Terrell Owens' Magical Mystery Tour continues
by Dave Halprin on Nov 19, 2007 11:16 AM CST
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintTerrell Owens is getting some well-deserved recognition from the national media after his brilliant performance against the Redskins. Even the most true-blue Terrell Haters are having problems coming up with something bad about him this week. I’m sure they’ll be back on the bandwagon of hate sometime in the near future but they are becoming irrelevant voices in this debate. Some are very slow in recognizing the obvious change in Owens this season, but even Chris Collinsworth had to admit that T.O. is a different guy this year and is the perfect complement to QB Tony Romo.
Is it a coincidence that on the day T.O. puts four TD’s on the board that Randy Moss does the same in New England? Probably, the Patriots seem to have blinders on when it comes to the rest of the NFL as they pursue perfection. But I can’t help believing that Brady and Moss were aware of T.O.’s day and secretly decided to do something about it. With most teams I would say this is a ridiculous notion, you take TD’s wherever you can get them. But the Patriots are capable of scoring at will against overmatched opponents so just maybe Brady said I’ll throw it and you catch it and we’ll show everybody which diva-turned-model-citizen-receiver is the best in the NFL. Whatever the case, the case of T.O. and Moss having similar seasons both on the field and off after years of turmoil is striking.
I don’t know about the inner-workings of the Patriot’s team, but I do know that Owens has now become a bona fide leader in the Cowboys locker room. After the game when he received the game ball he gave a speech to the team that was about the team and not about Owens. Even the bitter-one, Peter King, had to acknowledge the Owens transformation.
Dallas WR Terrell Owens, whose eight catches for 173 yards and four touchdowns drove a stake through the Redskins' hearts in Dallas.
His impact goes far beyond scoring all the TDs in the Cowboys' 28-23 victory. He's become a beacon and a leader in a locker room full of young players, and in 26 games in Dallas over the last two years, he's scored 25 touchdowns.
And those sideline rants that caused so much consternation over his career have a different feel this year. After Andre Gurode kept sending footballs over Tony Romo’s head, Owens took a moment to get Gurode’s head straight.
"Hey, we're a family," Gurode said. "He came over and said, 'We need you,' and 'I know you can play, so start doing it.' "
Now, I will grant you that all of this is probably a result of the constant winning for the Cowboys, if the team was struggling, things might be different. But for the time being, I’m jumping on the Owens’ bandwagon, both as a player and a teammate.
Tony Romo needs to take care and not hurt the head coach. After Owens put another TD on the board, Wade Phillips offered his hand for a high-five to Romo – big mistake.
After the play, television cameras caught Romo slapping Phillips' hand so hard that the coach winced and had to shake it off.
"He busted me," Phillips said. "I can't believe they got that on camera."
Don’t hurt the coach, Tony!
A blog post over at SI.com contends that while they won’t win the NFL MVP award - Tom Brady has a lock on that - the conversation about MVP’s should include Owens and Moss.
The NFL Network provides some highlights of the Cowboys/Redskins game.
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T.O has been a major Factor
earlier this year he started the season off as if it was a broken record, dropping catchable passes, running poor routes, idiot antics in the endzone, but no one can argue what he's done in the last five games, he seems like a totally different player, more relaxed, more focused on the field, running crisper routes, catching every ball thats near him, even the tough catches and most importantly he's stop with all the endzone antics, even his interviews are less I,I,I and more about the team. Now everyone is talking about his football skills and his leadership, a word that you would never associate with T.O, before, so kudos to T.O., hopefully he continues to tear it up from here on out.
wow!! this coming from the person who said
T.O. was and always will be a cancer, glad to see you're changing your tune.
Now you have to work on your "Romo is not the answer" revocation from last season.
If T.O. is included in MVP discussions
then obviously so should Romo as he's the guy that makes it all happen. If he doesn't recognize the coverages, see T.O. open and get him the ball, none of those T.O. TDs never happen.
Give some props to the man, the myth, the legend, our leader...Tony Romo.
Romo is our MVP
T.O. is playing unbelievably well over these past few weeks, but Romo is our MVP. He's making the reads along with TO on these huge TD passes - many of which are the result of changes to the route at the line. Both guys are playing great but Romo is our offensive MVP.
On the other hand, I think that Moss deserves some serious MVP consideration. We all know what Brady is - an amazing, all-time great QB. He's been incredibly consistent as a starter. But this year, that is the most unstoppable offense I have ever seen, even with pretty mediocre running backs. Moss is the difference for them. Welker is a good WR and Stallworth is decent, but they are light years from being the team they were before Moss came to town. He'd never win the award over Brady, but maybe he should. I realize this sounds ridiculous after what I just said about Romo and TO, but this is a little different...half the time Brady just heaves it up because Moss is going to bring it down 75% of the time. Unbelievable. Moss almost had a 5th TD in that game in the 2nd half.
Couldn't agree more
Romo is definitely the MVP of our team, with Ware a close second.
Brady is a great QB, but Moss is making him look like the best QB ever. How many times has he caught balls in double or triple coverage? Brady doesn't even have to throw it accurately, Moss adjusts so well that it's almost impossible to cover him past the first 5 yards.
Who cares
if the coach gets hurt - protect that hand, Tony!
by Pete on Nov 19, 2007 12:40 PM CST reply actions
Romo
by now leads the league in total yards from scrimmage when the ball is snapped over your head...
Arrgh
Why didn't I think of that?! ;-)
by Dave Halprin on Nov 19, 2007 3:04 PM CST up reply actions
I'm glad terrell is getting his due
Let me be perfectly clear. I didn't want TO on this team. I think he's been a big jerk for much of his career.
