Arbitrator upholds Owens´ four-game suspension
November 23, 2005
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - It appears Terrell Owens will not play for any team for the rest of the 2005 season.
Arbitrator Richard Bloch upheld the Philadelphia Eagles´ four-game suspension of Owens for conduct detrimental to the team and stated that the team has the right to keep Owens on the inactive list for the remainder of the season.
The arbitration hearing for the controversial wide receiver was held last Friday and lasted 14 hours. Eagles coach Andy Reid cited 11 incidents in which Owens´ conduct was detrimental to the team during the hearing.
Owens has already missed three games. The final game of his suspension is this Sunday against Green Bay.
But Reid made it clear that Owens would not be allowed to return to the team after the suspension was over. Bloch´s ruling on Wednesday justifies Reid´s permanent banishment of Owens.
After upholding the suspension, Bloch stated that the Eagles have the right to keep Owens away from the practice facility after the suspension is over.
The NFL Players Association asked the arbitrator to reduce the suspension and wanted the Eagles to cut Owens if they had no intention of playing him again.
Owens apologized for his latest transgressions - criticisms of quarterback Donovan McNabb and the organization in an ESPN.com interview - and wanted to return to the Eagles.
The Eagles will release Owens before a $5 million roster bonus is due in March.
However, Owens clearly hurt his market value with his petulant behavior this season.
Bon bah voila, si TO se fait cutter dans les jours a venir, ou va il aller, les boys ou pas ?
Non plus serieusement, j´ai rarement vu des trucs pareils.