SCHOOL OF FISH: A T.O. TOP 10
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE: A T.O. TOP 10 by The Fish
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 05:36PM
Mike Fisher
It was back on Nov. 22 when we told you first of Bill Parcells' purposeful media "leaks'' that led us to report that the Cowboys would indeed pursue Terrell Owens. It was back on Jan. 8 when we broke the story of a Cowboys source who was "adamant'' about the team wanting to release Keyshawn Johnson. (A story that, oddly, never did make it to the papers.) It was last week when we reported that Jerry Jones was working to convince Parcells that T.O. was a worthy "wild-cattin''' move.
With that hat trick on our permanent record, we thought we'd take a few more shots on goal. Ten of them, in fact:
1) If the T.O. Sweepstakes comes down to a bidding war between Dallas and Kansas City, the Cowboys can win by making their offer a multi-year deal. An agent friend of ours with knowledge of the situation says KC's proposal to Owens is of the "trial-basis'' variety. We take that to mean that it is short-term, maybe even one year.
2) The Cowboys, as the local papers have written, could conceivably bring Keyshawn back after he's tested the market. Well, emphasis on the "conceivably.'' Because no matter the cooperative relationship a beat writer or two has with Key-Key, that ain't the plan.
3) There are other WR names out there who could end up being Johnson's replacement in Dallas. Green Bay's talented young Javon Walker is coming off an injury, and he's not the brightest bulb. (His Wonderlic score make Vince Young seem like the MENSA club president.) But he's a budding star. Buffalo's Eric Moulds is a former standout who has faded, but a reunion with Drew Bledsoe could reinvigorate him. Viable ideas? Yes. The Cowboys' intentions when they released Keyshawn within minutes of Owens becoming available? No.
4) Conventional wisdom has it that the T.O. suitors are Dallas, Kansas City and Denver. If KC won't go long-term, and Denver has a tight cap. ... Well, it's Dallas with a 33-percent chance with a bullet, right? Not so fast: Today's "we-aren't-interested'' team is tommorow's "it's-only-gonna-cost-how-much?'' team. There is every reason to assume that another potential bidder or two is playin' possum, letting the Cowboys establish some groundwork before pouncing.
5) Speculate away about the teams that might be interested in hiring Keyshawn. Bet money on this: He'd love to go to Philly. He thinks he can help them win again, they need a No. 1 target, and he'd love to be in a vengeful position to stick it to Dallas twice a year.
6) It has been written repeatedly that Owens "will be patient,'' that he "might not even sign until September.'' From everyone we have talked to, we've gathered a lot of things. ... but we've never gathered that. Additionally, we should note: If you've ever been locked in a room with Jerry Jones, you know you rarely exit the room without having been sold. The idea that Jerry would present an idea to Terrell Owens in March and then not get a definitive response on it until September seems. ... well, ridiculous.
7) One local newspaper wondered if Owens will be "another Jerry Rice,'' i.e., someone who at 33 is just beginning to peak. In terms of Owens' physique and conditioning and athletic ability, this question answers itself. T.O. is absolutely capable of performing at a high level for many more years. But that is NOT the part of Owens' longevity that is truly at issue. He might still be a fine football player at 40 -- but he might have been, by that time, a fine football player for two or three more eventually-fed-up employers.
8) Contrary to the concerns of some fans I've heard from and a talk-show host or two, the interest in Terrell Owens has little effect on the time or money available to spend on scouting other pro and college talent. Typical take: "Fine and well about T.O., but don't we really need a kicker, an offensive tackle, a safety and a linebacker?'' Answer: Yes, you need a kicker. And you will sign a kicker, a veteran kicker who is a name-brand. And when you find yourself having to win a game 13-12, you can better do it because of that kicker. In the first round, the Cowboys are focusing their preparation on those other three positions. So help is coming there. Now, about that 13-12 victory: Sign T.O. -- and keep the reins tight -- and you won't be so limited in potential scoring ability.
9) Sharky agent Drew Rosenhaus is obviously a pivotal player in all this. But somewhere, behind a closed door or in a shadow, another mover-and-shaker is an old friend, T.O. chum and Cowboy-for-life named Michael Irvin.
