Posted on 11/09/2005 9:59:45 AM PST by 7thson
I'm sure by now you and everyone else in the football world is tired of hearing about Terrell Owens. Believe me, I'm tired of talking about it.
But when I think of this situation, I can't help but be reminded that in this day and age, "bad" behavior is still often rewarded in the end. Whatever happened to the good old days when older players kept the young ones in check? When a rookie came into the game and veterans taught them respect by having them do things like pick up laundry bags or sing at the training table or bring Friday breakfast to their position meetings? These tasks and others like them allowed the veterans to make youngsters a part of the team. But more importantly, it gave younger players a feeling of respect for the game, an acceptance of the traditions that have been passed down from previous generations.
Somewhere along the line, that process fractured. The fact of the matter is, more and more players are showing less respect for the game, partly as a result of that failed indoctrination process. It's become all about showboating and celebrating after routine plays, about getting time in front of the camera after you score. So many players today would rather show up guys from the other team or pad their own stats (and wallets) than go about their business and pursue the ultimate prize, a Super Bowl win.
I'm only saying all this because I honestly feel that there is some team out there who will give T.O. another chance. I want to be perfectly clear when I make this next statement: I don't think Terrell Owens should be forever banned from the game, either. I think he will soon wind up truly missing the game, and the game will miss his skill and flair. I honestly believe that if he gets a chance with any team, he should earn a minimum-salary contract, with numerous incentives built in. I point to the approach the Miami Dolphins took with fellow receiver David Boston, who signed for the minimum but worked in a number of incentives. T.O. is too good a talent not to wind up somewhere, but I do not think he should be rewarded with a hefty contract right away.
I'm sure by now some readers are wondering just how the game will miss him. Well, let's not forget that, for the most part, T.O.'s celebrations used to be entertaining and refreshing. He has even earned a reputation as something of an innovator, for without .O., players like Chad Johnson and Joe Horn would not be trying so hard to add their own creativity. Aside from that, T.O. has the kind of work ethic common to most great athletes. I've never questioned his professionalism on the football field. It's only what he's done off the field that I have problems with.
My point is that as long as players in the league think they are untouchable, they will never start to see poor behavior as being inappropriate. And things will never get better if these types of players are rewarded with hefty contracts and the promise of keeping a job in the NFL. This game has been played professionally for over 80 years, and for the most part it's been a great run. Many great people have worked hard to make it what it is today.
I do appreciate the fact that there is still room for creativity and expression. Michael Irvin was the first wide receiver I saw get up and make the first-down expression, and that has since become a popular move. Since then, we've seen player after player do his part to be creative and different.
But this is not an individual sport, and there is no room in the game for players to think they can do it alone. So when you turn against your teammates time and time again only to apologize when it's convenient to your personal gain, then it's easily seen as not heartfelt and difficult to accept.
There is nothing wrong with being critical of your co-workers or your employer. But this is a case where one person has taken the matter way too far, and it's been accompanied by a steady whining and complaining about everything.
Grow up. Or, even better, just shut up and play football.
It's not the celebration after scores that bothers me (so much). It's guys jumping up and down and flexing after tackling someone for a six-yard gain, or a guy making a first down who feels we all need to see his individual expression of creativity, that bugs me.
In a slightly different context, I'll just use the famous quote from baseball owner Bill Veeck: "It's not the high price of stardom that bothers me, it's the high price of mediocrity."
As for me, I don't care if Owens sees another NFL field. The game will go on long after he's gone.
Whatever dude. Hey, Sports Center is on. Don't miss the next exciting chapter of the T.O. saga!!!
Do you like the Giants or the Cowboys? If neither, why do you dislike the Redskins?
What was so pitiful last Sunday was Irvin stated that everybody has the right to free speech in America. Do these guys remember what happened to Rush last year when he had the audacity to question McDrab?
Unfortunately, being a Redskins fan, controlled by the boy-owner, we are in that latter group. I think Gibbs is keeping him in line though.
Nope. Just a consistent train of thought from one paragraph to the next.
Daniel Snyder is a giantic colon obstruction. And its the home team for D.C. which is a hotbed of evil. Its the 'home team' for those professional politicians who have long forgotten what is is like to actually live in their own states. And Philly is just chock full of crime, corruption and democrats (not necessarily in that order). I don't know whose brother they are talking about but I've never seen much signs of any kind of love there unless you include their PR campaign to get make it a gay destination city. Although they have a great downtown which I highly recommend for tourists who are not there just to have sex.
I was going to reply that I thought your rational for disliking the Washington and Philly teams were a little off-base, but then I remembered my dislike for all Atlanta teams.
dittos. (Although I do like Michael Vick).
I am convinced that the downfall of T.O. in Philadelphia began with T.O.'s association with (agent) Drew Rosenhaus. ANY longtime Philadelphia Eagles fan could have told those two that going back to the Eagles' organization to "renegotiate" a contract that had just been signed the previous year was a really, REALLY stupid idea - - a complete non-starter, NEVER going to happen.
What I would like to know is how the association between T.O. and Drew Rosenhaus came into being. Did Rosenhaus approach T.O. at some point and whisper in his ear that he could get him a juicier deal? Or did T.O. wake up one morning, decide he didn't have a good enough contract, fire his manager, and then seek out Drew Rosenhaus to approach the Eagles about "renegotiating"?
One thing I know for sure is that Drew Rosenhaus doesn't get a dime unless there is a new contract signed. If it was Rosenhaus who approached T.O. and started him on his road to career suicide, then the rest of the NFL deserves to know just how greedy and incompetent Rosenhaus is. (Of course, T.O. would be complicent in his own downfall by virtue of his own greed and naivette. Could somebody like T.O. really be manipulated by a sleaze like Rosenhaus so easily?)
So anyway, if anybody knows for sure how those two got together, I would love to hear the details.
Regards,
LH
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