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| Sunday, March 19, 2006 |
Hall of Fame sportswriter Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News:
Expect Terrell Owens to have a monster debut season with the Cowboys. Expect him to return to his Pro Bowl form. Expect him to be driven to prove all of his doubters wrong. Owens will work harder than he’s ever worked in 2006. He’ll play harder than he’s ever played. He’ll be a better teammate and a better person than he’s ever been. He’ll be out to prove he got a bum rap at Philadelphia and, before that, San Francisco.
For a year, anyway, the Cowboys will see the lovable, talented side of Terrell Owens. So did the Eagles. But then that second year, watch out.
[...]
The Cowboys had some players in the locker room who could stand up to Owens. Had. The strongest presences at Valley Ranch have been evacuated this off-season. Keyshawn Johnson. Gone. Dan Campbell. Gone. La’Roi Glover. Gone. Dat Nguyen. Gone. Who’s left to remind Owens that football is a team game?
Owens turned on McNabb in his second season. He also turned on Reid. Just as he turned on his quarterback and coach (Steve Mariucci) at San Francisco.
Do you detect a behavioral pattern? I bet Cowboys coach Bill Parcells does. I bet Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe does. But they shouldn’t be concerned for a year. Owens must prove what a good player and good guy he is in 2006.
All bets are off in 2007, though.
His colleague Tim Cowlishaw, who tried to warn the Cowboys away from this signing, thinks T.O. is “the only sure winner” and wonders why the Cowboys paid so much considering that it is “unclear . . . what teams the Cowboys were actually bidding against in providing Owens the opportunity to make more the next three years than Randy Moss will earn in Oakland.” That said,
[Cowboys owner/GM Jerry] Jones believes – and here he may have a point – that the team getting Owens after his turbulent year cost him nine games in Philadelphia will get a new Owens.
Let’s not go so far as to call him humbled. But more careful?
That’s what Jones is banking on. The fact that so much of Jones’ money is already headed for Owens’ bank – he gets a $5 million signing bonus – suggests Owens doesn’t really have to be on his best behavior to make this a winning move for him.
For sure, Owens is a greater talent than the man he replaces, Keyshawn Johnson, who could also be a royal pain. However, whatever complaints Johnson had about quarterback Drew Bledsoe, he kept to himself or he kept off the record. At least he did until he was released and started whining about never having had a great quarterback to support him.
Jean-Jacques Taylor explains, in a nutshell, why Jones was willing to take this gamble: it has been a decade since the Cowboys last won a championship.
“This is America’s Team. I’m a star among stars,” said Mr. Owens, wearing a cream-colored suit with navy shoes and matching shirt. “I couldn’t be more elated. It’s another opportunity to play football. I’m looking forward to getting with Coach [Bill] Parcells. My focus is to win ballgames and win a championship.”
That would bring joy to Mr. Jones, who hasn’t celebrated a playoff victory since 1996. The nine-year drought is the longest in franchise history. Dallas has missed the playoffs the last two seasons, despite a 7-3 start in 2005.
Mr. Jones said the addition of Mr. Owens would make teammates such as receiver Terry Glenn, tight end Jason Witten, running back Julius Jones and quarterback Drew Bledsoe more effective. “I became a better quarterback today without doing anything,” Mr. Bledsoe said. “I’m excited because our team just got better.”
At least for a year, that’s almost certainly the case. And with an aging starting QB and a coach staving off permanent retirement on a year-by-year basis, the present is what matters.
Stephen A. Smith, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, thinks the Cowboys just got a lot better while the hometown team got worse.
In case you missed it, Terrell Owens is now a member of the Cowboys, a team that instantly becomes a contender with him. There are those who want to play psychiatrist, swearing that Dallas will rue the day it took this malcontent into its already fractious environment. That thought is understandable for a city blessed with a contender that has the heart to stave off an opponent with an infusion of talent.
A show of hands from anyone who believes the Eagles are that team?
The Fort Worth Star Telegram‘s Mac Engel notes resurrections of problem players on new teams has precedent.
