Terrell Owens fined $35,000 for spitting

[Godreas]

IRVING, Texas — Terrell Owens has 35,000 reasons to never spit at an opponent again.

T.O. was fined $35,000 by the NFL on Monday for spitting in the face of Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall during Saturday night’s Cowboys-Falcons game.

Although it’s more than twice as much as the last fine for spitting, the flamboyant receiver avoided a suspension. Owens wasn’t ejected because officials didn’t see it.

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said Monday “we don’t condone that kind of activity,” adding the team may also punish Owens.

“If we did, I wouldn’t make anybody aware of it,” Parcells said.

Owens initially told the NFL Network after the game: “I got frustrated and I apologize for that. It was a situation where he kept bugging me and getting in my face.”

But on Monday, he insisted it was an accident.

“When it happened, we were jawing in each other’s face, so it wasn’t anything intentional,” Owens said. “I didn’t intentionally spit in his face. He’s trying to make it seem like more than what it was by saying I hauled off and spit in his face. I feel like if I spit in his face ... somebody would’ve seen it.”

Earlier this season, an accidental overdose landed Owens in a hospital emergency room. His publicist denied a police report calling it a possible suicide attempt, saying he had $25 million reasons to live.

During a playoff game last season, Washington’s Sean Taylor was kicked out of a game for spitting at Tampa Bay’s Michael Pittman. Taylor was later fined $17,000.

Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski was fined $7,500 for spitting in the face of 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes in 1997.

Owens is making $10 million this season as part of a three-year, $25 million contract signed in March.

Not having Owens would’ve hurt the Cowboys (9-5) more, too, as he’s their leading receiver and they are fighting for playoff positioning.

They’ve already clinched a playoff spot, but can win the NFC East with a victory Monday against Philadelphia — Owens’ former team.
-http://www.niagara-gazette.com/newtoday/local_story_352164001.html?keyword=topstory

Just would like to inform.... $35,000 for not even seeing him spit in his face is insane. Been a fan of T.O for a while, still am. He definately changes the whole complexion of the game, defenders having to adjust to his physical play, instead of the small and quick thing. I still haven't found a valid argument on why anyone should truly hate him.

[wootoow]

Originally Posted by Godreas

Just would like to inform.... $35,000 for not even seeing him spit in his face is insane. Been a fan of T.O for a while, still am. He definately changes the whole complexion of the game, defenders having to adjust to his physical play, instead of the small and quick thing. I still haven't found a valid argument on why anyone should truly hate him.

My reason for hating him is because he's a self serving, self centered, egotistical pile of crap. His catching ability is highly overrated and the only thing i'd consider giving him credit for is the damage he can do when he eventually catches the balls that a high schooler can catch. He puts himself before the team(s) and causes lack of confidence from his teammates.

When will the league learn that you cant punish a multi-milliionaire with a paltry $35,000 fine? If you want to punish a player, suspend him from the game he loves to play.

[IU2002]

Nah, you really want to punish TO, you ban the networks from talking about him for a week. The attention whore suffers then.

[Godreas]

Originally Posted by wootoow

My reason for hating him is because he's a self serving, self centered, egotistical pile of crap. His catching ability is highly overrated and the only thing i'd consider giving him credit for is the damage he can do when he eventually catches the balls that a high schooler can catch. He puts himself before the team(s) and causes lack of confidence from his teammates.

When will the league learn that you cant punish a multi-milliionaire with a paltry $35,000 fine? If you want to punish a player, suspend him from the game he loves to play.

True, but how many people do you know can catch with a metal plate lodged into your finger? Not to mention a torn finger tendon. With Philadelphia in 04-(half of)05, 49ers from 97-03, hes been a threat to every defense in the league.

Nah, you really want to punish TO, you ban the networks from talking about him for a week. The attention whore suffers then.

He doesn't just go out there and ask for attention, the media comes to him. The media just makes the situation so much worse than it really is. When Albert Haynesworth stepped on Andre Gurode's head, that went on for about a week, and then it was pushed out of the papers for new stuff. T.O's accidental overdose is cleared and confirmed after about 2 days, and it goes on for a month. Yeah its true, he wants attention, but if you don't want him to have it, then stop giving it to him.

[Scarecrow11B]

I gotta agree with wootoow, yes he is a talented athlete but he is also talented at tearing up teams. I agree with the fine and think he should be suspended for a game or two IMO.

