T.O.: I still miss Philly
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T.O.: I still miss Philly
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
It's been nearly four years since Terrell Owens was a member of the Eagles, but the wide receiver says he still misses Philly.
"I do miss you guys," he said during a Friday interview with ESPN 950's Mike Missanelli. "I had a year and a half of my best career there in Philly. It was short-lived but I did enjoy the fans there. They were fanatics. I know when I came to that stadium and I drove up to that stadium, they got me psyched, they got me ready to play ball. I'm very fortunate to have played for that organization."
Owens abstained from taking any shots at Donovan McNabb during the interview, which also included model Joanna Krupa, who T.O. is partnered with for the upcoming ABC show Superstars.
Instead, he said the problem arose with the Eagles' management, who refused to discuss a new deal after the Super Bowl.
"Of course," Owens answered, when asked if he would have remained an Eagle if the team offered to rework his contract. "I work hard for what I do. I put in a lot of hard work into my body to keep my body the way it is during the season, during the offseason. I feel like I jeopardized my career given the injury that I sustained, people just don't know. Had I injured myself any further...I went against the doctors' orders."
"I wouldn't say they owed it to me," he continued. "But I thought out of respect and for what I brought to the team and what I did, it would have been considered."
Looking back on his time with the Eagles, T.O. first said he wouldn't change a thing in terms of how things played out. But when pressed by Missanelli, he quickly changed his tune.
"Looking back on it, there is a few things that I would have done differently, maybe interviews or what not," he said. "But the things that came from those interviews, trust me, and I have said it time and time again, people overreacted to what was being said, what was being reported. Again, not to harp on football too much, and go back to that and relive that, if people were to read the transcript of what happened and what I said, it would be clear to them."
Owens added that he's been successful everywhere he's played. Missanelli pointed out that critics would say he hasn't been successful in terms of his teams winning.
"My stats speak for itself," Owens said. "And teams' records prior to me getting there and after I've gotten there speaks for itself as well, so I think they're basically speaking off opinion and that's fine. Sometimes they're speaking out of anger. Just as well as a quarterback can make me better, I can make a quarterback better. And if you want to check the stats with that too, maybe they'll be able to reevaluate their opinion."
Did he make McNabb better?
"We both made each other better," Owens said.
And finally, Missanelli asked T.O. if he considered coming back to Philly after the Cowboys released him.
"Honestly when everything happened, it happened so fast," he said. "I didn't really have enough time to ponder that situation. It was a matter of 24 to 48 hours before things got to where I am now. We obviously talked about team possibilities, options, what have you. I think things ended so badly with myself and management, I never even thought they would even consider it, even though since then Donovan and I, we've talked, we've hung out and things are very amicable with us right now."
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Terrel who? good luck in buffalo going 5-11 this year
If you ever in your life suited up in football gear; you miss TO, to much Pride by Management. We would have won at least 2 rings by now. D Mac just got a raise. Someone tell me why, yet the couldn't rework TO's but the reworked B West, Mcnabb twice. Wow— TDW 21- Let's keep in simple; why are we still talking about it! Thank you! The answer is TO is a ball player.— TDW 21
- T.O. just realized he signed with Buffalo for the upcoming season.— pitzdidg
- If the contract T.O. signed to get here it should have been good enough to honor.Drew Rosenhouse is as much to blame as To,he needed to sign a new deal to get his cut.Of course he knows now the mistake he made,him and Mcnabb could have been great together,like Montana & Rice.The Eagles would have taken care of him,nobody is going to force theme to do anything.The harder you push the harder it will be.The guy might be a nut but he stays out of legal trouble.— boltfan
crazy idiot. he coulda had it ALL in Philly! now where is he? buffalo.— tfcino1- I guess it must have one of the better days for the bipolar team wrecker!!!!— xrajux
- yes wolfty it was all donnys fault lurie wudnt open his wallet even if he did..........well look at the cowboys. he is a cancer, pure and simple.. u get 1 great yr out of him, and then the bs starts.......— iloveprimerib!
- Thanks T.O for the gallant effort during the super bowl game, but life goes on . Have a great year in Buffalo, if you can keep your mouth shut.— Donnie
If only Hugh Douglas would have broken his jaw in that fight, then T.O. couldn't speak and just play football, then things would have worked out. It's all Douglas' fault! Have fun in football hell T.O. I hope you get chronic diarea for the rest of your life!— Justicek
Comment removed.- I hate to say this but the bottom line is TO made this team and Mcnabb better. It was the Eagles only real chance to win the Superbowl.— Jerseymagic
- Move on....nothing to see here folks.....keep 'er movin'.......— STIII
- if he just wasn't a self centered a-hole. besides too many screws and broken bones. this guy is on the decline, and he wants out of Buff before his sunset come to past there...— starman
Very mixed on here , TO made Donovan better , on the field he made the Eagles offence much better , off the field he was a cancer that ruined the team , great wideout , lousy human being .— PAEnglish
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