I first heard about George jumping ship to those hated Cowboys at 7:30pm last night, when both the Ticket in Dallas and the DMN confirmed these rumors to be fact.. I got all riled up, called some friends to relay the news and went to bed at 8:00pm because I couldn't handle the pain. I don't think I've been this upset since... well since ever! How could my one and only Eddie George turn down the Titans offer for the exact same offer from the Cowgirls? I feel like my fiance has dumped me and started shacking up with my worst enemy! Unfortunately, one of my friends at work is a diehard Cowboys fan. I can't even discuss this logically, until I write out how I feel in words... damn, column idea just sprung up in my head! Off I go to write... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1844735 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A day after being released by the Titans, Eddie George is working on a return to Texas. The Cowboys are discussing with George a two-year contract structure that, in reality, will be a one-year commitment for approximately $1.5 million plus incentives, ESPN's Ed Werder reports. Sources told Werder that George and his agent, Lamont Smith, have scheduled a meeting with Dallas owner Jerry Jones and other team officials for Friday at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch headquarters. George, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Titans (starting in 1996, when they were the Houston Oilers), has made signing with the Cowboys his priority. He's declined offers to make visits to other interested teams until he determines if Dallas meets his expectations. And that's no coincidence, Smith said. "It's an indication of his priority," Smith told The Associated Press on Thursday. "It's high on his list, very high on his list." Smith said it didn't matter who made the first call, but both sides were very interested in consummating a deal quickly. "We'll have to see if it will," Smith said. The development comes a day after Dallas sources told Werder that the team had only modest interest in George. According to sources, Jones has maintained interest in signing George since it became apparent he might be released, but coach Bill Parcells and others were reluctant, fearing George's presence would interfere with the development of rookie running back Julius Jones, the team's top draft choice. Parcells had been planning to use a rotation system in which Jones would probably play the majority of the time with fullback Richie Anderson playing halfback in third-down passing situations. The acquisition of George would reduce the pressure on the Cowboys to have Jones ready to be the primary ballcarrier when the season opens. George has never missed a game during his career and will set a positive example for Jones in terms of work ethic, preparation and practice habits. George, who turns 31 this season, rejected the Titans' attempts to reduce his contract this season to $1.5 million. George was willing to accept a reduced contract but wanted at least $2.5 million and security beyond the 2004 season. "How do we replace [George]? Well, we're going to have to replace him with more than one guy," Reese said. "It's going to be impossible to find one guy to do all the things Eddie did." That process began Thursday, when Tennessee agreed to a one-year deal with free agent running back Antowain Smith. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
I hate it, too, drapg. As a former Oilers fan, and still a huge Titans fan, it hurts to see one of the few remaining players from both eras move on. I really wanted him to retire as a Titan, and it hurts to see him go to the hated Cowboys. He's been one of my favorite players growing up, and even though he's lost a step or two, he's always been a warrior and a team leader. With that said, I think the biggest thing in the contract is the incentives. From what I've read, Eddie was willing to take a big pay cut, even down to the 1.5 million, if there were incentives he could reach to make that money back. I guess based on rushing yards, starts, TD's, things of that nature. Anyway, the Titans didn't offer him that, which is frustrating. If he can produce like he thinks he still can, then he should be compensated for it. And I'm not even sure if the incentive money counts against the salary cap, but maybe someone can help me with this. Anyway, if they totally reduced his salary AND didn't give him incentive options, I understand why he is moving on, even if I wish that he wasn't.
As a Dallas fan, nothing pleasures me more than watching Houston/Tennessee fans squirm watching their former star latch on with their worst enemy. After all...you guys get off on hating us any chance you get so... .
Is this the same guy who said his first priority was to stay with the Titans? Funny how that works...
I hate you COWBOY FANS... * awwwww... gaawwwdd...*... *[ noises ]* uhhhggghhhh... OK, I'm done. Does anyone have a burrito? I'm hungry now. HOW ABOUT READING THE REAL THREAD? http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81058 .
Understood. I mean, if y'all cut Troy Hambrick (as has been done,) and Tennessee signed him....Oh wait, he's just a fat piece of crap. I mean if y'all cut Quincy Carter, and we signed him....Oh wait, he's just one of the worst starters in the NFL. I mean if ya'll cut Antonio Bryant, and Tennessee signed him....Oh wait, he's just an ingrate chemistry killer. Dang it, my point is that if y'all had someone worth signing after they were cut, I'd be all about rubbing it in Cowboy fan's face! ) So, it's cool Surfguy. We can take it!
But, you don't hate me per se as I was born/raised in Houston and I am a huge Rockets fan. I only transitioned to Dallas football when Houston lost their team and I couldn't possibly root for a team in Tennessee(yee haw). It just so happened that was '95 when Dallas won the Super Bowl and the exact time I graduated college while taking a job in D/FW. Either way...I take the good with the bad. I blame Bud Adams for making me a Dallas fan. It's kind of cool and a curse at the same time.
That is what is so great about this situation. You can't reverse the scenario because there is noone you would want from our team...except for Eddie of course .
Going into this offseason, with speculation of George ending his days in with the Titans, he was really one of the last guys I wanted. This was mainly due to the fact that I figured if he refused to take a pay cut in with the Titans, he'd probably want some good money elsewhere, and seeing as how Troy Hamrick had a better YPC than him last year, I wasn't to thrilled with the thought of George as a Cowboy. However, with this contract, I definitly would not mind adding him, to say the least. While his latest YPC scare me, he is can pound the ball, and I also don't have to worry about a rookie RB, a FB, and a small 3rd down back coming off of knee surgery running the ball. Even if George somehow does worse than last year, I hear his attitude is awesome and that would really be a great positive with some of the younger players. Kind of wonder what it would be like with him, Vinny, Woodson, and Parcells talking on the sideline and other guys like Quincy, Jones and Williams on the other side. As far as him being a fan favorite of you guys, I don't really have much to say about that. I could really care less about rubing it in since I'm not that kind of person, but I'm sure others (Surfguy) could contribute my share. Maybe some of the hating will lessen a bit...but such lessening that it will probably be hard to notice.
Yeah, to be honest, Eddie is one of the few players I just can't hate now that he's with the Cowboys. I just can't- he's such a team leader, and a positive influence on the team and with the community from all accounts I've heard. And I'm saying this as a Michigan fan, which is sickening enough that I'm praising a Buckeye! I love his style, and he is still a hard-nosed runner who can get the tough yards. Hell, he's NEVER missed a start in his career, despite some nagging injuries when he should've sat. I'll miss having him on the team if for no other reason than the fact that he defined that tough, resiliant attitude of the Titans, and was probably a great influence on the young players. At least before he left, I got to see him FINALLY get over on Ray Lewis and the Ravens in the playoffs. Enjoy Eddie in Big D. As weird as it may feel, I'll still be cheering him with the Star on his helmet.
Me being a Texan fan and a former diehard oiler fan, I like this move. Having to see all those oiler/titan fans having to see their man play for the cowgirls is sweet.
Weak! We take crap from these guys all the time! Go back to that hole from whence you came! LOL. Nah...I'm not really rubbing it in as much as it is a guilty pleasure. I know it hurts to lose someone of his caliber you rooted for so many years. You have my condolences.
