Philly.com: Bob Ford | How to get T.O. to talk: Be sneaky

[tr1]

I had to post this for my Philly fans who continue to support TO (I believe the largest contingent continue to reside here at ES.) I've highlighted some of the points I've made and have been ridiculed for in other threads. Here's a reality check. How do you guys continue to support him...he tries to trash McNabb every chance he gets. McNabb deserves better.

By Bob Ford

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/13026060.htm

Inquirer Columnist

Normally, it doesn't really bother me that Terrell Owens won't talk to me. I try not to take these things personally. After all, it isn't as if Terrell won't talk to only me. He won't talk to just about everyone in the media.

There are a few exceptions. He will speak to Michael Irvin on one of those NFL pregame shows, although I couldn't even tell you which network that is. And every now and then, he'll stop for a television camera if he is in the mood. That was the case at practice this week, when Colleen Dominguez of ESPN got a brief interview during which Owens said that he and Brian Westbrook should get the ball more often. Oooh.

The ESPN people were so happy after getting Terrell on camera they were high-fiving afterward, and that's when it hit me. Getting Terrell Owens to answer your question is a big deal these days. If you're going to be a big-time player, you have to find a way to get that question answered.

Now, Terrell is hardly the first athlete who wouldn't speak to me. I can remember coming into the Phillies' clubhouse and seeing Bake McBride with a big rectangle of athletic tape across his mouth after a game. I can remember the glacial stare of Steve Carlton. But Carlton wouldn't converse with anyone. Didn't matter if it was Bryant Gumbel or Bus Saidt. He wasn't talking.

Owens is more of a challenge. He's out there to be landed if you happen to be in the right boat.

So the only question was whether to be straightforward - march up to the man, state your business, and then watch him turn away as if you were lint on the rug - or to be sneaky.

Careful readers will be able to guess my decision.

It seems that, for whatever reason, Owens is a regular weekly guest on the Miami radio show of Dan Le Batard, a very popular program on 790-The Ticket in which the Miami Herald columnist dominates the local drive time. Or drive-by time, since we're talking about Miami.

The show is picked up every Friday evening by WIP-AM (610) and broadcast during Howard Eskin's show. WIP reportedly paid $50,000 for the rights, which should tell you how rare and valuable Owens' words have become.

I called Le Batard, but there was something wrong with the phones down there this week. Something about a storm. Persistent as always, I sent him an e-mail saying I had some questions I wanted him to ask Owens. He replied, grousing about the hurricane and saying he had no phone line and could only get on a computer once a day. Sheesh. And he told me to send the list.

It was then I realized I needed to come up with some questions.

Actually, I did have a couple. I wanted to know if Owens was frustrated because quarterback Donovan McNabb has seemed unable to throw a deep pass for the last month or so. He didn't have a completion longer than 23 yards against Dallas and, except for a 36-yarder to Billy McMullen, his longest completion in the San Diego game was 15 yards.

I guess the hernia isn't affecting McNabb...many of the Eagle fans posters have said I'm foolish...look, they say, the team is ranked high in offensive standing...well, Ford seems to see it the way I do, too.

Also, in a related matter, I wanted to know why Owens seems to be catching the ball and then making a direct turn toward the sideline these days. He has always been a receiver who makes significant yardage after the catch, but appears to be looking to get out of bounds and avoid contact. Is he protecting himself from injury, unwilling to put his body on the line for an organization that wouldn't improve his contract? Just wondering.

I had called this 'loafing' before, and was ridiculed...I guess I should have said 'not working for extra yards'.

I didn't hear back from Dan - must have been that hurricane - but waited expectantly when the show came on last night. As you can imagine, when my questions were asked, I was ecstatic. I put a dish towel over my arm, put my notebook in an upturned hand, and paraded around the living room like a waiter.

Answering the first question, Owens said, "Well, you know there's really nothing I can do about that. I've really been at peace with myself, and I've said to myself there's no reason for me to get frustrated when you know the obvious."

He added, "Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get any deep throws for whatever reason. I can't really speculate into that."

Owens tried to dance around the question about running out of bounds, which Le Batard acknowledged came by e-mail from a listener, before T.O. finally declared: "He's watching a different game than everybody else."

Maybe so. Must be my imagination.

And mine, too.

Terrell didn't make much news last night. He has previously said that he wouldn't have signed with the Eagles or played in the Super Bowl if he knew how he'd eventually be treated.

Last night, he just gave a "no comment" when asked if he'd be in Philly next season.

He could have said, "No, I love it here in Philadelphia...I love the fans...I expect to end my career here." But, no...no coment :doh:

He said he was selling his Moorestown house because "I want to, and it's mine." Those were the highlights.

He did mention that since joining the Eagles, the team is 13-0 when he plays and scores a touchdown and 4-4 when he plays but doesn't score a touchdown. Those statistics speak for themselves, Owens said.

Interesting, and the kind of thing that deserves a follow-up. If I can only get Michael Irvin to answer the phone, I've got just the question for him.

Contact columnist Bob Ford at 215-854-5842 or bford@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/bobford.

[Theo]

First...the hernia. Who has said that it's not bothering him?? Obviously everyone knows it is. Personally though I think the reason the deep balls aren't there is because teams are taking that stuff away right now because they aren't concerned with our run game.....But that probably makes too much sense.

Second..the running out of bounds. I also must be watching other games. This guy has caught a boat load over the middle this year and has taken some serious shots...funny they aren't mentioned. And yeah, like any other receiver when catching the ball along the sidelines at times he will look to get out of bounds.

