Eagles Refuse to Allow Owens to Play Summer Hoops

[Walter Cronkite]

Terrell Owens' first foray into pro hoops took place in 2002 with the Adirondack Wildcats of the USBL

Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens won't play for Sacramento's summer-league team next week because the NFL club will not give permission.

Owens, the talkative All-Pro who's embroiled in a contract dispute with the Eagles, had recent discussions with the Kings about another foray into basketball, his favorite sport. But Kings spokesman Darrin May said Friday the franchise wouldn't add Owens to its roster for the Las Vegas summer league unless the Eagles give their consent - something they did not do, given Owens' value and contract status. The Kings' first game is July 10."

Eagles president Joe Banner said through a team spokesman Friday night that they had not received a request from the Kings, but if they were to receive one, they would not allow Owens to play.

Owens, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard with a quick first step, was a backup on his college basketball team at Tennessee-Chattanooga. He played briefly for the USBL's Adirondack Wildcats in the summer of 2002, while he was still with the San Francisco 49ers.

Owens caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs in his first season with the Eagles, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl for the fifth straight year.

But after helping Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl last season, he stirred things up in his new home with his demand to re-negotiate the seven-year, $49 million deal he signed in March 2004 - and with his criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb following the Eagles' loss to the New England Patriots. He held out of the Eagles' recent minicamps to underline his displeasure with his contract.

While Owens won't be in Las Vegas, rapper Master P - otherwise known as Percy Miller - will be on the Kings' summer roster, May said. Miller has pursued his NBA dreams with several teams since 1998, when he tried out for the Charlotte Hornets. He was waived by the Toronto Raptors in 1999, and he participated with the Denver Nuggets' summer league team last year.

Source: AP

[Flying High]

If my man Terrell Owens wants to play for the Kings in the NBA summer league let him. I think if Eagles embrace the fact TO has an urge to play some basketball, I think TO may ultimately show the Eagles some respect and report to training camp on time and end his contract dispute.

[AndySMC]

Not worth the trouble

All TO's talent is not worth the disruption to the team.

FACT: the eagles made it to the nfc champ game without TO the year before, TO was brought in to get them to the superbowl

FACT: the eagles made it to the superbowl with TO hurt

FACT: TO signed his contract with the eagles knowing how much he was getting, it's not the eagles fault he doesn't like the contract anymore

FACT: TO gets unhappy and starts trashing his QB in the media(he's 2 for 2)

FACT: Terry Glenn pulled this prima donna act in new england and got benched when the pats went to a superbowl and won, wonder how that felt

HOPE: that every player and front office see what's going on and take notice to how the eagles are standing their ground

HOPE: I'd be more than happy to see philly win a super bowl with TO's ass holding out

[Harmon]

bascially Andy just broke it down