O. during mandatary team-wide meetings.

 

[BassNBrew]

An employee is pissed about his salary. He cant get out of his contract or a new contract so he does what it takes for him to be fired.

While I DO NOT AGREE with his actions, what is so absurd about all of this?

Rinse...repeat...rinse...repeat...

 

[Ghost Rider]

I just want to know if TO is such a bad teammate and a cancer then why were there players on the Eagles that wanted him to comeback and play.

Like BO said, many of them were defensive players who probably never had to deal with Owens in the locker room and looked at his on-the-field production as the ultimate bottom line for them.

 

[Couch Potato]

I haven't read any of the 123 posts ahead of me and don't have time to plow through all that, but let me go on record, just as I did when he went to Philly:

There is zero chance Owens doesn't screw this up. He'll shoot off his mouth at Bledsoe or Parcells or another coach, or just in general in front of a camera, and it'll be the beginning of the end. He will do this because he is incapable of not doing so.

 

[TBLCommish]

There is zero chance Owens doesn't screw this up. He'll shoot off his mouth at Bledsoe or Parcells or another coach, or just in general in front of a camera, and it'll be the beginning of the end. He will do this because he is incapable of not doing so.

I wonder if he will celebrate on the star when he scores?

IMO: Parcells staying quiet on the issue speaks volumes about the situation. I cannot wait to see the Tuna ram his foot up T.O's ### when he starts his antics and yes they will come for sure!

From a fantasy football perspective he should put up monster #'if he can stay on the field now that he will have an even bigger chip on his shoulder to prove the critics wrong,especially whne he plays Philly twice a year.

Should make for some great entertainment:

 

[cstu]

There's one thing I can't stand in the game of football and that's a player critisizing his teammates and saying the the team be better off with another player. Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - teammates should stick by each other and help each get better. Look at all the crap Manning got for even mentioning breakdowns in protections and he didn't even call out a specific player.

I can understand why you feel that way, and I don't disagree with it. In an ideal world, players - especially great players - wouldn't call each other out, especially in public. And there are some people who really just don't get it. Owens is one of them. I don't think that's enough to say that he's going to sink whatever team he goes to. His record certainly reflects that, and apparently Parcells and Jones agree. And I don't think it's such a huge sin that he's going to be a locker room cancer. Especially in a locker room that just got rid of Keyshawn and, before that, Irvin. And gets yelled at on a constant basis in a state that lives and breathes football. I think professional football players have a thicker skin than that, and that's why - while I agree that I don't like his comments - I don't think he's the cancer that so many here say he is.

With regards to Manning, what made his comments so bad, and IMO (not fishing here) possibly worse than Owens', is that Owens had a great game in the Superbowl, and called out his teammate. Manning had a bad game in the playoffs, far from the first time it's happened, and he blamed it on his teammates. That's a huge difference - there's a certain moral highground that comes from playing your best that Manning doesn't get to claim here, but Owens - despite all the other things you may not like about him - does.

Keyshawn and Irvin weren't cancers with the Cowboys. Irvin was a popular guy with his teammates and Keyshawn seemed to have gotten along with everyone as well (with the exception of the incident with Bledsoe).What I think may help TO in Dallas is that everyone knows what to expect from him. When he went to Philly, the team didn't know he would be the disruption he was since he wasn't that much of a distraction in SF. The Cowboys are expecting the worst from TO and planning accordingly. That alone should help the team handle anything that comes up.

 

[cstu]

There is zero chance Owens doesn't screw this up. He'll shoot off his mouth at Bledsoe or Parcells or another coach, or just in general in front of a camera, and it'll be the beginning of the end. He will do this because he is incapable of not doing so.

I wonder if he will celebrate on the star when he scores?

IMO: Parcells staying quiet on the issue speaks volumes about the situation. I cannot wait to see the Tuna ram his foot up T.O's ### when he starts his antics and yes they will come for sure!

From a fantasy football perspective he should put up monster #'if he can stay on the field now that he will have an even bigger chip on his shoulder to prove the critics wrong,especially whne he plays Philly twice a year.



Should make for some great entertainment:

Yes, it should and I'll be up in Oxnard in August waiting to see what happens.

 

[BlueOnion]

Keyshawn and Irvin weren't cancers with the Cowboys. Irvin was a popular guy with his teammates and Keyshawn seemed to have gotten along with everyone as well (with the exception of the incident with Bledsoe).

What I think may help TO in Dallas is that everyone knows what to expect from him. When he went to Philly, the team didn't know he would be the disruption he was since he wasn't that much of a distraction in SF. The Cowboys are expecting the worst from TO and planning accordingly. That alone should help the team handle anything that comes up.

