Arbitrator upholds T.O. suspension - AfroChat - African American

DBlack · November 23rd, 2005, 07:27 PM

I thought there would certainly be some sort of settlement, obviously I was wrong:

For conduct proven to be a "destructive and continuing threat" to his team, an arbitrator ruled Wednesday that the Eagles were justified in suspending their All-Pro receiver for four games -- and are within their rights to deactivate him for the rest of the year.

The Eagles will now look to trade or release Owens before next March, when he's due a $5 million roster bonus.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch wrote in his 38-page decision that there was "no violation of the labor agreement inherent in the club's decision to pay Mr. Owens, but not to permit him to play or practice due to the nature of his conduct and its destructive and continuing threat to the team." After the ruling, the Eagles released a one-paragraph statement thanking Bloch for considering the matter and saying Philadelphia is looking forward to "moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game vs. Green Bay and the rest of the 2005 season and will have no further comment on this issue."

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Corals · November 23rd, 2005, 08:00 PM

So they are going to keep him on the bench until March, why can't they just release him, or is that not in the rule book because of the bonus?

charliekilothree · November 23rd, 2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corals

So they are going to keep him on the bench until March, why can't they just release him, or is that not in the rule book because of the bonus?

I guess it's to make him humble.

jamesfrmphilly · November 25th, 2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corals

So they are going to keep him on the bench until March, why can't they just release him, or is that not in the rule book because of the bonus?

if they released him from his contract then any player who wanted free agency would just raise hell in the locker room until his team capitulated.

Tinkertoy · November 25th, 2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corals

So they are going to keep him on the bench until March, why can't they just release him, or is that not in the rule book because of the bonus?

First, this does not surprise me because the precedent was set when Tampa Bay did the same thing with Keshawn Johnson a couple years ago when he was disruptive, although not as much so as TO.

Second, they will not release him because he could then go to an NFC east team, like NY which has a young mobile QB who can throw downfield, and then TO would be around to haunt Philly for several years (assuming he does not self destruct again soon). They will most likely want to trade him to some team like Arizona or Oakland, then he would not play Philly every year, if at all. See first and foremost this is a business and Philly will look out for its interests long term.

Finally, I think TO will become a free agent after the season. Why, no team will deal for him when they know all they have to do is wait and he'll be free to them.

November 25th, 2005, 11:39 PM

I think's that's messed up! Eagles have no right to hold him. Yeah, I know a contract is a contract, but the contract does not say that they would do this. The contract says they will take back some of his money if this drama happened.

They are treating T.O. like slave property; holding on to him, denying him a chance to make money; and hindering his aging career. Looks like they are already paying back bigtime.

I'm glad McNabb's sorry *** got hurt, and Philly is losing. And T.O. was right "Brett Favre is a much better quarterback".

Xman · November 26th, 2005, 09:40 AM

T.O. got railroaded. And all of are standing around the campfire watching with pleasure as this brother get's a huge dose of injustice.

Crabz.

mistermaxxx · November 27th, 2005, 05:22 AM

the Eagles are Racist&the NFL is a Modern Day Plantation period. you don't mean to tell me that Bill Romonoski can use the N word about Black Players, take Steriods all out in the open,spit into a Players helmet on Monday night football,get a Broadcast spot here&there,Beat up on a teammate&nobody hardly calls Him out as bad as they go after T.O.?? T.O. ain't deserved more than a Game suspension tops with Probably missing a Half of a game.fine Him&be done. the Eagles are getting there Karma right now.they feel they can make an example out of a Brother&this is all this is about really.

DBlack · November 27th, 2005, 10:50 AM

I agree that the NFL still has a lot of racism. But there is no evidence that the Eagles are racist in T.O.'s case, especially when virtually all their skill players (offense and defense) are not only well paid, but team captains and pro-bowl caliber players.

Yes, Romanowski was an *******, and he did get away with what he did. But romanowski played with the Eagles for 2 years, spent his career bouncing around 4 teams; most likely because of his attitude getting along with both black and white players. So how can one other player out of the thousands of pro ballers establish a trend or point?!

We are talking about a guy that was mad about making 7million a year! We are talking about a guy that has a sculpture of himself naked in his Atlanta home. We are talking about a guy that got mad at his team because they didn't 'publically acknowledge' his 100 TD receptions. Cause it aint about TO, it's about the team.

You think the Eagles wanted this kind of season? They knew T.O. was a bitch from his antics in SanFran, but they couldn't resist his talents and sold their souls to the devil. Now that it's blowing up in their faces, they are trying to clean out the cancer and move on.

