TO Kicked out of camp

[laseranimal]

I'm so sick of this guys whining, the Eagles ought to "Keyshawn" him and just deactivate him for a year, and if they can do it withiout paying him all the better

[Game Over]

no linky?

[Viva]

Here yo linky, bitch, yo!

[mrryde]

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- All-Pro wide receiver Terrell Owens left Eagles training camp Wednesday after a heated exchange with coach Andy Reid.

Reid asked the injured Owens to leave after their discussion, according to Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge. She said Owens was asked to return next Wednesday and had gone to his home in New Jersey.

"I got sent home until Wednesday for whatever reason," Owens told Comcast SportsNet for a TV interview from his front lawn. "It was just a difference of opinion. I was defending myself."

Comcast SportsNet reported the disagreement occurred during a team meeting. Owens then got his belongings and cleared out of training camp at Lehigh University.
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"T.O. was asked to leave by Andy Reid," Etheredge said. "I don't think that it was heated, it was a difference of opinion. I don't know if there was an argument."

Owens did not say what the argument was about.

"If the truth needs to be told, then that's what I'll do," Owens said. "If he (Reid) wants me to be a man about it and have me really go on the air and really tell the people what happened, then I can. It was a difference of opinion."

Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko had no comment. Drew Rosenhaus, Owens' agent, did not immediately return several messages left on his phones.

Owens is unhappy the Eagles have refused to redo his contract as he enters the second season of a seven-year, $48.97 million deal. He hired Rosenhaus and threatened to skip camp completely. Instead, Owens reported, then injured his groin last Thursday.

He was day to day and the injury wasn't considered serious, but he missed practice Wednesday for the fifth time in six days.

Owens worked out with the team's assistant trainer for about 20 minutes on a separate playing field from his teammates, catching balls from a machine and doing some light running. He did not speak to reporters or acknowledge the fans who chanted his name.

Owens also skipped a scheduled autograph session with the rest of the Eagles receivers after practice.

"He was unable to attend because he was injured," Etheredge said.

Owens said the fans have been great, but he didn't sign autographs at the tent because he was rehabbing his groin. He also said he was having fun at camp, even if it didn't look that way.
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Since arriving at camp Owens has been distant on the field with his teammates. After signing autographs and slapping hands with fans on a nearly daily basis at last year's camp, Owens has jogged on and off the practice field without much acknowledgment of their chants and screams of support.

"Just because I don't talk to everybody, that's up to me," Owens said. "Everybody needs to understand the situation is all business, it's nothing personal. The situation is between me and management. They know what's going on.

"I think some people are kind of ticked off because I haven't really said much. They don't pay me to go in there and talk to everybody and be friendly to everybody. They paid me to play and they paid me to perform. That's what I've been going in there and doing."

The Eagles had a special teams practice Wednesday afternoon and Owens was not required to attend.

Last season, Owens had 77 receptions for 1,200 yards and a franchise-record 14 touchdowns before severely injuring his ankle late in the season. He missed the final two regular-season games and the first two playoff games before returning for the Super Bowl, in which he had nine receptions for 122 yards.

While Owens has been an off-field distraction, the Eagles sorely need his production. Todd Pinkston is on injured reserve and out for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon, and the rest of the wide receivers -- Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen and Reggie Brown -- are young and inexperienced.

[Game Over]

Viva are you gonna be in town (edit--at autzen USC vs. UO)on Sept. 24?

[mrryde]

Owens said the fans have been great, but he didn't sign autographs at the tent because he was rehabbing his groin.

I can see how groin rehab can affect your autograph signing wrist.

[Crinkle]

The NFL has to come up with a "no whinning" clause. These ungrateful f'ers have to get fined for talking back to coaches and if they throw a fit or get kicked out of practice or a game for certain reasons (ie: being a bitch) they don't get paid. No love for the sport only for their checkbooks.

[EPSkis]

Just so's I understand.....TO's a prick, but Ricky Williams is cool and misunderstood. Ok, I think I've got it.


No, really I don't.

[Viva]

Viva are you gonna be in town (edit--at autzen USC vs. UO)on Sept. 24?

