CLEARWATER, Fla. _ It’s odd how things work sometimes.All the names that used to be so vital for the Eagles are now playing a part in any success the Phillies hope to have as they get ready to pursue their sixth consecutive National League East title.You may not know the names, but the players you know best know them too well.There is now a direct link between Terrell Owens and Ryan Howard and a direct link between Donovan McNabb and Chase Utley.For Owens and Howard, the link is a South African foot specialist based in Baltimore named Mark Myerson. For McNabb and Utley, the link is a Quakertown native, a physical therapist based in Phoenix named Brett Fischer.We already know what the Myerson surgery did for T.O. It was his ticket to play in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla., albeit with two surgical screws in his right ankle. Typical recovery time for that surgery was eight to 10 weeks, Myerson said at the time.Myerson refused to clear Owens to play in the Super Bowl. T.O. said God told him it would be OK. Owens was on the field against the New England Patriots 6{ weeks after the surgery and caught nine passes for 122 yards, but the Eagles lost anyway.Predictably, Myerson’s surgery on Howard’s Achilles tendon has not created nearly as much drama, but the rehabilitation was slowed by a nasty infection, and no one is exactly sure when the Phillies first baseman will return to the lineup.The connection between McNabb and Utley is new. McNabb, at the urging of former big-league pitcher Randy Johnson, sought Fischer’s assistance as he tried to recover from a variety of injuries that probably have derailed his career. Utley was told Fischer was the guy he needed to see about his aching knees, and the second baseman already is feeling good about the results.”I have a better idea now on how my body is supposed to move compared to how it’s moving at this time, and I think we have something pretty good for the future.” Utley said during his medical-update session Sunday at Bright House Field.McNabb has been working with Fischer for years, and he still is. Like Utley, he hopes to get back on the playing field soon. A lot of people believe that the former Eagles quarterback is finished. Some people speculated the same about Utley when he left Clearwater last week.”Oh, I didn’t hear that one,” Utley said. “I’m definitely not retiring. When I went out to Arizona, I asked Ruben not to say where I was going because I didn’t think it was necessary for people to know.”Not sure why Utley is so secretive about these types of things, because the mystery only creates anxiety, suspicion, and bad rumors.In the big picture, none of that really matters. This is all about whether Fischer’s program can get Utley back on the field and extend the second baseman’s career.McNabb swore by Fischer. When the quarterback used to invite teammates to Arizona to work with him in the offseason, it was Fischer’s program that the invited guests had to endure.Phillies first baseman Jim Thome _ we can call him that again after he played first base Sunday against Baltimore _ also is a big fan of Fischer’s.”I went out there three years ago, and he was great,” Thome said. “He showed me some things as far as my back program. He did a lot of massage and he did a lot of hands-on work, and then we’d do some strength training, and he was great. I think he worked with Justin Morneau in Minnesota, too. Everybody you talk to in baseball about Fischer, they have great things to say.”The good news for Thome is that he’s still playing at age 41. Utley is 33 and is convinced that Fischer can provide a magic elixir to get him back on the field.”I’ve already seen benefits over the last four or five days from doing some new exercises,” Utley said. “I’m very optimistic this is going to turn out well. But, again, it’s going to take a little time, and I have to do this right. I think it’s important not only for this year, but for the rest of my career. I’m 33 years old. I know some people think that’s old, but I still feel like I have a lot of baseball left in me.”___(c)2012 The Philadelphia InquirerVisit The Philadelphia Inquirer at philly.comDistributed by MCT Information Services