How do you like Terrell Owens now? For the last two weeks, everyone had to be a critic. For two weeks, a majority of Super Bowl talk was "to be or not to be ... will he play in the Super Bowl?" That was the question.
Nine passes caught, for 122 yards, just six and a half weeks after ankle surgery. That is the answer.
Ever since, Dr. Mark Myerson, who performed the surgery on Owens, announced he would not clear him to play in Sunday's game, the entire Will he play? Won't he play?" question soon turned into a media blitz. Upon hearing a lot of what was said in two weeks, I have come to the conclusion that T.O.'s situation was defined by one simple saying: damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
The ankle was projected to heal after nine weeks, approximately. I'm not a medical expert, but I will say that when it comes to recovery after surgery, there certainly is a wide gab between six and a half weeks and nine weeks.
From the start, T.O. made it clear that he wanted to play and was willing to defy doctor's orders. The decision would be left up to head coach Andy Reid. The great debate, is Owens brave, or a selfish and reckless individual who may hurt his team by playing?
How would the public react if T.O. from the start, said he did not want to risk further injury to his ankle and therefore, opted to sit-out the Super Bowl? He would be heavily criticized!
So how come at this moment, when T.O. does want to play, he is being criticized as being selfish? The decision was left up to the head coach. Do you think Andy Reid would honestly put T.O. in if he believed he would not be effective at all?
"A lot of people in the world didn't believe I could play, but my faith alone," said Owens. "The power of prayer and the power of faith carried me all the way.''
The Eagles lost the Super Bowl. T.O. played a great game. The Eagles did not lose because of T.O. In fact, if quarterback Donovan McNabb had thrown the ball more to T.O., perhaps the game would have a different outcome.
Yes, that is how great T.O. was on Sunday.
Like him or not, one has to admire what T.O. did on Sunday night. Through the end zone celebrations and Desperate Housewives skits, is a man who by faith, believed he would contribute to his team by playing.
Owens is a playmaker, and continues to prove again and again, he wants to win. Despite his bitterness exit from the 49ers, I believe T.O. is a team guy. His presence in Philly makes the team better.
At this point, I would rather have Owens on my team over Randy Moss. T.O. wants back in the Super Bowl. He wants a damn ring. So does the rest of his team. While the Eagles are probably still going to be the class of the NFC, they have to do all the work again. The season doesn't start with them at the Super Bowl.
Five months from now, training camp will begin. And so will another 17-week season. Then come the playoffs. Then comes the NFC championship game. I'll be waiting there for you, T.O.
E-mail feedback to [email protected]. Visit Martin's personal website, Martin's Access, at http://www.tpww.net/martin.
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