ScottyRo

Owens told the Miami Herald, "At the end of the day, I don't have to worry about what people think of me, whether they hate me or not. People hated on Jesus. They threw stones at him and tried to kill him, so how can I complain or worry about what people think?"

Never one to shy away from controversy, Owens continued, "How can you justify hating me after I worked so hard rehabilitating from a broken leg to get back to the Super Bowl to help our team try to win? Really, you've got to look at who the villain really is in this thing."

Owens seeming to compare himself to Jesus is just the latest in a long line of quotes to get the receiver into hot water.

In April, Owens said, "(I) wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl," in an obvious reference to quarterback Donovan McNabb, whose late-game management in Super Bowl XXXIX drew criticism.

In an interview with Playboy magazine, Owens took a shot at former teammate Jeff Garcia, saying, "Like my boy tells me: If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat," when asked if he thought that the quarterback was gay.

Later, Owens furiously backed off his "smell like a rat" comment by saying, "I didn't say that he was gay. The conversation and the interview were loose. To my knowledge, I'm not sure if Jeff is gay or not. I've seen him out — he had a girlfriend when we were in San Fran. There's been a recent report that he has a girlfriend now. That was the extent of it. Everybody's going to make a big deal out of it. It wasn't like I came out and said 'Jeff was gay.' People asked me similar questions about Steve Young. Everybody is going to have their rumors."

Owens is Exhibit A in Rosenhaus' contention that players often perform beyond the means of their current salary. While teams can void contracts on a whim, players aren't allowed to re-adjust earnings based on performance.

"What we're saying," Rosenhaus said, "is that same logic that allows a team to cut a player or reduce his salary should apply the other way in this type of situation."

Owens isn't the only player threatening to hold out until his respective team gives into his and Rosenhaus' demands. Packers receiver Javon Walker and defensive tackle Grady Jackson, Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan and Colts running back Edgerrin James are other notable players represented by Rosenhaus who are not satisfied with their current contracts.

The Eagles and Packers have stated that they will not give into the demands of Rosenhaus and the players, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has the support of Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

"I think it's a mistake if Philadelphia gives in," Blank said in an interview with Sporting News Radio. "I don't know T.O. I know the folks at Philadelphia well. I know Jeff Lurie. I know (Eagles president) Joe Banner."

"In my judgment, if (Owens) had played at that level for two or three years and quietly had gone into management and said, 'Listen, guys, this isn't right. I'm playing at an extraordinary high level. Instead of being the No. 1, No. 2 paid receiver in the league, I'm No. 15 or 18 or 20. Is there something we can do about this?' I don't know what they would have done, but certainly their response may have been different."

Rosenhaus, on the HBO show Real Sports, said that Walker will not report to Packers training camp when veterans are scheduled to report on July 27.

"The news on Javon Walker is that we are, right now, we have already decided he is not going to go to training camp," Rosenhaus said on Real Sports. "We've made the decision that we're not going to report to training camp. And I can't say when we will report, or if, or when, but he will not be at camp."

Walker, who has two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed as a rookie in 2001, is scheduled to make a base salary of $515,000 this season. Last year, the Packers receiver made the Pro Bowl and led the team with 89 receptions for 1,328 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Owens suffered a leg fracture and severe ankle sprain in a Week 15 game against the Cowboys, missed the final two regular season games and two playoff games before returning in time for the Super Bowl. Owens performing heroically in Super Bowl XXXIX, catching nine passes for 122 yards in a 24-21 loss to the Patriots.

Owens is set to receive $12.4 million over the first two years of a seven-year, $49 million deal that Owens signed before last season while working with agent David Joseph. Rosenhaus contends that contract ranks behind the deals of at least nine other NFL receivers.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3775220

Whatever gets attention, I guess.

papz

Jeff Garcia was and still is dating Carmella Decesare (a Playboy Playmate - on fire hot). Pretty much make Owens look like a retard when he made that comment.

