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CLEVELAND (Ticker) --
Terrell Owens
never has a problem making his feelings known, especially when it comes to
Jeff Garcia
.
The brash Owens - one of the NFL's best wide receivers - had Garcia as his quarterback for the previous five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
But Owens will have
Donovan McNabb
throwing to him Sunday when the unbeaten
Philadelphia Eagles
meet Garcia and the
Cleveland Browns
.
After last season, the outspoken Owens made it known that Garcia was one of the main reasons why he no longer wanted to be part of the 49ers.
"I'm willing to work out a contract if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver," Owens said. "A receiver is only as good as his quarterback."
"I feel that it's unfortunate because we've experienced so many great things on the field together, whether it be a playoff win, whether it be going to Pro Bowls together," Garcia said. "We had a connection on the field that so many other quarterbacks and receivers in the league have never even been able to establish. To really not focus on the positive things is really a sad situation."
Not only has Owens questioned Garcia's ability on the field, but he has questioned his manhood off it, implying in an interview to Playboy that his former quarterback is gay.
"Like my boy tells me: If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat," Owens said.
In March, Owens, who had lobbied to play with McNabb, got his wish and ridded himself of Garcia when he was dealt to Philadelphia in a highly-publicized three-team trade with San Francisco and Baltimore.
One of the reasons why Owens was brought to Philadelphia was to be the missing piece for a team that has lost three straight NFC championship games.
So far, the returns have all been positive. Owens already has six touchdown receptions - one more than the Eagles had from their wide receivers all of last season - and three straight 100-yard games. And he sounds more than happy to have McNabb rather than Garcia throwing to him.
"I don't even have to say anything. If you look at my stats, if you look at what I have done thus far with our No. 5 (McNabb), I don't have to say a word," McNabb said.
Browns tight end
Aaron Shea
defended his quarterback.
"You hear it because he's got a big mouth. He's one of those guys," Shea said. "It's unfortunate some of the stuff that he said that isn't true."
Owens had four catches for 123 yards - all in the first half - as the Eagles continued to roll last week with a 30-8 rout of the
Carolina Panthers
.
The Eagles are just the seventh team in the last 70 years to win their first five games by double digits. They have won by an average of 14.8 points in their first 5-0 start since winning their first six contests in 1981.
A week before Owens was granted his wish, Garcia left the 49ers as a free agent and signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Browns.
Already called "skittish" by coach Butch Davis, Garcia had his best game of the season in last week's 34-17 victory over Cincinnati. He tied an NFL record with a 99-yard touchdown pass to Andre' Davis and went 16-of-23 for 310 yards, four TDs and two interceptions.
Cleveland is looking to go 4-0 at home for the first time since 1963.
The Browns are facing their fourth NFC East opponent this season. They have losses at the
New York Giants
and Dallas and a victory here against Washington.
Cleveland also made a trade with an NFC East team, acquiring
Antonio Bryant
from Dallas for
Quincy Morgan
in a swap of receivers.
Matchup to watch: Owens against left cornerback
Daylon McCutcheon
.
Series: Philadelphia leads, 31-13-1.
Next week: Philadelphia hosts Baltimore on October 31 Cleveland has its bye
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