Will T.O. Find A Home?

Wow. Despite every read-between-the-line insistence from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that he would not release wide receiver Terrell Owens, they've gone ahead and done it.

So desperate to salvage team chemistry and a chance at doing some damage with a very talented roster, the Cowboys will take a $9 million cap hit with the release of the brilliant narcissist.

If you can't make it in the twenty-ring circus in Dallas where anyone who could create a stir and sell a ticket was welcome, where can you make it?

Owens, who'll turn 36 in December of this year, is going to have a tough time convincing any team that he won't tear them asunder by signing him. And that's a bizarre crossroads for the Dennis Rodman of the NFL to find himself at.

Consider how remarkable statistically Owens is. Since 2000, he's only failed to score double-digit touchdowns twice. That was in 2005 when he only played in seven games and scored six TDs for the Eagles (who'd had enough of him and sent him home). The other time was 2003 when he had nine touchdowns in a Pro Bowl season for the Niners (who he also became persona non grata to).

The man's scored 139 regular season touchdowns in his career. He shows no signs of slowing down. He also shows no signs of ever changing.

And while Oakland will be served up as the likely destination for T.O., you have to wonder if Al Davis is even that crazy. Do the Raiders really need Owens in the ear and head of JaMarcus Russell as he enters the third season of a career that's trending toward bustdom?

Where else? Who else? Very difficult to say but this much is clear - Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus are going to have put on a T.O. Extreme Makeover before any team opts to step to the plate and sign him even to a one-year deal.

I mean, Jerry Jones couldn't stand anymore? That's saying something. And what it's saying isn't good.

 

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45 Comments

tesla said:

TO is talented but comes with a lot of attitude. i m not sure why he wants to waste his talent with bad attitude. he needs to be slapped really hard once and for all - by his mama or someone close to him and yell at him saying "shut the f up !! and just play the game "

Richard said:

Say what you will about TO, but look at Garcia's numbers before and after TO left San Fran, look at McNabbs numbers with TO as opposed to when he wasn't there, look even at Romo's. TO has an effect on QBs. He may become a nuisance after 3 or so years, maybe he didnt learn anything about class from Jerry Rice, but he has a huge impact on the production of Quarterbacks and he has been to the playoffs plenty of times because of his performance on the field, and in the end, thats what you want from your players. I personally would love to see him go to Houston and start opposite of Andre Johnson. But perhaps thats wishful thinking on my behalf.

deltaforce said:

TO - Totally Overrated.
Dude - just play the game and keep your mouth shut. you gotta a problem with everyone in every team you have played ?
so either its problem with all the teams and players you played with in the past or its a problem with you ....
Man ! you made fun of McNabb - look where he is w/o you. 4 times in playoffs and look at you - fired from every team you play with.

Let the game do the talking !

who knows said:

T.O. is a perfect example of american athletes who think that they are "all that"

Chris Banks said:

As a lifelong Cowboys fan, this was music to my ears. While historically an extremely productive player, I think his skills are trending downward, and he is a cancer in the clubhouse. Good riddance.

Bill K said:

gotta say this is the best news i've heard all year. finally, finally my beloved cowboys can get back to just playing football on the field. like one posting said, it's like getting rid of a cancer in the clubhouse.

ed w said:

Football is about winning but their should be some enjoyment along the way.
He made Jeff Garcia miserable, Donovan miserable and Tony Romo was well on his way to being miserable.
What coach or GM wants to subject their quarterback to this guy?

exhelodrvr said:

Someone will sign him to a contract with performance-related bonuses.

The BrownHornet said:

Say what you want about T.O. but he practiced hard, played hard and wanted to do whatever to win. He talked a lot but so what! Did his talking make his team miss tackles?, Or make his team ineffective running the ball. I like a guy on my team who gets fired up and hates to lose. If Romo wasn't a punk chemistry wouldn't be a issue. Leadership in the locker room should come from quarterback down.

Wayne Dabbs said:

T.O to PITTSBURG and WIN 7th SUPER BOWL

Gordon said:

"And that's a bizarre crossroads for the Dennis Rodman of the NFL to find himself at." In this case, ending a sentence with a preposition is wrong.

