Eagles don't plan to put the brakes on Owens

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times wires
Published January 27, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles appear to be behind Terrell Owens' plan to ignore his doctor's orders and play in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Head trainer Rick Burkholder said Wednesday that Owens started jogging and plans to continue rehabilitating his ankle in an attempt to play against the Patriots on Feb. 6.

Dr. Mark Myerson, the surgeon who operated on the All-Pro receiver in December, said Tuesday he would not clear Owens to play.

"We understand Dr. Myerson's point of view. It's just that our risk-reward is different than his risk-reward," Burkholder said. "He has great risk in clearing Terrell to play and no reward. We think there's some risk and we think there's great reward, so right now we're going to progress with his rehab."

The final decision on Owens' status will come down to the player, coach Andy Reid and the team's medical staff.

"We're never going to put Terrell at risk," Reid said.

Owens was at the practice facility for rehabilitation work Wednesday, but the team said he wouldn't be made available to reporters.

Monday, before hearing Myerson's bad news, Owens said: "Spiritually I've been healed and I believe that I'll be out there on that field Sunday, regardless of what anybody says."

Myerson inserted two screws in Owens' right ankle and a plate on the outside of the ankle three days after he was injured against Dallas on Dec. 19. By not clearing Owens to play, Myerson should be absolved of any blame if Owens goes against his wishes and winds up re-injuring the ankle.

Owens was told after surgery that he had only an outside chance of returning for the Super Bowl, 61/2 weeks away at the time. But he rehabbed vigorously, hoping to help Philadelphia win its first NFL championship since 1960.

But after a checkup Tuesday in Baltimore, Myerson said that though he's pleased with Owens' recuperation, the operation requires a recovery period of eight to 10 weeks. Myerson said any attempt to accelerate the rehabilitation poses the same injury risk.

Burkholder said Owens worked out on a treadmill in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

"We will continue to see whether he can jog and see how he does day in and day out, see if he can change direction," he said.

BRADY SUIT: General Motors Corp. is attempting to settle a lawsuit filed by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who claims the automobile giant used his likeness in a print advertisement after his contract with the company expired.

Brady filed the $2-million lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

CHARITY CAMPAIGN: Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush will attend the Super Bowl and make another plea for tsunami victims, the NFL announced.

The two will appear live on the Fox pregame show "to continue to raise awareness for tsunami relief and to thank the NFL and fans for their ongoing support," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

FUTURE SITE: Bids for the 2009 Super Bowl are due April 1, and representatives from finalists Tampa, Miami, Atlanta and Houston will make presentations during the owners meeting May 26-27. Bay area officials received the request for a proposal during a short meeting in New York this month.

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:41:13]