Cowboys dump Terrell Owens – a year too late
If you bet on Cowboys futures in 2008 here on WagerWeb.com, you definitely lost some money if you took the optimistic view, as Dallas was arguably the NFL’s most disappointing team after not even reaching the playoffs.
And one of the NFL’s most disappointing players in ‘08 was Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, who seemed to be wearing out his stay with the Cowboys with multiple drops, questionable effort and constant whining. Yet it was a bit of a surprise Thursday when Dallas cut Owens, as a few weeks ago owner Jerry Jones seemed to hint that the Cowboys were going to hang on to T.O.
The Cowboys paid Owens a $12 million signing bonus just last year, which was included as part of a new four-year, $34 million deal. Dallas will take a roughly $9 million salary cap hit with the release of Owens, whose reputation as a franchise-killer has just been reaffirmed.
There has been talk since the end of the Cowboys’ 9-7 season, in which they missed the playoffs, that they would consider cutting Owens to improve locker-room morale. Jones apparently was “following the advice of many, many people” in jettisoning Owens.
The Cowboys have said they wanted to improve team chemistry, so this was the obvious move. Another year of Owens would have meant another year of distractions. And, frankly, his on-field performance no longer warranted keeping someone with his divisive attitude around. Yes, he had 69 receptions for 10 TDs and 1,052 yards in 2008, but he seemed to drop at least a few per game. And many experts are saying that QB Tony Romo regressed last year because he felt the need to get the ball to Owens, even if Owens was covered.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/
The Cowboys went 31-17 in Owens’ three seasons, but 0-2 in the playoffs.
So what does this mean for Dallas? Well, the team doesn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, having traded that (and other picks) to Detroit for Roy Williams, who was terrible in Big D. But Williams will slide over as the No. 1 receiver, with the search on for a No. 2. Patrick Crayton has filled that role before (in 2007 when Terry Glenn was hurt). But Crayton lost the No. 2 spot when Williams came to Dallas last season and he was even knocked down to the fourth receiver when the Cowboys thought highly of Miles Austin.
All of the top receiving free agents have already been snapped up, so no doubt Dallas will be drafting one early. But this move could help Dallas, because in dumping Owens and Pacman Jones, team chemistry certainly should be better. And maybe Romo will be too.
As for Owens, some team will take a risk on him. Already NFL people are saying he could end up in Oakland, which would be fittingly perfect. But it’s unlikely T.O. would land on a bad team, because then his attitude would even be worse. So some playoff-caliber team with a head coach who has major job security might give him a look, although it appears many team general managers already are tripping over themselves to say they won’t be taking Owens.
NFL Betting at WagerWeb.com
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
