The Great T.O Debate

[Schaddy]

http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/Dallas.png

The Great T.O Debate

The Eagle has landed…in Dallas. And you know that this is only the tip of the latest Terrell Owens ice berg. Wherever the star wideout goes, controversy, conversation and kookines follows. So did the Cowboys really make the right decision by bringing in arguably the most controversial player in the league? Or will this experiment blow up in their face? The debate will rage on as the season approaches, but the one thing that no one can dispute is that we’ll all be hearing plenty about it; probably more than we want.

What are the positives that Terrell Owens brings to Dallas? He might be the most talented receiver in the league, a big, sturdy target who can snag balls off his shoelaces or high in the air, a player willing to go over the middle, yet also possessing the ability to get deep at will. In the Super Bowl two years ago with the Eagles, Owens was the most dominant player on the game’s biggest stage, hauling in nine balls for more than 100 yards, and on a bum ankle he had broken just over a month before the game. He’s tough, he’s consistent, and he’s got the ability to dominate any opponent in any game.
http://gallery.phillyburbs.com/photos/196/1.aspx
Dallas hasn’t had a big time playmaker at the wide receiver spot since Michael Irvin retired, and the team’s peak and valley recent history despite solid play from other positions suggests that a legit star on the outside could be a key element in returning to the type of postseason success that the ‘Boys enjoyed during the 1990s. Owens can spread the field for not only Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton and the other Dallas wideouts, but he will make life much easier on Jason Witten, who could challenge the upper echelon of the league’s tight ends with more space to work the middle of the field. Drew Bledsoe will enjoy having not only a consistent intermediate threat in Witten, but a consistent wideout and legit deep threat on the outside, and T.O’s ability to get deep and draw multiple defenders should help open up the running game, as well.

Maybe the biggest plus that comes with Dallas signing Owens, however, is that not only will he be playing to show up the Eagles, a bitter rival of the Cowboys, but he’ll be playing to prove to everyone that he isn’t the bad apple he’s been made out to be. If there’s anything we know about T.O, it’s that he comes to play in big games and when there’s something to prove, he’ll prove it. While his off field actions are often contradictory to that nature, when T.O is focused on the gridiron, he has few, if any peers. So it’s guaranteed that he will put up monster numbers to start 2006 in an attempt to not only prove his worth to the Dallas faithful, not only to stick it to his former team, and not only to justify the Cowboys’ quick move of signing him, but to prove to all the people who dislike him that he’s the best around, and that everyone on earth wishes that he was a part of their team.

Not all is bright, however, like everything in the world of Terrell Owens. First of all, given his history of amazingly bad behavior, his new contract with Dallas contains plenty of loopholes for them to dump him if and when he starts acting up. He does have a large chunk of cash up front and guaranteed, but by this time next year, it’s more than possible that he’ll have been dumped by yet another team due to his terrible attitude.
http://www.bluestarboys.com/Gallery/GTeague.jpg
Remember also, that it was T.O who initiated the Battle of the Texas Stadium Star Logo back when he was a 49er. As happy as Dallas might be to have him on their side now, don’t count on them forgetting that display of over the top disrespect to their team, and don’t expect George Teague to shake his hand if the two are ever on the sidelines at the same time.

Speaking of sidelines, what will it look like when T.O goes after Bledsoe on the sidelines with Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones in the immediate vicinity? Many people will tell you that the Tuna is just about the only man in the league who can control T.O, but the fact of the matter is that there’s probably no one who can control Owens, other than himself. And despite the lovefest that Drew Rosenhaus so eloquently described between Jones and Owens at the press conference held to introduce the new star receiver, it would be foolish to assume that not only has Jones forgotten and forgiven Owens for the Star fiasco, or that he’s naïve enough to think that there will be no clashes between Owens and his teammates or coach.

