CINCINNATI – Terrell Owens is taking a few more long-distance shots at Donovan McNabb.
The Bengals receiver said on his reality show late Tuesday night that he understands Washington's decision to pull McNabb in the closing minutes of a 37-25 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Owens feuded with McNabb when they were in Philadelphia together from 2004-05, a factor in his eventual release. On "The T.Ocho Show" on Tuesday night, Owens took another swipe at McNabb, saying there were "rumors" he couldn't get things done in the two-minute offense when they were together.
When in Philadelphia, Owens suggested that McNabb was tired in the fourth quarter of the Eagles' Super Bowl loss to New England that completed the 2004 season. McNabb responded harshly and the two didn't speak for a long time during training camp. Owens was kicked off the team midway through the 2005 season – in part because of his harsh comments about his quarterback – and was eventually released.
The subject of McNabb's benching was one of the topics on Owens' reality show with Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, who couldn't understand why the Redskins would bench McNabb in favor of backup Rex Grossman in the closing minutes.
"That's just wrong," Ochocinco said. "It really makes no sense. What message are you really trying to send?"
Owens then took a jab at McNabb.
"Well, I don't really want to start anything, but I did play in the Super Bowl and there were rumors where he couldn't get our two-minute offense going at the end of the game," Owens said. "I'm just saying."
When pressed on the matter by Ochocinco, Owens said, "I'm just saying."
Owens defended Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's decisions to change quarterbacks, saying the coach knows best.
"He's the head coach, so it has to make sense," said Owens, who has complained that the Bengals aren't paying attention to his suggestions for the offense. "Well, this is a situation where Mike Shanahan, he sees these two quarterbacks on an everyday basis. … So he's had a chance to observe."
Ochocinco ended the segment by saying, "If anyone else out there feels that Rex Grossman gives the Washington Redskins a better chance than Donovan McNabb to win a game with two minutes left on the clock, they need to slap they selves."
The Bengals brought Owens aboard to try to help them win a second straight AFC North title. Instead, with Owens and Ochocinco grabbing most of the attention, the team has sunk to 2-5, essentially scuttling its season before the midway point. The Bengals play Pittsburgh next Monday night.