As countless NFL observers listened to and read the optimism flowing from Valley Ranch on Saturday, it should be noted it can happen. It’s uncommon, but there have been athletes who have successfully shaken behavior problems to become good players, and teammates. Here is a look at a few:
Corey Dillon, Patriots: The former Bengals headache was traded to New England, where he became a key member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl run two years ago.
Nick Van Exel, Mavericks: Considered damaged goods when the Mavs acquired him, Nick The Quick was a big reason Dallas reached the Western Conference Finals in 2003.
Ed Belfour, Stars: The enigmatic goalie had been a major distraction with the Blackhawks and Sharks but was the spinal cord in the Stars’ Stanley Cup winning team in 1999 and the runner-up in 2000.
Carl Everett, Rangers/White Sox: Unloaded by Boston because of his mouth, the Rangers picked him up and turned him into a commodity. He became a key member in the White Sox World Series team last season.
Keyshawn Johnson, Cowboys: Unwanted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of his attitude, he was a hit in his two seasons with the Cowboys.
Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers: Wasted talent personified with both the Penguins and Capitals, he has rediscovered his passion for the game and is having an MVP-caliber season.
Plaxico Burress, NY Giants: A talented me-myself-and-I whiner with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he both behaved and produced in his first season with the Giants.
Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings: OK, so it hasn’t been long since he was traded to the Kings, but the NBA’s two-time winner of the Most Volatile Player award has behaved. It’s advised not to hold your breath.
Rasheed Wallace, Pistons: A complete jerk in Portland, ever since he’s been traded to Motown he’s been both good on the court, and invisible off of it. That’s a good thing.
Vince Carter, Nets: He turned himself into a distraction with the Raptors, so they would have to trade him. And since he’s been traded to the Nets, he’s played like an All-Star again.
Jason Williams, Heat: He was a problem in Sacramento and Memphis, but maybe he’s found the right place in Miami, which is in first place in its division.
Charles Haley, Cowboys: The 49ers traded him to the Cowboys because they thought he was destroying the locker room; he was the final piece to a dynasty in Dallas.
His colleague Clarence Hill is optimistic as well.
But more than replacing the capable [Keyshawn] Johnson, Owens brings an explosive playmaker to the Cowboys that they haven’t had since the days of Michael Irvin. In fact, Owens is the team’s first bona fide No. 1 receiver since Irvin retired after the 1999 season — a fact Irvin said will make a huge difference for a Cowboys offense that lacked consistency last season.
The Cowboys finished 13th in the league on offense in 2005, 15th in passing. Poor blocking and a lack of a running game were the team’s biggest problems. But they also lacked a constant big-play threat.
Irvin says Owens solves all those problems because he gives the immobile Bledsoe someone to throw to quickly when protection breaks down. His ability to draw double teams will take pressure off Glenn and open things up in the running game for Julius Jones because opponents can’t crowd the line of scrimmage. Add in tight end Jason Witten and his ability to make plays down the middle of the field and Irvin says the Cowboys have potential to be unstoppable on offense. “In order for the Cowboys to get where they want to get, they need a No. 1 receiver,” Irvin said. “Do you know what Terry Glenn can do with one-on-one coverage? Julius Jones can become the back he was supposed to become when they drafted him. It’s a great move for Dallas. It puts them in the Super Bowl.”
Going from 9-7 to the Super Bowl is a huge jump but certainly not unthinkable in this era. The Cowboys were a decent kicker away from the playoffs last year. Oddly, they still haven’t addressed that need. Presuming that they will do that and continue their recent string of solid drafts, they should be a contender.
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| Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
AP’s Jaime Aron reports that the Dallas Cowboys have picked up former Jets right tackle Jason Fabini, sigining him to an incentive laden three year deal.
The Dallas Cowboys signed offensive tackle Jason Fabini to a three-year contract Saturday, a potentially key addition overshadowed by the signing of receiver Terrell Owens. The 6-foot-7, 304-pound Fabini likely will take over the right tackle spot that’s been troublesome pretty much since Erik Williams was in his Pro Bowl prime in the 1990s. Rookie Rob Petitti played there last season and struggled, especially when extra blockers were used to help other linemen.
