Cowboys owner wants to go to T.O. 'overly’
BY CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
chill@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at last weighed in on the Terrell Owens’ controversy of this week.
And not surprisingly, Jones’ backed his receiver and said the Cowboys will continue to try to force the ball to Owens.
"He’s a terrific playmaker, and we want to get him the ball," Jones said Friday morning on his radio show on KTCK/1310 The Ticket. "We’ll overly try to get him the ball. There’s no question about that. We should. It ought to open things up for other places on the offense."
And for further evidence that Owens is not a problem, consider the sight of backup quarterback Brad Johnson at practice Friday, sporting Owens’ Tennessee-Chattanooga jersey and white tights.
Johnson lost a bet to Owens on the Alabama-Georgia game, so the veteran quarterback, who had to shelve the throwback gray sweats he usually wears to practice, for Owens’ trademark attire. Alabama won the game 41-30.
Johnson said he took all the jokes in stride, saying it kept the team loose. In doing so, he said Owens is one of the guys respected for his work ethic and not the team cancer that he’s been portrayed to be.
"He’s great to work with," Johnson said. "For us to be successful, he has to be a big part of the offense."
Johnson speaks from experience, considering he has played with ball-hungry receivers such as Keyshawn Johnson and Cris Carter in his 17-year career.
Newman hobbling again
Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman is again hobbled by an injured groin. He was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s the same groin injury that Newman suffered in training camp, keeping him out of the preseason and the season opener at Cleveland. Adam "Pacman" Jones will likely start at left cornerback if Newman can’t play.
The Cowboys need a healthy Newman to contain Bengals receivers Chad Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Ocho Cinco, in particular, has put out a challenge to Newman and the Cowboys defensive backs this week.
After saying earlier in the week he is going to come after Anthony Henry and Jones and kiss the star with a slump-busting performance Sunday, he broke into a radio interview with Houhsmandzadeh on the Micheal Irvin Show on ESPN Radio and attacked Newman.
"I’m going to kiss the star. Terence Newman, if he ain’t healthy, don’t put his [rear] out there," Ocho Cinco said.
Ocho Cinco has 11 catches for 116 yards for the 0-4 Bengals.
Gurode practices
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips is optimistic center Andre Gurode will play Sunday.
Gurode, who is hobbled by a slightly sprained ankle, returned to practice Friday after sitting out Thursday.
Phillips said he wanted to evaluate Gurode’s performance after practice and see how he recovers today before making a final decision. It could come down to a game-day decision, but Phillips is confident Gurode can play because he has played injured before in his career.
If Gurode can’t play, Cory Procter will start at center with Montrae Holland filling in at left guard.
If Gurode plays, Procter will return to left guard, where he has been replacing the injured Kyle Kosier.
chill@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at last weighed in on the Terrell Owens’ controversy of this week.
And not surprisingly, Jones’ backed his receiver and said the Cowboys will continue to try to force the ball to Owens.
"He’s a terrific playmaker, and we want to get him the ball," Jones said Friday morning on his radio show on KTCK/1310 The Ticket. "We’ll overly try to get him the ball. There’s no question about that. We should. It ought to open things up for other places on the offense."
And for further evidence that Owens is not a problem, consider the sight of backup quarterback Brad Johnson at practice Friday, sporting Owens’ Tennessee-Chattanooga jersey and white tights.
Johnson lost a bet to Owens on the Alabama-Georgia game, so the veteran quarterback, who had to shelve the throwback gray sweats he usually wears to practice, for Owens’ trademark attire. Alabama won the game 41-30.
Johnson said he took all the jokes in stride, saying it kept the team loose. In doing so, he said Owens is one of the guys respected for his work ethic and not the team cancer that he’s been portrayed to be.
"He’s great to work with," Johnson said. "For us to be successful, he has to be a big part of the offense."
Johnson speaks from experience, considering he has played with ball-hungry receivers such as Keyshawn Johnson and Cris Carter in his 17-year career.
Newman hobbling again
Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman is again hobbled by an injured groin. He was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s the same groin injury that Newman suffered in training camp, keeping him out of the preseason and the season opener at Cleveland. Adam "Pacman" Jones will likely start at left cornerback if Newman can’t play.
The Cowboys need a healthy Newman to contain Bengals receivers Chad Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Ocho Cinco, in particular, has put out a challenge to Newman and the Cowboys defensive backs this week.
After saying earlier in the week he is going to come after Anthony Henry and Jones and kiss the star with a slump-busting performance Sunday, he broke into a radio interview with Houhsmandzadeh on the Micheal Irvin Show on ESPN Radio and attacked Newman.
"I’m going to kiss the star. Terence Newman, if he ain’t healthy, don’t put his [rear] out there," Ocho Cinco said.
Ocho Cinco has 11 catches for 116 yards for the 0-4 Bengals.
Gurode practices
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips is optimistic center Andre Gurode will play Sunday.
Gurode, who is hobbled by a slightly sprained ankle, returned to practice Friday after sitting out Thursday.
Phillips said he wanted to evaluate Gurode’s performance after practice and see how he recovers today before making a final decision. It could come down to a game-day decision, but Phillips is confident Gurode can play because he has played injured before in his career.
If Gurode can’t play, Cory Procter will start at center with Montrae Holland filling in at left guard.
If Gurode plays, Procter will return to left guard, where he has been replacing the injured Kyle Kosier.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:47 AM
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