A Star for a Star
Barry F. Hess
March 20, 2006
Get your popcorn ready one more time because the most infamous wide receiver in all of football is headed for Big ?D?.
Saturday Terrell Owens signed a three year, 25 million dollar contract with the Dallas Cowboys, just four days after the Philadelphia Eagles cut the All-Pro wide out, proving what most already knew, that someone out there was willing to give T.O. the money he was looking for.
The unpredictable 34-year old receiver was all smiles Saturday at the press conference to announce the deal alongside a jubilant Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, who returned from a vacation in the tropics early to make the announcement.
Notably absent from the press conference was Cowboys coach Bill Parcells but Jones did his best to assure everyone the deal received his blessing.
This was not me selling Bill, this was not Bill selling me,? Jones said. ?This was us taking advantage of getting an outstanding player. ... Bill has coached a lot of players that, quote-unquote, have the perception that they might not fit in with team chemistry.?
Looking at the current make up of the Cowboys it?s hard not to see the glaring similarities between their current roster and that of the Eagles the year prior to signing Owens.
With an offense that runs through quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the passing game the Cowboys lacked a legitimate receiving core and the necessary offensive line protection to be successful.
Compared to the weak receiving core of the Eagles three years ago, led by Todd Pinkston and James Thrash, it?s hard to believe Owens can?t revive the Cowboys offense as he did for the Eagles.
Already signing three offensive linemen through free agency the Cowboys are putting their best effort forth to bring a winner back to Dallas.
In what is most likely to be Parcells last year as coach the signing of Owens could be the final piece of the offensive puzzle the Cowboys have been putting together for three years.
Owens did acknowledge Saturday he handled the situation with the Eagles incorrectly but that he was ready to move on from the situation as well.
I'm a star among stars now?I?m going to put those things behind me,? Owens said. ?They can only make a man stronger and wiser. For me, that's what it's done. I'll be a better teammate, a better person, a better man in life. I'm looking forward to this opportunity. I couldn't be more excited to be here.?
Owens also took the time to acknowledge he knew what Jones and the rest of the Cowboy organization expected from him and that he wouldn?t disappoint.
There?s no denying the tremendous play making ability of Owens and there is no denying he will make an immediate impact on the Cowboys offense.
The question still looming is whether or not it will last.
Parcells has tamed wild receivers before, Keyshaun Johnson in both New York and Dallas, but never the likes of a T.O.
Then there is the issue of what comes out of T.O.?s mouth.
Signed to another team in the NFC East, Owens will get a chance to talk trash on and off the field twice a year against his former club, which by the way now includes his former quarterback from San Francisco Jeff Garcia.
Highly volatile situations like those games tends to bring out the best, or the worst as it may be, in Owens and there is no reason to believe this year will be any different.
But amidst the hoopla and controversy the Cowboys remain firm in their stance.
This was not a decision made without any thought and it was not a decision made to put the Dallas Cowboys on the front pages of the newspapers,? Jones said. ?We can both disappoint each other in this agreement but this is no free lunch to the Dallas Cowboys. We made a commitment to him. That means something.?
The details of the three-year deal include a five million dollar signing bonus with another five million owed to Owens this year. He is set to receive eight million next season and seven million in 2008.
While Jones was hesitant to speak about the disciplinary aspects of the contract there are no doubt incentive clauses and special language regarding off the field behavior.
Owens has 101 career touchdowns and before his season was cut short by the suspension given by the Eagles last year he caught at least 75 passes for at least 1,000 yards seven seasons in a row.
Saturday Terrell Owens signed a three year, 25 million dollar contract with the Dallas Cowboys, just four days after the Philadelphia Eagles cut the All-Pro wide out, proving what most already knew, that someone out there was willing to give T.O. the money he was looking for.
The unpredictable 34-year old receiver was all smiles Saturday at the press conference to announce the deal alongside a jubilant Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, who returned from a vacation in the tropics early to make the announcement.
Notably absent from the press conference was Cowboys coach Bill Parcells but Jones did his best to assure everyone the deal received his blessing.
This was not me selling Bill, this was not Bill selling me,? Jones said. ?This was us taking advantage of getting an outstanding player. ... Bill has coached a lot of players that, quote-unquote, have the perception that they might not fit in with team chemistry.?
Looking at the current make up of the Cowboys it?s hard not to see the glaring similarities between their current roster and that of the Eagles the year prior to signing Owens.
With an offense that runs through quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the passing game the Cowboys lacked a legitimate receiving core and the necessary offensive line protection to be successful.
Compared to the weak receiving core of the Eagles three years ago, led by Todd Pinkston and James Thrash, it?s hard to believe Owens can?t revive the Cowboys offense as he did for the Eagles.
Already signing three offensive linemen through free agency the Cowboys are putting their best effort forth to bring a winner back to Dallas.
In what is most likely to be Parcells last year as coach the signing of Owens could be the final piece of the offensive puzzle the Cowboys have been putting together for three years.
Owens did acknowledge Saturday he handled the situation with the Eagles incorrectly but that he was ready to move on from the situation as well.
I'm a star among stars now?I?m going to put those things behind me,? Owens said. ?They can only make a man stronger and wiser. For me, that's what it's done. I'll be a better teammate, a better person, a better man in life. I'm looking forward to this opportunity. I couldn't be more excited to be here.?
Owens also took the time to acknowledge he knew what Jones and the rest of the Cowboy organization expected from him and that he wouldn?t disappoint.
There?s no denying the tremendous play making ability of Owens and there is no denying he will make an immediate impact on the Cowboys offense.
The question still looming is whether or not it will last.
Parcells has tamed wild receivers before, Keyshaun Johnson in both New York and Dallas, but never the likes of a T.O.
Then there is the issue of what comes out of T.O.?s mouth.
Signed to another team in the NFC East, Owens will get a chance to talk trash on and off the field twice a year against his former club, which by the way now includes his former quarterback from San Francisco Jeff Garcia.
Highly volatile situations like those games tends to bring out the best, or the worst as it may be, in Owens and there is no reason to believe this year will be any different.
But amidst the hoopla and controversy the Cowboys remain firm in their stance.
This was not a decision made without any thought and it was not a decision made to put the Dallas Cowboys on the front pages of the newspapers,? Jones said. ?We can both disappoint each other in this agreement but this is no free lunch to the Dallas Cowboys. We made a commitment to him. That means something.?
The details of the three-year deal include a five million dollar signing bonus with another five million owed to Owens this year. He is set to receive eight million next season and seven million in 2008.
While Jones was hesitant to speak about the disciplinary aspects of the contract there are no doubt incentive clauses and special language regarding off the field behavior.
Owens has 101 career touchdowns and before his season was cut short by the suspension given by the Eagles last year he caught at least 75 passes for at least 1,000 yards seven seasons in a row.
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