T.O. Heading to Big D

Controversial standout wide receiver Terrell Owens has reached an agreement in principle with the Dallas Cowboys, according to a published report.

The Dallas Morning News, citing a pair of unidentified sources, reported Friday that Owens is expected to join the Cowboys with a formal announcement in the next few days.

Owens, 32, played just seven games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season before the club deactivated him for conduct detrimental to the team. In his second year with the team, Owens had publicly criticized numerous members of the organization, including quarterback Donovan McNabb.

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Owens was not pleased with his contract and remained a constant source of news even in his inactivity. He and agent Drew Rosenhaus appeared more than once on national television to discuss the conflict with the Eagles.

Despite missing more than half the year, Owens managed 47 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns.

Undeniably one of the finest talents in the game, Owens has caused controversy on numerous occassions in his 10-year career, the primary reason he will be joining his third team in four seasons.

Notable in his odd actions came against Dallas in 2002, when, after scoring a touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers, he sprinted to midfield and celebrated in the middle of the star at Texas Stadium.

He also has had many signature moments of a positive nature, especially in Super Bowl XXXIX when he returned from a broken leg that robbed him of the final two regular season games and two playoff contests to make nine catches for 122 yards.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has 716 catches for 10,535 yards in 142 career games with the 49ers and Eagles.

Get excited, big D is getting ready to turn into the big circus. Even if Owens is a model citizen, the media attention will be a pain in the arse.

I'm anxious to see what comes from this. Keyshawn was a playmaker, but not the same caliber of T.O. Julius could have a huge year with the addition of T.O., Chad Jackson, and a healthy Crayton. We'll just have to wait and see how much he'll have to share carries with Marion Barber.

Is Dallas drafting Chad Jackson from Florida? He is big and fast, looks like a TO clone, but he plays like a girl, typical gator. Ive never seen a receiver slide feet first like a QB to keep from getting hit until Chad Jackson did it. The gator fans probably claim he was reinventing the position or something. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

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he plays like a girl, typical gator

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Is Dallas drafting Chad Jackson from Florida? He is big and fast, looks like a TO clone, but he plays like a girl, typical gator. Ive never seen a receiver slide feet first like a QB to keep from getting hit until Chad Jackson did it. The gator fans probably claim he was reinventing the position or something. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

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The Draft gurus and all the Mock Drafts have Dallas taking him. I liked to see dallas get a good young wr. If not a wr then a safety or linebacker.

Terrell Owens has gone from stomping on the Dallas Cowboys' star logo to wearing it on his helmet.

The reviled receiver joined the Cowboys on Saturday, signing a three-year, $25 million contract to play for Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells in what promises to be an interesting combination of strong personalities. The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus, with salaries of $5 million this year, $8 million in 2007 and $7 million in 2008.



"I'm a star among stars now," a smiling Owens said.

There's no questioning his talent -- Owens has consistently put up numbers the Cowboys have lacked since Michael Irvin was in the prime of his career in the mid-1990s.

It's his attitude that prompted the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles to get rid of Owens. His relationship with the Eagles soured only months after he led them to the Super Bowl, finally ending with his release Tuesday.

Owens referred to his past problems as "life-learning experiences."

"I'm going to put those things behind me," Owens said. "They can only make a man stronger, 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."

Following up a question to Jones about Owens' past, the receiver interjected: "Jerry, I know what's expected of me. I won't let you down."

Jones didn't immediately reveal any contract details, but it was likely to include behavior-related provisions. Owens' blowup with Philadelphia last season even led to new rules regarding punishment being written into the NFL's latest collective bargaining agreement.

"We can both disappoint each other in this agreement," Jones said. "But this is no free lunch to the Dallas Cowboys. We made a commitment to him. That means something."

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said seven teams pursued Owens, "but this was the only team for Terrell."

Jones repeatedly mentioned that Parcells was in favor of adding Owens. The coach and his new star receiver already have spoken by telephone, although Parcells didn't attend the news conference. That's typical, though, because he hasn't attended any for free-agent signings since joining the club three-plus years ago.

"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 a they might not fit in with team chemistry."

Jones, who built a billion-dollar fortune by taking big risks, is willing to take this one because the Cowboys have gone nine years without winning a playoff game.

Part of the gamble is that fans will warm up to Owens, who launched his flamboyant persona in September 2000 when as a member of the 49ers he celebrated each of two touchdown catches at Texas Stadium by running to the team's star logo at midfield. Safety George Teague secured a spot in team lore by decking Owens after the second one.

On a Monday night game in 2004 best remembered for his pregame skit with a "Desperate Housewives" actress, Owens celebrated another score by tapping on a logo in the end zone.

Owens said he and Jones already have discussed his future TD celebrations. With an arm on Jones' back, he smiled wide and said, "I will embrace the star."

Until his behavior limited him to nine games last season, Owens had at least 75 receptions and 1,100 yards receiving in five straight seasons. The last time a Cowboys receiver hit both figures in one season was Irvin in 1997.

But Owens also has aliented teammates, coaches and the front office with the things he says and does.

