Resident Cowboy fans- Terrell Owens

[Chachie]

I want to say first off that you all know I'm not the type to hassle you guys, but I've always been the type to trash Terrell Owens. I guaranteed he'd ruin Philly. It took a year longer than I thought but I think any Eagle fan would agree in retrospect that I was right. I'm not claiming by any stretch to be the sole predictor on that. Everyone but the Eagles and their fans saw it coming.

I've repeatedly guaranteed he'll ruin Dallas. Everyone but the Cowboys and their fans agree with me. I'm not saying he's done that yet, but with the meltdown over the last 2 weeks and all the times he's caused controversy there, I'd like to know how you feel. I'm expecting you guys to come up with any explanation for the season other than Owens, so if you do come back with that it better have the flavor of being honest with yourselves.

IMHO- If this was not the year he tore that team apart, that only means it's still coming.


So here it is: Do Dallas Cowboy fans blame Terrell Owens for the lack of cohesiveness that brought about failure to a team with that much talent and only Super Bowl expectations?


(I am also very aware and very humble that the Redskins pulled a huge boner to finish the last half of the season, so I hope you guys don't take this thread as a stab at the Cowboys organization. I'm just piling on T.O.)

[DGreenistheBest]

Obviously I'm not a Dallas fan, but I think the Cowboys failure this year is much more of a "team effort" than the Owens tenure in Philly was. I do think that if next season doesn't start hot and stay that way, their locker room will be like a powder keg in a microwave.

[Califan007]

obviously i'm not a dallas fan, but i think the cowboys failure this year is much more of a "team effort" than the owens tenure in philly was. I do think that if next season doesn't start hot and stay that way, their locker room will be like a powder keg in a microwave.
+1

[SkinsNatsFan]

Obviously I'm not a Dallas fan, but I think the Cowboys failure this year is much more of a "team effort" than the Owens tenure in Philly was. I do think that if next season doesn't start hot and stay that way, their locker room will be like a powder keg in a microwave.

I agree. Taking a look at them through the top of their stadium, there was already quite a lot swirling around in there. Another big one added to the mix just doesn't stand out all that much. Not to mention the ones added afterwards. The stink is coming from quite a few different pieces.

[doncherry]

I think that they need to get rid of him simply because Romo looks to him at the expense of other receivers, even when he isn't open. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Chachie]

I think that they need to get rid of him simply because Romo looks to him at the expense of other receivers, even when he isn't open. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.



The Don weighs in. Fair enough. Owens changes the game plan. It's an on-field thing for Don Cherry.

HeHate? TRPB? ...Bueller?

[Toe Jam]

I would love to pin it on the donkey that is T.O. but anyone with half a brain could tell while watching the Cowboys that the blame (and shame) belong to just about everyone on that team.

No cohesiveness whatsoever.

[DTK]

Good question.

I'll start off by saying I don't like TO and wanted no part of him in Dallas. IMO WR's and RB's for the most part are a "dime a dozen", so to take on one that has been such a cancer was a BIG risk.

In regards to your question, I'd say he's most definately played his part. His signing helped run Parcells out of town, which in turn led to the hiring of Camp Cupcake himself, Wade Phillips. Now Phillips is a good DC, but a HC he is not. To see evidence of this, look no further than when Romo waved the punt team off the field and Wade wanted to punt. That right there shows who runs the asylum: the players. And in my opinion the leader of that group is TO.

But not all of this falls on TO. Most of this falls on Jerry Jones for signing TO, hiring a soft HC, signing other "me first" players, etc. TO is part of the drink, but Jerry did the shaking.

[33]

I think that they need to get rid of him simply because Romo looks to him at the expense of other receivers, even when he isn't open. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

That will change if it's only Roy?

[paloosa]

In my opinion they need to get rid of Owens and Romo. They both are prima donnas and both have not performed up to standard. TO is making things distruptive but not as much as he did in San Fran or Philly. Romo just stinks up the place in December and can handle the pressure put on him by Jerry Jones and the Cowboy Organization. But the ultimate blame is Jerry Jones' because he has placed so much emphasis on keeping up this "America's Team" image that he has made it a circus event for everyone involved. With as much pressure that is placed on them by Jones' no wonder they underperform. It also doesn't help when you bring in guys with "character" issues. TO, Pacman Jones, and Tank Johnson. All of them have not helped this team at all.

[DGreenistheBest]

I'm sure this already has its own thread but I'll bring it up here too in relation to the topic...