The biggest thing that you can expect from Owens, though, is that he will blow up on his quarterback, Bledsoe, at some point this year, and likely more than once. He’s had major confrontations with Pro Bowl signal callers at every stop he’s made, and Bledsoe is farther on the downside of his career than either Jeff Garcia or Donovan McNabb was at the time he was their teammate. Compounding the situation is the fact that Bledsoe has proven he won’t put up with nonsense from his loud mouth pass catchers; last year he went right back at Keyshawn Johnson when he confronted Bledsoe on the sidelines. Bledsoe is a veteran, and like T.O, has been to a Super Bowl and is a large presence on his team. He won’t take kindly to Owens bashing him or his other teammates, and he’s sure to be at least a bit on the defensive side from day one based on Owens’ history with his quarterbacks.

So how will things play out in the long run? Well, we know that there will be bad rap songs and novels about his "mistreatment" at the hands of the Eagles. I’m sure that Owens will come out on fire; he’ll put up his usual ridiculous numbers and garner plenty of attention for his improved attitude and team-first approach. He’ll likely play some of the best football of his career against the Eagles, and he’ll be a serious Pro Bowl candidate. However, there will be sideline fireworks at some point during the year, no matter how long Owens is able to fool us with his good-guy act. If he leads the Cowboys into the thick of the playoff hunt, his inevitable implosion will be even more damning, further perpetuating his toxic image and hurting yet another team’s championship aspirations. Make no mistake: Owens will be a major force on the Cowboys for a good chunk of the year. He’s too good and has too big a chip on his shoulder not to come out and play great football for a solid stretch. Zebras can’t change their stripes, however, and you can bet the farm that at some point the good natured environment that exists right now will last for the duration of T.O’s contract in Dallas. Like any gamble, signing Terrell Owens could make you a lot of money, or in this case buy you a healthy number of wins; but inevitably the luck will run out and reality will cruelly set in. The question of all hell breaking lose in T.O land is not so much a matter of if as when. And we’ll all be watching for this circus’ three rings to all go up in flames.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060318/capt.txrh10103182116.cowboys_owens_football_txrh10 1.jpg

[TexecutedInTampa]

2006 could be different. It's probably Parcells' last year as HC of Dallas.

He is an ass-kicker like TO has NEVER known. I would love to be a fly on the wall when these two talk one on one.

And I for one think Parcells can shape up this clown TO for one season.

If Parcells can't, the NFL may as well call this clown TO a "banned substance".

And kick his ass out for good.

So we can all get back to football.

[jc09pats]

you should have gotten the TO/Star Dance picture on this article ;):P:rolleyes:

TO will be great for Dallas. He is the best WR when on the field without arguing with others. Parcells will get him in shape-and if a new coach does arise next year (my guess would be their DC if its within the organization), he will be getting a good team with TO knowing Parcells is on speedial on 911 (because TO=more of an emergancy than a fire ;))

[Schaddy]

Yes, Parcells is the toughest coach that T.O will ever have had, but what has happened at his past stops? Some of the most bizarre and offensive behavior ever seen from a player in the NFL. Tuna will get probably get him to play nice for awhile, but I honestly can't fathom T.O really changing; he's been villified for years now and has had MANY chances to change for the better, but he never has. I see no real reason for anything to change, and Bledsoe will be quicker to react to T.O's crap, and he's also not as good a QB as McNabb is or Garcia was.

JC, I was going to put the little .gif of him dancing on the star in, but I decided pictures would look a bit more professional ;)

[nyGiants4life]

Oh come on...this is getting to be ridiculous. I have definitely heard too much about Terrell Owens now. What is so fascinating about this guy? Fact is that Terrell Owens loves to win, loves to compete, loves to put the team on his back and loves his money. When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset. Trust me, this guy will be a team player if the team is successful because he is that great of a competitor but if the team does poorly and he does not do great he will be upset. I think he should not make any contract arguments because he has a great contract at the moment and he needs to prove himself again after the Philadelphia Phiasco. I don't believe that a guy can be as bad as he is made out to be, I just don't think that for no reason he will start fights. Fact is that Terrell Owens will solidify the team and expect his team to be nothing besides the best in the NFL, and if that's the way it is, he will be a happy dude. Dallas 2006 is going to be a scary team...that's for sure.

