Other All-Pros aren't in Owens' corner

San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"I just don't think you need all of the stuff that T.O. is causing to try to get a new contract. There are other ways to go about it.

"I spoke out earlier when he had reported to camp, saying T.O. is a grown man, and he's doing the right thing by reporting to camp. Now, it seems like I'm kind of wishing I'd bit my lip."

He went on:

"I don't have a problem with guys wanting more money (or) wanting a new contract," Tomlinson said. "That's part of the game. When it comes down to it, clubs can cut you any time they want and they expect you to honor the contract. That's not fair.

"But at the same time, I think there's a way you go about doing it. If I'm still under contract, I can't hold out. I can't sit there and bash my teammates. I can't do none of that. I'm going to come out to practice and work hard and hope they honor me for my good deeds. I just think if you go about things the right way, they come back to you in a positive way."

Novel concept. But a reciever and quarterback can co-exist and be productive even if they aren't on speaking terms, right? Not according to Tennessee QB Steve NcNair in a widely used story from The Associated Press:

"It'd be very hard, and if they do, I think it's impossible," McNair said Monday. "But that's what they have ... I'm just glad I'm not."

He doesn't think a relationship could work between a quarterback and his top receiver without talking eventually. Everyone on the offense has to be able to talk.

"Having good chemistry, it takes more than just going out running routes and knowing how far he's going to go run his route. It's more of communicating off the field and making adjustments as far as what we're going to do the next time we get on the field."

But surely another receiver who's been involved in a holdout can relate to Owens' position? Here's what Hines Ward said Monday night after ending his holdout from the Steelers while trying to re-work his own deal.

"The Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens numbers, they are ridiculous," Ward said of the monster contracts those superstars have worked out with their respective teams. "(But) I do want my fair market value."

But time away from training camp was nice, wasn't it, Hines?

"It sucked being at home. It was the worst thing ever, sitting at home watching your teammates practice," Ward said in a story in the Beaver County Times and Allegheny Times.

"I am not going to get involved in (negotiations). It's my agents' job to go out and tell me what's going on. My main focus is to get my mind on football and help this team win games."

That's the rub. Terrell's main focus is always on Terrell.

Another T.O. 'fan' chimes in

This from Scripps-Howard columnist Ray McNulty, firing salvos from the Left Coast and printed on the Sacramento Bee website:

Terrell Owens isn't good enough to behave this badly. Nobody is.

And, certainly, nobody is worth the trouble he's causing as the Philadelphia Eagles try to get back to the Super Bowl - which, really, they got to without him, anyway.

So unless this greedy, self-absorbed, egomaniacal gas bag suddenly comes to his senses, realizes that his slimy, unprincipled agent has put him on the wrong side of everybody and everything, and humbly crawls back to camp Wednesday carrying an apology the size of the Liberty Bell, the Eagles should be done with him.

Because he's a bad guy, a punk, a cancer.

Just as he was in San Francisco. Just as he is now. Just as he'll be wherever he ends up next ... if anybody still wants him.

Read the rest of the story.