PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Molded in their coach’s image, the Philadelphia Eagles rarely show emotion on the field and certainly don’t celebrate touchdowns. They also haven’t been able to celebrate getting to the Super Bowl, coming up one game short the last three years.

So into this mix comes Terrell Owens, who feuded with coaches, criticized teammates and took touchdown celebrations to new heights in San Francisco.

If Eagles coach Andy Reid can be called bland, Owens is the epitome of flamboyant. And that’s just fine with Reid, especially if the four-time Pro Bowl receiver can help the Eagles finally win the NFC championship game.

A year ago, Reid wouldn’t have considered a player with Owens’ background. The star receiver’s arrival in Philadelphia signals a change in philosophy for the Eagles, who haven’t been to the Super Bowl in 24 years.

“He has a passion for the game. That’s something that I like,” Reid said. “I don’t mind the personality. He understands how we are and how we operate.”

The Eagles operate in a businesslike manner. Owens? He once pulled out a pen and signed a ball after scoring, earning a stern admonishment from commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

He also precipitated a melee during a game by dancing on the Dallas Cowboys’ star at midfield of Texas Stadium after scoring.

Reid won’t let him get away with that in Philadelphia, but the stoic coach admitted he enjoyed it when Owens grabbed a cheerleader’s pompoms and danced in the end zone.

“I think a lot of people get it misconstrued from my passion on the field versus my personality off the field. I can tell you it’s basically night and day,” Owens said. “No matter how bad the picture they wanted to paint of me, I feel like I always stood by what I had to say and I always came out on top.

“This is a fresh beginning for me. I just put all that behind me.”

Before acquiring Owens in a three-team trade with the 49ers and Baltimore, the Eagles filled their biggest need on defense by signing three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jevon Kearse to a $66 million, eight-year contract on the first day of the free agency period.

Giving so much money to a player who has had injury problems – Kearse missed 16 games over the last two seasons – also was a departure from the way the Eagles have done business in recent years. But the Eagles needed to do something drastic.

“We think we have set ourselves up as best as we possibly can for this season,” owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “We are all obsessed with winning the Super Bowl, as I think our fans are, as I know our fans are.”

In this championship-starved city – there hasn’t been a celebration since the 76ers won the NBA title in 1983 – nothing less than a Super Bowl victory will be considered a success.

The additions of Owens and Kearse put the Eagles in position to make another strong run at a championship. Quarterback Donovan McNabb makes the team’s odds even better.

McNabb is coming off his fourth straight trip to the Pro Bowl after a horrendous start last season. Owens finally gives him a No. 1 target, and speedy running back Brian Westbrook will force teams to pay attention to the run.

“The sky is the limit for this team,” McNabb said. “We can do a lot of good things. With the experience and also the leadership that we have, it’s incumbent on us to make sure that we take one game at a time, not look past anyone and just continue to focus in on what we have to do.”

While Owens and Kearse give the Eagles a new look, the team brought back two familiar faces, signing former two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas to one-year contracts.

Trotter and Douglas provide much-needed depth on a defense plagued by injuries. Starting end N.D. Kalu is out for the season with a knee injury and several other key players missed significant time in the preseason.

But the Eagles aren’t relying just on their defense to win games. They’re counting on Owens to help them outscore teams. Despite the loss of running back Correll Buckhalter to a season-ending knee injury, the offense has plenty of weapons.

Owens’ presence should make receivers Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell flourish. Promising second-year tight end L.J. Smith gives McNabb another threat to go along with former Pro Bowler Chad Lewis at that position.

“Donovan is able to create with his feet and obviously now he can sit back there in the pocket and go through his progressions and just read the defense and pick them apart,” Owens said.

McNabb and Owens already have a far better relationship than the mercurial receiver had with his 49ers quarterback, Jeff Garcia. The two were roommates in training camp, and spend a lot of time together off the field, too.

“With Donovan, it’s like we’re brothers for whatever reason,” Owens said. “I feel very comfortable working with him on and off the field and I think we’re both striving for the same goal.”