The ever-present ESPN, as quoted in Pro Football Talk:
During his update on the matter, ESPN’s Ed Werder dropped a couple of nuggets about which we weren’t previously aware.
First, he said that the Cowboys will make no attempt to re-sign defensive tackle Tank Johnson, who is due to be a free agent.
Second, Werder addressed the status of receiver Terrell Owens.
Explaining that it’s already a topic of discussion in Dallas as to whether Owens will be back, Werder said, “[T]here is a lot of internal debate about Owens, who’s viewed internally by some people as a descending player and a divisive force in the locker room, and the question is does his performance on the field justify some of the other problems he seems to be causing with players like [quarterback] Tony Romo and [tight end] Jason Witten?”
It would be a stunning move, given that barely seven months ago the Cowboys signed him to a four-year, $34 million contract, with $12.9 million guaranteed.
A couple of points:
1. Johnson was singled out in the defensive line autopsy and in yesterday's defensive rundown as an almost certain loss. He threw his tantrum on the Philly sideline and his production didn't warrant the headache. His departure was maybe second to Bruce Read's in the "duh" department.
Cue nose tackle on the offseason to-do list.
2. Owens. Hmmmm. It's no secret that at this point one year ago the Cowboys were looking at Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. A source hinted then that the team wanted to get the young vet before it had to make a decision on re-upping T.O. When no deal was cut and Owens was extended, I figured the Cowboys hand had been forced.
I'm agnostic on this one. If T.O. stays, that's okay with me. If he goes, so it goes. My reasoning is that I'm not sold on Roy Williams, who did nothing to dispel the notion that he was becoming T.O. Lite in Detroit in '07. He whined for the ball then and he simpered for the ball here late in the season. In both cases, he was out played -- by Calvin Johnson in '07 and by every receiver and tight end on last year's Cowboys squad.
If the Cowboys are willing to cut the cord, this does tell me that Miles Austin will get a tender at a high price, if not a long-term deal that lowers his '09 cap burden. Dallas cannot risk losing Owens AND Austin.
-- Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, Bruce Read. I'm liking this.
If Pat Watkins gets his walking papers, I'm going to Vegas.
More Juniors Declaring
Add Michael Crabtree, Beanie Wells and David Maclin to the list.
This pushes three more seniors into the Cowboys' 2nd-round draft orbit.