Owens deal not a gamble
By MATT MOSLEY / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Cowboys coach Bill Parcells ended his self-imposed silence Friday, and as expected, spent most of his 55-minute news conference fielding questions about the most controversial wide receiver in football.
Parcells, who had not spoken to local reporters since the NFL Scouting Combine in February, said he was on board with signing Terrell Owens and that he didn't view it as a risk.
"I don't view it as a gamble," Parcells said. "It is in my best interest that he is successful. It's in his best interest that he is successful."
Parcells seemed almost amused by the unusually large attendance (more than 70) at the news conference. At one point, he told reporters to "take it easy" when several of them tried to shout out questions.
The coach went out of his way to talk about how the Owens signing was a "collective" decision by the organization, adding that everyone in the organization would be held accountable for what happens.
"We collectively decided to do it, and I support it."
Philadelphia deactivated Owens for four games and suspended him for the final five games of last season after he repeatedly made derogatory comments regarding the organization's front office, the coaching staff and quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Parcells said he spoke to people in the Eagles organization, including head coach Andy Reid. He also talked to Owens' position coach in Philadelphia, David Culley, who played for Parcells when he was an assistant at Vanderbilt in the 1970s.
Asked about Owens' sporadic attendance at the Cowboys' off-season workout program, Parcells said it wasn't a problem. He said that Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had told him that Owens needed to work out several issues before reporting to Valley Ranch full-time.
Parcells alluded to Owens' "legal issues," but didn't elaborate.
Owens will have to adjust to a new offense after spending most of his career in a West Coast offense.
"He has been in a particular style of offense for 10 years," Parcells said. "That style is going to change. He has quite a bit of mental adjustments to make."
Other issues Parcells discussed:
• On whether he has told Owens what is expected of him: "I will or have to some degree told him what I expected of him. I am not approaching this as adversarial or mandating what he will do."
• On Owens' three-year, $25 million contract: "I think the structure of it is good for the organization."
• On how Owens improves the team: "I think he gives us speed outside."
• On why he didn't address the media after the draft: "I really didn't have
anything to say at the time."
• On last year's team: "We were a lot closer to being good last year than anyone really knows."
• On the NFC East race: "I don't think there's a hands-down favorite."
• On whether the team was trying to trade Julius Jones during the draft: "No."
• Is this the best team he's had since coming to Dallas? "Yes."
IRVING – Cowboys coach Bill Parcells ended his self-imposed silence Friday, and as expected, spent most of his 55-minute news conference fielding questions about the most controversial wide receiver in football.
Parcells, who had not spoken to local reporters since the NFL Scouting Combine in February, said he was on board with signing Terrell Owens and that he didn't view it as a risk.
"I don't view it as a gamble," Parcells said. "It is in my best interest that he is successful. It's in his best interest that he is successful."
Parcells seemed almost amused by the unusually large attendance (more than 70) at the news conference. At one point, he told reporters to "take it easy" when several of them tried to shout out questions.
The coach went out of his way to talk about how the Owens signing was a "collective" decision by the organization, adding that everyone in the organization would be held accountable for what happens.
"We collectively decided to do it, and I support it."
Philadelphia deactivated Owens for four games and suspended him for the final five games of last season after he repeatedly made derogatory comments regarding the organization's front office, the coaching staff and quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Parcells said he spoke to people in the Eagles organization, including head coach Andy Reid. He also talked to Owens' position coach in Philadelphia, David Culley, who played for Parcells when he was an assistant at Vanderbilt in the 1970s.
Asked about Owens' sporadic attendance at the Cowboys' off-season workout program, Parcells said it wasn't a problem. He said that Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had told him that Owens needed to work out several issues before reporting to Valley Ranch full-time.
Parcells alluded to Owens' "legal issues," but didn't elaborate.
Owens will have to adjust to a new offense after spending most of his career in a West Coast offense.
"He has been in a particular style of offense for 10 years," Parcells said. "That style is going to change. He has quite a bit of mental adjustments to make."
Other issues Parcells discussed:
• On whether he has told Owens what is expected of him: "I will or have to some degree told him what I expected of him. I am not approaching this as adversarial or mandating what he will do."
• On Owens' three-year, $25 million contract: "I think the structure of it is good for the organization."
• On how Owens improves the team: "I think he gives us speed outside."
• On why he didn't address the media after the draft: "I really didn't have
anything to say at the time."
• On last year's team: "We were a lot closer to being good last year than anyone really knows."
• On the NFC East race: "I don't think there's a hands-down favorite."
• On whether the team was trying to trade Julius Jones during the draft: "No."
• Is this the best team he's had since coming to Dallas? "Yes."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:45 PM
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