Post by TheShadow on Sept 30, 2006 8:47:56 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com/
By Nancy Gay
In sorting through the messy leftovers from Wednesday's all-encompassing Terrell Owens prescription-drug crisis Wednesday, we were left with several questions following a crazy day of events:
Why are so many high-profile athletes putting their reputations on the line by relying on "publicists" to represent them in dodgy matters? Are these really the best people to serve as informed spokespeople in public?
Wednesday's backpedal by Owens' publicist/personal assistant, Kim Etheredge, regarding what she did or did not tell Dallas Fire and Rescue personnel after making the 911 call, was a fascinating case of she-said, T.O.-said.
"They said I said Terrell was depressed? I did not say that, and I'm sitting in front of you letting you know that I did not say Terrell was depressed. Terrell did not say he was depressed,'' Etheredge babbled during Owens' surreal suicide-denial news conference, which appeared to be sponsored by Dr Pepper and was broadcast live from the Cowboys' Valley Ranch headquarters.
"I just think, again, this is sad. Terrell had a reaction to different pills and just to state he was trying to commit suicide it's just, it's unfair,'' Etheredge lectured. "Terrell has 25 million reasons why he should be alive.''
That, of course, refers to Owens' $25 million Cowboys' contract.
Does that mean people who don't have $25 million contracts have less reason to live? What a strange way to sum up someone's will to survive.
In a span of half a day, Etheredge morphed from caring 911 caller to spin doctor. That was the only conclusion you could draw from watching her oddball contribution to the Owens' explanation at Cowboys' headquarters.
Why in the heck would the Cowboys organization provide a forum for someone who is not their employee to speak on behalf of their controversial wide receiver?
Because more and more, NFL teams are losing control over their star players.
Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter, who is on the outs with team owner Al Davis and coach Art Shell, relies on a publicist to handle his media requests. She also works to ensure that Porter receives the best face possible -- whether that's setting up interviews or arranging marketing opportunities. She means well. But her client doesn't make it easy for her.
In other words, the Raiders have little or no control over his publicity -- or his media relations -- anymore. The Cowboys are in a similar spot with Owens. That's the way many top NFL stars want it.
Granted, Etheredge looked exhausted during her Wednesday photo op and probably was, after waiting for her client to come home from work Tuesday, noticing that he was unresponsive and seeing the empty hydrocodone bottle on his table, determining that he had possibly overdosed and calling emergency medical personnel.
Whew.
For that, her compassion should be lauded.
But Etheredge's day-after role as publicist clearly was all about damage control, and the two roles seemed to conflict.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on Wednesday looked and sounded like a wholly disinterested guy who wanted to be anywhere but answering more questions about Owens.
Did Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, lover of all microphones, take the stage? Nope. Does anything make any sense anymore?
And where was super agent Drew Rosenhaus, the infamous windbag who was so quotable last season when Owens was seeking to leave the prison that had become Philadelphia, and when he landed his guy a three-year, $25 million landing in Dallas?
We didn't hear a peep out of him Wednesday during the Owens' jam-packed news conference.
Perhaps that's because Rosenhaus already has collected his commission off of Owens' $5 million salary for 2006, which is said to be as much as $100,000.
More and more, agents are opting out of acting as spokespeople for their NFL clients -- probably because it's too much of a headache.
The former agent for Raiders center Barret Robbins, Drew Pittman, did an admirable job speaking on behalf his very troubled client during the Super Bowl-Tijuana fiasco as well as most of the sad aftermath. Pittman's compassion was evident, even though he received no monetary gain from it.
He delivered. He was credible.
After Robbins battled substance abuse, bipolar disorder and attempted suicide, Pittman eventually had to withdraw as Robbins' spokesperson. The weight of Robbins' demons had become too much for Pittman to bear.
When Chargers starting safety Terrence Kiel was arrested this week for drug trafficking -- a juicy police blotter item that barely registered on the drama meter -- his agent, Vann McElroy wasn't left with much to say when the defensive back admitted to Drug Enforcement Agents that he was shipping prescription cough syrup.
"Terrence is a good kid,'' McElroy said. "We just have to wait and see.''
Kiel's publicist didn't weigh in on the matter. Maybe he doesn't have one. Which is probably best for everyone.
