Eagles release Owens

MrMarcello

In a well-ordered universe...
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Let part IV of the drama series begin.

Eagles will release Owens, report says
Wide receiver's 4-game suspension also will be cut, report adds

Bradley C Bower / AP
Wide receiver Terrell Owens was suspended four games by the Philadelphia Eagles for conduct detrimental to the team.
NBCSports.com news services
Updated: 11:54 a.m. ET Nov. 23, 2005
NEW YORK - Terrell Owens may get his wish after all.

According to a report in Newsday, arbitrator Richard Bloch is expected to reduce Owens’ four-game suspension from four games to one or two games later Wednesday.

Owens was suspended four games by Reid for conduct detrimental to the team Nov. 9. The NFL Players Association is seeking to have the suspension reduced and wants the Eagles to cut Owens if they have no intention of playing him again.

The report indicates that the Eagles, who planned to de-activate Owens for the remainder of the season, will release the mercurial superstar receiver instead. Philadelphia is concerned that Owens will cause a distraction if the ruling allows him to return to the Eagles’ practice facility.

Owens has stated all along that he wants to return to the Eagles, but would want to be released if Philadelphia didn’t plan to play him. If released, Owens would go through the league’s waiver system, with the worst team getting the first shot of claiming him.

Owens is making a base salary of $3.75 million this season.

A decision on Owens’ grievance hearing against the Philadelphia Eagles was expected sometime Wednesday. Arbitrator Richard Bloch heard more than 13 hours of arguments last week. He’ll issue a ruling on whether Owens’ four-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team is justified.

Owens’ side argued the penalty is excessive and the Eagles’ plan - which is to deactivate him when that time is up - is too severe. Owens is seeking reinstatement to the Eagles or a release so he can sign with another team.

The Eagles maintain the suspension is fair and are willing to pay Owens about $1 million to stay home the final five games.

If the arbitrator reduces the suspension, the Eagles simply would pay Owens his salary of about $200,000 per game for the games he’s missed.

However, if Bloch says that Owens must be allowed to practice, use the team facility and participate in team functions, it’s possible the Eagles will challenge the ruling or cut the All-Pro wideout.

Owens was suspended Nov. 5 after he again criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb, called the organization “classless” and fought with former teammate Hugh Douglas, who serves as team “ambassador.”

Two days later, the Eagles extended the suspension to four games and told Owens not to return to the team. The reigning conference champions are 0-3 without Owens and 4-6 overall, last in the NFC East.

Owens has five years remaining on a seven-year, $48.97 million contract that he signed when he came to Philadelphia in March 2004. His problems started when he demanded a new contract after an outstanding season in which he caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.

With Owens, the Eagles are 17-5 over two seasons. Without him, they’re 2-5, including two meaningless losses and two playoff wins.
 
The suspension should have stood. He's a worthless prima donna and he deserved it. The Eagles, as his employer, should have had the right to discipline him as they see fit. But the union rules got in the way.
 
Uh oh. Looks like NBC Sports was so anxious to be the first to report the Owens talks, that they got it totally wrong.


Arbitrator rules against T.O., upholds suspensionESPN.com news services

PHILADELPHIA -- An arbitrator has upheld the Philadelphia Eagles' four-game suspension of Terrell Owens, and the team has the right to deactivate him.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch heard more than 13 hours of arguments last week.

"The finding is that the club has shouldered its burden of proof of clear and convincing evidence of play misconduct in that the four-week suspension was for just cause," Bloch wrote in his decision. "Additionally, there was no inherent violation of the labor agreement in the club's decision to pay Owens but not practice or play him due to the nature of the player's conduct and its destructive and continuing threat to the team."

Owens' side had argued the penalty was excessive and the Eagles' plan, which is to deactivate him when that time is up, is too severe. Owens sought reinstatement to the Eagles or a release so he could sign with another team.

That won't happen now, in a decision applauded by the NFL in a statement released after the decision Wednesday.

"We are pleased the arbitrator has upheld the right of a club to suspend a player for conduct detrimental to the team," the league statement said. "... And that Terrell Owens and his agent engaged in conduct that disrupted Eagles and that Coach Reid's decision to suspend Owens was appropriate."

Owens was suspended Nov. 5 after he again criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb, called the organization "classless" and fought with former teammate Hugh Douglas, who serves as team "ambassador."

Two days later, the Eagles extended the suspension to four games and told Owens not to return to the team. The reigning conference champions are 0-3 without Owens and 4-6 overall, last in the NFC East.

Owens has five years remaining on a seven-year, $48.97 million contract that he signed when he came to Philadelphia in March 2004. His problems started when he demanded a new contract after an outstanding season in which he caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.

With Owens, the Eagles are 17-5 over two seasons. Without him, they're 2-5, including two meaningless losses and two playoff wins.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 
MrMarcello said:
That's the same report I posted, which came from espn.com.
Click to expand...

I deleted the post. A four game suspension with pay - that's like a one-month vacation.
 
He'll be a Dallas Cowboy next season. That's my bet.

And that tool Rick Reilly - "Troy Aikman is not a Hall of Famer. He was a good QB but not great."

Reilly, shut the feck up and stick to writing about sports you never had the ability to play. You wouldn't know class if it hit you upside the head.
 