He also does not always make the plays that people claim, teams can shut him down and shut him out. Pitt did two years ago and I am sure that other teams had no problems doing the same thing.

[Snevik]

he's the best receiver (and probably the best athlete) in the league, but why is that an issue here? the fact that we are even talking about this upon news that he spit in someone's face, admitted to it, and got fined is falling into the same trap every fuckin media outlet does. this has nothing to do with his ability to catch a ball or wreck a team. the fine was deserved and probably the right amount.

[Scarecrow11B]

I think that it should have been more severe. 35,000 is a drop in the bucket for him. He should have been suspended also for at least a game or two with no pay.

[Brindled]

he should be suspended from games for that shit. the fact that they only fined him shows the money grubbers that the NFL has become. they know he'll make more money for the NFL than he has to pay in fines if he plays. that's total BS! i hope they lose big time for harboring a poor sportsman like TO.

[Snevik]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I think that it should have been more severe. 35,000 is a drop in the bucket for him. He should have been suspended also for at least a game or two with no pay.

he didn't throw a swing, he didn't seem to hock a loogie or anything... i don't know, i feel like i've been spit in the face in pickup games. the only retribution is usually a cheap shot the next play. i'm a big fan of players policing themselves when it comes to minor trangression such as this.

[wootoow]

There's a big difference between a pro athlete who has 1000's of children who try to emulate them, and an amatuer pick-up game. The pro's are paid a kings ransom and one of the stipulations for that is they must conduct themselves in somewhat civilized manners.

[Snevik]

Originally Posted by wootoow

There's a big difference between a pro athlete who has 1000's of children who try to emulate them, and an amatuer pick-up game. The pro's are paid a kings ransom and one of the stipulations for that is they must conduct themselves in somewhat civilized manners.

no one would have known about it had they not talked about it...

besides, if you don't have the good sense to teach your child not to imitate TO, you deserve a spittin lil ingrate.

[Brindled]

what we teach our children is not the issue. the issue is TO's unsportsmanlike conduct. it should be dealt with by lack of playing, which will hurt his pocketbook as well as his pride. $35,000 doesn't hurt him a bit. he might think twice about doing it again, but i could be wrong.

if he spit on me i'd try and beat his ass!

[Snevik]

Originally Posted by Brindled

what we teach our children is not the issue. the issue is TO's unsportsmanlike conduct. it should be dealt with by lack of playing, which will hurt his pocketbook as well as his pride. $35,000 doesn't hurt him a bit. he might think twice about doing it again, but i could be wrong.

if he spit on me i'd try and beat his ass!

it became the issue when someone brought up TO as a role model, so you can't just dismiss it like that. i was countering an argument someone else made. and we all know that missing games really makes TO lose sleep after his history with philly last year...

besides, i'd much rather deangelo hall pick a fight with him than the league issue a fine. and for there was no precident for making the fine higher than it was. this is why i like hockey much better, i guess.

[Brindled]

if i want to see a fight i'll tune in to boxing. and although it shouldn't have been brought up, it all boils down to good sportsman-like conduct. the role model principle of it lies in the good sportsman qualities. whether or not we teach good or bad role models makes no difference. children will look for role models that suit their needs. the 'lead a horse to water' saying comes to mind. meaning we don't necessarily "teach" role models to our children, because they pick them for themselves.

regardless, no player should have to worry whether they will have to pick a fight. it should be a respect line that shouldn't be crossed in professional sports. words are all good in my book except for racial slurs. if spitting on someone outside of the game is considered battery*, why shouldn't he receive a penalty that discourages this behavior more than money? we all know that money makes people feel above the law, and TO has enough to burn making the penalty he incurred seem insignificant.

Originally Posted by *

The second type of contact that may constitute battery causes no actual physical harm but is, instead, offensive or insulting to the victim. Examples include spitting in someone's face or offensively touching someone against his or her will.

battery: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

[Pops]

I told myself I wasnt going to get into this conversation but ........

Godreas, How anyone can stand up for such a disrespectful act is beyond me and that is what this situation boils down to.

A) T.O. is a dick and anyone that cannot see this has been blinded in some way.
B) RESPECT. Which T.O. fails to give to anyone. He is only about himself and disrepects and abuses the NFL, his team(s) and anyone that gets in his path while on a childish rampage. There is no justification for what he did period.

but you know what. As long as the NFL allows these types of actions to go unpunished (and 35,000 is a joke) then it will continue. Shame on the NFL for not having more respect to its other athletes and those that create their revenues, the fans.