Expecting it and dealing with it are two different things. I saw a clip of a 49er practice with T.O. and I was shocked. The team was huddled around the coach on the practice field and the coach was addressing the team. T.O. was walking around the outside of the huddle in his own little world, holding his helmet and mocking the coach; in a very mocking tone, T.O. was chanting, "Go team, raw-raw-raw".I don't think the problem is T.O. rubs people the wrong way. I think the problem is if T.O. doesn't get exactly what he wants he finds a way to rub people the wrong way. If the Cowboys do find a way to tolerate T.O.'s behavior, T.O. will simply change his behavior.

 

[scoobygang]

IMO: Parcells staying quiet on the issue speaks volumes about the situation. I cannot wait to see the Tuna ram his foot up T.O's ### when he starts his antics and yes they will come for sure!

Because Parcells did a great job of reigning in Lawrence Taylor's behavior.If Owens is making touchdown catches, Tuna will let him do whatever he wants. Parcells likes to pick on guys who won't agressively defend themselves anyway.

 

[BlueOnion]

IMO: Parcells staying quiet on the issue speaks volumes about the situation. I cannot wait to see the Tuna ram his foot up T.O's ### when he starts his antics and yes they will come for sure!

Because Parcells did a great job of reigning in Lawrence Taylor's behavior.

I don't know if you can even compare L.T. to T.O.. L.T. seemed like a guy who beat to his own drum, but I find it impossible to imagine L.T. actually going out of his way to sabotage a team.

 

[scoobygang]

I don't know if you can even compare L.T. to T.O.. L.T. seemed like a guy who beat to his own drum, but I find it impossible to imagine L.T. actually going out of his way to sabotage a team.

He showed up to defensive meetings hopped on coke and with a handcuffs still around his wrist. He was known to be dismissive of Belechik in EXACTLY the way that TO was purported to be dismissive of Childress.LT was a terrible teammate in every respect except for one. He made plays on the football field. It just takes a certain type of idiocy to not realize that being better than everyone else at making those plays is what matters for a football player. Parcells is a bully and an a**hole, but he's not an idiot.

 

[LTDynasty]

I don't know if you can even compare L.T. to T.O.. L.T. seemed like a guy who beat to his own drum, but I find it impossible to imagine L.T. actually going out of his way to sabotage a team.

He showed up to defensive meetings hopped on coke and with a handcuffs still around his wrist. He was known to be dismissive of Belechik in EXACTLY the way that TO was purported to be dismissive of Childress.LT was a terrible teammate in every respect except for one. He made plays on the football field. It just takes a certain type of idiocy to not realize that being better than everyone else at making those plays is what matters for a football player. Parcells is a bully and an a**hole, but he's not an idiot.

 

[simmonjm]

Once a star player joins your favorite team all past actions are justifiable?

I'm a Redskins fan. I hope TO is a disaster with the Cowboys, and if Bill Parcells benches TO because he calls Bledsoe a nasty name, I will be very happy. I also don't think Parcells is stupid enough to do that.

Im a Cowboys fan. I hope Shawn Taylor goes to prison for pulling a gun and threatening 3 peoples lives. I will be very happy.

 

[BlueOnion]

I don't know if you can even compare L.T. to T.O.. L.T. seemed like a guy who beat to his own drum, but I find it impossible to imagine L.T. actually going out of his way to sabotage a team.

He showed up to defensive meetings hopped on coke and with a handcuffs still around his wrist. He was known to be dismissive of Belechik in EXACTLY the way that TO was purported to be dismissive of Childress.LT was a terrible teammate in every respect except for one. He made plays on the football field. It just takes a certain type of idiocy to not realize that being better than everyone else at making those plays is what matters for a football player. Parcells is a bully and an a**hole, but he's not an idiot.

Character issues and being cancerous are two different things. I don't recall L.T. ever taking any of his complaints about Belichick directly to the media. In addition, I think all his teammates (on the defensive side of ball) loved playing with him. I don't think you can say the same about T.O. and his offensive teammates.

 

[Tau837]

I don't think he's the cancer that so many here say he is. 

Don't take our word for it. Take the word of the entire NFL. How many teams have significant cap room right now?And how many rushed out to offer him a deal? Kansas City said no thanks, period. They didn't even wanna talk to him. Denver? Talking a one year deal, incentive-laden. Chicago? They could use a receiver. No call. Pats? Same thing.

And while I understand why Terrell might've thought he signed a below market deal, here's PFT's take on what he finally got with his freedom:

Given that he was operating in a one-team market for a multi-year deal, Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, finagled a respectable package, in light of Owens' considerable baggage. The numbers as we hear them are $5 million to sign, a $5 million salary in 2006, a $3 million roster bonus in 2007, a $5 million salary in 2007, a $3 million roster bonus in 2008, and a $4 million salary in 2008.

