Stinger, this what my friend Steve, a huge Viking fan wrote me from New Orleans about Antoine Winfield. Nah, he's not demanding!:

Now get me 2 defensive ends, a kicker, a punter, and another good wideout, good health, Ted Cottrell coaching the speedy young linebackers, and we win our first round playoff game. If Gus is the qb, we win our second round playoff game!

This whole T.O. flap begs the question: Why would any organization want this cancer to be part of their team? Me. Me. Me type of player.

T.O.'s agent (David Joseph) screwed up by not filing the proper paperwork by the league-mandated deadline which whould have allowed him to opt out of his contract and entitled him to shop his services to the team of his choice.

The San Francisco 49ers are under no obligation to accomodate T.O. by trading him to a team of his choosing. Their sole responsibility lies in making the best overall decision for the organization. That decision may be based on what factors the organization deems appropriate - compensation, trading a player to the other conference vs. trading him to an NFC rival, etc.

Owens said that he's "entitled as a free agent to have my choice."

T.O. - YOU ARE NOT A FREE AGENT.

GO AWAY.

[ March 06, 2004, 08:10 AM: Message edited by: coyoteugly ]

And frankly the Ravens offered a better deal, IMO. Would you rather have a 2nd round pick OR a 5th rounder plus James "Dead Weight" Thrash? After years of mouthing off about everyone in the Niner organization from the GM and coach on down to the hot dog vendor and parking lot attendants, the 49ers are suppossed to now try and appease this whining little crybaby yet again, especially since this is his and his agent's fault? Umm, no.

Why do I have a feeling that Eagle fans wouldn't be so outraged by the so called double dealing if the Cowboys or Redskins were on the receiving end?

As for legal recourse, he can file a grievance, but everybody I heard interviewed on yesterday's Around the Horn, SportsCenter and so on said he'd get nowhere with that. He's stuck.

Actually, from listening to the radio this morning, it seems that Eagles fans are outraged at their own team for making such a pathetic offer to the 49ers.

From what i've been reading on the birds message boards... balt is still willing to deal TO for the right offer.

Give them the 2005 2nd rounder they got for AJ who is a punk now...smack talker.

Why do Eagle fans want Terrell Owens on their team? Granted the receiver position on the Eagles is a bit weak, but why potentially sacrafice team chemistry for a known problem child?

"A bit weak"? It's pathetic. I'll take the problem child with talent. All the team chemistry they've had the last 3 years got them nowhere when it came time to play the NFC title game.

Actually JIP i totally disagree with you on this one.

The eagles need a WR that much is clear.. but i think this team needs some FIRE... who better to bring that than TO. As far as his mouth goes, well a solid clubhouse and a solid coaching staff might just keep him in line.

Could i be wrong? sure i can, however at this point it is worth a try.

I think you agree with me, then, because I said "I'll take the problem child with talent." That would be TO.

[ March 06, 2004, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Jets fans...my heart is breaking. NYJ signed Justin McCareins from the Titans. I've really enjoyed watching this guy progress over the past couple of years and truly believe he has all the tools to make a great receiver...Enjoy him!!!

I hope you're right. The Jets could use another good receiver.

The Vikings came to agreements with WR Marcus Robinson from the Baltimore Ravens. Initial talks were for a 1-year contract, but I haven't seen what they came to for their final agreement. That means they just need to get that DE. I'm definitely looking forward to next season!!!

Duce Staley signs with Steelers

Denver Fan wrote in another thread:
Ding! Not going to Kenny's Bucs; he's going to the Browns, effectively ending the Cleveland career of one of my supreme lust objects, Tim Couch. Unless they sign someone--Tim Couch? it'll be Tim Rattay taking snaps for the 49ers.

One for the road: DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have signed LB Dhani Jones from the Giants (who signed LB Carlos Emmons from the Eagles).

And the grievance has been filed to try and get Terrell Owens declared a free agent. Owens, meanwhile, spoke with a Phila. Inquirer columnist... \"I want to be with the Eagles. There is no doubt in my mind. I'm going to the Eagles.\" Yeah, good luck with that. Your agent's a moron, TO. When are you gonna fire his sorry ass?