SR said:

Believe me, someone will sign him. As much as a pain as he is, and as much as I can't stand him, he can still be a threat on the field. He will find a team.

Easy E said:

I am a bleeding green Eagles Phanatical Phan. As much as I hate the 'Boys it was time cut that metastasized cancer from the team. He still has not got the fact that football is a TEAM sport. Now maybe, my Eagles and Cowboys can get back to our beloved hated rivalry that we both cherish so much.

Big Time Philly Fan! said:

BRING BACK T.O. TO PHILLY FOR MCNABB & T.O. REUNION! BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL BABY! WE'LL FINALLY GET THAT RING THAT THE N.E. CHEATERS STOLE FROM US!

Greg K said:

As an Eagle fan living in Dallas I was heartbroken to hear this news. Now the Cowboys have a chance....what a letdown.

CowboysFan4Life said:

Jerry Jones has made it hard to be a Cowboys fan since Jimmy Johnson left town. Honestly...could you get excited with the likes of Chan Gayley, Barry Switzer, Dave Campo and Wade Phillips? Not to mention Quincy Carter,Bobby Carpenter, year after year bad draft picks and a host of over the hill free agent signings?

Now that the T.O. show has been shown the road out of town; the Cowboys star shines just a bit brighter. The new stadium has a greater luster and once and for all Tony Romo has a chance to be the leader of this football team. Can he step up to being the true leader of this team like the role models of the past? Can he be a renewed version of Roger, Troy or Dandy Don and not Danny White?

The path is clear now that "The Obsruction" is gone from the locker room.

GreggB said:

TO to Pittsburgh? Com'on. They have NEVER played that game -- and God-willing, NEVER will. That's what brings the success we all enjoy so much. They were smart enough to jettison Plaxico before he became an overt problem -- look at him now...

NEVER!

Mike said:

TO can still play . he's still a top 5 WR in this League ! . For all you Cowboy fans that say good ridance . .Remember it wasn't TO's fault you didn't get to the superbowl . Look at your CHOKE ARTIST of a quaterback for that reason.

To is in GREAT Shape and he'll be an asset to whatever team signs him.! . .As a Giants Fan i'd love to have him playing for Big Blue .

Stillers Fan said:

Dabbs, I understand your desire for Pittsburgh to win a 7th SuperBowl... and Big Time Philly Fan I know you want that WR edge to get McNabb over the hump, but come on fellas! TO's affect on a team isn't in his stat line. He frustrates teammates and forces O-coordinators to compromise their gameplan. Football is a team sport. If talent a SuperBowl makes, then Dallas would have been there long ago. Look at Arizona last year. Their defense has very few studs, but they played really well together down the stretch and made it to the SuperBowl. That's the type of team you want... and that doesn't include TO.

George said:

err...Buffalo Bills...we have no one to through to...much less anyone to throw it!

E J C said:

I don't like the Cowboys, Eagles or San Fran, but I don't blame any of those teams for ridding themselves or Terrell Owenasaurus Rex. While his personal stats are impressive, his effect on the overall TEAM is not.

The BrownHornet (above) blames Romo for lack of leadership. Does anyone really think Matt Cassel or Joe Flacco have some sort of leadership quality that Tony Romo doesn't have? The difference is that the REAL leaders on the Patriots and Ravens teams rallied behind their QBs - for example, Ray Lewis told Flacco that the defense "had his back" and that Ray Ray had confidence in Joe.

Compare that to T.O. who had a "receiver's meeting" behind his QB's back - and the Cowboys lost every game after that. Hmmm....

Mearsh said:

This guy's writing a product of today's public education: "(who he also became persona non grata to)" "And that's a bizarre crossroads for the Dennis Rodman of the NFL to find himself at."

UNREADABLE!

Texans Fan said:

DON'T COME TO HOUSTON!!!!
T.O. is a CANCER!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ryan said:

How about Oakland? They picked up Moss the time he was let go.

Mike said:

How about the Patriots? Does the defense double cover Owens or Moss?

John said:

Drew Brees takes the snap, He's got TO long, Touchdown!


That will probably be said 10 - 15 times next fall.

NotaDumbBlonde said:

Oh, the Patriots for sure. Belichik will give him a do or die ultimatum, then Brady will break all kinds of records with Moss, Welker, and Owens.

