T.O. « Expertise's Politics and Sports Blog

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

T.O.

Yes, this is the topic I've been trying to avoid for a minute.

It's not because I was wrong about T.O. being able to coexist with the Eagles. Quite the contrary; I knew he would become a cancer that would ultimately hurt the Eagles franchise. Looking back at his antics over his NFL career, it's not surprising to see this come about.

Nah; I'm just tired of saying "I told you so." It's like that girlfriend who sticks around and continues to be abused by her lowlife boyfriend because she thinks she can change his ways. The Eagles thought they could have a tremendously talented wideout with an ego that is as big as his abilities without that huge baggage that comes with him. They thought they could control him. Now, it's more like he controls them.

But let's set T.O.'s antics aside for a minute. After all; it was a given that this would happen. The Eagles are as much as fault with this as Owens is.

After the most productive season by a wide receiver in the franchise's history, the Eagles flat out refused to even talk to Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about restructuring the contract. And while Owens's contract does reach $49 million, that contract was backloaded, where Owens's productivity would go down in his later years and give the Eagles a reason to trade or outright cut him. Considering the man risked injury again by playing in the Super Bowl for the Eagles, at the very least Jeffrey Lurie could have done was talked to them.

Instead, Lurie flat out refused to talk, and thus you had a player that was thoroughly ticked off. He knew that he needed a ride-or-die agent to have his back, and that's where Rosenhaus comes into the picture. Now, you don't see T.O. without seeing Rosenhaus right by his side. Now the two of them have conspired to create a media firestorm, with the rest of the NFL season being overshadowed by the Eagles drama.

The "my way or the highway" attitude displayed by the Eagles front office has placed them in trouble with two other key pieces to last year's Super Bowl team: Brian Westbrook and Corey Simon.

Simon is still holding out, and it looks like the Eagles will have to trade him. Nobody's even paying attention to him, as the news is all about T.O. He plans to sign the one-year franchise contract, but only after training camp is over.

Westbrook has been disgruntled since after the Super Bowl, when the Eagles gave him a one-year deal on the hopes that a multi-year contract could be reached, however, one hasn't been made yet. I've heard on OkayPlayer that WIP, the sports talk station in Philly, has been reporting an unconfirmed rumor that Westbrook has signed a multi-year deal, but I've heard nothing from ESPN.com nor Fox Sports Radio's Ben Maller, who usually has his ear to the ground on this kind of stuff. If the Eagles don't ink a deal it only adds to their problems, as Westbrook provided stability for the offense and was a key factor throughout the playoffs while Owens was injured. The only reason why he didn't hold out of training camp is because it would have prevented him from being an unrestricted free agent next year.

Particularly in the case of Westbrook, the Eagles have no leg to stand on (Westbrook is only being paid $1.4 million this year, a crying shame for one of the more versatile running backs in the league). They are in danger of losing one of the anchors of their defensive line (who has never been known for run stopping to begin with), a disgruntled second option for McNabb, along with the best wide receiver they've ever had. And add to that the Pinkston injury.

With all of these things happening, someone should ask what were the Eagles's front office doing during the offseason? Good question, and Skip Bayless (lord help me if I ever agree with THIS guy again) tells everyone what they should have been doing:

Yet incredibly, the Eagles didn't bother protecting themselves at receiver in the draft or free agency. The Eagles had more draft picks than any other team, yet they failed to trade up in the first round to take a receiver capable of making an impact as a rookie. Reid, who isn't fond of playing rookies, sat tight and took Georgia's Reggie Brown in the second round.

Now it looks like he'll have to play Brown, because he has no receivers left.

I'll say the same thing I told others in another discussion: what if T.O. didn't raise hell, but he had gotten hurt in, say, Week 2. The Eagles would still be in a bad predicament because the receiver corps fed off of the energy and attention Owens gave, which allowed them to get in some production time. But a Todd Pinkston/Greg Lewis combo would have them in the same predicament as they were in during the NFC Championship two years ago: getting jammed at the line by better cornerbacks, which would completely eliminate the passing game other than to Westbrook and TE Chad Lewis. In other words, Donovan McNabb would be an older and slower version of Michael Vick, all because the Eagles front office didn't provide the necessary depth they need. After all; we know Owens isn't indestructable. He can get hurt again.

