The solution to the T.O. Debacle

Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for Philadelphia Eagles pro-bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens (among others), is seeking a new contract for his client, saying that he "out-performed" the terms of the 7 year, $49 million contract he signed a year ago.

By all accounts, Owens had a fantastic season - 77 receptions, 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns, plus another 9 grabs for 122 yards in the Super Bowl (following the early return from a gruesome ankle injury).

But is it possible to "out-perform" a contract?

The Eagles acquired Owens to be the number one receiving option for quarterback Donovan McNabb. They traded for him in hopes that he would be the final piece of the puzzle that would land the Eagles in the Super Bowl. He was exactly what they wanted and needed him to be. In other words, he merely performed the duties for which he was compensated, which is the purpose of a contract.

So now with the Eagles 60 days away from opening defense of their NFC crown, they are faced with the prospect of doing so without Owens. When the Eagles veterans report to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on August 1st, chances are Owens will not be one among them.

While the Eagles are still a very good team without Owens, they are an infinitely better team with him. His presence is essential to the Eagles finally reaching the peak of the NFL mountain. But the Eagles have vowed that they will not rework his deal, and Owens has threatened to holdout or retire, thus the sides are seemingly at am impasse.

The solution is an easy one, at least as far as I can see...pay the man.

Now, I don't think the Eagles should tear up Owens' current contract at start over. But the fact is his contract is heavily back-loaded, and nothing after this year is guaranteed. Owens is scheduled to earn a substantial roster bonus in July 2006 and could be fearful that the team will cut him without recourse. Perhaps the injury last year has Owens questioning his own immortality and he's looking for assurance for his future.

Or maybe this is all Drew Rosenhaus' doing.

Rosenhaus is the guy who thinks its unfair that the Eagles could cut Owens at any time, but that he can't hold his client out for more money as he sees fit. Rosenhaus is a worm who is neglecting one fundamental point in his argument. It's the NFL player's union that agreed to a collective bargaining agreement with the league that authorized contracts without guaranteed money. Rosenhaus should be petitioning the union, not holding his clients out and screwing their respective teams.

Either way, if the Eagles were to simply guarantee Owens' contract for one more year (including the roster bonus), then everyone wins. Owens gets what he wants (job security, one more big pay day, and the chance to win a ring), the Eagles get what they need (their number one receiver back on the field and motivated to win it all), and the fans get what they love (the best team in the NFC back in tact).

And in a perfect world, Owens would fire Drew Rosenhaus, and he would get nothing. Which is what he deserves.