TO leaves camp (1 Viewer)

[Billy Bats]

Lee Steinberg and Drew Rosenhaus is on Quite Frankly and they're going head to head, and Steinberg is making Drew look silly.

I couldn't disagree more. Steinberg is coming off as very jealous and jaded- SJ will ask him a question and then Steinberg will make it into some criticism of Drew when the question really had nothing to do with him. Or Drew will be talking and Steinberg will visably be shaking his head at the same time- very rude imo.He came off looking very hypocritical imo. One example:

Steinberg: Its wrong to use the media to your advantage when negotiating a contract. You should try to do it all behind closed doors.

Drew: Lee, you've done plenty more media interviews than me.

Steinberg: Not in the last year I havn't.

SJ: Well what about in other years.

Steinberg: Well, yes, you're right there. I have done more.

Bottom line though is that Leigh got his point across, and that point is that Rosenhaus has single-handedly ruined any popularity that TO had left. This guy is the most hated active player in the NFL right now, and thats pretty remarkable coming off an awesome season, where he looked like a true team guy, and a virtual warrior performing the way he did in the Super Bowl. Rosenhaus flushed all of that momentum down the toilet, and some, and Steinberg successfully got that point across on numerous ocassions during the interview.

Drew made a perfect retort to that: Wait until he catches a few TDs and all will be forgiven.I also thought it was funny how Casserly and the players association guy back Drew 100%. SJ said that it was reported that some NFL GMs wouldn't deal with Drew. Drew replied: "Thats complete falsehood. Show me one GM that isn't happy to deal with me." SJ had no reply.

I thought Drew came off very well and Lee came off looking a little bitter and jealous. It looked like he was only there to bring Drew down when really the purpose of the interview was to examine NFL agents in general.

Edited to add: Look, as a football fan, I do hate holdouts and all. But as a business-person, I admire Drew greatly. He has built himself into the biggest NFL agent today and is a very hard worker and skilled person.

There were alot of points that Steingberg made that Drew danced around (as usual) entirely. I liked the part when Steinberg asked Drew straight up, Do you actively court other agents players, and after dancing Steinberg asked him again and finally Drew replied that he would never do that. Steinberg responded, ok good we now have that on record. As if to say to all the agents out there, and everyone listening, that you're a lying scumbag. It's just the difference in appearance and demeanor to me. As a player, I can't understand how you can have a blowhard, used car salesman type, versus a professional, businesslike person like Steinberg as your agent or frontman. Drew's actions and words are a direct reflection unto the player, and as a businessman(player) I wouldn't want that appearance that I'm the same type of person.

It all makes me wonder though, if Drew is so smart and caring about his players, shouldn't he be doing some sort of damage control at this point? He was the reason all this nonsense started in the first place. IMO, Rosenhaus has completely killed any remaining desire for teams to want to trade for him or sign him as a FA when that happens next offseason. Not counting the number of marketing possiblities that have been lost because of all this nonsense. What positive thing has he done for TO since he took over his affairs?

 

[Billy Bats]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Quick point, Andy Reid went two full seasons with James Thrash and Tood Pinkston as his two starting WR's. Neither of them could get open against my grandmother. What makes any football fan out there think that he wouldn't go into the season with Lewis/Brown/McMullen/Castoff WR from another team as his WR's??? We all know TO has a big ego, but Andy Reid's isn't too much smaller than his round self. He's that pompous of a coach/person. Don't be fooled, he wouldn't think twice about it. After preseason game number 1 without TO, Lewis/Brown/McMullen combine for 2 catches, 13 yards. Andy Reid's postgame evaluation of his WR's?? "They're doing a good job out there, I have to put them in a better situation to succed." Mark it down. :X

 

[cobalt_27]

This is all playing out precisely as it should. Eagles fans, my heart goes out to you, but...this is exactly what your team deserves for going after him and accepting him in the first place. Maybe this is your penance (not yours, of course, but management's). There is a moral to this story. The Eagles were seduced enough by the potential talent that they ignored how detrimental his pathological narcissism can disrupt team goals. He exhibits this in disrespect he has shown across the board for the NFL, the teams, or the individuals with whom he plays.While it's painful for Eagles fans, for sure, all of this...it's the perfect and deserving outcome.

 

[Joe Bryant]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Quick point, Andy Reid went two full seasons with James Thrash and Tood Pinkston as his two starting WR's. Neither of them could get open against my grandmother. What makes any football fan out there think that he wouldn't go into the season with Lewis/Brown/McMullen/Castoff WR from another team as his WR's??? We all know TO has a big ego, but Andy Reid's isn't too much smaller than his round self. He's that pompous of a coach/person. Don't be fooled, he wouldn't think twice about it. After preseason game number 1 without TO, Lewis/Brown/McMullen combine for 2 catches, 13 yards. Andy Reid's postgame evaluation of his WR's?? "They're doing a good job out there, I have to put them in a better situation to succed." Mark it down. :X

Hi 4x,Don't disagree - The job Reid did with awful WRs was a testament to his ability. But that was pretty widely regarded as a gaping hole they needed to address. And they did. And they got to the Super Bowl. One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

As much of a hassle that Owens is, I wonder how excited Reid is about going back to having sub par talent at WR.

J

 

[SouthJersey]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team. Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Quick point, Andy Reid went two full seasons with James Thrash and Tood Pinkston as his two starting WR's. Neither of them could get open against my grandmother. What makes any football fan out there think that he wouldn't go into the season with Lewis/Brown/McMullen/Castoff WR from another team as his WR's??? We all know TO has a big ego, but Andy Reid's isn't too much smaller than his round self. He's that pompous of a coach/person. Don't be fooled, he wouldn't think twice about it. After preseason game number 1 without TO, Lewis/Brown/McMullen combine for 2 catches, 13 yards. Andy Reid's postgame evaluation of his WR's?? "They're doing a good job out there, I have to put them in a better situation to succed." Mark it down. :X

You hit it on the head with Andy. I think this thing between the Eagles and TO could've been squashed a long time ago if Andy chose to be the bigger man and just give TO an opportunity to save some face.And I'm willing to take bets that Andy will say those exact words that you just typed when asked about how bad Lewis/Brown/McMullen suck compared to Eagles WR corps last year.

