T.O. for T.O.

It was not the first time. It likely will not be the last. But Terrell Owens did it again.

Owens managed to astonish teammates and football fans again with his behavior off the field rather than with his play on it.

When will T.O. grow up?

The latest episode of the wide receiver’s saga occurred last week when Owens got into a locker room altercation with former Philadelphia teammate Hugh Douglas, challenged other Eagles to a fight and criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb for the team’s less-than-stellar results this season.

In fact, he said the team would be better off with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre taking snaps instead of McNabb.

The comments do not sound like those of a team player, who is part of a 53-man roster.

When head coach Andy Reid, who has been moonlighting as Owens’ babysitter lately, gave the prima donna receiver a chance to apologize to the squad and the mild-mannered McNabb in hopes of unifying a disillusioned team, Owens refused to do the latter.

So Reid gave T.O. a t.o.

Owens, one of the best if not the preeminent receiver in the National Football League, was suspended indefinitely by the Eagles.

It’s not just what Owens says or does that causes uproar, but his knack for bad timing manages to weaken his struggling team at the most crucial moments.

Owens’ four-game forced leave of absence began days before Philadelphia’s critical 17-10 loss to the NFC-East rival Washington Redskins on Sunday, which dropped the Eagles to last place in the division.

And his vacation from the team may be permanent.

Owens will still collect part of his multimillion-dollar paycheck, however, whether he plays another down for the team or not.

How much of a burden do you have to be that an organization will pay its most talented employee to stay away from the office?

The latest incident is not the first t.o. for T.O.

During the preseason, Owens criticized McNabb for getting tired during the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots in February.

Like a parent who is trying to teach a child to be responsible for his actions, Reid asked Owens to apologize to McNabb or take a timeout.

T.O. chose to take a t.o.

In most professions, an employee who bashes co-workers and repeatedly acts insubordinate would be fired.

But when T.O. gets P.O.’d, he gets a vacation.

Did Owens ever stop to think that McNabb was tired from playing every offensive down of the championship game? Or maybe the quarterback was tired from picking up the slack the previous two months because Owens was watching from the sidelines.

Granted, Owens was rehabilitating his injured knee, but he was also able to rest his body, which McNabb was unable to do.

Even though he does not show it, McNabb must be getting tired of the less-than-team-oriented attitude of the Eagles superstar receiver.

Owens’ antics did not begin in Philadelphia, however, and McNabb is not the first quarterback the receiver has whimpered about.

Before the troubled bird landed in the City of Brotherly Love less than two years ago, Owens criticized quarterback Jeff Garcia for the San Francisco 49ers’ struggles.

He even implied that the Garcia was gay, which he is not. Maybe Owens was jealous because Garcia was dating a playmate at the time.

He blamed coaches and management, too. Owens held everyone responsible, except himself. Sounds like a great person to work with.

The Niners didn’t think so and shipped Owens to Baltimore for far less than equal value just to be liberated of the spoiled receiver.

But Owens refused to report to the Ravens and forced another trade nearly two weeks later.

Owens will likely be in another uniform next season because teams are always willing to take a chance on a player with incredible athleticism, or because he will put fans in the seats.

But it’s too bad that a player with unbelievable skills chooses to run his mouth instead of letting his play do the talking.

Hopefully Owens will use this latest timeout to grow up because his act is growing old.