Open Comment to Chad Johnson

[jamesbrooks21]

T.O. is a guy with a terrible upbringing... and yet, he's never pulled a gun on anyone (Iverson) he's never kicked a camera man in the crotch (Rodman) he's never gone into the stands to fight (Artest) he's never been accused of killing anyone (Ray Lewis) and he's never been involved in a drug deal (Jamal Lewis). He's an idiot... but so would you be if you had his upbringing, and that kind of money.

The fact is, T.O. would have never needed to be suspended if it wasn't for Rosenhaus, because he would have never got into this contract dispute. Rosenhaus sought him out (which it illegal) and Drew wouldn't get money, unless he got T.O. a new contract.

T.O. runs his mouth for sure... and he definetley is a problem, probably even a cancer... and he needs couselling, but lets not pretend like he didn't get some of the worst advice in history.

Chad hired Rosenhaus primarily for marketing purposes, which hasn't really done much yet... so let's hope that it starts working soon, so that he can't convince Chad that he needs to hold out to get the attention he is desiring.

The only thing we have going for us is that Chad seems to have his head screwed on a little better than T.O., but I don't blame T.O., I feel sorry for him. Is he a jerk? sure... but so are some of you, but you aren't getting advice from someone that should be looking out for you that will get you fired from your job.

Let's blame it on his upbringing.

And that is exactly all it is he is getting from Rosenhaus. Advice. He does not have to take it. He is a grown man quit making excuses for him. And it's not his fault??? Is it Rosenhaus' fault that T.O. talked s**t about the organization and McNabb? T.O. ran his damn mouth in San Fran before he had Rosenhaus and he was a cancer then. Nothing has changed. He talked s**t about McNabb the same way he did about Garcia.

What is the excuse for him then? There are plenty of NFL players who had rough upbringings similar to Owens-we don't hear about them because they aren't little babies like he is.

[BengalByTheBay]

Very good points -- however, the mention of TO's former agent got me to thinking. Does this increase, or decrease, the value of the "Sharpie ball" that TO gave him in Seattle???

[Stripes]

Very good points -- however, the mention of TO's former agent got me to thinking. Does this increase, or decrease, the value of the "Sharpie ball" that TO gave him in Seattle???

Didn't he give that ball the agent of the cornerback he had just beaten? Not sure though.

[jamesbrooks21]

I just don't want to hear the upbringing thing and it's not his fault. That is chickens**t Shank!

[BengalszoneBilly]

No hire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....just kidding!

Chad is smart enough to know what he can and can not do.

Not only that, Chad has class and respect as demonstrated in this picture as he escorts certain hall of fame QB Brett Farve off the field after his loss in Cincinnati.

Can anyone here actually say that they could see T.O. exhibiting this same sort of behavior?

[Jet23]

No hire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....just kidding!

Chad is smart enough to know what he can and can not do.

Not only that, Chad has class and respect as demonstrated in this picture as he escorts certain hall of fame QB Brett Farve off the field after his loss in Cincinnati.

Can anyone here actually say that they could see T.O. exhibiting this same sort of behavior?

Sure, he's telling Brett that the Bengals would be undefeated with him at qb

[derekshank]

It's really easy for all of you white collar middle class guys with your white collar middle class upbringing to criticize T.O. That's all I'm saying. I work at a boys home with teenage guys who had upbringings like T.O.'s. They have a completely different mindset and outlook on life than the average individual... but they are at a home, getting help. T.O. isn't. That doesn't in any way let them off the hook.

These kids still have to pay the consequences, and so does T.O. I hope you aren't hearing me say that T.O. shouldn't be kicked off the team, he should have... I don't want him in Cincy. He's nothing but bad news.

All I was saying is that when you pay someone like T.O. that kind of money, it should be no surprise when he acts the way he has his whole life. You just financed his bad bahavior. He needs help to get out of his situation, and he's not getting it... least of all from Rosenhaus.

But by all means... allow your ignorance to continue to fuel your hatred for successful people with an inner city childhood. That is exactly what will help T.O. become a productive citizen.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Can you tell me exactly how rough T.O had it growing up?

I'm kinda interested....

[derekshank]

Can you tell me exactly how rough T.O had it growing up?

I'm kinda interested....

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Owens/Owens_bio.html

Terrell Eldorado Owens was born December 7, 1973, in Alexander City, Alabama. Terrell was the first son to his mother, Marilyn Heard. Only 17 at the time, she was the product of a dysfunctional family herself. Most of Marilyn's childhood was spent in fear and silence. Marilyn's mother, Alice, was cruel to her children, raising them in a confined environment with little love or support. Marilyn wasn't allowed to play with other children, and had to come home directly after school. If she didn't, she would pay the price in welts and bruises.

