Using Owens' Ankle to Their Benefit

Andy Reid and the Eagles are probably smart enough to have figured this out, even if a lot of media people haven't. Reid knows exactly how he is going to handle T.O.'s situation. He has to. It's his job to put the game plan in and to prepare for any possibilities.

The Eagles will have a plan for using Owens when he's in, and when he's out. They'll use him as a decoy if he can't make the hard cuts, and they'll throw somewhat 'safer' passes to him if he's healthy.

I have no doubt that Owens will play, but I think they will limit him. Don't look for Owens to run a lot of routes that require hard cuts or multiple cuts. I think they'll use him deep and on mid-length routes, and maybe some quick outs. Don't look for him in heavy traffic.

The Eagles will keep everyone guessing right up until game time, then he'll be introduced and play the first play. After that, they will limit him somewhat. Until then we get to listen to the incessant speculations of the media. And they will all sound the same. This will quickly become, if it hasn't already, the most overdone story of the Super Bowl.