The official off season NFL thread

[Mole 0]

Wow, my Niners got rid of Owens just for a second-round pick? That has to be the worst trade ever.

Considering two weeks ago, they were getting NOTHING in return for his departure...

 

John Clayton's thoughts on this...

 

Owens deal lucky for all

The reason Terrell Owens went to the Ravens is because they were the only team to step up and offer a solid draft choice.

 

The Eagles wanted to talk about some backup players and a low draft choice. The Jets were hot and cold about making an offer. The Browns made mention of wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, but never came as close as the Ravens did when they offered a second-rounder, the 51st choice in the draft.

 

49ers general manager Terry Donahue wanted to make a fast deal. As much as he would have loved to get a No. 1 choice, he pretty much knew that wouldn't be in the cards. This is a great draft for first-round wide receivers. Plus, the team that acquired Owens would have to assume the remaining three years and $17 million of his contract.

 

Owens is going to want a new contract with a big signing bonus. That put him on the market at a discount. The 49ers were happy just to get the second-round choice from Baltimore.

I don't know, I just believe they could have gotten more for him.

 

He is one of the best WRs in the game.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

well the Ravens second was supposedly the best offer they got.

 

no one was going to make a big offer because everyone knows the niners were desperate to get rid of him.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

The Titans got a higher pick for trading their WR today.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

And so it begins:

 

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2203694

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Something tells me T.O. doesnt want to play for the Ravens....

[the pinjockey 0]

Part of me now wants the Ravens deal to go through just to see Terrell try and explain himself to Ray Lewis.

 

Then the Eagles fan in me shoots that part, and reminds me the Eagles would get him cheap in trade and cheap in contract ($10mil bonus and $6mil/yr, is cheap).

[Human Fly 0]

So I guess the question is, what uniform will T.O. be wearing when next season starts?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Billick said the Ravens would look at trading Owens, but it would have to a better deal than what they gave San Fran.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

And we have the High Schoolers/JuCos entered for the draft..

 

Ronnie McCrae - Pasadena CC - DB - no INTs - team went 0 and 10

 

Ken Petitt - Redford HS - OT - Honorable Mention for his area

 

Ethan Mitchell - Flowers HS - RB - Never played for Varsity

 

Joe Banks - New Directions Academy HS - RB - NDAHS is for developmentally disabled children

 

John Belisle - Capac HS - QB - Not on the 2003 roster

 

Earl Fields - Appling Co. HS - DT - Not on 2003 roster

 

Joe Lee - Gates HS - WR - School doesn't have a football team

[2GOLD 0]

....wow, that's funny

 

Also, why should it matter what the hell TO is mad about? The Niners owned him, the Ravens offered a better deal so they took the deal. TO doesn't like it there was nothing that says you HAVE to send the player where he wants to go.

 

Screw Owens.

 

Ravens offered a better deal, the Niners took the deal. End of story.

[the pinjockey 0]

That was apparently the compromise the league came to so he wouldn't file a grievance about the late paperwork, that any deal would go through him. Whether the league should have cared about that in the first place is a different story (the agent fucked up so the league shouldn't care), but if they told Owens that he would be involved in the trade talks then they have to stick by that.

[the pinjockey 0]

Here is how the whole thing should just play out to go nice and quick:

 

Andy Reid should go to Ozzie Newsome and tell him they will give up their first round pick for him. Newsome should accept since Owens will just be a malcontent for them apparently.

 

This way:

Eagles get: Owens at a cheap price ($6 mil/yr with a $10 mil bonus)

49ers get: a free 2nd round pick

Ravens: move up a free 23 spots in the draft (51st pick to 28th pick)

 

Everyone wins.

[Fökai 0]

The most the Eagles wanted to give up for Owens was a fifth-rounder and JAMES THRASH.

 

That's a horrible deal for the 49ers then and the Ravens now.

[the pinjockey 0]

I doubt that is the most that the Eagles would have given up. If the Niners had gone back to Reid and told him they were offered the 51st pick, that proposal would have been upped substantially.

 

The Eagles were stupid to lowball like that in the first place. They should have just offered their 2nd round pick and change and just get it over with.