But don't worry, TO will suit up. He'll score TDs. He's too good not to. And what would be sweeter for TO than scoring TDs and yapping all season long about how he should be getting paid, etc, etc

 

[Joe Bryant]

This is all playing out precisely as it should. Eagles fans, my heart goes out to you, but...this is exactly what your team deserves for going after him and accepting him in the first place. Maybe this is your penance (not yours, of course, but management's). There is a moral to this story. The Eagles were seduced enough by the potential talent that they ignored how detrimental his pathological narcissism can disrupt team goals. He exhibits this in disrespect he has shown across the board for the NFL, the teams, or the individuals with whom he plays.

While it's painful for Eagles fans, for sure, all of this...it's the perfect and deserving outcome.

That's a good point Cobalt. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. J

 

[amnesiac]

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

He didn't play in the playoffs. They got to the superbowl. How can you argue he had anything to do with that? Especially considering they got to the conference title game each of the three years before that with no TO.I'm not saying that TO doesn't make them a better team, but how can you say that they can't get to the big game without him?

 

[Mr. Pickles]

TO will never play in ATL, for any reason.

The Blank and McKay want guys with tons of character.

Ron Mexico.

Yes Vick is the ONLY sports star sleeping with lots of chicks.

I didn't say that; I was merely responding to the comment about the Falcons wanting high-character guys and I pointed out their star player is allegedly going around spreading a little gift with the women he sleeps with.

Sorry, Vick is the only sports star with an STD. *lol*Do you even watch the NFL?

Seeing as 1/3 the league has been arrested for DUIs, battery, domestic violence, drugs, gun charges, Vick's herpes are probably rank fairly low on NFL character chart.

Vick has plenty of character, and is a great leader. His team rallies around him, and their record is far better with him then without him. He takes more of a beating then any QB in the league.

Again, the point was the Falcons want character guys, and have said publicly they have no interest in TO. And if Vick was a FA, no team would label him as lacking character. So you're talking out of your ###.

Chill TF.The Ron Mexico thing was funny. Let it go or find a new board.

J

Have we determined if this was shtick or not?

 

[jwvdcw]

Lee Steinberg and Drew Rosenhaus is on Quite Frankly and they're going head to head, and Steinberg is making Drew look silly.

I couldn't disagree more. Steinberg is coming off as very jealous and jaded- SJ will ask him a question and then Steinberg will make it into some criticism of Drew when the question really had nothing to do with him. Or Drew will be talking and Steinberg will visably be shaking his head at the same time- very rude imo.He came off looking very hypocritical imo. One example:

Steinberg: Its wrong to use the media to your advantage when negotiating a contract. You should try to do it all behind closed doors.

Drew: Lee, you've done plenty more media interviews than me.

Steinberg: Not in the last year I havn't.

SJ: Well what about in other years.

Steinberg: Well, yes, you're right there. I have done more.

Bottom line though is that Leigh got his point across, and that point is that Rosenhaus has single-handedly ruined any popularity that TO had left. This guy is the most hated active player in the NFL right now, and thats pretty remarkable coming off an awesome season, where he looked like a true team guy, and a virtual warrior performing the way he did in the Super Bowl. Rosenhaus flushed all of that momentum down the toilet, and some, and Steinberg successfully got that point across on numerous ocassions during the interview.

Drew made a perfect retort to that: Wait until he catches a few TDs and all will be forgiven.I also thought it was funny how Casserly and the players association guy back Drew 100%. SJ said that it was reported that some NFL GMs wouldn't deal with Drew. Drew replied: "Thats complete falsehood. Show me one GM that isn't happy to deal with me." SJ had no reply.

I thought Drew came off very well and Lee came off looking a little bitter and jealous. It looked like he was only there to bring Drew down when really the purpose of the interview was to examine NFL agents in general.

Edited to add: Look, as a football fan, I do hate holdouts and all. But as a business-person, I admire Drew greatly. He has built himself into the biggest NFL agent today and is a very hard worker and skilled person.

There were alot of points that Steingberg made that Drew danced around (as usual) entirely. I liked the part when Steinberg asked Drew straight up, Do you actively court other agents players, and after dancing Steinberg asked him again and finally Drew replied that he would never do that. Steinberg responded, ok good we now have that on record. As if to say to all the agents out there, and everyone listening, that you're a lying scumbag. It's just the difference in appearance and demeanor to me. As a player, I can't understand how you can have a blowhard, used car salesman type, versus a professional, businesslike person like Steinberg as your agent or frontman. Drew's actions and words are a direct reflection unto the player, and as a businessman(player) I wouldn't want that appearance that I'm the same type of person.

It all makes me wonder though, if Drew is so smart and caring about his players, shouldn't he be doing some sort of damage control at this point? He was the reason all this nonsense started in the first place. IMO, Rosenhaus has completely killed any remaining desire for teams to want to trade for him or sign him as a FA when that happens next offseason. Not counting the number of marketing possiblities that have been lost because of all this nonsense. What positive thing has he done for TO since he took over his affairs?

Money...theres your answer. An agent's job is to get you your money. I know it was sweet how Lee kept talking about making the player a better person and preparing him for life after football, but lets be realistic for a second. These men are sports agents, not mothers. It is not their job to teach the players morals or to educate them about the world....its their job to make their clients money.Drew was probably full of BS when he felt like he had to match Lee's attitude of "I care much more about developing good human beings than making money". But what else do you expect from him? He'd look like a jerk if he told the truth, but the thing is that most players just use their agents to make money.

