Post by John on Jun 5, 2006 14:30:13 GMT -4
Owens all smiles as a happy camper
June 2, 2006
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - It was easy to find Terrell Owens on Friday.
He was the one surrounded by cameras and microphones and notebooks in the morning, wearing a wide smile as light bounced off his glitzy diamond earrings as he answered question after question.
Later in the day, he was the one in the No. 81 jersey and blue tights, catching passes all over the field in his first practice since he was suspended by the Philadelphia Eagles in November and subsequently deactivated.
"This is Chapter One," Owens said before the Cowboys' first full-squad minicamp practice.
Chapter Two comes in July, when the Cowboys begin training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Chapter Three comes when the season begins Sept. 10 at Jacksonville, where he returned in seven weeks after suffering a fractured ankle and caught nine passes for 122 yards against New England in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Owens sounded grateful to be in a uniform again.
"I am going to embrace it," he said. "I am here with a great team and a great coach and a great owner, and I am looking forward to the opportunity that I can help this team win. That is why they brought me here. I feel like once I get on the field, I will let my playing talk for me."
In his previous 10 NFL seasons with San Francisco and Philadelphia, making plays has never been an issue. Before last year, Owens was named to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years. But making the wrong kind of news was an issue, although he promises to be a better teammate with the Cowboys.
"You kind of grow and learn from your mistakes, and I think I have done that," said Owens, who signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Cowboys on March 18. "I had a long time to sit back and think about things that transpired over the last year or so."
He said he will take a new approach but would not divulge what that was. He spoke with quarterback Drew Bledsoe several times, and the two have exchanged text messages on their cellphones. They also played catch a few times before Friday. Tight end Jason Witten said Owens has "exceeded my expectations, just from what I've seen so far."
First, Owens must learn a new head coach, new quarterback, new offense and a new way of doing things.
Coach Bill Parcells refused to talk about Owens on Friday, preferring to wait until training camp. Bledsoe talked about how Owens' big-play ability will open things up for Witten and wide receiver Terry Glenn. Right guard Marco Rivera talked about how Owens should help the running game.
"I think he can play a little," Bledsoe said. "He catches the ball and turns up field with an intensity I haven't seen. That's the reason why he's led the league in run after the catch. He wants to score every time."
But with Owens, it's not about what he does on the field. The Cowboys believe they know what they will get. It's the off-field concerns, although Bledsoe said he would be surprised if something happened with the Cowboys.
"Things will be addressed before they become an issue," Bledsoe said, alluding to Parcells.
As much as people await the schism between Parcells and owner and general manager Jerry Jones, they now wait for one between Parcells and Owens.
"I mean that is always in the back of my mind," Owens said. "It was that way when I was in Philly. So I mean I can't change people's minds. It is what is. My thing now is just to go out and play football and try to get this team to the Super Bowl."
June 2, 2006
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - It was easy to find Terrell Owens on Friday.
He was the one surrounded by cameras and microphones and notebooks in the morning, wearing a wide smile as light bounced off his glitzy diamond earrings as he answered question after question.
Later in the day, he was the one in the No. 81 jersey and blue tights, catching passes all over the field in his first practice since he was suspended by the Philadelphia Eagles in November and subsequently deactivated.
"This is Chapter One," Owens said before the Cowboys' first full-squad minicamp practice.
Chapter Two comes in July, when the Cowboys begin training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Chapter Three comes when the season begins Sept. 10 at Jacksonville, where he returned in seven weeks after suffering a fractured ankle and caught nine passes for 122 yards against New England in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Owens sounded grateful to be in a uniform again.
"I am going to embrace it," he said. "I am here with a great team and a great coach and a great owner, and I am looking forward to the opportunity that I can help this team win. That is why they brought me here. I feel like once I get on the field, I will let my playing talk for me."
In his previous 10 NFL seasons with San Francisco and Philadelphia, making plays has never been an issue. Before last year, Owens was named to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years. But making the wrong kind of news was an issue, although he promises to be a better teammate with the Cowboys.
"You kind of grow and learn from your mistakes, and I think I have done that," said Owens, who signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Cowboys on March 18. "I had a long time to sit back and think about things that transpired over the last year or so."
He said he will take a new approach but would not divulge what that was. He spoke with quarterback Drew Bledsoe several times, and the two have exchanged text messages on their cellphones. They also played catch a few times before Friday. Tight end Jason Witten said Owens has "exceeded my expectations, just from what I've seen so far."
First, Owens must learn a new head coach, new quarterback, new offense and a new way of doing things.
Coach Bill Parcells refused to talk about Owens on Friday, preferring to wait until training camp. Bledsoe talked about how Owens' big-play ability will open things up for Witten and wide receiver Terry Glenn. Right guard Marco Rivera talked about how Owens should help the running game.
"I think he can play a little," Bledsoe said. "He catches the ball and turns up field with an intensity I haven't seen. That's the reason why he's led the league in run after the catch. He wants to score every time."
But with Owens, it's not about what he does on the field. The Cowboys believe they know what they will get. It's the off-field concerns, although Bledsoe said he would be surprised if something happened with the Cowboys.
"Things will be addressed before they become an issue," Bledsoe said, alluding to Parcells.
As much as people await the schism between Parcells and owner and general manager Jerry Jones, they now wait for one between Parcells and Owens.
"I mean that is always in the back of my mind," Owens said. "It was that way when I was in Philly. So I mean I can't change people's minds. It is what is. My thing now is just to go out and play football and try to get this team to the Super Bowl."