[Champ]

you should have gotten the TO/Star Dance picture on this article ;):P:rolleyes:

TO will be great for Dallas. He is the best WR when on the field without arguing with others. Parcells will get him in shape-and if a new coach does arise next year (my guess would be their DC if its within the organization), he will be getting a good team with TO knowing Parcells is on speedial on 911 (because TO=more of an emergancy than a fire ;))

Oh please don't let it be Zimmer, the guy sucks.

[Champ]

Oh come on...this is getting to be ridiculous. I have definitely heard too much about Terrell Owens now. What is so fascinating about this guy? Fact is that Terrell Owens loves to win, loves to compete, loves to put the team on his back and loves his money. When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset. Trust me, this guy will be a team player if the team is successful because he is that great of a competitor but if the team does poorly and he does not do great he will be upset. I think he should not make any contract arguments because he has a great contract at the moment and he needs to prove himself again after the Philadelphia Phiasco. I don't believe that a guy can be as bad as he is made out to be, I just don't think that for no reason he will start fights. Fact is that Terrell Owens will solidify the team and expect his team to be nothing besides the best in the NFL, and if that's the way it is, he will be a happy dude. Dallas 2006 is going to be a scary team...that's for sure.

When you put T.O. with Dallas after the whole star thing, you can see why there is such a fuss over him. This will probably be talked about all season, while the media and fans try to find something wrong.

[Schaddy]

:lol2: No one will probably have to look very hard for something to go wrong given T.O's history, man ;)

[Champ]

:lol2: No one will probably have to look very hard for something to go wrong given T.O's history, man ;)

He usually waits a year before he gets out of hand :p

[Schaddy]

He usually waits a year before he gets out of hand :p


Well, in that case, cheers to your one year shot at the Super Bowl :D :p

[gotmilk]

Have fun with the baby that never grows up.

Dallas is really where he started acting like this, with the star thing.

[rainman]

Oh come on...this is getting to be ridiculous. I have definitely heard too much about Terrell Owens now. What is so fascinating about this guy? Fact is that Terrell Owens loves to win, loves to compete, loves to put the team on his back and loves his money. When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset. Trust me, this guy will be a team player if the team is successful because he is that great of a competitor but if the team does poorly and he does not do great he will be upset. I think he should not make any contract arguments because he has a great contract at the moment and he needs to prove himself again after the Philadelphia Phiasco. I don't believe that a guy can be as bad as he is made out to be, I just don't think that for no reason he will start fights. Fact is that Terrell Owens will solidify the team and expect his team to be nothing besides the best in the NFL, and if that's the way it is, he will be a happy dude. Dallas 2006 is going to be a scary team...that's for sure.



"When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset"? He is upset if he is getting the ball and the team is winning. Last season, he started crying about not having enough balls thrown his way when the eagles were throwing 15 balls a game his way including 21 in season opener. TO is TO, you would think that he would be happy to even land a contract, but now he has a rap song out, (about the eagles and "Gittin Paid") and he is also writing a book about his time in Phil. He will soon realize a #2 WR (Wayne) got a 12.5 million dollar signing bonus compared to his 5 and he will cry. What will he do if the cowboys decide to run the ball 30 times in a game. "GIT YO D CELLS READY", sorry i mean "GIT YO POPCORN READY, CUZ I LUVS ME SUM ME"

[Champ]

"When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset"? He is upset if he is getting the ball and the team is winning. Last season, he started crying about not having enough balls thrown his way when the eagles were throwing 15 balls a game his way including 21 in season opener. TO is TO, you would think that he would be happy to even land a contract, but now he has a rap song out, (about the eagles and "Gittin Paid") and he is also writing a book about his time in Phil. He will soon realize a #2 WR (Wayne) got a 12.5 million dollar signing bonus compared to his 5 and he will cry. What will he do if the cowboys decide to run the ball 30 times in a game. "GIT YO D CELLS READY", sorry i mean "GIT YO POPCORN READY, CUZ I LUVS ME SUM ME"


Well he better get ready because Parcells is going to run the ball 30+ times in almost every game.

