All eyes back on belittled Pinkston

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Todd Pinkston is looking for redemption.

Pinkston wants to prove his Eagles career won't be defined by one game or a couple of infamous non-catches. For the wide receiver who's earned the nickname "Stinkston" by his critics, the postseason offers a chance to prove he's again worthy of being a No. 1 receiver.

"I don't worry about what other people say about me because my teammates and my peers know what type of receiver I am," Pinkston said Thursday. "I don't worry about that. It's more of a motivation for me to go out there and display my talent and continue doing what I'm doing."

By the numbers, Pinkston had a decent season as the Eagles' starting receiver opposite Terrell Owens, who's likely out for the year after ankle surgery. Pinkston has 36 catches for 676 yards and a pair of 100-yard games. Six of his receptions have been longer than 46 yards. Pinkston is the only wide receiver besides Owens to catch a touchdown pass.

"Just because T.O. went down, now I'm the bad one," Pinkston said.

It's what the lanky Pinkston didn't catch, though, that's left him vilified by fans. Two weeks ago against Washington, Pinkston pulled up and tucked his head on a deep route just as a couple of defenders closed in. Pinkston said he lost the ball in the lights, but his toughness was questioned.

In the next game against Dallas, Pinkston dropped two catchable balls, including one where he kept his eyes on charging safety Roy Williams. That capped a recent string of dubious moments dating back to last year's NFC title game loss against Carolina.

In that one, Pinkston had no catches, dropped several balls and was manhandled so badly by Ricky Manning Jr. that the rookie cornerback ended up with three interceptions. Pinkston blamed his performance and the loss on "lack of focus."

When Pinkston was asked why the fans and critics have been so hard on him, he didn't have to think very hard.

"You could say the NFC championship game last year," Pinkston said. "Then they took two plays out of so many and just ran with it."

<a href='http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8030816/2' target='_blank'>SPORTSLINE: Pinkston seeking redemption</a>