T.O's Here All Right
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
June 7, 2007 6:11 PM
IRVING, Texas - Even before you see he's here, you know he's here.
We speak of Terrell Owens. T.O. The Player. Eighty-one. Take your pick.
On the walk out to the practice field heading past an empty locker room out at The Ranch, the music is blaring, and doing so from the customary east side. Yep, he's here. That's his iPod docked in his locker, no doubt.
Sound the all-clear siren. Stay my beating heart. Terrell is here for Thursday's voluntary OTA, which means he will be here for this weekend's voluntary three-day mini-camp, which means he won't be in San Antonio Thursday night for the NBA Finals tip-off, affording relief to one and all. Sunday, though, is a possibility, since the Cowboys will practice twice on Friday, twice on Saturday and only have a meeting on Sunday.
Then, that's it. Other than finishing up individual workouts, both vets and rookies, there is nothing until training camp. Not even voluntary stuff. What in the world will everyone worry about? No longer will anyone have to "hear from sources" if Julius Jones is here (he was Thursday) or if Marion Barber is getting all the snaps (he wasn't here Thursday) or if Roy Williams is here (he was) or Mat McBriar (he wasn't).
The silliness ceases, along with any more platforms for Greg Ellis to air his endless campaign on the merits of a pay raise which seems to get fueled when the media is around. And not to be disappointed, he was provided just that when another round of he-said, she-said was orchestrated after owner Jerry Jones' remarks on the subject were relayed to the rehabbing outside linebacker.
Take eight. Lights. Action.
But if you were here, what you certainly could have gotten into watching the final hour of the final of 11 OTA's was Terrell catching passes. He was all over the place. And yes, no need to remind me these workouts are but in helmets, T-shirts and shorts, but he was virtually uncover-able if you will.
My notes say he caught three deep passes behind the entire defense. They say he was catching crossing routes over the middle. They say he was about catching the ball at will.
And someone actually asked Jones how Terrell's finger was doing, you know, the surgically repaired one at the tip of the right finger that seemingly was going to shrivel up and die because the severed tendon wasn't immediately tended to last season? Well, let me tell you, that much-publicized digit seemed to be doing just fine.
'Bout the only two balls I didn't see him catch were the high sideline out contested by Anthony Henry that fell to the ground when they came tumbling down and the one corner Joey Thomas raked out from behind.
Don't you know Jones, standing on the practice field sideline close by, had to be thinking, not a bad $3 million investment I just made, having funded Terrell's bonus this week to keep him on the team's roster.
Of course he was asked about the decision, which Jones had been insisting was a non-decision all along. They wanted to know if he even debated the decision, and he said, "Never . . . never . . . not one time."
Jones didn't stop there, and it wasn't as if he needed to prove his point, but he said anyway, "He's a key player and a key part of our plans. I'm proud he's on the team."
Say what you want about Owens in 2006, all the drama, all the overly-embellished drops, but how do you take for granted a man who catches 85 passes in a season for an average of nearly 14 yards? How do you take for granted a man who catches 13 touchdown passes in a season?
How do you minimize the fact Owens became the first Cowboys wide receiver to catch 85 passes in a season since Michael Irvin bagged 111 in 1995? Or that those 85 are the fourth most in a single season in club history? Or that no other receiver in club history not named Michael Irvin, a Hall of Famer now by the way, has ever caught more? Or that only one player in Cowboys history has caught more touchdown passes in a single season, and his name was the Frank Clark, and but one more back in the team's stone ages (1962)?
Now, can the guy and his drama be a pain in the neck? No doubt. But if you have the constitution to deal with whatever is next - we came to realize whatever with this guy is far reaching - then the tradeoff is pretty good.
Now who really knows what he might say next, but there seemed to be two dynamics at work here on Thursday. First, and highly evident, Owens was running really well. Really well. Who knows, maybe that's the "fresh legs" theory. You know, he's been doing his own thing mostly while the other receivers and DB's have been busting their butts going through 11 of these OTA's the past three weeks.
