NFL

Eagles' freefall complete

By JOANNE KORTH
Published November 27, 2005

Shhhhh, hear that?

It's silence.

And it's coming from Terrell Owens.

After an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Eagles last week, upholding the team's right to suspend and deactivate Owens for the remainder of the season, the bombastic receiver has no other recourse. There is nowhere for Owens to appeal.

His season is kaput.

Sadly, so are the Eagles.

Lost in the furor over Owens' escapades is the fact the once-proud NFC champions have fallen to ruin. Losers of four straight. Last in the NFC East at 4-6. Destined to become the fifth straight Super Bowl loser to miss the playoffs the next season.

Philly's run is done.

Owens will be the convenient scapegoat, but signs the Eagles no longer were the dominant team that hosted three straight NFC Championship Games were there early. Running back Brian Westbrook's training camp holdout. Quarterback Donovan McNabb's sports hernia. The punchless running game. The porous defense.

Apparently, if a tree falls beside Owens, no one hears it.

At first, everyone valiantly predicted coach Andy Reid's rock-steady Eagles would overcome the turmoil. No one wanted to believe Owens' selfish antics could rip apart such a model franchise. But Owens does not get complete credit for the demise.

There is no way of knowing where the Eagles might be if Owens had kept his mouth shut, if Reid and his coaching staff hadn't wasted valuable time dealing with matters of discipline rather than game plans. But how many NFL teams make the playoffs without a running game? Without a second wide receiver? Without a reliable defense?

Injuries, too, played a role. In the past week, Philadelphia put three players on injured reserve who last season played in the Pro Bowl: McNabb, cornerback Lito Sheppard (ankle) and offensive tackle Tra Thomas (back). Unlike the injury-riddled Patriots, the Eagles do not play in the league's weakest division.

Playing at home today, the Eagles are favored by less than a touchdown against the 2-8 Packers. And, yes, the Eagles would be much better off with Brett Favre at quarterback than Mike McMahon.

The only victory the Eagles have celebrated in the past month is a moral one. Finally, they rid themselves of Owens. Now, without the swirl of controversy Owens continually stirred, they can concentrate on football and the final six games of the season.

No one will ask about T.O. anymore.

But the silence will be just as uncomfortable.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]