Post by EagleGene on Apr 14, 2005 7:22:20 GMT -5
Stephen A. Smith | Owens states his case against Eagles
By Stephen A. Smith, Inquirer Columnist
He was outspoken and even more defiant than usual. Terrell Owens, the Eagle known for spreading his wings and flexing the chiseled muscles on his arms, chose yesterday to flex the muscles in his jaws instead.
Owens still wants to be an Eagle. He still wants to play with Donovan McNabb. He still wants to catch touchdown passes in Philadelphia and help lead this team to a Super Bowl championship.
But he is not about to let whatever leverage he believes he has slip away, "regardless of the leaks coming from inside our organization," he said, especially when he believes the Eagles adroitly exercised the leverage they had last season when they brought him to Philadelphia.
And so, the soap opera continues.
"This is not about me being greedy or selfish," Owens said yesterday after taping a TV show in New York. "People should know. I was called selfish for trying to come back and play in the Super Bowl. I just want people to think about what they're hearing from all these reports about me being greedy. Just take a moment and look at my stature in the game.
"I know I'm a top player in the game, and my current contract doesn't justify that. The fact that I signed this contract, that I'm under contract, doesn't factor into anything when it comes to the National Football League. [The Eagles] can cut me anytime they want to - even if I'm performing well, I'm healthy and I'm putting up numbers, just because they don't want to pay a player that money.
"If they can do what's best for their financial future, then why can't I?
"Everyone knows my former agent [David Joseph] settled for a low-ball number because of my situation last season when Baltimore traded for me. He told me he couldn't get a cent more, knowing I deserved more than they gave me. They used their leverage to strong-arm us because they knew I wanted to leave Baltimore for Philadelphia, and they capitalized on it. I can't go for that now. It's not in me to do that."
Considering the Eagles' immunity to such chatter, their tendency to make players regret taking such a stance on contractual matters, it would appear that Owens' days in Philadelphia are numbered. But then common sense kicks in. Consider the 1,200 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns, and a valiant Super Bowl performance that only Owens can brag about, and things become quite tricky for the wanna-be champions presiding at the NovaCare Complex.
Owens did sign a seven-year deal for more than $46 million just last season. He did promise to be a model citizen for an organization whose owner once described it as the "gold standard." He did say that his spats with former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia were an aberration, that his relationships with McNabb and coach Andy Reid would be just fine, and that the Eagles would benefit greatly from that.
In Owens' mind, he has been the model citizen.
Because his desire to renegotiate his contract has caused such an uproar, because he believes that the Eagles have revved up their PR machine against him in the court of public opinion, and because Owens is convinced that Philadelphia fans don't know his position or circumstances, he has taken his finger off the mute button.
"Coach Reid - who I greatly respect, regardless of what people may think - even tried to come at me, saying, 'Terrell, you signed a contract... promising us you wouldn't cause problems.' I had to let him know that this isn't a problem. That's a misunderstanding, because this is all about business.
"Ask anyone. I'm one of the top players in the game. I want to be paid like one of the top players in the game. That's not being greedy. This goes so much deeper than what people are hearing.
"I have no problem with the money Donovan McNabb makes. I'm not trying to outdo or get paid more than Donovan or a QB. But I do want to be one of the top-10 players in the game. I am a unique player, a unique person. Everybody can't do what I do. That may sound wrong, but it's true."
As for hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus to negotiate a contract for him, Owens said: "This has nothing to do with Drew. This was going to happen with Drew, Joseph, or anyone I hired. This was going down no matter what."
Perhaps it shouldn't go down.
There is a seven-year deal in place, about $46 million on the table, and an $8.5 million signing bonus that Owens already pocketed. But when that was noted, the first words out of Owens' mouth were, "Tell me I didn't earn it."
That's when it's time to shut up.
He's right when he says if the Eagles don't have to honor the contract, he shouldn't have to, either. Hugh Douglas, Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Mitchell and a few others have been allowed to leave by the Eagles at one time or another, and Owens did not hesitate to point that out last night.
The way he sounded, Owens fully expects the Eagles to keep him around this year and let him go the minute his salary-cap number becomes too much for them. He doesn't expect to walk away with cash near the $40 million range, so he is exercising whatever leverage he thinks he has.
It may be stupid, foolhardy or downright futile. But his words last night make it clear he's determined to take a stand, no matter how many headaches he causes.
Especially now, as he's feeling the heat from Philadelphia fans, whom he says, "I adore," who are being manipulated into believing others instead of Owens.
"I love the fans in Philadelphia, but the few who try to call me selfish because of my situation just don't understand," Owens said. "I can't look into their household and judge them on things I don't understand, so they shouldn't do that to me."
And what about his remark to ESPN.com that he was not the one who was "tired and out of shape in the Super Bowl"? He never made it clear to whom he was referring.
"I said what I said because, obviously, somebody in the organization is leaking stuff to make me look bad, to turn the city against me. Now, why do that now? Think about that. Think about where it's coming from."
So much for Owens' future in Philadelphia - at least if Eagles history repeats itself.
"I'll listen to my agent and let him handle that. But Drew did bring that possibility to my attention, and recognized it as a worst-case scenario.
"But I've already prepared myself to do whatever's best for my family. And I'm not about to shortchange my family because of people thinking I'm selfish."
Contact columnist Stephen A. Smith at 215-854-5846 or ssmith@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at go.philly.com/stephensmith.