But then again, maybe he's like really healthy for a change. Remember, he arrived here last year with a little bit of a groin problem, and that seemed to bleed into one thing after another. Remember, from Dec. 19, 2004, through Jan. 6, 2006, Terrell played but eight football games. And from Oct. 30, 2005, until July 29, 2006, he never once practiced in pads.
That is not good for a Thirtysomething athlete at a skilled position. The older you get the harder you must work to retain your skills. Believe me, my tennis game can attest to that.
"Oh, I'm ready," said Owens when told he seemed to be running free and easy.
Now the second factor at work here has no visual evidence. This is more of a sensing after being around the guy for nearly a year now and realizing he's not a very trusting soul. He seems to stay on-guard - an always suspicious sort.
But Terrell seems to trust Wade Phillips a little more than Bill Parcells, however founded or unfounded that might be. He just seems to, and Wade has only been here four months or so.
And while he never really said so, but sure threw out enough intimations last year, he sure as hell seems to trust Tony Romo much more than Drew Bledsoe. For some reason, Terrell gave off these skeptical vibes when it came to Bledsoe really being in his corner.
The relationship seemed superficial. Neither seemed to believe in the other.
Terrell, though, seems to dig Romo, for whatever reason, and I'll refrain from playing Dr. Malfi here. Although, Romo seems willing to risk his own neck by throwing the ball up for grabs to him, and to Terrell that means the quarterback thinks he's capable of making the play. That's big with him.
Yep, that word trust again.
Jones reaffirmed his trust in Terrell 3 million times this week, although the wide receiver, uh, sorry, Eight-One, er Terrell, says he wasn't even aware of the payment until his agent did so. And why not, since Jones basically bought, at least from a numbers standpoint, one of the best single-season receiving performances in club history.
Which is why you, too, would have snickered Thursday when Jones was asked if the club planned on making T.O. a bigger part of the offense this year; if they planned on getting him the ball even more.
More?
With the likes of Terry Glenn and Jason Witten and the idea of throwing a few screens to Julius Jones, and even with Patrick Crayton stepping up last year, why become one-dimensional? More could become less.
"I thought he was a key part last year," Jones said.
He was, once you hacked your way through all the bull.
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
June 7, 2007 6:11 PM
IRVING, Texas - Even before you see he's here, you know he's here.
We speak of Terrell Owens. T.O. The Player. Eighty-one. Take your pick.
On the walk out to the practice field heading past an empty locker room out at The Ranch, the music is blaring, and doing so from the customary east side. Yep, he's here. That's his iPod docked in his locker, no doubt.
Sound the all-clear siren. Stay my beating heart. Terrell is here for Thursday's voluntary OTA, which means he will be here for this weekend's voluntary three-day mini-camp, which means he won't be in San Antonio Thursday night for the NBA Finals tip-off, affording relief to one and all. Sunday, though, is a possibility, since the Cowboys will practice twice on Friday, twice on Saturday and only have a meeting on Sunday.
Then, that's it. Other than finishing up individual workouts, both vets and rookies, there is nothing until training camp. Not even voluntary stuff. What in the world will everyone worry about? No longer will anyone have to "hear from sources" if Julius Jones is here (he was Thursday) or if Marion Barber is getting all the snaps (he wasn't here Thursday) or if Roy Williams is here (he was) or Mat McBriar (he wasn't).
The silliness ceases, along with any more platforms for Greg Ellis to air his endless campaign on the merits of a pay raise which seems to get fueled when the media is around. And not to be disappointed, he was provided just that when another round of he-said, she-said was orchestrated after owner Jerry Jones' remarks on the subject were relayed to the rehabbing outside linebacker.
Take eight. Lights. Action.
But if you were here, what you certainly could have gotten into watching the final hour of the final of 11 OTA's was Terrell catching passes. He was all over the place. And yes, no need to remind me these workouts are but in helmets, T-shirts and shorts, but he was virtually uncover-able if you will.
My notes say he caught three deep passes behind the entire defense. They say he was catching crossing routes over the middle. They say he was about catching the ball at will.
And someone actually asked Jones how Terrell's finger was doing, you know, the surgically repaired one at the tip of the right finger that seemingly was going to shrivel up and die because the severed tendon wasn't immediately tended to last season? Well, let me tell you, that much-publicized digit seemed to be doing just fine.
