Terrell Owens: "Pay me.............

[Atlas]

Terrell Owens: `Pay me like I'm one of the top players in the game'

By SHANNON RYAN

Philadelphia Inquirer


PHILADELPHIA - Thousands of Eagles fans caravanned to Lehigh University to shower wide receiver Terrell Owens with adulation during training camp last year. If Donovan McNabb's instinct is correct, fans can do the Northeast Extension trek again this year.

Based on a phone conversation he had with Owens, McNabb said Thursday he believes Owens will report for the start of training camp on Aug. 1. Owens, however, didn't sound like a player thinking about training camp. He sounded like a player thinking about his contract.

No. 81 has not participated in any of the team's minicamps, including this week's passing camp. He is trying to renegotiate the seven-year, $48.97 million pact he signed before last season, his first with the Eagles.

The burning off-season question has centered on whether the flamboyant wide receiver, as popular as a high school prom king last year, will rejoin the team this season.

In an interview that aired on Comcast SportsNet, Owens, speaking from Atlanta, where he will host a charity event this weekend, said he is firm in his contract stance. But he would not say if he would be at training camp - or if he would be rejoining the Eagles at all.

"Like I always said, if I'm one of the top players in the game, pay me like I'm one of the top players in the game," Owens said. "That's not being selfish. That's not being greedy. Right is right and wrong is wrong."

McNabb, speaking at the NovaCare Complex after the second day of passing camp, remained optimistic that Owens would report to training camp on time.

"I'll say that he will be at (training) camp," McNabb said. "Now if he shows up at camp, he shows up. That's just my opinion."

The fact that there was a phone call at all is big news in Eagles Nation. McNabb would not say who called whom or what was said - only that words were exchanged. Asked about the state of their relationship, McNabb said with a mischievous grin, "Things are great."

Since Owens began trying to rework his contract after the Super Bowl with new agent Drew Rosenhaus, Owens and McNabb have traded thinly veiled jabs at each other through the media. On Thursday, Rosenhaus declined to say whether Owens would be on hand for the start of training camp. And the receiver remained unfazed by the furor his off-season absence has created.

Owens' contract dispute became public earlier this spring, when he switched agents and Rosenhaus flew to Philadelphia to meet with Eagles president Joe Banner. The Eagles have not budged on their stance, refusing to pay Owens more.

"It doesn't matter what people say about me, whether they're in Philly, or whether they're in San Francisco ... all across the world," Owens said in the television interview. "They can believe what they want to believe. But I know in my heart what I'm doing is right."

In an interview earlier in the off-season, Owens had said that he was not the one who was tired in the Super Bowl, which seemed to be a swipe at McNabb. The quarterback responded by saying that if teammates have a problem with him, "they can call me," and that he wasn't tired.

Since those comments by McNabb in late April, an effort apparently was made by one of them to clear the air - or to at least establish communication. On Thursday, McNabb would not go so far as to say there are blue skies and rainbows over Lincoln Financial Field, however.

"We've talked," he said. "Whatever may have transpired all throughout the off-season, when you step out on that field, you have one job. And that's to make plays."

On Thursday, last season's magical run to an NFC title and a berth in the Super Bowl sounded like a distant memory to Owens.

"I don't have to play football," he said in the television interview. "I don't have to play for the Eagles. It doesn't matter what any of my teammates have said about me. That doesn't matter to me."

McNabb said he expects to see Owens at the camp he hosts in Arizona every summer. Last year, the two bonded at McNabb's training session.

"I think it played a major part in our success last year," McNabb said. "I think it's going to do a good job for us again this year."

Asked about players who make their contract disputes public, McNabb said he did not understand it.

"In previous years ... speaking out in the media or speaking out about your feelings about your contract has never worked out in a player's favor," he said. "That's kind of a commonsense deal. I think for any player that's in that situation, the best way to handle it is to kind of let it stay in-house."

McNabb also addressed a characterization of himself in an Inquirer column that stated that Owens viewed the quarterback as a "company man."

"I definitely need to know the definition of a company man," McNabb said. "I think a smart player, a smart athlete, a smart person, knowing how to handle a situation and handle things in the right manner may be some things that define me. When people say that, it brings a smile to my face because I have no idea what they're talking about."

Last year around this time, McNabb was championing Owens. The players spoke effusively about each other's skills; during the season, they connected for 14 touchdowns.

Obviously, a lot has changed between them since then. McNabb insists nothing will change between them on the field, however.