It'd be the same situation if you were involved in a legal situation...would you really care if your lawyer tried to develop your character and make you a better person or would you just want the man to shut up and produce results? Thats the thing: A sports agent is just another form of a lawyer. And their job is to make money for their clients. Drew does that very well.

 

[Billy Bats]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Quick point, Andy Reid went two full seasons with James Thrash and Tood Pinkston as his two starting WR's. Neither of them could get open against my grandmother. What makes any football fan out there think that he wouldn't go into the season with Lewis/Brown/McMullen/Castoff WR from another team as his WR's??? We all know TO has a big ego, but Andy Reid's isn't too much smaller than his round self. He's that pompous of a coach/person. Don't be fooled, he wouldn't think twice about it. After preseason game number 1 without TO, Lewis/Brown/McMullen combine for 2 catches, 13 yards. Andy Reid's postgame evaluation of his WR's?? "They're doing a good job out there, I have to put them in a better situation to succed." Mark it down. :X

Hi 4x,Don't disagree - The job Reid did with awful WRs was a testament to his ability. But that was pretty widely regarded as a gaping hole they needed to address. And they did. And they got to the Super Bowl. One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

As much of a hassle that Owens is, I wonder how excited Reid is about going back to having sub par talent at WR.

J

Hey Joe,Know that I'm a big Eagles fan, travelling to road games with a crew every year to follow the squad. But I think Reid would spite himself (and us!), just to show TO and everyone watching that he wasn't needed, becuase his ego is just as big as TO's (if not bigger). Just my opinion, I don't know what he's thinking inside, but the coach we see tells me that he'll be just fine working with what he has, it's all he's ever done. He thinks he's that good that he can win without TO, and will use that as a rallying point with his team (if necessary). It hasn't caught up to him, but we know it will some day, and entering an NFL season with that WR corps might finally be it, unfortunately.

 

[Billy Bats]

Lee Steinberg and Drew Rosenhaus is on Quite Frankly and they're going head to head, and Steinberg is making Drew look silly.

I couldn't disagree more. Steinberg is coming off as very jealous and jaded- SJ will ask him a question and then Steinberg will make it into some criticism of Drew when the question really had nothing to do with him. Or Drew will be talking and Steinberg will visably be shaking his head at the same time- very rude imo.He came off looking very hypocritical imo. One example:

Steinberg: Its wrong to use the media to your advantage when negotiating a contract. You should try to do it all behind closed doors.

Drew: Lee, you've done plenty more media interviews than me.

Steinberg: Not in the last year I havn't.

SJ: Well what about in other years.

Steinberg: Well, yes, you're right there. I have done more.

Bottom line though is that Leigh got his point across, and that point is that Rosenhaus has single-handedly ruined any popularity that TO had left. This guy is the most hated active player in the NFL right now, and thats pretty remarkable coming off an awesome season, where he looked like a true team guy, and a virtual warrior performing the way he did in the Super Bowl. Rosenhaus flushed all of that momentum down the toilet, and some, and Steinberg successfully got that point across on numerous ocassions during the interview.

Drew made a perfect retort to that: Wait until he catches a few TDs and all will be forgiven.I also thought it was funny how Casserly and the players association guy back Drew 100%. SJ said that it was reported that some NFL GMs wouldn't deal with Drew. Drew replied: "Thats complete falsehood. Show me one GM that isn't happy to deal with me." SJ had no reply.

I thought Drew came off very well and Lee came off looking a little bitter and jealous. It looked like he was only there to bring Drew down when really the purpose of the interview was to examine NFL agents in general.

Edited to add: Look, as a football fan, I do hate holdouts and all. But as a business-person, I admire Drew greatly. He has built himself into the biggest NFL agent today and is a very hard worker and skilled person.

There were alot of points that Steingberg made that Drew danced around (as usual) entirely. I liked the part when Steinberg asked Drew straight up, Do you actively court other agents players, and after dancing Steinberg asked him again and finally Drew replied that he would never do that. Steinberg responded, ok good we now have that on record. As if to say to all the agents out there, and everyone listening, that you're a lying scumbag. It's just the difference in appearance and demeanor to me. As a player, I can't understand how you can have a blowhard, used car salesman type, versus a professional, businesslike person like Steinberg as your agent or frontman. Drew's actions and words are a direct reflection unto the player, and as a businessman(player) I wouldn't want that appearance that I'm the same type of person.

It all makes me wonder though, if Drew is so smart and caring about his players, shouldn't he be doing some sort of damage control at this point? He was the reason all this nonsense started in the first place. IMO, Rosenhaus has completely killed any remaining desire for teams to want to trade for him or sign him as a FA when that happens next offseason. Not counting the number of marketing possiblities that have been lost because of all this nonsense. What positive thing has he done for TO since he took over his affairs?

Money...theres your answer. An agent's job is to get you your money. I know it was sweet how Lee kept talking about making the player a better person and preparing him for life after football, but lets be realistic for a second. These men are sports agents, not mothers. It is not their job to teach the players morals or to educate them about the world....its their job to make their clients money.Drew was probably full of BS when he felt like he had to match Lee's attitude of "I care much more about developing good human beings than making money". But what else do you expect from him? He'd look like a jerk if he told the truth, but the thing is that most players just use their agents to make money.

It'd be the same situation if you were involved in a legal situation...would you really care if your lawyer tried to develop your character and make you a better person or would you just want the man to shut up and produce results? Thats the thing: A sports agent is just another form of a lawyer. And their job is to make money for their clients. Drew does that very well.

I hear ya and agree. But when it comes to me LOSING future earnings, which is what's happening to TO right now, I would be pretty pissed that my lawyer is doing a lousy job. He hasn't gotten me any money to date as promised, and it seems as if opportunities are dwindling with every soundbite that comes from his mouth. Do you think Steinberg would have any player in this situation, or let TO act like a buffoon repeatedly over the last 6 months? I doubt it.

