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So, it seems that the Philadelphia Eagles have proven themselves to be an organization which places character over ability, a development which, in my opinion, is quite refreshing in professional sports (as a sidenote: I've always hated that sort of use of the word "refreshing"). After repeated episodes of "me first" behavior from ol' Terrell Owens, the Eagles have decided that enough is, in fact, enough and have given Owens his effective walking papers. From what I've been able to gather, the Eagles intend to keep Owens suspended for the 4-week maximum as stipulated by league rules or collective bargaining guidelines (or whatever) after which they intend to release him. Or de-activate him. Or something. Either way, the message sent today was a clear one from the Eagles front office: Terrell Owens is no longer a member of the team...
Personally, I'm shocked that it took this long...
We shouldn't forget that the Philadelphia Eagles aren't the first team which the pro-bowl wide receiver has worn out his welcome with. While playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Owens was quick to criticize the coaching staff, team officials and especially Jeff Garcia, the quarterback, when things went awry, even going to far as to insinuate that Garcia was "less than heterosexual" on more than one occasion. His constant public ridicule of everyone connected with the 49ers (other than himself, of course) eventually earned Owens a ticket out of town. With almost carte blanche to choose a new team, Owens eventually snubbed Baltimore to join up with Donovan Mcnabb and the rest of the Eagles in the city of brotherly love. When he did so, it appeared that things had suddenly changed. For the first time in a long time, Terrell Owens seemed quite happy to the point of being overjoyed. He smiled broadly during interviews, heaping praise on his new team and new quarterback like so much whipped topping on a sundae, gushing about the relationship which he was now enjoying with the organization. Owens followed up the off-season love-fest by posting gaudy numbers on the field until he suffered a broken leg, an injury which threatened to put him out for the playoffs. Owens worked hard, though. returning for the superbowl, a game which the Eagles ultimately lost at the hands of the stinkin' patriots...
And it was right about this time that the REAL Terrell Owens emerged once again...
Apparently misconstruing a statement which Donovan McNabb made in an interview prior to last season's Superbowl regarding how the team would fare with or without Owens, the receiver felt slighted. Suddenly, his terrific relationship with McNabb turned into a strained one at best. Owens carried his building anger and self-pity with him heading into training camp this season where he demanded a renegotiated contract. It was at that time that he also began openly criticizing McNabb, as he had done with Garcia a season before. The message was clear: Terrell Owens is never at fault...
At least, that's what Terrell Owens would have you believe.
When Owens and his agent decided that he would rather sit out than play under his current contract prior to this NFL season, I offered up the following scenario to my co-workers: I felt that if Owens didn't want to honor his current contract, the Eagles should simply de-activate him, since they hold his rights, and not seek to trade him to any other team. In addition, since Owens had, in effect, breached his contract, the Eagles, I offered, should not pay him. In essence, I felt that an effective response to his childish behavior would have been to sit him down for an entire season, no pay, no play and see how he liked it. This (perfect) scenario didn't have a chance to play out, though, since all was eventually "forgiven" when Owens did, in fact, return to camp. Despite another flare-up during pre-season which led to Owens being briefly banned from the team, when the regular season started, Owens was up to his old tricks, Reminding us once again why he is one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game...
Unfortunately, those weren't the only old tricks he had up his sleeve...
Not one to ever leave well enough alone, with the Eagles enduring some turbulence in their season (punctuated by an embarrassing loss to the Denver Broncos in week 8), this past week, Owens (once again) began to point fingers. The receiver saw fit to take it upon himself to speak out on topics ranging from the class (or lack thereof) of the Eagles organization because of how he felt that his 100th touchdown catch was handled, to the ability (or lack thereof) which he feels that his quarterback possesses, going so far as to say that the team would be in better hands with a different quarterback. These comments prompted backlash from the Eagles organization and, ultimately, Owens was forced to apologize publicly for his comments.
But then, things became even worse...
It's reported that, even after his comments and his apology and all of the buzz that he had generated, Owens engaged in fisticuffs with a teammate at the team facility and, when that was all said and done, challenged other members of the team to step up and fight, an act which was no more divisive than any other which he has eperpetrated during his career...The difference this time was that it happened to be the proverbial straw which broke the camel's back, a back which I am of the opinion that was a long time in breaking. Following the incident, the Eagles suspended Owens indefinitely and, during a press conference held today, expressed that Terrell Owens will not be welcomed back to the team.
I, for one, applaud their decision.
You see, an example has to be made of Owens in this instance, not only for the long-term health of the Eagles franchise, but to re-affirm to the legion of young, up-and-coming "playmakers" who would wish to emulate Terrell Owens that, regardless if you can go out and perform on the football field, a "me-first, team-last" attitude simply won't cut it in life, let alone in professional football...
But is Owens' career over?..
Certainly, there would have to be SOME NFL team SOMEWHERE who would believe that their organization can be the one to change Owens. There has to be some misguided fool of a General Manager in the NFL who believes that they could mold Owens and teach him to simply "settle down and behave," but I believe, much like Shannon Sharpe believes, that the chance to do that has long passed. Terrell Owens has displayed countless times the fact that He's SO self-centered and SO egotistical and that he believes completely that HE knows best, I'd be genuinely shocked if he were able to turn things around. Regardless, Philadelphia will not have to deal with his shenanigans anymore. Will they be a better team for it? That remains to be seen...One thing IS for certain, though...
At the very least, they now have a chance to be a "team" again...
The 10 names most likely to be given to a horse owned by yours truly: 10. Mr. Poopers 9. Moses 8. Ricky Ricardo 7. King David 6. Aunt Jemimah 5. Wally The Horse 4. Jo Mama 3. The Crafty Veteran 2. Shannon Sharpe 1. Elmer
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