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Rail Baron
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I don't know where he's going but by the sounds of it, probably won't be with the eagles.
Quote:
Owens Set to Fly the Coop
Terrell Owens might have just written his ticket out of Philadelphia. (ContrastPhotography.com)
by Andy Schwartz
ComcastSportsNet.com
This just keeps getting better.
First, T.O. publicly demanded more money.
Greedy.
Then, T.O. ripped Donovan McNabb. The same Donovan McNabb who is a five-time Pro Bowler and who, just a short year ago, campaigned to get him here in the first place.
Immature.
Then, T.O. compared himself to Jesus.
Addled.
Despite all of the above, Terrell Owens had never indicated that he would like to play elsewhere next season.
Until now.
Thursday on Comcast SportsNet (courtesy of Comcast Sports Southeast, which is based in his hometown of Atlanta), Owens declared that he is prepared to leave the Eagles.
His remarks came in response to a question about team president Joe Banner’s statement in the Philadelphia Daily News.
When asked whether he thought Owens would show up to training camp with the rest of the veterans on Aug. 1, Banner had no idea, and in doing so, not only took a shot at Owens but also Owens’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
"If we were dealing with somebody who was looking at this logically and was going to come to a common-sense conclusion, you'd say [he'll report to camp on time]," Banner told the newspaper. "But you're dealing with two people here who, frankly, don't think in common-sense terms.
"Anything can happen. They're not going to necessarily do what makes sense."
Owens’ rebuttal:
“It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “When it all boils down to it, I’m doing what’s best for my family. Not to stir anything up, but I don’t really have to play for the Eagles to be honest. I can go play with any other team and still be productive.
“If [Banner] feels that way, then get rid of me. I have no grips, no ill feelings toward any of the players on that team. This is business. They know how business is conducted. I’ve told them what I’m doing is for my family. If they can’t understand that – and if they feel like I’m a no-nonsense guy – he wants to talk about Drew and I – if we’re problems, then I feel like we can be adults about it. Trade me. Release me, and we can part ways like adults.”
As for whether one can expect to see him at training camp, fat chance. But if he's not there, it will cost him.
Each day Owens sits out camp will cost him between $9,400 and $9,600 in fines. However, according to the Daily News, citing a source in the NFL Players Association familiar with Owens’ contract, the Eagles could reclaim five-sixths of the $2.25 million signing bonus Owens received last year upon being traded to the Eagles. Do the math, and that comes out to $1.87 million.
“I think we’re both going to be smart about the situation,” Owens said. “He can put that statement out there, and he knows that if I don’t report to camp, the next thing they’re going to hit me with is a bunch of fines. They’re going to try and get in my pocket. I’ve talked to the coach, and like I said, if I’ve got to come there, it’s not going to be a good situation. I just want something to be rectified, and we can just move on.”
Owens was then asked if he would consider joining the Falcons.
“If Joe Banner can give Drew Rosenhaus permission to seek a trade,” he said, “who knows, Atlanta might be on the list of people that I could play for.”
And you thought Ricky "For who, for what?" Watters was bad.
As for whether the Falcons would like to have Owens, don't count on it. Earlier last month, in an interview with Sporting News Radio, Falcons owner Arthur Blank didn't appear too interested in T.O.
"He’s a great player. I don’t know him personally, but certainly as an athlete, he’s outstanding. We don’t need those kind of distractions on our club, and I don’t know of any club that really wants to deal with them," Blank said. "I think that’s a decision that obviously the coach, (general manager) Rich McKay and myself would be making. But, we’ve worked hard at building a certain kind of chemistry in our locker room. I think that’s very, very important. It’s an important part of the reason we got as far as we did this last year. We want to make sure we keep that going forward.
"I don’t want to be critical of T.O. because I don’t know him well. I know that this does not, to me based on all the information, the facts that I have, does not seem to be handled correctly by him. I’m not being defensive of my partners in Philadelphia, but I think it would be a mistake for them to tear up his contract now and change it."
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http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet...p.asp?ID=12396
Yeah. He's doing it for his family. sure. because the eagles don't pay him enough to feed or clothe his family and they're starving homeless on the street. What a baby.
Last edited by stevo; 07-22-2005 at 12:50 PM..
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