Terrell Owens = Rosa Parks

[cartman]

hxxp://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/8460704p-9389784c.html

Un-freakin'-believeable. T.O. is now comparing his situation to that of Rosa Parks.

T.O., I'm sorry your agent had a brain-freeze and messed up your chance at even more $$$, but get over it. Comparing your missed millions to a lady who put her life on the line for a bus seat ain't gonna win many sympathy votes from the public.

You need to run back to the sidelines with your tail between your legs like you did when you got your clock cleaned while showboating on the mid-field star in the game against the Cowboys.

[sabotai]

From the article:

"I just want a fair shot at my free agency."

How many times must we go over this...YOU HAD YOUR FAIR SHOT ASSHOLE!!

[John Galt]

Didn't you know that Rosa's agent forgot to get her ticket for the front of the bus?

[rkmsuf]

I guess the fact that he and Rosa are both women makes him half right...

[tucker342]

He's not going to be a very popular teammate in the locker room.... And comparing his situation to Rosa Parks' is terrible, he should be ashamed

[albionmoonlight]

In my FOF multiplayer league, my WRs are a bunch of self-interested, selfish, egotistical, monomaniacal jerks. I try to make their actions and attitudes extreme for the sake of humorous effect.

However, my attempts at hyperbole cannot hold a candle to T.O. when he is being serious.

I think if he got hit by a bus tomorrow that 99% of sports fans would not be upset.

[Rizon]

Maybe they can stick him on a bus. Then push him off a cliff, followed by an anvil, then a puff of a dustcloud when he hits.

Then maybe him and Rosa could have something in common (ie: the bus).

[MikeVic]

Wow... this is horrible.. do the Eagles really still want him?

[AgPete]

Regarding the TO debacle, if there's ever been a better example of karma, I don't know what it is.

[cthomer5000]

This guy may just be able to talk his way completely out of the league if he keeps this up.

[Kodos]

Terrell Owens: The one player who was able to make me enjoy the Cowboys decking someone.

[Suicane75]

As an eagles fan ive been holding my breath and praying that somehow he ends up with us. Not anymore. What an ass.

[wig]

I think the Ravens are the one team that would take his contract, and sit his ass for the next 3 years.

[JAG]

Terrell Owens: The one player who was able to make me enjoy the Cowboys decking someone.

George Teague made my personal Hall of Fame for that moment (along with a nifty playoff performance against Minnesota one year).

[rkmsuf]

This guy may just be able to talk his way completely out of the league if he keeps this up.

I was thinking what would be funny is if he actually gets his wish to be a free agent but it's so late in the process nobody has the big dough and he ends up signing for less than he's making now.

Probably won't happen though as there's always someone willing to offer the big contract...

[AgPete]

George Teague made my personal Hall of Fame for that moment (along with a nifty playoff performance against Minnesota one year).

Yep, I think Teague could get someone to pay for his drinks in just about every sports bar in Dallas for the rest of his life. :)

[RawIsDan]

George Teague made my personal Hall of Fame for that moment (along with a nifty playoff performance against Minnesota one year).

Mine too.

[wishbone]

Say what you want about TO but at least he hasn't hit anyone with a car or had his lazy route-running and blocking documented by ESPN. On sunday for 3 hours there's not a lot of WRs better than him.

That being said, as a Niner fan I am glad they are rid of him one way or another. He is an embarrasment to the franchise and overvalued by 90% of fans and teams it seems. Ravens/Eagles fans just wait til he breaks your heart with a dropped pass on 1st and 10 after making a spectacular effort on 3rd and 8.

[cthomer5000]

While I'm not generally a bit fan of Peter King (I find him to be the ultimate band-wagoneer and ass-kisser in regard to a few players.. Brett Favre certainly being one), I thought King summed up this whole situation as succintly as possible. Think of it as a slightly gentler version of Sabotai's above post (which I also really enjoyed :) )


...Someone has to get on the phone with Owens and his agent, David Joseph, right now and say: Listen, you 9-year-olds, wake up! You blew your chance at free agency and thereby lost your right to dictate where you will play in 2004 and beyond. Go to Baltimore, negotiate a fair contract with the Ravens and get to work on rehabbing your image, which has to be the worst of any football player's since Ryan Leaf. And do all this, hopefully, while talking as little as possible.

