There are four sides to the Terrell Owens story
Star power
There are four sides to the Terrell Owens story
By BART HUBBUCH, The Times-Union
T.O., THE MEDIA STAR
Owens has never shied away from a microphone or a camera, and this week is no exception.
While most NFL stars, especially quarterbacks, consider the media such an annoyance that they only talk once per week for no more than five or 10 minutes, Owens always has been the antithesis of that.
Such openness has made Owens a media favorite, even though it has frequently gotten him into trouble and even had him kicked off the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Despite that history, Owens remains as affable and approachable as ever. Breaking what seems to be the players' unwritten code around the league, Owens made himself available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the Jaguars game.
There isn't any hiding in the trainer's room or the lounge for Owens, who thoughtfully answers every question. Even more rare for a perennial Pro Bowl pick, he stays behind 10 minutes after the cameras are turned off to field more questions from print reporters.
The joke around the locker room is that Owens would have talked Tuesday, too, except that its the players' off-day. But then there's always Owens' official Web site (terrellowens.com), official MySpace page or his latest autobiography (T.O.) for those who cant get enough.
At the same time, Owens sets the rules for his interviews and isn't above a little mischief.
Atop his locker this week was an iPod linked to an enormous boombox. Owens kept it on while conducting interviews, even as it blared the profanity-filled song White Man's World by the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
"We're not going to be able to use a word of this," one cameraman said to his reporter, pointing to the speakers as Owens' words mixed with the song's raunchy and very audible lyrics.
Teammates laughed, but the interview continued and didn't end until the reporters - not Owens - finally begged off.
"That's just who I am," Owens later said. "I"m not afraid to speak my mind. I'm my own person, and I always have been."
T.O., THE TEAMMATE
Because of Owens' reputation, particularly based on the details of his notorious flameout with the Eagles, teammates say they often fear the worst when he arrives.
What they find - at least in the early stages - is often very different. The Cowboys, at least judging from an informal survey of their locker room this week, appear to be no exception.
"Once you get past the media circus, he's great," said former Jaguars linebacker Akin Ayodele, who also signed with the Cowboys last spring. "T.O.'s a team guy, out here talking to everybody and playing jokes just like everybody else. And when he's out there, he plays hard every play. Whats not to like?"
Even when Owens missed most of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury that suddenly healed in time for the season opener, his teammates didn't seem to hold it against him. Never mind that Owens watched from the sideline and worked out on his own while the rest of the Dallas starters labored through the drudgery of two-a-days and meaningless exhibition games.
"Not a problem," running back Julius Jones said. "Every player knows his body, knows his limitations and knows how to get himself ready. You can't rush that. Nobody that I know held that against him." Owens has the respect of his teammates, at least so far, because he hasn't been aloof with them, has tried to fit in and works hard when he does practice.
That, and the fact that he's one of the most explosive receivers in the game and makes any team he plays for an instant playoff - if not Super Bowl - contender.
"The media has created this persona about Owens that he's an unreachable guy, not a teammate guy," Ayodele said. "But ask anyone in here: Nobody has a problem with him, and he gets along with everybody."
Players said Owens even does the little things that don't receive a lot of attention but make him a popular in the locker room. For example, he threw a barbecue for the team as it arrived in California for training camp and had similar monogrammed bath towels made for several teammates.
Of course, Owens' previous feuds with quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia have observers counting the days until his first public run-in with Dallas' Drew Bledsoe, but such talk irritates his new teammates.
"I can't stress enough how professional he's been," Bledsoe said this week. "I look forward to playing with him."
Terrell Owens suited up for just one preseason game because of injury, but his new Dallas Cowboys teammates say they're happy he's there. MATT SLOCUM/Associated Press
T.O., THE EMPLOYEE
Almost as scrutinized as his relationship with Bledsoe, if not more scrutinized, is how Owens will co-exist with Bill Parcells, the Cowboys' old-school coach.
Although Parcells has gotten along just fine with other celebrated lightning rods such as Lawrence Taylor, Keyshawn Johnson and Bryan Cox, his relationship with Owens appears to have a rocky start.
Parcells refuses to call Owens by his name, instead referring to him in media interviews as "the player" or "this player." Only once, when asked this week about the Cowboys' receiving corps as a whole, did Parcells seem to slip and call him "Terrell."
Parcells' respect isn't easily earned (rookies aren't allowed to wear the famous Cowboys star on their helmet in practice or have their full name posted above their locker), and Owens didn't help matters by missing most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, even though the coach felt he could play on it. Owens also appeared to openly taunt his new coach last month by riding a stationary bike at practice while wearing a helmet and a Lance Armstrong uniform.
All of it culminated last week, when the team fined Owens $9,500 for being late to meetings. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to keep the fine quiet and reportedly was furious when it leaked to The Dallas Morning News.
Media in Dallas wondered if Parcells was behind the leak.