I don't want to pick on Romo if something was really wrong with him physically after that game, so apologies where necessary if he was really hurt, but am I the only one who thinks the whole shower collapsing scene was more likely a "woe-is-me" pouting episode than the result of any real ailment?

[HapHaszard]

Personally I think it was the fact that Jerry brought in a lot of guys that were ME ME guys, not team players. TO is only part of the cancer there. I think the old Bang cartoon where Jerry was looking at the past and saw "Criminals" pictures on the wall and decided to bring back the glory, had a lot of truth to it. To many mavericks and not enough draft horses.

[Califan007]

I'm sure this already has its own thread but I'll bring it up here too in relation to the topic...

I don't want to pick on Romo if something was really wrong with him physically after that game, so apologies where necessary if he was really hurt, but am I the only one who thinks the whole shower collapsing scene was more likely a "woe-is-me" pouting episode than the result of any real ailment?
I doubt it was pouting...more likely he was simply dizzy for some reason and fainted. I've done that before, when I've had one ear severely clogged up for some reason or when I haven't really eaten very well (or at all) for a long time. Rarely happens, but it does. If Romo really did injure his ribs I could see an injury possibly causing it as well (or a concussion, maybe?)...

[HapHaszard]

I doubt it was pouting...more likely he was simply dizzy for some reason and fainted. I've done that before, when I've had one ear severely clogged up for some reason or when I haven't really eaten very well (or at all) for a long time. Rarely happens, but it does. If Romo really did injure his ribs I could see an injury possibly causing it as well (or a concussion, maybe?)...
I doubt injured ribs would cause that. I have had a couple of cracked ribs and separated ribs at the same time and while it hurts like hell and makes it hard to breath its not something that would make you pass out. A concussion is a good possibility, as well as some type of problem effecting his inner ears, causing vertigo.

[Elite81881]

I doubt injured ribs would cause that. I have had a couple of cracked ribs and separated ribs at the same time and while it hurts like hell and makes it hard to breath its not something that would make you pass out. A concussion is a good possibility, as well as some type of problem effecting his inner ears, causing vertigo.


And or a panic attack brought on by the realization he just lost another huge game in December and the Cowboys a spot in the playoffs. The reports are that he was breathing heavily and collapsed. Concussions rarely make you faint like that, and if it were an inner ear problem it would have shown more on the field.

That's just my :2cents: though. I have seen plenty of panic attacks and it was what I thought of immediately when I heard the series of events that led up to him collapsing.

[IbleedBnG83]

I think Terrell Owens causes a major distraction. Even if he is not "acting" up as much as he has done in the past, the team must take into account his feelings and making sure that they cater to him. That is a distraction in of itself.

I think the Cowboys don't have the overall leadership and high character guys needed to lift the team during bad times. The Cowboys had a great coach in Jimmy Johnson, a QB like Aikman who was smart and a leader, and guys like Emmit and Irvin. Now they have happy go lucky Romo, "all about me" TO, criminals Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson, and uninspired Roy "the receiver not safety" Williams. Even Wade Phillips is a roll over for a coach.

The Cowboys have a lot of talent, but they are all going in different directions. This is where teams with lesser talent do more because of good coching and high character.

[Califan007]

And or a panic attack brought on by the realization he just lost another huge game in December and the Cowboys a spot in the playoffs. The reports are that he was breathing heavily and collapsed. Concussions rarely make you faint like that, and if it were an inner ear problem it would have shown more on the field.

That's just my :2cents: though. I have seen plenty of panic attacks and it was what I thought of immediately when I heard the series of events that led up to him collapsing.
Well, the breathing heavy fits with what HH was saying about rib injuries...and the vertigo caused by inner ear problems don't have to occur regularly. With me, I may experience it once every 18 months, and it's totally out of the blue.

But the collapsing/fainting, yeah, if it was something emotional it would more likely be something like a panic attack than mere "woe is me" pouting for attention, I think. My ex-wife used to have panic attacks regularly, and they usually didn't occur because of some traumatic or emotional event that just took place...they occurred almost out of the blue. It's the panic of realizing another one is about to occur that really drives the panic attack to intensify moreso than an external event. Quite the Catch-22 to be in. She learned to control them when she was able to calm herself down when they'd start happening. She hasn't had one in years.

[Elite81881]

Well, the breathing heavy fits with what HH was saying about rib injuries...and the vertigo caused by inner ear problems don't have to occur regularly. With me, I may experience it once every 18 months, and it's totally out of the blue.

