Ken Stevens, GM of WYSP-FM, the Eagles' flagship radio
station, said that the team "never told him to put a clause
in Garry Cobb's contract" forbidding him from criticizing
Eagles' management, according to Mike Bruton of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Cobb, a former Eagles LB, refused to
sign a contract to become the team's radio analyst due to
the clause. Cobb stated that he "believes Eagles management
wanted this clause in the contract." But Stevens said that
he "added the clause himself because of promises he made to
the team a few years ago" while negotiating broadcast
rights. Stevens: "I want my teams to mutually agree on a
broadcast team. I know I promised them what kind of
broadcast they would get." Stevens: "It is incorrect to
call it a 'no-criticism' clause. ... He can criticize the
team all he wants, bad play, bad play-calling, bad game. We
want to stay away from the front office stuff when we do
games" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/21). A DAILY NEWS
editorial commends Cobb on his stance: "Give him credit for
remaining as loyal and dedicated to sports as a journalist
as [he] was as a player. It may have cost him this job.
But the next time G. Cobb gets behind a mike, the fans will
know he's working for them" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/21).
