Redskins Interested in TO

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

All of T.O's current troubles began when he criticized Donovan McNabb. Donovan may be a hell of a guy but I don't understand why he is beyond reproach. Anyone who dares to suggest that he might be wearing the Emperor's New Clothes is immediately cast down. IMO, the real villains here are the Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, and Andy Reid. They could have paid T.O what he was worth and none of this would have happened. Instead they sided with McNabb and alienated their best player. This only two years after scapegoating James Thrash for McNabb's hideous play against the Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. How many careers are going to be sacrificed so that they can continue to pretend that their QB is more than average.

They get no sympathy from me. Let's see how far their beloved Donovan takes them next year. Better yet, let's see what poor sucker gets the blame when McNabb starts throwing airballs again (No doubt the lingering effects/affects of his groin injury). In the end, characters like T.O. come and go, but hatred for the Iggles lasts forever.

Hugh Douglass, the one that allegedly fought with TO in the locker room, is now "attacking" McNabb as well

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13769200.htm

Former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas is employed as the team's ambassador, but his comments yesterday on WIP-AM (610) were far from diplomatic.

Speaking on the station's morning show, Douglas spread the blame for the team's disappointing 6-10 season, but he specifically questioned the leadership of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

"The thing that Donovan needs - it's been proven, especially this year - he needs other people to lead," Douglas said. "He's not a leader. He doesn't want to lead. He is the leader on the field as a quarterback; he isn't a team leader. He needs a good supporting cast."

Contacted last night, the 34-year-old Douglas modified the statement about McNabb, but only slightly.

"In order to be a leader, you have to be in people's face; if that is what you think, he isn't that guy," Douglas said. "Donovan will lead on the football field, and if you need him to give a Vince Lombardi speech, he won't."

Douglas said that he and McNabb talked yesterday after the radio show and that the Eagles quarterback was fine with what Douglas said when he explained the context.

McNabb was not available for comment.

Douglas was waived by the team in September and hired for his ambassador role. He also talked on the broadcast about the problems the Eagles' perceived lack of leadership caused for coach Andy Reid.

"Big Red [Reid] thought he had a bunch of leaders," Douglas said. "When he realized [he didn't], it was too late."

Douglas suggested on the show that some radical changes would be needed to address the leadership issue.

"At some point, [Reid] is going to have to go in that locker room and make it like Beirut again, to be totally honest," Douglas said. "It's obvious right now that the guys who he thinks are leaders aren't his leaders, and the young guys aren't ready to lead."

Douglas did not back away from that statement last night, saying that he was going to tell the truth, regardless of whether he was a team employee.

"What kind of person would I be to tell fans that everything is fine?" Douglas said. "I don't think what I said was that bad."

Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown disagreed with Douglas' assessment.

"To me, that is disrespecting guys he played with," Brown said last night. "How can you say guys like Brian Dawkins or Jon Runyan aren't leaders? It's a comment that doesn't speak fairly to guys we have in the locker room, and I think that is just radio talk.

"I don't care what Hugh says," Brown said. "Quite frankly, the guys I am playing with I trust, and I trust the leaders we have. I am around them every day, and Hugh isn't around them every day."

Douglas also said he told McNabb he should not have resumed his feud with Terrell Owens in the media over the last two days.

Eagles president Joe Banner was unavailable for comment yesterday. Derek Boyko, the Eagles' director of media services, defended Douglas, but he would not comment directly on Douglas' statements.

"Hugh Douglas goes on the radio a lot and defends our players and team and cleans up a lot of the misnomers that are out there," Boyko said.

Brown and Douglas have at least some common ground. Both feel that the only way to move forward is to let go of this season.

"Donovan is still making too big a deal out of this," Brown said. "We come back, win games and get the job done, then the whole T.O. saga is done."

[12thMan]

Interesting. This will surely follow them to training camp.

Wow, what a trail T.O. has left behind.

[70Chip]

That's pretty bold of Douglas. Its only a matter of time before he gets Limbaughed.

On another note, I can't believe the Redskins fans here that are siding with the Eagles. Next we'll be reading that they were right to dump Thrash. We are supposed to hate the Philadelphia Eagles and when their organization is in turmoil we should feed that beast with all manner of psychological warfare. And now I'm off to Wikipedia. There are a few new facts that people need to know about Andy Reid.

