Specter of antitrust: Senator says T.O. mistreated

ESPN ^ | Nov. 29, 2005 | Associated Press

[Niteranger68]

PHILADELPHIA -- Sen. Arlen Specter is accusing the National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles of treating Terrell Owens unfairly. The Pennsylvania Republican says he might refer the matter to the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is the chairman. Specter said at a news conference Monday in Harrisburg it was "vindictive and inappropriate" for the league and the Eagles to forbid the all-pro wide receiver from playing and to prevent other teams from talking to him. He said, "It's a restraint of trade for them to do that" and "it might be a violation of antitrust laws." Some other legal experts disagree. Arbitrator Richard Bloch said last week the team's actions were supported by the labor agreement between the league and the NFL Players Association. The Eagles suspended Owens on Nov. 5 for four games without pay for "conduct detrimental to the team." They deactivated him with pay on Sunday after the suspension ended.

[Primetimedonna]

Obviously Specter doesn't have enough to do! Somebody may want to remind him that he has SCOTUS hearings coming up!

As a 49er Fan let me assure Specter that Owens IS an IDIOT and is perfectly capable of defending himself. He has worn out his welcome in football with his whining and self serving actions. It is offensive to think that the Congress feels a necessity to come to his defense!

[Eagle of Liberty]

I would like to see one of the following Senate procedures happen:

Expulsion (see below for Censure cases)

Article I, Section 5, of the United States Constitution provides that "Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member."

Since 1789, the Senate has expelled only fifteen of its entire membership. Of that number, fourteen were charged with support of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In several other cases, the Senate considered expulsion proceedings but either found the member not guilty or failed to act before the member left office. In those cases, corruption was the primary cause of complaint.

In the entire course of the Senate's history, only four members have been convicted of crimes. They were: Joseph R. Burton (1905), John Hipple Mitchell (1905), Truman H. Newberry (1920), and Harrison Williams (1981). Newberry's conviction was later overturned. Mitchell died. Burton, Newberry, and Williams resigned before the Senate could act on their expulsion.

Censure

A less severe form of discipline used by the Senate against its members is censure (sometimes referred to as condemnation or denouncement). A censure does not remove a senator from office. It is a formal statement of disapproval, however, that can have a powerful psychological effect on a member and his/her relationships in the Senate. Since 1789 the Senate has censured nine of its members.

[JohnnyZ]

Guess you admit I was right if you can only whine in reply.

[JohnnyZ]

For the money they paid t.o. they should expect loyalty.

For the money they paid T.O., they got what they knew they were going to get.

The Iggles have themselves to blame. Can't sign a self-centered player and then cry about it later.

[JohnnyZ]

Sorry, OldFriend, but TO demonized himself. He was a disruption and a thorn in the Eagles months before he said anything about McNabb.

You have to admit that lots of athletes have done as much or worse and they've been forgiven by the media and fans.

Remember Jason Kidd, the wifebeater? I hear he's a model citizen.

Lots of athletes are given a pass for their behavior; certain ones are demonized -- not that they don't deserve it, but it's anything but equitable.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I get the impression that Snarlin' Arlen is the 'TO' of the Senate. Heavy sigh.

I am sooo glad to know that one of my elected Senators (though I have never voted for him) is busily defending the 'rights' of overpaid, whiny atheletes.

[JustAnotherOkie]

I think T.O. is the one crying. The Birds took action and fired him and saved a ton of money and got a whole lot of publicity.

[kylaka]

Gimmie a break. Ira hasn't been charged with murder again in what 25, 30 years. He's been a model fugitive the entire time, without so much as an assault or parking ticket against him.

Boy, are you gonna be surprised when Arlen submits his name for the Nobel peace prize. Heck, compared to Hitler or Stalin, Ira's just a garden variety Boy Scout.

[Niteranger68]

Guess you admit I was right if you can only whine in reply.

We all know you are always right. Just a cursory glance at the history of your posts tells us that. Geez.....

[JohnnyZ]

We all know you are always right.

Of course, I think it's worse to attack a teammate and put him in the hospital than to criticize him, and if the penalties aren't proportionate then someone is being let off easy or someone is getting screwed or both.

Of course I'm right. You'd agree if it didn't interfere with your "TO is Satan" mantra. Relax a little, get some perspective.

[Niteranger68]

[JohnnyZ]

[OldFriend]

Compared to some of the miscreants playing football, it's hard to pretend TO is worse than the guys with the rap sheets.

He spoke the truth when he bashed McNabb.....just my opinion. McNabb quit during the Super Bowl and for that he deserved the disrespect he got from TO.

[OldFriend]

McNabb quit during the Super Bowl last year.

When Rush said that the media had a vested interest in seeing that a black quarterback succeed, he was right. Nothing race baiting about it. Unless of course, only some people are entitled to an opinion.

TO is a jerk. so???????

He's also a damned good football player.

[OldFriend]

Specter got bail for Einhorn. UGH

[Russ]

TO's rap sheet goes back to his stint with the 49er's and his trashing of Garcia. The fact is he can't stand a quarterback, or anyone else getting more publicity or credit than he does. Just look at what his teammates in San Francisco thought of him. No matter how good he is, he's a cancer to any team he joins and, like a cancer, will eventually bring that team down.

[OldFriend]

A rap sheet? You are using a Klinton dictionary.

TO is a jerk, but a talented jerk and being a jerk does not mean you get to say he has a rap sheet.

[Russ]

You're right. I used the term out of context. You're right a second time: He IS a jerk...

[Cyclone59]

What is do flipping important about having a black QB make it?

Two words - Doug Williams

If that is so important, should we all feel sorry for Dan Marino - he's got great numbers, but no ring.