But the collapsing/fainting, yeah, if it was something emotional it would more likely be something like a panic attack than mere "woe is me" pouting for attention, I think. My ex-wife used to have panic attacks regularly, and they usually didn't occur because of some traumatic or emotional event that just took place...they occurred almost out of the blue. It's the panic of realizing another one is about to occur that really drives the panic attack to intensify moreso than an external event. Quite the Catch-22 to be in. She learned to control them when she was able to calm herself down when they'd start happening. She hasn't had one in years.


I saw a few happen under extreme conditions in Iraq which is where I am drawing my comparison. Though I guess comparing the stress of real life/death combat and the game of football is not appropriate. However, I could see how repeatedly failing while letting an organization and fan base down would drive a person to faint. Especially how Romo has had a hand at blowing it for the girls year after year. The Cowboys organization is a gigantic charlie foxtrot at the moment, which I am relishing after the pre-season praise and crowning they received. This whole fainting episode is a cherry on top.

[Califan007]

I saw a few happen under extreme conditions in Iraq which is where I am drawing my comparison. Though I guess comparing the stress of real life/death combat and the game of football is not appropriate.
Unless you're Kellen Winslow, Jr.! (booyah!)


However, I could see how repeatedly failing while letting an organization and fan base down would drive a person to faint. Especially how Romo has had a hand at blowing it for the girls year after year. The Cowboys organization is a gigantic charlie foxtrot at the moment, which I am relishing after the pre-season praise and crowning they received. This whole fainting episode is a cherry on top.
Yeah, I could also see a build-up emotionally from repeated failings causing Romo to have a panic attack if his emotional make-up wasn't the strongest to begin with...

[HapHaszard]

I saw a few happen under extreme conditions in Iraq which is where I am drawing my comparison. Though I guess comparing the stress of real life/death combat and the game of football is not appropriate. However, I could see how repeatedly failing while letting an organization and fan base down would drive a person to faint. Especially how Romo has had a hand at blowing it for the girls year after year. The Cowboys organization is a gigantic charlie foxtrot at the moment, which I am relishing after the pre-season praise and crowning they received. This whole fainting episode is a cherry on top.

You know I never thought of panic attacks, I've seen them, but only in some very stressful conditions in the military also.

[SonnyJ]

Well, I'm not a Cowboy fan, but I'll take a stab. :)

I'd never want Owens on my team. The off-field distractions are one thing, but, as long as it doesn't have a real impact on on-field performance, no big deal. I think doncherry's point about him commanding so much of Romo's attention is actually a bigger deal than all his whining in the press. I'd imagine teammates would just roll their eyes about his non-playing histrionics and just say "There he goes again", but if he is disrupting how the offense operates, then that is a killer.

The overall combination of prima donnas and low character players, combined with the loose ship and circus atmosphere is a big negative when adversity sets in, and Owens is just a part of that overall show. That is Jerruh's doing and that problem lays squarely at his feet. Every team in the NFL hits a rough patch along the way - the better teams band together and fight through it, and, actually, the Cowboys rallied through a down time of their own and had themselves in good position.

Which leads to my conclusion that the real problem is that they just aren't all that great. The team was pretty abysmal when Romo went out, and the OL was exposed during that time. The secondary isn't all that great. Ratliff is the only player from their defense I would really covet for the Redskins, though Ware has a bunch of jock-sniffers and is a very good player in his own right. No one else on that defense is all that, though. Barber did nothing to dispel the thought that he can't handle a full-time workload. The WRs are nothing special outside of TO (and he's not getting any better). Good defenses can stymie Romo.

It's a machine that runs well when all the parts are in harmony, but it can get gummed up pretty easily. Like a lot of other NFL teams.

This is all a long way of saying that the cohesiveness problems of the Cowboys are probably overblown. It surely didn't help matters, but the real problem was that their talent was overblown in the first place. They needed to operate at peak efficiency in order to be amongst the elite teams (as all elite teams must do), and they just weren't good enough to do that over an entire season.

[sideshow24]

Good question.



In regards to your question, I'd say he's most definately played his part. His signing helped run Parcells out of town, which in turn led to the hiring of Camp Cupcake himself, Wade Phillips. Now Phillips is a good DC, but a HC he is not. To see evidence of this, look no further than when Romo waved the punt team off the field and Wade wanted to punt. That right there shows who runs the asylum: the players. And in my opinion the leader of that group is TO.

.

Didn't get the game. Did they punt or go for it?

[ouvan59]

I think that they need to get rid of him simply because Romo looks to him at the expense of other receivers, even when he isn't open. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

I would agree with this and take it a step farther. The team really needs their QB to be the leader and the man. With TO around that is never going to happen because he just won't shup the eff up. He is a type A personality on steroids.