The reason: speculation that Parcells opposed signing Owens in the first place but gave in only because of Jones' eagerness to build excitement about a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 1996. If so, Jones' ploy has worked. Ticket sales are up, jersey sales are through the hole in Texas Stadiums roof and, starting today, the Cowboys are an almost weekly staple of the NFLs national TV schedule.
There are other examples of Parcells' icy coolness toward Owens, most notably a stout refusal to name him a starter against the Jaguars or even confirm he would play. That came just days after Owens played 19 snaps in his only preseason appearance, with Parcells stubbornly limiting those snaps to a handful with Bledsoe and the first unit. Owens' only reception came from backup quarterback Tony Romo.
But if Parcells' coldness is a problem, Owens isn't letting on to the media.
"In a strange way, I've always kind of wanted a coach like Parcells," Owens said this week. "I'm not looking for a guy to treat me with any kind of preferential treatment. I'm fine with him calling me 'a player,' because that's what I am. I don't care if he calls me by my name. My goal is for him to call me 'the playmaker.'"
MATT SLOCUM/Associated Press
T.O., THE PLAYER
Forget the outlandish comments, the touchdown dances or the public blowups: When Owens is healthy, happy and determined, there isn't a more dangerous weapon in the NFL.
"Without a doubt," Ayodele said. "Never mind the games. You can just see it in practice. He's a warrior, and you can't cover the guy one-on-one. He makes every team he's on better just by walking out there."
That much was obvious the last time Owens visited Alltel Stadium in February 2005.
Despite suffering a high ankle sprain and a fractured fibula just seven weeks before (ironically, against the Cowboys), Owens rehabilitated in time to catch nine passes for 122 yards during the Eagles' 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
A work ethic isn't Owens' only attribute. He's a nightmare matchup for most opposing defensive backs at 6-feet-3, 224 pounds, and his willingness to fight through traffic to make the tough catch is legendary. There isn't any denying Owens' productivity, either. He has a career average of 14.7 yards per catch and has hauled in at least 13 touchdowns in five of his first 10 NFL seasons.
That, as much as Owens' notoriety, is what Jerry Jones had in mind when he gave the wide receiver a three-year, $25 million deal last spring, including $10 million in guaranteed money.
Although Owens had angered Dallas fans six years ago by stomping on Texas Stadium's midfield star as a San Francisco 49er, all appears to be forgiven in the Cowboys' bid to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"With his ability, he's going to be a wonderful thing for the Cowboys," said linebacker Greg Ellis, who was on the 2000 team when Owens stomped on the star. "He's going to take us where we need to be." And, no doubt, take Dallas on an eventful ride along the way.
There are four sides to the Terrell Owens story
By BART HUBBUCH, The Times-Union
T.O., THE MEDIA STAR
Owens has never shied away from a microphone or a camera, and this week is no exception.
While most NFL stars, especially quarterbacks, consider the media such an annoyance that they only talk once per week for no more than five or 10 minutes, Owens always has been the antithesis of that.
Such openness has made Owens a media favorite, even though it has frequently gotten him into trouble and even had him kicked off the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Despite that history, Owens remains as affable and approachable as ever. Breaking what seems to be the players' unwritten code around the league, Owens made himself available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the Jaguars game.
There isn't any hiding in the trainer's room or the lounge for Owens, who thoughtfully answers every question. Even more rare for a perennial Pro Bowl pick, he stays behind 10 minutes after the cameras are turned off to field more questions from print reporters.
The joke around the locker room is that Owens would have talked Tuesday, too, except that its the players' off-day. But then there's always Owens' official Web site (terrellowens.com), official MySpace page or his latest autobiography (T.O.) for those who cant get enough.
At the same time, Owens sets the rules for his interviews and isn't above a little mischief.
Atop his locker this week was an iPod linked to an enormous boombox. Owens kept it on while conducting interviews, even as it blared the profanity-filled song White Man's World by the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
"We're not going to be able to use a word of this," one cameraman said to his reporter, pointing to the speakers as Owens' words mixed with the song's raunchy and very audible lyrics.
Teammates laughed, but the interview continued and didn't end until the reporters - not Owens - finally begged off.
"That's just who I am," Owens later said. "I"m not afraid to speak my mind. I'm my own person, and I always have been."
T.O., THE TEAMMATE
Because of Owens' reputation, particularly based on the details of his notorious flameout with the Eagles, teammates say they often fear the worst when he arrives.
What they find - at least in the early stages - is often very different. The Cowboys, at least judging from an informal survey of their locker room this week, appear to be no exception.
"Once you get past the media circus, he's great," said former Jaguars linebacker Akin Ayodele, who also signed with the Cowboys last spring. "T.O.'s a team guy, out here talking to everybody and playing jokes just like everybody else. And when he's out there, he plays hard every play. Whats not to like?"
Even when Owens missed most of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury that suddenly healed in time for the season opener, his teammates didn't seem to hold it against him. Never mind that Owens watched from the sideline and worked out on his own while the rest of the Dallas starters labored through the drudgery of two-a-days and meaningless exhibition games.
