Terrell Owens and his agent thought they had a deal worked out with the Philadelphia Eagles before the ex-49ers receiver was shipped to the Baltimore Ravens instead, the receiver told ESPN and Fox Sports on Friday.

Which means Owens, who made no secret about his desire to leave San Francisco and join the Eagles, his top choice, is furious. When he appeared Friday on Fox Sports' The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Owens said he was upset the deal with Philadelphia couldn't happen and that he wants a new contract, no matter who he plays for.

"I've talked to (Baltimore GM) Ozzie (Newsome) a few times the last couple of days," Owens said on the show. "Honestly, I didn't really feel comfortable with our conversation. He knows I'm really not happy with the situation. I'm going to stand my ground and see if we can't get something resolved.

"I want to go where I feel comfortable and where I can be happy. I don't want to go anywhere where someone just trades me off to. I feel like I'm entitled as a free agent to have my choice. Obviously I want to get paid, but at the same time, I want to get happy too."

Owens told ESPN on Friday that he still hopes to play for the Eagles.

"This is about me getting a fair shot at a team that I want to go to. Baltimore is definitely one of my choices, but Philly was my 'A' choice, my priority on my list," Owens said in an interview with Kremer late Friday night. "I talked to my agent earlier and we're going to file a grievance for the situation and we're going to hope for the best possible situation."

PhillyBurbs.com, a suburban newspaper-run website, said that Owens and his agent David Joseph are irate over the switch. Joseph told NFL officials Thursday night he will file a grievance against the 49ers. Union chief Gene Upshaw is reportedly already involved in the process, phillyBurbs.com said.

Philadelphia reporters were told Thursday night that the Eagles had finalized the deal with the 49ers and were negotiating a long-term, multimillion-dollar deal with Owens, phillyBurbs.com cited two NFL sources.

In the trade, the 49ers were to receive a fifth-round pick and one player, possibly wide receiver James Thrash, the Web site said.

"Terrell was ecstatic," an unidentified NFL agent told phillyBurbs.com. "Philly is where he wanted to go all along. He was under the impression he was an Eagle. It was a done deal."

However, 49ers general manager Terry Donahue accepted the Ravens' offer of a second-round pick in this year's draft prior to the papers being signed with the Eagles, according to the Web site. Donahue did not tell Joseph or Eagles negotiator Joe Banner, or give them the opportunity to match the offer, the Web site said.

The Web site said the Eagles did not find out about the 49ers-Ravens trade until a team employee saw an ESPN report Thursday. Joseph received a call from the Eagles soon thereafter, phillyBurbs.com said.

Owens blamed Donahue for the snafu, saying on ESPN that the 49ers general manager "must've gotten wind that something was happening with Philly, and he worked out the deal with Baltimore."

Owens and the Ravens do not have a contract worked out. Baltimore is paying him the final three years of his 49ers contract. He is due $5.3 million in 2004, $5.9 million in 2005 and $6.5 million in 2006 with no signing bonus, but the Ravens reportedly have been working on adding an extension to the contract.

Chad Steele, a spokesman for the Ravens, told the Associated Press on Saturday: “We have a valid contract with Terrell and we expect him to play for the Ravens.” He declined to answer any other questions.

Ravens coach Brian Billick said he'd entertain offers for Owens only if the price the Ravens get for him is more than they paid, ESPN reported.

"Terrell Owens has a valid and binding contract with the Baltimore Ravens," Newsome told the Baltimore Sun. "This is not the first time I've heard of a player being disgruntled. Ray Lewis was disgruntled before he got his new deal. A disgruntled football player is nothing new to me. It's part of the business."

Asked if the Ravens had any intentions of trading Owens, Newsome told the newspaper, "No. Right now, I want Terrell Owens to be playing for us opening day."

Owens' biggest dispute, the Baltimore Sun reported, is that he isn't a free agent and can't decide for himself where he wants to play. Owens thought he had filed for free agency but didn't submit the paperwork, and the NFL subsequently ruled he was still property of the 49ers.

The receiver and his agent have filed a grievance to challenge that ruling.

Newsome said Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis played a role in urging Owens to come to Baltimore. The two were in the Pro Bowl this year.

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. Last season, Owens had 80 catches for 1,102 yards and nine TDs — his lowest totals since 1999.

Owens is also known for a series of on-field celebrations and off-field conflicts.

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.

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

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