BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
By Skip Wood, USA TODAY
PHILADELPHIA — So the serpent comes slithering back.
That pretty much is how life-long Eagles fan Rick Beckstrand views what will happen Sunday when wide receiver Terrell Owens, after two volatile seasons with Philadelphia, returns to face his former team as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
"I never really did like him," the 37-year-old South Philly resident says of Owens. "Just the attitude. You buy a pet rattlesnake, and sooner or later you get bit. Yeah, we got to the Super Bowl (in his first year), but last season he destroyed the team."
And Sunday? "Ooooh, he's going to get it," Beckstrand says. "Just watch."
The NFL is happily counting on just that (Fox, 4:15 p.m. ET) in what has become the season's most in-demand ticket. Internet sites are asking up to $1,000 for an $80 field-level seat. TicketsNow.com executive Kenneth Dotson says the average ticket on his site is $400, higher than for any other game this season.
"All I'm hearing about is T.O. going back to Philly," says Troy Dixon, manager of the Sports City Cafe in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite. "It's all T.O. I think it bugs some people. He's one big controversy. ... But T.O. sells."
Rich subplots are numerous in what hardly is the usual NFC East clash for first place. There's T.O.'s feud with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. T.O's suspension and subsequent banishment from Eagledom last season. His apparent accidental overdose of prescription drugs two weeks ago. The merciless partisan fans at Eagles games.
Kobe-Shaq Redux.
One Internet site for gambling enthusiasts, Bodog, even has odds on how Owens would celebrate a touchdown catch: 5-2 to cavort with a Michael Jackson-style dance, 10-1 to simply toss the ball to the official.
Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter knows what it's like to return to Philly in different colors. He spent his first four years with them before joining the Washington Redskins from 2002-03. Upon his first return, he remembers keeping his helmet on while riding a stationary bike on the sideline, wondering whether a "brick or a sledgehammer" might come his way.
It never did. But he knows Owens will be a target.
Trotter, one of the few Eagles still corresponding with Owens, sent an encouraging text message after the overdose incident. Owens similarly responded: " 'T.O. coming to town.'
"He's excited."
Super Bowl-like anticipation
McNabb got to the door of a crowded auditorium at team headquarters this week, stopped, surveyed the large media crowd and shook his head with a knowing chuckle.
"OK," he said, grinning. "I wonder what they want to talk about."
At Cowboys headquarters in Irving, Texas, Owens expressed a similar sentiment.
Both acknowledge the fans' anticipation and make only cursory attempts to downplay the interest.
"This," Owens says proudly, "will probably be the most televised, the most watched game throughout the year — besides the Super Bowl."
He's loving it.
"I'm probably the most hated guy coming into Philly this weekend. So I expect the worst."
Such as? "I've already heard they've got a little chant for me: 'O.D.! O.D.! O.D!' "
When the Cowboys bus gets to the stadium, will there be objects tossed? "Cheesesteaks, batteries; ain't no telling," Owens says.
Fellow Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd, whose locker is next to Owens', says there's no doubt about his teammate's emotions: "Since he got here, he's been wanting to go back. It's no hurdle for him. It's exciting. ... He's more motivated than I've ever seen him."
Eagles coach Andy Reid has stressed dozens of times this week that the game is not about one player. McNabb agrees — but not without a subtle shot at his former teammate.
"I think guys understand that we're not competing against one player," McNabb says. "One guy doesn't make a team."
He pauses for but a nanosecond. "Break a team — maybe."
Philly fans ready for a T.O.
Philadelphia sports talk radio's venerable Howard Eskin marvels at the impact this game is having on his audience and the city.
"I've been thinking about this the past several days," says the WIP-AM host, "and I don't even think the NFC Championship Games here have been as hyped as this. You might have to go back to the Phillies in the World Series in '93 to find something that's bigger than this. Or maybe the Sixers in the 2001 NBA Finals. It's just amazing."
Why?
"It's T.O.," he says, adding with affection, "and this town is sick."
He laughs while remembering some of the calls he received this week from Eagles fans.
"They tell me about their signs. Crazy," Eskin says. " 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' Or, 'T.O. put the O.D. in Vicodin.' "
Not that he's surprised.
"As soon as the season started, it's always been October 8th, October 8th," Eskin says. "Everybody here was hoping (Owens) wouldn't get hurt or that he wouldn't get cut — and both things almost happened — so he wouldn't miss the game here."
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has noted a "little extra step" in his teammate this week.
"I know he's anxious for it, because he's got something to prove, maybe. ... I don't envy that at all, what he has to go through," Witten says. "But he does a good job with it. The one thing about him is he embraces those opportunities."
Subtle jabs now the style
Philadelphia went 6-10 last year — 2-8 the final 10 weeks — after nearly winning the previous season's Super Bowl. After that championship loss to the New England Patriots, Owens made statements indicating McNabb's stamina withered in the fourth quarter.
Owens entered the 2005 training camp unhappy, made no secret of it, was suspended for a week after a run-in with Reid, later made negative comments directed toward McNabb about the team perhaps being better off with a quarterback such as Brett Favre and was suspended for good Nov. 7 for what Reid said was "conduct detrimental to the team."