 

[Joe Bryant]

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

He didn't play in the playoffs. They got to the superbowl. How can you argue he had anything to do with that? Especially considering they got to the conference title game each of the three years before that with no TO.I'm not saying that TO doesn't make them a better team, but how can you say that they can't get to the big game without him?

I dunno how you can say that. Because I didn't say that.I said

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

 

[Joe Bryant]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Quick point, Andy Reid went two full seasons with James Thrash and Tood Pinkston as his two starting WR's. Neither of them could get open against my grandmother. What makes any football fan out there think that he wouldn't go into the season with Lewis/Brown/McMullen/Castoff WR from another team as his WR's??? We all know TO has a big ego, but Andy Reid's isn't too much smaller than his round self. He's that pompous of a coach/person. Don't be fooled, he wouldn't think twice about it. After preseason game number 1 without TO, Lewis/Brown/McMullen combine for 2 catches, 13 yards. Andy Reid's postgame evaluation of his WR's?? "They're doing a good job out there, I have to put them in a better situation to succed." Mark it down. :X

Hi 4x,Don't disagree - The job Reid did with awful WRs was a testament to his ability. But that was pretty widely regarded as a gaping hole they needed to address. And they did. And they got to the Super Bowl. One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

As much of a hassle that Owens is, I wonder how excited Reid is about going back to having sub par talent at WR.

J

Hey Joe,Know that I'm a big Eagles fan, travelling to road games with a crew every year to follow the squad. But I think Reid would spite himself (and us!), just to show TO and everyone watching that he wasn't needed, becuase his ego is just as big as TO's (if not bigger). Just my opinion, I don't know what he's thinking inside, but the coach we see tells me that he'll be just fine working with what he has, it's all he's ever done. He thinks he's that good that he can win without TO, and will use that as a rallying point with his team (if necessary). It hasn't caught up to him, but we know it will some day, and entering an NFL season with that WR corps might finally be it, unfortunately.

Hi 4x,Well that's the real question that you're hitting on there. Do the Eagles think TO is good enough to justify the aggravation? It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

J

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Both parties need one another here and both sides know it. Cooler heads will prevail most likely.

Thanks LHUCKS,I agree. Here's my full comment for the Email Update tonight:

Life with TO is never dull. From a fantasy perspective, a week of missed practice is no big deal. But you have to wonder how much deeper it goes. The Eagles have been adamant from the very beginning that they will not trade or renegotiate with Owens. But one has to wonder if they really envisioned the situation deteriorating to the point where Owens “drops an expletive” on Reid and is asked to leave camp for a week.

Both the Eagles and Owens have simple decisions to make: Play or don’t play. Owens rumbled about a holdout this summer but when push came to shove, he showed his hand to reveal he was going to play. The Eagles haven’t shown as much of their hand. No one seems to buy into it completely, but the attitude seems to be “we’ve had great success before T.O. and even last year, we got through the playoffs without him.” You’ll hear subtle references to the Patriots and how they plugged holes with team players who put the greater cause of the team above their own personal gain.

But the reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

The real concern is how much the disharmony carries into the regular season. Will there be more incidents which lead to some bench time for Owens in portions of games or entire games? Both sides are very strong-willed which makes the potential for this to fester and resurface something to worry about. No one really knows how this will play out. But you don’t subscribe to our info for us to sit on the fence. My personal opinion is that Owens will remain an Eagle and grind through the season with an obviously and sometimes uncomfortable strained relationship. I’m bumping his projected numbers down a bit just for the worry factor and the fact that a strained relationship will somewhat (but not drastically) affect his stats. In the end, it’ll boil down to talent and need. Owens is too talented and the Eagles need a WR.

J

Nice call Joe, glad you stepped out on the wire a bit and made the call. Me personally am going to stare clear of Owens if this situation remains unresolved before my 2 drafts. As for a trade, my guess is the only chance would be a catastrophic injury to a WR on a team looking to win the superbowl now, if such a team even exists.On a side note, Owens antics add comedy to the NFL, if everyone had a McNab personality I would find it a bit boring (Just as long as Owens stays away from my Bolts ).

 

[amnesiac]

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

He didn't play in the playoffs. They got to the superbowl. How can you argue he had anything to do with that? Especially considering they got to the conference title game each of the three years before that with no TO.I'm not saying that TO doesn't make them a better team, but how can you say that they can't get to the big game without him?

I dunno how you can say that. Because I didn't say that.I said

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

OK, I'm really not trying to get into a ping match with the big kahuna, but that's what it sounded like to me. Let me put it another way (and keep in mind, I am not an Eagles fan): The Eagles got to the Super Bowl. TO had nothing to do with it, because he didn't play in the playoffs. If you want to argue that he helped them get home field advantage, that doesn't hold water, because they had done that before without him.

Maybe I misinterpreted your comment, but I think one can make a convincing case that TO had very little to do with the Eagles getting to the Superbowl.

 

[Sixty4dragon]

To quote a line from Fight Club:

"He's infectious human waste." What a clown.

 

[Sixty4dragon]

 

[trader jake]

TO did help the eagles get to the super bowl in three main ways...1) home field advantage - TO was a monster during the regular season2) confidence - the eagles were a great team in years past but you can't tell me TO's swagger didn't rub off on that team last season3) pressure - with TO taking a large brunt of the media blitz his teammates could concentrate on the games at hand

 

[redman]

Best revenge by the Eagles against T.O.: Don't trade him or send him home. Leave him in the lineup as a starter, but use him only as a decoy all year. This makes your other receivers more effective, keeps you in technical compliance with the players union, allows you to win as a team, and still slams T.O.

 

[Twisted]

He lives in Moorestown eh? Right down the road. I wonder where in Moorestown...

