Happy T.O. is big for Cowboys
By STEPHEN HAWKINS Associated Press
7/27/2008
Last Modified: 7/27/2008 3:00 AM
OXNARD, Calif. — Terrell Owens had a quizzical look when he heard the question. Then came his response: "What distractions?"
With T.O., there really are none these days.
"I'm content where I am," Owens said Saturday after the Dallas Cowboys had their first training camp practice in pads. "I know I'm going to be a Cowboy for life."
Things are much different from his first training camp with the Cowboys two years ago, when they were last in California and Owens spent more time riding a stationary bicycle than catching passes with a sore hamstring. Not to mention the head-butting with Bill Parcells.
Plus, there are no contract issues. That potential distraction was eliminated when Jerry Jones gave Owens a three-year extension this summer. His deal now goes through 2011 instead of expiring after this season.
"I'm just playing free, stress-free, and just going out here and just trying to get my team better from every aspect of the game," the 34-year-old Owens said.
Since his inauspicious start that first California camp, when he missed more than half of the practices, Owens has had two touchdown-filled seasons for Dallas. His 28 TD catches were the most in the NFL, and he had a team record last season when he was a Pro Bowler for the sixth time.
But that still hasn't translated into another Super Bowl appearance, or even a postseason victory for the Cowboys, who lost their only playoff games the past two seasons.
It's been 11 years since the Cowboys won a playoff game, and Owens' primary goal is to change that.
"The thing you notice most about him, he talks about team a lot. He wants to win," quarterback Tony Romo said. "He understands at this stage of his career, he has done all the things individually he can do. Now it's just a matter of winning, and I think we tasted a little bit of that success for 90 percent last year. Now it's just time to finish."
After the Cowboys' 21-17 playoff loss to the New York Giants in January, Owens shed tears — his bottom lip quivering, his voice wavering — and blubbered "That's my quarterback," when he spoke in defense of Romo, whose previous weekend getaway to Mexico with Jessica Simpson had been questioned.
"It's no secret that he wants to win a championship," Romo said. "He knows everybody else does, so it hurts him when the team isn't able to win."
7/27/2008
Last Modified: 7/27/2008 3:00 AM
OXNARD, Calif. — Terrell Owens had a quizzical look when he heard the question. Then came his response: "What distractions?"
With T.O., there really are none these days.
"I'm content where I am," Owens said Saturday after the Dallas Cowboys had their first training camp practice in pads. "I know I'm going to be a Cowboy for life."
Things are much different from his first training camp with the Cowboys two years ago, when they were last in California and Owens spent more time riding a stationary bicycle than catching passes with a sore hamstring. Not to mention the head-butting with Bill Parcells.
Plus, there are no contract issues. That potential distraction was eliminated when Jerry Jones gave Owens a three-year extension this summer. His deal now goes through 2011 instead of expiring after this season.
"I'm just playing free, stress-free, and just going out here and just trying to get my team better from every aspect of the game," the 34-year-old Owens said.
Since his inauspicious start that first California camp, when he missed more than half of the practices, Owens has had two touchdown-filled seasons for Dallas. His 28 TD catches were the most in the NFL, and he had a team record last season when he was a Pro Bowler for the sixth time.
But that still hasn't translated into another Super Bowl appearance, or even a postseason victory for the Cowboys, who lost their only playoff games the past two seasons.
It's been 11 years since the Cowboys won a playoff game, and Owens' primary goal is to change that.
"The thing you notice most about him, he talks about team a lot. He wants to win," quarterback Tony Romo said. "He understands at this stage of his career, he has done all the things individually he can do. Now it's just a matter of winning, and I think we tasted a little bit of that success for 90 percent last year. Now it's just time to finish."
After the Cowboys' 21-17 playoff loss to the New York Giants in January, Owens shed tears — his bottom lip quivering, his voice wavering — and blubbered "That's my quarterback," when he spoke in defense of Romo, whose previous weekend getaway to Mexico with Jessica Simpson had been questioned.
"It's no secret that he wants to win a championship," Romo said. "He knows everybody else does, so it hurts him when the team isn't able to win."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:48 AM
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