Eagles’ Owens Is Going Against Doctor’s Orders

Philadelphia Eagle receiver Terrell Owens is disregarding his doctor’s orders and plans to continue rehabilitating his surgically repaired ankle in an effort to play in the Super Bowl.

The team’s head trainer, Rick Burkholder, said Wednesday that Owens has started jogging even though Mark Myerson, the surgeon who operated on the Pro Bowl receiver in December, said he would not clear Owens to suit up against the New England Patriots on Feb. 6.

“We understand Dr. Myerson’s point of view,” Burkholder said, adding that “right now we’re going to progress with his rehab.”

Owens, Coach Andy Reid and the Eagles’ medical staff will make the decision on whether Owens plays.

“We’re never going to put Terrell at risk,” Reid said.

Owens was at the Eagles’ practice facility for rehab work, but the team said he wouldn’t be made available to reporters until next week’s mandatory media day at the Super Bowl.

He injured the ankle against Dallas on Dec. 19 and was told after the surgery that he had only an outside chance of returning for the Super Bowl, which was 6 1/2 weeks away at the time.

After a checkup Tuesday in Baltimore, Myerson said that he was pleased with Owens’ recuperation but that the operation required a recovery period of eight to 10 weeks.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb and other Eagles have said they don’t need Owens to beat the defending-champion Patriots.

“If T.O. plays, it’s an added bonus,” McNabb said. “If he doesn’t, it’s not going to stop anything we’re doing.”

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Detroit hired Ted Tollner as offensive coordinator, reuniting him with Coach Steve Mariucci.

Tollner, 64, replaces Sherman Lewis, who retired after the 2004 regular season.

Tollner was offensive coordinator for San Francisco last year and quarterbacks coach for the 49ers from 2002 to 2003.

Mariucci’s last season as coach of the 49ers was 2002.

Tollner is a former coach at USC and San Diego State, and a former assistant with the Los Angeles Rams, among other NFL teams.

Mariucci was an assistant to Tollner for one season at USC.

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General Motors Corp. is trying to settle a lawsuit filed by New England quarterback Tom Brady, who claims the automaker used his likeness in a print advertisement after his contract with the company expired.

Brady filed the $2-million lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He also is seeking punitive damages.

A spokesman for Cadillac, GM’s luxury brand, called it an honest mistake that the company has been trying to resolve, but that the settlement expectation of Brady’s agents had been unreasonable.

Messages left with Brady’s agents were not returned.

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Former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush will make a plea at the Super Bowl for the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Asia.

They will appear on the Fox pregame show “to continue to raise awareness for tsunami relief and to thank the NFL and fans for their ongoing support,” the NFL said.