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Owens makes Bears sit up and take notice
October 4, 2004
BY CAROL SLEZAK Staff Reporter
http://www.suntimes.com/output/bears/cst-spt-2eag04.html
After scoring the Eagles' lone touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens lay down in the end zone and did six sit-ups. Owens' celebration didn't go over too well on the Bears' sideline, with some wondering why he wasn't hit with an excessive-celebration penalty. Informed of this fact after the Eagles' 19-9 win, Owens shot back, ''If they're going to be ticked off, than keep me out of the end zone.''
The T.O. show may have moved its home base from San Francisco to Philadelphia, but it has clearly lost none of its flair. Asked if the six sit-ups were because he had just scored his sixth touchdown of the season or because a touchdown counts for six points, Owens said, ''You can look at it however you want.''
Indications are that Owens is fitting in well in Philly. (Although when McNabb was asked to rate Owens' celebration on a scale of 1-10 Sharpies, he demurred, saying he ''really didn't get a chance to see it.'') Coach Andy Reid sang his star receiver's praises after Sunday's game, which turned out to be another big day for Owens (eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown).
''He spends so much time on the game,'' Reid said. ''It's so important to him and you just have to credit him for that. It's the most important thing in his life, with the exception of his family.''
He's a great receiver, and the T.O. show is part of the package. Or so goes the thinking in Philly. There's nothing wrong with a little performance art after a touchdown. Heck, if Owens can help the Eagles get past the NFC title game and into the Super Bowl, they'll all dance together.
Chances are Owens will plan his moves in advance.
''My thing is I'm going to try to have fun with the game,'' he said. ''I work hard. Personally, I work hard in the offseason to better myself to get in the end zone to help this team.''
Brian Westbrook put up better overall numbers than Owens against the Bears. The running back ran for 115 yards (on 23 carries) and caught nine passes for another 63 yards.
But there were no end-zone antics from Westbrook. Despite leading the Eagles in rushing, he has yet to score his first touchdown this season.
''I'm definitely ready to get a touchdown, but as long as the team is winning, those individual things will come,'' Westbrook said.
___________________________________________________
Posted on Mon, Oct. 04, 2004
Eagles Notes | Owens' end-zone sit-ups upset Bears
By Bob Brookover and Shannon Ryan
Inquirer Staff Writers
CHICAGO - Told that he ticked off the Chicago Bears with his latest touchdown celebration, Terrell Owens shrugged.
"Oh, well," the Eagles wide receiver said yesterday after his team's 19-9 victory over the Bears at Soldier Field. "People are saying that stuff all the time. If you're going to be ticked off, then keep me out of the end zone. My thing is, I'm going to have fun and I don't worry about what they're thinking."
Four plays after the Eagles got a turnover in Bears territory off a muffed punt in the second quarter, Owens ran a slant pattern and quarterback Donovan McNabb hit him for an 11-yard touchdown pass that made the score 12-0.
For Owens, it was crunch time.
The receiver immediately lay down on his back and did six sit-ups, drawing boos from the hometown fans and laughter from the many Eagles fans who made the trip along with their favorite team.
"I was trying to get my workout in," Owens said with a grin. "I didn't get much done during the pregame."
Though Owens was questioned about irritating the Bears with his touchdown celebration, there were no quotes on that issue coming out of the Chicago locker room afterward. There was one report that the Bears were upset on the sideline during the game.
Asked whether the six sit-ups represented the six points for the score or his six touchdowns this season, Owens said, "You can look at it however you want. I'll take it either way."
Owens has scored a touchdown in each of the Eagles' four games, and his six touchdowns are the most he's ever had at this point in the season. He also has put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, the first time he has done that since 2002.
A tricky kicking day. David Akers has said Lincoln Financial Field is one of the toughest places in the NFL to kick because of the often tricky winds inside the Eagles' second-year stadium.
He may have found a tougher one yesterday.
"Today, it was," Akers said. "The wind was just brutal out there."
It made for an interesting afternoon for Akers, who was arguably the star of the game on a day when the Eagles' high-powered offense managed just one trip into the end zone.
He converted on his first four field-goal tries, from 51, 42, 42 and 40 yards to help the Eagles build a 19-3 lead late in the third quarter. With a chance to put the game away, however, he missed from 39 and 45 yards in the fourth quarter.
It was the seventh time in his career that he had four or more field goals, but only the third time in his career that he missed two field goals in a game and only the second time he missed consecutive attempts.
"My first four were right on target," Akers said. "The last one, I hit it exactly where I wanted it to go and it just didn't do what I thought it was going to do. That's no excuse, though."