[Fökai 0]

I doubt that is the most that the Eagles would have given up. If the Niners had gone back to Reid and told him they were offered the 51st pick, that proposal would have been upped substantially.

 

The Eagles were stupid to lowball like that in the first place. They should have just offered their 2nd round pick and change and just get it over with.

But you're offending the other team's management when you're offering deals like THAT.

 

It was common knowledge around the league (according to ESPN) that the 49ers were seeking a first or second-rounder for Owens, with hopes of additional compensation (Thrash).

[the pinjockey 0]

Absolutely, it was stupid on the Eagles part. I won't deny that. But the fact that they told Owens to go get a contract with the Eagles showed that they wanted to try and work out a deal to a team ready to give him a contract. In that scenario, I think you at least go back to them and tell them the 51st pick has been offered. I don't understand why you wouldn't. What is the worst that happens? The Eagles don't top it and you get the Ravens pick. The best that happens is the Eagles top it and you get more or even better you get them into a bidding war with each other.

[Fökai 0]

Conflicting reports on ESPN have Donahue accepting the trade...

 

Two league insiders familiar with the negotiations, and speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Philly reporters Thursday night that the Eagles actually finalized a trade with the 49ers and hammered out a long-term, multi-million dollar contract with Owens.

 

 

The deal would have sent Owens to Philadelphia for a fifth-round pick and a player, possibly receiver James Thrash, according to the report.

 

 

"Terrell was ecstatic," an NFL agent familiar with the details of the negotiations, told the Web site. "Philly is where he wanted to go all along. He was under the impression he was an Eagle. It was a done deal."

 

 

But before the paperwork was signed, according to the Web site, 49ers general manager Terry Donahue quietly accepted the Ravens' offer of a second-round pick in this year's draft and filed trade papers without informing Joseph or Eagles negotiator Joe Banner, or giving them a chance to match the offer.

 

 

The Eagles, according to the Web site, did not learn the 49ers had shipped Owens to the Ravens until a team employee saw an ESPN report on Thursday afternoon. And Joseph didn't know about the trade until he got a phone call from the Eagles moments later.

 

and Donahue rejecting the trade...

 

San Francisco general manager Terry Donahue said Eagles coach Andy Reid offered a fifth-round pick and wide receiver James Thrash for Owens.

 

 

"We had no interest in that whatsoever," Donahue said.

 

 

Donahue said he countered with a list of other players he'd want for Owens, but the teams couldn't agree on a deal.

 

 

"I told Andy we were going to move really quick and that we had a second-round pick and that if he had any further interest to call me back," Donahue said.

 

 

"I'm just as shocked as everyone else," said Owens in a Baltimore Sun report. "We were on the cusp of having something worked out with the Eagles and then the unfortunate happened within a matter of minutes."

 

 

Two Eagles sources told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the team reached a financial agreement with Owens and were about to contact the 49ers when they heard about the trade to the Ravens on television.

[the pinjockey 0]

I don't buy the statement that he told Reid as every local report has stated that Reid only found out about the deal as they were walking down the hall to introduce Jevon Kearse. I have a hard time believing that if that was untrue, that no reporter had broken that as that would be a pretty good scoop.

[Gert T 0]

Artrell Hawkins was cut by the Bengals yesterday. An era has ended.

 

Artrell Hawkins was the best CB in the league in making tackles after nine yard gains.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Bengals also signed Nate Webster.

[Gert T 0]

They also lost Mike Goff to San Diego, and picked up Kim Herring as well. I'm not quite sure if Kim Herring will be as productive as he was during Baltimore's SB run. But as bad as the Bengals secondary was this past year he probably helps. Hopefully they can still retain Rogers Beckett.

 

Artrell Hawkins is an example of the old regime of Cincinnati Bengals management. They picked him in the second round when pretty much everybody projected him as a fifth or sixth round pick.

 

Two seasons ago when he was a FA and Pittsburgh was only interested bringing him in nickel and dime packages. Cincy resigned him because they could not attract many quality FA's.

[imajackoff? 0]

Fuck T.O. up his primadonna ass!!! I will be so pissed if my Ravens trade him. We own him. He has zippy leverage. Play for us or retire, bitch!!