[FRPLG]

This is what I meant by "irreparable damage". These guys are stabbing each other in the back all over the place now. Looks like no one has control up there.
I think the Skins are the Eagles of a few years ago. This what happens to the Eagles on TO. Just say no to TO.

[diehardskin2982]

alot of problems in the eagles oranization and not all of them are named terrell

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

All of T.O's current troubles began when he criticized Donovan McNabb. Donovan may be a hell of a guy but I don't understand why he is beyond reproach. Anyone who dares to suggest that he might be wearing the Emperor's New Clothes is immediately cast down. IMO, the real villains here are the Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, and Andy Reid. They could have paid T.O what he was worth and none of this would have happened. Instead they sided with McNabb and alienated their best player. This only two years after scapegoating James Thrash for McNabb's hideous play against the Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. How many careers are going to be sacrificed so that they can continue to pretend that their QB is more than average.

They get no sympathy from me. Let's see how far their beloved Donovan takes them next year. Better yet, let's see what poor sucker gets the blame when McNabb starts throwing airballs again (No doubt the lingering effects/affects of his groin injury). In the end, characters like T.O. come and go, but hatred for the Iggles lasts forever.

Are you kidding me. This team was a model of the NFL for years. Team chemistry, comradory until TOs antics took over the locker room. Fights, divided team, thats a sign of a follow me first. Donavan handled this thing with class which is something TO cant spell. First of all TO just signed the damn contract last year, and was in the first year of a 50 million dollar deal. In the first two or three years of that deal he was one of the top 5 paid receivers in the NFL. The way the contract was, the salary dropped off the final few years. Which was signed to help the EAgles with salary cap, and give TO his money early since he is 32 years old. Him trying to get out of this deal is absolutely why people can't stand athletes. This guy, if he kept his mouth shut was going to get 7 million dollars in March. This guy couldn't stand not being the #1 guy on his team, nor could he stand not being the #1 paid WR in the NFL. His agent is to blame as well, he is the one that said hold out, we'll get you a new deal. He said that to a couple of his clients. I think the eagles did what a lot of pro franchises should do. Either play with your current deal, or sit home and dont get paid. I can see maybe looking for a new deal if you have 1 or 2 years left, but come on, he had 6 years left. That is just selfish. The guy was getting 7 million plus a year. Wonder why people hate his guts.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

This is what I meant by "irreparable damage". These guys are stabbing each other in the back all over the place now. Looks like no one has control up there.

let's hope for some more. Et tu Douglas.

[MTK]

TO single handedly tainted the Eagles locker room and I for one am loving the aftermath!!

I don't see how these issues are going to disappear overnight either. Seems like they have a bit of a divided locker room and it could take a while to get things back on track, especially if they struggle early on you'll have the TO backers in the locker room wondering what could have been if they had kept TO.

There's no way I can believe Joe Gibbs could take all of this in and conclude that TO is someone he would want to risk his locker room character over. Just no way.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

TO single handedly tainted the Eagles locker room and I for one am loving the aftermath!!

I don't see how these issues are going to disappear overnight either. Seems like they have a bit of a divided locker room and it could take a while to get things back on track, especially if they struggle early on you'll have the TO backers in the locker room wondering what could have been if they had kept TO.

There's no way I can believe Joe Gibbs could take all of this in and conclude that TO is someone he would want to risk his locker room character over. Just no way.

Appearantly Sheldon Brown felt Donavan should just drop and move on, and that Douglas was wrong for saying what he said.

But I think you're right, this will follow them to training camp.

[Monksdown]

We'd have to be the dumbest kid on the block to give anyone a third chance to screw things up for themselves. I hope he stays in the division. But not on our team. He is guaranteed to help some team somewhere fall apart.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Monksdown

We'd have to be the dumbest kid on the block to give anyone a third chance to screw things up for themselves. I hope he stays in the division. But not on our team. He is guaranteed to help some team somewhere fall apart.

I agree but I would perfer to see him go to a team out of our division so that just in case he did get his act together.

[redrock-skins]

I voted no, but his talent is the reason we're even having this discussion. I can't sit here and honestly say, I hope he goes to Dallas, unless they give up the farm for him.

He's a player everyone says they don't want, but many secretly want him on their team.