Mother's cooking. The Eagles were treated Saturday night to a long list of delicacies by Donovan McNabb's famous mother, Wilma, as well as the mothers of linebacker Nate Wayne and wide receiver Greg Lewis, all of whom are from the Chicago area.
"We had macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, beans, ribs, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and the list went on," McNabb said. "The only thing missing was the Kool-Aid. My mom made the mac and cheese."
Owens said he had eaten earlier at the Cheesecake Factory, but was forced to eat a slice of lemon pie by Wilma McNabb.
"She was happy I had it, and it was good," Owens said.
The century mark. Linebacker Ike Reese played in his 100th career game yesterday.
"Yeah, I've been counting them," said Reese, who has never missed a game. "Of course, I'm the only one in here who has been."
Does he expect to get another 100?
"If I get another 100, I'll be very surprised," said Reese, who broke up two passes.
Injuries. Rookie cornerback Dexter Wynn (strained hamstring) and offensive guard Artis Hicks (bruised shin) were the only players listed by coach Andy Reid as having been injured during the game.
Owens, however, said that L.J. Smith was still not at 100 percent after suffering a badly bruised shoulder in Week 3 against Detroit. Smith, who dropped a pass in the end zone on the Eagles' first drive and was flagged for three penalties, was seen in the locker room being examined by trainer Rick Burkholder after the game.
Guard Jermane Mayberry played with a torn biceps tendon. "I think this definitely will be the toughest one," Mayberry said. "From what the doctors said, supposedly it's going to get better. Hopefully, that will be the case. I'm pretty sore and it hurt, but it wasn't to the point where I couldn't play. If this is as bad as it gets, I'll take it."
Defensive tackle Corey Simon also briefly left the game in the third quarter, but he did return.
Extra points. McNabb's regular-season streak of 162 passes without an interception ended when he was picked off by cornerback Nathan Vasher on the Eagles' first series of the second half... . Dorsey Levens carried the ball eight times for 26 yards. In the first three games, the Eagles' running backs other than Brian Westbrook had a combined eight carries... . Second-year receiver Billy McMullen was among the Eagles' inactive players for the third straight week. Also deactivated were defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis, cornerback Matt Ware, fullback Thomas Tapeh, defensive end Jamaal Green, and linemen Trey Darilek and Ian Allen.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9828655.htm?1c
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
October 4, 2004
BY CAROL SLEZAK Staff Reporter
http://www.suntimes.com/output/bears/cst-spt-2eag04.html
After scoring the Eagles' lone touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens lay down in the end zone and did six sit-ups. Owens' celebration didn't go over too well on the Bears' sideline, with some wondering why he wasn't hit with an excessive-celebration penalty. Informed of this fact after the Eagles' 19-9 win, Owens shot back, ''If they're going to be ticked off, than keep me out of the end zone.''
The T.O. show may have moved its home base from San Francisco to Philadelphia, but it has clearly lost none of its flair. Asked if the six sit-ups were because he had just scored his sixth touchdown of the season or because a touchdown counts for six points, Owens said, ''You can look at it however you want.''
Indications are that Owens is fitting in well in Philly. (Although when McNabb was asked to rate Owens' celebration on a scale of 1-10 Sharpies, he demurred, saying he ''really didn't get a chance to see it.'') Coach Andy Reid sang his star receiver's praises after Sunday's game, which turned out to be another big day for Owens (eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown).
''He spends so much time on the game,'' Reid said. ''It's so important to him and you just have to credit him for that. It's the most important thing in his life, with the exception of his family.''
He's a great receiver, and the T.O. show is part of the package. Or so goes the thinking in Philly. There's nothing wrong with a little performance art after a touchdown. Heck, if Owens can help the Eagles get past the NFC title game and into the Super Bowl, they'll all dance together.
Chances are Owens will plan his moves in advance.
''My thing is I'm going to try to have fun with the game,'' he said. ''I work hard. Personally, I work hard in the offseason to better myself to get in the end zone to help this team.''
Brian Westbrook put up better overall numbers than Owens against the Bears. The running back ran for 115 yards (on 23 carries) and caught nine passes for another 63 yards.
But there were no end-zone antics from Westbrook. Despite leading the Eagles in rushing, he has yet to score his first touchdown this season.
''I'm definitely ready to get a touchdown, but as long as the team is winning, those individual things will come,'' Westbrook said.
___________________________________________________
Posted on Mon, Oct. 04, 2004
Eagles Notes | Owens' end-zone sit-ups upset Bears
By Bob Brookover and Shannon Ryan
Inquirer Staff Writers
CHICAGO - Told that he ticked off the Chicago Bears with his latest touchdown celebration, Terrell Owens shrugged.