(Edited to update link to Owens Q&A)

[ March 10, 2004, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Parcells should go after Couch immediately. He's a Parcells type (Bledsoe, Testeverde, Simms) and Dallas has some fine receivers. Not that I want Dallas to succeed or anything, but it does make sense to me.

George, Couch may be a Parcells type in terms of athletic ability, but I question whether he has the emotional fortitude to play under someone so demanding of his players.

He did not play well enough in Cleveland to earn the fans respect, and agree he was also treated poorly by the Browns organization. I think the most noticeable sign of his weakness occurred after he made this now infamous tearful tirade:

"If fans don't like the way I'm playing or the way we're playing, they have a right to boo us or boo me. But to cheer when I got hurt, that's a whole other level with me. I don't agree with that at all. I've laid it on the line for this team and city. For them to turn on me and boo me in my home stadium is a joke. I've worked my butt off here and it's hard to take, man." (Couch: 10/06/02)

There's a reason why more teams aren't clamoring over the availability of the #1 overall draft choice from 1999.

[ March 10, 2004, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: coyoteugly ]

Looks like Johnny Lynch is a cap casualty! frown

Ah those poor poor yucks, their players are falling faster than their fan base... wait... i'm wrong on that, they left after week 8 of last year.

Can anyone say, salary cap management?

*ahem*VIKINGS*ahem*

don't hear me crying poor us!

[ March 11, 2004, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: Kenny ]

Coyoteugly, thanks for posting that Tim Couch quote. I was trying to think of that or the specifics of incident with the Dawg Pound but couldn't remember them.

Early winners and losers in free agency so far. I'm happy to see the Vikings at the top where they should be. It looks like PF was actually talking some sense earlier about the Redskins. They better get that Superbowl ring this year, cuz in a year or two they'll be the new Detroit Lions!!

I came across something the other day regarding free agency that I thought I'd share. It was called Current Myths about Pro Football and one of the best points was:

Teams must strike quickly in the free agent signing period to sign the best players.

If that was the case, then the Washington Redskins would be gunning for their fourth straight Super Bowl championship. Winning the signing wars in March does not translate into success in January. A few years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the teams that made a big issue out of signing players early in free agency. A week after the free agency period began, they would be done signing players. That produced nary a Super Bowl and put them into salary cap hell for the better part of five years. Teams that jump into the free agent pool early, tend to overpay. If the free agent works out, nobody much questions the dollars. If the free agent flops, then there’s the double whammy: he doesn’t produce on the field and the cap takes a big hit when he’s cut loose early. Selective signing, whether early or late, is how to play the free agency game.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PF is right. If the Redskins do not win the Super Bowl in the next two years, they are going to be royally "F"d when all these huge signing bonuses come a callin.

In NFL free agency, a team doesn’t need to be first. It needs to be right.

The hearing to free Terrell Owens is now set for Monday. It was scheduled for a phone conference on Saturday but Gene Upshaw decided he preferred a face-to-face meeting.

Per Upshaw, if it's not about "missing deadlines" then what the hell is the basis for this hearing? It seems cut-and-dried to me: the man Owens hired to take care of business f**ked up completely and so Owens is screwed and has to go to Baltimore, where he hopes that Kyle Boller is better than Jeff Garcia. Am I missing a legal or procedural nuance here?

I think Owens' case is that his contract said he had until March 1 to terminate his remaining years. Then a year or so ago, a new collective bargaining agreement from the players union moved that date to February 21st for some players. Owens' case is that his contract is the legal binding agreement, not the CBA. I think that is their reasoning, although everything I said may not be 100% correct.

If that's the case, why didn't Owens and his agent bring it up at the time and not wait until AFTER he didn't get the trade (and more importantly the signing bonus) he was expecting. The NFL had better not give in to this crap.

The topper is Owens comparing his "plight" to that of Rosa Parks. I can't remember the exact quote that was on his website, but basically it was soemthing about his standing up to the league as like Rosa Parks sitting in the front of the bus! UGH!!! I so hope he ends up with the Ravens and then breaks his leg tripping on a Sharpie in training camp.

