Mad World
No Jerks Allowed
By Mark Madden

Several years ago, shutdown corner Deion Sanders finished up his baseball season and became available to NFL teams as a free agent, a belated piece in the puzzle for some championship contender.

I spoke with Steelers' patriarch Dan Rooney regarding his team's potential desire for Prime Time.

Here's how the conversation went:

Rooney: "Mark, if I'm not mistaken, you've lived in Pittsburgh your whole life."
Me: "Yes, Mr. Rooney."
Rooney: "You've followed the Steelers to some degree, right?
Me: "Yes, Mr. Rooney."
Rooney: "Then surely you must realize that we run a football team, not a sideshow."

My recollection of the verbiage may not be exact. The gist of the conversation is. The Steelers have a no-jerk rule. Distractions need not apply.

I used to think the Steelers were successful despite that informal policy.

When I heard Terrell Owens' recent gimme, gimme, gimme diatribe, I started to believe that the Steelers are successful because of that policy.

Owens is undoubtedly one of the best receivers in football. The Philadelphia Eagles went one step further this year, finally making the Super Bowl, and TO has been touted as the difference maker.

But he wasn't. Owens missed the latter stages of the regular season with a leg injury and sat out the playoffs until the Super Bowl. The Eagles won the NFC Championship Game without Owens, and while a still-gimpy TO had an incredible nine catches in the Super Bowl, the Eagles lost.

The warmth of his media canonization at the Super Bowl has apparently subsided, because now the attention junkie that is TO screams out for more. More money, that is.

Seems Owens feels that he's underpaid despite a seven-year, $46-million contract he signed with Philadelphia just last year. That agreement included $8 million in bonuses.

Owens has retained uberagent Drew Rosenhaus to rectify this incredible wrong. Right now Eagles' management isn't budging. At some point, the United Nations may have to intervene.

Owens says that if the Eagles don't have to abide by the terms of the NFL's non-guaranteed contract, why can't he opt out? At some point, the Supreme Court may have to intervene.

Truth be told, Owens is a bit underpaid. But a deal's a deal, and Owens' deal was the best he could get at the time. He signed it. He should live with it.

But he won't. Owens is declining to talk to the media about his contract as of this writing, but it surely won't be long until he's whining again, or until he misses mini-camp, or until he compares himself to Crispus Attucks, or until he insults Donovan McNabb some more.

"I wasn't the one who was tired and out of shape at the Super Bowl." That's what Owens said to ESPN.com. It's a clear and unforgivable shot at Eagles' quarterback McNabb, and also another reminder that Owens will run roughshod over friendship, team chemistry, respect and anything else you can name to get what he wants, namely more cash and more attention.

Given a choice between winning with Owens or losing without him, I would rather lose.

I don't say that cavalierly. I know the importance of winning in big-money professional sports. Besides pocketing revenue sharing, there is no substitute.

But Owens is a total jackass. He has no redeeming qualities besides his abilities at receiver. I see those crocodile tears he sheds when he recalls his hardscrabble upbringing. It's phony media manipulation, with a little bit of self-manipulation tossed in.

Owens knows no true emotion that isn't related to selfishness and greed. If he died, the world would be poorer only on the Eagles' depth chart.

I can't say whether or not Eagles' fans think Owens is worth the headache and embarrassment.

But I do know the Eagles didn't win the Super Bowl. I also know that guys like Owens come with an expiration date. He's already reached his in Philadelphia. Owens won't play as well this coming season. The Eagles won't do as well. Owens will act like a big baby every step of the way.

The Steelers aren't perfect. Sometimes Joey Porter punches a foe during the pre-game. Sometimes Jerome Bettis is accused of trading autographs for carnal favors. Sometimes a Steeler dates a high school cheerleader (but not for long).

But the Steelers never provide grounds for abject hatred or aggravation. They win most of the time, too. Considering guys like Owens, that's a nice combination the Steelers consistently deliver.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.