T.O. on Cowboys QBs: What controversy?
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
September 13, 2006
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Here's the best example yet of Terrell Owens living up to his vow of being "a better teammate" now that he's on the Dallas Cowboys: He's refusing to share his opinion about a brewing quarterback controversy between Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo.
He even finds it funny he's being asked.
"Quarterback controversy?" he said Wednesday, rolling his eyes and laughing. "We're not even going to talk about that unless I move to the defensive side of the ball, become a defensive end or something like that. Any quarterback questions, don't ask me."
Owens certainly knew the question was coming. So did the team's public relations director, who chatted briefly with Owens as the receiver made his way to the reporters waiting at his locker.
Any game-planning they might've done paid off because no matter how many times or ways he was asked, Owens steered clear of the subject.
"I am not going there," he said, still seeming amused by it all. "Quarterback questions are off-limits."
T.O. has rarely held tongue on the subject, from insinuations about Jeff Garcia's sexuality to Donovan McNabb's conditioning in the Super Bowl. Bitterness toward McNabb led to Owens being ousted by the Eagles; one of the final straws was Owens saying "we'd probably be in a better situation" with Brett Favre at quarterback instead of McNabb.
Now, only one game into Owens' Dallas tenure, the big story is whether Bledsoe should keep his job or get replaced by Romo, his untested backup. The talk has overtaken anything Owens-related as the No. 1 topic in Dallas because of how sloppy Bledsoe played in the opener.
Bledsoe started strong, then faded, and so did the Cowboys. He threw three interceptions and Dallas lost 24-17 to Jacksonville. Only four quarterbacks had a worse rating last weekend than his 45.8.
Coach Bill Parcells said Bledsoe will start Sunday night at home against Washington. While he said repeatedly Wednesday that he supports Bledsoe and he believes his longtime quarterback remains confident, Parcells also got into the concept of pressure forcing players to show their true selves.
"I think every one of us has an emotional button so to speak," Parcells said. "I've always believed that the human being only responds to one thing and that's pressure. Some respond favorably and others respond negatively."
Perhaps the best way for Bledsoe to bail himself out would be throwing more to T.O., who for all his antics remains one of the league's best receivers.
Bledsoe never threw a pass to Owens in a preseason game and they hardly worked together in practice because Owens missed so many with a hamstring problem. Yet they connected for 13 yards on Dallas' first offensive snap of the season and, two plays later, hit an 8-yarder.
Owens finished with six catches for 80 yards, including a nifty touchdown grab that gave the Cowboys hopes of forcing overtime. T.O. had the most catches on the team and the only one for a touchdown; two more receptions for another 31 yards were nullified by penalties.
Hmm, maybe that explains why Owens is standing up for his quarterback.
"I have all the confidence in the world he will bounce back completely," Owens said.
He calls their relationship "a work in progress."
"I'm trying to help him get a feel for me, knowing I'm a little faster than some receivers that he's had in the past," Owens said. "We're not going to be perfect every time. Just like with the touchdown pass -- that was supposed to be on the outside and it went to the inside, and I had to twirl around and catch it.
"We're both out there trying to help each other," he said. "We know we're going to need each other to win some ballgames."
Bledsoe also said his rapport with Owens is coming along quickly, pointing out that the touchdown came on a play they'd discussed earlier in the week.
"I told him, `Hey, if we get single coverage over there, it's coming,"' Bledsoe said. "He knew it was and went and made a play on the throw,"
Bledsoe liked what he saw from Owens so much that he sounded like he'll be looking for No. 81 even more Sunday.
"The thing that's pretty remarkable is that even in some tight coverage, he's breaking tackles and getting to run after the catch," Bledsoe said. "He doesn't get tackled by the first guy, ever. He's definitely a weapon for us and you'll continue to see him grow as the season goes on in his role."
Owens expects it, too. He acknowledged Wednesday that the 10-month layoff since his last regular-season game, plus the lack of preseason work, is catching up to him now that he's practicing regularly and played on Sunday.
"My legs aren't the way they need to be right now," he said. "Once I get my legs up under me, I definitely know I'll play better."
