Read and React: T.O. talk
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
June 10, 2006
We're having a flashback.
One year ago at this time, two characters – some would paint them as villains – dominated the NFL landscape. And they've returned like the ghost of Jacob Marley, rattling chains and snapping us out of our offseason slumber. Of course, that's not all that they are rattling.
How the mailbag has missed you, T.O. and Ricky.
Where the mail is concerned, no duet has fueled the offseason reader forum more than Terrell Owens and Ricky Williams – the two players who provoke opinions with virtually no middle ground. Either you love them or you hate them. Rarely is there compromise.
And the mailbag filled up quickly with polarizing opinions – from one fan who thinks yours truly is inappropriately blaming Owens for the Philadelphia Eagles' demise last season, to another who thinks Ricky should be coughing up his Canadian Loonies to Wayne Huizenga and the Miami Dolphins.
Beyond the infamous twosome, some readers took umbrage to the Brady Quinn-Kyle Orton comparison in last week's notebook, a few Green Bay Packers fans opined about Javon Walker and the offense and a Washington Redskins follower who thinks the 'Skins might want to hang on to David Patten just a little bit longer.
We love to hear from you, so keep the letters coming. And as always, be sure to include your first and last name as well as your city and state. Any comments I have will be in italics.
TERRELL OWENS AND RICKY WILLIAMS ("The OK Corral," June 4, 2006)
You, like most of the media, are a judgmental (expletive). You constantly twist every word or action from a guy and make it what YOU want it to mean. How can you say one guy totally wrecked a team's season? Is the team's "leader" and coaching staff that weak that the season hinges on one guy? One guy, who by the way, according to the "leader" and coach isn't needed to win? Are you a fortune teller or a journalist? Do your job and report what is going on and stop trying to make a story!
Jamie Tart
Durham, N.C.
I think you're being far too narrow-minded about what kind of impact Owens had in Philadelphia. He was a constant distraction, he had a fistfight with Hugh Douglas, he ripped his quarterback, offensive coordinator and head coach, and he upset the team chemistry to the point where Donovan McNabb wondered whether he had lost the locker room. If you don't think that was a major reason why the Eagles fell apart last year, then you know nothing about how team politics can dramatically alter wins and losses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To make the comparison between Lawrence Taylor and T.O. is naive for a football writer. L.T. had his problems and demons, but he never displayed the mutinous characteristics of T.O. L.T. also changed how the game was played. T.O. is a very gifted position player, but he isn't revolutionizing football. T.O. can only wish to have the kind of football career that L.T. enjoyed. Right now he is coming up well short.
Joshua Perlett
Chester, N.J.
That wasn't my point in the comparison with L.T. What I was trying to convey is that Bill Parcells has been through dramatic personality struggles with great players before. When it comes to arrogance, T.O. and L.T. aren't that far apart. The only difference, Taylor never attacked his quarterback and coaches on a consistent basis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does Terrell Owens get so much credit for getting Philadelphia to the Super Bowl? I ask this because I do recall the Eagles making it to the NFC championship three years in a row WITHOUT T.O., and when they finally did win on their fourth try, it was without T.O. in the lineup, as he hadn't dressed for the last six or seven games. I know he had a great game in the Super Bowl, but did he actually ADD to the passing stats or just redirect all the passing yardage to himself? I'm not disagreeing with the fact that this man has an amazing ability, but I truly believe that he's done more in the long run to destroy a team than help it.
John Slyman
Seattle
It was a mental thing. You had to understand what kind of unseen element Owens added to that Eagles team his first season. He gave them a swagger and confidence that they lacked in the past. They didn't back down to anyone with Owens during that first season. To me, that was the missing piece in all of the NFC championship losses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are people so interested in making T.O.'s personality an issue (writing about him over and over) while there are so many other players who are just as "bad" as him?
Ed
Dallas
Several reasons. No. 1, he is arguably the best player at his position and one of the top 10 players in the NFL. No. 2, he's said things that are never said publicly. And No. 3, many people are just waiting for the next explosion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's right, just keep T.O in the spotlight. That's how it all starts.
John R. Giannantonio
Philadelphia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I simply can't believe Dallas Cowboys fans would support a player like Owens on their team. If that clown was brought to Green Bay, he would be booed off the field, right along with whoever had the nerve to bring him in. I guess in Texas, it's win at any cost, particularly for guys like Jerry Jones. I would hope the fans will show some pride and dignity and run him out of town.
Steven Maerz
Madison, Wis.