'Bout the only two balls I didn't see him catch were the high sideline out contested by Anthony Henry that fell to the ground when they came tumbling down and the one corner Joey Thomas raked out from behind.
Don't you know Jones, standing on the practice field sideline close by, had to be thinking, not a bad $3 million investment I just made, having funded Terrell's bonus this week to keep him on the team's roster.
Of course he was asked about the decision, which Jones had been insisting was a non-decision all along. They wanted to know if he even debated the decision, and he said, "Never . . . never . . . not one time."
Jones didn't stop there, and it wasn't as if he needed to prove his point, but he said anyway, "He's a key player and a key part of our plans. I'm proud he's on the team."
Say what you want about Owens in 2006, all the drama, all the overly-embellished drops, but how do you take for granted a man who catches 85 passes in a season for an average of nearly 14 yards? How do you take for granted a man who catches 13 touchdown passes in a season?
How do you minimize the fact Owens became the first Cowboys wide receiver to catch 85 passes in a season since Michael Irvin bagged 111 in 1995? Or that those 85 are the fourth most in a single season in club history? Or that no other receiver in club history not named Michael Irvin, a Hall of Famer now by the way, has ever caught more? Or that only one player in Cowboys history has caught more touchdown passes in a single season, and his name was the Frank Clark, and but one more back in the team's stone ages (1962)?
Now, can the guy and his drama be a pain in the neck? No doubt. But if you have the constitution to deal with whatever is next - we came to realize whatever with this guy is far reaching - then the tradeoff is pretty good.
Now who really knows what he might say next, but there seemed to be two dynamics at work here on Thursday. First, and highly evident, Owens was running really well. Really well. Who knows, maybe that's the "fresh legs" theory. You know, he's been doing his own thing mostly while the other receivers and DB's have been busting their butts going through 11 of these OTA's the past three weeks.
But then again, maybe he's like really healthy for a change. Remember, he arrived here last year with a little bit of a groin problem, and that seemed to bleed into one thing after another. Remember, from Dec. 19, 2004, through Jan. 6, 2006, Terrell played but eight football games. And from Oct. 30, 2005, until July 29, 2006, he never once practiced in pads.
That is not good for a Thirtysomething athlete at a skilled position. The older you get the harder you must work to retain your skills. Believe me, my tennis game can attest to that.
"Oh, I'm ready," said Owens when told he seemed to be running free and easy.
Now the second factor at work here has no visual evidence. This is more of a sensing after being around the guy for nearly a year now and realizing he's not a very trusting soul. He seems to stay on-guard - an always suspicious sort.
But Terrell seems to trust Wade Phillips a little more than Bill Parcells, however founded or unfounded that might be. He just seems to, and Wade has only been here four months or so.
And while he never really said so, but sure threw out enough intimations last year, he sure as hell seems to trust Tony Romo much more than Drew Bledsoe. For some reason, Terrell gave off these skeptical vibes when it came to Bledsoe really being in his corner.
The relationship seemed superficial. Neither seemed to believe in the other.
Terrell, though, seems to dig Romo, for whatever reason, and I'll refrain from playing Dr. Malfi here. Although, Romo seems willing to risk his own neck by throwing the ball up for grabs to him, and to Terrell that means the quarterback thinks he's capable of making the play. That's big with him.
Yep, that word trust again.
Jones reaffirmed his trust in Terrell 3 million times this week, although the wide receiver, uh, sorry, Eight-One, er Terrell, says he wasn't even aware of the payment until his agent did so. And why not, since Jones basically bought, at least from a numbers standpoint, one of the best single-season receiving performances in club history.
Which is why you, too, would have snickered Thursday when Jones was asked if the club planned on making T.O. a bigger part of the offense this year; if they planned on getting him the ball even more.
More?
With the likes of Terry Glenn and Jason Witten and the idea of throwing a few screens to Julius Jones, and even with Patrick Crayton stepping up last year, why become one-dimensional? More could become less.
"I thought he was a key part last year," Jones said.
He was, once you hacked your way through all the bull.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:37 PM
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