In the end, after all the driveway sit-ups, after all the ESPN interviews, after all the
locker room fights, the Terrell Owens saga ended with just 14 words.
“The Philadelphia Eagles today announced they have terminated the contract of WR
Terrell Owens.”
And with that one-sentence statement released by the Eagles today, one of the most
tumultuous relationships between player and team in the history of sports has
concluded.
Terrell Owens is no longer the problem of the Philadelphia Eagles organization, a
fact I am sure the franchise is happy about. T.O. is now an unrestricted free agent,
free to sign with any team he chooses. Or, perhaps more accurately, with any team
that is willing to risk signing him.
But anyone who thinks we’ve heard the last of Terrell Owens has another thing
coming. Unless he signs with a team in the AFC West (which is possible, considering
the Broncos and Chiefs are among the teams most rumored to be interested in his
services) the Eagles will have face T.O. again on the field at some point.
And you can believe that the hype leading up to an Owens-Eagles match-up will be
covered more heavily than the first moon landing.
What would the nightmare scenario be for Birds fans? I’ll give you a hint it involves
a star, the President’s home state, and the most vile sports organization in the
history of the world. T.O.’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has met with Cowboys coach Bill
Parcells about a contract over the last few weeks, and owner Jerry Jones has made
no bones about the fact he’d love to have a player of Owens’ caliber on the ‘Boys.
Owens in Dallas. The thought makes me want to scoop out my own eyes with a
melon baller. But it’s a real possibility.
And make no mistake, Owens is going to a have a monster year in 2006. He’ll be
playing on an incentive-laden contract with a chip on his shoulder and doing his
best “I’m a good boy” routine. Whatever team takes a chance on Owens is going to
have a motivated, super-talented, team-first player on their hands, a guy who can
single-handedly take them to the Super Bowl.
It’s going to look a lot like the happy marriage we experienced with His Majesty in
2004.
Unfortunately, to the victors go the spoils. And whatever team does have the
cajones to take Owens into the fold is going to have an impossible brat on their
hands in season number two, much like the Eagles did last season. T.O. will be
coming off a highly productive season on what will probably be a contract that is far
below what he would have gotten from the Eagles, and will once again demand a
new deal.
How that team chooses to handle the situation is up to them, but I’m giving fair
warning that it’s going to happen. So whoever is thinking about bringing him
aboard better prepare for that contingency. If it’s Dallas, then I’m rooting for it to
happen. Anyone else, God be with you.
Anyone who believes Owens’ days as a premier wide receiver are over is fooling
himself. T.O. is still the most talented wideout in the game, and he will make
whoever signs him immediately better next year. Heaven help us if he faces the
Birds in 2006. Playing an angry Terrell Owens is not a good thing.
But for today, Owens is no longer the Eagles’ headache. After one year of
unsurpassing glory followed by a year of incredible heartache and agony, Terrell
Owens will be somebody else’s blessing/curse in 2006 and beyond. Having been
through the roller coaster ride that is T.O. on my roster, I wouldn’t recommend it to
anyone. But someone is going to take a chance on him.
Here’s hoping the Birds won’t have to face a ticked-off Terrell Owens in 2006.
Otherwise he’ll have us all reaching for that great big bottle of Excedrin one last
time.
By John Stolnis Staff Writer
http://www.Phillysportsline.com
March 14, 2006
Tags: NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly Sports, TONFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly Sports, TOShare This
