Monday, March 15, 2004
Owens decision expected by Tuesday
NFL notebook
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles' search for a No. 1 receiver could end this week.
Terrell Owens' hearing to determine whether he can become a free agent will be heard today at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. If Owens is declared a free agent, the Eagles finally could give quarterback Donovan McNabb the target he has sought.
The Eagles reportedly agreed to a contract with Owens that included a $10 million signing bonus, before he was traded from San Francisco to Baltimore for a second-round pick March 4.
The receiver was prevented from becoming a free agent when the NFL Management Council ruled two weeks ago that his agent, David Joseph, failed to void the remaining years of his contract with the 49ers by a Feb. 21 deadline.
Owens protested the trade to the Ravens, refused to show up for a physical and insisted he wants to play for the Eagles.
The case, filed on Owens' behalf by the NFL Players Association, will be heard by Stephen Burbank, a professor at Penn's Law School. A decision is expected by Tuesday.
Owens caught 80 passes for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns last season - his lowest totals since 1999. But despite his volatile behavior, Owens would significantly upgrade Philadelphia's receiving corps. The Eagles had perhaps the league's worst starting receivers, James Thrash and Todd Pinkston. They combined for just 85 catches and three TDs last season. In Philadelphia's 14-3 loss to Carolina in the NFC Championship Game, Thrash had one catch and Pinkston had none.
Owens has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the 49ers, who drafted him in the third round in 1996. He and Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison are the only receivers with more than 5,000 yards and 50 TDs over the past four seasons.
Owens' antics on and off the field have tainted some of his accomplishments, but the Eagles still tried to work out a trade with the 49ers.
San Francisco general manager Terry Donahue said Eagles coach Andy Reid first offered a fifth-round draft pick and Thrash. Donahue said Reid rejected counter offers, so the team traded Owens to Baltimore.
GIANTS: New York signed former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Barry Stokes on Sunday.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Seeds: UK 1, UC 4, XU 7
Daugherty: Bandwagon jumpers look silly now
Seeds are planted, now for the games
Bracket breakdown
Women: UConn passed over for a top spot
Utah State and Colorado head NIT field
Cheer the Turtle: Terrapins win ACC
Remember Baylor?
Tournament Top 5's
LOCAL TOURNAMENT HEADLINES
UC heads north, but not far
Familiar faces square off in Bearcats' 1st-round game
XU gets Louisville in opener
Cardinals seek quick return to pre-injury form
Kentucky hits jackpot with top overall seed
Mountain Hawks, Rattlers no strangers to big-game pressure
SEC tourney goes routinely for Wildcats
Junior Hayes makes a complete recovery
Women's NIT: Miami, Xavier and UC in
Exclusion disappoints Louisville
REDS / BASEBALL
So far, so good for Reds
Inside Reds camp
Vander Wal to rehab with club
Royals getting adjusted to new role as favorite
Dodgers suffer a loss
BENGALS / NFL
Defense remains work in progress
Owens decision expected by Tuesday
PREP SPORTS
MND faces Final 4 for the ages
Prep sports schedules
MORE SPORTS HEADLINES
Golf: Hamilton puts dramatic touch on unlikely win
Earnhardt leaves troubles, field behind
James, Cavaliers continue playoff push
Minus injured Duncan, Spurs stall against Kings
Sports digest
Sports today on TV, radio
THIS WEEK'S SPORTS POLL
• Which Xavier win was bigger: UC when the Bearcats were ranked No. 1 or No. 1 St. Joseph's?
Return to Bengals front page...
