By Stephen Nover
Sat, Nov 19, 2005


I have to admit it. After losing a big bet on the Eagles Monday night, I’m a little more sympathetic to Terrell Owens.

I maintain great respect for Donovan McNabb, but what was he thinking making a pass like that at the end the game when the Eagles were churning out yards on the ground and probably could have run out the clock.

I don’t ever want to hear an Eagles fan criticize Brett Favre again.

Andy Reid got in bed with the devil – Owens – last year knowing full well his history as a selfish, me-first prima donna. Owens helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl. But the bill came due this year.

Now the Eagles are in disarray in large part because of Owens. Some players are clamoring for Owens’ return. Management has to get involved with the union and various hearings because of Owens, and who knows how McNabb is going to be physically and mentally.

Could you imagine if Owens was alongside Al Michaels and John Madden in the Monday Night Football booth during the end of that Cowboys-Eagles matchup?

Here’s what Owens might have said: “Damn, didn’t I tell you Donovan is no Brett Favre. If I was in there instead of Reggie Brown, I would have turned that into a 70-yard touchdown just like I did against Champ Bailey.”

Now there is a rumor Owens might end up as a guest on “Desperate Housewives” thanks to his Nicollette Sheridan connection. You expect to watch Owens on Sunday, just not in the evening.

It hardly seemed possible at the start of the year, but the Eagles are going to be the fifth straight Super Bowl loser to miss the playoffs the following season.

Owens is not bright and has a big mouth, but more blame for Philly’s demise this season rests on Reid rather than Owens. Obviously, Reid thought he could keep Owens’ ego and divisive ways under control. That didn’t happen.

Now it’s too late.

On other subjects, I recently wrote that Favre should draw MVP consideration even though the Packers have won only two games. I didn’t say Favre was the first-half MVP. Shaun Alexander deserves that honor.

Alexander is the NFL’s leading rusher. He’s already scored 17 rushing touchdowns. By contrast the Bills, Vikings, Cardinals, Browns, Ravens, Texans and 49ers have combined for 18 touchdowns on the ground.

The Ravens and Cardinals have combined to score a total of 17 touchdowns, the same number as Alexander. Those teams are coached by Brian Billick and Dennis Green, respectively. Green was the head coach of the Vikings when they scored a record 556 points in 1998 and Billick served as his offensive coordinator.

Ever hear of Ellis Hobbs and Michael Stone? They’re starters in New England’s secondary. Now you know why the Patriots have yet to win two games in a row going into Sunday’s home game against the Saints.

Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, but when it comes to fantasy football, Belichick is the worst. Week after week fantasy football owners are left guessing who Belichick is going to play at running back.

It’s to the point this week where you’re better off just not gambling on a Patriots runner because you’ve been burned so often playing the wrong back. This week it could be Corey Dillon, Patrick Pass, Mike Cloud, Heath Evans or some other reject who just fell off the turnip truck.

The NFL should insist on more accountability from Belichick on his injury reports and not put up with his list of 20 names each week all listed as questionable, when some are healthy and others have no shot of playing.

Wise guys and bookmakers are having a tough NFL season. Recreational bettors and some parlay players aren’t. Want to know why? Favorites are hitting at close to a 58 percent pace. This is even more impressive considering the house often shades a favorite upward in anticipation of more money coming on that side.

So maybe parity is overrated and in reality, there’s a big gap between the haves and have-nots. For instance, the Colts, Broncos, Steelers and Panthers together are 24-9-1 (72 percent) against the spread.

But the Cardinals, Texans, Dolphins, Jets, 49ers and Titans are a combined 19-35 (35 percent) against the number.
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