But I'm glad he's getting the proper respect this year after some major changes in behavior. Yeah, we could debate how deep the changes go. But the fact is that he's been a model citizen, and he's been producing on the field. Hard to ask for more. He ought to be all-pro this year.
As for Romo, he's clearly the key and deserves a ton of credit. Of course, he'd probably deflect it to TO anyway.
by preacher on Nov 19, 2007 1:38 PM CST reply actions
I agree
not taking anything away from what T.O's done this year especially lately, he's been a model citizen, but how deep does it go, skin deep for sure. If the cowboy record was 1-9, we all know the bus would be in need of some major suspension work, from the players T.O would have been throwing under that bus. So enjoy it while it last, because we all know it will end at some point.
i agree
but i don't necessarily fault the guy for it.
Its one thing to be angry when you don't get the ball a lot but your team is still winning.
Its another thing to be angry when you are angry if your team sucks. That was T.O. last year - and I think that is a valid complaint.
However, if we were 9-1 largely as a result of Witten these last 4 games, I'm not sure that we would have model citizen T.O. I think we would have heard a couple of snide comments.
One thing that seems good is that if Romo starts to have a bad game, I think (think being the key) T.O. would pick him up on the sideline and they would be encouraging each other. You wouldn't have the McNabb cold shoulder act with these two. Always a plus.
This Gurode stuff scares me a little. Was Gurode receptive because they won? Does he punch T.O. if they lose? Was T.O. really positive and encouraging or did T.O. say something mean? It's one of those things where I can see reports coming out that the clubhouse is actually quite fractured on the inside.
Of course, right now, no reports like that and all is well in cowboy land - at least on offense.
by ab03 @ Blogging The Boys on Nov 19, 2007 2:51 PM CST up reply actions
I see it a little differently
about TO and not being the center of the team. Earlier in the season, when Witten was getting all the balls and TO wasn't putting up the numbers, he kept saying, as long as we are winning, and whatever it takes to win. He knew he'd get his. He is ok with others being getting the ball more as long as he knows he is being looked to. The problem last year is Bill was not looking to get him involved, this year even when he has a down game, he is happy because we won. And quite frankly when he has a quite game and Witten or Crayton explodes it is because of TO, and the attention he requires from the opposition.
ware
is it me or did d-ware try a freeny like spin move, it would be nice to see some new moves to get to the qb...
Does anybody
know how much Roy blitzed against the Redskins? (I haven't seen him blitz much this year.)
And does anyone know what the yellow dot on Roy's helmet was for? (much like the green dot with is the communication dot.)
the dot
is so opposing QBs can see where Roy is in coverage and throw at him.
or maybe so refs can know who to call a horse collar on, I am undecided.
*chuckle*
by Nelson @ Blogging The Boys on Nov 19, 2007 3:20 PM CST up reply actions
I can find something horrible to say.
I saw a sign at the game that said T.O. was going to be autographing his book, but the same sign said he would only sign books. Which is sad, cause I wanted him to sign my chest.
Guy played a pretty good football team. If we don't have Sean Taylor back by the year's end, he could have another big game assuming he isn't sitting down because the Cowboys have already clinched home field.
by Skin Patrol @ Blogging The Boys on Nov 19, 2007 5:36 PM CST reply actions
Er...
Says "pretty good football team" should read "pretty good football game" and is dripping with understatement. It was an outstanding game.
After his last touchdown I just had my head in my hands and some Cowboys fan behind my patted me on the shoulder to tell me it was ok. That was a low point of the game.
by Skin Patrol @ Blogging The Boys on Nov 19, 2007 5:37 PM CST up reply actions
no Monday night game log!!
I like the Broncos tonight,just dont think the Titans can throw effectively enough with Young at QB.
After TO's monster day
ESPN is talking about how Moss matched him in one half. This is perfect as it plays right into the chip on TO's shoulder. I love seeing him like this we are finally getting what we paid for. He is hungry, focused and finally realizes that stats will only take you so far, you must be a team leader. Everyone who is down on the boys today for not blowing out the skins, look at it this way:
- We had no run game to speak of
- Our first quarter offense was an abomination
- Witten had no big plays
- Romo threw a bad pick
- Santana Moss owned us again
And we still won! I am a glass is half full kind of guy and you know MB3 won't be held in check a third game in a row. After TO's performance the last two weeks, teams will key back in on him and give Witten and the run game some room.
we just have too many weapons to be stopped
and if Glenn gets back, our offense will even be scarier.
To me, we are a young team
in that we are still in our first year under phillips, red ball etc. I mean, you can't really say all our mistakes from yesterday are "weak spots." Gurode has been having a pro bowl year, who knew he'd start flinging snaps over Romo's head. Then that first pick Romo threw was him trying to make some magic after the third bad snap. I'm not comfortable with Roy in coverage but hopefully we can figure out something to cover that up as the season progresses. I do think it would be a good time in the season to start subbing Watkins more just to see what he can do. Even if Glenn can't make it back, I like the consistent contributions from Crayton and Hurd. THey don't make many plays but they make them when we need them to keep drives alive.
Romo's INT
When I watched that play, it seems to me that had he planted his feet and thrown rather than throwing off his back foot while on the run, it would have been a touchdown. All he needed was another foot or two on that one. I guess it really is just a game of inches.
well, its tough to plant and throw
while a couple of 300 lbs DL are hitting you in the face.
Deke you can't change Romo
he's always going to try to make something out of nothing, its how he's built as a player. Saying he should do this or do that is a complete waste of time on your part because he'll always be a gunslinger at heart.
For every dumb throw he makes, he's going to make 2 or 3 great or spectacular throws. He's 15-5 playing that way so I'll accept those types of throws anytime.
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