The Terrell Owens soap opera continue.....

[Tadpole]

They always say that they won't trade this person and such.

[Beelz]

Of course you wouldn't, that means you will just get more for him. If you say you are openly trying to get rid of a player, other teams will toss you trash and a 5th round draft pick for him. If you make it look like he's staying, the people who really want him will approach you with a better deal.

[Phlegm]

From Associated Press:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb insisted he wasn't stung by criticism from Terrell Owens, laughing off the banished wide receiver's remarks before turning serious and telling him to "keep my name out of your mouth."

While Owens left his home for the Bahamas, McNabb joked with reporters, tapped the mikes and rubbed his hands together before taking his seat inside a jammed media tent shortly after Philadelphia's Friday practice.

"Yeah! C'mon, bring it!" McNabb said to laughter.

Owens again blasted McNabb on two separate interviews with ESPN on Thursday, calling the quarterback a "hypocrite" and saying the two of them could not be successful together. Owens also said he had no desire to speak with McNabb.

"It's so funny to me how my name keeps getting thrown out there," McNabb said. "You've just got to have fun with it and that's exactly what we're doing."

Owens was told to go home Wednesday after a heated dispute with coach Andy Reid -- and to stay there for a week. He has since lifted weights and shot hoops in front of the reporters camped outside his house and had harsh words for Reid and McNabb in TV interviews.

On Friday morning, Owens left his Moorestown, N.J., home with two suitcases and went to Philadelphia International Airport, where he told KYW-TV as he headed to a security gate: "I'm going to the Bahamas. I'm going to get a tan."

McNabb, light and smiling throughout his interview, agreed with Owens the two didn't necessarily have to speak to win.

"I still to this day see no reason for us to talk," McNabb said. "When we step on this field, it's all about business. We're professionals that line up and do the right thing."

This was the second time this year McNabb has warned Owens to stop talking about him.

After Owens complained that McNabb was tired in the Super Bowl, McNabb said "Just keep my name out of your mouth," during a mandatory minicamp.

McNabb, who made a recruiting pitch to get Owens to Philadelphia before last season, was tired of hearing Owens complain.

"Now for my name to be thrown out again, this is the second time. Keep my name out of your mouth," he said. "Keep my family's name out of your mouth."

Owens called McNabb a "hypocrite" on Thursday because the quarterback said publicly that he did not want to meet with Owens, while T.O said McNabb did try to arrange a meeting.

McNabb said he didn't learn until Thursday that his brother did reach out to someone close to Owens to arrange a meeting where the two Eagles could possibly work out their differences.

McNabb was bothered that Owens brought his family into his televised rants.

"My family doesn't need to be involved in any of this. I don't need to be involved in any of this," he said. "Now when you bring my family into it, I have a problem."

[Arlos]

Saw some of those interviews yesterday. My opinion of him got by far even LOWER than it had been, and I didn't think it was possible. I liked how Chris Mortensen blew their "not in the highest 20 paid receivers" argument out of the water on ESPN, though. He's actually in the top 5, basically is #3 behind Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss. Rosenhaus came across like a snivling slimy little weasel as well. If I was an NFL player, no way in hell would I use him as my agent.

I would love, LOVE if the Eagles suspended him without pay for the entire season. Oh, I'm sure the union would file a grievance, but I doubt it'd get anywhere. I mean, Owens admitted, on camera, that he told the Offensive Coordinator to "Not talk to me unless I talk to you first" and that he swore at Andy Reid.

You know, when the 49ers first got rid of him, I was mildly annoyed, cause while he had had some issues, it seemed like it all came from an overriding desire to win, period. Now, though, it's immediately obvious he doesn't give a rat's ass about anything but how much money he gets, and is nothing but a spoiled 8 year old who doesn't care about his team. So, I am UNBELIEVABLY glad he's gone.

-Arlos

[Tadpole]

I like TO. I just hate Drew Rosenhaus.

[Zanchief]

As a person who cares not at all what happens to the NFL or any of their teams, I love this guy. But if he was playing for my team I would hate his guts.

[Lyion]

Yeah, I don't quite get the "Don't talk to me unless I talk to you", to Brad Childress bit.

His contract is heavily backeded. Yeah, he's going to get prorated bonus the first three years but his contract isn't in the top 5 year per year, and that's really all that matters in the NFL.