Bill Wardell said:

The Dallas Cowboys made the right decision. Terrel Owens is terminal cancer to any team. His record speaks for itself and he isn't even that good anymore.

Just look what he did to the Cowboys. Not even Bill Parcells could do anything with that idiot. Good riddin's T.O. Any team that picks him up is crazy and looking for instant disaster. The NFL is better off without hims and Pacman Jones.

John said:

T.O. tore up morale in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Shall he try for four? End game!!!!!!!!!!!

Sixburgh said:

Bye Bye TO, may you never find work again. He can stay home and do push-ups in his driveway with Rosenhaus begging teams to sign him. The year he was playing for the Eagles, there was a sign aat the Cleveland game that said "TO has BO", he tried to rip it down after he scored. To this day, that is the funniest sign i have ever seen. I would like to shake the hand of the fan who wrote it, even if he is a Brown's fan.

SleazyLee said:

Would I want owns on my team?
Hm.........
Would I want cancer?

Keisha said:

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Redskins. Daniel Synder has his checkbook wide open this season.

Erin said:

OMG, bite your tongue, Keisha! The Redskins need TO like they need another Daniel Snyder! Spoiled child owner vs. spoiled child athlete = maybe a LITTLE controversy? And no one will care about the game!

Sixburgh said:

Aren't the Redskins almost out of money, how can Snyder affford all these high-priced free agents, it baffles me. Plus Erin's right, you don't need the headache.

Sixburgh said:

Rosenhaus: "Hey TO, don't worry about it man, I'll buy a team and get you, Oucho Stinko, Plexiglass Burress, and Anquan Holdin Out on it, we'll be unstopable.

TO: "But Tony was my quarterback, this is all Whitten's fault, I hate that guy.

David said:

For perspective, I think you really have to compare TO with Larry Fitzgerald.

Both are very productive, but TO is all attitude all the time, where Fitz is as humble and calm as they come, while being a lot more innately talented than TO, IMO.

I recall Mr. Fitzgerald even offered to give up part of is salary to keep a teammate (another "competing" WR, for that matter) with the Cards. That's real class.

Sixburgh said:

Good comparison Dave, spot on.

Barbara Moore said:

I never did forgive him for the star act. How dare he rub anything he does in My Cowboys face by running to the star. It took a while but we finally got revenge. Get out of town TO!!

Lisa Sheaffer said:

i say let him stew for a year and maybe during that time he might ???mature??? some. we can only hope.

Shao said:

Don't drag Dennis Rodman down to T.O.'s level. Rodman was a winner, winning 5 NBA championships with the Pistons and the Bulls. How many has T.O. won? Saying T.O. is the Rodman of the NFL is lazing reporting. You should find a better analogy.


AntiCowGirl said:

Talent may make you big $$$ but to be a champion it takes a lot more and T.O. just doesn't get it. The big issue now is will the Eagles be able to compete in the East with the cowgirls. Oh wait, they still Tony Romo the biggest girl on the team.

Good Luck JJ...

Randy B said:

Being a life long Steelers fan, I just love reading all this about teams that struggle with personality problems.... you would think that players and owners would learn that Teams win Championships and not individuals. Sixburgh has demonstrated and spoken....

Mitchell Eisenberg said:

let him go to detroit lions..what would he have to lose except he could prove himself as a leader to a team that really needs someone who cares about the team..not just himself..but i don't think he will do the right thing..its all about T.O...

geek said:

A problem child that even a mother cannot love.

Talent is just part of the equation. I would take a less talented person who is a team player.

Jprbos said:

Hey why the low rating on the MIchael Vick srticle ? Do people give an article a bad review because of their hatred of the individual (Vick) in question? I thought it was a great read. Thanks for all that research from the experts. Where else do you get an article like this? Would you prefer comments from ex-athletes? "He has to take it one day at a time" "It will be a long road and he has to keep his chinstrap on extra-tight-yaknow what I'm sayin'"
Great read great research -it will be interesting, thanks for this insight.

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Drilling deeply into the mantle layer of America's Passion, NBCSports.com's Tom Curran offers up quick hits and insights on all things NFL.