Post by EagleGene on Aug 2, 2005 18:30:15 GMT -5
OWENS IN, WESTBROOK OUT
August 1, 2005
By BOB KENT
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The speculation is over...and it has just begun. Donned in a camouflage hat and shirt, receiver Terrell Owens reported for training camp a little after 6 p.m. (ET) Monday, in time for a team meeting. But running back Brian Westbrook -- who is playing on a one-year tender -- did not report.
Westbrook is seeking a long-term deal, while Owens, with the help of new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are seeking to restructure the seven-year deal Owens agreed to a year ago. There was speculation that Owens would hold out if he did not get a new deal. Instead, Owens arrived on time while Westbrook was a no-show.
Owens did not speak with reporters, who were camped out for more than four hours waiting for his arrival and then stumbled over one another while attempting to get a sound byte. He was unusually silent.
Rosenhaus, meanwhile, did not shy away from the cameras.
"Eventually he will (talk to the media); but right now, his focus is on football. He's all business, he's ready," Rosenhaus said. "That's the way he is. He's a professional, and he doesn't want to get caught up in the talk. He wants to play, and I'll take care of the rest."
That includes, the agent said, a meeting with head coach Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner on Tuesday.
"Right now, the mindset is that Terrell is here to play football and help the Eagles win a world championship," Rosenhaus said. "He's a football player, and a great one. He'll do his job and I'll do my job."
Winning a championship was the reigning sentiment among veterans who arrived on campus Monday, as the players insisted that Owens' antics and offseason comments about quarterback Donovan McNabb would not disrupt the locker room atmosphere.
"Things like that only become a distraction if you let it," said Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins, who embraced Owens outside the team's dormitory. "It's up to us as his teammates and as teammates to not let that happen."
Dawkins insisted that any issues would be "ironed out" and that the team would focus on the real task at hand: winning football games.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter sympathized with Owens' situation. Not too long ago, Trotter was in a similar position as he left the Eagles for big money in Washington. However, Trotter learned first-hand from his experience in Washington that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Still, Trotter insists the entire Owens situation won't be a distraction.
"It won't affect us at all," Trotter said. "I can relate to what he is going through."
The saga is far from over.
"You never know what's going to happen in the future. But right now, he'll concentrate on the football and allow me and the team to discuss his contract," Rosenhaus said. "Time heals, time gets things done."
Owens' arrival left Westbrook and defensive tackle Corey Simon as the only players not in attendance for the mandatory 7 p.m. meeting. Simon has yet to sign his franchise tender, while Westbrook signed his back in June after skipping the post-draft mini-camp in May.
"We've been very aggressive in trying to secure a long-term contract for Brian. We had thought we were making good progress in that regard.
"Unfortunately, Brian made a counter-productive and almost unprecedented decision to not report to training camp. We will focus our attention on the players that are present as we begin full-squad practices on Tuesday."
August 1, 2005
By BOB KENT
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The speculation is over...and it has just begun. Donned in a camouflage hat and shirt, receiver Terrell Owens reported for training camp a little after 6 p.m. (ET) Monday, in time for a team meeting. But running back Brian Westbrook -- who is playing on a one-year tender -- did not report.
Westbrook is seeking a long-term deal, while Owens, with the help of new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are seeking to restructure the seven-year deal Owens agreed to a year ago. There was speculation that Owens would hold out if he did not get a new deal. Instead, Owens arrived on time while Westbrook was a no-show.
Owens did not speak with reporters, who were camped out for more than four hours waiting for his arrival and then stumbled over one another while attempting to get a sound byte. He was unusually silent.
Rosenhaus, meanwhile, did not shy away from the cameras.
"Eventually he will (talk to the media); but right now, his focus is on football. He's all business, he's ready," Rosenhaus said. "That's the way he is. He's a professional, and he doesn't want to get caught up in the talk. He wants to play, and I'll take care of the rest."
That includes, the agent said, a meeting with head coach Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner on Tuesday.
"Right now, the mindset is that Terrell is here to play football and help the Eagles win a world championship," Rosenhaus said. "He's a football player, and a great one. He'll do his job and I'll do my job."
Winning a championship was the reigning sentiment among veterans who arrived on campus Monday, as the players insisted that Owens' antics and offseason comments about quarterback Donovan McNabb would not disrupt the locker room atmosphere.
"Things like that only become a distraction if you let it," said Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins, who embraced Owens outside the team's dormitory. "It's up to us as his teammates and as teammates to not let that happen."
Dawkins insisted that any issues would be "ironed out" and that the team would focus on the real task at hand: winning football games.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter sympathized with Owens' situation. Not too long ago, Trotter was in a similar position as he left the Eagles for big money in Washington. However, Trotter learned first-hand from his experience in Washington that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Still, Trotter insists the entire Owens situation won't be a distraction.
"It won't affect us at all," Trotter said. "I can relate to what he is going through."
The saga is far from over.
"You never know what's going to happen in the future. But right now, he'll concentrate on the football and allow me and the team to discuss his contract," Rosenhaus said. "Time heals, time gets things done."
Owens' arrival left Westbrook and defensive tackle Corey Simon as the only players not in attendance for the mandatory 7 p.m. meeting. Simon has yet to sign his franchise tender, while Westbrook signed his back in June after skipping the post-draft mini-camp in May.
"We've been very aggressive in trying to secure a long-term contract for Brian. We had thought we were making good progress in that regard.
"Unfortunately, Brian made a counter-productive and almost unprecedented decision to not report to training camp. We will focus our attention on the players that are present as we begin full-squad practices on Tuesday."