No! Can't find a fuckin' ticket yet! I'll keep trying, however.

[Plakespear]

Can't wait to listen to Philly sports talk radio tomorrow!

[Arty50]

Just so's I understand.....TO's a prick, but Ricky Williams is cool and misunderstood. Ok, I think I've got it.


No, really I don't.

They're two different situations.

TO signed a seven year contract last year worth $48M. After only one year of the contract, he wants to renegotiate. Any normal player or team would do this after 5-6 years of the contract. In other words, I can't recall the last time a player even thought of attempting this. The possible exception would be a pro-bowl 2nd year player (one that was a rookie the year before).

Ricky retired. He didn't hold out for more money. He didn't even seek a fatter contract when he came back. Sure there was a debate over money when he retired, but it was a legitimate contractual debate. He thought his contract let him keep the $8M, the Dolphins didn't. As we know, the Dolphins won and he had to return it or come back or whatever.

While both situations are unfortunate, I'm gonna give Ricky the benefit of the doubt. The guy has documented mental issues and he used the year off to work on himself and get his shit together. TO on the other hand is just a greedy bastard. It's not the Eagles fault that he put his John Hancock on that contract only last year. "Doing it for my family" my ass. What, caviar and champagne every meal isn't good enough? Fuck, what I would do with that kind of money...

Here's a good take on it:
http://www.footballstories.com/artic....asp?ArtID=276

...The league source the says the current Eagles deal is fair to both sides. In fact the official said the Eagles' deal at the time made Owens the highest paid receiver in the game over the first three years of the contract.

"The Eagles structured the deal in such a way that instead of giving him a large signing bonus, they gave Owens a very large roster bonus which can not be spread out over the length of the contract or the five-year limit now in effect in the NFL," the official said. "The Eagles considered it a market-value roster bonus for a Pro Bowl receiver combined with a signing bonus made it a really generous, nice signing bonus that makes them pay (big) in the third year. It is structured in a way that they have to pay him a lot. They have him for two then they have to pay him again in the third year. He doesn’t like that now."

In 2004, the official - who has access to the actual contract - said Owens received a $6.2 million roster bonus, a $2.3 signing bonus and $660,000 in base salary for a total of $9.16 million. In 2005 he is scheduled to make a salary of $3.25 million. In 2006 Owens is scheduled to collect a $5 million roster bonus, a base salary of $770,000 and a $2.5 million option that will make the deal for that year worth $8.27 million.

The total value of the first three years of his contract is $20.68 million. Since he signed the deal The Indianapolis Colts inked their star receiver, Marvin Harrison to a seven-year deal worth a reported $67 million with $22 coming in the first three years.The former Roman Catholic star is scheduled to receive a $10 million roster bonus in year two.

Randy Moss notwithstanding, Owens and Harrison are arguably the two best receivers in the game and over the next three years will be paid as such.

"I don’t think there is anything in that deal that takes advantage of the player in anyway," the official said. "When you analyze deals you look at the guaranteed money which is the signing bonus, roster bonus…you look at the first three years and then you might look at the overall average of the deal. But it’s the first three years which is key. There is only one deal which is better than the Terrell Owens deal in the first three years and that’s Marvin Harrison. And it was done after (Owens’ deal) was done. So what does he want?"

[Il Eagle]

Dumbassed jocks complaining about not being rich enough make me sick. I've never wished a career ending injury on a player before, but I'm beginning to consider it. TO is a disgrace to PROFESSIONAL athletics.

[Arty50]

TO is a disgrace to PROFESSIONAL athletics.

Sadly, the Eagles are just learning that. The 49er's did all they could to get rid of him.

[freshie247]

TO's afraid that with his groin injured,he can't be his cocky self!

[iceman]

I'm no bigfan of TO, but if the contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on when it comes to the teams, why should it be any different for the players?

If the Eagles thought TO "underperformed" they could rip up the contract. TO thinks he overperformed", why shouldn't he have the same right?

Contracts should be much shorter and should be guaranteed.

