T.O. Got Cut

Eagles say Owens won't return this season
Eagles say Owens won't return this season

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Terrell Owens can take his touchdowns and dance somewhere else.

The tempestuous star receiver won't return to the Philadelphia Eagles this season -- or probably ever -- ``a result of a large number of situations that accumulated over a long period of time,'' coach Andy Reid said Monday.

Owens was suspended for Sunday night's 17-10 loss at Washington, and will remain suspended for three more games without pay. After that, the Eagles plan to deactivate him for the rest of the season.

Reid said the outspoken player ``had been warned repeatedly about the consequences of his actions.''

``We gave Terrell every opportunity to avoid this outcome,'' he said.

Owens was suspended Saturday, two days after he said the Eagles showed ``a lack of class'' for not publicly recognizing his 100th career touchdown catch in a game on Oct. 23. In the same interview with ESPN.com on Thursday, Owens said the Eagles would be better off with Green Bay's Brett Favre at quarterback instead of Donovan McNabb.

Owens also was involved in a fight last week with former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas, who remains with the team as its ``ambassador.'' Owens apologized for his comments about the organization in a brief statement on Friday, but he didn't apologize to McNabb or the team.

``The league has been notified by the players' union that they will be grieving our right to take that action,'' Reid said, ``therefore there is nothing more that I can say at this point.''

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, refused to comment. Owens' relationship with the Eagles took a drastic turn after he fired longtime agent David Joseph, hired Rosenhaus and demanded a new contract just one season into the seven-year, $48.97 million deal he signed when he came to Philadelphia in March 2004.

Owens is scheduled to earn $3.25 million this season, meaning the four-game suspension would cost him almost $800,000.

The Eagles will have to pay Owens nearly $1 million to stay home the final five games.

Owens will either be traded or released after the season. He is due to receive a $5 million roster bonus in March 2006, so the Eagles will decide his fate before then.

Owens made more than $9 million last season, when he helped lead Philadelphia to the Super Bowl.

Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided they'd had enough of Keyshawn Johnson and did something similar.

After Johnson criticized coach Jon Gruden, the Super Bowl champion Bucs deactivated the star receiver and sent him home for the final six games with pay.

The Eagles are 4-4 this season. And McNabb, who feuded with Owens throughout the summer and has been a constant target of his criticism, finally took a stand in the matter, saying the team might be ``better off'' without Owens.

``Obviously it is tough losing a guy of his caliber, his ability, but I think we might be better off,'' McNabb said after throwing an interception that sealed the loss to Washington.

``I think what we did tonight, we showed that we played well together. I think we also showed that when given the opportunity, guys can make plays for us. We're 4-4. We're not 1-7. I think that's the way to look at it. For the guys in the locker room, we win together and we lose together,'' he said.

Asked to elaborate on how the team could be better off without its top receiver, McNabb emphasized the remaining players are united with the same goal of winning.

``Nothing against him and his attitude. It's just that when you get out there on the field, it's about playing together,'' McNabb said. ``I think we all played with a lot of attitude and a lot of adrenaline. Guys played well together. It was unfortunate that we didn't win this game, but I think it may be a steppingstone for us to move forward.''

Rookie Reggie Brown filled in for Owens against Washington and caught five passes for 94 yards, including a 56-yard TD reception. But the Eagles' offense continued to struggle and couldn't score the tying touchdown with three shots from the Redskins 7 in the final minutes.

The Eagles are 17-5 with Owens, including a 24-21 loss to New England in the Super Bowl. In that game, Owens had nine catches for 122 yards after defying his doctor's advice and playing 6 1/2 weeks after ankle surgery.

They're 2-1 without him in games that matter, winning twice in the NFC playoffs.

Owens was set to earn base salaries of $770,000 in 2006, $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009, and $8.5 million in 2010.

This was the second time Owens has been suspended during his controversial 10-year career. In 2000, he was suspended one game by San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci following his infamous touchdown celebrations on the Dallas Cowboys' famed star logo at the center of Texas Stadium.

Owens clashed with management this summer and earned a one-week exile from training camp after a heated dispute with Reid that followed a shouting match with offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

Owens forced a trade to the Eagles last year after eight seasons with the 49ers and invigorated the offense with his superior skills. He had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs in 14 games, helping the Eagles to a 13-1 start and nine victories by double-digit margins.