The Eagles cut him March 14, the day before a $5 million roster bonus would have kicked in.
McNabb was hobbled by injuries much of last season, but he is off to a great start. The Eagles are 3-1, and he leads the NFL in passing yards.
Owens acknowledges this — with a dig of his own. "Obviously, he's gotten himself into better shape. ... I think everybody notices he has slimmed down a little bit," Owens says of McNabb.
Owens has been slowed with hamstring problems, a broken bone in his hand and, most recently, the overdose of pain medication that initially was described by emergency personnel as a possible suicide attempt and later amended.
Upon hearing the initial news reports, McNabb tried to send Owens a sympathetic text message.
"That is true," McNabb says. "The situation that happened, I never would wish that on anyone. I wouldn't want that to happen to family, friends or just a human being in general. And I just sent prayers his way and blessings his way and told him that I continued to pray for him and everything would turn out well and he'd get back out on the field and be healthy. And if he needed anything to call."
McNabb didn't hear back from Owens — perhaps with good reason. "I didn't get it," Owens quickly and almost dismissively says of McNabb's message. "I didn't get it."
Stage set for wild and crazy day
Players on both sides know they're caught up in something of a circus.
Says a smirking Eagles linebacker Shawn Barber: "My kids are real excited — for whatever reason." Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears awaits fan reaction Sunday: "All that (hype) will be good meat for the fans. ... When (No.) 81 walks out, they're going to boo."
The head coaches, Reid and Dallas' Bill Parcells, are left to sigh.
"It's usually a pretty enthusiastic environment anyway," Parcells says of Philadelphia, "so that's what I'm expecting."
Reid has accepted the hoopla. "I understand all that," he says. "I'm not going to change that as far as the fans and the media go. I'm not here to change that. I'm just saying you need to focus on the Dallas Cowboys. They're a football team. That's the important part of it."
McNabb and Owens are aware their interaction during pregame warm-ups, or lack of such, will be something of Shaq-Kobe proportions. So be it, they say. Not that they'll necessarily play along.
"I'm going to do my normal routine," Owens says. "I'm not gonna feel like I have to go out of my way just to appease (people), to create some type of story. It's not about that. I'm going out there to try to win a ballgame."
On this, anyway, McNabb agrees.
"I'm sure (everyone) will be watching," he says. "If we shake hands, high-five, chest bump, whatever, (people) will talk about that. I've been past that whole issue. ... I've moved on. My focus is on what we do as a unit here."
Contributing: Cathy Harasta, in Irving, Texas
PHILADELPHIA — So the serpent comes slithering back.
That pretty much is how life-long Eagles fan Rick Beckstrand views what will happen Sunday when wide receiver Terrell Owens, after two volatile seasons with Philadelphia, returns to face his former team as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
"I never really did like him," the 37-year-old South Philly resident says of Owens. "Just the attitude. You buy a pet rattlesnake, and sooner or later you get bit. Yeah, we got to the Super Bowl (in his first year), but last season he destroyed the team."
And Sunday? "Ooooh, he's going to get it," Beckstrand says. "Just watch."
The NFL is happily counting on just that (Fox, 4:15 p.m. ET) in what has become the season's most in-demand ticket. Internet sites are asking up to $1,000 for an $80 field-level seat. TicketsNow.com executive Kenneth Dotson says the average ticket on his site is $400, higher than for any other game this season.
"All I'm hearing about is T.O. going back to Philly," says Troy Dixon, manager of the Sports City Cafe in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite. "It's all T.O. I think it bugs some people. He's one big controversy. ... But T.O. sells."
Rich subplots are numerous in what hardly is the usual NFC East clash for first place. There's T.O.'s feud with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. T.O's suspension and subsequent banishment from Eagledom last season. His apparent accidental overdose of prescription drugs two weeks ago. The merciless partisan fans at Eagles games.
Kobe-Shaq Redux.
One Internet site for gambling enthusiasts, Bodog, even has odds on how Owens would celebrate a touchdown catch: 5-2 to cavort with a Michael Jackson-style dance, 10-1 to simply toss the ball to the official.
Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter knows what it's like to return to Philly in different colors. He spent his first four years with them before joining the Washington Redskins from 2002-03. Upon his first return, he remembers keeping his helmet on while riding a stationary bike on the sideline, wondering whether a "brick or a sledgehammer" might come his way.
It never did. But he knows Owens will be a target.
Trotter, one of the few Eagles still corresponding with Owens, sent an encouraging text message after the overdose incident. Owens similarly responded: " 'T.O. coming to town.'
"He's excited."
Super Bowl-like anticipation
McNabb got to the door of a crowded auditorium at team headquarters this week, stopped, surveyed the large media crowd and shook his head with a knowing chuckle.
"OK," he said, grinning. "I wonder what they want to talk about."
At Cowboys headquarters in Irving, Texas, Owens expressed a similar sentiment.
Both acknowledge the fans' anticipation and make only cursory attempts to downplay the interest.
"This," Owens says proudly, "will probably be the most televised, the most watched game throughout the year — besides the Super Bowl."