Fabini broke into the league with the New York Jets in 1998 when Cowboys coach Bill Parcells was there. Fabini spent his entire eight-year career with the Jets, starting 114 straight games until he tore a chest muscle Nov. 18 and didn’t return. He was released Feb. 22. “I’m healed up and ready to go,” Fabini said. “I start the offseason program Monday.”
Fabini received a $1.75 million bonus as part of a deal worth at least $4.5 million, with escalators that could make it worth $7.5 million. His real value will be ending the turnstile at right tackle, plus being able to play on the left side should Flozell Adams not recover from the injury that knocked him out last season.
“He can really help solidify our offensive line,” team vice president Stephen Jones said. “We needed some flexibility there as well.”
The 31-year-old Fabini is the latest member of the Parcells alumni club to be reunited with the coach. Other former Jets teammates he’ll find in the locker room include Jason Ferguson and Aaron Glenn. “It made it easier, knowing Bill is here,” said Fabini, who spoke with Parcells several times last week. “He’s a great coach. I’m looking forward to working for him again. He told me there was an opportunity at right tackle. I’m just looking forward for the chance to compete for the job and to help the team.”
This deal might be more important than the T.O. signing in the long haul. Owens, without a doubt, is a more game breaking player–probably the best on the Dallas offense. But making Rob Petiti, a talented young player, the backup behind a high quality veteran should make this line light years better. That means Drew Bledsoe can be Pro Bowl caliber QB again and Julius Jones and Jason Witten can go to the next level. And with all that happening, T.O. will be even more deadly.
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| Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
Nick Eatman reports on the press conference announcing the Cowboys’ three year, $25 million deal for Terrell Owens.
 Terrell Owens is now a Dallas Cowboy. The two sides made it official Saturday afternoon at Valley Ranch where owner Jerry Jones introduced his new wide receiver in a jam-packed press conference room at Valley Ranch. The Cowboys gave Owens a three-year deal worth $25 million, including a $5 million signing bonus.
“I couldn’t be more excited about getting here and being apart of this franchise,” said Owens, who sat alongside his agent Drew Rosenhaus during the press conference. “I’m not really interested in looking back to the past. I’ve made so mistakes. I know that. But it starts today. You can’t ever move forward if you keep bringing up the past.”
Jones fielded several questions concerning the risk-level of signing a player with off-the-field issues such as Owens, but refused to single out his new wide receiver as being any different those regards. “I think you have risks in every player that you sign,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t call this a high-risk move. Not at all.”
In fact, Owens might have given Jones and the Cowboys even more assurance when he interrupted a question during the press conference, turned to his new owner and said, “Jerry, I know what is expected of me and I won’t let you down.”
And Owens also knows he isn’t exactly a favorite among Cowboys’ fans and his touchdown-celebrations on the midfield star back in 2000 is the biggest reason for that. But Owens said he and Jones have already talked about that. “I will embrace the star,” said Owens, who also gave a quick message to his newest fans. “Hey, just get your popcorn ready. Because it’s going to be a show.”
Of that much, I’m sure.
Len Pasquarelli has details on the contract.
he contract that Terrell Owens signed with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday provides him the opportunity to be one of the highest-paid wide receivers in NFL history over a three-year period, and the chance to earn more than he would have under his contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN.com has learned.
[...]
The three-year contract can be worth as much as $25 million if Owens plays through the deal and Dallas opts to pay him pricey roster bonuses in the springs of 2007 and 2008. Owens, who was released by the Eagles on Tuesday, will earn a bonus of $5 million for this season and a base salary of $5 million, for total compensation of $10 million. Under his contract with the Eagles, Owens would have earned $8.52 million for 2006. It should be noted that Owens lost about $4 million in 2005, between the base salary that he forfeited during his suspension and the prorated signing bonus money the Eagles withheld because they claimed he was in default on his contract. Dallas must pay Owens a roster bonus of $3 million in March 2007 to retain him for that season, at a base salary of $5 million. There is another roster bonus of $3 million due in March 2008, and Owens has a base salary of $4 million for that year.
[...]
Compared to the contracts of other high-profile wide receivers leaguewide, Owens can earn more over a three-year period than Randy Moss of Oakland did with his recent deal, and more over two seasons than Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison did with his new contract signed two years ago.