"Oh, well," the Eagles wide receiver said yesterday after his team's 19-9 victory over the Bears at Soldier Field. "People are saying that stuff all the time. If you're going to be ticked off, then keep me out of the end zone. My thing is, I'm going to have fun and I don't worry about what they're thinking."
Four plays after the Eagles got a turnover in Bears territory off a muffed punt in the second quarter, Owens ran a slant pattern and quarterback Donovan McNabb hit him for an 11-yard touchdown pass that made the score 12-0.
For Owens, it was crunch time.
The receiver immediately lay down on his back and did six sit-ups, drawing boos from the hometown fans and laughter from the many Eagles fans who made the trip along with their favorite team.
"I was trying to get my workout in," Owens said with a grin. "I didn't get much done during the pregame."
Though Owens was questioned about irritating the Bears with his touchdown celebration, there were no quotes on that issue coming out of the Chicago locker room afterward. There was one report that the Bears were upset on the sideline during the game.
Asked whether the six sit-ups represented the six points for the score or his six touchdowns this season, Owens said, "You can look at it however you want. I'll take it either way."
Owens has scored a touchdown in each of the Eagles' four games, and his six touchdowns are the most he's ever had at this point in the season. He also has put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, the first time he has done that since 2002.
A tricky kicking day. David Akers has said Lincoln Financial Field is one of the toughest places in the NFL to kick because of the often tricky winds inside the Eagles' second-year stadium.
He may have found a tougher one yesterday.
"Today, it was," Akers said. "The wind was just brutal out there."
It made for an interesting afternoon for Akers, who was arguably the star of the game on a day when the Eagles' high-powered offense managed just one trip into the end zone.
He converted on his first four field-goal tries, from 51, 42, 42 and 40 yards to help the Eagles build a 19-3 lead late in the third quarter. With a chance to put the game away, however, he missed from 39 and 45 yards in the fourth quarter.
It was the seventh time in his career that he had four or more field goals, but only the third time in his career that he missed two field goals in a game and only the second time he missed consecutive attempts.
"My first four were right on target," Akers said. "The last one, I hit it exactly where I wanted it to go and it just didn't do what I thought it was going to do. That's no excuse, though."
Mother's cooking. The Eagles were treated Saturday night to a long list of delicacies by Donovan McNabb's famous mother, Wilma, as well as the mothers of linebacker Nate Wayne and wide receiver Greg Lewis, all of whom are from the Chicago area.
"We had macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, beans, ribs, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and the list went on," McNabb said. "The only thing missing was the Kool-Aid. My mom made the mac and cheese."
Owens said he had eaten earlier at the Cheesecake Factory, but was forced to eat a slice of lemon pie by Wilma McNabb.
"She was happy I had it, and it was good," Owens said.
The century mark. Linebacker Ike Reese played in his 100th career game yesterday.
"Yeah, I've been counting them," said Reese, who has never missed a game. "Of course, I'm the only one in here who has been."
Does he expect to get another 100?
"If I get another 100, I'll be very surprised," said Reese, who broke up two passes.
Injuries. Rookie cornerback Dexter Wynn (strained hamstring) and offensive guard Artis Hicks (bruised shin) were the only players listed by coach Andy Reid as having been injured during the game.
Owens, however, said that L.J. Smith was still not at 100 percent after suffering a badly bruised shoulder in Week 3 against Detroit. Smith, who dropped a pass in the end zone on the Eagles' first drive and was flagged for three penalties, was seen in the locker room being examined by trainer Rick Burkholder after the game.
Guard Jermane Mayberry played with a torn biceps tendon. "I think this definitely will be the toughest one," Mayberry said. "From what the doctors said, supposedly it's going to get better. Hopefully, that will be the case. I'm pretty sore and it hurt, but it wasn't to the point where I couldn't play. If this is as bad as it gets, I'll take it."
Defensive tackle Corey Simon also briefly left the game in the third quarter, but he did return.
Extra points. McNabb's regular-season streak of 162 passes without an interception ended when he was picked off by cornerback Nathan Vasher on the Eagles' first series of the second half... . Dorsey Levens carried the ball eight times for 26 yards. In the first three games, the Eagles' running backs other than Brian Westbrook had a combined eight carries... . Second-year receiver Billy McMullen was among the Eagles' inactive players for the third straight week. Also deactivated were defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis, cornerback Matt Ware, fullback Thomas Tapeh, defensive end Jamaal Green, and linemen Trey Darilek and Ian Allen.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9828655.htm?1c
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.