[Grange]

I disagree. When the player signs the contract it is usually based on his continued performance. If he underperforms he will get cut. Contracts often offer incentives for "over performing" so in my opinion a player should not be able to renegotiate a contract. If the player has a gripe regarding the length of the contract then they shouldn't have signed such a long contract.

However when a team needs to get under the salary cap they may ask a player to renegotiate his contract or may even cut a player. If the player is not performing at the level he was when he signed the contract then the team has a legitimate reason to cut him or at least renegotiate since he isn't living up to his end of the bargain by playing poorly. If he is performing well, but is old and close to retirement then I don't think it is fair to cut him.

[Jumper Bones]

so coach Andy Reid is a Powercap? Sure didn't seem to take any shit.

You DO NOT want to be TO right now.

[Crinkle]

Sadly, the Eagles are just learning that. The 49er's did all they could to get rid of him.

i think the Eagles know. They are one of the toughest managements on players in the league. They don't crumble to these tactics that players attempt to fix their contracts. If TO is going to learn his lesson, it will be in Philly. Something will have to happen for him to realize this. Once again, i wish for the days of olde, when other players would speak up.

I did read that Jerry Rice spoke out from Bronco's camp saying "TO needs to realize that he is not greater than the team"

[assgasorgrass]

TO has a 7.5 mil roster option come March. No way the Iggles are paying it. If Drew can finally realize that he isn't getting TO any more money from the Eagles, definitely not after this incident, then he needs to convince TO to go in and have a monster year so he can be a free agent next year and try to get his last fatty contract then. My $.02.

[smmokan]

I disagree. When the player signs the contract it is usually based on his continued performance. If he underperforms he will get cut. Contracts often offer incentives for "over performing" so in my opinion a player should not be able to renegotiate a contract. If the player has a gripe regarding the length of the contract then they shouldn't have signed such a long contract.

However when a team needs to get under the salary cap they may ask a player to renegotiate his contract or may even cut a player. If the player is not performing at the level he was when he signed the contract then the team has a legitimate reason to cut him or at least renegotiate since he isn't living up to his end of the bargain by playing poorly. If he is performing well, but is old and close to retirement then I don't think it is fair to cut him.

Sadly, this is not how it works. There may be small bonuses included for making the Superbowl, being MVP, or making the Probowl, but not for overachieving on their contract. TO (as an example) had great numbers last year, but he did not receive a dime extra because of it. Its up to the players to renegotiate when they out perform their contract. I can't really blame them since it works the other way around (like you said in your post), where the teams can cut them or pay them less if they don't perform well. Usually the first two or three years of a player's "7 year deal" are guaranteed- the rest are simply options for the team to pick up or not.

That being said, there are two reasons I don't feel sorry for TO.
1- TO went out of his way to say he wanted to play for the Iggles and promised he would not be a distraction. He even said when he signed the contract that he thought it was a perfect fit for both him and the team.
2- The players negotiated this contract layout with the CBA. They should have worked harder to get something that was more fair when they had the chance- so until they bargain for the next CBA, they need to keep their mouths shut. (although I still agree with the few guys who are holding out, doing all they can. Football players' careers aren't long, so they need to get it while they can.)

[runethechamp]

TO (as an example) had great numbers last year, but he did not receive a dime extra because of it.

Maybe he had a great year, but that's what the Eagles expected when they signed him, and that's why he get $7 mil a year. He didn't have a monster year by any means, just a year pretty much on par with what he used to do with the 49ers. TO is the worst whiner I've ever seen, and I don't think it's possible for him to ever admit he was wrong about something.

[Mcwop]

As a pats fan myself, I say "Go T.O."!

T.O. is such a prick.

[Viva]

Ownerized

[Zeedashbo]

i heart T.O. reid got mad at him for going out on his own and catching passes while the team was inside. he didn't sign autographs cause he was inside working out. i say stick it to the man. and i'll take T.O. on the hawkballs. you can have darell jackson and go ahead and sign koren robinson.

[Crinkle]

i talked to my peops and they said that the eagles can and might go after Owens for money for this suspension. Its in a clause in his contract. blah, blah.