When NFL teams pick up players who have a history of disruptive behavior, they assume the risk. They might be the ones who can change the bad act, but most of the time, if I may quote Bill Parcells, ''You are what you are." Anyway, I believe the Eagles will be told by an arbitrator they can't suspend him for four games and then deactivate him the rest of the season, given that the team crimes T.O. has committed are annoying, selfish, and disruptive -- but not horrible. They can cut him after the season, but for now I think the Eagles will have to take him back. They're the ones who made the bad choice. Now live with it.
BOB RYAN
I go with whoever it was that likened T.O. to a pet rattlesnake. Whatever stupid reason they brought one home in the first place, when the stupid thing does the only thing it knows how to do and bites you, that's a signal that perhaps it's time to think about replacing the rattler with a goldfish, or at least a chocolate Lab. Is he a great receiver? Yeah. But he gives new and almost unimaginable meaning to the term ''high maintenance." Bottom line: He is not a good teammate. He is, now and forever, 1,000 percent about T.O. That's not what football is all about. Put him back under the rock where he was found, looking for dinner. So you can take that as an N-O, no.
DAN SHAUGHNESSY
Take the man back. Let him do his time, but take him back. Owens's agent didn't do him any favors with his ridiculous press conference Tuesday, but in fact, T.O. hasn't committed any crimes and he has apologized, and we're all about forgiveness. Let's not forget that they can use his skills on the field. Chances are, something else may happen and the Eagles will have to act again, but in the meantime, it's just T.O. being T.O., and we know all about that here in Boston, right?
JEROME SOLOMON
Only if coach Andy Reid enjoys a daily migraine. Terrell Owens is an immensely talented player who is impossible to satisfy and unable to get along with anyone who throws him the ball. This even included Kyle Boller, with whom he never played a down but whom he still insulted when he orchestrated a bailout of a trade to the Ravens because he didn't want to play with him. Owens didn't want to stay in San Francisco with Jeff Garcia or Tim Rattay. Now he doesn't want to play with Donovan McNabb. The Eagles shouldn't take him back; they should give him his wish and unite him with Brett Favre in Green Bay. Then he'd find out what the cold shoulder really means.
MIKE REISS
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison called Owens a selfish jerk. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said he'd take Owens on Sunday but couldn't deal with him Monday-Saturday -- and those two things can't be separated. Well, that's enough for me. Should the Eagles take T.O. back? No, no, no. Never. Over the last nine years, Harrison and Taylor are in my Top 5 Most Respected Player category. If they say no to T.O., I'm with them. The message is clear: In a physical, sometimes violent game, all 53 players need to be working off the same script. While T.O. is an exceptionally talented receiver, he ranks last in the good-teammate category.
*I read somewhere that Owens is putting his house up for sale now that he is out of work?? Perhaps, he should consider doing commercials for, oh, I don't know.....maybe Toys 'R' Us?....remember their jingle...."I don't wanna grow up"....or maybe a Got Milk ad? Their claim is that drinking milk can help one to grow into a famous, successful, responsible role model.
Naw, that's definitely out. Owens' way of handling himself certainly seems to suggest that growing up is just 'too much work'. Man, it's harder than running the ball!
Well, let's try to be understanding...... Owens really seems to be in need of this and his 'Linus blankie' right now. Hopefully he will soon wean himself of IT and eventually come to the realization that sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes saying 'a little' proves to be more effective than saying 'a lot'.
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Monday, November 14th 2005 at 10:29PM
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