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Owens Speaks! Wants To Stay With Eagles; Jabs McNabb...
In an interview with ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, Terrell Owens denied on Monday night he switched agents to improve his financial status, but was elusive in discussing his contract and plans for taking part in the team's off-season program.

The mercurial receiver seemed to be much more interested in airing complaints about what he views as constant media portrayals of him being selfish and opportunistic.

"As always, there is a lot being written and [reported] without anyone talking to me," Owens told Pasquarelli. "I mean, I can't do right and I can't do wrong. It's getting, in some ways, like it was for me in San Francisco. But the one thing that won't change is that I'm going to show up to play and to win. No one can ever [debate] that."

Last week, Owens switched agents, hiring Drew Rosenhaus and prompting speculation that he wanted to revise the seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with the team last season after being acquired from San Francisco.

Owens neither confirmed nor denied that in his interview with Pasquarelli. He also declined to address the issue in a separate interview with Philadelphia Inquirer beat man Bob Brookover.

The Eagles have made it clear that they have no intention of modifying Owens' contract.

In both interviews, Owens said he fully intends to be back with the Eagles in 2005, but was noncommittal about whether he would attend the team's mini-camp the weekend after the April 23-24 NFL draft.

"At this point, I don't have a clue about anything like that," he told Brookover.

But Owens, who questioned the difference between voluntary and mandatory workouts, insisted that head coach Andy Reid knows exactly what kind of shape he'll be in for his second season with the team.

"No one can ever accuse me of not being in great shape," said Owens, who is likely to skip offseason sessions and perhaps even the start of training camp. "[Reid] knows that. My teammates know that, when I show up, I'm ready to go. The biggest concern should be winning a Super Bowl. That's what I show up to do. I've never been out of shape. I mean, this is my [livelihood]."

According to Brookover, Rosenhaus and Owens seemed most upset about a report on a local television station Sunday night that said the receiver had missed team meetings during Super Bowl week. Owens said his focus was rehabilitating a severely sprained ankle.

"Everything Terrell did at the Super Bowl let you know that he was the consummate professional," Rosenhaus said. "It's unbelievable that anybody would question what he did. That's just a joke."

Said Owens: "My whole preparation at the Super Bowl was just trying to help the team win. I don't know why anybody would try to bash me on that."

Owens added that, were it true, Reid probably would not have allowed him to play in the championship game. And as we all know, that wasn't the case.

In fact, Owens staged what Pasquarelli described as "one of the most courageous performances in Super Bowl history," catching nine passes for 122 yards in the loss to New England after missing the last two regular-season games and two playoff games with a fractured leg and sprained ankle.

"There are a lot of people who said that me playing in that game was an inspiration to them," Owens said. "Hey, the only person I was trying to inspire was myself. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. But why did I want to do it? To win a Super Bowl for the team, for the fans, for the city. I did everything they asked me to do. I played every snap they allowed me to play. I wasn't even running until, like, two weeks before the game. But I made sure I was in the best shape possible."

Owens added: "I wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl."

Asked to whom he was referring, Pasquarelli reports that Owens laughed, then changed the subject. However, it's not hard to figure out where that verbal jab was aimed.

It has been widely reported that Donovan McNabb was either ill or fatigued late in Super Bowl XXXIX. McNabb has denied those reports, but several offensive linemen said that McNabb appeared ill and that receiver Freddie Mitchell was forced to call a play in the huddle.

Reid has also denied that McNabb was ill and you have to wonder how Owens' comment will go over with the coach and his quarterback. ...

It's worth noting that Owens did not deny part of the TV report that said he was late to team meetings during the regular season and sometimes fell asleep, too.

"During the year, I was late," he said. "A lot of people were late to meetings. I lived in Moorestown, N.J., and it was a situation where I had to contend with traffic. I was new to the area. I didn't know the alternate route. ... So I was late."

As for the naps during meetings. ...

"Ask any player in the NFL if they've ever fallen asleep in a meeting, and if they say 'no' they're not telling the truth," Owens told Brookover. "As long as you don't fall asleep on Sunday, that's all that matters."

Otherwise, Owens, 31, said his rehabilitation continues, his leg feels "great" and he is "really looking forward" to the 2005 season.

"As of right now, I'm a Philadelphia Eagle, and that's where I want to remain," Owens said. "I had one of my best years there, so why would I want to leave? I just want the fans to know this is nothing personal. It's business."

For the record, Owens' current deal is good through 2010 and he's the third highest-paid receiver in the league. And whatever the outcome of the pending "business" dealings might be, Owens hopes his Philadelphia story has a happy ending.

"I love Philly," he said. "My obvious goal is to come back and play and help the team get back to the Super Bowl."

Stay tuned. I promise we haven't heard the last of this story. ...

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