Posted on 11/28/2005 4:32:37 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Specter: NFL may have violated anti-trust laws on T.O.
By Amy Worden INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Sen. Arlen Specter today accused the NFL of potentially violating anti-trust laws in its treatment of Terrell Owens and said he is investigating the matter.
Speaking at a news conference in Harrisburg, Specter said the NFL and the Eagles have effectively "blacklisted" Owens from football by forbidding him to play and prohibiting other teams from talking to him.
"It's a restraint of trade for them to do that and the thought crosses my mind it might be a violation of anti-trust laws," Specter said. "The NFL can have whatever rules it wants on authorizing suspension or keeping you on the team for the balance of the year, but they can't violate the law."
Specter said he began looking into the possibilty of anti-trust violations this morning after reading an account of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' alleged "tampering" with Owens.
"The NFL has a limited anti-trust exemption for revenue-sharing but they are subject to the anti-trust laws like everyone else," Specter said.
The Eagles have filed a complaint with the NFL accusing Jones of tampering because of comments the Dallas Cowboys owner made on a radio show regarding a question about Owens.
When asked whether he would consider signing the Eagles' suspended receiver, Jones initially said he was "deliberately avoiding saying whether or not the Cowboys would be interested."
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
I think he's making it up as he goes. Or whichever way the wind blows.
Specter said that while he is no fan of Owens, he feels the league's treatment of him is "vindictive and inappropriate."What the heck is going on with this guy?
"I am madder than hell at what he has done in ruining the Eagles season or doing his utmost to ruin the season," he said. "I think he's in flagrant breach of his contract. Eagles would be in their rights to not pay him another dime perhaps even sue him for damages they have sustained, but I do not believe personally it is appropriate to punish him. He's not committed a crime, he's committed a breach of contract."
I think that Spector's brain may have taken a TO!
This is what happens when you let Congress meddle in baseball.
Right on! God help me he's my senator too. Here's the explanation for his typically slimy behavior: by sticking up for TO he thinks he's currying favor with black voters (he's probably had a poll done) just like when he came out against the young Jewish man in NY who shot his hoodlum attackers on the subway.
I saw this quote on a minor league football website "T.O. is digging his own grave, with his mouth."
Did anyone notice how fast Jessie backed off of this one?
"Specter also defended Ira Einhorn, IIRC. Einhorn murdered his girlfriend, stuffed her in a steamer trunk and moved to France."
...not to mention that bumblin', stumblin', rumbln', tumblin' bullet in 1963...
He's a puckered starfish *
R3
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