Terrell Owens says Donovan McNabb was jealous of him during time with Eagles

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- While he was being interviewed by Philadelphia’s 94WIP Morning Show, former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens indicated that he thought quarterback Donovan McNabb was jealous of how the city embraced him while they were both with the team.

“My thing is, I had nothing but respect and love for Donovan [McNabb]. I think he felt kind of slighted at how honestly, at probably the way the team, well actually the city, just embraced me while I was there considering when he got drafted they [fans] didn’t want him there and things like that. And then when I came there and I played so well -- I wasn’t trying to take away from Donovan’s limelight or anything when I came there.”

Owens was on the show because he is appearing at the first annual Philly Sports Roast in Philadelphia.

“I had pretty much my own celebrity somewhat, rock star status prior to coming there and when I got there and I added what I had to the team, that was really music to the city so to speak,” Owens said.

“So I don’t know what it was that he didn’t like or what he thought I was trying to do, but like I said, my intentions were sincere as far me as me coming there, wanting to play there, get to the Super Bowl which we ultimately did, and I think he got, you know I guess, annoyed on how the fans on game day -- I would score. I could still hear those fans chanting my name, ‘TO, TO, TO, TO’…I think he kind of got upset and annoyed at the fact that he felt his skills were kind of being undermined as one of the reasons why they got to the Super Bowl.”

McNabb and Owens were both huge parts of an Eagles team that made it to the Super Bowl before being defeated by the New England Patriots at the end of the 2004 NFL season. Following the 24-21 loss, there were rumors that McNabb vomited in the huddle during pressure-packed moments in the game.

“A lot of the stuff that happened [during Super Bowl XXXIX], with him throwing up in the huddle, like dude, I didn’t even see any of that. I never even knew it until, it was probably like days after the game. I was just so focused on the task at hand, that I wasn’t really focused about that,” Owens said.

The outspoken receiver doesn’t know what to expect at the roast, especially after he left Philadelphia to join the rival Dallas Cowboys.

“I am subject to a lot of criticism. I am subject to what I put myself into to. And again, like I said, I’ve never been obviously the subject of a roast,” Owens said. “I’ve kind of watched what roasts are all about and again for me, it’s just like my career. You have to take the good with the bad. I feel like I’ve grown to a point where I can look back and laugh at myself now.”

[CBS Philadelphia] [Philly Sports Roast]