Of course, as was the case in Philadelphia, Owens’ earning potential will be tied to his performance on and off the field. Because of the roster bonus, and the exercise dates of each, the contract in Dallas could be as short as one season. Even at one year, however, the $10 million that Owens will bank is more than some skeptics felt he could garner after his tumultuous 2005 season.
And if Owens is productive, and is not a distraction, the Cowboys seem to have the wherewithal and the future salary cap space to retain him for all three seasons of the contract.
Actually, a fair deal on both ends. The Cowboys risk $5.67 million on a superstar receiver this season. If all goes well, he continues to get superstar money. If not, the team cuts its losses and prorates the rest of the signing bonus over two more years at $1.66 million each. Not risk free, by any means, but certainly absorbable under the new labor deal.
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| Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
Nick Eatman reports that the Cowboys are starting to make major moves in shoring up their offense.
Just when it seemed as if the Cowboys were dragging their feet here in free agency, things have started to pick up. Fast.
And this has nothing to do with Terrell Owens.
The Cowboys got busy with two offensive free agents on Friday, agreeing to terms with Seattle tight end Ryan Hannam, who spent all day Friday visiting the club at Valley Ranch, and are nearing a deal with Jets offensive tackle Jason Fabini, who, according to reports, just needs to pass a physical to complete the transaction.
Hannam, who is expected to sign a four-year contract on Saturday, will replace Dan Campbell as the team’s blocking tight tend. He caught 13 passes last season as Seattle’s No. 2 tight end, including one for a touchdown in Seattle’s 13-10 victory over the Cowboys. Campbell signed a five-year deal with the Lions last week.
Fabini, who played for Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells for three years with the Jets, should help stabilize the right tackle position if the deal is completed. The eight-year veteran is coming off a chest contusion injury last season that forced him to miss the final seven weeks of the regular season. Until the injury, Fabini had started 89 consecutive games, dating back to the 1999 season.
The Jets recently designated Fabini released for failing a physical, which is the reason why the Cowboys want to give him a physical before he signs what is being reported to be a three-year, $6 million deal.
Fabini has experience at both left and right tackle, but with Flozell Adams returning from surgery to repair a torn ACL a year ago, it’s likely the former Jets standout would begin on the right side, where the Cowboys started rookie Rob Petitti last season.
If signed, Fabini will become the third offensive linemen to sign with the Cowboys since the start of free agency last weekend. The Cowboys already have signed guard Kyle Kosier to a five-year, $15 million deal, along with re-signing Andre Gurode to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
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| Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
DMN’s Jean-Jacques Taylor reports that the Cowboys have reached an agreement in principle for controversial wideout Terrell Owens.
The Cowboys have reached an agreement in principle with star wide receiver Terrell Owens, two sources said Friday night. The sources said a formal announcement regarding the free-agent receiver is expected in the next few days. The sources also said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells are scheduled to return to Dallas today. Jones and club spokesman Rich Dalrymple could not be reached for comment. Owens’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, could not be reached for comment.
[...]
Owens would give the Cowboys the type of dynamic receiver they have not had since a neck injury forced Michael Irvin to retire after the 1999 season. Until last season, Owens had caught at least 77 passes for at least 1,100 yards each of the last five seasons. He has played in the Pro Bowl five of the last six seasons. Dallas hasn’t had a Pro Bowl receiver since Irvin in 1995 and has had just one 1,000-yard receiver since 2000.
The addition of Owens should help an offense that struggled to score touchdowns at times last season. Dallas failed to score more than 14 points in six games, losing each of them. With Owens in the lineup drawing double coverage, it should create more one-on-one opportunities for receiver Terry Glenn and tight end Jason Witten. And with Owens occupying at least one safety, that means one fewer defender in the running game that Julius Jones has to be concerned about, which should make him more productive.
Owens will be playing for his third team in four seasons because he can be toxic within a locker room. He has feuded with his last two quarterbacks – Jeff Garcia and McNabb – and each quarterback had a Pro Bowl on his resume. Owens has thrown sideline temper tantrums when he doesn’t think he’s getting the ball enough, and those tantrums have been directed at coaches and teammates. However, there has never been any question about his work ethic or production.