10) People say they wouldn't sign Owens because "it's not like the Cowboys are just one player away.'' Ah, but yes, they are. At 9-7, they were indeed one player away from winning another game, and therefore of getting into the tournament, where anything can happen. Truth is, in this age of parity, virtually every team in football is "one player away.'' Besides, if a team is actually "two players away'' or "three players away,'' doesn't it need to sign one before it signs the second and the third?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 05:36PM
Mike Fisher
It was back on Nov. 22 when we told you first of Bill Parcells' purposeful media "leaks'' that led us to report that the Cowboys would indeed pursue Terrell Owens. It was back on Jan. 8 when we broke the story of a Cowboys source who was "adamant'' about the team wanting to release Keyshawn Johnson. (A story that, oddly, never did make it to the papers.) It was last week when we reported that Jerry Jones was working to convince Parcells that T.O. was a worthy "wild-cattin''' move.
With that hat trick on our permanent record, we thought we'd take a few more shots on goal. Ten of them, in fact:
1) If the T.O. Sweepstakes comes down to a bidding war between Dallas and Kansas City, the Cowboys can win by making their offer a multi-year deal. An agent friend of ours with knowledge of the situation says KC's proposal to Owens is of the "trial-basis'' variety. We take that to mean that it is short-term, maybe even one year.
2) The Cowboys, as the local papers have written, could conceivably bring Keyshawn back after he's tested the market. Well, emphasis on the "conceivably.'' Because no matter the cooperative relationship a beat writer or two has with Key-Key, that ain't the plan.
3) There are other WR names out there who could end up being Johnson's replacement in Dallas. Green Bay's talented young Javon Walker is coming off an injury, and he's not the brightest bulb. (His Wonderlic score make Vince Young seem like the MENSA club president.) But he's a budding star. Buffalo's Eric Moulds is a former standout who has faded, but a reunion with Drew Bledsoe could reinvigorate him. Viable ideas? Yes. The Cowboys' intentions when they released Keyshawn within minutes of Owens becoming available? No.
4) Conventional wisdom has it that the T.O. suitors are Dallas, Kansas City and Denver. If KC won't go long-term, and Denver has a tight cap. ... Well, it's Dallas with a 33-percent chance with a bullet, right? Not so fast: Today's "we-aren't-interested'' team is tommorow's "it's-only-gonna-cost-how-much?'' team. There is every reason to assume that another potential bidder or two is playin' possum, letting the Cowboys establish some groundwork before pouncing.
5) Speculate away about the teams that might be interested in hiring Keyshawn. Bet money on this: He'd love to go to Philly. He thinks he can help them win again, they need a No. 1 target, and he'd love to be in a vengeful position to stick it to Dallas twice a year.
6) It has been written repeatedly that Owens "will be patient,'' that he "might not even sign until September.'' From everyone we have talked to, we've gathered a lot of things. ... but we've never gathered that. Additionally, we should note: If you've ever been locked in a room with Jerry Jones, you know you rarely exit the room without having been sold. The idea that Jerry would present an idea to Terrell Owens in March and then not get a definitive response on it until September seems. ... well, ridiculous.
7) One local newspaper wondered if Owens will be "another Jerry Rice,'' i.e., someone who at 33 is just beginning to peak. In terms of Owens' physique and conditioning and athletic ability, this question answers itself. T.O. is absolutely capable of performing at a high level for many more years. But that is NOT the part of Owens' longevity that is truly at issue. He might still be a fine football player at 40 -- but he might have been, by that time, a fine football player for two or three more eventually-fed-up employers.
8) Contrary to the concerns of some fans I've heard from and a talk-show host or two, the interest in Terrell Owens has little effect on the time or money available to spend on scouting other pro and college talent. Typical take: "Fine and well about T.O., but don't we really need a kicker, an offensive tackle, a safety and a linebacker?'' Answer: Yes, you need a kicker. And you will sign a kicker, a veteran kicker who is a name-brand. And when you find yourself having to win a game 13-12, you can better do it because of that kicker. In the first round, the Cowboys are focusing their preparation on those other three positions. So help is coming there. Now, about that 13-12 victory: Sign T.O. -- and keep the reins tight -- and you won't be so limited in potential scoring ability.
9) Sharky agent Drew Rosenhaus is obviously a pivotal player in all this. But somewhere, behind a closed door or in a shadow, another mover-and-shaker is an old friend, T.O. chum and Cowboy-for-life named Michael Irvin.
10) People say they wouldn't sign Owens because "it's not like the Cowboys are just one player away.'' Ah, but yes, they are. At 9-7, they were indeed one player away from winning another game, and therefore of getting into the tournament, where anything can happen. Truth is, in this age of parity, virtually every team in football is "one player away.'' Besides, if a team is actually "two players away'' or "three players away,'' doesn't it need to sign one before it signs the second and the third?
posted by The Gryphon at 9:06 PM
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