T.O says he's in good spirits
By STEPHEN HAWKINS Associated Press Writer
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Print Oct 8th, 2008 | IRVING, Texas -- Tears shed on the sideline after a touchdown catch. The vague statement after the game, and then not answering any questions.
Terrell Owens realizes those incidents have raised speculation about his "mental state of mind." The Dallas Cowboys' star receiver insists there is nothing to worry about.
"Last week I was going through a lot of stuff, and the previous week," Owens said Wednesday. "Other than that, dude, I'm in good spirits. I'm fine. ... Honestly, I am good."
After Owens caught a 57-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter Sunday against Cincinnati, he ecstatically raised his arms over his head and clapped while still grasping the ball in one hand. T.O. then went to the bench, bowed, put a towel over his head and started crying.
Owens has since said that emotion was stirred because of the death of a family member and a talk with his pastor, though he didn't mentioned either after the game.
When referring to notes on a piece of paper during his postgame interview, Owens called it a "great team win" and added statements such as "It was frustrating out there, but I kept with it," and that "God used me today for his glory." He then left without responding to questions.
During an interview Tuesday on ESPN Radio in Dallas, Owens told host Michael Irvin that he was dealing with a death in his family. Owens never said who died.
In the Cowboys locker room Wednesday, Owens said he wasn't able to attend the funeral and didn't want to discuss that or his emotions.
"I don't want to talk about what happened at the game," he said. "Please respect that."
Despite the questions and scrutiny that never seem to end, Owens said he still loves the spotlight that comes with being T.O.
"Yeah, it does get old, but I understand sometimes it's bigger than football. ... I just have to be patient and let things play out," Owens said.
"You're going to have ups and downs," he said. "I don't think anybody can go to work and have a great day every day."
His game-clinching touchdown catch against the Bengals was one of only two catches by Owens, who had only one other ball thrown his way. It was the second time in three games that he was held to just two catches.
In between those games, Owens expressed frustration after a 24-22 loss to Washington in which he caught seven passes, took two handoffs and had 11 more balls thrown his way.
While Owens was bent over on the bench after scoring Sunday, Tony Romo went over and patted his teammate on the back.
"You're seeing a guy trying to do things the right way and sometimes it's misconstrued," Romo said. "With him, you're seeing a guy who is an outstanding player and trying to be an outstanding person. ... I'm excited to have him here and excited to be around him every day."
Romo said Owens is a leader in the way that he works, plays and prepares.
Yet, Owens doesn't believe he can be an outspoken leader because of how that would be perceived outside the team.
"Somebody has to say it aside from myself because if I say it, it is going to be taken the wrong way," Owens said. "It's going to be like the week before. ... If I say something versus somebody else saying something, it's taken the wrong way. But other than that, we have a lot of leaders."
Plus, as Owens, Romo and even coach Wade Phillips have pointed out this week, the Cowboys are 4-1.
"Winning cures a lot of things," Owens said.
Owens did acknowledge, however, that he has tried to be careful how he responds and to avoid showing frustration when he's not getting enough opportunities to make plays during games.
"Man, I can't do anymore than I can do," he said. "If I get frustrated, you guys (reporters) will make a story about it, so I have to limit myself as far as how I react to things. I just go to the sideline. I just take it series by series. I think that I just try to focus more and just get the opportunities that come my way and make the best of those."
Phillips said part of the reason that Owens is getting fewer chances is that more teams are putting double- and triple-coverage on him. That is allowing defenders to be more physical with him at the snap, especially when he's not in motion.
"That's why it's been a little difficult getting off the line," Owens said. "With help over the top, it allows (cornerbacks) to be more aggressive."
Buzz up!Share
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Print Oct 8th, 2008 | IRVING, Texas -- Tears shed on the sideline after a touchdown catch. The vague statement after the game, and then not answering any questions.
Terrell Owens realizes those incidents have raised speculation about his "mental state of mind." The Dallas Cowboys' star receiver insists there is nothing to worry about.
"Last week I was going through a lot of stuff, and the previous week," Owens said Wednesday. "Other than that, dude, I'm in good spirits. I'm fine. ... Honestly, I am good."
After Owens caught a 57-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter Sunday against Cincinnati, he ecstatically raised his arms over his head and clapped while still grasping the ball in one hand. T.O. then went to the bench, bowed, put a towel over his head and started crying.
Owens has since said that emotion was stirred because of the death of a family member and a talk with his pastor, though he didn't mentioned either after the game.
When referring to notes on a piece of paper during his postgame interview, Owens called it a "great team win" and added statements such as "It was frustrating out there, but I kept with it," and that "God used me today for his glory." He then left without responding to questions.
During an interview Tuesday on ESPN Radio in Dallas, Owens told host Michael Irvin that he was dealing with a death in his family. Owens never said who died.
In the Cowboys locker room Wednesday, Owens said he wasn't able to attend the funeral and didn't want to discuss that or his emotions.
"I don't want to talk about what happened at the game," he said. "Please respect that."
Despite the questions and scrutiny that never seem to end, Owens said he still loves the spotlight that comes with being T.O.
"Yeah, it does get old, but I understand sometimes it's bigger than football. ... I just have to be patient and let things play out," Owens said.
"You're going to have ups and downs," he said. "I don't think anybody can go to work and have a great day every day."
His game-clinching touchdown catch against the Bengals was one of only two catches by Owens, who had only one other ball thrown his way. It was the second time in three games that he was held to just two catches.
In between those games, Owens expressed frustration after a 24-22 loss to Washington in which he caught seven passes, took two handoffs and had 11 more balls thrown his way.
While Owens was bent over on the bench after scoring Sunday, Tony Romo went over and patted his teammate on the back.
"You're seeing a guy trying to do things the right way and sometimes it's misconstrued," Romo said. "With him, you're seeing a guy who is an outstanding player and trying to be an outstanding person. ... I'm excited to have him here and excited to be around him every day."
Romo said Owens is a leader in the way that he works, plays and prepares.
Yet, Owens doesn't believe he can be an outspoken leader because of how that would be perceived outside the team.
"Somebody has to say it aside from myself because if I say it, it is going to be taken the wrong way," Owens said. "It's going to be like the week before. ... If I say something versus somebody else saying something, it's taken the wrong way. But other than that, we have a lot of leaders."
Plus, as Owens, Romo and even coach Wade Phillips have pointed out this week, the Cowboys are 4-1.
"Winning cures a lot of things," Owens said.
Owens did acknowledge, however, that he has tried to be careful how he responds and to avoid showing frustration when he's not getting enough opportunities to make plays during games.
"Man, I can't do anymore than I can do," he said. "If I get frustrated, you guys (reporters) will make a story about it, so I have to limit myself as far as how I react to things. I just go to the sideline. I just take it series by series. I think that I just try to focus more and just get the opportunities that come my way and make the best of those."
Phillips said part of the reason that Owens is getting fewer chances is that more teams are putting double- and triple-coverage on him. That is allowing defenders to be more physical with him at the snap, especially when he's not in motion.
"That's why it's been a little difficult getting off the line," Owens said. "With help over the top, it allows (cornerbacks) to be more aggressive."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:13 PM
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