Looks tough to us: Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms has drawn a ration of grief here for his leg tattoo containing the names of some of his former University of Texas teammates. But the questions about his "toughness" should end.
Simms is out of intensive care after having his spleen removed following last Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Panthers. After tossing a first-quarter interception that led a Carolina touchdown one play later, Simms -- who has been heavily criticized by Bucs coach Jon Gruden -- rallied his team to overcome a 17-0 deficit.
All the while, he was probably bleeding internally. Players from both teams said they noticed him struggling for breath and his balance as early as the first quarter.
While watching the NFL Network's condensed replay of his four-quarter performance last Sunday against the Panthers -- including several crunching hits he sustained late, after he presumably already had ruptured his spleen -- the thought of Simms playing with a potentially life-threatening medical condition made the viewing macabre.
It was if Simms was trying to prove to everyone he could take it. Now, there should be no doubt.
Not Leinart time yet: Sure, sure, Cardinals coach Dennis Green insists that Kurt Warner is still the starter in Arizona. This, after Warner tossed three interceptions in last week's 16-14 loss to St. Louis -- with two of them coming inside the Rams' 14-yard line -- and fumbled a snap at the Rams' 18 with less than two minutes remaining.
ESPN probably was on to something Monday when it reported that Green would yank Warner and go with rookie apprentice Matt Leinart. That is inevitable.
The bandwagon fans in Arizona, who have bought tons of tickets to sit in air-conditioned comfort in that gorgeous new stadium, wouldn't mind seeing a win. Warner is 1-2 as a starting quarterback and he left the field last week hearing boos and calls for Leinart.
The problem with the ESPN story is that coaches usually don't make big-time personnel decisions, such as changing the quarterback, until later in the week. They tend to make these calls once their tempers have cooled and they've had time to dissect the game film.
Green was so bent out of shape by the ESPN report, he took the unusual step of issuing a statement Tuesday -- an off day -- stating he was standing behind Warner. For now.
Briefly: A follow-up story by the Dallas Morning News quotes Owens' personal trainer as saying Owens was shaken on Monday because he missed his 7-year-old's birthday back here in California. And, his fiancee of three years, also here, broke off their engagement the same day. But how do you explain all the smiles on Wednesday? Wouldn't he be at least a little ticked off at the cops if there was something wrong in that report? I'm just saying. ... Kudos to Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren for refusing to put faith in MVP running back Shaun Alexander's belief that the power of prayer had taken away the pain and apparently healed his broken foot, despite additional tests that confirmed the initial diagnosis -- a cracked bone. Alexander said he wanted to play this week against the Bears. The Seahawks, who invested $62 million in their lead back, are playing it safe and Alexander will sit this week.
Five Numbers
0: The number of touchdowns the last-place Raiders offense has scored through two games
2: The number of third-down conversions the Raiders' last-place offense is averaging
2.7: The number of yards the Raiders' offense is averaging per play
18: The number of players on the Colts' injury report in Week 4. They reported 25 players on the Week 3 report (including probables). Is there something in the water there?
22: The number of consecutive passes completed by Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell at the start of last week's eventual 31-15 victory over the 0-3 Texans, a new NFL record. Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon held the previous mark of 21 in a row to start a game (Nov. 11, 2002 vs. the Broncos).
Hot, or Not?
Sizzling
RB Brian Westbrook, Eagles: Missed practice (knee) prior to last week's game at the 49ers but still rushed for 117 yards and two TDs and caught another
TD.
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals: AFC Player of the Week caught nine passes, including two fourth-quarter TDs, in a 28-20 victory at Pittsburgh.
PK John Kasay, Panthers: Became first kicker in NFL history to connect on four kicks of 46 yards or longer in a single game, including the game-winner with 2 seconds remaining.
On Ice
QB Andrew Walter, Raiders: His first NFL start on Sunday may allow him to improve on some awful stats: a 37.5 completion percentage and a 19.0 passer rating.
DT Mario Williams, Texans: No. 1 pick in the 2006 Draft has three tackles and zero sacks in three regular season games.
RB Frank Gore, 49ers: Three fumbles in three games likely will cost him his short-yardage responsibilities.