A man named L.C. Russell lived across the street with his wife and kids. Russell was 14 years older than Marilyn, but that didn't matter to either. She craved love and human contact, and he became the father of Terrell. Despite the awkward situation, Russell stayed in the neighborhood with his family.

Marilyn tried to keep her pregnancy a secret from her mother and stepfather, but could only do so for only so long. One night Marilyn's younger sister ran away to live with an aunt. She remained at home with Terrell, who was just a baby.

After Terrell, Marilyn had a girl named Latasha. She was married to the infant's father for a brief time. Then in the early 80's came two more babies—Sharmaine and Victor—fathered by another man.

Terrell often stayed with his grandmother Alice. She was as hard on him as she was on Marilyn. Alice gave him a bike but he could only ride it in the yard. Terrell was permitted no spare time with his friends and couldn't watch TV. He was also whipped regularly. For all the abuse, however, Terrell loved Alice, viewing her as a second mother.

When Terrell was young, Alice's marriage fell apart and she began drinking heavily. The youngster often had to take care of her until she sobered up. One time Alice was so intoxicated, she put her purse in the oven and burned up all her money. Ironically, Alice seemed to lighten up as her alcohol problem worsened. She even bought Terrell a go-cart, which they would drive on the highway.

When Terrell turned 12, he befriended a girl across the street. Her father noticed and confronted him, warning Terrell that the girl was actually his half-sister. Thus the youngster learned who his father was.

To escape his tortured home life, Terrell became immersed in sports. Basketball, baseball and swimming were his favorites. He also loved football, idolizing San Francisco star Jerry Rice. He played despite stark opposition from Alice. Marilyn, by contrast, supported her son completely, knowing sports made him happy.

Marilyn bounced from job to job, and often found herself back in Alice’s house with Terrell. Her other children hated it there, however, so she eventually moved with them into a beat-up two-bedroom home. Terrell stayed with Alice because there simply wasn’t room for him in the cramped dwelling.

This sounds very similar to the types of childhoods that the kids I work with get. There is almost always no father figure, abuse... and either neglect (allowing the kid to do whatever they want as long as they aren't bothering the parent), or overly strict... something that amazingly T.O. seems to have had a bit of both.

I personally find it amazing that T.O. hasn't had charges brought against him. Instead, he's just a jerk who sees life as him against the world... something that has been true for most of his life.

[Jet23]

Can you tell me exactly how rough T.O had it growing up?

I'm kinda interested....

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Owens/Owens_bio.html

Terrell Eldorado Owens was born December 7, 1973, in Alexander City, Alabama. Terrell was the first son to his mother, Marilyn Heard. Only 17 at the time, she was the product of a dysfunctional family herself. Most of Marilyn's childhood was spent in fear and silence. Marilyn's mother, Alice, was cruel to her children, raising them in a confined environment with little love or support. Marilyn wasn't allowed to play with other children, and had to come home directly after school. If she didn't, she would pay the price in welts and bruises.

A man named L.C. Russell lived across the street with his wife and kids. Russell was 14 years older than Marilyn, but that didn't matter to either. She craved love and human contact, and he became the father of Terrell. Despite the awkward situation, Russell stayed in the neighborhood with his family.

Marilyn tried to keep her pregnancy a secret from her mother and stepfather, but could only do so for only so long. One night Marilyn's younger sister ran away to live with an aunt. She remained at home with Terrell, who was just a baby.

After Terrell, Marilyn had a girl named Latasha. She was married to the infant's father for a brief time. Then in the early 80's came two more babies—Sharmaine and Victor—fathered by another man.

Terrell often stayed with his grandmother Alice. She was as hard on him as she was on Marilyn. Alice gave him a bike but he could only ride it in the yard. Terrell was permitted no spare time with his friends and couldn't watch TV. He was also whipped regularly. For all the abuse, however, Terrell loved Alice, viewing her as a second mother.

When Terrell was young, Alice's marriage fell apart and she began drinking heavily. The youngster often had to take care of her until she sobered up. One time Alice was so intoxicated, she put her purse in the oven and burned up all her money. Ironically, Alice seemed to lighten up as her alcohol problem worsened. She even bought Terrell a go-cart, which they would drive on the highway.

When Terrell turned 12, he befriended a girl across the street. Her father noticed and confronted him, warning Terrell that the girl was actually his half-sister. Thus the youngster learned who his father was.

