Football: Cowboys open era with Owens
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Terrell Owens and Bill Parcells are bound to interact today during the first practice of the Dallas Cowboys' three-day veterans minicamp.
And when they do, all eyes will be on them.
But at least one NFL observer predicts the much-anticipated Owens-Parcells feud will never come into focus.
"Everybody is going to make this big deal about T.O. and Bill Parcells, and it's really a non-factor," ESPN analyst Joe Theismann said. "When it comes to T.O. this season, we are going to see the butterfly. The moth is in the past."
Theismann says Owens' metamorphosis occurred after the Philadelphia Eagles suspended the five-time Pro Bowl receiver at midseason last year for conduct detrimental to the team.
"The first thing everyone thought of when Dallas signed (Owens) was, 'Wow, Bill Parcells will really know how to handle him,'" Theismann said.
"That's a misnomer because Bill Parcells won't have to do anything to T.O. When the Eagles told him he couldn't play last year, it forced him to look at the game he loves and what is the price of not being able to play it."
Owens signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Cowboys on March 18, four days after the Eagles released him and the Cowboys cut Keyshawn Johnson.
"Economically, there was an issue in Philadelphia for T.O.," Theismann said. "That issue had been settled. I don't see him being a problem for any coach, whether it's Bill Parcells, Tom Landry or Vince Lombardi."
The minicamp marks Dallas' first on-field look at Owens. It also will mark his first public appearance with Parcells.
Personality conflicts with coaches and teammates ruined Owens' stays in San Francisco and Philadelphia. With that in mind, most NFL pundits predict a rocky relationship with Parcells.
"You wonder how (Owens) is going to deal with Parcells when Parcells jumps in his face, and that time is going to come sooner rather than later," former Dallas safety Darren Woodson told the Ticket 760.
Parcells has plenty of experience coaching headstrong players, including Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
"(Parcells) understands how to deal with Terrell Owens," said Woodson, now with ESPN. "The question is, how is Terrell Owens going to deal with Parcells when he drops a crucial ball? Parcells is not going to back down from anyone. I don't care who it is."
But Parcells says he's optimistic his relationship with Owens will be harmonious — provided Owens lives up to his reputation as an intense competitor.
"I don't view it as a gamble," Parcells said of signing Owens. "It's in my best interest that he's successful. And it's in his best interest that he's successful."
Owens reportedly has spent much of this week at Valley Ranch, learning an offense Parcells says won't allow him "to catch 100 balls."
Still, Owens is expected to become Drew Bledsoe's No. 1 target.
"They made a tremendous personnel upgrade over Keyshawn Johnson when they signed T.O.," Theismann said of the Cowboys. "He's got size, speed, hands, toughness, a great work ethic and strength. He's the most complete receiver in the game.
"I thought Drew Bledsoe put it perfectly when he said he became a better quarterback when T.O. signed. Well, that's also true of the Cowboys. They're a better team with T.O."
Express-News Staff Writer
Terrell Owens and Bill Parcells are bound to interact today during the first practice of the Dallas Cowboys' three-day veterans minicamp.
And when they do, all eyes will be on them.
But at least one NFL observer predicts the much-anticipated Owens-Parcells feud will never come into focus.
"Everybody is going to make this big deal about T.O. and Bill Parcells, and it's really a non-factor," ESPN analyst Joe Theismann said. "When it comes to T.O. this season, we are going to see the butterfly. The moth is in the past."
Theismann says Owens' metamorphosis occurred after the Philadelphia Eagles suspended the five-time Pro Bowl receiver at midseason last year for conduct detrimental to the team.
"The first thing everyone thought of when Dallas signed (Owens) was, 'Wow, Bill Parcells will really know how to handle him,'" Theismann said.
"That's a misnomer because Bill Parcells won't have to do anything to T.O. When the Eagles told him he couldn't play last year, it forced him to look at the game he loves and what is the price of not being able to play it."
Owens signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Cowboys on March 18, four days after the Eagles released him and the Cowboys cut Keyshawn Johnson.
"Economically, there was an issue in Philadelphia for T.O.," Theismann said. "That issue had been settled. I don't see him being a problem for any coach, whether it's Bill Parcells, Tom Landry or Vince Lombardi."
The minicamp marks Dallas' first on-field look at Owens. It also will mark his first public appearance with Parcells.
Personality conflicts with coaches and teammates ruined Owens' stays in San Francisco and Philadelphia. With that in mind, most NFL pundits predict a rocky relationship with Parcells.
"You wonder how (Owens) is going to deal with Parcells when Parcells jumps in his face, and that time is going to come sooner rather than later," former Dallas safety Darren Woodson told the Ticket 760.
Parcells has plenty of experience coaching headstrong players, including Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
"(Parcells) understands how to deal with Terrell Owens," said Woodson, now with ESPN. "The question is, how is Terrell Owens going to deal with Parcells when he drops a crucial ball? Parcells is not going to back down from anyone. I don't care who it is."
But Parcells says he's optimistic his relationship with Owens will be harmonious — provided Owens lives up to his reputation as an intense competitor.
"I don't view it as a gamble," Parcells said of signing Owens. "It's in my best interest that he's successful. And it's in his best interest that he's successful."
Owens reportedly has spent much of this week at Valley Ranch, learning an offense Parcells says won't allow him "to catch 100 balls."
Still, Owens is expected to become Drew Bledsoe's No. 1 target.
"They made a tremendous personnel upgrade over Keyshawn Johnson when they signed T.O.," Theismann said of the Cowboys. "He's got size, speed, hands, toughness, a great work ethic and strength. He's the most complete receiver in the game.
"I thought Drew Bledsoe put it perfectly when he said he became a better quarterback when T.O. signed. Well, that's also true of the Cowboys. They're a better team with T.O."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:57 PM
<< Home