Cowboys Release T.O.

[Melanie]

THIS is the lead story on cnn.com? Not cnnsi.com, but cnn.com. Oy.


Cowboys reportedly release Owens

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Terrell Owens' days in Dallas are done, according to ESPN.

ESPN cited anonymous sources Wednesday night in saying that the Cowboys have decided to cut the receiver, ridding them of a big locker-room distraction but also absorbing a big hit on their salary cap.

The team did not immediately have a comment. A spokesman for Owens said he hadn't heard the news, and that Owens was traveling and could not immediately be reached. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also did not immediately return a call.

Just a few weeks ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that T.O. was staying when he said, "You and I both know that the one that you're asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would've already had it. So the fact you don't have it ought to tell you something. It really should."

Jones seemed to enjoy the publicity Owens stirred up as much as the touchdowns he scored. However, there were several in-house issues involving Owens that may have ultimately prompted Jones to decide the receiver wasn't worth the trouble he caused.

Owens will count about $9 million against the cap. His absence means one less high-profile player to open the Cowboys' new, $1.1 billion stadium, and fewer No. 81 jerseys to sell.

While Tony Romo also will be without the recipient of most his touchdown passes, he also will no longer have to make sure T.O. has enough passes his way to make him happy. Whether that was perception or reality will no longer matter either.

The Cowboys went 31-17 in Owens' three seasons, but 0-2 in the playoffs.

Jones essentially forced Owens on then-coach Bill Parcells, a relationship underscored by Parcells referring to Owens as "the player." Owens drew attention to himself during training camp by dressing up as a pro cyclist while riding a stationary bike, then had an accidental overdose early that season.

Yet when Parcells turned to unproven Romo midway through that season, Owens sparkled. They kept it up the next season, leading the Cowboys to all sorts of club records on their way to a 13-3 season and a division title. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game, days after Romo and others went on a trip to Mexico, and Owens tearfully defended Romo, saying, "That's my quarterback."

Owens got a new contract last summer, a four-year, $34 million deal that included a $12 million bonus.

The best news for Owens would be if the cameras were rolling for the new reality TV show he has in the works when he got the news from the Cowboys.

Where might he end up next? That's sure to be the next drama, and perhaps more great fodder for his TV show.

He's not likely to return to San Francisco or Philadelphia, the other places he wore out his welcome. Then again, it seemed unlikely he would come to Dallas after having offended Cowboys fans by celebrating on the team's star logo while playing for the 49ers.

Don't expect him in Miami, not as long as Parcells is in charge. And perhaps also count out Kansas City because new coach Todd Haley and Owens hardly got along when Haley was Dallas' offensive coordinator.

The Cowboys should still have a potent passing game, at least if receiver Roy Williams can live up to his big contract and the two draft picks Dallas gave up to get him from Detroit. Romo also still has his favorite target, tight end Jason Witten.

Over three years with the Cowboys, Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games. He led the NFL with 13 TDs receiving in 2006, his first season in Dallas.

Over his 13-year career, he's a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions. He turned 35 in December, but remains a physical specimen.

[Ian]

[JPL]

Owens will count about $9 million against the cap.

Sorry but

[TinkerbellT421]

Sorry but

[Ian]

I know ... the "I told you so!" factor is almost too good to pass up here ...

I had to listen to those Cowboy Cockroaches talk about how it would be different for T.O. in Dallas ... they had a "real" quarterback ... a winning franchise ... they'd have all these Super Bowl wins ... and T.O. would just be as happy as a pig in ... uh ... mud. They knew how to handle stars and they were doing to be the ones to help T.O. maximize his potential and they were the ones who would get T.O. to retire a Cowboy and go into the Hall of Fame wearing the star on his helmet.

HA! How'd that work out for ya????

[medic9016]

As a life long Cowboys fan, I hated the signing of T.O. from the begining. What a cancer he has been. So long.
Now if Jerry Jones will stop getting free agents from the police blotters, maybe they can put together a decient team. I would bet Jones has his eys on Vick.

[Ian]

I really loved their All Criminal team last year ... that was quite a crew Jerry assembled!

[medic9016]

I really loved their All Criminal team last year ... that was quite a crew Jerry assembled!

[gueli]

Now the question is who will opt for him to be on their team ?
I heard one coach- come out and say he did not TO - He drops too many balls.

I wonder if the patriots could rehab him? They have done a nice job with moss. (actually I think Moss has a lot to do with it).
I am confident the jets will have no interest in him- we only seem to care about getting the d up to speed.

[RAIDER]

I really loved their All Criminal team last year ... that was quite a crew Jerry assembled!

Yup i am gutted ... Al Davis got outdone there
whats going on !!!

[VWL Mom]

These are the odds from an NFL site on where he'll end up:

Oakland Raiders 7/2
Washington Redskins 4/1
New York Jets 13/2
Tampa Bay Bucs 11/2
New England Pats 13/2
Tennessee Titans 13/2
Miami Dolphins 8/1
Philadelphia Eagles 50/1

DS17 is picking Tennessee

[Ian]

ProFootballTalk.com had the "Who Does NOT Want T.O." blog going yesterday ... here are the teams they've listed as uninterested in Terrell Eldorado Owens:

Dallas Cowboys (obviously)
New York Giants
Washington Redskins
Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
San Diego Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Jets
Tennessee Titans
St. Louis Rams
New Orleans Saints
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins

By my count, that's 17 of 32 teams who have already publicly stated "No thanks!" when it comes to T.O.

Since the Giants are on the "No thanks" list, I think I'll root for the Panthers to get him. They were very good last season, so I'd love to see them get a big dose of T.O. next year and ruin their franchise for a few seasons. Make the Eagles life a lot easier!

[JPL]

I really loved their All Criminal team last year ... that was quite a crew Jerry assembled!

Hey atleast their criminals were smart enough not to shot themselves in the leg

[TinkerbellT421]

Hey atleast their criminals were smart enough not to shot themselves in the leg

I just spit my soda out all of my computer here at work! So much trying to make it look like Im actually doing work lol!!!

[Ian]

Burress would be such a perfect fit to replace T.O. in Dallas ... but it's a win/win for me, because either way that idiot plays for one of the Eagles' chief rivals!

[ibrowse17]

of TO, and Jerry Jones makes me want to.

[meldan98]

All I have to say is....

Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, hey, hey, goodbye!!!

and please don't come to SF!!! We don't want you here either.

[WDWfanatic742]

Terrell Owens to the Bills

[Hammer]

Tim Russert is turning over in his grave !

[JPL]

I guess Buffalo thought all these other teams were wrong about him