Updated on Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 3:40 am EDT
By Stephen A. Smith, Inquirer Columnist
He was outspoken and even more defiant than usual. Terrell Owens, the Eagle known for spreading his wings and flexing the chiseled muscles on his arms, chose yesterday to flex the muscles in his jaws instead.
Owens still wants to be an Eagle. He still wants to play with Donovan McNabb. He still wants to catch touchdown passes in Philadelphia and help lead this team to a Super Bowl championship.
But he is not about to let whatever leverage he believes he has slip away, "regardless of the leaks coming from inside our organization," he said, especially when he believes the Eagles adroitly exercised the leverage they had last season when they brought him to Philadelphia.
And so, the soap opera continues.
"This is not about me being greedy or selfish," Owens said yesterday after taping a TV show in New York. "People should know. I was called selfish for trying to come back and play in the Super Bowl. I just want people to think about what they're hearing from all these reports about me being greedy. Just take a moment and look at my stature in the game.
"I know I'm a top player in the game, and my current contract doesn't justify that. The fact that I signed this contract, that I'm under contract, doesn't factor into anything when it comes to the National Football League. [The Eagles] can cut me anytime they want to - even if I'm performing well, I'm healthy and I'm putting up numbers, just because they don't want to pay a player that money.
"If they can do what's best for their financial future, then why can't I?
"Everyone knows my former agent [David Joseph] settled for a low-ball number because of my situation last season when Baltimore traded for me. He told me he couldn't get a cent more, knowing I deserved more than they gave me. They used their leverage to strong-arm us because they knew I wanted to leave Baltimore for Philadelphia, and they capitalized on it. I can't go for that now. It's not in me to do that."
Considering the Eagles' immunity to such chatter, their tendency to make players regret taking such a stance on contractual matters, it would appear that Owens' days in Philadelphia are numbered. But then common sense kicks in. Consider the 1,200 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns, and a valiant Super Bowl performance that only Owens can brag about, and things become quite tricky for the wanna-be champions presiding at the NovaCare Complex.
Owens did sign a seven-year deal for more than $46 million just last season. He did promise to be a model citizen for an organization whose owner once described it as the "gold standard." He did say that his spats with former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia were an aberration, that his relationships with McNabb and coach Andy Reid would be just fine, and that the Eagles would benefit greatly from that.
In Owens' mind, he has been the model citizen.
Because his desire to renegotiate his contract has caused such an uproar, because he believes that the Eagles have revved up their PR machine against him in the court of public opinion, and because Owens is convinced that Philadelphia fans don't know his position or circumstances, he has taken his finger off the mute button.
"Coach Reid - who I greatly respect, regardless of what people may think - even tried to come at me, saying, 'Terrell, you signed a contract... promising us you wouldn't cause problems.' I had to let him know that this isn't a problem. That's a misunderstanding, because this is all about business.
"Ask anyone. I'm one of the top players in the game. I want to be paid like one of the top players in the game. That's not being greedy. This goes so much deeper than what people are hearing.
"I have no problem with the money Donovan McNabb makes. I'm not trying to outdo or get paid more than Donovan or a QB. But I do want to be one of the top-10 players in the game. I am a unique player, a unique person. Everybody can't do what I do. That may sound wrong, but it's true."
As for hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus to negotiate a contract for him, Owens said: "This has nothing to do with Drew. This was going to happen with Drew, Joseph, or anyone I hired. This was going down no matter what."
Perhaps it shouldn't go down.
There is a seven-year deal in place, about $46 million on the table, and an $8.5 million signing bonus that Owens already pocketed. But when that was noted, the first words out of Owens' mouth were, "Tell me I didn't earn it."
That's when it's time to shut up.
He's right when he says if the Eagles don't have to honor the contract, he shouldn't have to, either. Hugh Douglas, Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Mitchell and a few others have been allowed to leave by the Eagles at one time or another, and Owens did not hesitate to point that out last night.
The way he sounded, Owens fully expects the Eagles to keep him around this year and let him go the minute his salary-cap number becomes too much for them. He doesn't expect to walk away with cash near the $40 million range, so he is exercising whatever leverage he thinks he has.
It may be stupid, foolhardy or downright futile. But his words last night make it clear he's determined to take a stand, no matter how many headaches he causes.
Especially now, as he's feeling the heat from Philadelphia fans, whom he says, "I adore," who are being manipulated into believing others instead of Owens.
"I love the fans in Philadelphia, but the few who try to call me selfish because of my situation just don't understand," Owens said. "I can't look into their household and judge them on things I don't understand, so they shouldn't do that to me."
And what about his remark to ESPN.com that he was not the one who was "tired and out of shape in the Super Bowl"? He never made it clear to whom he was referring.
"I said what I said because, obviously, somebody in the organization is leaking stuff to make me look bad, to turn the city against me. Now, why do that now? Think about that. Think about where it's coming from."
So much for Owens' future in Philadelphia - at least if Eagles history repeats itself.
"I'll listen to my agent and let him handle that. But Drew did bring that possibility to my attention, and recognized it as a worst-case scenario.
"But I've already prepared myself to do whatever's best for my family. And I'm not about to shortchange my family because of people thinking I'm selfish."
Contact columnist Stephen A. Smith at 215-854-5846 or ssmith@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at go.philly.com/stephensmith.
Updated on Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 3:40 am EDT
