All eyes were on Terrell Owens on the first day of the Eagles' mini-camp. AP

PHILADELPHIA -- It was early in the first practice of his first mini-camp as a Philadelphia Eagle, and Terrell Owens was already showing off his form. Apparently a little too much form, in the opinion of Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

It didn't take long for Owens on Friday morning to discover the Eagles way of doing things doesn't include practicing in black, body-hugging Lycra shorts, with no team-issued baggy shorts to provide a little coverage.

Who knew Owens' first statement as Philadelphia's new go-to receiver would be one of fashion?

"I got a shocker going out on the field,'' Owens said at mid-day, debuting before a huge media throng of more than 50 reporters at the Eagles' NovaCare team complex. "Usually I wear my tights. But the equipment guy, [John] Hatfield, asked me if I had some shorts, and I was like 'Yeah.' And he was, 'Like, well you might need to throw them on.' I'm like, 'Why? I got my tights on.'

"But it's a thing they say that Coach Reid has around here, and that's something I've got to get used to. I'm not used to wearing tights and putting shorts on top of them. I kind of felt like he was going to let me go through the practice and throughout the season just with my tights. But a couple coaches came up to me and told me I need to put my shorts on. So, things are different around here.''

Different indeed. The No. 81 was familiar. But tights are out. And so is playing fast and loose with the rules, an Owens specialty in San Francisco. For the record, Owens wore shorts over his tights in the afternoon practice, quickly falling in line with his Eagles teammates, who are famous for all dancing to the team-oriented tune that the low-key Reid plays.

In reality, Owens probably owes his new head coach a word of thanks anyway.

Memo to T.O.: Tights, and tights alone, might not have been a great idea in Philly to begin with. It's a shot-and-beer kind of town, where a certain blue-collar mentality has long ruled. Tights are fine if you're in the Tour de France. But Eagles fans aren't really known as big bicycling enthusiasts, if you know what we mean.

After the wild and crazy weeks-long saga that surrounded Owens' trade from the 49ers to the Eagles -- which included that mind-bending detour through Baltimore -- could there have been any other way for the Owens era to commence in Philadelphia? Of all the potentials questions that we had about how Owens would fit in the City of Brotherly Love, the fit of his practice shorts wasn't anywhere on our list.

We were more concerned with Owens' effect on the Eagles' always strong sense of locker room chemistry, or how he and franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb would click. And most importantly, if he's the offensive difference-maker who will finally lift Philadelphia to a Super Bowl level after the frustration of three consecutive NFC title game losses?

To his credit, Owens got around to answering all of those questions on Friday, usually in his own colorful, what-me-worry style.

On the well-chronicled team-chemistry issues that plagued the second half of his eight-year tenure in San Francisco, Owens said:

"As far as chemistry in the locker room, I'm no different than when I was in San Francisco.'' (Uh-oh, Eagles fans. Be afraid. Be very afraid).

"I'm always pretty much to myself. I talk to people. If I don't talk to you, that doesn't mean I'm not a team guy. That's just my personality. But at this point, I don't have any gripes or any reservations about anybody.''

Think about that one for a minute. At this point, all's well for Owens in Philadelphia. Nothing but smooth sailing. Which is the sort of caveat you like to hear after he puts in exactly one practice session of one mini-camp.

Asked about his early attempts to establish a rapport with McNabb, the quarterback who inspired his Eagles-lust this offseason, Owens coyly used the question to fire one more round of salvos at ex-49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia, his bullet-ridden arch-nemesis of last season:

"I got a taste [of working with McNabb] when the ball kind of got in on me a little faster than I'm used to,'' Owens said. "I think it's a situation where we'll have to work together. Everybody knows Donovan has a hose of an arm. I know he can get it out there.

"It's something I haven't really been accustomed to, as far as being open, beating guys and getting that chemistry where if I'm approaching a [defensive back], him knowing that I'm going to beat the guy and really just him throwing it out there and letting me go get it. Versus the last couple years with Garcia, he pretty much waited until he saw me behind the guy and then threw it. The chemistry wasn't there because he didn't have a strong enough arm.

"Now I know the quarterback that I have. I know the ability that he has. There's really no limitations for this offense with him back there. With me knowing that I can really unleash my game, there's not a situation where I have to second-guess myself.''

Only when Owens was queried on whether he feels pressure to get Philadelphia over the hump in the playoffs did he come close to sounding just the right tone, at least by Eagles standards. With him and free-agent defensive end Jevon Kearse representing the centerpiece additions of Philly's now-or-never offseason buildup, Owens is eager to do his part in the difference-making category.

"That's definitely part of the reason I'm here, and part of the reason Kearse is here,'' he said. "I'm just one of the marquee bigger pieces of the puzzle. Right now I don't really feel any pressure. They've gotten to the championship game without me, so I know my job is to really try and get them over the hump.

"It's definitely refreshing. I have a new start. I feel like I'll be able to accomplish some things personally and as a team. We have all the people to make some things happen. I'm looking forward to bigger and better things here.''

Astute readers might have noticed that Owens mentioned his personal goals before he mentioned the Eagles' team goals. It's exactly that mindset that prevailed in San Francisco, and whether or not he gets with Reid's program should make for fascinating bird watching in Philly this season. Reminded that Reid is known for spreading the ball around in his offense, with no receiver ever coming close to the 100-catch mark, Owens quickly interjected:

"Not yet, but I think that's part of the reason I'm here. They know I'm a playmaker and I pride myself in the things I've accomplished and learned in San Francisco. I know what I can do. I know what I did in San Francisco. I'm coming into a situation where I feel like I have the best quarterback in the league, so obviously I can do some damage out there.''

As long as the damage that Owens does remains on the field, and doubles as big-play production, the Eagles will be better off for landing him in what was the league's most high-profile, and controversial offseason acquisition. If not, Philly's rather risky chemistry experiment could blow up.

"I think [the team chemistry issue will] take care of itself,'' McNabb said Friday. "I don't think it something where myself or any other leaders on the team should try to put too much pressure on his shoulders. I think what we have to do is set good examples. Once he begins to realize that we're all in this together, things will begin to pan out.''

The process of setting a good example for Owens started early on Friday. In Philadelphia, that includes wearing shorts over your tights in practice. No exceptions.

But hey, if he can't live with that, there's always Baltimore.

Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.