[gcomella34]

I think with Parcells he'll be fine. I compare TO to a two year old throwing a tantrum, remember they always act differently around the parent that's a disciplinarian. He'll be OK, he's looking to change his image. If he shows he's a good team mate, his book sales go up. People will want to know his side of the story.

[nyGiants4life]

"When he is not getting the ball and the team is losing he is upset"? He is upset if he is getting the ball and the team is winning. Last season, he started crying about not having enough balls thrown his way when the eagles were throwing 15 balls a game his way including 21 in season opener. TO is TO, you would think that he would be happy to even land a contract, but now he has a rap song out, (about the eagles and "Gittin Paid") and he is also writing a book about his time in Phil. He will soon realize a #2 WR (Wayne) got a 12.5 million dollar signing bonus compared to his 5 and he will cry. What will he do if the cowboys decide to run the ball 30 times in a game. "GIT YO D CELLS READY", sorry i mean "GIT YO POPCORN READY, CUZ I LUVS ME SUM ME"

I'm pretty sure that you um, lost the home opener when he got the ball thrown his way 21 times a game. Terrell Owens is a selfish player but he wants the Super Bowl victory too, to become a legend, and a Super Bowl champion.

[|(evin|(olb|(ritik]

I think with Parcells he'll be fine. I compare TO to a two year old throwing a tantrum, remember they always act differently around the parent that's a disciplinarian. He'll be OK, he's looking to change his image. If he shows he's a good team mate, his book sales go up. People will want to know his side of the story.

Actually, if he shows he is a team player and keeps his mouth shut his book sales will go down. Look for T.O. to make a huge controversial splash in the view of the media right before his book is released. Controversy sells and T.O. and his publicist know this. No one wants to read Ricky Proehls book, but T.O.'s will sell like hotcakes because the controversy that surrounds him and his life is a fascinating story.

If you need evidence to support what I am saying, just take a look at the book sales of some of the most controversial players in sports history. Most recently Lawrence Taylor. Dennis Rodmans books sold like they were going out of style and he wasnt even that good of a player toward the end.

[gcomella34]

I figured he'd have a great year, but shout to everybody that it wasn't his fault. That's exactly what he did when his book came out when he was in Philly. That's when he'll take more shots at Donovan, but I don't see him trying to tear up things in Dallas. He'll just rehash old events and trying to portray himself as a victim in Philly.

I don't know about you but I won't buy his books, just like I won't buy Taylor's, I don't want any royalties going to either of them. Especially considering it has the potential to go up Taylor's nose.

[Sway29]

I'm pretty sure that you um, lost the home opener when he got the ball thrown his way 21 times a game. Terrell Owens is a selfish player but he wants the Super Bowl victory too, to become a legend, and a Super Bowl champion.

oh he is a legend but for the wrong reasons and he can not go back on that. Walking out of training camp, not smart and when you say he loves winning. After the first year in philly he had one, maybe not the superbowl but more winning then he had all career. T.O is a great player, not the best even when he is playing, but he can help any team but his upsides are so much smaller to the downfalls

[nyGiants4life]

oh he is a legend but for the wrong reasons and he can not go back on that. Walking out of training camp, not smart and when you say he loves winning. After the first year in philly he had one, maybe not the superbowl but more winning then he had all career. T.O is a great player, not the best even when he is playing, but he can help any team but his upsides are so much smaller to the downfalls

What does that mean? He's a legend for the wrong reasons? I meant that he will have one of the most dominant (controversial) careers in the NFL. Argue with me all you want, but I'm still saying he should be a hall of Famer when his career is done.

