I will start by saying I was one of the biggest advocates of wanting TO here so I am happy for the Birds. They have been very active in addressing the weaknesses of this team so far in the off season and I am proud of them for that. I am surprised this is being heard at UP Law though.
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PHILADELPHIA -- A league source told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio on Monday that the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are in discussions through a third party that would allow Terrell Owens to be traded to Philadelphia, while giving the Baltimore Ravens compensation for dropping out of the deal that originally sent the wide receiver from San Francisco to Baltimore.
The 11th-hour discussions are being conducted while the NFL special master, Stephen Burbank, contemplates the case argued before him on Monday in Philadelphia. Lawyers for the league and the NFL Players Association spent 2½ hours at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law arguing whether Owens belongs to the Ravens or should be a free agent. Burbank is expected to rule on Tuesday.
Sources say the 49ers are concerned that Burbank will rule that Owens is a free agent. Those same sources say the Ravens are concerned that if the ruling goes against Owens, the unhappy wide receiver will appeal in court, thus dragging out the process. Owens has stated emphatically that he wants no part of playing in Baltimore.
The Eagles clearly want Owens and, those sources say, are willing to part with at least a third round pick and perhaps a player to get him. Among those players being discussed are defensive lineman Brandon Whiting and wide receiver James Thrash. That compensation to San Francisco and Baltimore's compensation have yet to be ironed out, the sources say.
ESPN's Paolantonio also reported that NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw sounded very confident that Owens would win his case and be declared a free agent. Upshaw said that the lawyers for the players' union argued that Owens' contract with the 49ers clearly stipulates he can void the final years of his contract by March 15, or the end of the NFL's calendar year (March 2), whichever comes first.
The NFL argued that the deadline to notify the 49ers was Feb. 21, the date agreed upon by the union and the league.
Owens, who has spent eight sometimes controversial seasons with San Francisco, was supposed to become a free agent March 3. But his agent, David Joseph, failed to file papers voiding the final years of his contract by the Feb. 21 deadline.
The NFL ruled he belonged to the 49ers, who traded him to Baltimore for a second-round draft choice. Owens said he did not want to play for the Ravens and the NFL Players Association appealed, contending Owens should become a free agent.
Owens has said he would like to play for Philadelphia and reportedly had settled on a $10 million signing bonus with the Eagles in expectation he would be traded there.
The Ravens have said they will renegotiate his contract, although they are under no obligation to do so if Burbank rules in their favor.
The case before Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, was argued by Gregg Levy for the NFL and Jeffrey Kessler for the union.
In addition to Upshaw, others at the hearing included Harold Henderson, the NFL's executive vice president for labor relations; John York, owner of the 49ers; and Dick Cass, incoming president of the Ravens.
York said that he believes his club has a strong case, but has declined comment.
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sb
PHILADELPHIA -- A league source told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio on Monday that the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are in discussions through a third party that would allow Terrell Owens to be traded to Philadelphia, while giving the Baltimore Ravens compensation for dropping out of the deal that originally sent the wide receiver from San Francisco to Baltimore.
The 11th-hour discussions are being conducted while the NFL special master, Stephen Burbank, contemplates the case argued before him on Monday in Philadelphia. Lawyers for the league and the NFL Players Association spent 2½ hours at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law arguing whether Owens belongs to the Ravens or should be a free agent. Burbank is expected to rule on Tuesday.
Sources say the 49ers are concerned that Burbank will rule that Owens is a free agent. Those same sources say the Ravens are concerned that if the ruling goes against Owens, the unhappy wide receiver will appeal in court, thus dragging out the process. Owens has stated emphatically that he wants no part of playing in Baltimore.
The Eagles clearly want Owens and, those sources say, are willing to part with at least a third round pick and perhaps a player to get him. Among those players being discussed are defensive lineman Brandon Whiting and wide receiver James Thrash. That compensation to San Francisco and Baltimore's compensation have yet to be ironed out, the sources say.
ESPN's Paolantonio also reported that NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw sounded very confident that Owens would win his case and be declared a free agent. Upshaw said that the lawyers for the players' union argued that Owens' contract with the 49ers clearly stipulates he can void the final years of his contract by March 15, or the end of the NFL's calendar year (March 2), whichever comes first.
The NFL argued that the deadline to notify the 49ers was Feb. 21, the date agreed upon by the union and the league.
Owens, who has spent eight sometimes controversial seasons with San Francisco, was supposed to become a free agent March 3. But his agent, David Joseph, failed to file papers voiding the final years of his contract by the Feb. 21 deadline.
The NFL ruled he belonged to the 49ers, who traded him to Baltimore for a second-round draft choice. Owens said he did not want to play for the Ravens and the NFL Players Association appealed, contending Owens should become a free agent.
Owens has said he would like to play for Philadelphia and reportedly had settled on a $10 million signing bonus with the Eagles in expectation he would be traded there.
The Ravens have said they will renegotiate his contract, although they are under no obligation to do so if Burbank rules in their favor.
The case before Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, was argued by Gregg Levy for the NFL and Jeffrey Kessler for the union.
In addition to Upshaw, others at the hearing included Harold Henderson, the NFL's executive vice president for labor relations; John York, owner of the 49ers; and Dick Cass, incoming president of the Ravens.
York said that he believes his club has a strong case, but has declined comment.
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