Owens will have to practice more before playing for Cowboys
STEPHEN HAWKINS
Associated Press
OXNARD, Calif. - Terrell Owens is going to have to practice more before he plays for Bill Parcells.
After Parcells said Owens wouldn't play in the Dallas Cowboys' second preseason game, the receiver sat out the team's practice late Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe said Owens' hamstring tightened up on him.
Owens had taken part in the morning practice, his fifth straight since missing 14 in a row because of a hamstring problem.
Owens didn't talk to reporters after either practice. He smiled widely without responding to questions as he walked off the field after the afternoon session.
"I knew at the end of the morning practice today that his hamstring was tightening up on him a little bit," Bledsoe said. "So now he's got a few days to rest here so he's ready to go for next week."
Owens spent most of the nearly two-hour afternoon session on a stationary bicycle. He mostly sat, pedaling only occasionally and slowly when he did.
The Cowboys wrap up their California camp with a light walkthrough Sunday, then play the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Shreveport, La. An off day Tuesday means Owens won't be back on the field until at least Wednesday.
"He's gotten some pretty good work in this week, and I just don't want to start over next week," Parcells said as his daily briefing with reporters between practices. "Hopefully, he'll get his first real game action next weekend."
When the afternoon session began, Owens came out and went to the stationary bike on the sideline, the same spot where he spent much of the two weeks when he didn't practice. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, after speaking with Parcells on the field, talked with Owens for about 10 minutes.
Jones left before practice ended without speaking to reporters. Parcells doesn't talk after practice.
Since returning to the field Wednesday, Owens had gone through individual and team drills. He ran routes at full speed, making hard cuts without any apparent problems.
After the team's only workout Friday, Owens said he was "a little bit sorer than usual" but was still day to day. He wasn't sure if he would play Monday night.
Parcells said the decision to hold Owens out was final.
"Nothing will change my mind," Parcells said. "It's the natural course of events. I don't think you can play pro football practicing four to five days. I think you need more than that."
When asked how much time Owens needed, Parcells said, "I don't know the player that well, but certainly more than what he's had so far."
Bledsoe will get his first preseason action Monday night. While eager to play with Owens, he was not surprised by Parcells' decision.
"Bill has always been pretty steadfast in saying if you don't practice the whole week, then you're not playing. I remember that from way back," Bledsoe said. "He still trying to get all the way healthy. The big thing is to make sure that he's ready for the regular season."
The Cowboys will have only two days of true practices before their next preseason game Saturday night at home against San Francisco, one of Owens' former teams.
Owens first felt a twinge in his hamstring on Aug. 2, but an MRI taken three days later was clear. Owens flew in several doctors and trainers, plus a hyperbaric chamber, because he still didn't feel right.
During Cowboys practices, Owens became a regular on the stationary bike. One day last week, he wore the uniform of the Discovery Channel pro cycling team - sporting the similar blue and silver colors of the Cowboys - to poke fun at all the time he was pedaling on the sideline.
Owens remained in California last weekend when the Cowboys played their preseason opener in Seattle. When the team returned to the practice field Monday, Owens started doing more in his rehabilitation and missed only three more sessions before finally donning the pads again and joining his teammates.
"Even with the time that I've had off, just being Lance Armstrong on the bikes over here, I feel like I've still come in and they've put me in situations where I kind of had to push myself a little bit," Owens said Friday. "My conditioning, my wind is not where it needs to be. But it's a 16-week season, so I know my conditioning will be there."
Associated Press
OXNARD, Calif. - Terrell Owens is going to have to practice more before he plays for Bill Parcells.
After Parcells said Owens wouldn't play in the Dallas Cowboys' second preseason game, the receiver sat out the team's practice late Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe said Owens' hamstring tightened up on him.
Owens had taken part in the morning practice, his fifth straight since missing 14 in a row because of a hamstring problem.
Owens didn't talk to reporters after either practice. He smiled widely without responding to questions as he walked off the field after the afternoon session.
"I knew at the end of the morning practice today that his hamstring was tightening up on him a little bit," Bledsoe said. "So now he's got a few days to rest here so he's ready to go for next week."
Owens spent most of the nearly two-hour afternoon session on a stationary bicycle. He mostly sat, pedaling only occasionally and slowly when he did.
The Cowboys wrap up their California camp with a light walkthrough Sunday, then play the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Shreveport, La. An off day Tuesday means Owens won't be back on the field until at least Wednesday.
"He's gotten some pretty good work in this week, and I just don't want to start over next week," Parcells said as his daily briefing with reporters between practices. "Hopefully, he'll get his first real game action next weekend."
When the afternoon session began, Owens came out and went to the stationary bike on the sideline, the same spot where he spent much of the two weeks when he didn't practice. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, after speaking with Parcells on the field, talked with Owens for about 10 minutes.
Jones left before practice ended without speaking to reporters. Parcells doesn't talk after practice.
Since returning to the field Wednesday, Owens had gone through individual and team drills. He ran routes at full speed, making hard cuts without any apparent problems.
After the team's only workout Friday, Owens said he was "a little bit sorer than usual" but was still day to day. He wasn't sure if he would play Monday night.
Parcells said the decision to hold Owens out was final.
"Nothing will change my mind," Parcells said. "It's the natural course of events. I don't think you can play pro football practicing four to five days. I think you need more than that."
When asked how much time Owens needed, Parcells said, "I don't know the player that well, but certainly more than what he's had so far."
Bledsoe will get his first preseason action Monday night. While eager to play with Owens, he was not surprised by Parcells' decision.
"Bill has always been pretty steadfast in saying if you don't practice the whole week, then you're not playing. I remember that from way back," Bledsoe said. "He still trying to get all the way healthy. The big thing is to make sure that he's ready for the regular season."
The Cowboys will have only two days of true practices before their next preseason game Saturday night at home against San Francisco, one of Owens' former teams.
Owens first felt a twinge in his hamstring on Aug. 2, but an MRI taken three days later was clear. Owens flew in several doctors and trainers, plus a hyperbaric chamber, because he still didn't feel right.
During Cowboys practices, Owens became a regular on the stationary bike. One day last week, he wore the uniform of the Discovery Channel pro cycling team - sporting the similar blue and silver colors of the Cowboys - to poke fun at all the time he was pedaling on the sideline.
Owens remained in California last weekend when the Cowboys played their preseason opener in Seattle. When the team returned to the practice field Monday, Owens started doing more in his rehabilitation and missed only three more sessions before finally donning the pads again and joining his teammates.
"Even with the time that I've had off, just being Lance Armstrong on the bikes over here, I feel like I've still come in and they've put me in situations where I kind of had to push myself a little bit," Owens said Friday. "My conditioning, my wind is not where it needs to be. But it's a 16-week season, so I know my conditioning will be there."
posted by The Gryphon at 11:24 AM
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