 

[NYG Endzone]

He lives in Moorestown eh? Right down the road. I wonder where in Moorestown...

Cove Rd. Moorestown, NJ 08057. Big white house in the back right corner of the neighborhood.

 

[cobalt_27]

TO did help the eagles get to the super bowl in three main ways...

1) home field advantage - TO was a monster during the regular season

2) confidence - the eagles were a great team in years past but you can't tell me TO's swagger didn't rub off on that team last season

3) pressure - with TO taking a large brunt of the media blitz his teammates could concentrate on the games at hand

Basically, if you had to sum up this entire post--and really, the whole TO issue, in general--it comes down to one question: Is he worth it?I say no. But, a lot of folks who are on the same side of the ledger as myself seem to be guilty of dismissing or minimizing his contribution. TO is an incredible talent. He's not the best WR in the game, imo, but he is absolutely in the top-3 or -4. And, that being said, he's a difference-maker in a positive way for what he can contribute on offense.

So, I don't understand all the talk about how TO ain't all this or all that. He is all that.

The problem is, he's all that...and then some. And, it's just way too much for my tastes. There is something inherently wrong and out of balance with having TO on your team. It's like having that girlfriend where the sex is off the charts, but she's a major headcase. So much so, there are times where you can't imagine spending another hour, let alone a lifetime, with the chick.

TO is that girlfriend. The Eagles should've seen enough of this coming before they ever brought him on board. They knew what they were getting, but rolled the dice, anyway. And, it was all good for a short while. But, now, he's making life miserable and sabotaging everything to the point that there really is no way he--or the Eagles--can ever get it right again. There is no good ending to this story.

And, it just begs the question: Was it--is HE--really worth it?

Me thinks the answer is a resounding no.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

Darn. I just drafted him.

 

[Wingnut]

Dont know how true it is, but someone posted that on Letterman tonight, Rosenhaus said that TO was given a week off to nurse his girly-groin.** not verbatim

 

[tommyGunZ]

TO will never play in ATL, for any reason.

The Blank and McKay want guys with tons of character.

Ron Mexico.

Yes Vick is the ONLY sports star sleeping with lots of chicks.

I didn't say that; I was merely responding to the comment about the Falcons wanting high-character guys and I pointed out their star player is allegedly going around spreading a little gift with the women he sleeps with.

Sorry, Vick is the only sports star with an STD. *lol*Do you even watch the NFL?

Seeing as 1/3 the league has been arrested for DUIs, battery, domestic violence, drugs, gun charges, Vick's herpes are probably rank fairly low on NFL character chart.

Vick has plenty of character, and is a great leader. His team rallies around him, and their record is far better with him then without him. He takes more of a beating then any QB in the league.

Again, the point was the Falcons want character guys, and have said publicly they have no interest in TO. And if Vick was a FA, no team would label him as lacking character. So you're talking out of your ###.

Chill TF.The Ron Mexico thing was funny. Let it go or find a new board.

J

Quite possibly the most jaw dropping post I've ever seen on these boards.

Unreal - I have seen it all.

Which? The JB post of the TF post?

The JB post. Never heard the "like a joke or find another board" shtick. Usually we're the folks trying to get Joe to lighten up. That Joe B is a slippery fellow.

 

[Chase Stuart]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team. Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Gary Sheffield basically stopped fielding balls when he was a Brewer IIRC.

 

[Chase Stuart]

So....Owens to the Steelers for Ward Owens to the Chargers for Gates Owens to the Browns for Edwards At this point, I wouldn't be shocked to see Owens not playing for the Eagles in week one. I really can't believe how far this saga has gone.

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

Owens to the Steelers for Ward

Owens to the Chargers for Gates

Owens to the Browns for Edwards

Alex, What are three trade offers that would make the Steelers, Chargers & Browns GM's LOL?Steelers... no comment.

Chargers... Gates is a character guy, young, and they just got rid of Boston.

Browns... Crennell / Savage seem to value character, and they are not looking for an old stud to put them over the top.

 

[Zowned]

CLICK HERE if you're going to WCOFF

Nicely done Lehigh, picking the thread of 300+ viewers to sneak that in there...I'll admit, I even started checking out the WCOFF info.

 

[Muahahaha]

One can argue TO had nothing to do with that, but it's not a very convincing argument.

J

He didn't play in the playoffs. They got to the superbowl. How can you argue he had anything to do with that? Especially considering they got to the conference title game each of the three years before that with no TO.I'm not saying that TO doesn't make them a better team, but how can you say that they can't get to the big game without him?

Agreed. They can do it without Owens. But this year, they would have to get to the big game without TO, FredEX & Pinkston....IIRC, FredEx had a pretty good game against the Vikes in the first playoff game last year.Effectively, they would have to proceed without WR1,2,3 from last year, which is a tough row to hoe.

 

[fatness]

Hi 4x,

Well that's the real question that you're hitting on there. Do the Eagles think TO is good enough to justify the aggravation? It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

J

It has gotten much more complicated for the Eagles front office in the last 3 days or so. With the growing perception among Eagles players that Owens was dogging it with his injury and the growing amount of complaints by the players to Reid about that, even if the front office thinks keeping him is a good business decision they now have to take into account how much Owens has already disrupted the team. And how much he'll continue to do so. Things really snowballed the last 2-3 days, with Owens supposedly telling the offensive coordinator not to speak to him unless Owens spoke to him first, with more player complaints about him.

How much will the Eagles want their team disrupted? I'm not sure this is one of those "a few TD catches will fix everything" situations.

 

[Obie Wan]

TO did help the eagles get to the super bowl in three main ways...