[Chachie]

With TO around that is never going to happen because he just won't shut the eff up. He is a type A personality on steroids.




This is where I'm coming from and it's why I started the thread. No matter how well the team claims to deal with Owens' personality, it will always take center stage.

If every loss is going to assuredly cause a Terrell outburst (or even some victories where he feels he wasn't used enough) then it's not worth having him onboard. There are plenty of teams out there who make the playoffs/conference championships/super bowl without Terrell Owens. For Dallas to think he's the vital link to a post season is a mistake. He'll always be ONE reason a team wins and he'll always be THE reason they fall short of their ultimate goals.

[sideshow24]

Didn't get the game. Did they punt or go for it?

Never mind. Googled it and its all over the web.

[Ken]

I want to say first off that you all know I'm not the type to hassle you guys, but I've always been the type to trash Terrell Owens. I guaranteed he'd ruin Philly. It took a year longer than I thought but I think any Eagle fan would agree in retrospect that I was right. I'm not claiming by any stretch to be the sole predictor on that. Everyone but the Eagles and their fans saw it coming.

I've repeatedly guaranteed he'll ruin Dallas. Everyone but the Cowboys and their fans agree with me. I'm not saying he's done that yet, but with the meltdown over the last 2 weeks and all the times he's caused controversy there, I'd like to know how you feel. I'm expecting you guys to come up with any explanation for the season other than Owens, so if you do come back with that it better have the flavor of being honest with yourselves.

IMHO- If this was not the year he tore that team apart, that only means it's still coming.


So here it is: Do Dallas Cowboy fans blame Terrell Owens for the lack of cohesiveness that brought about failure to a team with that much talent and only Super Bowl expectations?


(I am also very aware and very humble that the Redskins pulled a huge boner to finish the last half of the season, so I hope you guys don't take this thread as a stab at the Cowboys organization. I'm just piling on T.O.)

I don't blame Terrell Owens for what transpired this year. He wasn't perfect but he wasn't the issue.

The issue was incompetence in our coaching staff and an overall "satisfied" approach by our team in general. Jason Garrett's playcalling really let us down and Wade Phillip's approach is the exact opposite of what this team needs right now.

Right now, the players are running that team and that is the biggest problem that I see. TO is not a problem when the plays are being called correctly and players are playing up to their ability. He isn't wrong on anything he's harped about this year. Micheal Irvin used to do the same thing, so I have no problem with him wanting the ball. Most great players in this league do the same thing.

The multitude of players having huge contracts also does not help the situation. Right now, we have a coaching staff that does not have the respect of the players and a group of fat cat players who don't have the incentive to change.

That is the biggest problem wiith this team and TO is not in the top 10 as far as the issues go on this team.

[HeHateMe]

He was one problem surrounded by many others that ultimately overshadowed him.

The mess this team has become starts at the very top, and trickles all the way down.

[HeHateMe]

I think Terrell Owens causes a major distraction. Even if he is not "acting" up as much as he has done in the past, the team must take into account his feelings and making sure that they cater to him. That is a distraction in of itself.

I think the Cowboys don't have the overall leadership and high character guys needed to lift the team during bad times. The Cowboys had a great coach in Jimmy Johnson, a QB like Aikman who was smart and a leader, and guys like Emmit and Irvin. Now they have happy go lucky Romo, "all about me" TO, criminals Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson, and uninspired Roy "the receiver not safety" Williams. Even Wade Phillips is a roll over for a coach.

The Cowboys have a lot of talent, but they are all going in different directions. This is where teams with lesser talent do more because of good coching and high character.

Just looking at your sig...Do you really think Andre Smith will be around at 13?

[jrfriedm]

I personally think that TO has only started to destroy the Cowboys locker room. I believe that it will be even worse next year, and that the Cowboys will be forced to get rid of him after next season.

[Ken]

In my opinion they need to get rid of Owens and Romo. They both are prima donnas and both have not performed up to standard. TO is making things distruptive but not as much as he did in San Fran or Philly. Romo just stinks up the place in December and can handle the pressure put on him by Jerry Jones and the Cowboy Organization. But the ultimate blame is Jerry Jones' because he has placed so much emphasis on keeping up this "America's Team" image that he has made it a circus event for everyone involved. With as much pressure that is placed on them by Jones' no wonder they underperform. It also doesn't help when you bring in guys with "character" issues. TO, Pacman Jones, and Tank Johnson. All of them have not helped this team at all.

