Eagles Cry Foul Over T.O. Deal

[Laughing-Man]

The one thing I think the Ravens should take into account is that Owens really does not want to play there. Do you think he will play his 'A' game for a team he hates? Owens seems like one of those people who would carry on a grudge during the season and bring down the whole team. As a result he may prove to even be a bigger problem during the season so they might as well try and get a new WR who would actually be productive.

Also James Thrash does not suck like most of you think. This was just a bad season for him, but if you watched him in previous seasons he proved his worth when he was needed.

Edited March 7, 2004 by jmole

[Laughing-Man]

And here is some up to date news:

Players' Union Will Try to Get Owens Deal Rescinded

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 7, 2004; Page E01

The NFL Players Association plans to file a special-master case within the next few days to try to rescind Thursday's trade that sent Terrell Owens from the San Francisco 49ers to the Baltimore Ravens and have the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver declared a free agent, union chief Gene Upshaw said yesterday.

Upshaw spoke yesterday to Harold Henderson, the league's executive vice president for labor relations who serves as chairman of the NFL Management Council, about the case and the two are scheduled to speak again today.

If they can't resolve the dispute, Upshaw said, the union will seek to have special master Stephen B. Burbank, who is in charge of settling disputes regarding the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, void the final three seasons of Owens's contract and allow him to negotiate with any team he chooses.

"We think, at this point, that's the only case we can file," Upshaw said in a telephone interview. "That's what we'll do the early part of next week. I want to talk to Harold Henderson in the early part of next week to see if there's something the parties can work out short of that proceeding. If not, that's what we'll do."

The Ravens, meantime, likely will have an opportunity to nullify the trade. A source familiar with Owens's thinking said last night that Owens will refuse to show up Monday for his physical with the Ravens. Because all NFL trades are contingent upon a player passing a physical, the Ravens will have to decide whether to overturn the trade or waive that provision.

If the union succeeds in undoing the trade, the Ravens would get back the second-round pick in April's draft that they traded to the 49ers for Owens on Thursday and Owens would be an unrestricted free agent. Owens said in televised interviews Friday that he did not want to play for the Ravens and wanted to sign a new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Management Council ruled recently that Owens remained under contract to the 49ers because he and his agent, David Joseph, missed a Feb. 21 deadline to file the paperwork necessary for Owens to exercise a clause in his contract voiding its three remaining seasons. The 49ers immediately began shopping Owens, who was one of the league's most productive receivers during the past eight seasons but feuded with teammates and coaches and often was at the center of controversies.

Owens and Joseph believed they had a new contract with the Eagles lined up Thursday as a precursor to a trade that would send Owens to Philadelphia for a fifth-round draft pick and likely wide receiver James Thrash. But the 49ers preferred the Ravens' offer and completed that deal instead.

The Ravens inherited the remainder of Owens's current contract, which pays him salaries of $5.3 million next season, $5.9 million in 2005 and $6.5 million in 2006. Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome said Thursday the club would try to negotiate a new contract with Owens, but those efforts have been unsuccessful. Owens's prospective new contract with the Eagles reportedly would have included a $10 million signing bonus and overall would have been worth more than $6 million per season.

Upshaw refused to comment publicly on the particulars of the case yesterday. But a person familiar with the proceedings said the union will concede that Joseph made a mistake by failing to file the paperwork in time to make Owens a free agent. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is unresolved.

The deadline for Owens to void the final three seasons in his contract originally was to come in early March, but was changed through an agreement between the league and the union. A source said yesterday that Joseph was notified of that change by fax. Joseph has not returned numerous phone messages in recent days seeking comment on the case.

According to a source, the union will say Owens should be declared a free agent because his intention was to leave the 49ers.

A league spokesman declined to comment on the case Friday. But an NFL official, speaking on the condition that he not be identified because of the sensitive nature of the proceedings, said the league believed Thursday's trade of Owens from the 49ers to the Ravens was valid and there was no reason to overturn it.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, the special master's decision would be subject to review by U.S. District Judge David S. Doty, who oversees the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. A special-master case is a trial-like proceeding and differs from the usual grievance process, in which the parties present their cases to an arbitrator.

[Stokkolm]

The Eagles will get him now.

[Remote]

The one thing I think the Ravens should take into account is that Owens really does not want to play there. Do you think he will play his 'A' game for a team he hates? Owens seems like one of those people who would carry on a grudge during the season and bring down the whole team. As a result he may prove to even be a bigger problem during the season so they might as well try and get a new WR who would actually be productive.

Also James Thrash does not suck like most of you think. This was just a bad season for him, but if you watched him in previous seasons he proved his worth when he was needed.

He better not, Ray Lewis would tear his ass apart and he will be traded which is fine, cause we will get a great player for him.

[mattmatik]

The one thing I think the Ravens should take into account is that Owens really does not want to play there. Do you think he will play his 'A' game for a team he hates? Owens seems like one of those people who would carry on a grudge during the season and bring down the whole team. As a result he may prove to even be a bigger problem during the season so they might as well try and get a new WR who would actually be productive.

