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If I'm so pretty, why am I available?
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Take it for what its worth. From the daily rag.
EAGLES THINK T.O. IS MILKING HIS GROIN (INJURY)
A league source tells us that the Philadelphia Eagles privately believe that receiver Terrell Owens is deliberately avoiding practice with a groin injury, as an expression of lingering disappointment with his contract.
But the Eagles, the source tells us, are saying publicly that the injury is legitimate because they don't want the general public to believe that T.O. is "playing them like fools."
On Tuesday, Owens missed his fourth practice in five days.
It's the latest chapter in a soap opera that could, as we see it, result in a split between player and team before the September 11 season opener. We suggested when Owens made known his intent to report for training camp after weeks of threatening to hold out that the Eagles could choose in the end to cut him on the eve of the date on which his $3.25 million salary for 2005 becomes fully guaranteed, given his status as a vested veteran.
The Eagles are required to pay T.O. $10.75 million between September 1, 2005 and April 1, 2006, and Owens would be hard pressed to get that kind of jack on the open market -- especially if he were to be thrust onto the free-agency shelf by the team after any other franchise who might be interested in him has rounded out its roster, and spent most of its 2005 cap money.
The fact that the Eagles privately are wondering whether any other team would pay T.O. in March 2006 the $7.5 million in bonus money he's due to earn in Philly causes us to assume that they're also looking at the question from the perspective of his 2005 salary. Frankly, we think he'd be very hard pressed to get $3.25 million this year, if he's cut on September 9. And since he'd be landing with another team hours before the start of the regular season, he probably wouldn't be able to generate the kind of production that would make him a high-dollar free agent next year.
Of course, the Eagles can't quite afford to lose Owens, given that Todd Pinkston is gone for the year with a ruptured Achilles' tendon. But since we'd heard in no uncertain terms that the Eagles intend to make an example of Owens if he allows his displeasure with his contract to become an issue in camp, the team might have to start looking at possible trade targets and/or free agents who can come in and catch passes.
COUGHLIN GETS THROUGH TO MANNING?
We've heard that the recent complaints of Giants coach Tom Coughlin regarding the performance of his offense trace directly to the development (or lack thereof) of second-year quarterback Eli Manning.
On multiple occasions since training camp opened, we've been told that the team doesn't believe that Manning has improved to the extent expected from year one to year two.
But perhaps Coughlin's comments have prompted a positive change.
According to The New York Times, the Giants' offense has been crisp, and Manning has been impressive, since Coughlin's critical comments on Monday regarding the performance of the unit.
Said running back Tiki Barber: "Believe it or not, that stuff trickles down. If you have a quarterback who feels good about himself and shows it, he's giving that kind of air off, then the guys around you feel good. By default, he's the leader."
And the converse, we assume, is that if the offense is flatter than the top of Peyton Manning's head, it traces to the quarterback.
But a couple of good practices is hardly proof that Eli has arrived. The preseason games will say much about whether the younger Manning has made a move toward the heights occupied by his big brother.
The real test will come, of course, once the games count.
EAGLES THINK T.O. IS MILKING HIS GROIN (INJURY)
A league source tells us that the Philadelphia Eagles privately believe that receiver Terrell Owens is deliberately avoiding practice with a groin injury, as an expression of lingering disappointment with his contract.
But the Eagles, the source tells us, are saying publicly that the injury is legitimate because they don't want the general public to believe that T.O. is "playing them like fools."
On Tuesday, Owens missed his fourth practice in five days.
It's the latest chapter in a soap opera that could, as we see it, result in a split between player and team before the September 11 season opener. We suggested when Owens made known his intent to report for training camp after weeks of threatening to hold out that the Eagles could choose in the end to cut him on the eve of the date on which his $3.25 million salary for 2005 becomes fully guaranteed, given his status as a vested veteran.
The Eagles are required to pay T.O. $10.75 million between September 1, 2005 and April 1, 2006, and Owens would be hard pressed to get that kind of jack on the open market -- especially if he were to be thrust onto the free-agency shelf by the team after any other franchise who might be interested in him has rounded out its roster, and spent most of its 2005 cap money.
The fact that the Eagles privately are wondering whether any other team would pay T.O. in March 2006 the $7.5 million in bonus money he's due to earn in Philly causes us to assume that they're also looking at the question from the perspective of his 2005 salary. Frankly, we think he'd be very hard pressed to get $3.25 million this year, if he's cut on September 9. And since he'd be landing with another team hours before the start of the regular season, he probably wouldn't be able to generate the kind of production that would make him a high-dollar free agent next year.
Of course, the Eagles can't quite afford to lose Owens, given that Todd Pinkston is gone for the year with a ruptured Achilles' tendon. But since we'd heard in no uncertain terms that the Eagles intend to make an example of Owens if he allows his displeasure with his contract to become an issue in camp, the team might have to start looking at possible trade targets and/or free agents who can come in and catch passes.
COUGHLIN GETS THROUGH TO MANNING?
We've heard that the recent complaints of Giants coach Tom Coughlin regarding the performance of his offense trace directly to the development (or lack thereof) of second-year quarterback Eli Manning.
On multiple occasions since training camp opened, we've been told that the team doesn't believe that Manning has improved to the extent expected from year one to year two.
But perhaps Coughlin's comments have prompted a positive change.
According to The New York Times, the Giants' offense has been crisp, and Manning has been impressive, since Coughlin's critical comments on Monday regarding the performance of the unit.
Said running back Tiki Barber: "Believe it or not, that stuff trickles down. If you have a quarterback who feels good about himself and shows it, he's giving that kind of air off, then the guys around you feel good. By default, he's the leader."
And the converse, we assume, is that if the offense is flatter than the top of Peyton Manning's head, it traces to the quarterback.
But a couple of good practices is hardly proof that Eli has arrived. The preseason games will say much about whether the younger Manning has made a move toward the heights occupied by his big brother.
The real test will come, of course, once the games count.