The Cowboys are betting that Parcells can handle Owens and prevent him from becoming a problem in the locker room.
We shall see. There’s no question at all that he’s one of the top two or three wide receivers in the business; whether he’s worth the headaches he brings is another matter.
Taylor breaks Owens’ game down this way:
HEAD: He’s probably the most combustible player in the NFL, and if the ball isn’t coming his way regularly enough then he will take out his frustration on quarterbacks, assistant coaches and head coaches. That said, he’s an intelligent player who understands how to attack man and zone coverages and find room to maneuver against each.
HANDS: You don’t catch an average of 76 passes over the last nine seasons with having superior hands. Owens drops few passes and will catch the ball in traffic. He competes hard for passes in jump ball situations and normally comes down with them.
LEGS: Owens’ ability to run after the catch makes him one of the game’s most dangerous players. He can turn a five-yard out into a 70-yard touchdown because of his strong lower body that allows him to run through arm tackles and then outrun everyone chasing him. In 2004, he finished seventh among receivers with 404 yards after catch, accounting for slightly more than one-third of his receiving yards.
ROUTES: Name a route and Owens runs it well. He has the speed to run by defensive backs on the fly pattern. He has the upper-body strength to create separation on out routes. And he understands how to find soft spots in zone coverage and patiently wait for the quarterback to get him the ball. Owens knows how to make all of his routes look the same until he’s ready to make a move, then he uses his explosion to get in and out of his break so quickly that the defensive back has little chance to cover him.
HEART: You can question whether Owens is a good teammate, but you can’t question his desire to play the game at its highest level. He will play through pain and his desire to win, in some respects, is what causes many of his sideline antics. He believes that if the ball is in his hands, he will help his team win.
Retired cornerback turned analyst Eric Allen says,
The Cowboys’ signing of T.O. is a great move for both parties. It’s a great move for the Cowboys because it gets them one step closer to becoming a Super Bowl contender. Say what you will about his attitude and off field actions, but Owens is a superstar receiver who gives his all on the field every play. He’s a tremendous talent who makes things much easier for his teammates because opposing defenses must key in on him to stop him from completely dominating the game.
Related posts below the fold.
Cowboys Should Break Bank for Vinatieri
JJ on TO
Cowboys Reportedly Close to Signing T.O.
Cowboys Leadership Losses Mounting
Cowboys Cut Keyshawn, Sparking More T.O. Rumors
Cowlishaw: Cowboys Falling Behind in Free Agency
Cowboys Sign Linebacker Akin Ayodele
Cowboys Sign Kosier; To Re-Sign Gurode
Reeves: Cowboys Should Make Play for Culpepper
Cowboys Looking at G Kyle Kosier and TE Ryan Hannam
Giving Jerry Jones His Due
Recollections of the 1987 NFL Players Strike
Drew Henson Highest Profile NFL Europe Player
Jerry Jones Wants to Win Now
Bill Parcells on the Cowboys’ 2006 Season
Cowboys Could be Interested in Jets Cap Casualties
Ernie Stautner, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Dies at 80
NFL Hall of Fame 2006 Class (Live)
Bill Parcells Signs with Dallas Cowboys Through 2007
Bill Parcells Considering Retirement
Cowboys Linebacker Dat Nguyen on IR, May Retire
Michael Irvin Arrested on Drug Charges
Don Parcells, R.I.P.
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GOD’S COACH
GATORADE TIME
RATINGS BLOCKBUSTER
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| Saturday, March 18, 2006 |
For the second straight season, Kansas was upset in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Most of these Kansas kids didn’t have much to do with the “Bucknell Bummer.” Now they have one to call their own.
Marcellus Sommerville scored 21 points and made five 3-pointers, and 13th-seeded Bradley handed the fourth-seeded Jayhawks their second straight first-round NCAA tournament exit with a 77-73 victory Friday night.
The Braves made 11 3s to pick up their first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years and advance to play fifth-seeded Pittsburgh in the second round of the Oakland Regional on Sunday.
