Quote:Owens-Douglas fistfight contributed to suspension
ESPN.com news services


It might not have been just Terrell Owens' fighting words that led to his suspension from the Eagles.

It seems a fistfight also contributed to his being banished indefinitely.

TO SPEAKS OUT

Excerpts from Graham Bensinger's exclusive interview with Terrell Owens for ESPN.com:
Owens talks about ...
• How Donovan McNabb's struggles have affected the Eagles
• Playing hurt in the Super Bowl and a secret waiver
• Interview transcript
Owens got into a fight on Wednesday with former Eagles defensive end and current team ambassador Hugh Douglas, the Trenton Times reported and ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirmed Sunday.

A team source told Mortensen that Douglas, whose post with the Eagles he re-titled "bad-ass-ador," entered the team's training room Wednesday and announced "I know there are people in here faking injuries." The comment apparently led to the scrum between Owens and Douglas.

One source told the Times the fight "was like WWE Smackdown." Another source told the paper both Douglas and Owens threw at least two punches before Owens challenged quarterback Donovan McNabb and then everyone else in the room, saying "You want some? Anyone else want some?"

The scrap is just another incident in a week of unrest that led to Owens being suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team on Saturday.

Early in the week, Owens apprised Philadelphia officials that he had sprained his ankle in last Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, and might require some time off. One day later, he was back at practice and seemingly prepared to play against the Redskins.

On Thursday, Owens blasted McNabb and the organization in an ESPN.com interview which spurred a Friday meeting with Eagles coach Andy Reid.

On Friday, Mortensen reports, Reid gave Owens three stipulations: Apologize to the organization, the team and to McNabb.

McNabb told ESPN's Suzy Kolber he called a team meeting Friday, which Owens attended, to discuss the team's unrest and pronounced to all, looking at T.O. directly, "You're either with me or against me."

Owens' apologies in private to the club and in public on Friday apparently did not meet Reid's standards and T.O. was suspended on Saturday.

According to the paper, Owens and Douglas have been at odds since training camp where they almost got into an altercation in an elevator at Lehigh University. Douglas was among the few players to publicly say Owens should honor his current contract when T.O. demanded a new one this past offseason.

The Eagles declined to comment about the bout.

In seven games this season, Owens has 47 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns.

This is the second time Owens has been suspended during his controversial 10-year career. While a 49er in 2000, he was suspended one game by San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci following his touchdown celebrations on the Cowboys' star logo at the center of Texas Stadium.