As one league insider told us, "It's three one-year deals." And we agree.

The Cowboys can cut the cord after each of the first two seasons and suffer a relatively modest cap hit. If released before his 2007 roster bonus comes due (and assuming it comes due before June 1), the cap hit will be $3.33 million. If cut after 2007, the cap his will be only $1.66 million.

Heck, if for some reason the Tuna and the Turd don't mesh during training camp, the Cowboys can cut Owens after June 1 but before the start of the 2006 season and carry only a $1.67 million cap charge in 2006, pushing the balance of the cap hit due to the signing bonus (i.e., $3.33 million) into 2007.

So before the media begins gushing about the manner in which Owens' three-year contract compares to the first three years of contracts paid to receivers Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison, the key fact to remember is that the magnitude of their signing bonuses made the money payable in the first three seasons virtually guaranteed, since the cap hit resulting from the eight-figure signing bonuses hauled in by Moss and Harrison would have been crippling.

Judging the contract by the amount of guaranteed money, it's average at best. Owens gets $5 million to sign, identical to the amounts paid to guys like Antwaan Randle El and Antonio Bryant. David Givens received an $8 million signing bonus in Tennessee, and Reggie Wayne hauled in a whopping $12.5 million bonus in Indy.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we were to assess T.O.'s new deal without comparing it to the contract that he already had in Philly. Due to his misconduct, he blew $7.5 million in bonus money that would have been earned this month, $810,000 in 2006 salary, $1.8 million (we're told) in deferred signing bonus money that the team withheld due to his four-game suspension, and roughly $800,000 in lost salary as a result of said suspension.

So if being $900,000 in the hole as compared to where he would have been is considered a good deal, then it was a good deal.

Good info here, assuming these facts are correct. I have been waiting to see how much of a hit TO would take.Where are all those people who castigated the Eagles for signing him to what they perceived as a two year deal? Do they have the same complaints about Dallas signing him to what amounts to a one year deal?

If not, why not?

 

[scoobygang]

Im a Cowboys fan. I hope Shawn Taylor goes to prison for pulling a gun and threatening 3 peoples lives. I will be very happy.

I'd expect nothing else.

 

[scoobygang]

Character issues and being cancerous are two different things. I don't recall L.T. ever taking any of his complaints about Belichick directly to the media. In addition, I think all his teammates (on the defensive side of ball) loved playing with him. I don't think you can say the same about T.O. and his offensive teammates.

Other than McNabb, who has complained?You think TO was a "team cancer", but you're no more privy to that lockerroom than anyone else. I'm sure plenty of LT's teammates resented the fact that he could buck the coach's authority and they couldn't. But sports is a meritocracy.

TO's a jerk. I get it. But I got over athletes being jerks when I was a teenager.

 

[Captain Blowhard]

Even when the team is winning and doing well he complains about not getting the ball enough and proceeds to throw his qb under the bus.

How's that? What do I win?

 

[cstu]

Character issues and being cancerous are two different things. I don't recall L.T. ever taking any of his complaints about Belichick directly to the media. In addition, I think all his teammates (on the defensive side of ball) loved playing with him. I don't think you can say the same about T.O. and his offensive teammates.

Other than McNabb, who has complained?You think TO was a "team cancer", but you're no more privy to that lockerroom than anyone else. I'm sure plenty of LT's teammates resented the fact that he could buck the coach's authority and they couldn't. But sports is a meritocracy.

TO's a jerk. I get it. But I got over athletes being jerks when I was a teenager.

The way I look at it is I don't have to root for these guys, I do it because I like the players on the team and want them to do well. If I don't respect the players, especially the prominent ones like QB, RB, and WR, I don't have any interest in seeing them win. That's why when TO scores a TD I won't be happy for him but for Bledsoe and the Cowboys. I'm well aware that many players are anything but angels, but I don't really care unless it affects the team and the players I do like.

 

[cobalt_27]

TO is an ingrate, and his behavior offers enough data points, I don't need to explain why.

As a Poke fan, I'm sort of forced to root for him. Which is unfortunate. He'll pull the same crap he has everywhere else, creating the same disruptive environment that follows him everywhere. And, he'll have his legion of apologists to minimize the carnage he leaves behind.

And, Dallas will be the big losers when it's all said and done.

 

[BlueOnion]

Character issues and being cancerous are two different things. I don't recall L.T. ever taking any of his complaints about Belichick directly to the media. In addition, I think all his teammates (on the defensive side of ball) loved playing with him. I don't think you can say the same about T.O. and his offensive teammates.

