IRVING, Texas (March 5) - Wide receiver Terrell Owens was released by
the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, ending a three-year run that
produced as many big headlines as big plays.
** FILE ** This is a Oct. 15, 2008 file photo showing Dallas Cowboys' Terrell Owens listening to a reporter's question as he stands in front of his locker at the Cowboys' training facility in Irving, Texas. Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd says Terrell Owens sent him a text message late Wednesday March 4, 2009, saying he had been cut by the team. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens throws a football to the Dallas Mavericks mascot during a time out between the Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns in fourth quarter NBA basketball action in Dallas, Texas in this file image from December 4, 2008. ESPN reported, stating anonymous sources, on March 4, 2009 that the Cowboys were cutting their star receiver Owens. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi/Files (UNITED STATES)
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Dallas Cowboys' Terrell Owens is upended by Washington Redskins' Fred Smoot (not shown)during the first half of their NFL football game in Landover, Maryland, in this file image from November 16, 2008. ESPN reported, stating anonymous sources, on March 4, 2009 that the Cowboys were cutting their star receiver Owens. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/Files (UNITED STATES)
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** RECROPPED VERSION ** Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking speaks during a news conference to discuss his signing a contract with the Dallas Cowboys football team, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in Atlanta . (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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*** FILE *** Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) stands on the sidelines at the end of an NFL football game against Philadelphia Eagles in this Dec. 28, 2008 file photo, in Philadelphia. Terrell Owens' days in Dallas are done, according to ESPN. ESPN cited anonymous sources Wednesday night March 4, 2009 in saying that the Cowboys have decided to cut the receiver, ridding them of a big locker-room distraction but also absorbing a big hit on their salary cap. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
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Former Dallas Cowboys' LeRoy Jordan signs posters at a reception before the induction ceremonies at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in Waco, Texas. Also inducted were Rolando Blackman, Bill Bradley, Steve Worster, Abe Lemons, Kyle Rote, Jr. and LaDainian Tomlinson. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald,Duane A. Laverty)
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Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking speaks during a news conference to discuss his signing a contract with the Dallas Cowboys football team, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in Atlanta . (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking hugs Falcons owner Arthur Blank after a news conference to discuss his signing a contract with the Dallas Cowboys football team, Wednesday, March, 4, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking laughs during a news conference to discuss his signing a contract with the Dallas Cowboys football team, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking, right, hugs Falcons owner Arthur Blank before a news conference to discuss his signing a contract with the Dallas Cowboys football team, Wednesday, March 4, 2009 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Owens caught more touchdown passes than any NFL receiver over
the last three years and was a big part of Tony Romo's emergence
from an unknown backup to a starlet-dating Pro Bowl quarterback
with a $67 million contract.
Yet the Cowboys never won a playoff game with Owens, and didn't
even make the playoffs last season. Months after Dallas'
late-season collapse, owner Jerry Jones decided a new attitude was
needed.
"This is a decision that was made based upon consideration for
an entire team," Jones said in a statement. "We will move on now
with a new team - a new attitude - and into a new stadium."
Jones had indicated in recent weeks that Owens wasn't going
anywhere and firmly said the idea of locker-room problems were "a
figment of the result. You didn't hear about those things when we
were winning."
Dallas also released safety Roy Williams on Thursday. Despite
his reputation as a hard-hitter, teams never hesitated throwing his
way in recent years because he struggled in coverage. After Owens,
Williams likely was the second divisive figure among Cowboys fans -
especially after Dallas already got rid of Adam "Pacman" Jones
and Tank Johnson.
Cutting Owens and Williams will cost the Cowboys about $14
million against the salary cap. There's no telling how much more
Dallas will lose in jersey sales and other publicity Owens
generated.
Owens learned he was being cut late Wednesday and sent text
messages to his friends. Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd said Owens'
reaction was "more shock than anger."
"He didn't give me an explanation. He just said, `Wow,"' Hurd
said Thursday. "I really didn't believe that he seen that coming.
... He said it's tough, but it's a business."
What's next for TO?
It remains to be seen what kind of market there is for a
35-year-old with a proven track record - good and bad.
Owens was among the NFL's career leaders in catches, yards and
touchdowns. Over the last three years, his 38 touchdowns are one
more than Randy Moss and he's among the league's best in catches,
yards, yards per catch and yards per game.
But the Cowboys are his third team and all three have gotten rid
of him because of personality, not performance.
His first season with Dallas included an accidental overdose
that police initially called a possible suicide attempt. Yet it
also included the most touchdown catches in the NFL and the birth
of Romo's stardom.
With a new coach and coordinator in 2007, Owens set a club
record with 15 touchdown catches and Dallas tied the best record in
team history at 13-3, only to lose its first playoff game. A few
months later he received a $34 million contract extension.
The Romo-Owens relationship appeared to fray late this past
season, with Owens upset about everything from game plans to pass
distribution. He had 213 yards in one game, but he cracked 100
yards in only one other game all season.
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If this doesn't humble Owens, nothing will. He started out with the San Francisco 49ers and was making himself a name. But something along the way snapped in his head. Maybe when, as a 49er, ran from the end zone after scoring a TD to the Dallas Cowboys star and stood on it for all the world to see to grabbing the pom-poms from the 49ers cheerleaders and dancing after a TD or grabbing a Sharpee out of his sock to sign a football. Bottom line: He thought he was bigger than the game.
i don'******* football because i'm gay, but i'll give mr TO a job because most black men are on the low down and he is mad because he could not get it on with his team mates
NOW ....AFTER ALL THE FOLKS THAT TOLD THE LEAGUE FOR YEARS AND OWNERS THROUGH THE WEB HERE THAT THEY COULDN'T PUT THIS "CANCER" ON A TEAM OR IN A LOCKER ROOM THIS FINAL TIME I WILL ASK......"DOES EVERYBODY THAT WANTED TO SUPPORT THIS IDIOT OUT THERE GET IT NOW ?????THIS FOOL NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF FOOTBALL PERMENANTLY AS HE SHOULD HAVE 5 YEARS AGO. HE IS RETARDED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED HIS LOCKER ROOM ANTICS AT THE END OF THE SEASON WITH HIS COMMENTS WAS THE REASON ROMO AND DALLAS FAILED IN THE PLAYOFFS. SO LONG t.o. YOU PIECE OF CRAP.
He might have passed Jerry Rice if he was the Class Act that Jerry Rice was/is. Obviously he wasn't/isn't. The 49ers let Jerry Rice go a couple of years early so T.O. could emerge ....but he emerged a Jack-Ass. Thanks Jack-Ass!!
Jack-Ass!!