[Eagles] Owens: Other Players Will Step Up

[DJRamFan]

December 20, 2004
By DAVE SPADARO

He spoke for 5 minutes, 26 seconds. "This is T.O.," he said, announcing that the conference call was live and ready to begin.
Terrell Owens always knows how to make an entrance.

He isn't ready to say he's making an exit from the 2004 season, either. Owens sounded ready to do anything possible to make it back to the playing field should the Eagles be fortunate enough to win two playoff games and advance to the Super Bowl on Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, FL.

"I feel like I'm a pretty good healer. I'll see how my body responds to all of that," said Owens as reporters and television cameras crowded around a speaker phone in the media room at the NovaCare Complex on Monday.


WR Terrell Owens is taking the positive approach to his recovery
"Believe me, I'm already on top of that. I've already moved my hyperbaric chamber down to my living room. I'll be in that trying to get myself back on the field as soon as I can. I'm going to be smart about the situation."

Owens spent most of his Monday being poked, prodded and tested. His right anke, deemed sprained on Sunday, was targeted for surgery less than 24 hours later.

After an early-morning MRI at the NovaCare Complex, Owens was taken to Baltimore to visit ankle specialist Dr. Mark Myerson.

There he found out the injury was far more serious than a simple sprain.

"I went down there optimistic, kind of hoping for the best and I got the worst of news," said Owens. "But, things happen and you've just got to move on from it. I'm just sad from the standpoint of not being there with the guys in the playoffs. I know these next two games are sort of meaningless, but not really.

"My thing was, I was really looking forward to the playoffs, really trying to get this team to the Super Bowl. I think that without me they can still achieve that goal.

Owens took the time to speak with quarterback Donovan McNabb, wide receivers Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell, head coach Andy Reid and safety Brian Dawkins before talking to reporters.

"I wanted to let those guys know that I'm behind them. I'm going to be their biggest cheerleader. Coach Reid called me earlier today," said Owens. "It's just something that is unfortunate at the wrong time."

And yet ...

"It doesn't stop with me. Just like when guys went down early in the season. (Defensive end N.D.) Kalu went down weeks before trainign camp. Somebody has to step in ... everybody has to step up. There's no reason for everybody to get down, no reason for the City of Philadelphia to get down because I'm not there.

"Obviously, my presence will be missed, but we have the guys that can get it done. I truly mean that."