No matter who is throwing to him.
September 13, 2006
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Here's the best example yet of Terrell Owens living up to his vow of being "a better teammate" now that he's on the Dallas Cowboys: He's refusing to share his opinion about a brewing quarterback controversy between Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo.
He even finds it funny he's being asked.
"Quarterback controversy?" he said Wednesday, rolling his eyes and laughing. "We're not even going to talk about that unless I move to the defensive side of the ball, become a defensive end or something like that. Any quarterback questions, don't ask me."
Owens certainly knew the question was coming. So did the team's public relations director, who chatted briefly with Owens as the receiver made his way to the reporters waiting at his locker.
Any game-planning they might've done paid off because no matter how many times or ways he was asked, Owens steered clear of the subject.
"I am not going there," he said, still seeming amused by it all. "Quarterback questions are off-limits."
T.O. has rarely held tongue on the subject, from insinuations about Jeff Garcia's sexuality to Donovan McNabb's conditioning in the Super Bowl. Bitterness toward McNabb led to Owens being ousted by the Eagles; one of the final straws was Owens saying "we'd probably be in a better situation" with Brett Favre at quarterback instead of McNabb.
Now, only one game into Owens' Dallas tenure, the big story is whether Bledsoe should keep his job or get replaced by Romo, his untested backup. The talk has overtaken anything Owens-related as the No. 1 topic in Dallas because of how sloppy Bledsoe played in the opener.
Bledsoe started strong, then faded, and so did the Cowboys. He threw three interceptions and Dallas lost 24-17 to Jacksonville. Only four quarterbacks had a worse rating last weekend than his 45.8.
Coach Bill Parcells said Bledsoe will start Sunday night at home against Washington. While he said repeatedly Wednesday that he supports Bledsoe and he believes his longtime quarterback remains confident, Parcells also got into the concept of pressure forcing players to show their true selves.
"I think every one of us has an emotional button so to speak," Parcells said. "I've always believed that the human being only responds to one thing and that's pressure. Some respond favorably and others respond negatively."
Perhaps the best way for Bledsoe to bail himself out would be throwing more to T.O., who for all his antics remains one of the league's best receivers.
Bledsoe never threw a pass to Owens in a preseason game and they hardly worked together in practice because Owens missed so many with a hamstring problem. Yet they connected for 13 yards on Dallas' first offensive snap of the season and, two plays later, hit an 8-yarder.
Owens finished with six catches for 80 yards, including a nifty touchdown grab that gave the Cowboys hopes of forcing overtime. T.O. had the most catches on the team and the only one for a touchdown; two more receptions for another 31 yards were nullified by penalties.
Hmm, maybe that explains why Owens is standing up for his quarterback.
"I have all the confidence in the world he will bounce back completely," Owens said.
He calls their relationship "a work in progress."
"I'm trying to help him get a feel for me, knowing I'm a little faster than some receivers that he's had in the past," Owens said. "We're not going to be perfect every time. Just like with the touchdown pass -- that was supposed to be on the outside and it went to the inside, and I had to twirl around and catch it.
"We're both out there trying to help each other," he said. "We know we're going to need each other to win some ballgames."
Bledsoe also said his rapport with Owens is coming along quickly, pointing out that the touchdown came on a play they'd discussed earlier in the week.
"I told him, `Hey, if we get single coverage over there, it's coming,"' Bledsoe said. "He knew it was and went and made a play on the throw,"
Bledsoe liked what he saw from Owens so much that he sounded like he'll be looking for No. 81 even more Sunday.
"The thing that's pretty remarkable is that even in some tight coverage, he's breaking tackles and getting to run after the catch," Bledsoe said. "He doesn't get tackled by the first guy, ever. He's definitely a weapon for us and you'll continue to see him grow as the season goes on in his role."
Owens expects it, too. He acknowledged Wednesday that the 10-month layoff since his last regular-season game, plus the lack of preseason work, is catching up to him now that he's practicing regularly and played on Sunday.
"My legs aren't the way they need to be right now," he said. "Once I get my legs up under me, I definitely know I'll play better."
No matter who is throwing to him.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:04 PM
<< Home