Dallas would be a good spot for T.O., and he'd get to play the Eagles twice a year. Parcells might have them in the Super Bowl next year, especially with the lack of good teams in the NFC.
 
MrMarcello said:
He'll be a Dallas Cowboy next season. That's my bet.
Click to expand...

Just keep him away from Denver. Far away ... NFC sounds good. :)

And that tool Rick Reilly - "Troy Aikman is not a Hall of Famer. He was a good QB but not great."
Click to expand...

I wasn´t a big fan of Aikman, but to say he´s no Fall of Famer is just BS.
 
Thing is, there aren't many other QBs that would have won SBs with that team. QBs like Young, Favre, Marino, and Elway would have, perhaps Moon and Cunningham. But that wasn't a team that could take a scrub QB like Dilfer or Collins and win a championship. Aikman was just as good as Bradshaw, yet you never hear the moans about how great a team Bradshaw had around him that we do when Aikman's name is brought up. It's that anti-Dallas element when it comes to rating playes. Montana had some of the greatest talent ever assembled on a team, yet you always hear about how great he was. Put Montana in New Orleans or St Louis, and he doesn't win.
 
Personally, I think the Eagles were justified ... happy to see that the arbitrator upheld the team's position. I also think that just about any team would be crazy to take another chance on him. I don't care how talented the guy is. He's disrupted two teams -- the 49ers and the Eagles. Anyone would wonder when -- not if -- it will happen again.
 
TO has an obscene amount of talent and should have been in the middle of a hall of fame career.

Unfortunately, his inability to deal with authority means that his suspension was (rightly, and surprisingly) upheld by arbritation.

As a 49ers fan, I wouldn't mind seeing him suit up for us next year. Fair enough, he has caused problems with both teams he has played for (obviously including us), but his next contract is going to have so many clauses in it that I think it will be a risk worth taking. I also think the message might actually sink in with him this time.

I realise that him going to us is more likely only than him going back to the Eagles, but from an on-field pov, he would certainly help my team (granted, from a purely on-field pov he would help every team in the league). We need a threat for our passing game which would in turn possitively affect our running game.

I believe that his off-pitch issues can be managed through specific man-management and an incentive laden contract with plenty of get out clauses - worth a try in my opinion!!
 
Dallas with Keyshawn and TO ... nasty thought right there. A great possession reciever and a deep threat, the Cowboys would destroy any secondary.
 
Don't forget that Dallas would have Terry Glenn as #3 WR, and a solid hands TE, Jason Witten. They'd be downright scary on offense. Add a FS and find a successor to *** Nguyen (will probably retire with a neck injury), and that defense might be top 3. My choice for FS would be through the draft, 1st round with players like LaRon Landry, LSU; Michael Huff, Texas (some scouts see him as a CB in NFL); Darnell Bing, USC; and Pat Watkins, FSU. Bing and Huff might go in the 15-20 range, likely before Dallas drafts. I think Landry will end up the best of this class.

Question: Why does the name D-a-t turn into ***?

note: I put - to separate the letters.
 
MrMarcello said:
Question: Why does the name D-a-t turn into ***?

note: I put - to separate the letters.
Click to expand...

Mods went on an acronym purge a few months back.
 
I would love to see the 'boys get him...I think :nervous:

I might even consider forgiving him for standing on the star.

I was glad when George teague hit him.


I just hope he doesn't destroy the revival that is beginning.



but he could be devastating for big D opponents.

that said, the draft is still a concern...one of Landry, Bing or Huff would still be around, but BIng may stay for his senior year...probably not, but maybe, he has been making overtures about it recently.


on another topic, Bush may not leave either. I'd say 50/50 atm.

I hope he stays to try and make it two heisman's in a row....but the possibility of him going to the Jets may be too good for him to pass up. :(
 
if bush ends up in new york im going to puke ... theyd only destroy him. i cant get excited about bush in the nfl anyway as i feel he´ll get destroyed at almost any team. i´d rather have bush stay for one more year and enjoy him there rather than seeing him getting put into some schemes by a clueless nfl oc. bush is one of a kind and id hate to see him fail in the nfl, which i think he will as theyll misuse him.

you heard anything about lendale white turning pro?
 
Jens said:
if bush ends up in new york im going to puke ... theyd only destroy him. i cant get excited about bush in the nfl anyway as i feel he´ll get destroyed at almost any team. i´d rather have bush stay for one more year and enjoy him there rather than seeing him getting put into some schemes by a clueless nfl oc. bush is one of a kind and id hate to see him fail in the nfl, which i think he will as theyll misuse him.

you heard anything about lendale white turning pro?
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tbh, I think Lendale is more likely to go pro than reggie.

lendale is a bit lazy, and doesn't like studying etc...the only difference is that scouts say he is a late first rounder...if he stayed another year, the scouts think it wouldn't make a bit of idfference as teams already know what they'll get with him.

if he decided to have a major attitude shift, and get very serious about working out and keeping his weight down etc as well as expanding his game more in the receiving area, his stock could go up.

in short, if Lendale had Reggie's work ethic and commitment, he would be a monster.

he'll succeed in the NFL but I don't know if he'll ever be as great as he could be.



and Reggie will succeed in the NFL, like Thomlinson or Faulk, if he goes to the right team and is used the right way he will flourish...that said, I do still hope he comes back for one more year. he is a once in a generation player.
 
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