The bad blood between Owens and McNabb began after Owens went down with a severely sprained ankle and broken leg in Week 15 against Dallas. Owens was upset that McNabb and other players said the Eagles could reach the Super Bowl without him, which they did.

Soon after Philadelphia lost to the Patriots, Owens took his first shot at McNabb, suggesting the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback was tired in the fourth quarter of the loss.

McNabb responded harshly and the two didn't speak for a prolonged period in training camp. They eventually reconciled their relationship and performed well together on the field -- Owens has 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs this season.

However, Owens continued to throw verbal jabs at McNabb during his weekly radio show or whenever he granted interviews.

I don't follwo American football but from what I've heard the Eagles were copping a lot of crap from Owens. However, I've also read that without him, their chances of winning drop significantly... but I guess T.O. got his just deserts if I'm not mistaken.

He's just as big a distraction as the whole Laker soap opera was . He's a good player on the field but off the field , I hate him.

TO is an ass hole, good riddance he can go do push ups in his drive way all he wants...

Such a shame TO had to be an asshole, he was so self-centered, now we will be a terrible team .

you were a good team without TO so I don't know what your saying.

Such a shame TO had to be an asshole, he was so self-centered, now we will be a terrible team .

You don't know much about your football don't you ? Owens iz a big part but jus a distraction off the field. You guys have a guy named Reggie Brown who did great last night vs the 'Skins despite the loss and you also just gave an extension to Brian Westbrook. Even if you guys don't make it to the playoffs, Philly will do good in the offseason with some major changes.

Philly was a terrible team this year with Owens, with him gone maybe they can focus on winning some football games. I like Donavon McNabb a lot, he didn't deserve to have a guy like TO pulling him down and giving him shit all the time. I hope he gets a good recieving core for next year, the guy deserves it so much.

Not really cut, just suspended, but I think it was a great move. Donavan McNabb can concentrate on leading the team and quit deflecting criticism from inside.

would be funny if the eagles win the superbowl after this

It would be even funnier to see Owens on the cowboys and kicking the shit out of philly.

What I dont understand is how everyone puts all the blame on TO. What did he do exactly? He said he felt a healthy Brett Farve is better than an unhealthy McNabb? Yeah lets cut a guy for giving his opinion. It seems like the media will pull anyone down they can.

Also, Philly had an opportunity to end this in the off season. They were the ignorant and selfish ones by not sorting it out, but either giving TO his raise or traiding him in the offseason. TO still turned up to play and did what he agreed to do in his contract. The Eagles organistion just could handle his honesty and intergrity (laugh at that all you want, the man is true to his word) so they ended up cutting him.

Its funny in todays sports world: People like Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Pete Sampras get criticised for not "being themselves" when they're quite. They you get people like Iverson and TO who are brutally honest and they get criticsed also.

Just remember this, Terrell Owens played the superbowl with a broken fucking ankle. You tell me who isnt true to the sport. I think 90% of the fans of any sport these days arent true to it and arent worthy of even being assosiated with sport.

Perception isnt reality.

Edit: This is an absolute joke when you see what Mcnabb said

``Obviously it is tough losing a guy of his caliber, his ability, but I think we might be better off,'' McNabb said after throwing an interception that sealed the loss to Washington.

Imagine if that was Terrel owens saying that? TO cant say that the eagles would be better with a qb that is arguably better than mcnabb, but donovan can say that the eagles might be better off without to (which makes the eagles new WR core amongst the worst in the league)

The hypocrisy in the media and the blindness in the fans is amazing.

Last edited by Matthew on Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The Falcons will probably want him

I cant see Green Bay not trying to get him.

i can't wati for this to end. I'm sick of T.O and his attitude

You are right Mathew, ESPN has protrayed this whole thing awfully. I have no idea what Owens can even say these days without being crictized for doing so.

I hope he goes to Houston and turns that offense into someone speical.