"I've never heard of an individual to just get out on the playing field and stand there," McNabb said. "If he's out on the football field, he's ready to play and we're ready to play behind him."

If the message he heard from Owens over the phone was correct, McNabb said that moment will be Aug. 1. Whether that date still has significance for Owens remains unclear.

"All that matters to me now is my family," Owens said in the television interview. "I had my family before I played football. God blessed me to play football. I'm going to have my family after I play football."

[Atlas]

Another Article...

Eagles not exactly mourning Owens' absence

By BOB FORD

Philadelphia Inquirer


PHILADELPHIA - There's no fighting in the war room, there's no running at passing camp, and there's still no Terrell Owens anywhere in sight this week as the Eagles try some new patterns on the field and stick to all their old ones away from it.

Monday is the two-month anniversary of the brief meeting between team president Joe Banner and agent Drew Rosenhaus during which Rosenhaus suggested that his client wanted more money. Banner said that was interesting but it wasn't going to happen.

All of which accounts for the fact that Rosenhaus was back on the street within five minutes, stopping at the gate to speak to reporters and begin sticking his well-shod feet into his mouth.

A funny thing has happened in the two months since then. The Eagles have been aggressive in their stance that Owens won't get a penny more than he bargained for last year. Rather than give the receiver some wiggle room, the front office has shoved him so deeply into a corner that Owens will have to lose face if he emerges with his helmet in hands.

Now why would they do that?

"I'm baffled in that there doesn't seem to be a good plan," Banner was quoted as saying in one interview, firing a shot at both Owens and Rosenhaus at the same time.

"It's a non-issue," owner Jeffrey Lurie said, dismissively backhanding the wishes of a player for whom respect is everything.

I could well be wrong, but it seems the team is acting as if it doesn't "want Owens back this season, as if it is trying to goad the man into ending his career as an Eagle.

A long, perhaps season-long, holdout by Owens is a briar patch into which the Eagles seem more than willing to jump.

Now why would that be?

Some conspiracy theorists in the media believe the Eagles orchestrated this entire story from the beginning, right down to making sure the reporters were waiting for Rosenhaus when he exited.

This is nonsense, of course. Rosenhaus pried Owens away from former agent David Joseph and all but hired a skywriter to announce his showdown with Banner.

What the Eagles have done, however, is assess the situation and try to turn it to their advantage. Part of that process has involved their own hard-line media campaign and a subtle use of the public perception that Owens has morphed from slightly-wacky-great-guy into greedy-egomaniacal-serial-team-killer.

There is an old truism about poker that if you look around the table and can't spot the sucker, then it is probably you. Perhaps he is too confident - or too busy with his 90 other clients - but Rosenhaus had better take a hard look at the guys he is trying to fleece. With every passing week, the agent is looking more and more like the sucker at the table.

Rosenhaus might be a great agent, but he isn't going to outsmart these guys, and he isn't going to convince them that any of their golden rules should be broken just because Terrell Owens is the one doing the asking.

"He had to take a substandard deal because he had no leverage," Rosenhaus said on ESPN radio before wisely ceasing to comment about Owens and his contract.

Where Rosenhaus is badly mistaken is in believing that Owens has any leverage now. He did have a great season before getting hurt, catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. And, yes, he did come back from ankle surgery to gain another 122 yards in the Super Bowl.

For that, Owens pocketed a total of $10.26 million last season, including a $9.6 million up-front signing bonus. This year, the compensation drops to $3.25 million before bouncing back to more than $8 million in 2006.

Owens and Rosenhaus are worried, and rightfully so, that the Eagles viewed this as a two-year contract when it was signed. In that scenario, the team was willing to spend the $13.51 million for a couple of seasons, but it has little intention of coming up with the scratch after that for a player who will turn 33 in 2006.

This is the way the Eagles do business, and there is a long list of reference points for those who doubt it. Any player is welcome to stay until his salary - for his age, his position and his talent - reaches the magic number. Incredibly enough, "any player" also includes Terrell Owens.

There was going to be the small, untidy matter of cutting Owens loose after this season if he were still popular. Now, unless Rosenhaus and Owens cave in - hard to picture that - the Eagles will get what they want without the muss and fuss.

The catch is that Owens won't be around to ... catch. But the Eagles like draft pick Reggie Brown, they like up-and-coming Greg Lewis and Billy McMullen, and they know what to expect from Todd Pinkston. Plus, there are other receivers out there.