Owens is such a diva. wink

One thing I heard this week is that (according to Owens) in addition to the fax to his agent, the CBA requires that the team send something to the player as well (via certified mail?) and Owens says no one sent him anything. Unless that requirement is fact, I can't imagine him winning his case. His agent screwed up. Once the season was over they could've done the necessary paperwork. There was no reason to wait until anywhere close to the deadline.

But I hope he wins anyway, because otherwise we're stuck with another season of Trash and Stinkston.

George_vikingfan, I read about the CBA/contract thing before the trade. I guess it was no big deal at the time because the 49ers and Owens were in agreement that he could seek a trade. If he got the trade he wanted, the CBA/contract thing would not have mattered, except he may have possibly received more money as a true free agent. Since he didn't get the trade that he pursued and wanted, he is now hoping the CBA doesn't hold up.

I've read some analysis that they expect the arbitrator to rule against Owens, for fear that a lot of players will begin looking for loopholes in contracts when they receive a trade they don't like.

Stinger, thank for the clarification. But as GVF wrote, [Church Lady voice] how convenient that he makes an issue of that now.

I'm uncomfortable, though, with the idea that the arbitrator will rule based on some vision of future contract anarchy, instead of solely on the merits/lack of merits of this case. Seems like a path to future lawsuits.

Of course, if by ruling against Owens it also screws the Iggles, then it's a total win-win situation.

Interesting free agency article from the Associated Press:

The right way, and the 'Skins way

I didn't mean to imply that the arbitrator will rule against Owens to keep future lawsuites from happening. I meant more of a cause/effect thing. If the trade is not upheld, then we might see a number of players trying to get out of trades they don't like.

Here's an article about the \"special master\" that the NFL uses.

Sal Palantonio of ESPN has said Reps from the 49ers, Ravens Eagles and Players Association have been in talks all day pending the arbitors ruling on Tuesday. Apparently the 49ers have initiated the talks about coming to some mutual agreement before a decision is handed down. Sal thinks the 49ers are afraid they may lose the decision and don't want to go home empty handed. Tommorrow will be interesting.

That was most amusing. Apparently the union had a stronger case than everyone thought...although why they didn't realize it at first (when Upshaw was really downplaying the whole thing) is beyond me.

The risk is that if some settlement isn't reached the special master will make his ruling and the losing side (which now likely seems to be the NFL) can appeal to Judge Doty, who oversees everything labor-related for the NFL and players' union, and that could take months.

Just curious... but how strong can his case be? The only thing I have even seen TO say was that it was his "intention" to be a free agent, all the while acknowledging that his agent did not follow the correct procedures.

I see the Bills signed Troy Vincent.

Looks like a deal has been struck. Brandon Whiting is going to SF. Owens in Philly is going to be so much fun to watch!

[ March 16, 2004, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: Kenny ]

From an article at the Baltimore Sun website:

ESPN.com says that the Ravens get back the pick they sent the 49ers and the Eagles are sending the Ravens a 5th-round draft pick \"for the inconvenience of losing Owens and having the trade voided.\" So really, the Ravens get an extra draft pick for nothing.

From an article in today's Philadelphia Daily News on Allen Iverson and other prima donnas:



[ March 16, 2004, 10:47 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

The birds gave up brandon whiting in the deal and sent him to SF. I dont like that, whiting is a solid DE and nice player at any position on DL.

Now, the eagles to get another DL.

I'd also say that we dont EVER have to watch thrash pointing to the sky again, unless he's going to be the return man on this team.

With that said, i pray that the eagles club house can keep this guy inline. I've been screaming for a solid WR for years and he's here....

This team also needs to get another RB in the mix. Westbrook is yet to prove he can play a whole year wthout injury... buck is not a pass catcher... Plus a nickle CB, probably a solid Vet to fill the void of taylor and vincent leaving.

I still have some concerns with the team, Duce leaving is going to be the biggest hit i think.

