T.O. to Denver?
It's kind of a slow news day, so I'm forced to talk about 2005's most overexposed athlete, Terrell Owens. It seems that he had a "get-acquainted" session with Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who previously remarked that he wouldn't have a problem with taking on a star with a questionable history. My question is this: Why?! I apply that question to both parties involved, actually.
For Shanahan, you have to wonder if the man has completely forgotten about the 2005 preseason. He apparently has learned nothing at all from the Maurice Clarett experiment. The parallels here if Denver were to acquire T.O. would be obvious: both athletes would have shown questionable behavior in the past, and then would have shown no proof that they had changed but receive a second chance from the Broncos anyway. Some might bring up what T.O. can do on a football field and rightly point out that Clarett had never proven he could succeed in the NFL before being given that second chance, and they would be right. However, the risk is also far greater here. Clarett is merely self-destructive. T.O., on the other hand, has ripped apart the fabric of his team's chemistry, not just once but twice! In any sport, this would be a grievous offense, but it is especially so in football, where team chemistry is far more important than in any other sport. For Shanahan to risk this to bring in a shiny new offensive toy is a mark of true desperation, the kind that a conference championship finalist should not display.
As for T.O., I guess beggars can't be choosers. He should probably consider the overtures of any team foolish enough to bring him in after what he did to the Eagles this season. Still, even if, as I just noted, the Broncos made the AFC title game, does he really want to be chasing down passes from Jake the Snake? Owens felt the need to call Donovan McNabb's quarterbacking into question, so what do you think he's going to do after the 4th time Plummer hangs him out to dry over the middle in Week 1 of the 2006 season? I know he's supposed to be the new and improved Jake and all that, but based on what happened against Pittsburgh a couple Sundays ago, I'm not totally convinced. Plus, do you really think if Shanahan got T.O. in the Mile High City that the Broncos would continue with the same conservative passing game they showed for most of 2005? Not a chance. If they tried, T.O. would likely start doing chin ups on the Invesco Field crossbars during a game to protest his lack of touches.
Basically, no good will come of this situation, except this: 31 other teams' fans would be able to proudly say, "T.O.'s not my problem!" That would be the case anyway, but Shanahan may play a big part in deciding which 31 teams can make that claim.
For Shanahan, you have to wonder if the man has completely forgotten about the 2005 preseason. He apparently has learned nothing at all from the Maurice Clarett experiment. The parallels here if Denver were to acquire T.O. would be obvious: both athletes would have shown questionable behavior in the past, and then would have shown no proof that they had changed but receive a second chance from the Broncos anyway. Some might bring up what T.O. can do on a football field and rightly point out that Clarett had never proven he could succeed in the NFL before being given that second chance, and they would be right. However, the risk is also far greater here. Clarett is merely self-destructive. T.O., on the other hand, has ripped apart the fabric of his team's chemistry, not just once but twice! In any sport, this would be a grievous offense, but it is especially so in football, where team chemistry is far more important than in any other sport. For Shanahan to risk this to bring in a shiny new offensive toy is a mark of true desperation, the kind that a conference championship finalist should not display.
As for T.O., I guess beggars can't be choosers. He should probably consider the overtures of any team foolish enough to bring him in after what he did to the Eagles this season. Still, even if, as I just noted, the Broncos made the AFC title game, does he really want to be chasing down passes from Jake the Snake? Owens felt the need to call Donovan McNabb's quarterbacking into question, so what do you think he's going to do after the 4th time Plummer hangs him out to dry over the middle in Week 1 of the 2006 season? I know he's supposed to be the new and improved Jake and all that, but based on what happened against Pittsburgh a couple Sundays ago, I'm not totally convinced. Plus, do you really think if Shanahan got T.O. in the Mile High City that the Broncos would continue with the same conservative passing game they showed for most of 2005? Not a chance. If they tried, T.O. would likely start doing chin ups on the Invesco Field crossbars during a game to protest his lack of touches.
Basically, no good will come of this situation, except this: 31 other teams' fans would be able to proudly say, "T.O.'s not my problem!" That would be the case anyway, but Shanahan may play a big part in deciding which 31 teams can make that claim.
posted by Lock Ness Monster at 12:23 PM
4 Comments:
T.O. to Denver! Hmm, I haven't heard this one yet. Last I heard Nick Saban was toying with the idea of bringing T.O. to the Dolphins. Me being the Dolphin fan that I am, would absolutely love to have T.O. playing for the Dolphins. The thought of Chambers and T.O. on the field together would make any QB salivate. It would be similar to the Moss and Porter duo in Oakland. Anyways, I believe that T.O. will realize (hopefully sooner than later) that his next chance will more than likely be his last. Maybe the third time will be the charm for T.O. and whatever team signs him. Nick Saban appears to have proven that he can take troubled players under his wing (Ricky Williams). The difference between T.O. and Clarett is T.O. has talent. Clarett was fortunate enough to play in a talented system but has never proven (at least not to me) that he is NFL caliber material. Clarett has been a baby his entire football career. There was a time where T.O. only made headlines for his great plays. Keep in mind this is all coming from a huge Miami fan that still thinks there is hope that C-Pep will be traded to the Dolphins.
I know I didn't discuss the main topic, but if I were Shanahan or any other Head Coach in the NFL (Except for Andy Reid) I would take a chance on T.O.
Sad situation (I'm an Eagles fan).
I have a feeling some nutty owner (aka Al Davis) will pick up T.O. Shanahan is probably trying to scare Ashley Lelie into stepping up his game.
T.O. is in the wrong sport. If he was as gifted at basketball as football, he'd have a ridiculous contract, put up 40 a night (with 0 assists) and complain how he doesn't get the ball enough while his team is below five hundred.
Basically he'd be a friendlier, less morally bankrupt version of Kobe.
Some nice points you brought up, guys. I had heard about the Dolphins' rumored interest before, but I didn't make the connection with Ricky Williams and Saban's ability to handle questionable characters. Parcells would also be a coach as well-equipped as any to deal with T.O., although T.O.'s ego and Keyshawn Johnson's ego on the same team would frighten the heck out of me were I a Cowboys fan. I'm not so sure about Gruden, though. If you remember, he was the coach that suspended Me-Shawn for almost half a season for conduct detrimental to the team. You may recall that situation being referred to in the media as the closest parallel to T.O.'s 2005 suspension. This leads me to believe that Gruden wouldn't be interested in taking a risk of being in a similar situation.
To answer your question, Eric, when a player is traded that means that the team's rights and obligations under that contract are traded. So, unless there is a contract renegotiation (which one might expect, since contract squabbles were the reason for the whole mess to begin with, but it's not an absolute necessity), whichever team acquires T.O. in a trade is on the hook for any money owed to him under the contract from the time of acquisition going forward. What does happen sometimes, though, is that as part of the trade itself the former team agrees to pay some of the money that would normally be owed by the new team under the contract to facilitate the deal (this is what is meant when a team is said to be trading "cash" as part of the trade). I'm no salary cap expert, so I don't know if this eventuality would mean that the former team's salary cap would be affected by such an arrangement or not. If I'm able to find the answer to that, I'll let you guys know.
More T.O. news: Kansas City is rumored to have at least mild interest. (Insert Herm Edwards "You play to win the game!" reference here.)
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