Post by EagleGene on Nov 6, 2005 22:42:59 GMT -5
BANNER SPEAKS ON EAGLES NEWS
November 6, 2005
By DAVE SPADARO
LANDOVER, Md. -- Eagles President Joe Banner spoke out on Sunday night prior to the Eagles-Redskins game regarding the situations involving Terrell Owens and Brian Westbrook and said that Owens' long-term future with the team will be addressed this week.
Said Banner: "We suspended him yesterday. We'll meet tomorrow (Monday) and Andy (Reid) will basically figure out where we go from here. He indicated to T.O. that he'll talk to him early this week and give him a definitive status report. That's really all. I think you know everything else there is to know."
Banner said that Owens was, in fact, suspended without pay.
Owens had little else to say about Owens. When asked if Owens would ever again play for the Eagles, Banner said, "I've updated you on T.O."
As for Westbrook, Banner was obviously pleased to lock up such a key piece of the offense for five years, and he reiterated the team's intentions to continue to sign good, young players to long-term deals.
"I don't think it's a different message than (the one) we've been sending for a long time," said Banner. "We have literally the best track record in the NFL of re-signing our own players. There's actually not another team that's close. When you've got a player as talented as Brian is, as high character as Brian is, it's just a question of when.
"We would have liked to do it sooner, he would have liked to do it sooner, we just couldn't come together on the terms. The good news is, now it's done and he can have peace of mind and we can plan knowing we have him going forward."
The Eagles, said Banner, had three negotiating sessions with Westbrook over the course of the year, something he described as relatively normal.
Westbrook held out of training camp for a week, and Banner described the move as putting "a hold" on talks.
"We always understood it was a process and there are emotions. I think we told you as it was going on we were not ever upset with anything he was saying or doing. We felt like he was doing things within his right," said Banner. "I mean, we weren't pleased he didn't come to camp, but I mean as far as his expressions and his frustration, we always felt that was an appropriate place for him to be. He never did it in a destructive way that we felt badly about and we remained committed to try to get it done."
When asked if there were more players whom the Eagles could sign between now and the Monday afternoon deadline to use a portion of the salary in this year's salary cap number, Banner said, "We'll see. It's going to be close. There are some other possibilities."
November 6, 2005
By DAVE SPADARO
LANDOVER, Md. -- Eagles President Joe Banner spoke out on Sunday night prior to the Eagles-Redskins game regarding the situations involving Terrell Owens and Brian Westbrook and said that Owens' long-term future with the team will be addressed this week.
Said Banner: "We suspended him yesterday. We'll meet tomorrow (Monday) and Andy (Reid) will basically figure out where we go from here. He indicated to T.O. that he'll talk to him early this week and give him a definitive status report. That's really all. I think you know everything else there is to know."
Banner said that Owens was, in fact, suspended without pay.
Owens had little else to say about Owens. When asked if Owens would ever again play for the Eagles, Banner said, "I've updated you on T.O."
As for Westbrook, Banner was obviously pleased to lock up such a key piece of the offense for five years, and he reiterated the team's intentions to continue to sign good, young players to long-term deals.
"I don't think it's a different message than (the one) we've been sending for a long time," said Banner. "We have literally the best track record in the NFL of re-signing our own players. There's actually not another team that's close. When you've got a player as talented as Brian is, as high character as Brian is, it's just a question of when.
"We would have liked to do it sooner, he would have liked to do it sooner, we just couldn't come together on the terms. The good news is, now it's done and he can have peace of mind and we can plan knowing we have him going forward."
The Eagles, said Banner, had three negotiating sessions with Westbrook over the course of the year, something he described as relatively normal.
Westbrook held out of training camp for a week, and Banner described the move as putting "a hold" on talks.
"We always understood it was a process and there are emotions. I think we told you as it was going on we were not ever upset with anything he was saying or doing. We felt like he was doing things within his right," said Banner. "I mean, we weren't pleased he didn't come to camp, but I mean as far as his expressions and his frustration, we always felt that was an appropriate place for him to be. He never did it in a destructive way that we felt badly about and we remained committed to try to get it done."
When asked if there were more players whom the Eagles could sign between now and the Monday afternoon deadline to use a portion of the salary in this year's salary cap number, Banner said, "We'll see. It's going to be close. There are some other possibilities."