1) home field advantage - TO was a monster during the regular season

2) confidence - the eagles were a great team in years past but you can't tell me TO's swagger didn't rub off on that team last season

3) pressure - with TO taking a large brunt of the media blitz his teammates could concentrate on the games at hand

Basically, if you had to sum up this entire post--and really, the whole TO issue, in general--it comes down to one question: Is he worth it?I say no. But, a lot of folks who are on the same side of the ledger as myself seem to be guilty of dismissing or minimizing his contribution. TO is an incredible talent. He's not the best WR in the game, imo, but he is absolutely in the top-3 or -4. And, that being said, he's a difference-maker in a positive way for what he can contribute on offense.

So, I don't understand all the talk about how TO ain't all this or all that. He is all that.

The problem is, he's all that...and then some. And, it's just way too much for my tastes. There is something inherently wrong and out of balance with having TO on your team. It's like having that girlfriend where the sex is off the charts, but she's a major headcase. So much so, there are times where you can't imagine spending another hour, let alone a lifetime, with the chick.

TO is that girlfriend. The Eagles should've seen enough of this coming before they ever brought him on board. They knew what they were getting, but rolled the dice, anyway. And, it was all good for a short while. But, now, he's making life miserable and sabotaging everything to the point that there really is no way he--or the Eagles--can ever get it right again. There is no good ending to this story.

And, it just begs the question: Was it--is HE--really worth it?

Me thinks the answer is a resounding no.

it would have been if they had won the SuperBowl.TO would have been the 1 year fix to get over the hump.

 

[BlueOnion]

This is good stuff. I think both parties will get exactly what they want; the integrity of their own principles.TO will sit out the season and the Ealges will not renogotiate his contract. I applaud both sides, although it is unfortunate they could not come to a resolution.

 

[Joe Bryant]

from john clayton on espn.com

The Eagles knew Owens could be trouble. They put clauses in his $49 million to protect themselves for situations like Wednesday. According to his contract, Owens could be forced to pay back $1.725 million of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he's involved in any incident that is considered conduct detrimental to the team.  Clearly, a verbal fight with his head coach is conduct detrimental.

TO also has a $7.5 bonus due before next season. Clayton suggests that the eagles tell TO that they WILL NOT exercise that option at the end of the year nor attempt to force him to pay pack this $1.725 in exchange for him 'playing nice' the rest of this season. this would give TO what he wants, making him an UFA at seasons endinteresting angle

OK, Eagle fan here. I'm not worried about TO throwing games (I don't think he can afford to; that's just bad self-marketing). I am worried that WRs like TO don't come along every day. Can the Eagles really do without him?

Hi Thebad,I think you're asking the real question. And the answer is no. The reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

J

Both parties need one another here and both sides know it. Cooler heads will prevail most likely.

Thanks LHUCKS,I agree. Here's my full comment for the Email Update tonight:

Life with TO is never dull. From a fantasy perspective, a week of missed practice is no big deal. But you have to wonder how much deeper it goes. The Eagles have been adamant from the very beginning that they will not trade or renegotiate with Owens. But one has to wonder if they really envisioned the situation deteriorating to the point where Owens “drops an expletive” on Reid and is asked to leave camp for a week.

Both the Eagles and Owens have simple decisions to make: Play or don’t play. Owens rumbled about a holdout this summer but when push came to shove, he showed his hand to reveal he was going to play. The Eagles haven’t shown as much of their hand. No one seems to buy into it completely, but the attitude seems to be “we’ve had great success before T.O. and even last year, we got through the playoffs without him.” You’ll hear subtle references to the Patriots and how they plugged holes with team players who put the greater cause of the team above their own personal gain.

But the reality of the situation is this: Barring a trade, an Eagle team without Terrell Owens would feature a starting wide receiver corps of Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown. Those two have a grand total of 23 receptions for 278 yards and 0 TDs. For their NFL careers. That’s scary enough that I think they figure out how to get Owens on the field.

The real concern is how much the disharmony carries into the regular season. Will there be more incidents which lead to some bench time for Owens in portions of games or entire games? Both sides are very strong-willed which makes the potential for this to fester and resurface something to worry about. No one really knows how this will play out. But you don’t subscribe to our info for us to sit on the fence. My personal opinion is that Owens will remain an Eagle and grind through the season with an obviously and sometimes uncomfortable strained relationship. I’m bumping his projected numbers down a bit just for the worry factor and the fact that a strained relationship will somewhat (but not drastically) affect his stats. In the end, it’ll boil down to talent and need. Owens is too talented and the Eagles need a WR.

J

Nice call Joe, glad you stepped out on the wire a bit and made the call. Me personally am going to stare clear of Owens if this situation remains unresolved before my 2 drafts. As for a trade, my guess is the only chance would be a catastrophic injury to a WR on a team looking to win the superbowl now, if such a team even exists.On a side note, Owens antics add comedy to the NFL, if everyone had a McNab personality I would find it a bit boring (Just as long as Owens stays away from my Bolts ).

Thanks GPN,It's a "call" but man, I don't feel all that confident in it. This really is a deal when anything can happen. I think it's way past money and contracts now. It's into the pride / respect area and that's a wildcard when you're dealing with powerful men like Lurie, Bonner, Reid and Owens. Should be interesting.

If I'm the Eagles, I trade him and get him out of there if I can get a good trade. Doubt that'll happen but that's what I'd do if I were Lurie / Bonner.

J

 

[Joe Bryant]

Effectively, they would have to proceed without WR1,2,3 from last year, which is a tough row to hoe.

Exactly Muah,This is not like 2003.

J

 

[BlueOnion]

If I'm the Eagles, I trade him and get him out of there if I can get a good trade. Doubt that'll happen but that's what I'd do if I were Lurie / Bonner.

J

I think the Eagles have a lot of good things going for them here. There position will galvanize their leverage in future nogogiations and will galvanize the team in the coming years (not just this year).Secondly, if there was any chance TO would leave and appear to be the good guy (thus making Philly look like the bad guys), their may be some concern. But in reality, Philly can take a hard line with TO and keep him inactive for the year. And any time TO does something silly\stupid et al, it makes the Philly front office look that much better.

