TO badly injured; All of Philadelphia prepares for seppuku.

[WilliamPitt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1950067

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles star receiver Terrell Owens will miss the rest of the regular season and possibly the playoffs and Super Bowl because of a sprained right ankle, a devastating blow to the best team in the NFC.

Owens will have surgery Wednesday and stands only an outside shot at being able to play in the NFL's championship game on Feb. 6 -- if Philadelphia makes it that far -- head trainer Rick Burkholder said.

"I was looking forward to the playoffs, really trying to get this team to the Super Bowl," Owens said in a conference call. "I think without me, still, they achieve that goal."

Owens, whose touchdown celebrations and big plays made him an instant fan favorite, called some of his teammates with the news and told them he was sticking around for the playoff run.

"I'm behind them. I'm going to be their biggest cheerleader," Owens said.

Owens, who has 77 catches for 1,120 yards and a team-record 14 touchdowns, also has a fracture a few inches below his knee. But Burkholder still didn't rule out the chance that Owens would be able to run in five weeks -- the weekend of the NFC title game.

"There's a lot of hurdles that have to be taken on before he can ever get to that point," Burkholder said.

"The scenario I painted is the best-case scenario, but it is realistic," he said.

(snip)

Without Owens, the Eagles will be left with basically the same lackluster receiving corps that has disappeared when needed in the title games. Freddie Mitchell or Greg Lewis could join Pinkston as the other starting wideout. Those three have a combined 60 catches for 1,073 yards.

Reid said the Eagles will activate wide receiver Billy McMullen.

"Freddie's going to get his chances to make plays," Owens said. "There shouldn't be any more excuses as to why he's not getting the ball. Now he gets his chance."

In two playoff games last year, the Eagles had one touchdown catch from a wide receiver.

None of the wide receivers caught a pass in the second half of the Eagles' 12-7 win over the Cowboys.

...more...

[lancdem]

1. What's seppuku?

BTW, I'm an Eagles fan. I think they still have a great chance of getting to the Super Bowl, but if they do get there, I'm not optimistic, to put it mildly.

The Eagles also were missing Brian Westbrook in last year's NFC chamionship game. He's healthy now.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Japanese ritual suicide

Disembowlment with a short blade.

[lancdem]

5. I'll pass, thank you

I love my Eagles, but not that much. :)

[Demit]

2. So now the Iggles will have an excuse when they choke this year?

--longtime Fluffyan

[lancdem]

4. If they lose, it won't be because they choked

[trotsky]

7. Sure it will.

Just like they choked last year, and the year before that!

[LateToTheParty]

6. "TO badly injured..."

OK, OK, I'll donate some money...I don't want to see TO expire.
Oh wait. I thought you meant TruthOut, Will. You had me going there...

[MrSlayer]

8. Yeah it sucks but we're still going to the Bowl.

Out of T.O., D-Mac, or Westy, T.O. is the one you can most afford to lose. Without a doubt it's a huge loss but it doesn't end our chances. We've gotten there 3 times without T.O. and Westbrook and there is no reason we shouldn't again. The offense will be fine until the big game where T.O. will probably re-emerge. No one talks about the defense that has allowed the least amount of points in the league. That happens to be the Eagles. Thinking the Birds are done by the loss of one player is absurd. See you in February.

[WilliamPitt]

9. "the least amount of points in the league"

That league would be the NFC, right?

"The least amount of points in the league" is a soft number, given the league.

Just sayin'.

[MrSlayer]

10. As you like.

The fact is the Eagles have given up less points than any team in the NFL. Yards mean shit to me and you as well I'm sure. The only thing that matters more is whether you win or lose. This defense is tough.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Do not get me wrong

Philly terrifies me. The TO thing is definitely a blow, but they were good before he showed up. Only idiots like Rush underestimate McNabb.

[Patiod]

12. What a year

:cry: