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Don't Pity T.O. Or The Eagles

	AP

Who are you supposed to feel bad for in the latest Terrell Owens drama?

You can't pity the Eagles. They knew exactly what they were getting into when they traded for the All-Pro receiver before the 2004 season. If they didn't know Owens was going to be a problem in the locker room, then they're not nearly as smart a franchise as everyone's been saying they are. The Eagles gambled that T.O. would help them win a Super Bowl before his personality became too much of a problem. Their gamble didn't pay off.

You can't feel sorry for Andy Reid. I'm sure Reid talked to his buddy Steve Mariucci and knew what was coming. Reid seems to believe the only irreplaceable player on the Eagles is Donovan McNabb. So now he can prove it. And it's not like Reid hasn't won without Owens. People talk as if Owens invented football in Philadelphia. Reid had a pretty good winning percentage before T.O. arrived.

You can't shed a tear for Owens. He brought this upon himself by making it clear that his priority is how much respect and money he gets. Yes, he did risk further injury by rehabbing quickly and playing so well in last year's Super Bowl. But people stopped considering that a selfless act when Owens went on a rampage this summer, claiming the Eagles should pay him more because of what he did for the team. In the end, with T.O., everything comes down to T.O.

As for the other players in this sordid drama, no one stands out as a worthy victim. You obviously can't feel bad for anyone as rich as Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. McNabb wouldn't accept your sympathy if you tried to give it to him. Hugh Douglas, the former teammate Owens fought last week, shouldn't even be involved in this story. And even Gandhi couldn't have felt compassion for Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus.

That leaves Eagles fans. But don't shed too many tears for them. Philly faithful secretly enjoy being lovable losers. From Mitch Williams to Smarty Jones to every team that has just missed winning a title, Philadelphia gets a lot of its character from coming up just short.

The group that really stands to get hurt by Owens' season-ending suspension is the media. What are people going to write about if T.O. disappears? Thank God for Randy Moss.

-- Andrew Perloff (4:55 p.m.)

Since when does a receiver demand so much respect? Jerry Rice, the all-time leading receiver in everything didn't demand what TO demands. Let's face it -- Philly did the right thing -- why let the cancer keep growing. I would love to be the one to inform poor TO that his actions have lost him millions of dollars and no team that wants him.
-- Brad , Detroit (5:01 p.m.)

I am so glad that the Eagles are FINALLY getting rid of TO. I am so sick and tired of hearing his name in the media that I could literally scream. He is probably the most selfish person on the planet Earth. He annoys me to no end with his constant whining and inability to close his lips over his giant teeth. On the other hand, I don't feel sorry for the Eagles. If you lay down with dogs you're bound to come up with fleas.
-- Kristen , Glen Burnie, Md. (5:02 p.m.)

How can you feel sorry for an ego maniac, spoiled rotten, cancer-to-the-clubhouse athlete? Even though he's probably the best receiver in the league, the baggage that comes along with him makes Randy Moss look like a good camper. The NFL will be much better off without him.
-- Flash , Houston (5:04 p.m.)

As an avid Eagles fan, I think the real victim here is T.O. Classless though he seems to be, the team and the fans wanted him to be successful. By not being able to think before he talked, and by investing too much faith in his agent, he hosed himself completely...no big payoff, kept on a short leash no matter where he goes, and no legacy for the superior football player he is. Sad ending.
-- Scott Krasner , Charlotte (5:08 p.m.)

Athletes make millions of dollars each year, so who cares if T.O. criticizes McNabb. As long as their on the field performance is not compromised.
-- Ryan J Greco , Cranford, N.J. (5:09 p.m.)

I want to hear some opinions on where Owens is going to go? I think he would do well in Denver. It would give the Snake a legit No. 1 to replace Rod Smith. Any thoughts?
-- Jeff , Houston (5:13 p.m.)

Philly fans don't like being a loser, just give us a winner and will show you just how much we like to win.
-- Mike , Aston, Pa. (5:15 p.m.)

Is there really anyone that is going to take him anymore? By getting in a fight with his own teammate, I think he just sealed his fate. Sure, a team that is desprate for a guy who can come in and perform for them will pick him up. Then what happens when he has problems with that team just as he has had with San Fran and Philly. As much as losing him will hurt the Eagles on the field, it will help them greatly off the field and in the future.
-- Steve , Toledo, Ohio (5:17 p.m.)

"Philly faithful secretly enjoy being lovable losers?!" Yeah, I'm grateful every day for Joe Carter, Tom Brady, whichever horse beat Smarty Jones, and every one else that has helped define the character of my city for the last 22 years. We don't need or want pity. But do you know what has a lot of character? The Lombardi Trophy. The Stanley Cup. That tragic over-flagged World Series trophy. We really wouldn't mind some of that.
-- Ben Rosenberg , Huntingdon Valley, Pa. (5:18 p.m.)

Every time T.O. opens his big mouth, I become a bigger fan of McNabb and Reid. Those two have responded like CHAMPIONS. My hats off to them ... I'm taking notes on how to be a better man.
-- Ricky B , Austin TX (5:20 p.m.)

Sorry, I have to disagree with you on one point. Donovan McNabb did everything for Owens. He encouraged him to join the team, helped him become one of the most prolific single-season wideouts in Philly history ... heck, he even PRAYED with him after he broke his leg right before the playoffs. All he gets in return for his benevolence is a whiny jerk who complains about his own performance in the Super Bowl (the one McNabb got to MINUS T.O.) and go on his usual "I need a stronger QB! I love you, Peyton!" rant ... if that doesnt make you tear, I don't know WHAT will.
-- Brad , New York (5:22 p.m.)