It is really ignorant to say they have to get rid of romo. That is just ludicrous. Yeah, he didn't play well in december but he also faced the 4 hardest defenses in the league and didn't get much help.

Did you watch the games? He had people in his face every game. Hard to play qb when that is happening. hard to play qb when you become a 1 dimensional team that throws downfield all the time.

It is not all on Romo by a longshot.

[Ken]

I personally think that TO has only started to destroy the Cowboys locker room. I believe that it will be even worse next year, and that the Cowboys will be forced to get rid of him after next season.

The Cowboys may get rid of him next season, but I doubt it will be because he "destroys" the locker room.

It will be because his skills are declining...

[OWUeagleMD]

The Cowboys may get rid of him next season, but I doubt it will be because he "destroys" the locker room.

It will be because his skills are declining...

T.O., the most notorious locker-room distraction in football, plays on a team that's currently in the throes of the most remarkable meltdowns in recent memory, and you're here to suggest that there isn't a correlation? That T.O. isn't what everyone else already knew he was?

Does your delusion know no bounds?

[tr1]

The Cowboys may get rid of him next season, but I doubt it will be because he "destroys" the locker room.

It will be because his skills are declining...

What!?!

When I said he'd lost a step in training camp, I was laughed at.

You're not implying that I was right, are you Ken?

:rotflmao:

[IbleedBnG83]

Just looking at your sig...Do you really think Andre Smith will be around at 13?

With Eugene Moore's stock dropping, no. But at the time, I thought he could very well be considering he is junior and Moore and Oher were both seniors.

[HeHateMe]

With Eugene Moore's stock dropping, no. But at the time, I thought he could very well be considering he is junior and Moore and Oher were both seniors.

Ok, good. Because he's going top 5, at the very least.

[ljs]

Personally I think it was the fact that Jerry brought in a lot of guys that were ME ME guys, not team players. TO is only part of the cancer there. I think the old Bang cartoon where Jerry was looking at the past and saw "Criminals" pictures on the wall and decided to bring back the glory, had a lot of truth to it. To many mavericks and not enough draft horses.

I don't recall seeing that Bang cartoon, got a link?

[HapHaszard]

I don't recall seeing that Bang cartoon, got a link?

Yes its
http://www.bangcartoon.com/2008/pacmandallas.htm

[ouvan59]

T.O., the most notorious locker-room distraction in football, plays on a team that's currently in the throes of the most remarkable meltdowns in recent memory

or since the last team he was on.

[Ken]

What!?!

When I said he'd lost a step in training camp, I was laughed at.

You're not implying that I was right, are you Ken?

:rotflmao:

No, didn't say that. I said it "would be" because his skills are declining. I think he had a productive season considering that BJ couldn't throw a forward pass for 3 of his games.

It would not surprise me if there was a more noticible drop off next year though.

[Westbrook36]

In Ken's world, TO is not a distraction. I love it.

[Bacon]

It's not so much that TO has lost a "step" as it is that he's no longer clutch. He'll make one key play a game, and that distracts from the plethora of easy balls he manages to drop.

[ChrisFul]

Here's one resident Cowboys fan that has never liked TO and cannot wait for the day that he is no longer a Cowboy.

[juju97]

Here's one resident Cowboys fan that has never liked TO and cannot wait for the day that he is no longer a Cowboy.

Won't happen until he retires sorry.

[NoCalMike]

The real question is how much longer will the media allow Jerry Jones to hide behind the greatest trade in NFL history(The Herschal Walker trade) that basically allowed the Cowboys to build a Superbowl Dynasty.

Every since that dyasty ended, what has Jerry Jones positive for this franchise? What personnel moves, from getting ride of Jimmy Johnson, to bringing in re-tread coaches, to Troy Hambrick, Julius Jones, Roy Williams, Quincy Carter, Aaron Wright, Drew Henson, Tony Romo(well the jury is still out I guess), Terrell Owens etc etc etc......

This Cowboys team had more talent then the 2000 Redskins, but ended up with a similar embarrasing finish, yet Daniel Snyder seemed to garner way much more criticism for the 2000 Redskins.

I understand Jerry Jones has 3 trophies on his resume, but are those enough to make all his boneheaded personnel moves acceptable?

[DWinzit]

In Ken's world, TO is not a distraction. I love it.You sound surprised

[Chachie]

Speaking only for my humble participation in the ATN, this is...


MY MOST EPIC BUMP EVER.

[Monte51Coleman]

Here's one resident Cowboys fan that has never liked TO and cannot wait for the day that he is no longer a Cowboy.

Won't happen until he retires sorry.

Great bump, Chachie!