Why didn't the team simply take Owens' appology, reinstate him, and just bench him? What's the big deal if he's suited up or not. Big deal, you have to pay him, but you're almost gonna have to considering how far they've taken this. All you have to do is avoid going through all this, avoid the distractions from the game by reinstating him, then just simply not playing him. Why don't they do this? Instead, they're giving their teams so many distractions that they're making it almost impossible to win games. An arbitrator may be able to tell them that they can't suspend him (which I think shouldn't be allowed in the first place), but an arbitrator CANNOT tell a team that they can't bench a player. All this has gone WAY too far, and it's almost a joke. I'm sick of hearing about it. This guy should be kicked out of the league. What a mockery. Anyways, I know there are probably other threads on this, but it's late, I'm tired, my eyes hurt, and I simply wanted a direct discussion on why they don't just not play him...
So you'd rather have TO on the sideline of every game? In the locker room answering questions from reporters? That would be a disaster. if you think what the eagles did was a big story, it could have dragged out even longer if they benched him. He would sound off after every game. Why would you want to keep that psycho anywhere near the team when you don't have to?
While those are good points, I get the feeling that after two or three games of seeing no gametime, TO would be out of fingers to point, and would have no good "soundoffs." By that time, I'd also hope that the media would acknowledge that the general public is tired of this guy, and wishes he'd take a vacation to Timbuktu.
Seroiusly, why is the media that bent on shoving down TO down our throats. Nobody I know could care less about this situation. He is not a Jordan or even Kobe or AI. No freakin football player is. Nobody cares.
Has it dawned on you that T.O. could file a grievance if they didn't play him? Why? Because it would have been like taking 3/4 a year off and then teams would wonder how that lay off would affect him, his stats would be skewed and they also look at that, and bottom line he WANTS to play. The Philadelphia Eagles organization is anything but stupid and I applaud them for not giving into this moron, especially in an era where players have too much power and get every damn thing that they ask for.
I believe greatness has a certain level of respect, T.O. has lost respect with about 98% of sports America. He does have great skill but his attitude and actions lower his greatness scale to me, sort of like everybody's view of Plamiero after they found out he used roids.
Everything EXCEPT guaranteed contracts. I'm not taking up for T.O., but football players are in the most profitable and most popular and most dangerous sport, but they are the only professionals without guaranteed contracts. They even have to return the only guaranteed money they get (signing bonuses) if they want to walk. That being said, T.O. is an idiot and should have kept his mouth shut and played for his $7 million per year.
I understand the non-guaranteed contract but I was talking about players in almost every sport in general. The Philadelphia Eagles play only a small role in the non-guaranteed contract part of the NFL because they are only 1/32 of the league.
I agree, its ridiculous. I wonder if the Eagles ever sat down, just like coach and gm, and talked to TO...explain the situation to the little baby–"you wont be around if you keep it up." If he doesn't get it after than then either just trade the guy or cut him. Simple. Too much horsesh!t. Now, all parties look like damn fools. If I were an Eagles fan I would be unbelievably pissed off right now.
If these losses keep piling up you're going to hear more and more of teammates requesting his return. Hey, the Dolphins took Ricky back so you never know...
The thing I like about this whole, drawn out TO fiasco is that, the more and more the drags on, the more and more screen time it gets, the better and better reminder it is to any team that gets it into their heads they want to take a shot at signing him whenever he and Philly part ways. I would love for this guy to talk his way out of the NFL. A guy that talented to not be able to find a place in the league would be a great testament to what it means to be a team player, or at least not an idiot. I know odds are, no matter WHAT the guy does, another team somewhere will be willing to take their chances on him. But I can still hope. I do believe that no teams that are in contention for the Superbowl will sign him.
I do not have one iota of sympathy for the players with respect to non-guaranteed contracts. Their union collectively bargained for their current labor deal. They have only themselves to blame.
i HATE the eagles and i'm glad to see this T.O. expirment bite them in the ass, but they did the right thing. how many times can you let a guy take shots at your quarterback, coaches, and organization? they gave him the opportunity to apologize like a MAN in front of his teammates and coaches, and he wouldn't do it. then the day after he finds out he's gone, he apologizes in front of some cameras...typical T.O. philly did the right thing and regardless of what the arbitrator rules he will never play in philly again.
I think the upside of T.O. is just as large as the downside, and when things are going good, you're going to see more of the upside of T.O. than the downside. It's for this reason why I think a lot of teams, especially ones in superbowl contention would sign him in a heart beat. Can you imagine the Colts with T.O.? Holy crap, they would definitely finish perfect, 50 point blow outs per game.
At Issue . . .from the Player Association stand point is simple. IN THE CBA - they agreed PLAYERS AND OWNERS If a players does something DETRIMENTAL to the team they get 4 game suspension. . . THAT IS IT . .4 GAMES The Eagles are Violating the spirit of that agreement by benching TO for SOMETHING DETRIMENTAL TO THE TEAM beyond the 4 GAMES . . is outside of the CBA So They have to CUT HIM or PLAY HIM or SOMETHING the punishment for what TO did. . . was AGREED UPON IN THE CBA To punish him beyond that is against the CBA Think of it like this . . . If you say to if your employee in his contract that if he steals office supplies .. . he will get a warning . . . Then he steals . . and then you call the police and have him dragged out of the building and fire him . . . While i think we can agree that you were justified. . it is NOT what you put in the contract . . therefore you violated the contract I think also . The Players Association is not liking the Trend KEyshawn was an anomoly . .. T.O. makes it a trean they worry about the slippery slope of Teams weaseling out of contracts via the ole THINGS DETRIMENTAL TO THE TEAM think how open to interpretation this could be . . .after a whilte everythign a player does thata team don't like. . BOOM he is punished to the max extent. . . While I know alot of you are PRO OWNERS and feel they should be able to do any and everything they want with the players I have to say that the issue is. . .. they should not be able to go outside of the CBA .. . or even the spirit of the CBA what was negotiated in Good Faith Rocket River
It's true about the upside/downside issue. Last year for the Eagles was a good example of that. However, all any teams are seeing right now is the downside. It's foremost in anyone's mind, so I think it will make any team that has a lot to lose (and Indy has a lot to lose) gunshy at taking the risk. Sure, the Colts would be even more stellar, but they are already stellar, and TO could potentially bring that all crashing down if he gets into it with Peyton (and Peyton would DEFINITELY get in TO's face). I could see maybe the Falcons signing him. Hasn't Terrell expressed interest in playing in Atlanta with Vick?
Alot of folx are saying Denver Word on the street is the Jets I can definatell IMO see him going to San Diego If I were them I would be interested in him . . at least for the rest of this year Rocket River