June 10, 2006
We're having a flashback.
One year ago at this time, two characters – some would paint them as villains – dominated the NFL landscape. And they've returned like the ghost of Jacob Marley, rattling chains and snapping us out of our offseason slumber. Of course, that's not all that they are rattling.
How the mailbag has missed you, T.O. and Ricky.
Where the mail is concerned, no duet has fueled the offseason reader forum more than Terrell Owens and Ricky Williams – the two players who provoke opinions with virtually no middle ground. Either you love them or you hate them. Rarely is there compromise.
And the mailbag filled up quickly with polarizing opinions – from one fan who thinks yours truly is inappropriately blaming Owens for the Philadelphia Eagles' demise last season, to another who thinks Ricky should be coughing up his Canadian Loonies to Wayne Huizenga and the Miami Dolphins.
Beyond the infamous twosome, some readers took umbrage to the Brady Quinn-Kyle Orton comparison in last week's notebook, a few Green Bay Packers fans opined about Javon Walker and the offense and a Washington Redskins follower who thinks the 'Skins might want to hang on to David Patten just a little bit longer.
We love to hear from you, so keep the letters coming. And as always, be sure to include your first and last name as well as your city and state. Any comments I have will be in italics.
TERRELL OWENS AND RICKY WILLIAMS ("The OK Corral," June 4, 2006)
You, like most of the media, are a judgmental (expletive). You constantly twist every word or action from a guy and make it what YOU want it to mean. How can you say one guy totally wrecked a team's season? Is the team's "leader" and coaching staff that weak that the season hinges on one guy? One guy, who by the way, according to the "leader" and coach isn't needed to win? Are you a fortune teller or a journalist? Do your job and report what is going on and stop trying to make a story!
Jamie Tart
Durham, N.C.
I think you're being far too narrow-minded about what kind of impact Owens had in Philadelphia. He was a constant distraction, he had a fistfight with Hugh Douglas, he ripped his quarterback, offensive coordinator and head coach, and he upset the team chemistry to the point where Donovan McNabb wondered whether he had lost the locker room. If you don't think that was a major reason why the Eagles fell apart last year, then you know nothing about how team politics can dramatically alter wins and losses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To make the comparison between Lawrence Taylor and T.O. is naive for a football writer. L.T. had his problems and demons, but he never displayed the mutinous characteristics of T.O. L.T. also changed how the game was played. T.O. is a very gifted position player, but he isn't revolutionizing football. T.O. can only wish to have the kind of football career that L.T. enjoyed. Right now he is coming up well short.
Joshua Perlett
Chester, N.J.
That wasn't my point in the comparison with L.T. What I was trying to convey is that Bill Parcells has been through dramatic personality struggles with great players before. When it comes to arrogance, T.O. and L.T. aren't that far apart. The only difference, Taylor never attacked his quarterback and coaches on a consistent basis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does Terrell Owens get so much credit for getting Philadelphia to the Super Bowl? I ask this because I do recall the Eagles making it to the NFC championship three years in a row WITHOUT T.O., and when they finally did win on their fourth try, it was without T.O. in the lineup, as he hadn't dressed for the last six or seven games. I know he had a great game in the Super Bowl, but did he actually ADD to the passing stats or just redirect all the passing yardage to himself? I'm not disagreeing with the fact that this man has an amazing ability, but I truly believe that he's done more in the long run to destroy a team than help it.
John Slyman
Seattle
It was a mental thing. You had to understand what kind of unseen element Owens added to that Eagles team his first season. He gave them a swagger and confidence that they lacked in the past. They didn't back down to anyone with Owens during that first season. To me, that was the missing piece in all of the NFC championship losses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are people so interested in making T.O.'s personality an issue (writing about him over and over) while there are so many other players who are just as "bad" as him?
Ed
Dallas
Several reasons. No. 1, he is arguably the best player at his position and one of the top 10 players in the NFL. No. 2, he's said things that are never said publicly. And No. 3, many people are just waiting for the next explosion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's right, just keep T.O in the spotlight. That's how it all starts.
John R. Giannantonio
Philadelphia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I simply can't believe Dallas Cowboys fans would support a player like Owens on their team. If that clown was brought to Green Bay, he would be booed off the field, right along with whoever had the nerve to bring him in. I guess in Texas, it's win at any cost, particularly for guys like Jerry Jones. I would hope the fans will show some pride and dignity and run him out of town.
Steven Maerz
Madison, Wis.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:51 AM
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