The Continuing Saga of T.O. at 5:53 PM

I thought (perhaps foolishly) that once Terrell Owens reported--albeit begrudgingly--to Eagles training camp, there would be maybe a few fireworks, but it would die down with little fanfare after a while. Now it seems that T.O. has been asked to leave for a week because of "undisclosed team issues". Surprising? Not really I suppose. Annoying? Highly. The "team issues" are said to involve an altercation with Andy Reid (the head coach) and Brad Childress (offensive coordinator). As he was leaving yesterday, T.O. said, "If the truth needs to be told, then that's what I'll do," Owens said. "If he [Reid] wants me to be a man about it and have me really go on the air and really tell the people what happened, then I can. It was a difference of opinion." Be a man? Let's just talk about being a man for a minute, and what a man does.

A man lives up to his word. Terrell, last year you signed a contract for $49 million over seven years. It's a foregone conclusion that you probably wouldn't be in Philly for 7 years, and wouldn't see the whole 49 mil. But if you didn't like the contract, why'd you sign it? You say you "outperformed" it? My question is this: how does one outperform $9.5 million? You weren't even playing for two of the three postseason games due to injury. I'm not saying the performances weren't outstanding during the season, and especially the one in the Super Bowl. I've talked about it before. But last year, you made more than 200 times what I make in a year, and my job contributes to making vaccines that save peoples' lives--and I'm happy with my salary. And you talk about feeding your family. You're not even married.

You know what else a man doesn't do? He doesn't throw his teammates and coach under the bus. What good did it do to badmouth McNabb's performance in the Super Bowl? Without Donovan, you would've had Kyle Boller throwing you passes last year in Baltimore. Think you still would've outperformed your contract? And the altercation with Reid and Childress this year--if you've got a beef with the coaches, work it out with the coaches. Did you see what Andy said today? "I'm going to work with T.O. and only T.O." That's what a man says. He doesn't call people out to the media and try to make himself look better. If you want to see men, look no further than the two guys you've inexplicably tried to drag through the mud over the last while: Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid.

Last year you shed tears in the locker room after a game because you were garnering so much attention in the media. You said you felt bad because it took attention away from the team. Do you wonder why the fans booed you at camp when you first came out? We can't figure you out, T.O. We thought you got a bad rap in San Francisco. Now we're not so sure. You were a great teammate, you treated the fans well, you got along with a strict coach, you had a good relationship with the quarterback...Was it all an act last year so that you could make more money this year? Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, I'll tell you again. You won't get a new contract. You won't get more money. You won't get released. You won't get traded. You'll play football for the Eagles or you won't play football. That's pretty much how it's going to be. After this year, you're due a $7.5 million roster bonus. We all know that was worked into the contract so that you and the team could assess how the last couple of years have gone and whether the relationship should continue (if you're not familiar with NFL contracts, roster bonuses are frequently worked into contracts, and when they're not paid out a player becomes a free agent). With the $5 million base salary you're due this year (not including incentives), that's a two year total of $22 million. You can't retire on that? What more do you want?

(By the way, while I'm on the subject of money, Drew Rosenhaus (T.O.'s agent) was on Letterman last night, and was made to look like the fool that he is. So that was entertaining.)

I just don't know how a guy in your situation can look around and still think they're right. I know you've got that weasel Rosenhaus in your ear, but not even players are on your side. I mean players on other teams, too (it's obvious that the Eagles players who actually want to play are fed up with this, even if they're man enough not to drag his name through the mud). Everyone's tired of the act. The Eagles fans, including myself, will cheer you this year when you make plays. We're Eagles fans, and you're an Eagle. But you'll never be on the level of Donovan or Andy, or even Brian Westbrook and Duce Staley. You've lost us off the field. You come strolling into camp wearing camouflage like you're some kind of soldier. You're a millionaire who gets paid to play football. Who are you trying to fool? Well I'll tell you one thing--you're not fooling me. Not anymore.