Was T.O. just a highly-paid decoy?
Whether you like the guy or not, the Cowboys definitely looked like they were using Terrell Owens as a $10-million decoy in the first half of Sunday's game against the Eagles. I mean, no catches and Drew Bledsoe only threw once in his direction?
This was T.O.'s return to Philadelphia, so don't you want to focus on him and get him off to a good start? Nobody wanted this game more than Owens, who was embarrassed totally by the defeat to his former team.
I have nothing against Terry Glenn and Jason Witten, but Owens is great after the catch. He's physical and he was pumped up for this game. He ended up with only three receptions for 45 yards. He was the intended receiver on one Bledsoe interception in which he slowed down and then accelerated free and Bledsoe underthrew him.
Of course, T.O. came to the sidelines and gave his position coach Todd Haley an earful. You could read his lips when he said: "Are you kidding me?" There is no doubt that when Bledsoe sees T.O.'s antics, he won't be happy. Tony Romo, anyone?
Let's give a huge tip of the hat to Donovan McNabb. I wasn't sure he knew who Hank Baskett was, but the Eagles quarterback moved to avoid pressure and found the undrafted rookie receiver for an 87-yard touchdown to win the game of the year, before Lito Sheppard's interception return iced the game in the final minute.
McNabb has been brilliant this season for the Eagles, whose only loss can be blamed on head coach Andy Reid's conservative second-half play calling against the Giants. McNabb played without deep threat Donte Stallworth, and it didn't matter one bit. He passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns (plus one rushing TD) and may have had a better day against the rival Cowboys if he took some steam off some of his throws.
With a bunch of young receivers, McNabb still loves to drill it, and occasionally there are drops. I counted five on Sunday, one in the end zone. But how can you complain about McNabb, who definitely dusted off the T.O. curse and all the other baggage Owens attempted to drop on this quarterback, who is a definite leader in Philadelphia.
Anyone who saw the end of the Arizona-Kansas City game had to cringe when Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle grabbed and twisted the facemask of Chiefs running back Larry Johnson at the end of a 78-yard pass-run. Johnson must have one strong neck, because Rolle grabbed and spun Johnson's head around so hard that you had to fear he may have broken it.
Rolle needs to be hit hard by the league. This was a lot more than a $7,500 penalty. Rolle was in a desperate situation, trying to save a touchdown. But his reaction was to hurt Johnson, who left the game, luckily, with only a sprained neck. He walked off the field when most fans thought the cart was coming out.
I don't care if the injury wasn't severe. The action definitely was uncalled for and Rolle deserves the punishment.
The wheels are off the offensive cart in Miami, and head coach Nick Saban elected to bench Daunte Culpepper for his performance against the Patriots. Joey Harrington wasn't much better, but what did Dolphins' fans expect?
Harrington may be a nicer fellow in Miami, but he was despised in Detroit and who knows if he's anything more than simply an adequate backup? Saban put his reputation on the line by acquiring Culpepper when he could have signed Drew Brees. Saban can blame his doctors, but his guts was right — Brees was the choice.
Well, Brees is 4-1 with the Saints, a team whose personnel may not be as good as Miami's. Who should Dolphins' fans blame: Saban or Culpepper? I say the coach because most NFL personnel people knew the proverbial downside to Culpepper, who has struggled with indecision and has already been sacked 21 times this season.
We've been pretty easy on the officials thus far this season. But anyone watching the Washington-New York game on Sunday had to be scratching their heads on two critical penalties in a three-minute span.
First, Giants defensive tackle William Joseph was called for a very questionable 15-yard penalty for roughing Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell. The penalty kept a Washington drive alive unjustly.
But the officials were quick with a makeup call. On what might have been a touchdown to Santana Moss, who had beaten Giants cornerback Corey Webster, the officials tossed the offensive pass interference penalty flag. It ruined Washington's chances, but it sure looked ticky-tacky. However, offensive pass interference was a very popular penalty on Sunday.
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