They have convinced themselves that this team is talented enough even without Owens, and might be a good deal happier, too. Don't look for Donovan McNabb to mourn his absence.

The Eagles believe in their way of doing business and are willing to put their money where their mouth is. They just aren't willing to put it where Owens' mouth is.

[Taco John]

I'm going to flip if he ends up on the Chiefs of Chargers...

[Northman]

Just more and more whining from this flava clown.

[Priest Dante]

I'm going to flip if he ends up on the Chiefs of Chargers...
I assure you that there is no way The Chiefs can afford him.

[-Slap-]

This is the way the Eagles do business, and there is a long list of reference points for those who doubt it. Any player is welcome to stay until his salary - for his age, his position and his talent - reaches the magic number. Incredibly enough, "any player" also includes Terrell Owens.

One reason they've been successful. Reid doesn't trifle with sentimentality. New England basically operates the same way.

[Hogan11]

Maybe Owens will end up sitting out the entire season....I know I would love to see that.

[Mr. Trout]

Didn't this clown know he was one of the best players a year ago? He simply should have asked for more cash before he signed the deal.

[Tom A Hawk]

Didn't this clown know he was one of the best players a year ago? He simply should have asked for more cash before he signed the deal.

Are there receivers out there making more bucks than Owens?
I think his pay matches his claim......I am one of the best, I want to be paid
as one seems to be happening.
Does he want Manning money?

[Alkazar]

I assure you that there is no way The Chiefs can afford him.
The way he's going, pretty soon there won't be any team able to afford him. All this idiot wants is more and more money. It ain't about his "Family" like he wants us to believe. Its all about the big $$. He's a greedy little mofo, plain blunt and simple.

[MajikMan7]

Just pay TO already. He's one of the most talented WR in the league so he deserves the money plain and simple. And not only does he help the Eagles win games he also helps putting people in the seats cause who doesn't want to see what TO is going to do next when he scored a td.

[Garcia Bronco]

Well that is just it project....he's got no leverage ...they didn't make the championship game because of TO. They ended up in pretty much the same place....they'd have to be idiots to pay him more now. To the point....if I were the eagles....I'd sit o him for years. There is nothing TO can do about it....except not play football.

[Arkie]

Top Ten 2004 salaries for WR:
1. Marvin Harrison, $10,560,165
2. Terrell Owens, $9,160,700 :clown:
3. Darrell Jackson, $9,000,400
4. Amani Toomer, $8,664,100
5. Steve Smith, $8,600,000
6. Larry Fitzgerald, $8,550,000
7. Justin McCareins, $7,000,000
8. Chris Chambers, $6,500,000
9. Randy Moss, $6,073,204
10. Keyshawn Johnson, $6,004,000

Receiving Yards
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 1405
2 Joe Horn, 1399
3 Javon Walker, 1382
4 Torry Holt, 1372
5 Isaac Bruce, 1292
6 Chad Johnson, 1274
7 Tony Gonzalez, 1258
8 Drew Bennett, 1247
9 Reggie Wayne, 1210
10 Donald Driver, 1208
11 Terrell Owens, 1200 :clown:

Receptions
1 Tony Gonzalez, 102
2 Derrick Mason, 96
3 Chad Johnson, 95
4 Joe Horn, 94
5 Torry Holt, 94
6 Muhsin Muhammad, 93
7 Laveranues Coles, 90
8 Javon Walker, 89
9 Isaac Bruce, 89
10 Eric Moulds, 88
11 Darrell Jackson, 87
12 Jason Witten, 87
13 Marvin Harrison, 86
14 Donald Driver, 84
15 Eric Johnson, 82
16 Antonio Gates, 81
17 Hines Ward, 80
18 Drew Bennett, 80
19 Michael Clayton, 80
20 Rod Smith DEN, 79
21 Andre Johnson, 79
22 Reggie Wayne, 77
23 Terrell Owens, 77 :clown:

Receiving TDs
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 16
2 Marvin Harrison, 15
3 Terrell Owens, 14 :clown:

[MileHighMania]

I hope the Eagles stand their ground ... I would love to see what happens. Don't cut him, just let him sit.