Rosenhaus is not looking good here, and I'm wondering if this is going to cost him clients. He certainly is getting an assload of free PR here, though, and advertising never hurts, especially if it looks like you're going to bat for your client.

It's amusing, and I bet it craters the Eagles season.

[Arlos]

Actually, Chris Mortensen broke it down on ESPN. He *IS* getting paid, right now, top-5 (#3 really) WR money. Period. All their protestations otherwise are just PR spin.

-Arlos

[Tadpole]

He is making top 5 WR money in the league. His base salary is 660k, which I think may be his argument. With all the bonus's he is making top 5 WR money in the league though.

[mofish]

Rosenhaus represents Mike McKenzie, who everyone called disgruntled in GreenBay. But he got it done in new orleans, signed long term, always has a smile on his face, cracks jokes with the crowd, a total team player. Not sure what was going on in Green Bay, but as a Saint hes just fine, and Drew represents him shrug.

[Lyion]

Sure, if you take the backended portion of the contract into account, but that is not guaranteed and there is a reason the NFLPA warned him not to sign this deal.

He's not making chump change, but he isn't top 3 unless you count the later year funny money, which one shouldn't.

[Arlos]

No, Lyion, Mort wasn't counting the late year funny money. Yes, his base salary might be low, but he can make gazillions with really easy to reach incentives and bonuses. He's got no leg to stand on. ESPECIALLY when you consider that the NFLPA *TOLD* him not to sidn a deal last year, and to wait til this past off-season to do a new deal. He went and did it anyway. If he'd kept his mouth shut, the Eagles would've given him a new deal this upcoming off-season anyway.

Not to mention, all the talk about "Oh, he could be cut after this year, so he needs the money RIGHT NOW" is bullshit, and you know it. We're not talking about a 3rd string guy who barely got promoted from the practice squad here. We're talking about someone, talent-wise, who is top-5 in the game. Even if the Eagles DID take the huge cap hit and cut him (not fucking likely), he'd have gotten megabucks from someone. All he had to do was shut up and play out the year.

NOW, however, it might not matter what level of talent he has; who is going to take the risk of signing him even if the Eagles DO let him go after this year? 49ers sure as hell wouldn't take him back. Baltimore would laugh in his face. I guess MAYBE Denver, but I doubt it. Honestly, I can't think of much of any time that'd be willing to put up with his crap, especially now that he was utterly unrepentant about completely dissing team management.

Then again, in the NBA, Latrell Sprewell found new work after being unrepentant about trying to strangle his own coach, so what do I know.

-Arlos

[Lyion]

The key is GUARANTEED MONEY, Arlos.

TOs deal has has $9.2 million in guaranteed money. Compare that to Harrison who is getting 22+ million in guaranteed money, or Moss who got an 18 million signing bonus. There is a rather large disparity.

This year he's making 1 million. Thus, he's getting roughly 5 million per year, with no 'guaranteed' long term cash, unlike Manning, Mcnab, etc who took the smart route and got 20-30+ Million in signing bonus.

If T.O. plays this year and gets hurt or the Eagles cut him that 40 million turns into a 350k payout and the other 30+ million he'll never see.

NFL contracts are not at all ensured, and thats why T.O., who is 31 is looking for a better security deal.

[Themosticles]

If T.O. plays this year and gets hurt or the Eagles cut him that 40 million turns into a 350k payout and the other 30+ million he'll never see.

If only they would've put the CORRECT person on the cover of Madden '06.

[Arlos]

If T.O. plays this year and gets hurt or the Eagles cut him that 40 million turns into a 350k payout and the other 30+ million he'll never see.

And what exactly are the odds of the Eagles cutting him and taking the cap hit? What are the odds that he wouldn't have been able to get a megadeal from some other team next off-season if it DID happen, if he'd kept his mouth shut and played out his deal? Was it the Eagle's fault that he negotiated and signed this contract that the NFLPA *TOLD* him he'd be stupid to sign?

Face it, he's behaving like a spoiled 8 year old. I have ZERO sympathy for him. None. Hell, look at how some of the other holdouts have behaved. Not one of them has been even remotely as disruptive as Owens has been. There is no excuse for the incredible level of insubordination he's displayed. I honestly hope the Eagles suspend him for the season without pay due to conduct detrimental to the team. I would absolutely laugh my ass off.