And again, you are right; they are making an example out of him. They should. No player should become so much of an issue that he can't be coached, can't get along with the team leadership on and off the field.

Think about what the NFL would be like if every team had a T.O. on their team. As a fan, the NFL would be a daily soap opera. Perhaps you like that, but I don't. In regards to what TO has actually done, You fail to address that. In your posts, you also fail to even comment on what TO has done, chosing to blame everyone else instead.

I would be the first to pull the race card even if there is a hint. But it aint there. And those that say it is are simply blinding themselves to the reality and in effect condoning TO's decisions. TO chose to sign his contract. TO chose to continue disrespecting OTHER black players, TO chose to public hate on his team leadership. The fact that other pro players even questioned him on faking injuries just underscores the total lack of respect and trust his Peers and Teammates have for him.

When a team would rather lose games and a promising season than have the leagues best receiver playing, that says all that can possibly be said.

I'm not interested in having a circular debate, so unless you want to introduce something new, or actually discuss what are the facts on the table, this is my last word on it.

Just please Football Gods, don't send TO to Atlanta.

mistermaxxx · November 28th, 2005, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBlack

I agree that the NFL still has a lot of racism. But there is no evidence that the Eagles are racist in T.O.'s case, especially when virtually all their skill players (offense and defense) are not only well paid, but team captains and pro-bowl caliber players.

Yes, Romanowski was an *******, and he did get away with what he did. But romanowski played with the Eagles for 2 years, spent his career bouncing around 4 teams; most likely because of his attitude getting along with both black and white players. So how can one other player out of the thousands of pro ballers establish a trend or point?!

We are talking about a guy that was mad about making 7million a year! We are talking about a guy that has a sculpture of himself naked in his Atlanta home. We are talking about a guy that got mad at his team because they didn't 'publically acknowledge' his 100 TD receptions. Cause it aint about TO, it's about the team.

You think the Eagles wanted this kind of season? They knew T.O. was a bitch from his antics in SanFran, but they couldn't resist his talents and sold their souls to the devil. Now that it's blowing up in their faces, they are trying to clean out the cancer and move on.

And again, you are right; they are making an example out of him. They should. No player should become so much of an issue that he can't be coached, can't get along with the team leadership on and off the field.

Think about what the NFL would be like if every team had a T.O. on their team. As a fan, the NFL would be a daily soap opera. Perhaps you like that, but I don't. In regards to what TO has actually done, You fail to address that. In your posts, you also fail to even comment on what TO has done, chosing to blame everyone else instead.

I would be the first to pull the race card even if there is a hint. But it aint there. And those that say it is are simply blinding themselves to the reality and in effect condoning TO's decisions. TO chose to sign his contract. TO chose to continue disrespecting OTHER black players, TO chose to public hate on his team leadership. The fact that other pro players even questioned him on faking injuries just underscores the total lack of respect and trust his Peers and Teammates have for him.

When a team would rather lose games and a promising season than have the leagues best receiver playing, that says all that can possibly be said.

I'm not interested in having a circular debate, so unless you want to introduce something new, or actually discuss what are the facts on the table, this is my last word on it.

Just please Football Gods, don't send TO to Atlanta.

what is a Race card? when you are Black the cards are always stacked against you. T.O. ain't do nothing wrong for no 8 game suspension. who that is De-activated unless they do something off the field to hurt somebody gonna get 8 games?? the Bottom line is that you ain't said nothing worth me taking serious&you know well&good that T.O. don't deserve no 8 game suspension. you can assualt a teammate&not get a game but speak out on a topic&get dealt like T.O. has? any chump who says that T.O. is faking a Injury don't know the T.O. I know.say what you want about T.O. but the past super Bowl showed you that T.O. plays through it all.dude was playing on One Leg in the super Bowl against New England. ok time to break you off: in san francisco: T.O. is still wanted to return there by some of the players there. Jeff Garcia ain't looking like much now in detriot. same with Steve Mariucci. has T.O. said some things yes,but has He ever been trouble with the law&Snitched on a teammate?? no. has He fought&Injured another teammate?? No. contrary to what you might think teammates have always fought in the locker room&elsewhere. I hope you don't think everybody is all lovey dovey with one another?? the Eagles cancer is there cheapness&Arrogance&also while Mcnabb is a great Quarterback he ain't all that from being called out from playing sub-par. you see T.O. was speaking facts. His Numbers are great again this year if you bothered to notice.there ain't nothing you can say or Prove that shows where a 8 game suspension is needed.