NFL

Happy return, few words from Owens

By wire services
Published August 18, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - Terrell Owens ran routes, caught passes and joked with his Eagles teammates - quite a different player from the one booted out of training camp a week ago.

This Terrell Owens smiled, laughed and even tutored some of the younger receivers on the sidelines Wednesday.

"He was fine today. He did a great job," said coach Andy Reid, who told the All-Pro wideout to leave and not return for a week.

The new Owens, however, couldn't bring himself to talk to the player he needs to be in synch with the most: Donovan McNabb.

For the first time, McNabb - who has maintained his sense of humor throughout the ordeal - said he anticipated talking to Owens at some point.

"I think it's going to happen. I look forward to it happening," McNabb said. "But, again, when we get to that situation, then that's when we will handle it."

The feud between quarterback and receiver was set aside while they were on the field. The two stood next to each other in the huddle at times, across from each other at others, and appeared to communicate between plays. But they also stood side by side while stretching at the end of practice - and didn't say a word.

About two dozen fans, some brandishing anti-Owens signs, gathered outside the gate to the team's South Philadelphia training complex in the morning. A plane circled overhead during practice sporting a banner, sponsored by a local radio station, that read: "T.O. Must Go."

"I'm hoping and praying that nothing else breaks out," veteran safety Brian Dawkins said. "I'm going to leave it at that."

Owens ignored questions from reporters as he sat at his locker after the first of the day's two practices, wearing headphones and putting on the same camouflage shirt and cap that he'd sported when he reported to training camp in Bethlehem, Pa., 16 days before. Owens remains embroiled in a bitter contract dispute with the Eagles, who have refused to renegotiate his seven-year, $48.97-million deal after one season.

Reid said he met with Owens for a few minutes, and declined to reveal specifics of the conversation.

"It was a good meeting," said Reid, who added: "He was out there practicing and practiced well. He did a great job out there. ... He was fine today. I would expect him to be like that."

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who remained in touch with Owens throughout the dispute, said he expects nothing to change in Owens' behavior, with the possible exception of a conversation with McNabb at some point.

"He's going to come in and do the same thing he's been doing - work hard and catch touchdowns ... (but) T.O. is going to be T.O.," Trotter said. "If you expect him to talk to you, you're going to be waiting for a long time."

McNabb continued to say he finds humor in the soap opera. He predicted that Owens will be with the team all season, telling reporters: "I think by midseason, you guys will be talking about something positive."

Reid sent Owens home from camp at Lehigh University after the two argued. Reid was upset that Owens, among other things, refused to participate in two autograph sessions for fans and wasn't talking to the club's assistant coaches.

TOP OF THE CLASS: Fitch Ratings kept the NFL's credit rating at A-plus after owners voted to increase team debt limits 20 percent to $150-million. TV contracts with ABC and ESPN, CBS, NBC and Fox, plus an increase in team values, will support any added debt, Fitch said.

CHIEFS: Kicker Lawrence Tynes, the league's first Scottish-born player, was charged in River Falls, Wis., with breaking a bouncer's nose in a bar fight, a felony with a maximum penalty of 31/2 years in prison. He was released on a $15,000 signature bond.

Tynes won the kicking job from veteran Morten Andersen last season but has struggled in training camp this year.

Two other players, defensive tackle Junior Siavii and safety Greg Wesley, were arrested Sunday after allegedly getting into a drunken confrontation with police in a Minneapolis hotel.

DOLPHINS: First-round draft pick, Ronnie Brown probably will start the season opener Sept. 11 against Denver with Ricky Williams sitting out the first four games for violating the league's drug policy.

He then will compete for playing time with Williams, the 2002 NFL rushing champion who is coming back from a one-year retirement.

Brown shared playing time at Auburn with the Bucs' Cadillac Williams.

PANTHERS: Pro Bowl linebacker Dan Morgan agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep him a Panther through 2010.

TITANS: Top pick Adam "Pacman" Jones came to terms on a five-year deal with $13.5-million guaranteed, ending the team's longest contract holdout since it relocated to Tennessee. The cornerback had missed the first 20 days of camp.

ARENA LEAGUE: Ties will be eliminated under rules changes the board of directors approved during a meeting at Lake Lanier Islands, Ga., arenafootball.com reported. Also, the ball will be placed at the 20-yard line after kickoffs over the net, and free substitution will be allowed on all free kicks.

Times staff writer Frank Pastor contributed to this report.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:06:07]