-Arlos

[Lyion]

And what exactly are the odds of the Eagles cutting him and taking the cap hit? What are the odds that he wouldn't have been able to get a megadeal from some other team next off-season if it DID happen, if he'd kept his mouth shut and played out his deal? Was it the Eagle's fault that he negotiated and signed this contract that the NFLPA *TOLD* him he'd be stupid to sign?

Something tells me the odds are going up daily. Their cap hit wouldnt be monstrous as again he doesn't have guaranteed cash, because the Eagles were smart in writing him to a more disposable contract just in case.

Given his rep I find it highly unlikely another team would give him a megadeal. The guy is a cancer, and really has a good contract. I'm not defending him, just speaking from his point of view. He is a turd and will always be a turd. Best case scenario is another team would give him a deal similar to what Philly did since he is who he is.

Face it, he's behaving like a spoiled 8 year old. I have ZERO sympathy for him. None. Hell, look at how some of the other holdouts have behaved. Not one of them has been even remotely as disruptive as Owens has been. There is no excuse for the incredible level of insubordination he's displayed. I honestly hope the Eagles suspend him for the season without pay due to conduct detrimental to the team. I would absolutely laugh my ass off.

He has always been a petulant child. Look at how he treated Garcia. Look at the disrespect he showed Jerry Rice. The Eagles knew what they were getting when they signed this guy. A hell of a player who is a known malcontent.

The Eagles cannot suspend him for the season without pay. It'd never hold up. The best they could do is what the Bucs did with Keyshawn and kick him out with pay.

The bigger problem is the Eagles are a teamcentric group. They play and win via chemistry on O and D. With T.O. being the cancer he currently is, I think they need to resolve this situation and get him out so he doesn't degrade what they have going on. The problem is their O goes from high, to just good without him.

[Arlos]

You missed the part where I said "If he'd played out this year and kept his mouth shut." If he'd done that, then he WOULD have gotten a megabuck deal from another team if the Eagles had cut him, or could've renegotiated next summer, when he's due a roughly 6.5mil bonus. He'd have put his cancer reputation 2 years behind him, and might have even improved it even with his renegotiation request this year, if he'd just come in and behaved like a professional.

-Arlos

[Lyion]

No, I didn't miss it. It's physically impossible for this guy to keep his hole shut. Plus, his rep would still scare people around and eventually Owens will lose a step. This year he's a top 5 player. A year or two from now, he could be mediocre, who knows?

I'm not saying what he's doing is smart, right, good, or even seriously justified, I just see the point behind it. His goal is to be free to get a big deal by being a problem.

If nothing else, this adds a lot of fun drama to the preseason.

[Phlegm]

And the soap opera continue......

From Associated Press:

This time, Rush Limbaugh wants to help Donovan McNabb, not criticize him.

Limbaugh, who once said the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed, wants to help McNabb and wide receiver Terrell Owens settle their differences on his radio show.

"I am here to offer and to assist. I can," Limbaugh said on his nationally syndicated radio show Friday, according to a transcript on his Web site. "I could bring these two guys together. I've been there, folks, and I could do this, and I'm serious in my desire to do it."

Owens has been unhappy with the Eagles over his contract and took some of his frustration out at McNabb, calling the quarterback a hypocrite and saying the two of them could not be successful together.

McNabb insisted he wasn't stung by the criticism, laughing off the outrageous receiver's remarks before turning serious and telling Owens to "keep my name out of your mouth."

Limbaugh resigned from ESPN nearly two years ago after sparking outrage by saying on a pregame show that he didn't think McNabb was as good as perceived from the start.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said on "Sunday NFL Countdown."

Now Limbaugh wants to help mediate, inviting both Eagles to appear on his show.

"This rift cannot be allowed to continue, ladies and gentlemen. It just can't, and I would like to offer this program as a means of getting these two Americans and star players back together," Limbaugh said. "They may not want to talk to each other face-to-face, but perhaps they would join me on this program and speak to each other telephonically via this program and settle this."

[Tikker]

I'd love to them sit him ala Keyshawn, or the nordiques to Lindros~