How is his upside so much smaller to the downfalls? Terrell Owens left San Francisco, look what they are now. We have yet to see what next season will be for the Eagles though. Owens brings a swagger to any team, proven success, a dominance that few others in the NFL are able to establish over the defense and just signing him makes the Cowboys a much better team.

[Tronix]

The T.O. is back.

An old saying comes to mind.."be carefull what you ask for...

So long as you remember who you just signed you'll be fine Dallas. The T.O. is exactly that, "the T.O." He has never changed nor given any indication he is willing to change. He belives himself to be the greatest NFL athlete of all time and wants to be revered as such. If he doesn't get that from whatever team he is on, he will start trouble in the place where it hurts teams the most, in the lockeroom. It wont seem like much at first a comment here, a blurb there, but inside, away from the media cameras it will festor, until the T.O. has all of the attention he can handle, he considers himself more important to his teams than the other players, coaches, owners, God..whoever. No team is ever going to give him that kind of love, especially not the Parcells. Ask Keyshawn if the Parcells plays favorites...I am going on the limb here (this is a pretty sturdy limb) and say now, that this will last almost exactly as long as the T.O. did in Philly...maybe shorter, because The Parcells, and the T.O.'s heads may not fit in the same room from day one. I feel for you Dallas fans. First you're glorious owner couldn't get along with the man who brought the last dynasty to Dallas and he rips apart a championship team. Then 3 or 4 years of mediocrity, to be followed by the hirering of The Parcells, a good coach who can whip any team into shape and then abandon it to whatever fate is out there 4 years later..now your glorious owner is trying to squeeze the T.O.'s ego and the Parcells ego into the same dome and I cant help but feeling like this may end badly...instant success? absolutley.
but on the long term or even intermediate term...you're doomed.

thanks for the media circus which gives us something to write about.

[TexecutedInTampa]

Yes, Parcells is the toughest coach that T.O will ever have had, but what has happened at his past stops? Some of the most bizarre and offensive behavior ever seen from a player in the NFL. Tuna will get probably get him to play nice for awhile, but I honestly can't fathom T.O really changing; he's been villified for years now and has had MANY chances to change for the better, but he never has. I see no real reason for anything to change, and Bledsoe will be quicker to react to T.O's crap, and he's also not as good a QB as McNabb is or Garcia was.

JC, I was going to put the little .gif of him dancing on the star in, but I decided pictures would look a bit more professional ;)

I agree Bledsoe isn't as good a QB As McNabb. But you know something? Whatever BS Owens spews (assuming he spews, which is a good bet) Bledsoe will take the high road.

Drew Bledsoe lost his job in NE to injury, which isn't supposed to happen in the NFL. And he took it like a MAN. He was as classy as ANYONE could ask for.

I imagine TO's rantings will be small potatoes to Drew. Whatever his shortcomings at QB, this guy has CLASS.

[|(evin|(olb|(ritik]

Heres the thing that scares me about the T.O. in Dallas situation.........

They paid him straight up.

All of that talk we heard all offseason about a team signing T.O. to an incentive laiden contract that had a bunch of behavioral clauses in it went out the window. To quote a source, here ya go.....


The receiver who has proven he can wreak havoc on or off the field signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Dallas on Saturday. The deal includes a $5 million bonus and $5 million salary this season, but no added penalties should Owens pull any of the stunts that caused so many problems for his two previous teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11822170/

The whole deal with Owens signing with another team is that people figured this would be his last chance to straighten out. They figured that the incentive laiden contract was going to be a safety net for the team that signed him and that maybe it would help to keep T.O. in line by hitting him in the wallet. Well, now that T.O. has signed this big deal with the Cowboys and gotten out of a deal with the EAgles that paid him a $9 million signing bonus only 2 seasons ago, what has T.O. learned? NOTHING.

The biggest baby in the league who throws tantrums like a 3 year old was given EVERYTHING THAT HE EVER WANTED. He wasnt taught a lesson here, Dallas has now shown T.O. exactly what everyone didnt want anyone to show him, that his recent behavior can work and he will receive his payoff if he makes enough noise.

