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NFL: Owens to return after suspension
By Jeremy Harness November 22, 2005 |
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PHILADELPHIA--Richard Bloch, the arbitrator on the Terrell Owens arbitration with the Philadelphia Eagles, indicated last Friday that Owens might be back on the playing field as soon as the suspension phase of his four game suspensions runs out. Bloch is expected to make his final ruling on Wednesday, according to media reports circulating today. Owens who was suspended for a combination of things including; not showing up for training camp last spring, arguing in front of the team and staff on the practice field with head coach Andy Reid, publicly criticizing Eagles quarterback Donavon McNabb and calling McNabb a hypocrite and faking injuries. Owens other actions included going on Miami radio and saying the Eagles organization have no class and questioned the Eagles loyalty to Owens after scoring his 100 career touchdown, "if it was somebody else they would have popped fireworks all over the stadium" said Owens at the time on his Miami radio program . The final item was the brawl with former Eagle Hugh Douglas in the Eagles dressing room following practice, which set off the suspension. The NFL Players Association has said that the punishment Owens received was over excessive. Owens has now missed two ball games out of his four game suspensions and four game de-activation. The Eagles are asking for $1.8 from Owens for missing training camp out of his $9 million signing bonus. The Eagles have stated that they are dead set to allow Owens to return to the team. Attending the arbitration last Friday were Owens agent Drew Rosenhaus, Head Coach Andy Reid, Team President Joe Banner, Offensive Coordinator Brad Childress, Head Athletic Trainer Rick Burkholder, and Douglas. Its not confirmed if any or all testified at the hearing however it was reported that Coach Reid testified for as long as four to five hours about Owens and what went on this past season. Reid apparently was going over the incidents and then some listed above. Owens could be unconditionally released by the Eagles after the four game suspensions and picked up by another NFL team, which is the hope in the Owens camp. The Eagles have not said yet whether they would release Owens if ordered to take the wide receiver back after the suspension but it was reported that that would be the plan in the Eagles front office. Teams interested in T.O. have been quiet but speculated Dallas, Oakland, and the New York Jets. Jeremy Harness covers the Oakland Raiders and Monday Night Football for Sportstalk and Silver and Black Illustrated and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1430 KVVN San Jose and 1110 KLIB Sacramento. |
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