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I don't belive Donahue accepted the Eagles offer, because that would have easily been the worst trade in human history.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I hope the Ravens don't have to pay Owens if he decides not ot report to camp. If Owens wanted to go to the Eagles, he should have voided his contract and did it the right way. Furthermore, was there only day where you could file the paperwork for voiding contracts? If not, I don't have any sympathy for Owens since his agent didn't have to wait for the deadline to come around before filing the paperwork. A good agent would have done it early.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Apparently the date for voiding the contract was changed, and Owens and his agent didn't know about it. The agent for Dennis Northcutt didn't know either, so this wasn't totally isolated.

 

If the league really allowed Owens leeway with the trade because of the voiding problem, then I can see how Owens would be upset. He's a selfish jerk, but he still shouldn't get blatantly screwed over like that. Karma, I suppose. Greg Knapp must be laughing over in Atlanta.

[MrRant 0]

By Don Banks, SI.com

 

 

Jeff Garcia would back up Michael Vick in Atlanta, but he could compete for the starting job in Cleveland.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

After spending Friday visiting the Cleveland Browns, former San Francisco quarterback Jeff Garcia is scheduled to continue his free-agent tour Saturday by flying to Atlanta to meet with the Falcons.

 

But as Friday night ended, Browns officials were still trying to persuade Garcia to stay over in Cleveland and resume meeting with club officials Saturday. It is not known whether the Browns made Garcia a contract offer in line with becoming their starting quarterback, or whether Cleveland's interest is strong enough to warrant Garcia skipping the rest of his free-agent visits.

 

Besides the Falcons, who would like him to serve as Michael Vick's backup, Garcia remains in contact with both Tampa Bay and Detroit, both of whom may request a visit in the coming days. Garcia likes the idea of playing for Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden, but the Lions also are appealing because former 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci wants Garcia to back up Joey Harrington.

 

There are two major drawbacks regarding the Bucs: Their tight salary cap situation may prohibit them from adding Garcia, and Gruden is reluctant to alienate starting quarterback Brad Johnson, who led the team to its only Super Bowl title less than 14 months ago.

 

Despite being very interested in the Browns, since they're the only suitor capable of promising him the No. 1 job, Garcia will probably follow through on his plan to travel to Atlanta. The Falcons' new head coach is Jim Mora, who was the 49ers' defensive coordinator until January, and Atlanta's offensive coordinator is Greg Knapp, who served in the same capacity in San Francisco until Mora hired him.

 

In pursuing Garcia, the Browns continue to seek options other than bringing back Tim Couch for a sixth season. Couch has been in negotiations with Cleveland regarding the reduction of his scheduled $7.6 million salary in 2004, but no agreement appears close.

 

If the Browns acquire Garcia, it will mean the end of Couch's often rocky tenure in Cleveland. Garcia would be backed up by veteran Kelly Holcomb, and Couch would be released.

[2GOLD 0]

You want an EASIER TO explanation on why he didn't go to the Eagles

 

Eagles- NFC

Ravens- AFC

 

That's it. This wasn't Drew Bledsoe who was a question mark, this was giving the Eagles, a team IN your conference the final piece of the puzzle to the Super Bowl. The Eagles would have needed to offer 2 first round picks and Thrash to match any offer out of the AFC unless the Niners were stupid.

 

Could the Ravens deal him? Of course, I'm sure they will IF the Eagles offer a higher pick and something NEXT year as well. If the Eagles come with a weak 3-4th round pick? The Ravens will laugh at them.

 

This is a final piece, a receiver McNabb can throw to. ANY team that gives them that piece should be slapped in the face for being stupid.

 

Also, why the HELL aren't the Arizona Cardinals moving on Garcia??? If he has a great year this year then they could deal him for draft picks while whoever they draft would get a year on the bench to learn before moving into a starting role. Right now they are basically saying, "Ok Josh McNown, you won't be a starter next year but try and show something. Oh, and could you help train Eli? Thanks."

 

Oh wait...this is the Arizona Cardinals. My mistake, I forgot who the owners were.