I don't think this will really change anything. The Eagles have already lost a lot in free agency. They had their run and its over (ala Vikings 98-00). The next few seasons will be below .500 for them. I predict they finish 3rd in their division, barely on top of the Giants.

TO is combustible, both in a good way and terrible way for a team. I know the 49ers are thrilled to be rid of him and hope for the Eagles sake that they can control him or else they just acquired an expensive headache.

That right there should get the birds into the playoffs again. The birds have quality role players, they proved that last year fighting through all of the injuries folks.

Now throw the freak on the DL, which will be healthy. The secondary got killed last year because there was no QB pressure. The 2 young CB's got quality playing time last year, with kerse there will be less pressure to cover for long periods of time. Dawkins the best Safety in the league. Mike Lewis who has been nothing but solid since he came into the league....

On offense, TO pushes Pinky down to man coverage for the most part. TO can stretch the field... sheesh, those dump off passes to westbrook out of the backfield are now starting to look good too.

Anyone take a look at that schedule? Balt minn cin Car and GB all at home folks. Chi det clev pitt and stl on the road.

this is almost orgasmic folks... the rest of the league had better watch out... lil danny boy will be crying with an empty checkbook this year.

I'm not sure how getting TO will help them stop the run...eventually allowing 100 yd rushers every game will turn into points.

But since this is the free agency thread...David Boston is now with the Dolphins. Does this mean San Diego takes Fitzgerald in the draft? What are they gonna do at QB, keep Brees?

Oh sting ray...

Are you forgetting that the eagles had their 2 of their DT's on IR? 2 more DE's on IR? I mean come on they were so desperate they had to bring in marco coleman. Dont forget how Taylor and Dawkins were out 8 weeks. Vincent was hurt. Need i go on?

I jones can cover as well as emmons did, this is going to be one nasty D next year... so long as they stay healthy.

It's amusing to read the comments at the Baltimore Sun website, back to when the Ravens first made the trade. The general consensus was that getting TO was going to boost the Ravens offense and send them to the Super Bowl, and that Brian Billick and Ozzie Newsome are geniuses. After TO stated he didn't want to play there, the tide turned against him. Now they're mad because they only got a 5th-round pick and all the available receivers are gone now.

In all the discussion, this particular comment (while he was still Baltimore property) escaped notice:

Hey Bob, are you reading this? wink

There is no downside to this deal for the Eagles. NONE. If he produces the way he can, he'll make McNabb and the whole offense more consistent and more dangerous. If he becomes a cancer, after the last 3 years, who really cares? The coaches and management will deserve any heartburn he provides. wink

After not getting beyond the the conference championship game 3 years in a row, a shakeup of sorts was inevitable. If what you have on offense isn't working, then you have to take a chance at getting something better.

I commend the Eagles for finally spending some money in free agency, going after the 2 best players available at their position. It's true there are no guarantees that success will come, but maintaining the status quo wasn't going to work. Sometimes you have to let good players go to get others.

Troy Vincent 32 and Carlos Emmons 30 both good players, had to be let go in order to sign these free agents. I was not thrilled to see them go, but it is all part of managing the salary cap while seeking new opportunities.You have to hope that the younger players will develop into the quality of those departed. BTW Bobby Taylor is not signed yet and there is still a chance he could be back.

Listening to espn radio on my way to work, Greenie said... TO has no more excuses, if this doesn't work out, he has noone to blame but himself. He had 11 dropped passes last year, 3rd worst in the league. NFL.com reports it is now up to Andy Reid to "prevent Owens from becoming a distraction". I would have thought even before a contract was reached that would have been addressed. TO now belongs in the JUST SHUT UP class, but somehow I don't see that happening.

TO is a definite positive addition to the team. I think the Eagles fromt office has displayed a committment to winning by digging deep to make this happen. It's way too early (in my view) to handicapp next season but I think predicting that the Eagles win 7 or less games as("now out of hiding") Kenny suggested seems like a stretch. But -- who knows -- who would have predicted the fall of the Mighty Bucs a year ago?

Yo MD and JIP,

Is it too early to start the We Can't Wait for Next Season Rally Thread yet?

I did.

But I was told it was a lucky guess on my part.