Unlike a year ago, when Wayne Simien missed a 15-footer at the buzzer to give 14th-seeded Bucknell an improbable victory, Kansas looked unprepared and overwhelmed from the start in this one.
The Braves (21-10) led by 14 with 15:38 to go, but let the Jayhawks back in the game with three straight turnovers with around the five minutes left. By the time the inexperienced Jayhawks finally got acclimated to the NCAA tournament pressure and intensity, however, it was too late.
Mario Chalmers made a 3-pointer after one of the takeaways, a three-point play after the second and a runner in the lane after the final one that cut Bradley’s lead to 65-62 with 3:45 to play.
But the Jayhawks (25-8) committed three of their 18 turnovers down the stretch, and Jeff Hawkins missed an open 3-pointer in the corner that would have tied it with a minute to play.
“I’m mad,” said Chalmers, one of three freshmen starting for Kansas. “We should’ve been better prepared for this game. We were nervous and took a while to adjust.”
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| Friday, March 17, 2006 |
There will be 700 more Terrible Towels waving at Heinz Field this year.
If any of those are opened for season tickets, they will be snapped up almost instantly. Any additional seats allocated for general use will also be bought. Up in Pittsburgh, these tickets are the hottest thing in town. Art Rooney II seems to agree:
Steelers President Art Rooney II isn’t expecting any trouble selling the seats, saying that the team found strong demand for them in an informal survey it did with potential customers.
“I think they’ll go fast,” he said.
That’s the understatement of the week. While, as the article says, the Collective Bargaining Agreement puts pressure on mid-market teams like the Steelers to expand, these seats were planned because Heinz Field was simply selling out every week; they could make more money building more seats. My guess is that they could add up to 100,000 seats and still sell out that stadium every week.
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| Friday, March 17, 2006 |
Steelers re-sign Deshea Townsend.
This was one of the players I would have been most concerned about letting get away. Townsend has performed very well over the past few years, and filling the hole he would leave at cornerback would have been difficult. Now we have two good cornerbacks and a backup who also seems to be ready should he be called upon.
With the signing of Townsend, believe it or not, the Steelers now have all their starters signed for the next two seasons except for restricted free agent Ike Taylor. Not a bad place for the defending Super Bowl champions to be, and a place that most teams wish they could be in at this time. Having only lost three starters from the Super Bowl team, and having gained players who should be good replacements for them, the Steelers could be very dangerous next year.
The only suspense left for Steeler fans this offseason will be the draft.
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| Friday, March 17, 2006 |
Brett Favre continues to hold the Green Bay Packers hostage.
In a move that would give Favre more time to make a decision about his future, the deadline for a $3 million roster bonus due from the Packers will likely be pushed back, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Under the original agreement, Favre would become an unrestricted free agent if the Packers did not pay the bonus. The Packers will not pay the roster bonus until Favre commits to coming back, and Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, said several weeks ago that he would have no problem pushing the deadline back.
Favre doesn’t plan to make a decision regarding his future until he sees what personnel moves the Packers make this offseason. “In some ways, I’m kind of waiting to see what we do free agent-wise and in the draft and those things,” Favre told ESPN Tuesday. “And they’re probably kind of waiting on me, too. So it’s a little bit of a waiting game. Right now, I’m just trying to get away from it as much as I can and clear my mind, as hard as that may be.”
Favre is a first ballot Hall of Famer and the Pack owes him a bit of leeway. But not this much. It simply makes no sense being this far into the free agent signing period and not knowing whether they need to sign a quarterback. And, of course, the most attractive ones are already off the market.
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| Friday, March 17, 2006 |
ESPN’s Rumor Central:
Still trying to land something better than a seventh-round draft choice Ramsey, the Redskins are trying to interest Buffalo officials in a trade, ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli reports. The Redskins’ target is Pro Bowl punter Brian Moorman, one of the best young players in the league at his position. Washington coaches have had their eye on Moorman for a few years now.
Man, it’s a long way from 1st round draft pick to being traded for a punter–and the other team not jumping on the offer. If the Bills don’t pull the trigger, the Skins will be trying for a bag of magic beans.
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