FanHouse Stephen Jones

The Cowboys cut Terrell Owens in early March, and we've been subjected to a story or so a week about why it happened, who was to blame, and what it means for both parties going forward.

This is newsworthy for a few reasons: it's the offseason, it's the Cowboys and it's T.O. Anybody else, or any other time of year, and these headlines have a shelf life of a few days. But it's June, so here we are.

And according to Yahoo.com's Michael Silver, who spent a couple days talking to Jerry and Stephen Jones, the real reason T.O. got axed was because he was too popular. Seriously.

A year ago, the Cowboys used their two first-round picks on running back Felix Jones and cornerback Mike Jenkins. Neither contributed much as a rookie; Jenkins played in 14 games (starting three) and had 19 tackles, but the one he didn't make sticks out most in my mind (of course it does).

Jones, who was something of a surprise pick with Rashard Mendenhall still available, played in just six games before landing on injured reserve with a big toe and hamstring injury.

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.

I've mentioned before that I'm a Terrell Owens fan. Partly because of his drama-filled existence, but also -- perhaps primarily -- because I can enjoy the spectacle from afar since he doesn't play for my favorite team. I do appreciate that, at 35, he's still one of the NFL's best deep threats, and, despite all the negative pub, he's never been arrested, murdered a puppy, or made it rain while simultaneously shooting up a club. There's something to be said for that.

Still, T.O.'s persona would be perfectly suited for professional wrestling or Big Brother, but as an NFL player, there's just way too much scrutiny to successfully pull it off. Which is why the Cowboys, an outfit known for taking chances on at-risk players, cut ties with Owens earlier this month.

Depending on who you ask, Terrell Owens is as good as gone from the Cowboys, or Jerry Jones could keep him around, presumably because a life without drama ain't a life worth living. Or some similarly lame sentiment.

SI.com's Don Banks writes that "From all indications, the faction that has decided the Cowboys would be better off without Owens includes Stephen Jones, the owner's son and the team's COO and director of player personnel, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett."

Of course, Garrett is the same guy Jerry paid $3 million to keep in Dallas last season -- much to the delight of Terrell Suggs and Steve Bisciotti -- so who knows if such feelings from a once-promising coordinator carries much weight with the owner.