T.O. is for permenant Time Out

Sunday night. Packed house. Division rivals, identical records. Winner moves into a tie for second in the NFC East.

And we are forced to listen to more Terrell Owens garbage.

Like a stubborn child refusing to share a toy, Owens wrestled the spotlight away from a great football game. His derisive comments about his quarterback and organization finally led to the end of his career in Philadelphia. He got into a fistfight in the clubhouse earlier in the week. And it certainly didn’t help that the team is not winning, sitting in last in the East at 4-4.

The Philadelphia Eagles had to finally put T.O. in timeout for good.

As Owens segments and storylines permeated the ESPN broadcast of the Washington Redskins’ 17-10 win over the Eagles, America rolled its eyes. If fans wanted reality TV, there are plenty of other channels to watch. Watching Owens has been like watching one of those uncontrollable children on "Nanny 911."

But this episode is different. Coach Andy Reid, as the frustrated, exhausted father, put the problem child up for adoption. Owens is now homeless, never to don Eagle green again.

And Owens still doesn’t get it. Never has, never will. The organization exercised the patience of Job, attempting to discipline Owens quietly and reminding him his actions had major consequences. They tried to treat him like a man. But he never grew up.

He whined about the lack of class of the organization for not displaying his 100-TD milestone on the scoreboard in Philadelphia two weeks ago. Now, Terrell Owens calling someone classless is like Rafael Palmeiro lecturing on integrity. Incessant spotlight-hogging and teammate bashing might indicate he hasn’t quite fully grasped the meaning of the word "class."

The type of recognition he seeks isn’t a right, but a celebration of a player’s contributions and the way he represents the organization. Owens represents the organization with the grace of Warren Sapp on a pommel horse.

Then Owens suggests that the team might do better at quarterback than five-time Pro-Bowler Donovan McNabb, who is putting up huge numbers, playing hurt and getting battered like a piñata thanks to a non-existent running game.

But, no, seriously, Terrell, we’ll just go resurrect Johnny Unitas to throw to you.

He’d probably still complain. The ridiculousness of Owens’ criticism of McNabb is so far beyond obvious it makes my head hurt.

This act is beyond tired, the welcome is so worn out the Salvation Army wouldn’t accept it. The Eagles are a strong organization that had repeatedly been on the doorstep of the Super Bowl before T.O., and got to one with him injured for the playoffs. The team is sick of his antics; Owens had a fistfight earlier this week with former teammate Hugh Douglas (who was cut but still hangs around the team), McNabb had a players-only meeting to confront him, and consensus on the team is that they are better off without him.

"You want some? Anyone else want some?" Owens reportedly said after taking swings at Douglas, challenging McNabb and then the rest of the team, according to espn.com.

The answer from the Eagles was a resounding no. They don’t want some. They’ve had enough. The day care center in Philly is closing shop.

Owens will continue to convince himself into thinking he is right; the organization chased him away, targeting him. But he had the same problems in San Francisco, quarreling with the coach and quarterback. Now he has a better coach, better quarterback. Nothing changed.

What he really doesn’t get is that this was it; there’s no upgrade looming. A winning organization, an All-Pro quarterback: not good enough to keep him happy. You think the Patriots or Colts are waiting in line to sign this guy? Get real.

His next gig will be catching balls for some guy that will make Jeff Garcia and the ‘Niners a fond memory. Fortunately he won’t have to stay long; Owens probably won’t get more than a one year deal.

So the child is on the streets again, looking for someone willing to risk letting him into their home. But the secret is out. Whoever decides the talent is worth the trauma better remember how the little boy got kicked to the curb twice to begin with.

A telling example was the most recent one, when the team did not recognize the 100-TD plateau Owens reached. Naturally, T.O. saw that as a personal attack, playing the victim yet again.

"Had it been somebody else, they probably would have popped fireworks around the stadium," Owens said to espn.com.

Yeah, probably true Terrell. And that’s the point.