NFL: Has Owens turned over a new leaf?

Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News

Late in the first half of the Dallas Cowboys opener, Terrell Owens sat on the end of the bench with a towel draped over his head and no receptions to his credit.
"Get ready for a meltdown," more than one press box wag muttered.

But instead of going ballistic as he's done so many times in the past, Owens calmly entered the locker room and pulled off perhaps the biggest surprise of Week 1.

"He came in with a good attitude and urged everybody to play well in the second half," Wade Phillips said. "A lot of guys get their dobber down or whatever when things aren't going their way or they're not getting the ball, but he wasn't that way at all."

Owens returned to the locker room 90 minutes later to receive one of five game balls Phillips distributed after the Cowboys subdued the New York Giants.

In his 12 NFL seasons, Owens' play has earned him numerous game balls. On Sunday, he received one for his poise.

Make no mistake. Owens' two touchdown receptions in the second half were crucial plays in helping the defense-deficient Dallas Cowboys post a 45-35 victory over their NFC East rivals.

But it was Owens' newfound team-first attitude that impressed Phillips most. And it wasn't an aberration either, the coach said.

"He's been outstanding — on the practice field and in the meetings," Phillips said.

Part of the reason for the turnaround has been Phillips himself. Tony Romo says Owens trusts and likes Phillips and doesn't want to let him down.

Phillips, likewise, seems fond of Owens. The same, of course, couldn't be said of Bill Parcells, who last season hardly ever referred to Owens by name.

Asked in a conference call with reporters covering the Miami Dolphins how he "dealt" with Owens, Phillips said, "I don't deal with him. I work with him."

Then there's this: In Jason Garrett, Owens has an offensive coordinator who he says is on his side. Last season, Owens clashed often with receivers coach/passing-game coordinator Todd Haley, now Arizona's offensive coordinator.

"I don't think it's a situation where I have to harp on getting the ball," Owens said. "We have an offensive coordinator who knows my strengths and the strengths of this offense."

With that in mind, Owens says he's OK helping the offense in ways other than catching passes.

"That entails whatever the case may be," he said. "It may be me running down the middle, getting guys open as Jason Witten got open in the first half."

Against the Giants, Romo completed passes to six different receivers for 345 yards and four TDs. Witten led the way with six receptions for 116 yards and one TD.

Owens caught three passes for 87 yards. He could have had more, but the Giants unveiled coverages early that threw his timing off with Romo.

"It's going to be an exciting season," Owens said. "As you saw, anybody during any point of the game is going to get the ball."

And if Romo has his way, Owens will see it often.

"T.O. really worked hard this offseason to position himself to have a successful year," Romo said. "He really wants to perform well and is out to prove he can be a dominant receiver. We're lucky to have him."

Notebook: Receiver Terry Glenn had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday. It's the second time in six weeks Glenn has had the procedure. "There's no timetable, but (team doctors) feel like he has a chance to come back and make a run at playing this season," team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said. ... Linebacker Greg Ellis practiced in pads for the first time since tearing his left Achilles' tendon in November. "I'm hesitant to say he'll be a game-time decision because he's practiced only once," Phillips said. ... Ailing cornerback Terence Newman also practiced and will be a game-time decision, Phillips said.