 

[Eagle Eye]

Mark Eckel from one of the Jersey papers was on the radio this morning and said that TO and McNabb haven't spoken a single word to each other at camp, and that TO's teammates have had enough of his act. He thought it unlikely that TO would be playing for the birds this year, but that if they were going to cut him it would be at the last cutdown.

 

[BlueOnion]

Mark Eckel from one of the Jersey papers was on the radio this morning and said that TO and McNabb haven't spoken a single word to each other at camp, and that TO's teammates have had enough of his act. He thought it unlikely that TO would be playing for the birds this year, but that if they were going to cut him it would be at the last cutdown.

I don't think they will cut him because it would be very cheap for them to put him on the inactive list and demand quite a bit for him in a trade.

 

[jwvdcw]

Lee Steinberg and Drew Rosenhaus is on Quite Frankly and they're going head to head, and Steinberg is making Drew look silly.

I couldn't disagree more. Steinberg is coming off as very jealous and jaded- SJ will ask him a question and then Steinberg will make it into some criticism of Drew when the question really had nothing to do with him. Or Drew will be talking and Steinberg will visably be shaking his head at the same time- very rude imo.He came off looking very hypocritical imo. One example:

Steinberg: Its wrong to use the media to your advantage when negotiating a contract. You should try to do it all behind closed doors.

Drew: Lee, you've done plenty more media interviews than me.

Steinberg: Not in the last year I havn't.

SJ: Well what about in other years.

Steinberg: Well, yes, you're right there. I have done more.

Bottom line though is that Leigh got his point across, and that point is that Rosenhaus has single-handedly ruined any popularity that TO had left. This guy is the most hated active player in the NFL right now, and thats pretty remarkable coming off an awesome season, where he looked like a true team guy, and a virtual warrior performing the way he did in the Super Bowl. Rosenhaus flushed all of that momentum down the toilet, and some, and Steinberg successfully got that point across on numerous ocassions during the interview.

Drew made a perfect retort to that: Wait until he catches a few TDs and all will be forgiven.I also thought it was funny how Casserly and the players association guy back Drew 100%. SJ said that it was reported that some NFL GMs wouldn't deal with Drew. Drew replied: "Thats complete falsehood. Show me one GM that isn't happy to deal with me." SJ had no reply.

I thought Drew came off very well and Lee came off looking a little bitter and jealous. It looked like he was only there to bring Drew down when really the purpose of the interview was to examine NFL agents in general.

Edited to add: Look, as a football fan, I do hate holdouts and all. But as a business-person, I admire Drew greatly. He has built himself into the biggest NFL agent today and is a very hard worker and skilled person.

There were alot of points that Steingberg made that Drew danced around (as usual) entirely. I liked the part when Steinberg asked Drew straight up, Do you actively court other agents players, and after dancing Steinberg asked him again and finally Drew replied that he would never do that. Steinberg responded, ok good we now have that on record. As if to say to all the agents out there, and everyone listening, that you're a lying scumbag. It's just the difference in appearance and demeanor to me. As a player, I can't understand how you can have a blowhard, used car salesman type, versus a professional, businesslike person like Steinberg as your agent or frontman. Drew's actions and words are a direct reflection unto the player, and as a businessman(player) I wouldn't want that appearance that I'm the same type of person.

It all makes me wonder though, if Drew is so smart and caring about his players, shouldn't he be doing some sort of damage control at this point? He was the reason all this nonsense started in the first place. IMO, Rosenhaus has completely killed any remaining desire for teams to want to trade for him or sign him as a FA when that happens next offseason. Not counting the number of marketing possiblities that have been lost because of all this nonsense. What positive thing has he done for TO since he took over his affairs?

Money...theres your answer. An agent's job is to get you your money. I know it was sweet how Lee kept talking about making the player a better person and preparing him for life after football, but lets be realistic for a second. These men are sports agents, not mothers. It is not their job to teach the players morals or to educate them about the world....its their job to make their clients money.Drew was probably full of BS when he felt like he had to match Lee's attitude of "I care much more about developing good human beings than making money". But what else do you expect from him? He'd look like a jerk if he told the truth, but the thing is that most players just use their agents to make money.

It'd be the same situation if you were involved in a legal situation...would you really care if your lawyer tried to develop your character and make you a better person or would you just want the man to shut up and produce results? Thats the thing: A sports agent is just another form of a lawyer. And their job is to make money for their clients. Drew does that very well.

I hear ya and agree. But when it comes to me LOSING future earnings, which is what's happening to TO right now, I would be pretty pissed that my lawyer is doing a lousy job. He hasn't gotten me any money to date as promised, and it seems as if opportunities are dwindling with every soundbite that comes from his mouth. Do you think Steinberg would have any player in this situation, or let TO act like a buffoon repeatedly over the last 6 months? I doubt it.

TO wanted more money from the Eagles. That was his choice. Now do you think any agent out there would have gotten TO his money by now? I think not.Steinberg probably never would be hired by TO because when TO goes to him and tells him that he just wants money and doesn't care about doing charitable events, Lee wouldn't take him.

Lets not make it look like Drew has done all of this without TO's instruction- I'm quite certain that Drew is only following his clients request when he tries to get money using all of the negotiating ploys possible.

 

[BlueOnion]

Lets not make it look like Drew has done all of this without TO's instruction- I'm quite certain that Drew is only following his clients request when he tries to get money using all of the negotiating ploys possible.

I cannot agree more. Rosenhaus works for TO and represents TO. Rosenhaus does not represent himself. So anything Rosenhaus or TO do that one does not approve of, the onus should be put on TO.

 

[Jason Wood]

TO did help the eagles get to the super bowl in three main ways...