To escape his tortured home life, Terrell became immersed in sports. Basketball, baseball and swimming were his favorites. He also loved football, idolizing San Francisco star Jerry Rice. He played despite stark opposition from Alice. Marilyn, by contrast, supported her son completely, knowing sports made him happy.

Marilyn bounced from job to job, and often found herself back in Alice’s house with Terrell. Her other children hated it there, however, so she eventually moved with them into a beat-up two-bedroom home. Terrell stayed with Alice because there simply wasn’t room for him in the cramped dwelling.

This sounds very similar to the types of childhoods that the kids I work with get. There is almost always no father figure, abuse... and either neglect (allowing the kid to do whatever they want as long as they aren't bothering the parent), or overly strict... something that amazingly T.O. seems to have had a bit of both.

I personally find it amazing that T.O. hasn't had charges brought against him. Instead, he's just a jerk who sees life as him against the world... something that has been true for most of his life.

That is good stuff, thanks. I don't pretend to understand TO, but I did get tired of his act. Especially the way he insisted on disrespecting his qb. I don't hate or even dislike him. In fact, I have a certain amount of sympathy for him. But I do dislike his Agent. He is a snake who preys on people like TO. I do think if he fired the snake and made a face to face apology to ownership, Reid and McNabb, they would take him back with open arms. That press conference was nothing more than damage control orchestrated by Rosenhous for the purpose of garnering him a bigger future commission.

[derekshank]

That is good stuff, thanks. I don't pretend to understand TO, but I did get tired of his act. Especially the way he insisted on disrespecting his qb. I don't hate or even dislike him. In fact, I have a certain amount of sympathy for him. But I do dislike his Agent. He is a snake who preys on people like TO. I do think if he fired the snake and made a face to face apology to ownership, Reid and McNabb, they would take him back with open arms. That press conference was nothing more than damage control orchestrated by Rosenhous for the purpose of garnering him a bigger future commission.

I agree. I can understand T.O. to some extent... and like you have sympathy for him. I don't understand his perspective... but that perspective is prevalent among kids that usually end up in jail. I have sympathy for him... but mostly, just want him to get help.

It is the people like Rosenhaus that I can't feel sympathy for. He has had every advantage to get to the place he is, and now is willing to risk the career and reputation of an already somewhat shady guy, in order to make a few more bucks. Not okay with me.

T.O. fire you're agent, and get some counselling... then any team would be more than willing to take you. Until then though... as for me and my team, it's hands off.

[heathen]

It's really easy for all of you white collar middle class guys with your white collar middle class upbringing to criticize T.O. That's all I'm saying. I work at a boys home with teenage guys who had upbringings like T.O.'s. They have a completely different mindset and outlook on life than the average individual... but they are at a home, getting help. T.O. isn't. That doesn't in any way let them off the hook.

These kids still have to pay the consequences, and so does T.O. I hope you aren't hearing me say that T.O. shouldn't be kicked off the team, he should have... I don't want him in Cincy. He's nothing but bad news.

All I was saying is that when you pay someone like T.O. that kind of money, it should be no surprise when he acts the way he has his whole life. You just financed his bad bahavior. He needs help to get out of his situation, and he's not getting it... least of all from Rosenhaus.

But by all means... allow your ignorance to continue to fuel your hatred for successful people with an inner city childhood. That is exactly what will help T.O. become a productive citizen.

It's really easy for all of you white collar middle class guys with your white collar middle class upbringing to criticize T.O. That's all I'm saying. I work at a boys home with teenage guys who had upbringings like T.O.'s. They have a completely different mindset and outlook on life than the average individual... but they are at a home, getting help. T.O. isn't. That doesn't in any way let them off the hook.

These kids still have to pay the consequences, and so does T.O. I hope you aren't hearing me say that T.O. shouldn't be kicked off the team, he should have... I don't want him in Cincy. He's nothing but bad news.

All I was saying is that when you pay someone like T.O. that kind of money, it should be no surprise when he acts the way he has his whole life. You just financed his bad bahavior. He needs help to get out of his situation, and he's not getting it... least of all from Rosenhaus.

But by all means... allow your ignorance to continue to fuel your hatred for successful people with an inner city childhood. That is exactly what will help T.O. become a productive citizen.

[NYBengalfan]

T.O. had a rough childhood and it shouldnt be a reason for accepting his act but, I do symathize for him and what he went through. I personally thought that his appology was sincere, but Rosenhaus ruined the whole thing as soon as he opened his mouth. TO needs people around him that care about him, not people like Rosenhaus that is just looking for a check.