Finally, like we have said before...No one is really expecting him to be back next year. But the thing is, the Eagles still hold the cards there. TO is still in only his second year of a seven year deal. This isn't TO's call. But him actually saying 'no comment' is kind of refreshing..

Anyway, none of this changes the fact that your scared of what the guy can do on the field to your team. Because no matter how nuts he is off of it, he's just that good on it.....Keep digging.

[dockeryfan]

First...the hernia. Who has said that it's not bothering him?? Obviously everyone knows it is. Personally though I think the reason the deep balls aren't there is because teams are taking that stuff away right now because they aren't concerned with our run game.....But that probably makes too much sense.

If you don't think Mcnabbs accurracy is off beyond 30 yards you are watching a different game.

And they aren't concerned with YOUR (Didn't know you put on pads for the egals) run game is because

1) McNabb can't run. and

2) Reid can't call running plays. You think teams are staying home with a play action fake to Parry? I laugh every time Reid calls that shat. Westbrook was never the running threat out of the backfield. It was always Mcnabb.

....Keep digging.

Sure thing, skippy.

The Egals have become very average offensively. The defense is still very good, which will keep them in games, but the season is over, and egal fan doesn't even realize it.

Farg off. :eaglesuck

[TerpsEagles]

How do you guys continue to support him...he tries to trash McNabb every chance he gets. McNabb deserves better.

Simple. Have tried to explain to you but you just can't seem to be able to grasp the concept. I support T.O. because he puts on a Philadelphia Eagles uniform for 16 + weeks a year and plays for the team I've loved longer than he has been alive. Period.

I don't need to agree, nor particularly like somebody, to support them. Quite frankly, neither do his teammates. Have you liked, EVERYBODY you've worked with in your career ? Has EVERYBODY you've worked with liked you ?

Were you still able to perform your job ? I sure hope so, it's called being professional and taking care of your business and we all have to do it.

As for McNabb deserving better.... McNabb couldn't care less about the off the field stuff. The players aren't like us fans. It's a job to them. It's a passion for us. It's apparently an obsession for you.

T.O. is by far the best WR McNabb has had the chance to throw the ball to his entire career.

Don't take this as an attack on you .... I actually find most of your posts amusing.... But man, you care about this stuff WAY too much. It's a game my friend. A game.

[Theo]

If you don't think Mcnabbs accurracy is off beyond 30 yards you are watching a different game.>>>

I wouldn't really know if his accuracy is off over 30 yards, since they haven't really tried. If you have watched lately and know so much, you would know that. Only did it once last week and he was on target to McMullen. Again, not saying it's not affecting him, but imo the way D's are playing US right now, without a running game, has more to do with the struggling O more than anything. It's funny nothing was mentioned about DMacs injury when he lit up KC or Oakland.....

<<<And they aren't concerned with YOUR (Didn't know you put on pads for the egals) run game is because

1) McNabb can't run. and

2) Reid can't call running plays. You think teams are staying home with a play action fake to Parry? I laugh every time Reid calls that shat. Westbrook was never the running threat out of the backfield. It was always Mcnabb. >>>

Welcome to last month... Glad you could join us

And like I have said to TR...even with our problems that you guys are drooling over, we are still sitting tied on top of the division. Not bad for the season being over and with so many problems.

[dockeryfan]

Welcome to last month... Glad you could join us

And like I have said to TR...even with our problems that you guys are drooling over, we are still sitting tied on top of the division. Not bad for the season being over and with so many problems.

Denial is a wonderful thing. If you think his accuracy is fine I want a pair of those glasses you look thru.

As for welcome to last month, I don't post much here. But this problem was the same last month, and will be here next month. It won't go away. All the talk of repeating a trip to the super bowl is over, because it should be. :eaglesuck

[Theo]

Denial? Yeah sure...again, 4-2 with all of these problems. Not bad....I admit the other teams, including the Skins, have gotten better. But like it or not, the Birds are still the team to beat in the NFC East.

As for McNabb...has he been great...no. But he is hitting at 62% completion percentage. So it's not quite as bad as you would like to hope. Matter of fact, his percentage does happen to be higher than Brunells....so if DMac isn't accurate, what does that say about your qb?...Which by the way, I like Brunell.

And your right, the lack of running game was a problem last month as it has been this month. I have a feeling that problem will be corrected, maybe not tomorrow against Denver but I do believe AR knows he needs some kind of running game for the O to be successful. We shall see I guess....

[tr1]

Denial? Yeah sure...again, 4-2 with all of these problems. Not bad....I admit the other teams, including the Skins, have gotten better. But like it or not, the Birds are still the team to beat in the NFC East.

As for McNabb...has he been great...no. But he is hitting at 62% completion percentage. So it's not quite as bad as you would like to hope. Matter of fact, his percentage does happen to be higher than Brunells....so if DMac isn't accurate, what does that say about your qb?...Which by the way, I like Brunell.

And your right, the lack of running game was a problem last month as it has been this month. I have a feeling that problem will be corrected, maybe not tomorrow against Denver but I do believe AR knows he needs some kind of running game for the O to be successful. We shall see I guess....

Sorry, right now the teams to beat in the east are the Redskins and the Giants...tomorrow, it'll be the Redskins.

You're in denial.

[Theo]

Sure, ok...If thinking that is what makes you feel better.