The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 15, 2006, Page 15, Image 15
Owens finally released by Eagles
Rob IRaaddi
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — Terrell
Owens is free to play for
any team willing to have
him.
The Philadelphia Eagles
released the exiled Owens
on Tuesday, ending a
tumultuous, two-year
relationship with the wide
receiver.
Owens was due a $5
million roster bonus on
Wednesday, so the Eagles
had to cut him or trade
him before then to avoid
paying him the money.
The move was a formality
because Owens was kicked
off the team in November
following a series of
incidents and infractions,
including repeated criticism
of quarterback Donovan
McNabb.
l ne n-agies announced
the cut in a one-sentence
statement. Team officials
said they would not
comment.
The Eagles gave Owens
and his agent, Drew
Rosenhaus, permission to
talk with other teams in
January. The former All
Pro met with the Denver
Broncos. Miami and Dallas
reportedly have interest in
Owens, and Kansas City
president Carl Peterson has
said he’d consider giving
him a one-year, incentive
laden deal.
Owens helped the Eagles
reach the Super Bowl in his
first season in Philadelphia,
but his problems started
when he demanded a new
contract just one year
into a seven-year, $48.97
million deal.
He criticized
management, feuded with
McNabb, violated team
policies and eventually was
banished seven games into
last season. An arbitrator
upheld the Eagles’ decision
to suspend Owens without
pay for four games and
deactivate him for the final
five games.
Owens was set to earn
base salaries of $770,000
plus $7.5 million in bonuses
in 2006, $5.5 million in
2007, $6.5 million in 2008,
$7.5 million in 2009, and
$8.5 million in 2010.
It’s unlikely he’ll get a
similar deal from another
team.
The Eagles were 17-5
in games Owens played,
including playoffs, and 4-9
without him. They finished
6-10 last year, missing the
playoffs for the first time
since 1999.
Owens came to the
Eagles after eight often
controversial seasons in $an
Francisco with a reputation
for being a playmaker.
However, his selfish
behavior and flamboyant
touchdown celebrations
often overshadowed his
performance on the field.
He caught 77 passes
for 1,200 yards and 14
touchdowns in 2004, and
made a valiant return from
ankle surgery to play in
Philadelphia’s loss to New
England in the Super
Bowl.
From there, it was
downhill.
Owens took his first
verbal shot at McNabb
last April, suggesting
the five-time Pro Bowl
quarterback was tired in
the fourth quarter against
the Patriots.
McNabb responded
harshly, and the two didn’t
speak for a prolonged
period in training camp.
They briefly reconciled
their relationship and
performed well together on
the field — Owens had 47
catches for 763 yards and
six touchdowns in seven
games last year.
Owens was sent home
for one week from training
camp last August after a
heated dispute with coach
Andy Reid.
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Bring a cofrplibefQ bracket to The
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3rd floor of tile Russell House by
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—
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FIRST SECOND
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- Juan Bias / THE GAMECOCK
USC receiver Sidney Rice warms up before spring practice Tuesday. Rice leads a corps
of receivers that includes sophomore Kenny McKinley and a returning Syveile Newton.
spRinc • conunuEDPRomm
to graduation, Spurrier
indicated there was an
emphasis on coaching
the new players at these
positions. “We’re trying
to get these new linemen,
offense and defense, and
linebackers ready to play.
It’s an important spring for
a lot of guys.”
3. Running back
Cory Boyd continued to
look sharp in his second
day of practice, especially
receiving passes out of the
backfield. Boyd missed all
of last season because of
suspension.
With the practice open to
fans and media, more than
100 people showed up at the
Bluff Road practice facility
across from Williams-Brice
Stadium. The players wore
shorts and jerseys but no
pads. The Gamecocks will
participate in their first
contact practice Thursday.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu
BROOID • COMCD FROfim
about Tennessee’s chances of
making it past that point.
Watch out for Gonzaga.
They played a weak
schedule and racked up wins
going undefeated in a weak
conference. But even so,
they have the easiest path to
the Final Four.
They are in the bracket
with Memphis, the weakest
No. 1 seed, and UCLA, the
weakest number two seed
(Tennessee doesn’t even
count).
Plus, Adam Morrison is
single-handedly bringing
the White Trash ‘Stache
back to the forefront of
American facial hair. And I
respect that.
Don’t be a hero and pick
Air Force. Listen, I love the
Air Force. It is fantastic. My
brother-in-law is in the Air
Force. But Air Force isn’t
going to beat Illinois. Air
Force lofct to New Mexico,
BYU, San Diego State and
Wyoming (twice).
Air Force couldn’t beat
Illinois if Dee Brown and
his knee socks were the
only two Fighting Illini who
showed up — and his knee
socks had a pulled groin.
Finally, if you really want
to make good picks, just ask
the person who knows the
least about basketball. They
will be the ones sitting at the
computer making comments
like “Oh, I’ll pick Florida! I
wish I had Joakim Noah’s
hair!”
And they will be the ones
bumping me back down to
my home in second place
— again.
Congratulations
to Sigma Phi Epsilon
ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
SIGMA PHI EPSILON IS CURRENTLY
RANKED #2 FOR HIGHEST
FRATERNITY GPA