[SFL Cat]

Sorry, T.O. would probably wither up and die if he couldn't flap his lips like he does. All I can say is I've seen the guy DROP more easy passes than he has made spectacular catches.

As for Teague decking Owens on the sacred Star....I was with you in spirit, baby!!!

[EagleFan]

Wow... this is horrible.. do the Eagles really still want him?


Two names for you: James Thrash and Todd Pinkston :(




I just wish TO would shut the hell up as it's getting tougher to want him to become an Eagle.

[Draft Dodger]

so, here's my question...

why hasn't TO just sued his damn agent for the $10,000,000 he has lost out on?

[Franklinnoble]

Hey... give T.O. some credit.

I'm surprised he even knows who Rosa Parks is...

[Draft Dodger]

Hey... give T.O. some credit.

I'm surprised he even knows who Rosa Parks is...

he listens to OutKast

[Ksyrup]

so, here's my question...

why hasn't TO just sued his damn agent for the $10,000,000 he has lost out on?
Because he's the guy's only client and I think it's something of a face-saving thing for TO. Kinda like when everyone laughed at Ricky Williams for having a rapper as his agent, TO is standing behind this guy rather than admit that he hired a moron to handle his career.

Well, at least until he's finally sure that he's a Raven, then he'll take this guy to the cleaners.

"Exhibit A, Your Honor...Kyle Freaking Boller!"

[Franklinnoble]

he listens to OutKast

I don't.

Are you saying that OutKast knows who Rosa Parks is?

[Draft Dodger]

I don't.

Are you saying that OutKast knows who Rosa Parks is?

well they named a song after her and got sued for it, so I'm pretty sure they have an idea by now

[Franklinnoble]

well they named a song after her and got sued for it, so I'm pretty sure they have an idea by now

Maybe they should have named the song after Terrell instead...

[Ksyrup]

I think the Ravens are the one team that would take his contract, and sit his ass for the next 3 years.He's only got two years left on the contract, not three.


"When Owens failed to file the request to void the contract, it was believed he had three seasons left.

However, Gene Upshaw, the union's executive director, said there are two years left.

"That was a mistake by the 49ers," Upshaw said. "There are just two years remaining, and we think we have a good case for voiding them."

[Samdari]

That being said, as a Niner fan I am glad they are rid of him one way or another.

Not so fast my friend.

I see the most likely resolution to the current situation is the Ravens simply getting tired of Owens not showing up and rescind the trade. TO will then revert back to becoming the property of the Niners.

[JAG]

Terrell Owens: The one player who was able to make me enjoy the Cowboys decking someone.

For what it's worth, Steve Mariucci gained a lot of respect in my eyes when he suspended him for a game as well.

[cthomer5000]

Not so fast my friend.

I see the most likely resolution to the current situation is the Ravens simply getting tired of Owens not showing up and rescind the trade. TO will then revert back to becoming the property of the Niners.
Exactly. And I fear if he whines long enough he the Ravens will revoke the trade (which they can legally do since he failed to show up for his phsyical), he'll then be back in San Fran... which will eventually release him when it's obvious he's completely untradeable.

Hey, he'll be a free agent then... but at what price? Philly and Baltimore would likely NOT consider signing him at that point... meaning he'll probably cost himself even more money.

[Ksyrup]

According to everything I've read, if the Ravens rescind the trade, Owens automatically becomes a free agent. Quiksand pondered why he would not still be property of the 49'ers, either earlier in this thread or another thread, and I don't understand it either. But regardless of what happens, if TO is not a Raven at the conclusion of this, he will be a free agent, not the property of the 49'ers.

Can anyone explain that?

[Samdari]

which will eventually release him when it's obvious he's completely untradeable.

Hey, he'll be a free agent then... but at what price? Philly and Baltimore would likely NOT consider signing him at that point...