Other than McNabb, who has complained?You think TO was a "team cancer", but you're no more privy to that lockerroom than anyone else. I'm sure plenty of LT's teammates resented the fact that he could buck the coach's authority and they couldn't. But sports is a meritocracy.

TO's a jerk. I get it. But I got over athletes being jerks when I was a teenager.

Unfair question. This would be like me asking you for those who did not have a complaint.

 

[thayman]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won". Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl. But he didn't, he got a new contract. As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

 

[BlueOnion]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won". Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl. But he didn't, he got a new contract. As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

This is what I find so odd. After leaving San Francisco for Philly, T.O. seemed thrilled. It was 12 months later where he said, "Wait a minute, I don't have almost no guaranteed money in my contract and I want a lot of guaranteed money." So his signing in Dallas has me completely confussed because...he has almost no guaranteed money again.This will not end well for the Cowboys.

 

[cobalt_27]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won". Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl. But he didn't, he got a new contract. As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

This is what I find so odd. After leaving San Francisco for Philly, T.O. seemed thrilled. It was 12 months later where he said, "Wait a minute, I don't have almost no guaranteed money in my contract and I want a lot of guaranteed money." So his signing in Dallas has me completely confussed because...he has almost no guaranteed money again.This will not end well for the Cowboys.

Agreed that this will not bode well for the Cowboys. But, he is guaranteed $10m, which is quite a bit more than I think the Boys should have been on the hook for with this guy.It's essentially seet up as three 1-year contracts, so the Cowboys can opt in or out of those to their discretion. At least they've allowed themselves some wiggle room with this worm.

 

[Tau837]

Where are all those people who castigated the Eagles for signing him to what they perceived as a two year deal? Do they have the same complaints about Dallas signing him to what amounts to a one year deal?If not, why not?

Still waiting.

 

[BlueOnion]

Agreed that this will not bode well for the Cowboys. But, he is guaranteed $10m, which is quite a bit more than I think the Boys should have been on the hook for with this guy.

It's essentially seet up as three 1-year contracts, so the Cowboys can opt in or out of those to their discretion. At least they've allowed themselves some wiggle room with this worm.

True, but T.O. was getting about 10 million a year from the Eagles as well. T.O.'s problem with the Eagles was never the money, but the lack of guaranteed money. The Cowboy contract has almost no guaranteed money, as everything works out to about 8 to 10 million a year on three seperate one year contracts.

 

[cstu]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won". Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl. But he didn't, he got a new contract. As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

This is what I find so odd. After leaving San Francisco for Philly, T.O. seemed thrilled. It was 12 months later where he said, "Wait a minute, I don't have almost no guaranteed money in my contract and I want a lot of guaranteed money." So his signing in Dallas has me completely confussed because...he has almost no guaranteed money again.This will not end well for the Cowboys.

Parcells has never been too concerned about what happens to teams after he leaves. He's interested in making the Super Bowl this year and if it causes problems down the road no big deal since he'll be retired.

 

[cstu]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won". Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl. But he didn't, he got a new contract. As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

This is what I find so odd. After leaving San Francisco for Philly, T.O. seemed thrilled. It was 12 months later where he said, "Wait a minute, I don't have almost no guaranteed money in my contract and I want a lot of guaranteed money." So his signing in Dallas has me completely confussed because...he has almost no guaranteed money again.This will not end well for the Cowboys.

Agreed that this will not bode well for the Cowboys. But, he is guaranteed $10m, which is quite a bit more than I think the Boys should have been on the hook for with this guy.It's essentially seet up as three 1-year contracts, so the Cowboys can opt in or out of those to their discretion. At least they've allowed themselves some wiggle room with this worm.

Jerry Jones sees TO as the key to getting the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and spending $10 million that they have under the cap to do it will be well worth the money to him.

 

[simmonjm]

My biggest problem with TO is his attitude right now has been "I won".  Now that would be OK if he just won a super bowl.  But he didn't, he got a new contract.  As a fan of a football team, I don't mind the players on my team getting paid, but I do want them to at least pretend that the reason they are there is to be on a championship team.

This is what I find so odd. After leaving San Francisco for Philly, T.O. seemed thrilled. It was 12 months later where he said, "Wait a minute, I don't have almost no guaranteed money in my contract and I want a lot of guaranteed money." So his signing in Dallas has me completely confussed because...he has almost no guaranteed money again.This will not end well for the Cowboys.

Parcells has never been too concerned about what happens to teams after he leaves. He's interested in making the Super Bowl this year and if it causes problems down the road no big deal since he'll be retired.

Yea he left the Jets and Patriots in worse shape then what he originally got them in.

 

[bostonfred]

BFred...have you ever watched the Pats play?  How are they successful?

In a different way than the Ravens and Cowboys were when they won Superbowls. Why?