Jerry Responds to T.O. Responding to Jerry Cutting Him

At his introductory Cowboys press conference in March 2006, Terrell Owens announced that "I'm a star among stars now." Three unsurprisingly tumultuous years later, Dallas released him, and a few weeks after that, T.O., appearing on Rogers Sportsnet, explained how he was initially blindsided by the news.

To hear Owens tell it, owner Jerry Jones reneged on a personal commitment to keep him after his meddling son, Stephen -- who also serves as the Cowboys' executive vice president -- got involved.

Whatever, Jerry has read T.O.'s comments.

"I don't have anything to say, but we have a great relationship," Jones said. "I'm sorry we didn't get this year in on the contract, but I don't have any pointed comment to what he said that there were people within the organization that didn't want him here. I read the substance of [the comments]. Bottom line is I don't really have any comments."

I can't imagine Jones actually believes any of this, but I give him credit for taking the high road in the hopes that it all just blows over.

The Dallas Morning News' Tim MacMahon writes that there are no grounds for "doubt[ing] that T.O. is telling the truth," adding: "If Jerry doesn't want to shoot down T.O.'s side of the story, there's no reason to question its accuracy." Furthermore, Jones had intimated that Owens was coming back as recently as mid-February, which supports MacMahon's point.

The bigger issue, I think, is what changed in the weeks between Jerry's decision to release Owens. Jones' public answers -- that he wanted to give Roy Williams a shot at the No. 1 job and develop some young receivers -- certainly seems plausible, but isn't that something a general manager should be thinking about when the Williams trade originally went down in October? You know, instead of "right about the time [T.O.'s release] was announced"?

I suspect Jones -- along with the rest of the front office and the coaching staff -- had previously thrown around the idea of cutting Owens, even if he doesn't admit it publicly. Ultimately, it doesn't matter -- T.O.'s gone for good to North America's Team -- and, as MacMahon points out, it's potentially good news for Cowboys' fans. "It shows that Jerry is willing to listen to good advice, and he's getting it from a guy who will have a major say in running the franchise for decades."

No matter when the advice is dispensed. Hey, it's a start.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-29-2009 @ 2:28PM

CHADMAN said...

T.O. leaving is fine with me and I am a Dallas fan. He had enough time to make a positive difference.

He simply had too many incompletions for the value he was supposedly worth to the team and of coures, he the continued drama doesn't help either.

I doubt he will enjoy or have much good luck with the Bills either. Instead, he should just hang his hat, along with this arrogance.

Go Cowboys, minus T.O. Should take pressure of the QB too.

3-29-2009 @ 4:18PM

checka624 said...

you cowboy fans are so rediculous.. i hate all of you.. when a player is playing for yall, hes the best in the world, but when he gets released or traded, yall are straight BASHING the man. T.O was NOT the problem in dallas, and you're a tool if you think that. the cowboys won't win a playoff game in another 10 more years.

3-29-2009 @ 4:21PM

for another 10 years, and even another 10 years after that. the cowboys will still be playoiff winless. bank on it

3-29-2009 @ 4:33PM

Mr.G said...

Bottom line is, TO is not a team player.Sure,his stats can help a team to an extent,but that's all he cares about,his individual numbers.If every other pass is not thrown to him,he's going to start calling out everybody he thinks is to blame for it.His attitude brings negative publicity to a franchise and their management,divides the locker room,destroys team chemistry and puts more pressure on any QB he plays with.That is the true definition of a "team cancer".Paying big money for this type of player is also the true definition of "stupid".

3-29-2009 @ 4:37PM

marc said...

Cowboys will finish last in the division. I guarantee it. T.O. was the reason your passing game was so great. Tony Romo is overrated although he does have the ability to make some LUCKY plays. Tony has regressed since his first start like it or not and this past season he was no better than Jason Campbell. The fact that a team that has T.O., Jason Witten, Roy Williams and the other half decent receivers plus an excellent offensive line and good running back and could not even make the playoffs is the saddest story in the NFL. All the hype about the Cowboys and they were one game shy of finishing in last place in the division. Now that T.O. is gone, the Cowboys will not be as good as they were or should I say could have been.

