I can only imagine the vitriol that this headline stirs up in the hearts of fans around the country, From San Francisco, to Philadelphia, down to Dallas and back. T.O. has left a legacy. While most people can not stand Terrell Owens, it is based on the past and not present. Does this mean that T.O. is a better person, a changed person at this point in his life? No, not necessarily. But he could be.
We have seen all the trash that has circulated through the media over the last several months regarding the future Hall of Famer. Articles decrying his character as a deadbeat dad of multiple children, a washed up star battling depression (even contemplating suicide), to a man who squandered a fortune. Most of us fail to find sympathy for the man who once said, "they love to hate me". The money that he has made and squandered is perplexing and appalling to the average American who struggles to get by. Forgetting the narrative that suggests Owens was the victim of a crooked financial adviser and greedy baby mamas, we want him to reap what he has sown. After all, he has lost more than most of us ever have the chance to ever find. How could we want him to receiver anymore second chances? It's not like we get second chances.
It's a natural human response. Especially to one whose antics clearly revealed extreme levels of narcissism, anger, and a general disregard for other human beings not named T.O. But what is it that "the player" has done to be so reviled among athletes? Has he ever been arrested for a DUI? When has he ever been charged with assault? What drug did Terrell ever get convicted of possessing or trafficking? When was the last time T.O. failed the league's substance abuse policy? How many times has Terrell manipulated league drug tests? When did he ever say, "I play when I want to play," or ask, "for who, for what"? How many animals has he harmed? Has he ever been accused of taking someone's life?
No. He has never been charged or even accused of doing any of those things. Rather he is simply recognized as a selfish guy and a bad teammate. Not glowing endorsements, but hardly crimes. In fact, if I were to ask you or any NFL personnel the most recent T.O. antic that negatively affected his team, they would have to go back to his time with the Dallas Cowboys.
Oddly enough that is years ago, and he has played briefly on two teams since. Not only was he well behaved in Buffalo, but he was the best player during his injury shortened season in Cincinnati as well. Yes there was a bit of a circus atmosphere with the whole Batman and Robin stuff, but Carson Palmer and the Bengals knew exactly what they were getting when the paired 85 with 81. They asked for it and they got it. But even with all the "fun" it was not detrimental to the team. It was his injury, not his attitude, that hurt them.
Since the ACL injury that ended his 2010 season, T.O. has dropped to some new lows. He has had great financial troubles as well as being humbled enough that he would play in the Indoor Football League. That stint didn't last very long, but it wasn't because he couldn't play or that he was a bad teammate. Rather the PR stunts that came with the job were too much for the fading star to bear.
Owens has gone to great lengths at this point to try to reshape his image, and more than likely it is too far gone. However, I think it is foolish for a team to not let him try to earn one of the many additional spots they have on the post CBA rosters. The deal doesn't have to be filled with anything but league minimums and incentives. He has publicly said he doesn't want anything more than a chance to compete. He said he was even willing to play a backup role. Do I think that the old T.O. is dead, I am not sure. But it doesn't matter.
One thing that he has established in his legacy is that he has often been praised for having a tremendous work ethic and practice habits. Why wouldn't a team with young receivers like the Jaguars, Broncos, or Browns invite him to camp. So what if he doesn't have the legs anymore? Who cares if he is still a selfish and arrogant jerk? Let him come in and show these young guys how to work through the dog days of summer. Maybe he can't show them how to be a teammate or a class act, but he can show them how to be a professional receiver who masters his craft. Maybe he will even surprise some of these teams and quietly produce like he did in Cincinnati.
You can't tell me that the Jaguars or Browns could argue with 70 receptions, a 1,000 yards and a handful of touchdowns. If it doesn't work, cut him and move on. Honestly, what do they have to lose?
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
More information on Dez Bryant's assault
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 17, 2012, 1:15 PM EDT
Police in DeSoto, Texas, said today that Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant grabbed his mother’s hair and hit her before he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor family violence.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” DeSoto Police Captain Ron Smith said, via the Star-Telegram. “He and his mom got in an argument. It’s physical. She got some injuries. We made the arrest.”
It is not clear to what extent Bryant’s mother was injured, although she did not need to be taken to the hospital. The police report says Bryant slapped his mother’s face with a baseball cap and pulled her hair. Some reports have said the incident between Bryant and his mother began as a fight between Bryant and his half brother, but Smith said he doesn’t know why Bryant and his family were fighting.
“Whatever led to it is really not an issue for us,” Smith said. “We have an injured person. We have a suspect. We’re going to move forward.”
If convicted Bryant could serve up to a year in jail. He could also be facing discipline for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.