The guy is getting paid a bundle of money and is one of the top paid receivers out there. I simply don't understand how much more money he wants. I've always complained about Joe Horn asking for a new contract ever year... though he was underpaid, but Owens is ridiculous. He has a fat contract and has more than enough money. Commercials, football contract, other types of endorsements... how much more can you want?

On Javon Walker... he does need to be compensated for the outstanding year he just had. But, that was his only good year. I'd give him a nice bonus and make him do it for another year before I'd sign him for mega bucks.

papz

Wide receiver
Randy Moss, Minn. $8,630,327
Marvin Harrison, Ind. $8,082,880
Isaac Bruce, St. L. $7,640,709
Eric Moulds, Buf. $7,245,000
Terrell Owens, Phi. $7,243,333
Jimmy Smith, Jax $6,349,333
Derrick Mason, Tenn. $5,802,500
Muhsin Muhammad, Car. $4,508,117
Rod Smith, Den. $4,502,928
Amani Toomer, NYG $4,135,000

According to contract figures obtained by The Inquirer, the average annual value of Owens' deal over the first three seasons is just under $7 million. Only Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison received better deals during the first three seasons.

Tory Holt, two years younger than the 31-year-old Owens, signed a seven-year, $42 million deal with the Rams in 2003. That deal included a $12.5 million signing bonus and is worth an average of $5.4 million over the first three years.



There you go genius. You were saying? Oh that's right... I'm not up to date. Try again, you lose.

duece4pres

Where is Horn at?? He should be in there somewhere.

RockyMountainSaint

Joe deserved the extension he got. Many people poo-pooed the idea saying he was too old going into last season. Proved some folks wrong I think.

Owens is 1 year removed from signing a 4 year contract! Everyone knows he is an extremely productive WR. Why did he agree to that contract only 12 months or so ago? Is he an imbecile? Was he duped? I think not.

His production this year was hyped due to the fact that he was playing on an extremely good football team with an elite QB. Something he hasn't seen since his first two years in the league.

For God's sake! That team was in the NFC championship game for the previous 3 years. Is it his presence that got them there? NO! He was hurt all through the playoffs including the NFC championship game. They won without him!

His performance speaks for itself. He is great on the field. Why more money now? They were already paying him for the player that they knew he is. What they got is what they paid for.

I hope this pushes us into something of a more structured cap. With a mandatory tiered salary system. It would eliminate many holdouts. Whether they be Rookies or players on a Rookie contract.

Be careful what you wish for playas.

I am not in love with the owners either. They do have the power though.
We fans are stuck in the middle.

I'm no one.
Who are you?

4saintspirit

I have to admit -- Owens playing in the superbowl really raised my opinion of him. He is still a jerk -- but that showed some heart

papz

The article these figures were taken from was 2/20/05 which was prior to Horn's contract extension. Horn would be there right after Owens with a salary a little of 6 plus million only trailing Moss, Harrison, and Owens for it's first 3 years of their contracts. But we haven't factored in the contract extension for Hines Ward or Javon Walker yet, so we'll have to wait and see until the season starts and the new highest paid salaries for wide receivers are out.

Euphoria

Owens needs to shut up and play. When its time to negociate again bring up all the stats and heart he wants to then... but when you are in a contract... you are in it.

saintswhodi

That only goes for the players and not the owners huh? I don't agree at all with what Owens is doing, he just signed a new deal he begged for last year, but in some instances I think a player has the right to hold out. Wait, let me rephrase that, a player always has the right to hold out, I feel in some instances they are justified in doing so, just like we ere justified in cutting Orlando Ruff, no? He still had years left on his contract and the team did not honor it. So you are equally upset that we cut Ruff right, since when you are in a contract, you are in it.

stockman311

Is there a reason contracts in the NFL aren't guaranteed? Is it the fact that injuries are much more possible in this sport than any other? Why can't the NFL structure contracts to much shorter terms, say 2 - 3 years and make them guaranteed? That would end all of this holdout mess.