USAToday: Inside Slant - Dallas Cowboys
Posted 6/2/2007 3:28 AM ET
Wide receiver Terrell Owens will indeed be in a Cowboys uniform in 2007.
Although owner Jerry Jones' rhetoric regarding Owens' future with the Cowboys has been very consistent, there was still the matter of a $3 million roster bonus to guarantee Owens' return.
Jones has stated since the end of the season that he intended to pay Owens the bonus.
With the Cowboys facing a Friday deadline of paying the bonus or releasing Owens, Jones came through on his word.
Owens was absent from the team's Organized Team Activity workout and was unavailable for comment.
The Cowboys are betting that year two of the Owens era in Dallas will provide more production and less drama than year one.
Owens joined the Cowboys in February 2006 after two tumultuous and controversial seasons in Philadelphia, signing a three-year, $30 million contract.
Owens said he came to Dallas looking for a fresh start. He promised to be a better man and teammate than he was in previous stints with the Eagles and 49ers.
However, the controversy in Dallas began shortly after the ink was dry on his contract.
Owens skipped the team's offseason program and then missed the majority of training camp with a hamstring injury.
He even mocked his absence from training camp practices and time spent on a stationary bike by donning a Tour De France jersey and cycling helmet. He was fined by the Cowboys for being late for team meetings and missing a rehab session.
Of course, the real drama didn't start until the season began. Owens' 2006 season included a fractured hand, an accidental overdose of painkillers and media battles with then-coach Bill Parcells over his role in the offense and verbal fights with then-receivers coach Todd Haley. He accused Parcells of not asking about his health following the overdose. He accused someone in the Cowboys organization of being a snitch to the media and vowed to confront them.
He also suffered a torn ligament in his right ring finger.
Owens had an eventful first season in Dallas. He led the Cowboys with 85 catches for 1,180 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns. He also led the league with 17 dropped passes, partly due to the finger and hand injuries.
He underwent two offseason surgeries to repair a torn tendon in his right ring finger.
With Owens now healthy, Jones believes Owens is poised to have a bigger impact in 2007.
NOTES, QUOTES
—QB Tony Romo can relate to Miss USA Rachel Smith. As a judge at the Miss Universe Pageant, Romo watched Smith fall down during the evening gown competition. Remember, it was Romo who dropped a snap during the Cowboys' wildcard loss to the Seahawks last year.
He said he was very impressed with how she got up and composed herself. She finished fourth.
"You feel bad for her at first, but she composed herself really well and when she got up, I gave her a little bit, probably better number just because of the way she composed herself when she got up," Romo said. "I can definitely understand when someone on a national stage doesn't do exactly what they wanted. She performed well, she got up and did a good job."
—DE Marcus Spears mourns the death of his friend and former teammate, Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill.
Spears played college football with Hill at LSU. The two were roommates.
Hill died last week when his jet ski crashed in Lake Pontchartrain, near his home in New Orleans.
"It's tough, man," Spears said. "It's just really tough. I'm still in shock, I guess. We all know death is something we've got to go through. But you're just never prepared for it, especially for a guy who's 24 years old and has a two-year old son. It's just tough."
—Three rookies — QB Matt Moore, CB Courtney Brown and LB Alex Obomese — have not been able to participate in any of the OTAs because classes have not yet dismissed at their respective colleges. They should be available for the mandatory minicamp, set for June 8-10.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Obviously, I like the 3-4 — I've been coaching it a long time. I think it gives you a lot of things, especially the pass rush. Pittsburgh is different than we are. Bill Parcells is different as far as how they run it. And I think (Bill) Belichick has changed from what Bill did before. All of them have their ways of doing things. I think ours has been pretty successful. I think it'll do well." — Coach Wade Phillips on the 3-4 defense.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens will indeed be in a Cowboys uniform in 2007.
Although owner Jerry Jones' rhetoric regarding Owens' future with the Cowboys has been very consistent, there was still the matter of a $3 million roster bonus to guarantee Owens' return.
Jones has stated since the end of the season that he intended to pay Owens the bonus.
With the Cowboys facing a Friday deadline of paying the bonus or releasing Owens, Jones came through on his word.
Owens was absent from the team's Organized Team Activity workout and was unavailable for comment.
The Cowboys are betting that year two of the Owens era in Dallas will provide more production and less drama than year one.
Owens joined the Cowboys in February 2006 after two tumultuous and controversial seasons in Philadelphia, signing a three-year, $30 million contract.
Owens said he came to Dallas looking for a fresh start. He promised to be a better man and teammate than he was in previous stints with the Eagles and 49ers.
However, the controversy in Dallas began shortly after the ink was dry on his contract.
Owens skipped the team's offseason program and then missed the majority of training camp with a hamstring injury.
He even mocked his absence from training camp practices and time spent on a stationary bike by donning a Tour De France jersey and cycling helmet. He was fined by the Cowboys for being late for team meetings and missing a rehab session.
Of course, the real drama didn't start until the season began. Owens' 2006 season included a fractured hand, an accidental overdose of painkillers and media battles with then-coach Bill Parcells over his role in the offense and verbal fights with then-receivers coach Todd Haley. He accused Parcells of not asking about his health following the overdose. He accused someone in the Cowboys organization of being a snitch to the media and vowed to confront them.
He also suffered a torn ligament in his right ring finger.
Owens had an eventful first season in Dallas. He led the Cowboys with 85 catches for 1,180 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns. He also led the league with 17 dropped passes, partly due to the finger and hand injuries.
He underwent two offseason surgeries to repair a torn tendon in his right ring finger.
With Owens now healthy, Jones believes Owens is poised to have a bigger impact in 2007.
NOTES, QUOTES
—QB Tony Romo can relate to Miss USA Rachel Smith. As a judge at the Miss Universe Pageant, Romo watched Smith fall down during the evening gown competition. Remember, it was Romo who dropped a snap during the Cowboys' wildcard loss to the Seahawks last year.
He said he was very impressed with how she got up and composed herself. She finished fourth.
"You feel bad for her at first, but she composed herself really well and when she got up, I gave her a little bit, probably better number just because of the way she composed herself when she got up," Romo said. "I can definitely understand when someone on a national stage doesn't do exactly what they wanted. She performed well, she got up and did a good job."
—DE Marcus Spears mourns the death of his friend and former teammate, Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill.
Spears played college football with Hill at LSU. The two were roommates.
Hill died last week when his jet ski crashed in Lake Pontchartrain, near his home in New Orleans.
"It's tough, man," Spears said. "It's just really tough. I'm still in shock, I guess. We all know death is something we've got to go through. But you're just never prepared for it, especially for a guy who's 24 years old and has a two-year old son. It's just tough."
—Three rookies — QB Matt Moore, CB Courtney Brown and LB Alex Obomese — have not been able to participate in any of the OTAs because classes have not yet dismissed at their respective colleges. They should be available for the mandatory minicamp, set for June 8-10.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Obviously, I like the 3-4 — I've been coaching it a long time. I think it gives you a lot of things, especially the pass rush. Pittsburgh is different than we are. Bill Parcells is different as far as how they run it. And I think (Bill) Belichick has changed from what Bill did before. All of them have their ways of doing things. I think ours has been pretty successful. I think it'll do well." — Coach Wade Phillips on the 3-4 defense.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:49 AM
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