Also James Thrash does not suck like most of you think. This was just a bad season for him, but if you watched him in previous seasons he proved his worth when he was needed.

The whole thing is money. He doesn't care what team he plays for. If he signed with Philly as a free agent, he would have got the signing bonus (ESPN covered this quite well yesterday). Since signing bonuses are the only guaranteed money in the NFL, that's all that matters. The thing is, I'm sure Baltimore would be glad to pay him if his agent would try to work out a deal. Unfortunately, not only did his agent NOT file the free agency papers on time, but his agent...IS STILL HIS AGENT!

And James Thrash...he may be productive in very, VERY certain situations...but when you have guys like Brandon Lloyd, Cedric Wilson, Arnaz Battle, etc. you don't go out and get a very average veteran. The whole point here is the 49ers rebuilding. They now have 3 young WRs, a young QB, a young RB, young defense...it was far better to get a 2nd round pick. Since the draft will be stock full of good WRs (I'm hoping the 49ers try to get DeVry Henderson from LSU) I'm sure they will come out fine.

I will say this: both parties (the 49ers and Terrell Owens) were very unprofessional during the past 2 years. I won't defend Terry Donahue for a second; however, TO dug his own hole. In a free agent season, you don't go running your mouth off at your coaches, front office, and teammates. Especially in the NFL. I'm sure the 49ers will suck big time next year as the youngters get their feet wet, but I'd rather have guys out there that play hard and work as a team than a one man show. Just look who was in the Super Bowl...2 TEAMS.

[lawtai]

I hope that Owens doesn't end up on the Eagles... he needs to just stop talking.

[StaticX]

lets just say if he does happen to leave, i can just picture him saying a after the game... "Mcnabb all he does is run and take off with the ball, i was open all day i came here to play not run up and down the field. give me a QB that knows how to throw the ball."

[....]

lets just say if he does happen to leave, i can just picture him saying a after the game... "Mcnabb all he does is run and take off with the ball, i was open all day i came here to play not run up and down the field. give me a QB that knows how to throw the ball."

And.......he would be wrong??

[StaticX]

lol... not in the least, but he's going bitch an moan that he doesnt get enough passes thrown his way.... hence either Mcnabb goes or Reid goes.... then once their both gone.... then so is he!!

[....]

lol... not in the least, but he's going bitch an moan that he doesnt get enough passes thrown his way.... hence either Mcnabb goes or Reid goes.... then once their both gone.... then so is he!!

Oh, I know...I was just making a jab at the McNabb fans....cause you know that would happen. A good WR could actually expose McNabb's shortcomings even more.

[StaticX]

lol ok :)

[Rell]

Oh, I know...I was just making a jab at the McNabb fans....cause you know that would happen. A good WR could actually expose McNabb's shortcomings even more.

Just own up and say McNabb is a good QB. :D McNabb and Owens would be like Bread and Butter. :D

[Destian]

McNabb's game really goes both ways. Some games he looks like he can hit anything he wants. Others he over/underthrows half of his passes.

That being said, watching the current eagles WRs trying to get open is just painful.

[Laughing-Man]

Just own up and say McNabb is a good QB. :D McNabb and Owens would be like Bread and Butter. :D

More like Starsky and Hutch! :D

[Rell]

Owens Misses Physical, NFLPA Wants Deal Nixed

[Remote]

Owens Misses Physical, NFLPA Wants Deal Nixed

Lost cause. Owens, unless the ravens trade them (which they wont), will be a raven next year.

[Death By Sexy]

lost in all this is that the 49ers are going to suck next year :woot:

hey now... thats not fair. we'll see about that!

:angry:

[Toxikk Veteran]

it is kinda f'd up though... if you agree to a deal in principle, you should try to negotiate THAT deal, not make a totally new one that came from left field.

[CatnipOligarchy]

owens agent screwed up. owens is a raven. a deal in principle is not a done deal. tough sh1t T.O. he's going to baltimore. if he stops mouthing off and plays his game, they might be willing to give him the same contract and bonus he was gonna get from philly. i dont think anyone outside of the nflpa feels any pity for him.

[Rell]

Owens Case to be Decided Sunday

[Toxikk Veteran]

interesting. wonder whats gonna happen.

[Toxikk Veteran]

we shall know here in a lil bit...

[-=SD=-]

http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/n...4/031204-to.asp

Probably tomorrow at the latest, eagles fans better start praying lol

[Rell]

Damn delays! :(

I hope for the best...

[Laughing-Man]

http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/n...4/031204-to.asp

Probably tomorrow at the latest, eagles fans better start praying lol

Yea after we found out that the Eagles are not going to go after Boston, we can really use Owens at this point. It is sort of strange, but why did they want a professor at the University of Pennsylvania to hear the case? He probably lives in Philadelphia so changes are pretty good that he is an Eagles fan. I just find that odd that they picked someone who works and possibly lives in the city that wants him.

Edited March 15, 2004 by jmole