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Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009
Terrell Owens is a loser, but not because he wants to renegotiate his contract with the Eagles.
Apr 18, 2005 | The over-under on Terrell Owens breaking his pledge to stop talking to the media about his contract is five minutes before you read this, whenever you do.
"Again I find my words being misinterpreted by the media," the star receiver said in a statement over the weekend, "therefore at this time I have decided to refrain from discussing the recent series of events surrounding my contract with the Philadelphia Eagles."
The recent series of events is that Owens, one year into a "seven-year, $49 million" contract he signed with the Eagles last offseason, wants a new deal, and has said so. He also said he wasn't the one who was "tired and out of shape" in the Super Bowl, a shot at quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Actually, Owens didn't say McNabb's name, and neither did his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who said, as if in some vaudeville routine, "I know who he's talking about, but I'm not saying." Why not? Because "that's the guy who has to get him the football."
So, like, the ball boy? No, wait, that's not how it works. Hang on, I think we can figure this out. I'd hate to misinterpret.
Owens is absolutely a chump and a loser. Let's be clear about that. If you've ever read anything about him, you probably know the litany of crimes, from the real, like constantly attacking his quarterbacks in public, to the ridiculously trumped-up, like signing the ball with a marker after scoring a touchdown or appearing in a silly skit with Nicollette Sheridan on "Monday Night Football."
I think whining publicly about his contract is one of those real offenses, but wanting to renegotiate it is not.
And I don't care about the details of the contract, whether it's a good one for Owens or not. If he wants a new contract, he should feel free to fight for it. You do.
Owens says he signed a low-ball contract last year because he had no leverage. He was trying to get out of a trade from the 49ers to the Ravens made possible by his then-agent screwing up the filing for free agency. The league was probably going to declare Owens a free agent anyway, and the Washington Post, citing union sources, says the NFL Players Association advised him not to sign the deal. But sign it he did, with nothing but smiles.
