Quote:
Ruling goes against Owens in NFL arbitration case
November 23, 2005
PHILADELPHIA, United States (AFP) - Arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled against controversial receiver Terrell Owens, upholding his four-game banishment by the Philadelphia Eagles for conduct detrimental to the team.
The final game of his suspension is Sunday against Green Bay.
Bloch presided over a 13-hour hearing last Friday at which Owens argued the punishment imposed by the Eagles was excessive and sought to be released if he was to be punished by being benched every week.
The Eagles argued Owens violated his contract by making derogatory public comments about the club and questioning the skill and durability of quarterback Donovan McNabb, who will soon undergo season-ending surgery for a sport hernia.
Owens was suspended by Eagles coach Andy Reid for conduct detrimental to the team for four games, with Reid saying Owens would never again play for the team as it planned to deactivate him for all remaining games after the banishment.
The NFL Players Association argued to have the suspension reduced and force the Eagles to play Owens or release him.
Officials are concerned Owens will become a greater distraction should he be allowed to return to the Eagles training facility and rejoin the club, however briefly.
The Eagles argue they are entitled to the return of 1.7 million dollars in bonus money from Owens but have said they would forfeit the funds rather than bring back Owens.
The Eagles are 4-6 and have lost three games in a row since banishing Owens, who had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and a club record 14 touchdowns last season. This season, Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns.
Owens, who makes a base salary of 3.75 million dollars this season, would go through the NFL waiver system if released with the league's worst club having the first chance to claim the talented but controversial receiver.
The Houston Texans would have the first chance but team officials have already questioned why they would want a divisive and expensive player on the squad given their woeful 1-9 start.
Owens has been unhappy since the club refused in the off-season to renegotiate his seven-year, 48 million-dollar contract after he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl, which they lost to New England in February.
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Well, well..... It is nice to see an arbitrator rule for a club, perhaps others will now and some of these "pros" will realize when they sign a contract they also sign away some rights.
Initially, I thought TO was getting the short end of the stick but as details came out I realized he got what he deserved. In fact, I would have suspended him without pay for the rest of the season not just 4 games. As an owner and a team you have to look at situations like this as someone "TO" who does not want to win nor supports the team, then you have to ask why would I pay him these millions for not wanting to be a part of the team and for being a divisive influence that may cause my team to lose, therfore I would lose money, because fan support would go down.
Also, it's well deserved he'll have to go through the waiver wire....
........ and it says something when the worst team in the league with the first pick says "NO T.O. here"..... just think what a blow to his ego it would be if noone claimed him...... one can only hope.
I wish Boston would have done the same to Manny when he cried during the playoffs that he wanted traded.