"Not a problem," running back Julius Jones said. "Every player knows his body, knows his limitations and knows how to get himself ready. You can't rush that. Nobody that I know held that against him." Owens has the respect of his teammates, at least so far, because he hasn't been aloof with them, has tried to fit in and works hard when he does practice.
That, and the fact that he's one of the most explosive receivers in the game and makes any team he plays for an instant playoff - if not Super Bowl - contender.
"The media has created this persona about Owens that he's an unreachable guy, not a teammate guy," Ayodele said. "But ask anyone in here: Nobody has a problem with him, and he gets along with everybody."
Players said Owens even does the little things that don't receive a lot of attention but make him a popular in the locker room. For example, he threw a barbecue for the team as it arrived in California for training camp and had similar monogrammed bath towels made for several teammates.
Of course, Owens' previous feuds with quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia have observers counting the days until his first public run-in with Dallas' Drew Bledsoe, but such talk irritates his new teammates.
"I can't stress enough how professional he's been," Bledsoe said this week. "I look forward to playing with him."
Terrell Owens suited up for just one preseason game because of injury, but his new Dallas Cowboys teammates say they're happy he's there. MATT SLOCUM/Associated Press
T.O., THE EMPLOYEE
Almost as scrutinized as his relationship with Bledsoe, if not more scrutinized, is how Owens will co-exist with Bill Parcells, the Cowboys' old-school coach.
Although Parcells has gotten along just fine with other celebrated lightning rods such as Lawrence Taylor, Keyshawn Johnson and Bryan Cox, his relationship with Owens appears to have a rocky start.
Parcells refuses to call Owens by his name, instead referring to him in media interviews as "the player" or "this player." Only once, when asked this week about the Cowboys' receiving corps as a whole, did Parcells seem to slip and call him "Terrell."
Parcells' respect isn't easily earned (rookies aren't allowed to wear the famous Cowboys star on their helmet in practice or have their full name posted above their locker), and Owens didn't help matters by missing most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, even though the coach felt he could play on it. Owens also appeared to openly taunt his new coach last month by riding a stationary bike at practice while wearing a helmet and a Lance Armstrong uniform.
All of it culminated last week, when the team fined Owens $9,500 for being late to meetings. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to keep the fine quiet and reportedly was furious when it leaked to The Dallas Morning News.
Media in Dallas wondered if Parcells was behind the leak.
The reason: speculation that Parcells opposed signing Owens in the first place but gave in only because of Jones' eagerness to build excitement about a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 1996. If so, Jones' ploy has worked. Ticket sales are up, jersey sales are through the hole in Texas Stadiums roof and, starting today, the Cowboys are an almost weekly staple of the NFLs national TV schedule.
There are other examples of Parcells' icy coolness toward Owens, most notably a stout refusal to name him a starter against the Jaguars or even confirm he would play. That came just days after Owens played 19 snaps in his only preseason appearance, with Parcells stubbornly limiting those snaps to a handful with Bledsoe and the first unit. Owens' only reception came from backup quarterback Tony Romo.
But if Parcells' coldness is a problem, Owens isn't letting on to the media.
"In a strange way, I've always kind of wanted a coach like Parcells," Owens said this week. "I'm not looking for a guy to treat me with any kind of preferential treatment. I'm fine with him calling me 'a player,' because that's what I am. I don't care if he calls me by my name. My goal is for him to call me 'the playmaker.'"
MATT SLOCUM/Associated Press
T.O., THE PLAYER
Forget the outlandish comments, the touchdown dances or the public blowups: When Owens is healthy, happy and determined, there isn't a more dangerous weapon in the NFL.
"Without a doubt," Ayodele said. "Never mind the games. You can just see it in practice. He's a warrior, and you can't cover the guy one-on-one. He makes every team he's on better just by walking out there."
That much was obvious the last time Owens visited Alltel Stadium in February 2005.
Despite suffering a high ankle sprain and a fractured fibula just seven weeks before (ironically, against the Cowboys), Owens rehabilitated in time to catch nine passes for 122 yards during the Eagles' 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
A work ethic isn't Owens' only attribute. He's a nightmare matchup for most opposing defensive backs at 6-feet-3, 224 pounds, and his willingness to fight through traffic to make the tough catch is legendary. There isn't any denying Owens' productivity, either. He has a career average of 14.7 yards per catch and has hauled in at least 13 touchdowns in five of his first 10 NFL seasons.
That, as much as Owens' notoriety, is what Jerry Jones had in mind when he gave the wide receiver a three-year, $25 million deal last spring, including $10 million in guaranteed money.
Although Owens had angered Dallas fans six years ago by stomping on Texas Stadium's midfield star as a San Francisco 49er, all appears to be forgiven in the Cowboys' bid to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"With his ability, he's going to be a wonderful thing for the Cowboys," said linebacker Greg Ellis, who was on the 2000 team when Owens stomped on the star. "He's going to take us where we need to be." And, no doubt, take Dallas on an eventful ride along the way.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:36 AM
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