The Falcons will probably want him

He'll prolly get pissed at Vicn cause he runs too much and doesnt throw

Some of Terrell Owens' notable lowlights:

• Sept. 24, 2000: Owens celebrates a pair of touchdowns in a 41-24 win over the host Dallas Cowboys by running to the star logo at midfield and posing. San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci suspends him for a week. "I was praying to God. That was no act of taunting," Owens says.
• Oct. 22, 2000: Owens accuses his 49ers teammates of quitting following a 34-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers. "I think the whole team just gave up, man," Owens said. He apologizes to his teammates the next day.
• Oct. 31, 2001: Owens lashes out at Mariucci for his play calling, in particular his refusal to run up the score on opponents. "I think it's funny, but ... his buddy system with all the coaches around the league, I think he tries to spare them sometimes," Owens says.
• Jan. 13, 2002: Owens complains about his role in the offense following a 25-15 playoff loss to the Packers. "I want to be the go-to guy on this team," Owens says. "But the play calling doesn't always involve me. I get lost in the offense."
• May 3, 2002: Owens rankles team officials for risking injury when he plays his first game for the Adirondack Wildcats of the U.S. Basketball League.
• Sept. 22, 2002: Owens criticizes Mariucci for having quarterback Jeff Garcia kneel down at the Washington 16 at the end of a 20-10 win over the Redskins rather than trying to score again. "We have no killer instinct, period," Owens says.
• Oct. 14, 2002: Owens celebrates a touchdown catch on Monday Night Football by pulling a marker from his sock and autographing the ball. Owens tosses the ball into the stands to Greg Eastman, his financial consultant and an adviser to Shawn Springs, the player who was covering him on the play.
• Dec. 15, 2002: Owens celebrates a touchdown catch in a 20-14 loss to Green Bay by taking pompoms from a cheerleader and dancing behind the end zone.
• Jan. 12, 2003: Just before halftime of a 31-6 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Owens screams at the 49ers' sideline and slaps his head in disbelief when Mariucci elects to run out the clock rather than try to cut into a 28-6 halftime deficit.
• Sept. 21, 2003: Owens throws a sideline tantrum directed at offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and is critical of new coach Dennis Erickson following a 13-12 loss to the Cleveland Browns. "It's my job to run routes and catch the ball," Owens says. "It's their job to know the personnel on the field. It's their job to know who the playmakers are and to design the plays."
• Sept. 28, 2003: Owens storms off the field when Kevan Barlow was stuffed for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 during a 35-7 loss to Minnesota. Owens throws his helmet on the sideline and after the game hints that quarterback Jeff Garcia should to be benched.
• Aug. 13, 2004: An interview with Playboy magazine hits newsstands in which Owens was asked if he thinks Jeff Garcia, his quarterback with the 49ers, is gay. Owens responds: "Like my boy tells me: If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat."
• Oct. 31, 2004: Now with the Eagles, Owens mocks Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis during an end zone celebration.
• Nov. 7, 2004: Cameras follow Owens as he yells at Donovan McNabb on the sideline during a 27-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Nov. 15, 2004: Owens draws criticism for a Monday Night Football promo in which actress Nicollette Sheridan -- a star of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" dressed only in a towel -- asks Owens to skip the game then drops the towel and jumps into his arms. Owens later apologizes.
• April 2005: In an interview with ESPN.com, Owens says he "wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl,'' a comment believed by many to be about McNabb's struggles during the end of the game.
• Aug. 10, 2005: After a shouting match with Reid during training camp, Owens is sent home for a week. A circus ensues in front of his house as he works out in his driveway -- doing crunches and lifting weights for TV cameras and reporters.
• Nov. 3, 2005: In an interview aired on ESPN.com, Owens says the team would be better off with the Packers' Brett Favre starting at quarterback instead of the injured McNabb and blasts the Eagles for not marking his 100th career touchdown catch.

-- The Associated Press

The Falcons will probably want him

He'll prolly get pissed at Vicn cause he runs too much and doesnt throw

Yeah, cause hes really Mick Vick the Running Back, not Mick Vick the Quarterback

The Falcons will probably want him

He'll prolly get pissed at Vicn cause he runs too much and doesnt throw

Yeah, cause hes really Mick Vick the Running Back, not Mick Vick the Quarterback

Nah, I'm pretty sure he plays quarterback.

I hate people who say just because he runs he isn't a quarterback.

i could see him going to da giants

i could see him going to da giants

Oh hell no.

hm, bout time. i was waiting for this... wat should he go to..? no way pats will take him... he should go play for the blazers, be perfect fit! haha

hm, bout time. i was waiting for this... wat should he go to..? no way pats will take him... he should go play for the blazers, be perfect fit! haha

First he needs to be arrested for pot or assault.

i could see him going to da giants

They already have one headache at WR (Burress).

I have a feeling a team like the Packers or Bears or some NFC team will pick him up.

If he goes to the Packers...and they win their division (that's not that hard, right?), then TO will be a very happy man

the Packers are like 1-6 man , haha .