However, Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder shared some intriguing details yesterday. He might have shared more had a slightly bewildered Andy Reid, the Eagles' coach, not cut him off, saying, "Hold it. Rick gave you plenty to work with. Let's leave it at that."
Burkholder began by explaining the trip he made with Owens on Tuesday to see Dr. Mark Myerson, the Baltimore-based foot and ankle specialist who a little more than five weeks ago inserted two screws and a plate into Owens's ankle.
"[Myerson] said medically and liability-wise, he couldn't clear him," Burkholder relayed. "We expected it. There's no difference of opinion.
"It's just that [Myerson's] risk-reward is very different than ours. There is no reward for him and all risks. We think there are some risks, great reward."
Thus, Burkholder intimated that the Eagles do not need a doctor's opinion for Owens to play. Since Myerson opted to clear only himself -- of liability -- the decision now resides with Owens, Reid, and Burkholder.
Owens, who began jogging Tuesday, was scheduled to run in front of the coaches at yesterday's practice. Reid, however, was unavailable after practice, and Owens was entirely unavailable. He probably will not speak until Super Bowl media day Tuesday, if then.
Burkholder, meanwhile, said Owens must show the coaches he can run and cut. If he can do that, he must then show them he can practice. And if he practices, he must show he can play in a game.
The Super Bowl, Burkholder said, "isn't even in our vision yet. If he has a setback in his rehab, the whole idea of playing in the Super Bowl is over."
Burkholder admitted Owens had "moving X-rays" taken Tuesday while at Myerson's office and "had a little bit of soreness around where the plate for the screws is."
But Burkholder also said Myerson "admitted he thought Terrell was further along than he anticipated five weeks ago."
Myerson initially thought Owens would have a chance to play 5-7 weeks after surgery, Burkholder said. That works out to sometime between Jan. 25 and Feb. 8.