In Dallas, Owens joins a team coming off a 9-7 season that included a 2-4 finish, keeping them from making the playoffs for a second straight year. The Cowboys seem to need more than a star receiver to get over the hump, but do need a main threat after releasing Keyshawn Johnson on Tuesday.

The team lacks veteran leaders, with captains Dan Campbell and Dat Nguyen already gone, as is La'Roi Glover, another calming influence. Dallas also is in a tough division that includes T.O.-less Philadelphia, the New York Giants hoping to improve as quarterback Eli Manning develops and the Washington Redskins, who have been big spenders in free agency.

The Eagles gave up on Owens only months after he helped them reach the Super Bowl. He demanded a new contract one year into a seven-year, $48.97 million deal, then squabbled with quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Before that, Owens forced his way out of San Francisco with repeated hijinks on the field and through disparaging comments about teammates, including quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Jones is no stranger to unpopular moves.

After winning big gambles in real estate and digging for oil wells, he put it all on the line to buy the Cowboys in 1989. Since then, he's fired Tom Landry, forced out Jimmy Johnson, entrusted a championship club to Barry Switzer and given Deion Sanders a $13 million signing bonus.

Jones felt pretty good about his choices when the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl in a four-year span. But that was 1995; Dallas has won only one playoff game since.

He's lost other big gambles along the way, from sticking with Switzer to hiring Chan Gailey, then Dave Campo as head coaches. He's also risked public scorn by releasing franchise icons Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.

Irvin's off-field woes are the local precedent for taking on Owens. However, while Irvin may have tarnished the team's image, he was a devoted teammate and fan favorite.

When Irvin was returning from a five-game suspension in 1996, he was asked how he expected fans to treat him. Irvin said he only had to score a touchdown to win them back -- and he was right.

Could it be that easy for Owens?

Unbelievable.

I never was a big Dion Sanders fan because of his flashy ways, and I sure have never been a T.O. fan. It'll take more than a few TDs to make me a T.O. fan.

Tom Landry probably just rolled over. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

I have been a Dallas fan since the days of Randy White, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and others. This makes me sick bringing this guy in. I may have to look for another team to cheer for.

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I have been a Dallas fan since the days of Randy White, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and others. This makes me sick bringing this guy in. I may have to look for another team to cheer for.

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I won't go that far. I have been a Cowboys fan all my life, and still will be. Hopefully this does work out for the best.

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I have been a Dallas fan since the days of Randy White, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and others. This makes me sick bringing this guy in. I may have to look for another team to cheer for.

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I won't go that far. I have been a Cowboys fan all my life, and still will be. Hopefully this does work out for the best.


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I have to agree with ya stripes. I too have liked dallas all my life, but I hope this works out. Now, I never been a huge fan of his. But he is a heck of a ball player. Like UT1 said I take a few more tds then none at all.

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I have been a Dallas fan since the days of Randy White, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and others. This makes me sick bringing this guy in. I may have to look for another team to cheer for.

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I won't go that far. I have been a Cowboys fan all my life, and still will be. Hopefully this does work out for the best.


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I have to agree with ya stripes. I too have liked dallas all my life, but I hope this works out. Now, I never been a huge fan of his. But he is a heck of a ball player. Like UT1 said I take a few more tds then none at all.

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My fan days go all the way back to Eddie LeBaron. Tom Landry did have an early version of TO in Thomas Henderson, but TH was more concerned with boasts about team efforts, not individual prowess. I'll keep my fingers crossed, hoping that more attention paid to TO will open more holes for JJ to run through. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I don't got that far back lol. The early 80's for me. Danny White and Tony Dorsett days.

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I don't got that far back lol. The early 80's for me. Danny White and Tony Dorsett days.

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The same for myself. I am also glad to see that they signed Jason Fabini. Although the rookie done a decent job at RT for most of the year, Fabini will add some depth, or if Flozell is not ready by the start of the season.

Im a big Dallas fan and will continue to be, although I believe this is the worse move they could have ever possibly made.

This could be easy , if he runs his mouth and won't produce, put him in a slot and lob the ball across the middle. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I don't look for coach to put up with the "showboat" stuff. If he wants to play on a team , fine- if not hit the want ads.

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Im a big Dallas fan and will continue to be, although I believe this is the worse move they could have ever possibly made.

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No, drafting Quincy Carter 17th overall, or making Jimmy Johnson so mad he quit, those are worse moves than this one. This has the potential to be a great move, or only average, and he is gone after a season or two. The reward should out weigh the cost in this situation.

I seem to remember Eddie LeBaron playing for the Redskins. Guess some of us go back quite a ways. I don't like the attitude of TO, but maybe it will help Julius.

Eddie was drafted by the Skins and played for them for 10 years (4 time pro bowl selection). Good things sometimes do come in small packages. Only 5'7", he was an excellent passer and scrambler. He was a real hero also, as he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart as a Marine in WWII.
Dallas got him in his 11th year as a pro in 1960. He was Clint Murchinson's first QB if I'm not mistaken.