I am not sure he would be completely untradeable. I don't think that this whole charade will cause Philly to not want him. Baltimore would obviously not make a play, and his value is dropping for all other teams, but I think Philly would still offer him, and the Niners, the same deals they did before.

Now, if I were SF, I would release him before taking James Thrash back in trade, but they would almost certainly take a mid round pick from Philly before outright releasing him. Something > Nothing.

[Samdari]

According to everything I've read, if the Ravens rescind the trade, Owens automatically becomes a free agent.

You've read some things from some misinformed people then. No trade in the NFL is complete until all players pass their physicals. If Owens does not show up for a physical, the Ravens can either rescind the trade, or waive the physical. If they rescind, Owens goes back to SF. If they waive, he is the property of the Ravens, at his current contract in both cases. Those are the normal NFL rules. If players could negate trades and become FAs simply by not showing up for their physicals, they would all do so (FA being the holy grail for players) and no trade would ever be completed.

Owens has filed a grievance (actually, the union filed it on his behalf, as per procedure) asking to be declared a free agent. His argument is that he properly filed paperwork to become a FA, and that his rights were not the 49'ers to trade. If this grievance fails (which most people expect it to) either the Ravens or Niners will have Owens under contract for two more years.

The Ravens rescinding the trade will definitely NOT automatically make Owens an FA.

[Ksyrup]

I am not sure he would be completely untradeable. I don't think that this whole charade will cause Philly to not want him. Baltimore would obviously not make a play, and his value is dropping for all other teams, but I think Philly would still offer him, and the Niners, the same deals they did before.

Now, if I were SF, I would release him before taking James Thrash back in trade, but they would almost certainly take a mid round pick from Philly before outright releasing him. Something > Nothing.
Again, all of the articles discussing this trade and the potential rescission of the contract by the Ravens (as well as the union's challenge of the trade) have not indicated that the return of TO to the 49ers is a possible outcome. The trade will either be upheld, at which point Baltimore can keep him or trade him, or he will become a free agent. There is no other possible outcome, if every article I've read on this subject is to be believed.

And again, I do not understand why that is, but it does appear to be the case.

[Ksyrup]

The Ravens rescinding the trade will definitely NOT automatically make Owens an FA.
According to articles on ESPN, CNN/SI, CBS Sportsline, etc., it will. Notice also that the union's challenge is asking that Owens be made a free agent. Either there's an awful lot of bad reporting going on, or there's some league technicality that makes this the case.

[Samdari]

According to articles on ESPN, CNN/SI, CBS Sportsline, etc., it will. Notice also that the union's challenge is asking that Owens be made a free agent. Either there's an awful lot of bad reporting going on, or there's some league technicality that makes this the case.

You are confusing two different scenarios. Him winning his appeal and being declared an FA, and the Ravens rescinding the trade because he did not pass (by not showing up to) his physical have very different ramifications. There are two ways this trade could end up being reversed, and you seem to not be seeing the difference between the two.

If he wins his appeal, the trade is overturned and he becomes a FA.

If he loses his appeal, he will NOT be an FA, he will be bound by the terms of his current contract. If TO still refuses to report to the Ravens, they can back out of the deal, and he would remain property of the Niners.

EDIT: Note that most people expect TO to have a very small chance of winning his appeal.

[Ksyrup]

I understand the difference. My only point in bringing up the union's grievance is that if they had another argument to use to rescind the trade, they would be alternatively arguing that the trade be rescinded on other grounds (aside from his agent's supposed screw-up) and that he be returned to the 49ers. But that is not part of their grievance.

Anyway, here's the report that Quiksand and I both reacted to in a different thread:

"In the interim, the Ravens will also likely have a chance to rescind the trade. Owens is scheduled to report to the Ravens on Monday to take a physical, but a source told The Post that Owens will refuse to show up.

Since all players must pass a physical before their trade can be completed, the Ravens could choose to overturn the trade or waive that provision if Owens fails to take the exam.

The Ravens, if the trade is nullified, would have the second-round pick in the upcoming draft -- which they sent to San Francisco for Owens -- returned to them. At that point, Owens would also become an unrestricted free agent."