He's loving it.
"I'm probably the most hated guy coming into Philly this weekend. So I expect the worst."
Such as? "I've already heard they've got a little chant for me: 'O.D.! O.D.! O.D!' "
When the Cowboys bus gets to the stadium, will there be objects tossed? "Cheesesteaks, batteries; ain't no telling," Owens says.
Fellow Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd, whose locker is next to Owens', says there's no doubt about his teammate's emotions: "Since he got here, he's been wanting to go back. It's no hurdle for him. It's exciting. ... He's more motivated than I've ever seen him."
Eagles coach Andy Reid has stressed dozens of times this week that the game is not about one player. McNabb agrees — but not without a subtle shot at his former teammate.
"I think guys understand that we're not competing against one player," McNabb says. "One guy doesn't make a team."
He pauses for but a nanosecond. "Break a team — maybe."
Philly fans ready for a T.O.
Philadelphia sports talk radio's venerable Howard Eskin marvels at the impact this game is having on his audience and the city.
"I've been thinking about this the past several days," says the WIP-AM host, "and I don't even think the NFC Championship Games here have been as hyped as this. You might have to go back to the Phillies in the World Series in '93 to find something that's bigger than this. Or maybe the Sixers in the 2001 NBA Finals. It's just amazing."
Why?
"It's T.O.," he says, adding with affection, "and this town is sick."
He laughs while remembering some of the calls he received this week from Eagles fans.
"They tell me about their signs. Crazy," Eskin says. " 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' Or, 'T.O. put the O.D. in Vicodin.' "
Not that he's surprised.
"As soon as the season started, it's always been October 8th, October 8th," Eskin says. "Everybody here was hoping (Owens) wouldn't get hurt or that he wouldn't get cut — and both things almost happened — so he wouldn't miss the game here."
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has noted a "little extra step" in his teammate this week.
"I know he's anxious for it, because he's got something to prove, maybe. ... I don't envy that at all, what he has to go through," Witten says. "But he does a good job with it. The one thing about him is he embraces those opportunities."
Subtle jabs now the style
Philadelphia went 6-10 last year — 2-8 the final 10 weeks — after nearly winning the previous season's Super Bowl. After that championship loss to the New England Patriots, Owens made statements indicating McNabb's stamina withered in the fourth quarter.
Owens entered the 2005 training camp unhappy, made no secret of it, was suspended for a week after a run-in with Reid, later made negative comments directed toward McNabb about the team perhaps being better off with a quarterback such as Brett Favre and was suspended for good Nov. 7 for what Reid said was "conduct detrimental to the team."
The Eagles cut him March 14, the day before a $5 million roster bonus would have kicked in.
McNabb was hobbled by injuries much of last season, but he is off to a great start. The Eagles are 3-1, and he leads the NFL in passing yards.
Owens acknowledges this — with a dig of his own. "Obviously, he's gotten himself into better shape. ... I think everybody notices he has slimmed down a little bit," Owens says of McNabb.
Owens has been slowed with hamstring problems, a broken bone in his hand and, most recently, the overdose of pain medication that initially was described by emergency personnel as a possible suicide attempt and later amended.
Upon hearing the initial news reports, McNabb tried to send Owens a sympathetic text message.
"That is true," McNabb says. "The situation that happened, I never would wish that on anyone. I wouldn't want that to happen to family, friends or just a human being in general. And I just sent prayers his way and blessings his way and told him that I continued to pray for him and everything would turn out well and he'd get back out on the field and be healthy. And if he needed anything to call."
McNabb didn't hear back from Owens — perhaps with good reason. "I didn't get it," Owens quickly and almost dismissively says of McNabb's message. "I didn't get it."
Stage set for wild and crazy day
Players on both sides know they're caught up in something of a circus.
Says a smirking Eagles linebacker Shawn Barber: "My kids are real excited — for whatever reason." Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears awaits fan reaction Sunday: "All that (hype) will be good meat for the fans. ... When (No.) 81 walks out, they're going to boo."
The head coaches, Reid and Dallas' Bill Parcells, are left to sigh.
"It's usually a pretty enthusiastic environment anyway," Parcells says of Philadelphia, "so that's what I'm expecting."
Reid has accepted the hoopla. "I understand all that," he says. "I'm not going to change that as far as the fans and the media go. I'm not here to change that. I'm just saying you need to focus on the Dallas Cowboys. They're a football team. That's the important part of it."
McNabb and Owens are aware their interaction during pregame warm-ups, or lack of such, will be something of Shaq-Kobe proportions. So be it, they say. Not that they'll necessarily play along.
"I'm going to do my normal routine," Owens says. "I'm not gonna feel like I have to go out of my way just to appease (people), to create some type of story. It's not about that. I'm going out there to try to win a ballgame."
On this, anyway, McNabb agrees.
"I'm sure (everyone) will be watching," he says. "If we shake hands, high-five, chest bump, whatever, (people) will talk about that. I've been past that whole issue. ... I've moved on. My focus is on what we do as a unit here."
Contributing: Cathy Harasta, in Irving, Texas