Its never going to be enough though because human nature is always to want more. Retain all of the wishful thinking that you want but even the almighty Tuna wont be able to keep this beast chained down. As soon as Javon Walker (or any other top notch receiver in the league) has a killer season in 2006 and then signs a contract bigger than T.O.'s he is going to go nuts again. Remember, he signed with Philly because he wanted to play there so badly and wanted to play with Donovan. He was happy with the contract we gave him too when he signed it but he originally had reasons other than money to want to play in Philly. He signed with Dallas simply based on money, so what do you think is going to happen when he isnt happy with that money anymore?

Good luck with that, and good riddance.

[southraider]

It should work out good for both TO and Dallas. It may just be enough to give them a legit shot a winning the superbowl. Yea hes an idiot sometimes but its all overblown anyway.

[Champ]

Heres the thing that scares me about the T.O. in Dallas situation.........

They paid him straight up.

All of that talk we heard all offseason about a team signing T.O. to an incentive laiden contract that had a bunch of behavioral clauses in it went out the window. To quote a source, here ya go.....



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11822170/

The whole deal with Owens signing with another team is that people figured this would be his last chance to straighten out. They figured that the incentive laiden contract was going to be a safety net for the team that signed him and that maybe it would help to keep T.O. in line by hitting him in the wallet. Well, now that T.O. has signed this big deal with the Cowboys and gotten out of a deal with the EAgles that paid him a $9 million signing bonus only 2 seasons ago, what has T.O. learned? NOTHING.

The biggest baby in the league who throws tantrums like a 3 year old was given EVERYTHING THAT HE EVER WANTED. He wasnt taught a lesson here, Dallas has now shown T.O. exactly what everyone didnt want anyone to show him, that his recent behavior can work and he will receive his payoff if he makes enough noise.

Its never going to be enough though because human nature is always to want more. Retain all of the wishful thinking that you want but even the almighty Tuna wont be able to keep this beast chained down. As soon as Javon Walker (or any other top notch receiver in the league) has a killer season in 2006 and then signs a contract bigger than T.O.'s he is going to go nuts again. Remember, he signed with Philly because he wanted to play there so badly and wanted to play with Donovan. He was happy with the contract we gave him too when he signed it but he originally had reasons other than money to want to play in Philly. He signed with Dallas simply based on money, so what do you think is going to happen when he isnt happy with that money anymore?

Good luck with that, and good riddance.


Dallas could always get out of the contract, If he decides he want to bring problems to Dallas, they could just refuse to pick up his roster bonus next off-season. This will not be about money, if T.O. keeps his trap shut he will get paid more over his 3 years than Moss or Harrison would over a 3 year period. All he has to do is shut up and play and he will get his money.

[nyGiants4life]

The whole deal with Owens signing with another team is that people figured this would be his last chance to straighten out. They figured that the incentive laiden contract was going to be a safety net for the team that signed him and that maybe it would help to keep T.O. in line by hitting him in the wallet. Well, now that T.O. has signed this big deal with the Cowboys and gotten out of a deal with the EAgles that paid him a $9 million signing bonus only 2 seasons ago, what has T.O. learned? NOTHING.

The biggest baby in the league who throws tantrums like a 3 year old was given EVERYTHING THAT HE EVER WANTED. He wasnt taught a lesson here, Dallas has now shown T.O. exactly what everyone didnt want anyone to show him, that his recent behavior can work and he will receive his payoff if he makes enough noise.

I don't belive that he's learned nothing. He had to sit out almost half of a season which is not good for a guy who is competing (I think is in) for the Hall of Fame and is in the last few years of his career..unless he pulls a Jerry Rice. For the second paragraph, you know that if you have game you're going to get a contract..especially for a needy team. I don't think him opening his mouth helped him receive that money, because if he had a big season (which he was having) in Philadelphia he would have gotten more money too...


