Lost in the hoopla regarding the sudden and extremely bizarre ejection of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens from training camp on Wednesday is the very real possibility that the team can -- and likely will -- put the hammer to Owens in a manner that potentially prevents him from ever playing pro football again.
We reported several weeks ago that the team planned to make an example out of Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus if T.O. didn't show for camp and/or if he reported and acted like a buffoon. Now, word is that the Eagles will follow through on their intentions.
Owens won't be traded, since that would give him what he wants. We've determined via a solid league source that rampant rumors of a Owens-for-Hines Ward swap with the Steelers are bogus, and that the Eagles have no interest in Ward, who's a contract holdout in Pittsburgh.
But it appears T.O. also won't be cut, since that would give him the freedom he so desperately craves. Instead, the Eagles will sit on his rights until he reports to the team and behaves. If he doesn't, he'll continue to be suspended and/or otherwise disciplined.
Eventually, he won't get credit against the 2005 season of his contract, and the team won't face the requirement of paying him $7.5 million in March 2006 or releasing him.
And, eventually, he'll have to play another year for the Eagles before he can get credit for the 2005 season of his contract.
Along the way, the Eagles will go after a chunk of his signing bonus, which as ESPN.com's John Clayton reports can be forfeited for conduct detrimental to the team.
Owens, of late, is putting the "mental" in detrimental. His head ain't right (to use a technical term), and if he doesn't get it on straight, it's likely that he never will play football again.
CLARETT TO BE POOREST MAN ON IR?
In today's edition of "We Told You So", our sources in Denver tell us that Maurice "Don't Show Me the Money" Clarett is eventually headed to the Injured Reserve list based on the groin problems he is currently having. Per the source, the Broncos have realized that taking The Litigation One in the 3rd round was a colossal mistake -- and rather than outright releasing him with an injury settlement they will put him on IR with the comments like "we look forward to getting him back next year, he has potential, blah, blah" rather than the more accurate "we're fu--in' numbskulls for taking this turd at all."
Also note that notwithstanding the media reports today that the MRI on Clarett's junk area was negative ("uh -- son -- please have your groin smile for the camera"), our source confirmed that the team still thinks that Pimp Daddy will land on the IR.
As for Mr. "Jim Brown In His Mind, Charlie Brown On The Field" -- he'll make $230,000 while on IR (sources tell us that there is no lower split in his contract) -- which is a hell of lot less than the 400 or so large he would have pocketed by now in signing bonus if he had cut short the ongoing "I'm a Legend In My Own Mind" routine.
We reported several weeks ago that the team planned to make an example out of Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus if T.O. didn't show for camp and/or if he reported and acted like a buffoon. Now, word is that the Eagles will follow through on their intentions.
Owens won't be traded, since that would give him what he wants. We've determined via a solid league source that rampant rumors of a Owens-for-Hines Ward swap with the Steelers are bogus, and that the Eagles have no interest in Ward, who's a contract holdout in Pittsburgh.
But it appears T.O. also won't be cut, since that would give him the freedom he so desperately craves. Instead, the Eagles will sit on his rights until he reports to the team and behaves. If he doesn't, he'll continue to be suspended and/or otherwise disciplined.
Eventually, he won't get credit against the 2005 season of his contract, and the team won't face the requirement of paying him $7.5 million in March 2006 or releasing him.
And, eventually, he'll have to play another year for the Eagles before he can get credit for the 2005 season of his contract.
Along the way, the Eagles will go after a chunk of his signing bonus, which as ESPN.com's John Clayton reports can be forfeited for conduct detrimental to the team.
Owens, of late, is putting the "mental" in detrimental. His head ain't right (to use a technical term), and if he doesn't get it on straight, it's likely that he never will play football again.
CLARETT TO BE POOREST MAN ON IR?
In today's edition of "We Told You So", our sources in Denver tell us that Maurice "Don't Show Me the Money" Clarett is eventually headed to the Injured Reserve list based on the groin problems he is currently having. Per the source, the Broncos have realized that taking The Litigation One in the 3rd round was a colossal mistake -- and rather than outright releasing him with an injury settlement they will put him on IR with the comments like "we look forward to getting him back next year, he has potential, blah, blah" rather than the more accurate "we're fu--in' numbskulls for taking this turd at all."
Also note that notwithstanding the media reports today that the MRI on Clarett's junk area was negative ("uh -- son -- please have your groin smile for the camera"), our source confirmed that the team still thinks that Pimp Daddy will land on the IR.
As for Mr. "Jim Brown In His Mind, Charlie Brown On The Field" -- he'll make $230,000 while on IR (sources tell us that there is no lower split in his contract) -- which is a hell of lot less than the 400 or so large he would have pocketed by now in signing bonus if he had cut short the ongoing "I'm a Legend In My Own Mind" routine.
