NFL

Jerry Jones Cut T.O. to Make Offense 'Romo-Friendly'

Posted Mar 11, 2009 9:00PM By Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Cowboys, NFC East, NFL Fans

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Addition by subtraction -- that's the unofficial offseason mantra for the Cowboys, at least when it comes to Terrell Owens, who was released earlier this week. He has since taken his game to Canada*, and Dallas is already looking forward to next season, at least to hear Jerry Jones tell it.

The Cowboys owner, appearing on a Dallas-area radio station, explained that getting rid of T.O. will be good for quarterback Tony Romo.
"I do believe where we are at Tony's options, where to get the ball and where to go, I do think this is going in the direction of Romo-friendly," Jones said in an interview Tuesday on The Fan 105.3 FM. "Rest assured, that was one of the first things I had at the top of my list was this decision is good for Tony."
In one sense, Jones is right -- Owens can be a distraction -- but Romo aimlessly winging balls all over the yard had more to do with Dallas' late-season collapse than T.O. temper tantrums. (Although, Brad Johnson, Brooks Bolinger and a no-show defense were all more responsible for Dallas' postseason fate. But as long as we're making a list...)

That said, the Cowboys aren't necessarily worse off without Owens; during his three-year run in Dallas, the team made the playoffs twice, going 0-2. The bigger concern is Romo's consistency, which Jones -- through his actions, anyway -- doesn't feel will be an issue without T.O.
Before Owens' release, Jones not only consulted members of the organization but other teams who defended against him. Last season Owens struggled getting off the line of scrimmage against press coverage.
Ultimately, the buck stops with Romo -- or at least it should. And some pretty smart football people think that if he falters in 2009, the Cowboys might want to start looking for their next franchise quarterback.

* joke

Latest Dallas Cowboys Images

    "4th and Long" cast member Eddie Moten sits in a hallway during the filming of a new Spike TV series called "4th and Long," on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series, which gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season, is hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    "4th and Long" cast member Erick Jackson patiently waits during filming of a new Spike TV series called "4th and Long" on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    NFL Hall of Famer and host Michael Irvin interacts with participants during the filming of a new Spike TV series, "4th and Long," on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    NFL Hall of Famer and host Michael Irvin, center, interacts with coaches Bill Bates, left, and Joe Avezzano, during filming of a new Spike TV series, "4th and Long," on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    Cast member Andrew Hawkins (right) poses with NFL Hall of Famer and host Michael Irvin, center, and other cast mates during filming of a new Spike TV series, "4th and Long," on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful, such as Hawkins, a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    "4th and Long" cast member Ahmaad Smith, from Atlanta, adjusts his shoulder pads during the filming of a new Spike TV series called "4th and Long" on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin interacts with cast members during the filming of a new Spike TV series called "4th and Long," on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

    AP

    Photo assistant Kenny Smith directs NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, center, and the cast during filming of a new Spike TV series, "4th and Long," March 11, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The series gives a football hopeful a shot at making the Dallas Cowboy roster next season. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)

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    Bufallo Bills new football player Terrell Owens smiles during a news conference Saturday, March 7,2009 in Orchard Park, N.Y. Owens signed Saturday with the Bills only two days after the high-maintenance receiver was cut by the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, James P. McCoy) ** MANDATORY CREDIT, TV OUT, MAGS OUT **

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    Bufallo Bills new football player Terrell Owens smiles during a news conference Saturday, March 7,2009 in Orchard Park, N.Y. Owens signed Saturday with the Bills only two days after the high-maintenance receiver was cut by the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, James P. McCoy) ** MANDATORY CREDIT, TV OUT, MAGS OUT **

    AP

Tags: Brad+Johnson, BradJohnson, Brooks+Bolinger, BrooksBolinger, Jerry+Jones, JerryJones, Terrell+Owens, TerrellOwens, Tony+Romo, TonyRomo

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