'Put some butter on it'
A liberal dose
September 06, 2007
IRVING -- Receiver Terrell Owens entered his first season with the Cowboys telling fans to get their popcorn ready because it was going to be a show.
While Owens became must-see TV with his off-the-field controversies and ongoing battles with coach Bill Parcells and receivers coach Todd Haley, he acknowledges he didn't produce where it counted most.
He caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and an NFL-leading 13 touchdowns. But Owens was not the impact player he and the Cowboys hoped he would be, with a league-high 17 dropped passes and an assortment of hand, finger and hamstring injuries.
Healthy and stronger than he has been in years, Owens plans to make amends in 2007 with an 'explosive' season. His goals are 100 catches, 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.
If it was 'get your popcorn ready' last year, what is it now?
'Put some butter on it,' he said.
Are you motivated to make up for last year? 'With the skills I have, I really felt like I let this team down. Considering some of the things I was expected to do and I could've done, I'm ready to go this season. Not any problems. I look for a big year.'
Other than being healthy, what's different for you? 'I'm more focused because of some of the things that happened last year. I didn't want to be a distraction then and I don't want to be a distraction now. I think there were some things last year that were made into stories that didn't have to be stories.'
Did you apologize to your teammates for being a distraction last year? 'No. I don't think so. Some of my teammates have come to me and they even noticed how some things that were very minute, on other teams wouldn't have been a distraction, but they were because of who I am. They understood that.'
Talk about your relationship with coach Wade Phillips and his staff. 'It's great. We are on the same page as far as how to play the game. I am going to try to do my best to win this guy a Super Bowl.'
Is much of your excitement based on the new coaching staff? 'It's not just me. The whole team in general. It's a new sense of rejuvenation. New coaches coming in and playing to our strengths. I don't think we got to do that last year. Anything regarding Bill Parcells is a non-issue. It's a dead issue. D-e-a-d, period. We could care less with what's going on with Bill right now.'
Is that why you seem at peace? 'I am. Anytime you can go into a season without any legitimate distractions, and it doesn't weigh heavily on your mind, yeah, you're going to go out there and play free. You're just going to have an overall better feeling about yourself.'
You say you have more peace, is that off the field? 'Just overall. And I think what's missing is I have never had off-the-field problems. That is a credit to the way my family raised me. I know right from wrong just as well as other guys. I just tend not to put myself in situations where things may come up.'
So you don't get enough credit for not having legal troubles? 'Considering some of things that have been going on since I have been in the league, especially this past year, I am a saint.'
You were recently quoted as saying dogfighting was a cultural thing. Can you explain what you meant? 'Being from the South, that's something that's very prevalent in that area. I don't condone Michael Vick's actions with the dogfighting. I've been exposed to it. When I mentioned cultural thing, it's just like when people go out and they hunt deer. They hunt deer and they cut their heads off and they go to mount them on the wall. And they are animals as well. I don't see a big difference in the situation.'
Just to clarify about dogfighting, have you been to a dogfight? 'Yeah, when I was younger growing up in Alabama.'
Are you saying people should be sensitive to Vick?
'No. I love animals. When I grew up, we had dogs. I had German Shepherds. By no means am I saying dogfighting should be accepted. I think it should be taken seriously. I mentioned that Michael Vick should be held accountable for his actions. And he is going to get punished for that.'
Have you patched things up with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb? 'Yes. I did what I had to do when I saw Donovan [at the Super Bowl in Miami]. I apologized. Donovan is a good guy. If I could go back and change some things, then I would.'
September 06, 2007
IRVING -- Receiver Terrell Owens entered his first season with the Cowboys telling fans to get their popcorn ready because it was going to be a show.
While Owens became must-see TV with his off-the-field controversies and ongoing battles with coach Bill Parcells and receivers coach Todd Haley, he acknowledges he didn't produce where it counted most.
He caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and an NFL-leading 13 touchdowns. But Owens was not the impact player he and the Cowboys hoped he would be, with a league-high 17 dropped passes and an assortment of hand, finger and hamstring injuries.
Healthy and stronger than he has been in years, Owens plans to make amends in 2007 with an 'explosive' season. His goals are 100 catches, 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.
If it was 'get your popcorn ready' last year, what is it now?
'Put some butter on it,' he said.
Are you motivated to make up for last year? 'With the skills I have, I really felt like I let this team down. Considering some of the things I was expected to do and I could've done, I'm ready to go this season. Not any problems. I look for a big year.'
Other than being healthy, what's different for you? 'I'm more focused because of some of the things that happened last year. I didn't want to be a distraction then and I don't want to be a distraction now. I think there were some things last year that were made into stories that didn't have to be stories.'
Did you apologize to your teammates for being a distraction last year? 'No. I don't think so. Some of my teammates have come to me and they even noticed how some things that were very minute, on other teams wouldn't have been a distraction, but they were because of who I am. They understood that.'
Talk about your relationship with coach Wade Phillips and his staff. 'It's great. We are on the same page as far as how to play the game. I am going to try to do my best to win this guy a Super Bowl.'
Is much of your excitement based on the new coaching staff? 'It's not just me. The whole team in general. It's a new sense of rejuvenation. New coaches coming in and playing to our strengths. I don't think we got to do that last year. Anything regarding Bill Parcells is a non-issue. It's a dead issue. D-e-a-d, period. We could care less with what's going on with Bill right now.'
Is that why you seem at peace? 'I am. Anytime you can go into a season without any legitimate distractions, and it doesn't weigh heavily on your mind, yeah, you're going to go out there and play free. You're just going to have an overall better feeling about yourself.'
You say you have more peace, is that off the field? 'Just overall. And I think what's missing is I have never had off-the-field problems. That is a credit to the way my family raised me. I know right from wrong just as well as other guys. I just tend not to put myself in situations where things may come up.'
So you don't get enough credit for not having legal troubles? 'Considering some of things that have been going on since I have been in the league, especially this past year, I am a saint.'
You were recently quoted as saying dogfighting was a cultural thing. Can you explain what you meant? 'Being from the South, that's something that's very prevalent in that area. I don't condone Michael Vick's actions with the dogfighting. I've been exposed to it. When I mentioned cultural thing, it's just like when people go out and they hunt deer. They hunt deer and they cut their heads off and they go to mount them on the wall. And they are animals as well. I don't see a big difference in the situation.'
Just to clarify about dogfighting, have you been to a dogfight? 'Yeah, when I was younger growing up in Alabama.'
Are you saying people should be sensitive to Vick?
'No. I love animals. When I grew up, we had dogs. I had German Shepherds. By no means am I saying dogfighting should be accepted. I think it should be taken seriously. I mentioned that Michael Vick should be held accountable for his actions. And he is going to get punished for that.'
Have you patched things up with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb? 'Yes. I did what I had to do when I saw Donovan [at the Super Bowl in Miami]. I apologized. Donovan is a good guy. If I could go back and change some things, then I would.'
posted by The Gryphon at 9:14 AM
<< Home