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NFL
Eagles send receiver flying
By ROB MAADDI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — Terrell Owens is free to play for any team willing to have him.
The Philadelphia Eagles released the exiled Owens on Tuesday, ending a tumultuous, two-year relationship with the wide receiver.
Owens was due a 85 million roster bonus on Wednesday, so the Eagles had to cut him or trade him before then to avoid paying him the money.
The move was a formality because Owens was kicked off the team in November following a series of incidents and infractions, including repeated criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The Eagles announced the cut in a one-sentence statement. Team officials said they would not comment.
The Eagles gave Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to talk with other teams in January. The former All-Pro met with the Denver Broncos. Miami and Dallas reportedly have interest in Owens, and Kansas City president Carl Peterson has said he'd consider giving him a one-year, incentive-laden deal.
Owens helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in his first season in Philadelphia, but his problems started when he demanded a new contract just one year into a seven-year, $48.97 million deal.
He criticized management, feuded with McNabb, violated team policies and eventually was banished seven games into last season. An arbitrator upheld the Eagles' decision to suspend Owens without pay for four games and deactivate him the final five games.
Owens was set to earn base salaries of $770,000 plus $7.5 million in bonuses in 2006, $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009, and $8.5 million in 2010.
It's unlikely he'll get a similar deal from another team.
The Eagles were 17-5 in games Owens played, including playoffs, and 4-9 without him. They finished 6-10 last year, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Owens came to the Eagles after eight often controversial seasons in San Francisco with a reputation for being a playmaker. However, his selfish behavior and flamboyant touchdown celebrations often overshadowed his performance on the field.
He caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2004, and made a valiant return from ankle surgery to play in Philadelphia's loss to New England in the Super Bowl.
From there, it was downhill. Owens took his first verbal shot at McNabb last April, suggesting the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback was tired in the fourth quarter against the Patriots.
Bradley C. Bower/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens acknowledges the media as he arrives for his arbitration hearing Nov. 18, 2005, in Philadelphia.The Philadelphia Eagles released the exiled Owens on Tuesday March 14, 2006, ending a tumultuous, two-year relationship with the wide receiver.
From there, it was downhill.
McNabb responded harshly and the two didn't speak for a prolonged period in training camp. They briefly reconciled their relationship and performed well together on the field - Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs in seven games last year.
Owens was sent home for one week from training camp last August after a heated dispute with coach Andy Reid that followed a shouting match with then-offensive coordinator Brad Childress.
Owens also annoyed the Eagles by breaking the dress code on road trips, parking in coaches' spots at the team's practice facility and sleeping through one team meeting, not bringing his playbook to another and refusing to open the playbook at another meeting.
In early November, the team had enough of Owens' antics after he again criticized McNabb, called the organization "classless" and fought with former
teammate Hugh Douglas
NEL
One day after the Eagles told him to go home for good, a contrite Owens pleaded for another chance in a public apology outside his home in Moore-stown, N.J., but the team was unmoved.
A five-time Pro Bowl receiver, Owens has 716 catches for 10,535 yards and 103 touchdowns, including two rushing scores, in 10 seasons in the NFL.
Saints sign quarterback to replace Brooks
BY BRETT MARTEL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — Freagent quarterback Drew Brees agreed to a six-year contract Tuesday with New Orleans, providing the Saints with a proven replacement for Aaron Brooks.
Brees is a bit of a question mark after injuring his throwing shoulder with San Diego in the final game of the season. He underwent surgery and said last
weekend he will take four or five months to be ready.
That could account for the terms of the contract, which guarantees money only in the first year. The deal calls for the Saints to pay Brees about $60 million over the life of the contract, including a $10 million bonus up front and a $12 million option in the second year.
"Drew was sufficiently impressed with the organization and the head coach in New Orleans," said Brees' agent, Tom Condon. "New Orleans was also very comfortable with the risk-reward, based on his rehabilitation from the injury, and Miami didn't have that same level of comfort, so New Orleans made a lot of sense for us."
Brooks is expected to be released by New Orleans after his worst season since taking over as the Saints starter in 2000.
With Brees as their starting quarterback, the pressure is
off the Saints to use the No. 2 choice in the draft on Southern California's Matt Leinart, who is expected to be available with Reggie Bush, the likely No.1 selection by Houston.
New Orleans, which has lost top center LeCharles Bentley and cornerback Fakir Brown to free agency, could choose another player or dangle their pick as trade bait for teams who covet the opportunity to take Leinart, the 2004 Heisman winner.
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