Now, the reporter(s) may have gotten this confused as well, or not explained it clearly, but on the other hand, I have yet to read an article that says that if the trade was (or had been) rescinded by the Ravens or overturned by the league, TO would have gone back to the 49ers. Rather, this article suggests he would become a free agent.

[Samdari]

I understand the difference. My only point in bringing up the union's grievance is that if they had another argument to use to rescind the trade, they would be alternatively arguing that the trade be rescinded on other grounds (aside from his agent's supposed screw-up) and that he be returned to the 49ers. But that is not part of their grievance.

Anyway, here's the report that Quiksand and I both reacted to in a different thread:

"In the interim, the Ravens will also likely have a chance to rescind the trade. Owens is scheduled to report to the Ravens on Monday to take a physical, but a source told The Post that Owens will refuse to show up.

Since all players must pass a physical before their trade can be completed, the Ravens could choose to overturn the trade or waive that provision if Owens fails to take the exam.

The Ravens, if the trade is nullified, would have the second-round pick in the upcoming draft -- which they sent to San Francisco for Owens -- returned to them. At that point, Owens would also become an unrestricted free agent."


Now, the reporter(s) may have gotten this confused as well, or not explained it clearly, but on the other hand, I have yet to read an article that says that if the trade was (or had been) rescinded by the Ravens or overturned by the league, TO would have gone back to the 49ers. Rather, this article suggests he would become a free agent.

The author did confuse it, or not explain it clearly. As noted above, there are two ways the trade can be reversed, and in one of those scenarios, he would not become a FA.

EDIT: I think the reason the second scenario is not being discussed much is because the Ravens are (publicly) stating that they will not under any circumstances rescind the trade.

[QuikSand]

I'm still baffled by this. I'm used to errant reporting when it comes to NFL contracts, but this is different.

1. 49ers agrees with Ravens to trade player to them for draft pick.
2. Something happens, trade gets voided.
3. Draft pick goes back to Ravens, player goes back to 49ers. Simple.

What am I missing?


My best guess is that since there are two simultaneous stories going on here (the 49ers/Ravens/Eagles trade saga, and the previous Owens/agent/opt-out saga) that they are getting confused. I'm thinking there are two stories here, getting intertwined:

#1 - The NFLPA, if it gets its way and voids the contract, will cause Owens to become a free agent.

#2 - Owens, if he gets his way and voids the trade, will go back to the 49ers, who would then (presumably) deal him to the Eagles.

My best guess remains that the press is comfusing these if/then scenarios, using the "if" from #2 and the "then" from #1.

[Ksyrup]

That would make sense, absent some technical rule that none of us is aware of.

[Passacaglia]

That would make sense


Then you try explaining it to Owens in a few weeks.

[Rhone Ranger]

There are three possible immediate outcomes:

(1) The NFLPA wins its claim that Owens should be a free agent. RESULT: The trade is voided and Owens is declared a free agent. The 49ers return the 2nd round draft choice to the Ravens. LIKELIHOOD: Unlikely, because the NFLPA apparently has a weak case.

(2) The NFLPA loses its claim and the Ravens willingly void the trade because Owens refuses to show up for a physical exam. RESULT: Owens returns to the 49ers under existing contract. LIKELIHOOD: Unlikely, because the Ravens appear firm on wanting to keep Owens. :(

(3) The NFLPA loses its claim and either the Ravens willingly waive the requirement for a physical exam or Owens takes the exam and passes. RESULT: Owens stays with the Ravens under existing contract. LIKELIHOOD: This is the most probable outcome.

[QuikSand]

I agree, RR - those are the three scenarios as I understand them (I neglected to spell out the "none of the above" option that you elaborate as your item 3) . However, there have been multiple media reports that don't fit any of them - thus the confusion.

[Ksyrup]

That sounds right...maybe you should write for the AP?

[sachmo71]

Terrell Owens: The one player who was able to make me enjoy the Cowboys decking someone.


HOLY SHIT!!!! :eek: