Well it was only a matter of time before someone on the 'outside' had to stick their nose into the Owens saga.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has called the Philadelphia's punishment of Terrell Owens "much too severe." Jackson said on Friday that Owens could have been more professional when he publicly complained but that suspension without pay for four games and deactivation for the rest of the season is "much too severe for the charge" and hurts the athlete's NFL career at its height.

Jackson suggested that the level of punishment was more at the level expected for someone if they had been caught shaving points, selling drugs, carrying a gun or fighting fans.

"This does not warrant a one-year ban from the game," Jackson said, adding that the Eagles should release Owens to free agency if they don't want him. Ralph Nader has also jumped in calling for the suspension to be dropped.

Remember Owens was suspended last week after he saidthat the Eagles had shown "a lack of class" for not publicly recognizing his one hundredth career touchdown catch, and that the team would be better off with Brett Favre as quarterback....talking of class....