Steele's Days Are Numbered

In the course of a regular daily conference call between senior Congressional communicators, House and Senate aides berated RNC staffers over Steele's comments that the GOP would not be able to take back the House, and that even if they did, the party would not be prepared to lead.

A senior Senate aide brought up Steele's comments, arguing that he was ruining what should be several days of glowing press for the GOP in the wake of retirement announcements from Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Chris Dodd (D-CT).

"Steele is setting us far back with his comments and it needs to stop," the aide said, according to 2 sources who were on the call.

RNC research director Jeff Berkowitz called the Senate aide out of line, but the Senate aide called Steele a "fool," sources said.

Hotlineoncall

If you think this information somehow got leaked accidentally you are crazy. Someone wants everybody to know that at least one Senate leadership aide not only thinks RNC Chairman Michael Steele is a fool but actually said so on a conference call with their peers. I don't think Steele will make it to April as head of the RNC, but after reading through this account several times I think I might be too generous with that estimate.

Thank You Jerry Jones!!!

I don't want to gloat over another man getting a pink slip but Terrell Owens getting released by the Cowboys last night will go a LONG way in putting the team on a lot better footing with a lot fewer distractions and a real chance for a championship. The guy is just a chemistry killer and while many times team chemistry is overrated, I think a lot of times people see TO's talent and tend to underrate it so as to overlook his antics. I guess the only question now is will Dan Snyder be fool enough to bring him in as it seems the Deadskins might be the only team with any interest in the drama queen that is T.O. I said it before the Cowboys and I will say it again now, a zebra don't change its stripes.

From ESPN:

The Dallas Cowboys have released controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens, sources told ESPN's Michael Smith late Wednesday.

In late February, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not deny the team was discussing the possible release of Owens. Owens' future was brought up again in meetings at Valley Ranch on Wednesday, but Jones had not made a final decision when most people left the building, a source told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley.

"There are several decisions on our roster we have to look at," Jones said in February. "This is the time of year we do that. I'm not trying to be trite, but as you all know we're evaluating players in college, we're evaluating free agents and we're evaluating our own roster. This is an ongoing thing, not any different than this time last year."

The team did not immediately have a comment. A spokesman for Owens said he hadn't heard the news, and that the receiver was traveling and could not immediately be reached, the Associated Press reported.

The Cowboys paid Owens a $12 million signing bonus just last year, included as part of a new four-year, $34 million deal. Dallas will take a roughly $9 million salary cap hit with the release of Owens.

There has been talk since the end of the Cowboys' 9-7 season, in which they missed the playoffs, that they would consider cutting Owens to improve locker room morale.

Not only did Owens have relationship issues with quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten, but the receiver consistently criticized offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's play calling and his offensive schemes to the point that sources have said Garrett did not believe they could coexist.

Thats Yo Ass Mr Postman

The Buccaneers have finally fired Jon Gruden along with Bruce Allen. I have long argued that they were a package deal but I really didn't think the Glazers would have the balls to dismiss both of them due to the fact that they have never had to find either a coach or a GM all on their own. But something is lining up for me here and I am going to throw it out there and we can see if it happens. It has been reported since the regular season ended that Bill Parcells has the ability to leave the Dolphins if the sale of the team goes through. The Glazers have long sought after him, offering him the head coaching job behind the scenes before they had fired Tony Dungy in 2001. So I am saying he comes in as GM and shocks the world.

In the stunner of the off-season, the Bucs have fired head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen.

"We will be forever grateful for Jon bringing us the Super Bowl title and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise,'' said Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer. "However, after careful consideration, we feel this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward.''

After failing to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in six years, the Glazer family which owns the Bucs decided it was time for a change after seven seasons with Gruden and five with Allen.

Tampa Bay was the first team in 15 years to start 9-3 and fail to reach the playoffs, losing their last four games in a row.