Posted on 08/15/2005 5:05:48 PM PDT by randita
Posted on Mon, Aug. 15, 2005
T.O. gets stern letter from Birds
By Bob Brookover
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
PITTSBURGH - The Eagles confirmed an ESPN report that they have sent disgruntled wide receiver Terrell Owens a letter detailing a list of his alleged misdeeds during his 10 days at training camp at Lehigh University.
It was not the first time they had sent the wide receiver such a letter, a team source said. The source indicated the team also sent a letter to Owens in May when he failed to attend the mandatory post-draft camp at the NovaCare Complex.
Owens, who returned to his hometown of Atlanta over the weekend after initially going back to his in-season home in Moorestown, was told to leave training camp by Andy Reid last Wednesday after he got into two heated exchanges with the Eagles' head coach.
The most recent letter to Owens, which the receiver revealed in a conversation with ESPN analyst Michael Irvin, was sent over the weekend. Owens said he received it today.
What the Eagles are essentially doing is putting together evidence in case they decide to file a grievance against the wide receiver for violating the terms of the seven-year contract he signed before last season.
Two team sources said the Eagles hope that they do not have to take any action against Owens, who is scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday when training camp resumes in South Philadelphia. One source said the Eagles did not want their letter to Owens to become public, but noted that it was the receiver's decision to make it public.
"We're still hoping this ends up positively," a team source said.
Owens' return is supposed to be preceded by a meeting with Reid. Drew Rosenhaus, the high-profile agent for the wide receiver, did not immediately return phone calls today. Rosenhaus and Owens both said last week that he would rejoin the team on schedule. Owens, however, made it clear that he had no plans to change his attitude, which led to his seven-day exile by Reid.
"My attitude is not going to change," Owens said. "The same way I came into training camp... working diligently and honoring my contract, that will remain the same. But as far as me going in there and changing, nothing is going to change. You'll see me come in Wednesday, I'm going to be in my same Army fatigues, shirt, hat and [with] my headphones on."
The Eagles believe they have the right to recuperate roughly $1.8 million from the $2.3 million signing bonus Owens received last year because the receiver did not attend the mandatory camp in May.
Eagles president Joe Banner has said that Owens will either play under the terms of his contract with the Eagles or he will not play at all this season. Owens is scheduled to make $3.5 million this season, and he and Rosenhaus have campaigned for months that he should receive more money.
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
The letter should have been a pink slip and told him TATA....he's such a jerk anyways
T.O. needs to get cut for his piss poor attitude, Maybe some other prima donna's will take notice around the league.
A stern letter? That'll keep him in line.
They should just give the guy a mult-million dollar slary to play a game he loves then he would have nothing to complain about
yeah, seriously. what happened to the day when they played for love of the game. plus, they are all babies anymore. "I pulled a muscle, I can't play". In the old days, guys would play unless they were on their death bed.
GO COWBOYS!
I thought asphalt was on vacation again.
Can you tell me why he was banned?
Rosenhaus is slime, he's responsible for turning players into selfish, greedy morons. He reminds me of Jay Mohr's character in "Jerry McGuire."
Didn't know Howard could write.
The longer T O is Philly's problem, the happier I am.
See my post #34.
It provides a paper trail if they eventually choose to try to get his contract voided.
There are two great Cowboys who wear or wore number 31 who will be remembered forever:
George Teague- The guy who clocked that @$$hole on the star
&
Roy Williams- Who gave TO a nice TO last year.
Stern letter?
I would vote for "stern kick in the... shin".
PS....I didn't mean to say 'shin' -- but I don't one to get banned.
$2.3 million signing bonus? I don't think so try around $15 million.
This saga is going to hurt the Eagles this year.... Falcons win Super Bowl my bet...
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