[the pinjockey 0]

That in conference stuff is overblown. I wouldn't trade him in division, but after that who cares. The Eagles don't even enter the Niners radar until the playoffs and the Niners are not a good enough team to think like "lets handcuff ourselves in a deal, because we are worried about seeing him in the playoffs."

[the pinjockey 0]

Redskins sign Rams CB Jeremitrius Butler to a 6yr/15mil offer sheet. Rams have a week to match. If the Rams don't match they get the Skins 5th round pick and the Skins will only have their 1st round pick in this year's draft remaining.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2207740

[Fökai 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1753313

 

BULLSHIT...

 

 

Union to file special case to nullify trade

ESPN.com news services

 

It appears that Terrell Owens won't be the only party attempting to nullify the trade that sent him from the 49ers to the Baltimore Ravens.

 

 

The NFL Players Association plans to file what is known as a "special-master case" in the next few days to nix Thursday's trade and have Owens declared a free agent, union chief Gene Upshaw told The Washington Post for Sunday's editions.

 

 

Upshaw met with Harold Henderson, the NFL's executive vice president for labor relations, on Saturday. Upshaw and Henderson, who also serves as chairman of the NFL Management Council, were scheduled to speak again Sunday, according to The Post.

 

 

If the two cannot reach a resolution in the disputed trade of Owens, a four-time Pro Bowl performer, the union will then move to void the final three seasons of Owens' contract, Upshaw told The Post.

 

 

Upshaw said that if his meetings with Henderson do not resolve the dispute, the union will then submit its request to special master Stephen B. Burbank.

 

 

A special-master case is a trial-like proceeding and differs from the usual grievance process, in which the parties present their cases to an arbitrator.

 

 

Burbank, who is in charge of settling disputes regarding the league's collective bargaining agreement, would then have the power to void Owens' current deal, making it possible for the receiver to negotiate with any team he chooses, the newspaper reported.

 

 

"We think, at this point, that's the only case we can file," Upshaw said. "That's what we'll do the early part of next week. I want to talk to Harold Henderson in the early part of next week to see if there's something the parties can work out short of that proceeding. If not, that's what we'll do."

 

 

In the interim, the Ravens will also likely have a chance to rescind the trade. Owens is scheduled to report to the Ravens on Monday to take a physical, but a source told The Post that Owens will refuse to show up.

 

 

Since all players must pass a physical before their trade can be completed, the Ravens could choose to overturn the trade or waive that provision if Owens fails to take the exam.

 

 

The Ravens, if the trade is nullified, would have the second-round pick in the upcoming draft -- which they sent to San Francisco for Owens -- returned to them. At that point, Owens would also become an unrestricted free agent.

 

 

Owens failed to become a free agent when he and his agent, David Joseph, missed a Feb. 21 deadline to exercise a clause in Owens' contract that would void the final three seasons of his deal.

 

 

The Eagles reportedly agreed to a contract with Owens that included a signing bonus believed to be worth about $10 million and would have paid Owens more than $6 million a year. That deal was supposed to be a precursor to a trade that would have sent Owens from San Francisco to Philadelphia in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick and likely wide receiver James Thrash.

 

 

But Owens was traded to the Ravens for a second-round pick Thursday before Philadelphia could complete a trade with the 49ers.

 

 

Under Owens' current contract, he is due to make $17.7 million in base salary over the next three seasons -- $5.3 million next season, $5.9 million in 2005 and $6.5 million in 2006. The Ravens said Thursday they would try to negotiate a new deal with Owens, but those efforts have been impeded by the Eagles' proposal, according to the Post..

 

 

Upshaw refused to elaborate on the details of the union's case Sunday, but a source familiar with the proceedings told the Post that the union will concede that the receiver's agent, Joseph, made a mistake by failing to file the paperwork in time to make Owens a free agent.

 

 

According to the Post's sources, the union intends to argue that Owens should be declared a free agent because it had been known his intention was to leave the 49ers.

 

 

League sources, however, have said the NFL considers Thursday's trade legal and a done deal, and sees no reason to overturn it.

 

 

According to the terms of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, the special master's decision is subject to review by U.S. District Judge David S. Doty, who over sees the CBA.