Owens' saga hasn't distracted Cowboys
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING – Before stepping into the Cowboys locker room Wednesday afternoon, I had my doubts about whether this young team was mentally strong enough to handle the latest commotion involving Terrell Owens.
But after talking to several players, I'm confident the did-he-or-didn't-he suicide saga won't become a major distraction. Write it down: The Cowboys will beat the Titans by 17 points Sunday.
The drama surrounding Owens' preseason hamstring injury served the Cowboys well, giving them a first-hand look at how any story involving T.O. can quickly become national news.
"Because of the reputation that T.O. has, because of the attention that has been around him in the past, anything that happens turns into a bigger deal," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "I understand that. We understand that as a team."
The tension eased considerably Wednesday after Owens arrived at practice less than two hours after being released from the hospital. Seeing Owens looking no different than he looked the day before prompted linebacker Bradie James and others to poke fun at No. 81.
"We had our way with him," James said. "We had some fun with him. He was out there running, so everything is fine.
"That's what we do as teammates," James added. "If you're not dying and you come back and are walking around, we are going to have fun with you. We know him. He loves himself too much to even think (of suicide). He's always in here with a towel and nothing else on. He's not going to do anything to endanger himself."
And as frustrating as Bill Parcells' Sergeant Schultz "I know nothing" routine was during his media briefing Wednesday, his refusal to delve into Owens' psyche once again prevented a big story from becoming even bigger.
Of course, every team and every coach can just take so much. If Owens continues to generate the wrong type of news, this team too may crack. But for now, they seem to be immune to a story even as bizarre as this one.
Five reasons why the Cowboys beat the Titans
1. The offense, with Julius Jones picking up where he left off against the Redskins, is poised to overpower a defense that's ranked 29th in the league and is allowing 386 yards and 25.3 yards per game.
2. Parcells' prediction that DeMarcus Ware is about to go nuts comes true and he flattens Kerry Collins at least three times.
3. Vince Young replaces Collins early and plays like a rookie instead of a Heisman Trophy-winning legend.
4. Shaun Suisham booms his kickoffs, Mat McBriar continues to punt like Ray Guy and Mike Vanderjagt makes another 50-yard field goal.
5. Roy Williams continues to play like the league's best safety.
Five reasons why the Cowboys lose to the Titans
1. The Titans defense, energized by their five-sack performance last week against the Dolphins and Daunte Culpepper, steps up and harasses Bledsoe.
2. Vince Young relieves Collins and shows the form that made him arguably the greatest player in Texas history.
3. The Titans' running back trio of Travis Henry, Chris Brown and first-round pick LenDale White combine for 150-plus yards.
4. The Cowboys get caught looking past Tennessee to their Oct. 8 showdown with the Eagles in Philadelphia.
5. The latest ruckus involving Owens proves to be too much of a distraction for a young team that is sometimes mentally soft.
Prediction
Parcells won't allow his team to fall victim to a trap game, but the big difference is a Cowboys offense that generates big numbers on the ground against a Titans defense that is yielding 163.7 yards per game.
Cowboys 31, Titans 14
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING – Before stepping into the Cowboys locker room Wednesday afternoon, I had my doubts about whether this young team was mentally strong enough to handle the latest commotion involving Terrell Owens.
But after talking to several players, I'm confident the did-he-or-didn't-he suicide saga won't become a major distraction. Write it down: The Cowboys will beat the Titans by 17 points Sunday.
The drama surrounding Owens' preseason hamstring injury served the Cowboys well, giving them a first-hand look at how any story involving T.O. can quickly become national news.
"Because of the reputation that T.O. has, because of the attention that has been around him in the past, anything that happens turns into a bigger deal," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "I understand that. We understand that as a team."
The tension eased considerably Wednesday after Owens arrived at practice less than two hours after being released from the hospital. Seeing Owens looking no different than he looked the day before prompted linebacker Bradie James and others to poke fun at No. 81.
"We had our way with him," James said. "We had some fun with him. He was out there running, so everything is fine.
"That's what we do as teammates," James added. "If you're not dying and you come back and are walking around, we are going to have fun with you. We know him. He loves himself too much to even think (of suicide). He's always in here with a towel and nothing else on. He's not going to do anything to endanger himself."
And as frustrating as Bill Parcells' Sergeant Schultz "I know nothing" routine was during his media briefing Wednesday, his refusal to delve into Owens' psyche once again prevented a big story from becoming even bigger.
Of course, every team and every coach can just take so much. If Owens continues to generate the wrong type of news, this team too may crack. But for now, they seem to be immune to a story even as bizarre as this one.
Five reasons why the Cowboys beat the Titans
1. The offense, with Julius Jones picking up where he left off against the Redskins, is poised to overpower a defense that's ranked 29th in the league and is allowing 386 yards and 25.3 yards per game.
2. Parcells' prediction that DeMarcus Ware is about to go nuts comes true and he flattens Kerry Collins at least three times.
3. Vince Young replaces Collins early and plays like a rookie instead of a Heisman Trophy-winning legend.
4. Shaun Suisham booms his kickoffs, Mat McBriar continues to punt like Ray Guy and Mike Vanderjagt makes another 50-yard field goal.
5. Roy Williams continues to play like the league's best safety.
Five reasons why the Cowboys lose to the Titans
1. The Titans defense, energized by their five-sack performance last week against the Dolphins and Daunte Culpepper, steps up and harasses Bledsoe.
2. Vince Young relieves Collins and shows the form that made him arguably the greatest player in Texas history.
3. The Titans' running back trio of Travis Henry, Chris Brown and first-round pick LenDale White combine for 150-plus yards.
4. The Cowboys get caught looking past Tennessee to their Oct. 8 showdown with the Eagles in Philadelphia.
5. The latest ruckus involving Owens proves to be too much of a distraction for a young team that is sometimes mentally soft.
Prediction
Parcells won't allow his team to fall victim to a trap game, but the big difference is a Cowboys offense that generates big numbers on the ground against a Titans defense that is yielding 163.7 yards per game.
Cowboys 31, Titans 14
posted by The Gryphon at 9:21 AM
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