PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 6, 2005) -- Terrell Owens was involved in a locker-room fight with former teammate Hugh Douglas a few days before the All-Pro wideout was suspended indefinitely by the Philadelphia Eagles.
On his radio show Nov. 6, Douglas said no punches were landed, and he didn't discuss details of the incident.
"It's not something you're proud of so why should I glorify it?" Douglas said on WIP-AM.
A three-time Pro Bowl defensive end during two stints with the Eagles, Douglas was released before the season started. He remained with the organization as a team "ambassador," and also does radio and television work.
ESPN.com reported the fight between Owens and Douglas started when Douglas entered the team's training room Nov. 2 and said: "I know there are people in here faking injuries."
Owens missed that day's practice with an ankle injury, but returned to the field the next day. Owens and Douglas previously got into a verbal confrontation in training camp.
Owens was suspended Nov. 5, two days after he criticized the organization for not publicly recognizing his 100th career touchdown catch two weeks ago. In the same interview with ESPN.com Nov. 3, Owens took another shot at quarterback Donovan McNabb, saying the Eagles would be better off with Green Bay's Brett Favre.
Owens apologized Friday in a statement and later on his weekly radio show, but the damage already was done.
Unproven rookie Reggie Brown replaced Owens in the starting lineup for the Eagles (4-3) against the Washington Redskins.
It's unlikely Owens will be paid for sitting out the game, though neither the team nor Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, would discuss the situation. Owens is scheduled to make $3.5 million in base salary this season, so the suspension would cost him more than $200,000 per game if it's without pay.
The collective bargaining agreement states that a player can be suspended for up to four games without pay for conduct detrimental to the team. However, the Eagles could decide to pay Owens to stay home the rest of the season.
In 2003, Tampa Bay declared wideout Keyshawn Johnson inactive for the final six games and sent him home because of differences with coach Jon Gruden. Johnson was paid his full salary.
If Owens comes back, it won't be for long. It's clear he won't be with the Eagles next year. Owens already put his house in Moorestown, N.J., up for sale.
Owens has been angry with the Eagles since management refused to redo his contract just one season into the seven-year, $48.97 million deal he signed when he came to Philadelphia in March 2004.
This was the second time Owens has been suspended during his controversial 10-year career. In 2000, he was suspended one game by San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci following his infamous touchdown celebrations on the Dallas Cowboys' famed star logo at the center of Texas Stadium.
Owens clashed with management this summer and earned a one-week exile from training camp after a heated dispute with coach Andy Reid. He got in trouble this time after saying that the Eagles showed "a lack of class" because there was no in-stadium acknowledgment of his 100th career TD reception in a victory over San Diego on Oct. 23. An announcement was made in the press box.
"That right there just shows you the type of class and integrity that they claim not to be," said Owens, who became the sixth receiver in NFL history to reach the milestone. "They claim to be first-class and the best organization. It's an embarrassment. My publicist talked to the head PR guy, and they made an excuse they didn't recognize that was coming up. But that was a blatant lie. Had it been somebody else, they probably would have popped fireworks around the stadium."
Owens has 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs this season.