3-29-2009 @ 4:47PM

becarefulangel said...

Can they get rid of some more players too and screw up the locker room morale once and for all? I'm tired of hearing about Jerry and the 'Boys. He's become the new Al Davis.

3-29-2009 @ 5:07PM

Mark Noble said...

The real indignity for TO is that he was cut on the say-so of little Stevie Jones, whose resume for evaluting football talent has only one line- Jerry's baby boy.
Imagine a clown like Stephen Jones being the "assistant GM" ... the fool wouldn't know a trap block from a trap door. Between Stevie and Papa Jerry, if they can't throw money at somebody else's used goods (see Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson for openers), and they don't have football people like Jimmy Johnson to draft and trade for them, they could end up not winning any playoff games for years.... ooops, sorry. I thought it was 1996 and Jimmy's personnel were still on board. LOL

3-29-2009 @ 5:50PM

RW said...

Smart move on Jerry's part. In reality it's actually thanks to Witten the passing game is so prolific, he is the most consistent guy on the team and T.O although a game changer has dropped a tremendously large amount of big passes in really big games or just given up on the play as we saw in the Pitt game. If T.O. was as big a receiving threat as some of you all have claimed then explain why none of the teams he's played for have won the only significant thing in the NFL? Torry Holt has done it for the Rams, Marvin Harrison for the Colts, etc. These men won the Superbowl with great work ethic, an extensive positive and team attitude and by letting their plays speak for them, but T.O. isn't that it's just not him and that's fine for him. You talk about teams that are pathetic year after year, the Redskins go out and buy the entire team each year expecting it to get them to where they want to go, but the only free agent that has actually panned out for them is London Fletcher. The Cowboys will be fine.

5-15-2009 @ 8:49AM

jsaysopro said...

think real hard, and try remembering when the eagles went to the super bowl, with T.O. was it his fault that they almost won? Or is it his fault that they lost? Get your fact down before you run that trap. In that super bowl T.O. was the Most Valuable Player on the field for either team. Better ask somebody when you don't know yourself. I Rest Your Case!!!!!!

3-29-2009 @ 11:06PM

rgrisby123 said...

The only thing wrong with the Cowboys is everyone is in charge! TO dang sure wasn't the problem ,just like he wasnt't the solution. He calmed down when they got Williams as he like everyone else saw the writing on the wall. Jerry ain't the first to break a promise in this deal. And you can bet as long as moneybags is content with a full stadium and wathing the Romo and Witten show led by Jason Garret the Cowboys will watch the playoffs like they've been doing as they count their millions!

3-30-2009 @ 1:44AM

jspratts0323 said...

THE COWBOYS WILL DO GOOD ANYWAY, THAT IS A GOOD TEAM REGARDLESS...........

3-30-2009 @ 6:00PM

Jaime Cadena said...

I thought something was not right when TO got the ax. With Jerry saying he doesn't have much to say about the subject, tells me it's sonny boy running the show. Jerry just wants the cash, and we have a Micro Manager nit picking at the insignificant. He'll never see the forest because of the trees. The Cowboys are being lead by Dumb and Dumber and they think they know Football?

3-30-2009 @ 6:16PM

tylerty05 said...

it' jerry's cry baby son why he was release who's going to get blame now for 11 seasons of losses.?

3-31-2009 @ 9:31AM

langhamn said...

T.O. blames Jerry and the Cowboys organization for not holding up its end of the bargain. Did T.O. hold up his end of the bargain?........Good luck Buffalo, it's already started with T.O. not showing up to voluntary workouts, next he will be calling out Edwards just to try and get some face time on ESPN.

4-02-2009 @ 9:34PM

bob goad said...

In case no one's noticed...Dallas hasn't had their act together since J.Johnson,and it ain't gonna happen this yr. What a shame, 1st class stadium....discombobulated football team...

4-01-2009 @ 11:59AM

discombobulated? Is that when someone has their head up their A55 and cannot see the light? Hmmmm,sounds familiar here is Dallas. Could be why Jerry cannot hear straight, he's in too far.