[MajikMan7]

Top Ten 2004 salaries for WR:
1. Marvin Harrison, $10,560,165
2. Terrell Owens, $9,160,700 :clown:
3. Darrell Jackson, $9,000,400
4. Amani Toomer, $8,664,100
5. Steve Smith, $8,600,000
6. Larry Fitzgerald, $8,550,000
7. Justin McCareins, $7,000,000
8. Chris Chambers, $6,500,000
9. Randy Moss, $6,073,204
10. Keyshawn Johnson, $6,004,000

Receiving Yards
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 1405
2 Joe Horn, 1399
3 Javon Walker, 1382
4 Torry Holt, 1372
5 Isaac Bruce, 1292
6 Chad Johnson, 1274
7 Tony Gonzalez, 1258
8 Drew Bennett, 1247
9 Reggie Wayne, 1210
10 Donald Driver, 1208
11 Terrell Owens, 1200 :clown:

Receptions
1 Tony Gonzalez, 102
2 Derrick Mason, 96
3 Chad Johnson, 95
4 Joe Horn, 94
5 Torry Holt, 94
6 Muhsin Muhammad, 93
7 Laveranues Coles, 90
8 Javon Walker, 89
9 Isaac Bruce, 89
10 Eric Moulds, 88
11 Darrell Jackson, 87
12 Jason Witten, 87
13 Marvin Harrison, 86
14 Donald Driver, 84
15 Eric Johnson, 82
16 Antonio Gates, 81
17 Hines Ward, 80
18 Drew Bennett, 80
19 Michael Clayton, 80
20 Rod Smith DEN, 79
21 Andre Johnson, 79
22 Reggie Wayne, 77
23 Terrell Owens, 77 :clown:

Receiving TDs
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 16
2 Marvin Harrison, 15
3 Terrell Owens, 14 :clown:
Good post, but TO missed some games due to injury. Why isn't Randy Moss the top payed WR or even in the top 5. Yeah my boy Chris Chambers 8th highest payed.

[MileHighMania]

Good post, but TO missed some games due to injury. Why isn't Randy Moss the top payed WR or even in the top 5. Yeah my boy Chris Chambers 8th highest payed.

Injuries happen. TO is getting paid handsomely. Look at the bonus and look at the money he'll make in the first several years. It's on level with being a top WR.

I'm sure teams would love to go to the likes of Toomer, McCaerins, Chambers and Meshawn and say ... "you know, your production isn't to the level of the pay, let's drop the $". Sometimes they do and the guy restructures and sometimes they get cut.

It's a business. TO played really well, got hurt, came back and had a solid SB. Fact is for 2004 - counting the base and the bonus, the dude got paid. TO agreed to the structure of the contract. If he's whining about it now... f*** him.

[MileHighMania]

Guys like TO should just sign 1 year deals - get the most that year, kick ass, sign for more. They'll never do it b/c they know things happen, sometimes you're not top 3 in all categories.

[Arkie]

I wish contracts meant something in the NFL on both sides. The team should have to pay the player the full amount, and the player must honor the entire contract.

[Hogan11]

Just pay TO already. He's one of the most talented WR in the league so he deserves the money plain and simple. And not only does he help the Eagles win games he also helps putting people in the seats cause who doesn't want to see what TO is going to do next when he scored a td.

That would be me....I don't care how good he is, if I never had to see him play football again, it would make me smile.

[Atlas]

Just pay TO already. He's one of the most talented WR in the league so he deserves the money plain and simple. And not only does he help the Eagles win games he also helps putting people in the seats cause who doesn't want to see what TO is going to do next when he scored a td.

They already did pay TO. THey signed him to a 7 year deal with a big signing bonus.

[kappys]

I wish contracts meant something in the NFL on both sides. The team should have to pay the player the full amount, and the player must honor the entire contract.

Nope. The guaranteed contracts have hamstrung baseball for so long now that its not even funny. What happens when a guy decides, hey I just signed a long term deal, maybe I should just quit playing because afterall I'm guaranteed a huge amount of money?

I like the current system, and what stands in the way is that coaches and GM's don't have the balls to use their leverage on players. Any player can hold out, but because they're doing that a GM doesn't have to cave and give them anything. He can force them to sit out the REMAINDER OF THEIR CONTRACT. I hope Reid has the balls to do this to TO. If TO is serious about waiting he'll be around 37 before he can play again.

[Garcia Bronco]

I don't think those salaries posted earlier mean anything....because it looks like those include signing bonuses in a lump sum.

[SoCalBronco]

I wish contracts meant something in the NFL on both sides. The team should have to pay the player the full amount, and the player must honor the entire contract.

