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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 10th May, 2005 - 5:29 pm
 When wide receiver Terrell Owens came to Philadelphia before the 2004 season, he was considered a great football player but not the best teammate. Owens had a well documented feud with former 49er teammate Jeff Garcia. Everyone remembers when Owens felt he should publicly question Garcia?s own sexuality. However, when the Eagles made the trade that brought Owens to Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb welcomed his new receiver with open arms.
Terrell represented the down field threat that McNabb had been missing his entire career. Owens was going to get the Eagles over the hump, and help them finally reach the Super Bowl after three straight NFC title game losses. McNabb and Owens didn?t disappoint. The Eagles won their first seven games and despite a leg injury suffered by Owens against the Dallas Cowboys on December 19, 2004, the Eagles would finish 13-3 and reach their fourth straight NFC title game. Owens would finish the season with 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns despite not playing in the teams final three games.
McNabb playing in yet another title game without a prime-time wide receiver willed his team to victory. The Eagles trounced the Falcons 27-10 and were on their way to their first Super Bowl in over 20 years. After rehabbing vigorously Terrell Owens somehow made his way back to the gridiron for the Super Bowl versus the New England Patriots. Doctors called Owens? return a ?miracle? but the media speculated that Owens would be playing just as a decoy. Despite losing 21-24 to the Patriots, Terrell Owens was far from a decoy as he caught 9 balls for 122 yards.
Even though the Eagles had lost the Super Bowl?.. things were looking positive in Philadelphia. The combination of McNabb to Owens would be leading the Eagles to many more playoff appearances and chances at that elusive Super Bowl victory. McNabb and Owens didn?t only win a lot in 2004 they had a blast doing it. They were just as famous for their press conferences and sideline shenanigans as they were for there play on the football field.
All was well in Philadelphia, then Terrell Owens opened his mouth and this time what he said wasn?t too funny. Terrell and new his agent, Drew Rosenhaus felt that Owens had over performed and deserved more money than he signed for in 2004. Owens signed a seven year, 49 million dollar contract with the Eagles in 2004. Terrell wants more than the 7 million dollars a year he will be earning in 2005. He has a point doesn?t he? Should an NFL player under perform he could be cut, or his team can re-work his contract. Thus underperforming can lead to a cut in salary, shouldn?t over performing then lead to a salary increase?
Time out, T.O.
Owens and Rosenhaus may be onto something. However the NFL is a business. To football fans, Terrell Owens may be the Philadelphia Eagles. In reality though, Owens is an employee of the Eagles. He signed a contract, he made an agreement. When the average American overproduces in his job, he hopes for a raise and some are just happy to work hard and remain in good standing with their employer. I don?t think the average American would last long in their job if after their annual review he/she called a board meeting and expressed that they deserved more money through a southern drawl and a few tears.
Terrell, Philadelphia loves you. Eagles? fans are a volatile fan base, hard to please and much easier to anger. The Eagles? organization have always been smart money-wise. They have let numerous players fly the nest to avoid overspending. Fan favorites like Duce Staley, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Jeremiah Trotter and Hugh Douglas were all allowed to leave Philly in order to cut costs. Some of these players realized their mistakes as both Trotter and Douglas have since returned, both for less money than asked for when they left.
Owens can?t make the same mistake. He knows that the Eagles are the best fit for him and he is already burning bridges. Donovan McNabb isn?t too pleased with Owens? contract dispute and the fact that he failed to show up for the teams? first mini-camp. Terrell has to stop the bleeding before the smiles are over in Philadelphia. He spent an entire season proving his critics? wrong about the kind of man and teammate he is. He impressed the world with his Super Bowl performance that took place just six weeks after he was seemingly lost for the season. Now, again Terrell is making big news off the football field. This time is different though. If Owens doesn?t change his tune, the Philadelphia management will likely make him change his jersey. |
