Senator says Terrell Owens treated unfairly

"Sen. Arlen Specter has accused the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles of treating Terrell Owens unfairly, and might refer the matter to the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Specter, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, said at a news conference Monday in Harrisburg it was 'vindictive and inappropriate' for the league and the Eagles to forbid the star wide receiver from playing and prevent other teams from talking to him.

'It's a restraint of trade for them to do that, and the thought crosses my mind, it might be a violation of antitrust laws,' Specter said.

It is amazing the disinformation and misunderstandings on this. Let 's repeat together: "TO is under contract!" This means the Eagles have to pay him for the games he is deactivated. Contracts don't equire you to play TO, but they do require you to pay him. They also prevent other teams from talking to him.

Why did no one get this worked up when the Bucs deativated Keyshawn? The Vikings paid Sherrif Denny Green for two years and did not let him coach; where was the outcry?

Freedom of speech only grants the right to speak on topics, not the ability. Even US Senators need to remember that.

Here is the SI follow-up:

Some legal experts disagreed with Specter's view.

'To have an antitrust violation, you have to have a contract or conspiracy in restraint of trade,' said Robert McCormick, a law professor at Michigan State University.

Matthew J. Mitten, director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University, said, 'We're in the labor arena, not antitrust.'"

Link