Terrell Owens
© AFP/Getty Images/File

PHILADELPHIA, United States (AFP) - But the decision will cost Bloch his job as an arbitrator in American football labor cases.

The final contest of Owens' suspension is Sunday against Green Bay, after which the Eagles now have permission to leave Owens deactivated and idle for the remainder of the season.

"The club has shouldered its burden of proof of clear and convincing evidence of player misconduct in that the four-week suspension was for just cause," Bloch said in his statement.

Owens outright release will come after the season but before next March when the Eagles would owe Owens a five million-dollar bonus payment, provided the Eagles are unable to swing a trade.

After the verdict was announced, NFL Players Association boss Gene Upshaw said that the union would take advantage of a window of opportunity in early December to have Bloch dumped as an arbitrator for NFL affairs.

"When an arbitrator misinterprets the contract... he can't be an arbitrator any more," Upshaw said.

Philadelphia Eagles
© Philadelphia Eagles

Bloch presided over a 13-hour hearing last Friday at which Owens argued the punishment imposed by the Eagles was excessive and sought to be released if he was to be punished by being benched every week.

The Eagles argued Owens violated his contract by making derogatory public comments about the club and questioning the skill and durability of quarterback Donovan McNabb, who will soon undergo season-ending surgery for a sport hernia.

Eagles coach Andy Reid mentioned 11 incidents where Owens hurt the club and the actions were enough to convince Bloch to uphold the four-game ban and the Eagles plan to keep Owens benched the remainder of the season.

Owens was suspended by Reid for conduct detrimental to the team for four games, with Reid adding Owens would never again play for the team as it planned to deactivate him for all remaining games after the banishment.

The NFL Players Association argued to have the suspension reduced and force the Eagles to play Owens or release him, calling it a de-facto extra ban for the violation.

Officials are concerned Owens will become a greater distraction should he be allowed to return to the Eagles training facility and rejoin the club, however briefly.

Bloch's ruling supported Reid's permanent ban, emphasizing that the Eagles can keep Owens away after the suspension has been served.

Terrell Owens
© AFP/Getty Images/File

"We appreciate the careful consideration from the arbitrator to present all of our arguments in this grievance," the Eagles said in a statement.

"We are also thankful for his respect and understanding of the importance of the particular issues at hand. From this point, we look forward to moving on... and will have no further comment on this issue."

The Eagles argue they are entitled to the return of 1.7 million dollars in bonus money from Owens but have said they would forfeit the funds rather than bring back Owens.

"We are pleased that the arbitrator has upheld the right of a club to suspend a player for conduct detrimental to the club," NFL vice president of labor relations Harold Henderson said.

"The ruling makes clear that Terrell Owens and his agent (Drew Rosenhaus) engaged in conduct that was disruptive to the Eagles and that coach Reid's decision to suspend the player was appropriate."

The Eagles are 4-6 and have lost three games in a row since banishing Owens, who had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and a club record 14 touchdowns last season. This season, Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns.

Owens, who makes a base salary of 3.75 million dollars this season, would have gone through the NFL waiver system if released with the league's worst club having the first chance to claim the talented but controversial receiver.

Owens has been unhappy since the club refused in the off-season to renegotiate his seven-year, 48 million-dollar contract after he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl, which they lost to New England in February.

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