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Details emerge around Dez Bryant's assault of his mother
Paul Jackiewicz - Pro Football Zone
Thanks to our buddies at BlackSportsOnline.com we have the911 audio of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant’s mother.
We also now have more information of how Bryant assaulted his own mother. She claims that they got into an argument and then asked him to leave and that’s when he got physical with her.
“My son has assaulted me,” said Bryant’s mother Angela on the 911 tape. “He’s here now. He won’t go home. I keep telling him to go, he won’t go. I can’t let him keep doing me like this. I’m gonna put an end to it today.”
According to TMZ.com, the police claim they saw bruising on the upper arm of Bryant’s mother. Two days later when police returned to her home, she complained of pain in her wrists, hands and arms. She also said that her chest was sore from being pushed by Dez.
“We’re going to do an investigation, find out what happened for ourselves. The most important thing is that we heal the family,” said Bryant’s attorney Royce West, per TMZ.
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Today Show airs video of wrong player during Mike Vick segment
Paul Jackiewicz - Pro Football Zone
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick appeared on NBC’s Today Show to promote his upcoming book entitled Finally Free.
During Vick’s interview with Matt Lauer, NBC showed some footage of quarterback Jerrod Johnson throwing the football during practice. I’m not sure if NBC thinks all black quarterbacks look alike and got confused. But it’s not a good sign when a big TV station like NBC makes a mistake like this.
Thanks to Deadspin for the info.
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Ed Reed's mind is not on the 2012 season
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 17, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT
Ravens safety Ed Reed continues to hint that he’s not so sure he’s going to play this season.
Working at a youth football camp on Monday, Reed said he hasn’t given a whole lot of thought to playing in Baltimore this year.
“This is about these kids today,” Reed said, via the Baltimore Sun. “My mind is just so far away from what’s about to happen in the fall. I’m thinking about other things.”
Butch Davis hopes to coach in the NFL again
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 17, 2012, 10:42 AM EDT
Butch Davis has been a head coach with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina Tar Heels, but he’s currently a consultant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, having been fired from coaching at North Carolina, and choosing not to take an assistant coaching job anywhere else because he wants to keep his full North Carolina buyout, which he only gets if he doesn’t make a living coaching somewhere else.
That does not, however, mean Davis’s coaching career is over. At least not according to Davis, who still wants to be a head coach.
“I would love to think that the things we’ve accomplished over 37 years, that this one particular deal will not define me as a man nor as a coach,” Davis said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Tuesday morning one-liners
Posted by Josh Alper on July 17, 2012, 8:00 AM EDT
The Bills website asks if Ryan Fitzpatrickcan be an upper echelon quarterback.
Backfield depth shouldn’t be a problem for the Dolphins.
Will this be WR Wes Welker’s final year withthe Patriots?
Speed might be DeMario Davis’ ticket into theJets’ linebacker rotation.
Ravens RB Ray Rice’s contract goes against the notion that teams won’t spend big money for running backs.
Dez Bryant's arrest was for pushing his mother
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 17, 2012, 7:01 AM EDT
Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant pushed his mother on Saturday in an incident that wound up with Bryant arrested for misdemeanor family violence.
A source told ESPNDallas.com that Bryant and his half brother had been in an argument before Bryant ended up pushing his mother. Police were called at that time, although the police didn’t arrest Bryant until Monday. Bryant’s mother did not need to be taken to the hospital for injuries.
Bryant’s mother, Angela Bryant, has had a number of run-ins with the law, including spending 18 months in prison during Dez’s childhood for selling crack cocaine. Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland caused a stir at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine for asking Bryant if his mother was a prostitute.
Although Bryant has never been arrested before, he has had other incidents with police, including being detained early this year after an alleged altercation at a nightclub in Miami, and having off-duty police working security at a Dallas-area mall telling him he was banned from the premises. The family violence arrest could lead to Bryant facing discipline from the league office.
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Marshawn Lynch arrested for DUI
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 17, 2012, 6:34 AM EDT
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested in his hometown of Oakland for driving under the influence on Saturday.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that Lynch was arrested on Interstate 880, taken to Santa Rita Jail, cited and released.
Police said Lynch was cooperative and agreed to a blood test, which showed his blood-alcohol level was over the .08 limit, although they have not said exactly what his blood-alcohol level was.
This isn’t the first time Lynch’s driving has caused problems. In 2008 his drivers license was revoked after he struck a pedestrian outside a bar and drove off. He was also suspended for three games in 2009 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge. This arrest could be cause for another suspension, as Lynch is already a repeat offender in the eyes of the league office.
Any suspension would be a tough blow to the Seahawks, as Lynch is their top offensive playmaker, with 285 carries for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. The Seahawks have said they’re aware of the situation but have declined further comment.
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