Now sure, T.O. deserves whatever criticism he gets, but that doesn't mean the Eagles are in the clear whatsoever. This is an ugly situation, and I'm sure more went down behind the scenes than they're saying (that's why I'm not defending McNabb, as he is their franchise and does have some input with some of the things going on at HQ). I'm sure the Giants and Cowboys are looking at this drama and are counting the days until they can possibly take advantage of it, which would help them win the NFC East.

It doesn't matter, though. My Panthers will whup them all anyway. Ha!

Posted at 05:47 am by Expertise


	J.D. Oliver August 18, 2005 01:38 PM PDT I sent this post to Skip "Stan" Bayless Yes, I am one of those "idiots" as you stated on ESPN a few days ago that supports Terrell Owens. Then again, I’m a huge fan of Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Jackie Robinson, etc. You would be wise to heed Aristotle's advice, "True knowledge exists in knowing you know nothing." Humble yourself Skip. Remember, when you point the finger you have 3 pointing back at you. I don’t know what “idiots” you were referring to but I read your article on ESPN and you sound like someone with a true “Stan” disorder. I see no objectivity in the way you “report” sports news, especially when it comes to Terrell Owens. Why are you so obsessed with Owens? Post: "Why is it that so many of these "sports reporters" believe they know everything there is to know about every football player? These guys seem more like hypocrites than sports reporters. What bothers me most is the way they "report" news. For example, why is it that when Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, Black athletes, do anything news worthy they are “ripped” by the media outlets? When Marv Albert (rape), Brett Favre (drugs, alcohol, selfishness), Mark Chmura (statutory rape!), etc, make the news they receive little publicity or insults. The difference is that they are all White athletes! There is a true double standard in the way that Black and White athletes are treated and perceived. The African American athlete, especially the opinionated athletes, is portrayed as a Black Brutes. On the other hand, White athletes are treated like the All American “golden boys.” Recently, Brett Favre made some statements about not being a coach and feeling no need to help develop younger players like Aaron Rodgers. Are those the statements of a “company man” or team player? If that isn't selfish than what is? Had Randy Moss or Owens made that statement they would have been crucified. Skip "Stan" Bayless would have surely made numerous statements about Owens (Stan was the subject of one of Eminem's songs). This guy talks about Owens more than Owen's own girlfriend. Skip "Stan" Bayless would’ve asked every teammate what they thought about Owens saying he didn’t want to help the younger players. They would have called him selfish and pompous. I'm sick and tired of this double standard for Black athletes and another for White athletes. For example, Hines Ward is looked upon as a stand up guy and athlete. Yet, I see the same hypocrites saying he doesn’t deserve more money. In addition, they claim that the PLAYERS don't stand up against the system? Why do these hypocrites think so many players decide to holdout? Aren’t these same athletes the one’s that you are crucifying? The bottom line is that without the top athletes there is no NFL, NBA, etc. The fans don’t come to see Skip Bayless and his clones, they barely can stomach listening to his constant insults. The bottom line is that, the players have to look out for their best interests and the bottom line. The owners, coaches, and fans aren’t going to. Twenty-two teams passed on Willis McGahee because he injured his knee. The owners and scouts were concerned with only one thing, can he make us SOME MONEY. If McNabb or any of the other media “darlings” was to get injured you can believe that the NFL and the White media will forget about them immediately. Everyone complains about the athletes making too much money. Yet, I never hear anyone talking about the owners making too much money. The MARKET determines how much a player makes. We all want to get the highest salary we can for our intellectual, practical, or physical abilities. Too many people attempt to compare their own income to athletes. That's not fair or accurate. I support Terrell Owens in his attempt to get as much money as they are WILLING to give him. If he is given a pay raise great. If not at least he tried. Other athletes may not publicly support Owens but deep down they are rooting for him. Hey Skip, you remember a guy by the name of CURT FLOOD? If fans have such a problem with the amount of money that athletes are making they can choose to attend amateur football games or XFL games lol. Believe me when I tell you. These same "sports reporters" would LOVE to be in Terrell Owens shoes. If they could leverage a deal to increase their own salary they would. Hypocrites. If sportscenter said, "Skip we need you to take a 50% pay cut to make room for a new guy." He would balk at the thought trust me. Then again, what do I know I’m just an “idiot” according Skip “Stan” Bayless.