1) home field advantage - TO was a monster during the regular season

2) confidence - the eagles were a great team in years past but you can't tell me TO's swagger didn't rub off on that team last season

3) pressure - with TO taking a large brunt of the media blitz his teammates could concentrate on the games at hand

EXCELLENT POSTING THE LAW My buddies and fellow season ticket holders were ranting to me yesterday about how we "didn't need TO" and that we "got to the Bowl without him" but the very points you mentioned above were all major factors in the teams roll. People seem to forget that the Eagles very realistically could have been 15-1 last year, effectively taking the last two weeks off.

Obviously the team, without TO, is still formidable as they DID run through the NFC playoffs with Owens sidelined. BUT, as you mentioned, they had home field and were up against one of the weakest NFC playoff fields in memory.

We know that things normalize so you can assume several things:

1) The NFC East won't be as top heavy -- Sure the Eagles would and should be the clear favorite to win the division, but you have to figure at least ONE of the other teams would push for a winning record and possibly split a home & home with the BIrds

2) The NFC won't be as easy -- Teams improve, imblances between the NFC and AFC normalize, particularly in a league with parity. So obviously the NFC was going to be hard pressed to be as collectively weak as a season ago anyway. On paper, Carolina looks improved as does Minnesota. At least another half dozen team have legitimate cases for a playoff berth.

 

[H.K.]

So....

Owens to the Steelers for Ward

Owens to the Chargers for Gates

Owens to the Browns for Edwards

At this point, I wouldn't be shocked to see Owens not playing for the Eagles in week one. I really can't believe how far this saga has gone.

Steelers - No way Cowher would put up with TO. Also, I wonder if this mess actually helps Ward? All of Owens garbage may actually place more of a premium on a productive WR with character.Chargers - Why would the Eagles want Gates and LJ Smith and lose their best WR? Outside of eliminating a huge distraction, it doesn't really help them.

Browns - Its a reach, at best.

 

[ooofffaaa]

The saga continues. Check out this interview from his home.

It's conducted as he's working out in his driveway. The video link is int he middle of the page . . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8900109/

 

[thesurfshop19]

They had home field and were up against one of the weakest NFC playoff fields in memory.

This is by far the #1 reason, as far as I'm concerned.10 teams outscored the opposition by at least 3 ppg (48 more points scored than allowed). 9 of them were AFC teams (Colts, Steelers, Ravens, Patriots, Jets, Bills, Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs), with the Eagles being the only NFC team.

The NFC had two 8-8 teams make the playoffs (for the 2nd time, it happened in 1999 also), and they both won first round games. In the AFC, 4 teams went at least 8-8 (Jaguars, Ravens, Bengals, and Bills) -- they all missed the playoffs entirely.

This was the worst NFC I've ever seen.

 

[larz]

Such an interesting dilemma for ownership. You obviously want to discourage this renegotiation ploy in the future and not cave, especially when other players are allegdley growing tired of TO's act as well. You don't want to be seen giving him preferential star treatment particularly when he's a recently hired gun not brought up through the system.But at the same time, the championship window of opportunity is cyclical for many teams (Patriots, Cowboys, Bills, Broncos, 49-ers), unless its just downright opens out of the blue, and may not stay open long for the Eagles and it would be a tough call to decide to make an example of Owens (no trade/no contract/no play if he holds out) at the expense of a more significant chance of returning to the superbowl either by giving in to salary demands or trading him. No chance in hell though that ownership wants to see Rosenhaus smiling on the other side of the table at the end of this.Pride and precedent vs. a better chance at history.I think ownership would be really ticked about yesterday though. Send him home for not following team procedures or disrespecting the coach, and then TO turns it into a circus. Take your punishment and shut the hell up. I think the front office would find this very disrespectful.The other WR may not be as physically gifted as TO but I'm sure they'd give it their all and go out and do their jobs and not make a laughingstock of the franchise. Chances are at least somebody can step it up a notch and surpass expectations.

 

[JaxBill]

Various TO thoughts:-Aside from his NFL salary for whatever team he's playing for in '06, has anyone explained to him how much money he's losing in endorsements? This time last year he was a hero in Philly. Coming off a strong Super Bowl showing, how much could he have made away from the field if he just said the right things?-In the Keyshawn fiasco, the Bucs deactivated him because they couldn't suspend him for the season. Can't teams still suspend for a few games (4?)? I'm wondering if this comes into play. If things continue to go downhill, I could see Reid keep him on the 53-man roster, go after the 1.7 bonus money, suspend him X games, then cut him in Week X+1.

 

[TheFanatic]

ESPN did a poll that stated something like 70% of the people polled thought that TO just wasn't worth the headache. I don't know how many thousands of people that 70% represents, but do you think TO sees that stat and says, "those 200K people don't know what they are talking about?"Or does he see that and realize that he's an idiot and it acts as a wakeup call?I'm betting on the former.....

 

[Chase Stuart]

I just watched the T.O. working out in his backyard video...and that was just This TO saga is fantastic for high drama

 

[SouthJersey]

I just watched the T.O. working out in his backyard video...and that was just

This TO saga is fantastic for high drama

it was his FRONT yard. a total spectacle. the dude brings out a workout bench and then requests reporters to count for him. you gotta admit its funny.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Has anyone reported what Ron Jaworski said on COlin Cowherd this morning?Apperantly Tuesday Night in team meetings, the OC Childress addressed Owens about something. Owens spat back "Don't talk to me unless I speak to you 1st". This set off a series of chain events. Now this story makes me believe Reid had to send him home. I have never seen anyone get sent home from Training Camp...they didn't send him home because he was working out on an adjacent field...I mean he was working not loafing about.Jaws did say it is unconfirmed but a reliable source within the organization, frankly I don't see why he would lie.1. Is this even worth repairing by the Eagles should it be true? 2. This could boil up during the regular season and TO has now become the last of the top5WR that I had in that pool/tier. In fact I almost find him not worth a high risk at this point.