Cowboys' controversial receiver looks at season opener as a new opportunity
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Terrell Owens doesn't expect to be sitting on the bench when the Cowboys' offense takes the field against Jacksonville.
More photosIRVING -- Absence supposedly makes the heart grow fonder. At least that's the cliché.
During the controversy that has surrounded receiver Terrell Owens' 10-month, 309-day sabbatical from the NFL, could people have forgotten how good he was on the football field?
It's certain Denver cornerback Champ Bailey hasn't. But considering the controversies regarding his unceremonious departure from the Philadelphia Eagles, his three-year, $25 million contract with the Cowboys, and his injury hiatus from training camp, have others wanted to forget?
Owens definitely remembers his last game.
"It was Denver, I went 91 yards," said a smiling Owens about catching a short pass, making a move and leaving the respected Bailey in his dust on Oct. 30, 2005.
Owens also remembers everything that has been said and written about him since that day.
And feeling he has something to prove, Owens plans to re-introduce himself to the world in grand fashion in Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville.
"I'll be ready," said Owens, who has 716 career receptions for 10,535 yards and 101 touchdowns. "Just to hear a lot of the criticisms from a lot of commentators around the nation, I've got those things in the back of my head. Everybody has their opinion about me, what's going on with me. Everybody is going to speculate. People that know me, they know I am going to come out and be ready to play. I'm going to be fired up."
The thoughts of seeing Owens on the practice field regularly and having him in the lineup for the opener has the Cowboys fired up. The Cowboys admittedly took a gamble on the controversial Owens because of the big-play potential he brings to the offense. Team owner/general manager Jerry Jones says he's key to a possible Super Bowl run.
But Owens missed 21 days and three preseason games over the past month because of a sore hamstring.
Until his return to practice last Tuesday and then being in on 19 plays in the preseason finale against Minnesota two days later, there was a question as to whether Owens would be ready for the season opener.
"His presence is definitely felt," tight end Jason Witten said. "It creates a lot, not only for himself, but for the entire offense."
Coach Bill Parcells said the Cowboys are easing Owens back into the offense. He said they are getting a better feel of what he can do, even acknowledging he has looked good.
"We'll see where we are and what role he can handle," Parcells said. "If he's healthy, I'd be inclined to play him."
There's no doubt in Owens' mind that he is playing. He is not totally accustomed to the offense, but the Cowboys are tailoring plays to his skills. He spent time after practice Monday working on the deep ball with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who wanted to get adjusted to Owens' speed.
"They're moving me," Owens said. "I'm inside, I'm outside, I'm a little bit of everywhere. I'm really ready to get back on the field and just get back to what I'm used to doing, and that's making plays. I'm kind of champing at the bit just a little bit."
Owens, who accepts that people are rooting against him, continues to bristle when talk turns to his relationship with Parcells and accusations that he was faking the hamstring injury. He doesn't deny the talk bothers him -- as does the speculation about him potentially dividing the locker room.
"We're fine," he said. "I think if you go around and asked the locker room as a whole, I don't feel like we've had any problems. Same when I was in Philly. I don't think we had any problems there. I know not everybody is going to mesh. But when we get on the field, we're one unit."
Aside from proving his critics wrong, Owens said he is coming into the season with no personal goals. His focus will be on making plays and scoring touchdowns rather than a certain number of catches. He would love nothing more than to get Parcells to copy Eagles coach Andy Reid and promise to wear Owens' tights on the practice field if he scores a certain number of touchdowns.
"If I'm scoring touchdowns that equates to wins," Owens said. "I'm not a person that's big on yards or catches. It's the catches I get and what I do with them."
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Terrell Owens doesn't expect to be sitting on the bench when the Cowboys' offense takes the field against Jacksonville.
More photosIRVING -- Absence supposedly makes the heart grow fonder. At least that's the cliché.
During the controversy that has surrounded receiver Terrell Owens' 10-month, 309-day sabbatical from the NFL, could people have forgotten how good he was on the football field?
It's certain Denver cornerback Champ Bailey hasn't. But considering the controversies regarding his unceremonious departure from the Philadelphia Eagles, his three-year, $25 million contract with the Cowboys, and his injury hiatus from training camp, have others wanted to forget?
Owens definitely remembers his last game.
"It was Denver, I went 91 yards," said a smiling Owens about catching a short pass, making a move and leaving the respected Bailey in his dust on Oct. 30, 2005.
Owens also remembers everything that has been said and written about him since that day.
And feeling he has something to prove, Owens plans to re-introduce himself to the world in grand fashion in Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville.
"I'll be ready," said Owens, who has 716 career receptions for 10,535 yards and 101 touchdowns. "Just to hear a lot of the criticisms from a lot of commentators around the nation, I've got those things in the back of my head. Everybody has their opinion about me, what's going on with me. Everybody is going to speculate. People that know me, they know I am going to come out and be ready to play. I'm going to be fired up."
The thoughts of seeing Owens on the practice field regularly and having him in the lineup for the opener has the Cowboys fired up. The Cowboys admittedly took a gamble on the controversial Owens because of the big-play potential he brings to the offense. Team owner/general manager Jerry Jones says he's key to a possible Super Bowl run.
But Owens missed 21 days and three preseason games over the past month because of a sore hamstring.
Until his return to practice last Tuesday and then being in on 19 plays in the preseason finale against Minnesota two days later, there was a question as to whether Owens would be ready for the season opener.
"His presence is definitely felt," tight end Jason Witten said. "It creates a lot, not only for himself, but for the entire offense."
Coach Bill Parcells said the Cowboys are easing Owens back into the offense. He said they are getting a better feel of what he can do, even acknowledging he has looked good.
"We'll see where we are and what role he can handle," Parcells said. "If he's healthy, I'd be inclined to play him."
There's no doubt in Owens' mind that he is playing. He is not totally accustomed to the offense, but the Cowboys are tailoring plays to his skills. He spent time after practice Monday working on the deep ball with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who wanted to get adjusted to Owens' speed.
"They're moving me," Owens said. "I'm inside, I'm outside, I'm a little bit of everywhere. I'm really ready to get back on the field and just get back to what I'm used to doing, and that's making plays. I'm kind of champing at the bit just a little bit."
Owens, who accepts that people are rooting against him, continues to bristle when talk turns to his relationship with Parcells and accusations that he was faking the hamstring injury. He doesn't deny the talk bothers him -- as does the speculation about him potentially dividing the locker room.
"We're fine," he said. "I think if you go around and asked the locker room as a whole, I don't feel like we've had any problems. Same when I was in Philly. I don't think we had any problems there. I know not everybody is going to mesh. But when we get on the field, we're one unit."
Aside from proving his critics wrong, Owens said he is coming into the season with no personal goals. His focus will be on making plays and scoring touchdowns rather than a certain number of catches. He would love nothing more than to get Parcells to copy Eagles coach Andy Reid and promise to wear Owens' tights on the practice field if he scores a certain number of touchdowns.
"If I'm scoring touchdowns that equates to wins," Owens said. "I'm not a person that's big on yards or catches. It's the catches I get and what I do with them."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:42 PM
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