Owens is well received -- but with a catch
Terrell Owens ran routes, caught passes and joked around with his Philadelphia Eagles teammates -- quite a different T.O. from the one booted out of training camp a week ago.
Upon returning to the Eagles after a week-long suspension, the controversial All-Pro wide receiver smiled, laughed and even tutored some of the younger receivers on the sidelines yesterday.
''He was fine today. He did a great job," said coach Andy Reid, who gave the All-Pro wideout the heave-ho a week ago for what amounted to insubordination.
The new Owens, however, still couldn't bring himself to talk to the player he needs to be in synch with the most: Donovan McNabb.
For the first time, McNabb -- who has maintained his sense of humor throughout the situation despite at one point angrily demanding that Owens ''keep my name out of your mouth" -- said he anticipated talking to Owens soon.
''I think it's going to happen. I look forward to it happening," McNabb said. ''But, again, when we get to that situation, then that's when we will handle it."
Reid met briefly with Owens before practice, a condition for the player's return.
Owens, who used the media to blast Reid, McNabb, and offensive coordinator Brad Childress in separate television interviews last week, jogged onto the field shortly before the morning session began at 8:45. He missed several practices with a groin injury before he was sent home last week, so Reid limited his reps to avoid aggravating the injury.
Owens had said he'll report and give his all, but won't be happy because the Eagles won't redo his contract. The team refuses to budge from its hardline stance: Owens can play for them under the seven-year, $48.97 million deal contract he signed last year, or he won't play at all.
Pollack, Jones sign
David Pollack, the Cincinnati Bengals' first-round pick, ended his 19-day holdout by signing a five-year contract. The 17th pick overall in April's draft, the 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound Pollack was a defensive end at Georgia. He became the first two-time winner of the Ted Hendricks Award given to the nation's top college defensive end. His 36 sacks set a Georgia record and rank fourth all-time in the SEC . . . The Titans reached a deal with their top draft pick Adam ''Pacman" Jones, ending their longest contract holdout since relocating to the state of Tennessee. Jones, a defensive back selected sixth overall out of West Virginia, missed the first 20 days of training camp. The Bears' Cedric Benson is lone remaining unsigned first-round pick.
Chiefs' Tynes charged
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Lawrence Tynes was charged with breaking a bouncer's nose in a bar fight, a felony with a maximum penalty of 3 1/2 years in prison. Tynes, the NFL's first Scottish-born player, turned himself in yesterday morning and made his first appearance in Pierce County Circuit Court on one felony count of substantial battery and one count of misdemeanor battery. He was released on a $15,000 signature bond. A police report said Tynes allegedly hit a bar patron in the face, then hit the bouncer in the nose, during a fight Sunday morning . . . Rams cornerback Jerametrius Butler will have knee surgery Monday and miss the season, coach Mike Martz said. Butler torn a right knee ligament on the first day of training camp July 28. Butler was one of nine Rams to start all 16 regular-season games, making 100 tackles . . . Carolina agreed to a five-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Dan Morgan that will keep him with the Panthers through 2010. He had a career-high 109 tackles along with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries to earn his first Pro Bowl trip last season . . . Kick returner J.J. Moses signed a two-year contract with the Bears. Moses was the leading kickoff and punt returner for the Houston Texans the past two seasons.