Its never going to be enough though because human nature is always to want more. Retain all of the wishful thinking that you want but even the almighty Tuna wont be able to keep this beast chained down. As soon as Javon Walker (or any other top notch receiver in the league) has a killer season in 2006 and then signs a contract bigger than T.O.'s he is going to go nuts again. Remember, he signed with Philly because he wanted to play there so badly and wanted to play with Donovan. He was happy with the contract we gave him too when he signed it but he originally had reasons other than money to want to play in Philly. He signed with Dallas simply based on money, so what do you think is going to happen when he isnt happy with that money anymore?

No way Walker gets a bigger contract...anyway I don't think TO will play out the contract he will either get extended or released...but come on, he's not as bad as everyone says. Didn't he spend 8 or so years in SF not making any real controversy..correct me if I'm wrong about that.

[|(evin|(olb|(ritik]

I don't belive that he's learned nothing. He had to sit out almost half of a season which is not good for a guy who is competing (I think is in) for the Hall of Fame and is in the last few years of his career..unless he pulls a Jerry Rice. For the second paragraph, you know that if you have game you're going to get a contract..especially for a needy team. I don't think him opening his mouth helped him receive that money, because if he had a big season (which he was having) in Philadelphia he would have gotten more money too...

The way T.O. is going right now, he wont make the HOF. Michael Irvin has 3 super bowl rings and is having trouble getting HOF recognition because of all of the controversy with drugs and poor behavior that surrounded his career. No way T.O. is going to get a vote the way he is acting having ZERO super bowl rings.




No way Walker gets a bigger contract...anyway I don't think TO will play out the contract he will either get extended or released...but come on, he's not as bad as everyone says. Didn't he spend 8 or so years in SF not making any real controversy..correct me if I'm wrong about that.

Mark my words here. If Javon Walker repeats his 2004 season in 2006, he will sign a contract that will be significantly larger than T.O.'s. It probably wont be with the Packers, but it will be larger. There was a dramatic increase in the salary cap this offseason and there will be another one next offseason, it goes up every year. Thats why players salaries go up every year. Walker is younger and has more market value than T.O. does at his age if Walker is able to produce similar results. When that happens T.O. will go off the deep end just like he did in PHilly. It doesnt even have to be Javon, it could be anyone. If Lee Evans (who is due for a breakout season), or Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, or even Larry Fitzgerald who hasnt been extended yet explodes onto the scene next season and gets a renegotiated contract larger than T.O.'s (which is very likely if you follow annual contract inflations) how do you think hes going to react to that? Like I said, he was very happy with the contract that he signed with the Eagles, until guys like Harrison and Ward re-signed with their teams for more money, and then Moss moved to Oakland and got restructured to make more money. As soon as he found out how much the other guys contracts were for that were signed after him, he freaked. It will happen again because we are talking about a player who cares about no one but himself.

As for his situation in San Francisco, it was really no different. He played only 8 seasons as a 49er. The first 4 of which he was kind of a nobody, only eclipsing 1000 yards in the 3rd of those 4 seasons. It wasnt until 2000 that he had his first completely dominant season in terms of catches, yards and TD's. He was still relatively quiet until about the 2001 season, thats when he started making noise. His last 3 seasons as a 49er were filled with constant complaining, harassment and drama. So out of his 8 seasons as a 49er he kept his mouth shut for 5. 4 of which he was a nobody.

[TexecutedInTampa]

Dallas could always get out of the contract, If he decides he want to bring problems to Dallas, they could just refuse to pick up his roster bonus next off-season. This will not be about money, if T.O. keeps his trap shut he will get paid more over his 3 years than Moss or Harrison would over a 3 year period. All he has to do is shut up and play and he will get his money.

If the deal calls for him to shut up and play? Dallas has cashed in.

If there's a loophole, he and his people will find it.

Me, I hope Dallas nailed the loopholes shut. I'd like to see what Drew can do with a tandem of Terry Glenn and TO.

I am not enamored of TO as a solo act, though. If he can't be a Cowboy - then **** him. I've no more patience for prima donnas.