Terrell Owens Suggests Jerry Jones Went Back on His Word

I've mentioned before that I'm a Terrell Owens fan. Partly because of his drama-filled existence, but also -- perhaps primarily -- because I can enjoy the spectacle from afar since he doesn't play for my favorite team. I do appreciate that, at 35, he's still one of the NFL's best deep threats, and, despite all the negative pub, he's never been arrested, murdered a puppy, or made it rain while simultaneously shooting up a club. There's something to be said for that.

Still, T.O.'s persona would be perfectly suited for professional wrestling or Big Brother, but as an NFL player, there's just way too much scrutiny to successfully pull it off. Which is why the Cowboys, an outfit known for taking chances on at-risk players, cut ties with Owens earlier this month.

Although that is old news, this isn't: T.O. says Dallas owner Jerry Jones reneged on a personal commitment to keep him, and even suggested that Jones' son, Stephen, the Cowboys' executive vice president, was responsible for running him out of town. Ah, the southern-fried intrigue; It's just like that one time, when Bobby accused J.R. of cheating. Or something.

Anyway, Owens, appearing on Rogers Sportsnet, explained:

"You hear all the speculation, and you talk to the owner of the team, and he reassures you, you're not going anywhere and then, out of left-field ... you get blindsided ...

I know whole-heartedly he [Jerry Jones] wanted me there ... There were some people I know who got in his ear that pressured him to make that decision. For that, it's sad. You let two or three people conspire to get me out of the situation."

Which prompted a commenter to the Dallas Morning News' Cowboys blog to offer this: "Someone should give Stephen Jones a medal and a million dollars..." I suspect most fans who have experienced T.O. first-hand feel similarly.

This suggests that Bills supporters will soon sour on Owens because, well, it's part of the natural progression of things: team signs T.O, fans celebrate; T.O. pouts, divides locker room, fans grab torches, pitchforks. Only the cities and faces change.

But I think Buffalo will be different; Owens is older, hopefully understands that this really could be his last chance, and he's only playing on a one-year deal. On the upside, history suggests that he won't start acting out till Year 2, which must be welcome news to Trent Edwards.

Plus, T.O. really sounds like he loves Upstate New York. Between the horrifyingly awkward "ummmmmm" in response to question about his thoughts on Buffalo, to his recent "Why not?" on how he decided on the Bills, this should all work out well.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-28-2009 @ 6:15PM

I Love Tim!!! said...

NFL owners ALWAYS go back on their word, thats why the players can get cut when their contract gets expensive...or when owners feel like it and the players dont get the money they signed for in that CONTRACT. In MLB if the player & owner sign a contract the owner has to pay what that contract says. If you cant trust owners to honor a contract, you cant trust them period!

3-28-2009 @ 6:16PM

blaqBoi327 said...

WTF, T.O. talks to the media, never would've have thought. I have a question for all but have you wondered why anyone puts a mic in front of tis douche bag! freakin modern day michael jackson misunderstood my arse!!!

3-28-2009 @ 10:17PM

Armando Martinez said...

I must be going crazy, but T.O. actually makes sense!

3-28-2009 @ 11:23PM

melvin39 said...

T.O.will be missed, hide and watch Tony Romo is not he real deal. HE SUCKS, Jerry get a QB........

3-29-2009 @ 2:24AM

U no u wanna said...

Who's get the blame now when the 'boys go in the crapper like they always do when the games at the end means they go to the playoff. If it wasnt for T.O. they wouldnt have won 9 games , they are lucky if the win any this year. Welcome to last place in your division.

3-29-2009 @ 2:56AM

claytor said...

I Love Tim, that's the way it SHOULD be, really.

Owners in the NFL have the right idea, after all it's a job, and i mean just because you have that one great year, doesn't mean the team should pay several seasons worth of salary for it. Imagine, if you will, if the Yankees had the same luxury with Carl Pavano. Or Kevin Brown. Or Jason Giambi. Or...oh, you get the point, i'm sure.

Juwan Howard would've been cut loose from his 100 million dollar man contract two seasons into it.

Simply put, if the owners didn't have to tie all this money up into enduring contracts for guys who have that one great year, or are decent, but a massive headache and burden on the roster, the tickets would be cheaper to attend games, and that's where we'd win. Or maybe not.

Either way, the NFL has it right. If only the other major sports would get the drift...

3-29-2009 @ 4:16AM

Brandon said...

i'm a pro-TO guy since he played with the 9ers... and I'm a 9ers fan. i feel like whenever u hear him complain is while the team is down. the team starts throwing to him, he catches the ball. like in the superbowl, coming back from a broken leg. i kind of feel like the worst he plays is when his team doesn't need him. which is actually good. he lets the team make the other players better. he complains when they don't get the ball and they are losing. he usually doesn't talk following a game where dropped more passes than not. that is however when he celebrates. and so be it. he is catching up to none other than jerry rice for some of the best numbers of all time. tell me you wouldn't want that on your team. the talent that gave a team 5 superbowls... get out of here

3-29-2009 @ 9:28AM

Greg said...

For the first time, I actually believe TO. Only Jerry Jones would be stupid enough to want to keep that loser on his team. Football is a team sport, a concept totally beyond TO's and Jones understanding.

3-29-2009 @ 11:52AM

Patches said...

The heat is now on Romo. Especially if T.O. actually helps Buffalo get better. T.O. is gone, and so are all the problems he caused. If the "Boys" implode this year, Romo better have some great QB stats, and J.J. better find a coaching staff worthy of the players he is paying for. Patch

"Poor Buffalo"

3-29-2009 @ 11:53AM

markrconte14 said...

T. O. gets in trouble because when his quarterback stinks up the stadium he tell him he is stinking up the stadium and yells at him because of that. However, he is only doing what all the fans of that city is doing. Two of his quarterbacks are classic choke artists. Everyone knows McNabb is going to fold on an important game at the end of the year. You just don't know which one. Tony started annual choke with letting the ball slip from his grasp on a winning field goal. That's really lame. I wponder how he will do this year without three players of the defense watching T. O. Garcia's career ended when he lost T. O. Let's see what happens in Buffalo.