By Brad Locke
August 19, 2005

(AgapePress) - When does someone stop being worth the trouble? When do an athlete's shenanigans start costing a team more than a fat contract? When do you deliver an ultimatum?

Welcome to another episode of Egos Gone Wild, featuring Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. This week, T.O. offers unprovoked criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb (straight from the Rush Limbaugh Analyst Handbook) and refuses to open the team playbook.

The Eagles have long been heavy-handed during contract disputes, and they are especially intolerant of mutinous behavior, which is not too strong a word to describe Owens' actions. His criticism of McNabb sounds just like his criticism of his last quarterback, Jeff Garcia, in San Francisco.

If McNabb weren't the classy guy he is, no one would blame him for reminding T.O. that receivers are much more expendable than quarterbacks and running backs. No one would blame him for throwing passes away from Owens (if he actually had someone else to throw to; injuries have riddled the Philly receiving corps). The media would love to see McNabb get into a shouting match with Owens. And the Eagles would back McNabb at every turn, because he's part of their family; T.O. is not. T.O. is a mercenary looking for a ring, which is why he whined until he got out of being traded to Baltimore before last season.

Something has to be done to discourage this behavior, which could be trend-setting if the Eagles and the NFL aren't careful. I like what Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock wrote: "The NFL should blackball him. Run him out." I don't know if such collusion is within league rules, but something extreme needs to be done.

This isn't just about money, either. In fact, Whitlock supports T.O's attempt to restructure his contract in light of his big season in 2004 (1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns, one gutsy Super Bowl performance). Like myself, though, Whitlock is taking exception with Owens' methods. The receiver just recently returned to camp after being kicked out for a week for refusing to talk to McNabb and Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress. He blasted Reid, McNabb and Childress all during one recent TV interview.

Eagles fans are starting to turn on T.O. One held a sign at Owens' first practice back that read, "T.O. must go." Chances are, he will, but he'll wind up with a team willing to pay him the money he wants while turning its head to his immature behavior.

That's common these days. People will put up with most anything -- humiliation, broken relationships, damaged reputations -- to get what they want (see: reality show stars). The Minnesota Vikings decided this past offseason that Randy Moss wasn't worth all that, and hopefully Philadelphia will follow the same route. It would be fun to see Owens traded to New England, though, wouldn't it? Bill Belichick would be his worst nightmare. Then again, holding on to Owens and forcing him to choose between playing for them and sitting out would be fun, too. That's likely what Philly will do.

Nothing is worth sacrificing one's integrity. Proverbs 10:9, 11:3 and 28:18 all speak to how those who walk in integrity walk "securely" and how the "crooked" or "treacherous" will ultimately be destroyed. Eagles management recognizes this in some way. Hopefully, Owens will, too, someday.