Yep. There is no such thing as "you signed the contract" when contracts arent guaranteed. It goes both ways or it goes none. There is no problem with hold outs so long as contracts are not guaranteed. The counterargument that, the player signed the contract knowing it is not guaranteed changes nothing as there is still that fundamental unfairness of the team deciding to cut rope at any time while the player cannot.

[watermock]

Just pay TO already. He's one of the most talented WR in the league so he deserves the money plain and simple. And not only does he help the Eagles win games he also helps putting people in the seats cause who doesn't want to see what TO is going to do next when he scored a td.

Once again, you prove yourself the ultimate fool. They just dumped over 10 million into his till.

As far as putting people in the seats, I don't know alot about Philly, but I understand it's a blue collar crowd in the stands. If TO was so stupid he didn't have a decent agent and got chased to Baltimore, then Philly, then why should we care? The guy isn't even ONE YEAR into his contract. He broke down last year, is 32 and wants a new contract.

Personally, I think he's made an ass out himself repeatedly every time he's scored, and I don't think McNabb cares one way or another at this point. All that chemistry is gone.

Just because his agent is whining for his slice of the pie doesn't change the fact Owens wanted out of SF and signed a contract less than a year ago. All he has done is whine about what a great reciever he is...yeah, he's good, but the moron should of had his dumbass agent sign the free agent papers. Is that Philly's fault? Or San Fransiscos? Or Baltimores?

No. It's this morons fault. So he spits in McNabb's face and demands his bling bling.

He made over 10 million last year. This was a contract less than a year old. He broke down as well. Yeah, he had a fine season, and came back with a heroic performance in the SuperBowl, but the stone cold fact is the ink isn't even dry on this guys contract, period. It's not anyone's fault if he signed for below market value but his. Someone should simply hit him upside the head.

Philly isn't going to redo his contract after less than one year, no matter what his greedy agent thinks. Period. I will bank this prediction.

[yavoon]

Didn't this clown know he was one of the best players a year ago? He simply should have asked for more cash before he signed the deal.

terrell owens was never a free agent. he supposedly signed the subpar contract as the best way to avoid ending up in baltimore which he also disliked.

[yavoon]

also rosenhaus did say that if the eagles would guarentee TO's current contract he would settle w/ that. interesting ploy by him.

[DivineLegion]

Top Ten 2004 salaries for WR:
1. Marvin Harrison, $10,560,165
2. Terrell Owens, $9,160,700 :clown:
3. Darrell Jackson, $9,000,400
4. Amani Toomer, $8,664,100
5. Steve Smith, $8,600,000
6. Larry Fitzgerald, $8,550,000
7. Justin McCareins, $7,000,000
8. Chris Chambers, $6,500,000
9. Randy Moss, $6,073,204
10. Keyshawn Johnson, $6,004,000

Receiving Yards
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 1405
2 Joe Horn, 1399
3 Javon Walker, 1382
4 Torry Holt, 1372
5 Isaac Bruce, 1292
6 Chad Johnson, 1274
7 Tony Gonzalez, 1258
8 Drew Bennett, 1247
9 Reggie Wayne, 1210
10 Donald Driver, 1208
11 Terrell Owens, 1200 :clown:

Receptions
1 Tony Gonzalez, 102
2 Derrick Mason, 96
3 Chad Johnson, 95
4 Joe Horn, 94
5 Torry Holt, 94
6 Muhsin Muhammad, 93
7 Laveranues Coles, 90
8 Javon Walker, 89
9 Isaac Bruce, 89
10 Eric Moulds, 88
11 Darrell Jackson, 87
12 Jason Witten, 87
13 Marvin Harrison, 86
14 Donald Driver, 84
15 Eric Johnson, 82
16 Antonio Gates, 81
17 Hines Ward, 80
18 Drew Bennett, 80
19 Michael Clayton, 80
20 Rod Smith DEN, 79
21 Andre Johnson, 79
22 Reggie Wayne, 77
23 Terrell Owens, 77 :clown:

Receiving TDs
1 Muhsin Muhammad, 16
2 Marvin Harrison, 15
3 Terrell Owens, 14 :clown:
I would rather have this guy year end and year out...one of the best WRs to play the game as of yet...

[yavoon]

I would rather have this guy year end and year out...one of the best WRs to play the game as of yet...

haha all owens got was a 9 million dollar signing bonus? thats sad. wow.

[watermock]

Actually, T.O. made more than 10 million total last year.

I'm heartbroken he might have to play for a paltry 4 million next year.