OK, first off TO is an idiot but everyone knows that. Secondly how come people aren't talking more about what an idiot Micheal Irvin is? I mean come on Micheal. As a long time Cowboys fan and someone who has meet you I thought you were a smart guy. But I digress. Since when do you get on your knees for anyone let alone TO. Stop trying to make it everyone's fault but TO's. It is all him. I used to be a big Micheal Irvin fan but I can now say I no longer am. Thanks Micheal now I have to hate all those years I rooted for you. Also TO please get surgury on your eye because I am sick of one eye looking away. OVERRATED.
-- Nathan Dominguez , Dallas (5:24 p.m.)

The media is just about as much at fault for this whole TO fiasco (especially ESPN) for enabling this moron and giving him carte blanche to say what he wants, however asinine.
-- Alexander Scott , Minneapolis (5:25 p.m.)

Until someone writes a contract which permits the team to suspend the idiot player for the season, without pay, we'll keep getting more of the same. Who, in addition to Chad Johnson, is walking down this path and why do they seem to all be wide receivers?
-- Chuck Robertson , Rapid City, S.D. (5:27 p.m.)

T.O. has proven himself to be a great player with pads on but a terrible person with out the, due to his actions i believe he will not be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He has upset and burned too many bridges. Had he straightened his act up upon arriving in Philadelphia, I believe he could have swayed the HOF voters and been inducted...now, he has HOf #'s but will not be inducted.
-- Gary Schoonover , Clovis, Calif. (5:27 p.m.)

The Eagles or the league aren't innocent in this at all. They hype the game for individuals like T.O. he puts butts in the seats and brings in billions of dollars in from the video games. There are no losers in this at all, for everyone gets paid and the fans will continue to pay to see a person like T.O. with his talent. No one was on a more self destructive course then Mike Tyson and people will still paid to see him fight.
-- Ken , Cleveland (5:30 p.m.)

Philly fans secretly love being losers? Listen pal- I'm only 20 years old and have gone through more sports misery already than most will in their life. No matter what, it seems like every Philly team breaks my heart every single time. And its idiots like you that get to me. GO EAGLES WE ARENT DONE YET!
-- Brendan , Union, N.J. (5:32 p.m.)

The media are also to blame in this whole sordid affair. TO and his tirades were hyped up in the media giving him more reason to say crap about his teammates and coaches. Football is a sacred sport and the media has helped turn it into a circus and a joke.
-- Senthil , San Diego (5:34 p.m.)

TO will go to the Raiders ... Moss and TO on the same squad, can you imagine the combined ego of that? On the other hand, who could possibly stop that team? You know crazy brain Al Davis is already thinking about this ... if not Oakland I don't know if TO finds a team.
-- Ryan , Chicago (5:38 p.m.)

I simply cannot understand this culture of entitlement fostored by some of our athletes. With so many gifts granted to them, money all aside, much is indeed to be expected. I met TO once and he was a pefect gentleman, generous of his time. One needs to wonder why he can't by that way to his teamates. In short, good riddance.
-- LT , Cornwall, Pa. (5:38 p.m.)

TO is everything that is wrong with professional sports, and so is Drew Rosenhaus. They should both be put on an island somewhere never to return, seriously. The bad thing, both think that they are right, that they deserve everything they have, but all we can hope is that they will get theirs someday. I'd love to be there for that.
-- Tom , Louisville (5:42 p.m.)

Funny how when T.O. went to the Eagles and Corey Dillon to the Patriots in the spring of 2004, people were saying Dillon was going to ruin the Pats' chemistry and T.O. would get the Eagles to the "next level." Eighteen months later, where are we? Dillon is a total team guy who worships the ground Bill Belichick walks on and T.O. is throwing everyone in the Eagles organization under the bus. So much for predictions!
-- Jay , Boston (5:52 p.m.)

I don't think Eagles management could have handled this any worse. They brought Owens in, knowing that he has a reputation for being a disruption, yet didn't have a plan to deal with him. And no, deactivating him for an entire season is not a plan. Anything that results in your best player sitting out for the bulk of the season is not a plan, at least not a good one. When he started squawking about wanting a new deal they should have either A) cut him; B) traded him or C) given him a new deal. Either way, they wouldn't be in the position they're in now: trying to redefine who and what their team is midseason. The front office should have known that taking their typical hardline stance on contracts would not work with such a strongwilled player.
-- Aaron , Hyattsville, Md. (5:55 p.m.)

"Philly faithful secretly enjoy being lovable losers. From Mitch Williams to Smarty Jones to every team that has just missed winning a title, Philadelphia gets a lot of its character from coming up just short." Congratulations, Drew: you now have the dumbest comment this year. W's four-year reign is at an end.
-- Scott Mansfield , Collingdale, Pa., Md. (5:58 p.m.)

Re: Jeff in Houston -- They had actually talked about the T.O. to Denver scenario in the Denver news last night. They said that Denver would be the type of team to take a gamble on T.O. If T.O. behaves and contributes like he can, then the Broncos would turn out to be big winners.
-- Jerico , Denver (6:03 p.m.)

While a lot of people might be upset with T.O.'s comments, what has he said that is not true (If the Eagles had a healthy Donovan McNabb, they would have a better record)? He is a professional athlete who performs everytime he is on the field. He blocks, he plays hurt and never takes plays off. He has never gotten in trouble off the field and he is being criticized simply for speaking the truth.
-- Tim , Irvine, Calif. (6:04 p.m.)