Kizarvexis Posted November 29, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 164 Content Count: 1,386 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/25/2001 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Sen. Specter Defends Terrell OwensUpdated 8:56 AM ET November 29, 2005 PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sen. Arlen Specter accused the National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles of treating Terrell Owens unfairly and said he might refer the matter to the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs. Specter said at a news conference Monday in Harrisburg it was "vindictive and inappropriate" for the league and the Eagles to forbid the all-pro wide receiver from playing and prevent other teams from talking to him."It's a restraint of trade for them to do that, and the thought crosses my mind, it might be a violation of antitrust laws," Specter said, though some other legal experts disagreed.The Eagles suspended Owens on Nov. 5 for four games without pay for "conduct detrimental to the team, and deactivated him with pay on Sunday after the suspension ended.Arbitrator Richard Bloch said last week the team's actions were supported by the labor agreement between the league and the NFL Players Association."The arbitrator's decision is consistent with our collective bargaining agreement, and it simply enforced the terms of the player's contract," Greg Aiello, an NFL spokesman, said Monday."To have an antitrust violation, you have to have a contract or conspiracy in restraint of trade," said Robert McCormick, a law professor at Michigan State University.Matthew J. Mitten, director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University, said, "We're in the labor arena, not antitrust."Specter emphasized that he was "not a supporter of Terrell Owens.""I am madder than hell at what he has done in ruining the Eagles' season," the Pennsylvania Republican said. "I think he's in flagrant breach of his contract and I believe the Eagles would be within their rights in not paying him another dime or perhaps even suing him for damages."But Specter said, "I do not believe, personally, that it is appropriate to punish him (by forcing him to sit out the rest of the season). He's not committed a crime, he's committed a breach of contract. And what they're doing against him is vindictive."Somehow, I don't think the rest of the nation agrees with Senator Specter. TO made his bed and now he has to lie in it. Kizarvexis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velcro Posted November 29, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 999 Content Count: 19,229 Reputation: 7 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/14/2002 Share Posted November 29, 2005 exactly... there is no way that TO should be able to whine and sabotage his way into free agency. He should be docked most of his pay and put on the practice squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smazza Posted November 29, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 9,898 Content Count: 66,091 Reputation: 2,434 Days Won: 172 Joined: 01/01/2001 Share Posted November 29, 2005 i agree with the great senator from pa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastKnight Posted November 30, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 537 Content Count: 2,718 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/17/2003 Share Posted November 30, 2005 TO made his bed and now he has to lie in it.  I think I found the perfect bed for him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velcro Posted November 30, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 999 Content Count: 19,229 Reputation: 7 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/14/2002 Share Posted November 30, 2005 me too: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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