Philadelphia's own... Bad Guy

Prop2 (originally posted December 6)

He’s too cocky. He talks too much. He should learn to keep his mouth shut. If you’re really that good, your talent will speak for itself. He is a distraction. He’s all about himself and not the team. He’s a head case. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

Of course this entry refers to the 50 Cent of football, the guy everyone loves too hate, Terrell Owens. If you have not heard, due to his shenanigans on the field, off the field, and making his discontent with the Philadelphia Eagles organization very public, Terrell Owens is suspended from all team activities, including games and practice. Too harsh of a punishment, possibly; is it justified, definitely. Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles was a match made in hell, from the start. On one end there is a brash player with the talent to assist in his swagger with no remorse and an organization known for not giving in to the players. They both knew what they were getting themselves into, so oh well, oh well. Still, break out the magnifying glass and let’s see what we can find here.

Here’s a brief list of Owens’s antic:

2000: After scoring a touch down, Owens then with the San Francisco 49ers, runs to midfield of Texas Stadium and poses on the Star logo of the Dallas Cowboys.

2002: On Monday Night Football, pulls out a marker from his sock and signs the ball, then tosses it into the stands.
-After scoring a touch down, Owens borrows pom-poms from a cheerleader and dancing in the end zone. Also, that year, he criticized then Coach Steve Mariucci (San Francisco 49ers) for opting to let the clock run out, instead of continuing the assault.

2004: Traded to the Eagles and wasted no time, berating Donovan McNabb much to the delight of the cameras; always waiting for another Owens moment.

2005: Calls out team and quarterback yet again, has a fistfight with his coach, asks for more money, and now serves a season long suspension

So what is the big deal, he is one of the top three receivers in the NFL and he comes to play every day, regardless of injury or fatigue. He just tends to brag a little bit. Well, the first problem, this IS football, not basketball or baseball. These players are “warriors” and the game plays like a battlefield. There is no room for boisterous behavior or ego, everyone person on the field has a part to play for the TEAM to win. Football is the working men sport, the blue collar, put your nose to the grindstone, and get the job done type of sport; which fits right at home in Philadelphia and their football franchise; a sport, a franchise and a city that does not take kindly to a prima-donnas. Think about it, Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, and Joe Horn. The Eagles hung TO out to dry, yet, none of his fellow players so much as raised an eyebrow. If this were any other sport, the player association would jump up and defend TO from a fate worse than down time. Take note, the age of the tactless player is coming to a close. Personal and/or public antics deemed detrimental, will no longer be tolerated in sports. Perhaps, it did start with the NBA dress code.