Posted on 03/24/2006 10:33:19 AM PST by cgk
We might have figured out why Paul Tagliabue is really retiring in July.
Its not because, at the age of 65, the time is right and, besides, what more can he achieve as commissioner of the most successful sports league in North America?
On the surface, it looks as if Tagliabue gets to take a final bow after brokering peace in our time between the NFL owners and players.
It doesnt get any better than that.
But Tags isnt fooling the Monday Morning Quarterback. We have a suspicion that he is stepping aside at about the same time that The Book hits the fan.
Youve heard, of course, havent you? Terrell Owens of the Cowboys (and that does still sound strange) is writing a book oddly enough it will be published in July just in time for training camp that his editor calls one of the most candid ever written about professional football, and perhaps any other sport.
David Rosenthal, an executive with Simon & Schuster, released a statement that said in part, Its an important chapter in the long-term struggle for players rights in the NFL.
Life sure is a struggle when one team fires you and you sign a three-year contract with another suitor that can potentially net you $25 million.
Someone please pass the Advil to Bill Parcells. He may have coached his share of bad apples and renegades in his day, but its already beginning to look as if T.O. will go to the top of the list before he plays even his first exhibition game in a Cowboys uniform.
Speaking of which, the Cowboys reported that 1,500 Owens jerseys were sold online in a 48-hour period after the signing was announced.
So, even though the MMQB has gotten e-mail from folks who say they are washing their hands of the Cowboys, they appear to be in the minority.
The Cowboys are also reporting healthy ticket sales. Given all this positive marketing news, T.O. and Simon and Schuster must be rubbing their hands together in gleeful anticipation of a best seller.
How ironic would it be if Owens book, currently titled Ineligible Receiver: The Real Story of My Journey from the Super Bowl to the Sidelines, combined with his $10 million salary for this coming season, makes him significantly wealthier than if he had remained a good soldier and stayed with the Eagles?
Oh, and dont forget that Owens has reached agreement to star in his own reality TV series as well. Hes becoming a cottage industry by being the worst team player perhaps in NFL history.
This is the part of being commissioner that Tagliabue probably isnt going to miss.
The reality, though, is that every league is a players league.
Its like Hollywood. There are producers and directors, screenwriters and cinematographers, but its the actors and actresses in front of the camera who, as a rule, cash in the most and get all the glory.
You can talk about you want about clichés like Theres no I in team, and No one is bigger than the team, but look where that got the Eagles.
Cowboys fans may hate their division rivals and revel in this turn of events, but remember another cliché, What goes around, comes around.
Owens book will be a distraction in Cowboys training camp. Thats a given.
The revelations (and this cant be good for Donovan McNabb) will be the talk of the league.
Can Parcells do anything about it? Can he take Owens aside now and ask him what the book will reveal?
Can he devise a game plan to minimize the impact on training camp?
Owens is supposed to take part in off-season conditioning drills at Valley Ranch this week. Its a good time for him to sit down with his new coach and owner and figure this out.
Morals and ethics aside, Owens makes the Cowboys better as long as his focus is on the field.
Books and TV reality shows are another matter.
Its funny how Cowboys fans are anticipating the two games against the Eagles this season.
Revenge would be sweet for T.O.
But, remember, that book may also give the Eagles all the incentive they need, too.
Pass another Advil to Parcells, wont you?
Pete Alfano, a senior writer at the Star-Telegram, has been covering sports for 37 years.
The rap song posted on his website hours after the signing, now a "tell-all book" just in time for summer camp, and a reality show. T.O. doesn't want to talk about the past... (until his book comes out, anyway)...he's a changed man!
Has Parcells said anything about T.O. yet, one way or another?
Thanks for taking TO off our hands. Best of luck to you. < guffaw >
Signed,
Andy Reid
It's going to be fun to watch as a Giants fan. And at least we dodged the Keyshawn bullet.
I'd say it's going to be fun to watch as an Eagles fan too, but I have questionable faith in McNabb's ability to let things slide off his back. That book is sure to be a doozy. I hope he just "no comment"'s through all the media questions we know are coming his way.
Just another explosion witing to happen. T.O is selfish and he is gonna start looking at Drew Bledsomuch the second he is open and is not thrown a pass.
GUARANTEED!
If T.O. signing with Dallas surprised you, Mr. Idealistic Sports Fan Who Didn't Think Money Could Make Everyone Forget That Whole Thing With The Dance On The Star, bettors saw it coming. In January, the Cowboys opened at 25-1 to win next year's Super Bowl; as of last Monday, they were 8-1 at Caesars. Only New England, Indianapolis and Seattle have shorter odds.
There are still Cowboy fans? Who knew?
I wonder who the real sheep are--the people who are giving Owens a chance, or the people who keep on talking about him for the sake of readership?
This Bucs fan can tell you that Keyshawn is a choir boy compared to T.O. That guy is a cancer.
Randy Galloway is a Democrat. 'Nuff said.
Signed, an Iggle fan.
Me too, and I'm a Cowboys fan. I can't wait until we play the Beagles next season with T.O. in the lineup. I HATE the friggin' Beagles!
I really enjoy the idea of TO going to Dallas. I've hated Jerry Jones since he fired Landry, hated Parcells since he bailed on the Pats in such a pathetic way, hated TO since he started bad mouthing Garcia (not that I dig Garcia it was just a pathetic display of childishness that reflected poorly on the sport), and they're building a dome. If I sat down to design a team that existed for the sole purpose of me hating them I couldn't have done as thurough a job as Jones has.
A quick NFC East ping.
It seems as though T.O.'s fitting in just fine. (wink wink)
I have always, um er, disliked the Cowboys with a passion.
May they lose and lose often.
Tough Odor just reinforces my dislike.
It's not a Texas thing because I was fine with the Oilers and I'm fine with the Texans.
But dem Cowboys are not America's team and Jerry Jones, bleech.
(but I have to admit I do like Dandy Don Meredith and always will.)
I like pre-Jones Dallas, though I was never into the "America's Team" label. But since Jones they just keep collecting reasons to hate them.
PING A DING
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.