The Terrell Owens Dispute

I posted this link to Pat Kirwan’s article regarding Terrell Owens’ contract and what he will earn in upcoming years, on RP. For ridiculousness, and without understanding of the “true” situation, I sided against TO (too) in saying that the guy got paid $650K per TD, compared to someone like Antonio Gates’ $23k, and it is a joke he should renegotiate his contract. Which in comparison to Gates, is almost laughable. But something that Pat Kirwan’s article failed to mention, it was displayed every so quietly in his data, is that Terrell will only earn $3.2 million in year 2 of this contract. Some could argue that if you average the first two years, then he’s making over $6 million each year and he should be happy. After looking at some of the “over-paid” players last year, that argument against Owens is complete bull-sh*t and here’s why:

• If TO earned $6 million last year (average of Years 1 and 2), yes he would have been a top 10 paid WR in the NFL. But he would have earned less than the likes of Darrel Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Amani Toomer, Chris Chambers, Justin McCareins, of course Keyshawn Johnson and an injured Steve Smith,. Those who would have earned more, and arguably deserved it were Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss.

• In 2004, even the with ridiculousness of TO's $9.16 million, Harrison earned more than him, by $1.4 million. That's 15% MORE!

• Terrell’s “huge” salary was only $160,000 more than Darrell Jackson’s and $500,000 more than Amani’s. If this was Terrell's huge pay day, how are those other two even in the same ball park? It is no wonder that the Players Association strongly recommended that he NOT sign this contract.

• In 2005, after being the second highest paid WR in the NFL in 2004, TO will earn $3.2 million. That’s Dennis Northcut, Robert Ferguson and Marcus Robinson money. While, those three players may be in their largest salary years at $3 million, another three below average WRs will be in those same salary spots next year, and will not be producing anywhere near Terrell’s numbers.

• Terrell was the 4th highest paid player on his own team last year. Jevon Kearse, McNabb and Lito Sheppard all earned more.

• IMHO, I think Terrell feels that he earned his $9 million salary last year. Which I would actually agree. And I believe he thinks that he should get $9 million THIS year if he can put up the same numbers, because that is the going rate for a Top 5 WR in the NFL. But even if he doesn’t get the $9 million, only getting $3 million is a slap in the face. See, $9 million in a single season isn’t QB money. Getting $9 million EVERY season is. But TO isn’t asking for top QB money like Peyton Manning ($35 million), Pennington or McNabb. He’s asking for Mark Brunell money, who earned more than $9 million last year, to do what?.

I don’t think TO out-performed his contract in Year 1, but I think he justifed it. However, I do believe that rest of his contract is under paying him, for what should be his prime production years. If you can forget about the first year, just write it off and say he got paid as much as he should, then think about this; over the course of the next three seasons, Terrell Owens will earn an average of $4.8. That will mean he will NOT be one of the top 15 highest paid WRs in the NFL. Think about it on these terms. Not just the NFL, but all Professional Sports in America in 2005, how many of them will earn more than Terrell Owens' $3.2 Million? And how many should?

I may not like his antics, or the way he goes about getting this redone, but I do think he deserves more money.