The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Terrell Owens can catch passes from Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia instead of just in Hawaii.

Terrell Owens, center, poses with Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, left, and owner Jeffrey Lurie after a news conference at the Eagles' offices Tuesday. (AP photo)

Owens got his wish to play for the Eagles, following a settlement reached Tuesday before an arbitrator could rule on the star receiver's case to become a free agent.

"I'm so excited to be here and to play with D-Mac," said Owens, who has played with McNabb in the Pro Bowl three times. "I feel like I fit in real nice here. I'm comfortable with the West Coast offense. The touchdowns I've had in the Pro Bowl, Donovan has thrown them to me. That just comes with two athletes going out there and making plays, just chemistry in the making."

The Eagles sent a fifth-round draft pick to Baltimore and defensive end Brandon Whiting to San Francisco. The Ravens got back the second-round pick they sent to the 49ers for Owens.

"If the arbitrator ruled he was a free agent, he could have gone anywhere. This was the Eagles assuring that he came to them," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players' Association.

Owens, who spent eight sometimes controversial seasons with San Francisco, was supposed to become a free agent March 3. But his agent, David Joseph, failed to file papers voiding the final years of his contract by a Feb. 21 deadline.

The 49ers then dealt the four-time Pro Bowl receiver to the Ravens on March 4, after Owens had agreed to a contract with the Eagles.

Owens protested the trade to the Ravens, refused to show up for a physical and insisted he wanted to play for the Eagles. The union filed a grievance on Owens' behalf to make him a free agent.

"My heart was in Philly," Owens said.

Stephen Burbank, the arbitrator for disputes between the NFL and its players' union, heard two hours of arguments from lawyers Monday concerning the case, but didn't issue a ruling because a compromise was reached.

The Ravens said they hoped to get Owens.

"Our collective mind-set is to improve this team," coach Brian Billick said. "We'll keep doing this through the draft, free agency and in other ways. It's a disappointment to not get T.O., but I'm confident in our abilities to raise the Ravens to the next level."

Owens gives the Eagles and McNabb the No. 1 receiver the offense has desperately needed. Owens has averaged 93 receptions, 1,316 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past four seasons while feuding with teammates, coaches, the 49ers' front office and the media.

He caught 80 passes for 1,102 yards and nine TDs last season, his lowest totals since 1999. The Eagles' starting receivers, James Thrash and Todd Pinkston, combined for 85 receptions for 1,133 yards and three TDs.

"It's a nice addition to a good football team," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "To put him in the mix, it presents itself to be an explosive package."

Owens spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the 49ers, who drafted him in the third round in 1996. He and Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison are the only receivers with more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns over the past four seasons.

Owens' antics on and off the field have tainted some of his accomplishments, however.

Two years ago, he pulled out a pen and signed a ball after scoring a touchdown in Seattle. He wasn't fined for the move, but was severely chastised by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who said he would be disciplined for future stunts.

Owens once precipitated a melee during a game by dancing on the Dallas Cowboys' star at midfield of Texas Stadium after scoring.

He threw a sideline tantrum during a game against Cleveland last season, and lost it again the following week against Minnesota, chewing out offensive coordinator Greg Knapp after the 49ers were stopped on a fourth-and-1 running play.

"A lot of people get it misconstrued as far as my passion on the field and my personality off the field," Owens said.

Asked if he would bring some of those touchdown celebrations to Philadelphia, Owens smiled and looked at the stoic Reid.

"Coach said he liked the pom-poms," Owens said, referring to when he grabbed pom-poms from a cheerleader and did a cheer after a score.

COWBOYS: Quarterback Drew Henson signed an eight-year contract with Dallas, the latest step in his transition from baseball to the football.

The Cowboys gave the Houston Texans a third-round pick in 2005 in exchange for Henson. Henson is guaranteed $3.5 million and can become a free agent after four seasons if he or the Cowboys void the final four seasons of the deal. He'll make the rookie minimum of $238,000 this season and can raise his annual base salary based on playing time.

BILLS: Troy Vincent knows he won't be counted on to be the savior of a Buffalo team that underachieved last year - and that's fine with him.

"I'm just going to fit in," Vincent said during a telephone conference Tuesday after he signed a six-year contract with the Bills. "I didn't want to go to a place where I was the key and the main component that was going to get a team to the promised land."

Vincent saw players on the Bills roster such as Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher, Nate Clements, Drew Bledsoe and Eric Moulds, and immediately knew he could be a more-than capable addition.

"I believe I can be one of the components bringing things together," said Vincent, a five-time Pro Bowler. "I've made plays in the past and I expect to make plays in the future to help this organization get back to where they once were."

The 32-year-old cornerback has played 12 seasons, the last eight with the Eagles. A 1992 first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, he has 42 career interceptions.

Vincent will replace cornerback Antoine Winfield, a four-year starter, who signed with Minnesota earlier this month.

"We addressed a need by filling a void left by a very good player," Bills head coach Mike Mularkey said. "It was the biggest void we needed to take care of before we moved on."

The Bills were the first team Vincent met with when the free-agency period began in early March. He also visited Cincinnati and Kansas City.

The Bills "were the very first team and right there from the opening bell," Vincent said. "I had many different opportunities, but I really wanted the right fit."

Return to Bengals front page...