T.O. is easily winning after the split decision
By RICK HERRIN
Star-Telegram staff writer
Related Content
T.O. is easily winning after the split decision
IRVING -- Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb reached their career moments of glory together as playmaking sidekicks in Super Bowl XXXIX.
They now stand three years later on opposite ends of the NFC East with careers rocketing in opposite directions.
Owens is getting last-laugh satisfaction toward Eagles fans in the midst of reaching for career-best numbers. Meanwhile, McNabb is struggling to fight off the Philadelphia critics that say he's finished in the city. They reunite Sunday at Texas Stadium and can look across the field and realize how their careers have turned.
"All I can say is I was successful when I was there," Owens said. "It's unfortunate with what is going on. That's their problem. I am just happy to be where I am, and obviously to a lot of people it shows you that I am being the best player I can be wherever I am."
Since the soap-opera split seven games into the 2005 season, the Eagles are 17-21 and McNabb is 10-13 without Owens. No coincidence, if you ask the receiver. The Cowboys are 21-8 in two seasons with Owens.
One player is on a 12-1 team, which is off to the best start in the franchise's rich history with growing Super Bowl expectations. The other is the bottom-dweller in the NFC East at 5-8 with almost all hope lost.
Owens leads the NFL with 1,270 yards receiving needs one more touchdown catch to break the team's single-season record of 14 that has stood for 45 years. It's similar to his first year with the Eagles, when they reached the Super Bowl.
"I think he's had a great season this year," McNabb said. "You can see the kind of confidence and trust between he and [Tony] Romo and they have made some big plays together."
Like the ones he used to make with Owens.
One player looks better than ever and thinks he can play five or six more years. The other is still trying to regain a semblance of his former self while playing on a rebuilt knee.
"My stats and my playmaking ability haven't changed," Owens said. "And I was injured, too. I have been through injuries, severe ones and not-so-severe, and I am still the same player."
That jab was for McNabb, who has not progressed to being the same player he was before a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee sidelined him for six games. Owens' defense is that he played with a torn hand tendon last season and finished the year with a league-leading 13 touchdowns. But he had 17 drops.
One has been a team player and content when he's not always being thrown the ball. The other says he's not the only one to blame for his team's shortcomings.
Owens, who had 10 catches for 174 yards and one touchdown in a 38-17 victory at Philly earlier this year, has been afforded all the things he wanted in Dallas: moving him around and getting him the ball often. Owens is happier, and his old buddy thinks his former teammate has changed. The two smoothed over their icy relationship at the Super Bowl in February but haven't talked since.
"He has showed them that he can just play the game without talking," McNabb said. "He's going to say whatever is on his mind, but this year he has handled it like a professional."
Eagles coach Andy Reid wasn't aware that a team-oriented version of T.O. has developed in Dallas.
"I haven't heard that," Reid said. "Know he's catching a lot of footballs. That's all I need to know."
21-8 Terrell Owens' record since joining the Cowboys in 2006
10-13 Donovan McNabb's record without Owens since 2005
T.O. turning it up
Terrell Owens is on pace to have the best overall season of his NFL career while adding to some outstanding career statistics:
1,270 receiving yards lead the NFL
14 touchdown receptions lead the NFC and tie Cowboys record
100 yards receiving in five of the team's past seven games
Six 100-yard receiving games this season
Streak of seven consecutive games with at least one touchdown ended against Detroit
12,985 career receiving yards rank 10th in NFL history
875 career receptions rank ninth in NFL history
74 receptions rank in a tie for 14th in the NFL
Star-Telegram staff writer
Related Content
T.O. is easily winning after the split decision
IRVING -- Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb reached their career moments of glory together as playmaking sidekicks in Super Bowl XXXIX.
They now stand three years later on opposite ends of the NFC East with careers rocketing in opposite directions.
Owens is getting last-laugh satisfaction toward Eagles fans in the midst of reaching for career-best numbers. Meanwhile, McNabb is struggling to fight off the Philadelphia critics that say he's finished in the city. They reunite Sunday at Texas Stadium and can look across the field and realize how their careers have turned.
"All I can say is I was successful when I was there," Owens said. "It's unfortunate with what is going on. That's their problem. I am just happy to be where I am, and obviously to a lot of people it shows you that I am being the best player I can be wherever I am."
Since the soap-opera split seven games into the 2005 season, the Eagles are 17-21 and McNabb is 10-13 without Owens. No coincidence, if you ask the receiver. The Cowboys are 21-8 in two seasons with Owens.
One player is on a 12-1 team, which is off to the best start in the franchise's rich history with growing Super Bowl expectations. The other is the bottom-dweller in the NFC East at 5-8 with almost all hope lost.
Owens leads the NFL with 1,270 yards receiving needs one more touchdown catch to break the team's single-season record of 14 that has stood for 45 years. It's similar to his first year with the Eagles, when they reached the Super Bowl.
"I think he's had a great season this year," McNabb said. "You can see the kind of confidence and trust between he and [Tony] Romo and they have made some big plays together."
Like the ones he used to make with Owens.
One player looks better than ever and thinks he can play five or six more years. The other is still trying to regain a semblance of his former self while playing on a rebuilt knee.
"My stats and my playmaking ability haven't changed," Owens said. "And I was injured, too. I have been through injuries, severe ones and not-so-severe, and I am still the same player."
That jab was for McNabb, who has not progressed to being the same player he was before a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee sidelined him for six games. Owens' defense is that he played with a torn hand tendon last season and finished the year with a league-leading 13 touchdowns. But he had 17 drops.
One has been a team player and content when he's not always being thrown the ball. The other says he's not the only one to blame for his team's shortcomings.
Owens, who had 10 catches for 174 yards and one touchdown in a 38-17 victory at Philly earlier this year, has been afforded all the things he wanted in Dallas: moving him around and getting him the ball often. Owens is happier, and his old buddy thinks his former teammate has changed. The two smoothed over their icy relationship at the Super Bowl in February but haven't talked since.
"He has showed them that he can just play the game without talking," McNabb said. "He's going to say whatever is on his mind, but this year he has handled it like a professional."
Eagles coach Andy Reid wasn't aware that a team-oriented version of T.O. has developed in Dallas.
"I haven't heard that," Reid said. "Know he's catching a lot of footballs. That's all I need to know."
21-8 Terrell Owens' record since joining the Cowboys in 2006
10-13 Donovan McNabb's record without Owens since 2005
T.O. turning it up
Terrell Owens is on pace to have the best overall season of his NFL career while adding to some outstanding career statistics:
1,270 receiving yards lead the NFL
14 touchdown receptions lead the NFC and tie Cowboys record
100 yards receiving in five of the team's past seven games
Six 100-yard receiving games this season
Streak of seven consecutive games with at least one touchdown ended against Detroit
12,985 career receiving yards rank 10th in NFL history
875 career receptions rank ninth in NFL history
74 receptions rank in a tie for 14th in the NFL
posted by The Gryphon at 8:05 AM
<< Home