DC.com: TO Feels He's a Scapegoat

[Arch Stanton]

This quote from TO in Clarence Hill's article is very telling....


"NOW, IT'S HIS TEAM."

 

[EagleHarry]

All I know is this saga has played out on 3 teams now, the focus of the discontent on the quarterback / Owens relationship. I'm not privy to what really went on behind the scenes, but this drama has played out in very similar fashion 3 times now, and according to Owens it's never his fault. That guy is a freaking cancer. Jerry would not have pulled that trigger to release him unless there was good reason, that's just no Jones' m.o..

 

[starfrombirth]

Did Owens have these problems with Steve Young?

Yes he did but people don't talk about it because Young retired before it became all blownup. Go back and look at some of the old SF footage and articles. TO didn't like Young either. Why do you think Steve Young has so much venom for TO now? You would be much better off learning to accept that TO is NOT a saint and brings unwanted drama with him wherever he goes.

 

[Mash]

I understand Owens caused some problems here.....but it seems the failure of the team is directly pointed to Owens.

From being a cancer in the locker room.....to forcing Romo to throw the ball to him.

Im really hoping this team has great success this year......Super Bowl success. But IMHO success wont be because TO has left town....it will be because of a healthy season.....improved OL play....better decisions making by Romo and improved play by the defense.

We all know this team has the talent......no more excuses....time to be accountable and produce.

Lets get this season started already!!!

 

[Doomsday101]

I understand Owens caused some problems here.....but it seems the failure of the team is directly pointed to Owens.

From being a cancer in the locker room.....to forcing Romo to throw the ball to him.

Im really hoping this team has great success this year......Super Bowl success. But IMHO success wont be because TO has left town....it will be because of a healthy season.....improved OL play....better decisions making by Romo and improved play by the defense.

We all know this team has the talent......no more excuses....time to be accountable and produce.

Lets get this season started already!!!

I don't think this past season was Owens fault he just tends to make matters more difficult when things start going south. Romo and Witten are drawing up plays and excluding me? Please the team did not need this or any of the other comments that were starting to come out. Owens is a great athlete and a top WR but there are reason why other teams were not throwing big money at him to bring him to their teams.

 

[EagleHarry]

In every situation and team where Owens has played there has always been the "for T.O." and "against T.O." division in the locker room. No matter which side of the fence you reside a person would be hard pressed to find another player in the league, ever, who causes such devisive fealings on every team on which he plays. Whether or not Owens brings this on himself it's not good for a team and whatever the circumstance it's hard not to classify this type of devisive catalyst as cancerous to a team.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Two of the 3 (romo and donovan) would be there I could care less attitude. Donovan in the Superbowl after throwing crucial ints, and Romo after getting his payday (mostly because of TO).

Sorry, I must of missed that language class.

 

[Alexander]

I understand Owens caused some problems here.....but it seems the failure of the team is directly pointed to Owens.

Not exactly to the point of your comment. Our total team failure wasn't all on Owens. We simply were not able (the team and organization) to control the behavior but our problems were more than just his actions.

He was allowed, just as he has in other places, to act out. But we still failed to get all of the other things done right in spite of his antics. Last year's failures were a total team collapse, not because he single-handedly orchestrated the whole house to burn down. We had no leadership (his type should never be allowed to be in that role to begin with) and the players along with management allowed the "cancer" to spread.

We couldn't handle him, nor could anyone else. But the team dysfunction was not because of him. It was because we failed to be able to cope with the issues he created. I still don't buy that he's this unstoppable team wrecker and destroyer of worlds. We just weren't equipped with the type of leadership to cope. Few teams could. But I think if you have rock solid stability, there are handful of places he could be dealt with. Look at Moss in New England. Look at Keyshawn here. Both were divas and distractions elsewhere but eventually were brought under control. He just happens to be the one breed that would take near perfection to control. That doesn't eliminate the need for us to address the things he did and not allow the scapegoating to cloud our perception.

If there is one thing about Owens, it is that he speaks the truth--even if it is twisted around his own narcissism. To me, it is fairly clear that Romo wasn't leading (neither was McNabb) and Owens' problem is that he has no problem holding that QB to be responsible. He will never get that the QB is the alpha male. And if teams allow him to assume that kind of power, who is to blame? Its like giving a pyromaniac a box of matches and then acting surprised when the house burns down.

What he doesn't admit is that he's part of the problem and never has anywhere he's been and that's what he does. But the concerns come when teams aren't prepared to handle his high maintenance issues.

From being a cancer in the locker room.....to forcing Romo to throw the ball to him.

Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and Tony Romo have no backbone then? Sorry, it is not that easy to simply absolve them of not dealing with it. If Romo was too weak, Phillips and Garrett too powerless, Jerry Jones (the real boss) should have stepped in and taken action.

Instead, it looks like Jones did as he's always done with Owens and that's allow him to do as he pleased. He likes Owens and never got aggravated at him because he thought very highly of him. You can tell how evident it was when he speaks about the release. He actually was thinking about keeping him and had to be convinced by saner minds that he needed to simply go away. Jones should have been furious at Owens' behaviors, but he never reacted, at least publicly and still speaks kindly of him to this day.

All in all, it is what it is. The results were the same as they have been everywhere with him, but this organization is in denial, just as the Eagles were, if they think elimination of a tumor like Owens is simply going to make everything better. Owens is a symptom that reflects the overall problems. Getting rid of him is not a cure-all, nor should we allow ourselves to delusionally believe it does.

Im really hoping this team has great success this year......Super Bowl success. But IMHO success wont be because TO has left town....it will be because of a healthy season.....improved OL play....better decisions making by Romo and improved play by the defense.

This and also if we use what actual truths Owens is speaking of and learn from it.

Romo has to step up. And he does need to be accountable. This does need to be his team and he has to take control. It shouldn't just be considered a pass by default just because Owens is not here to gum up the works.

All of these "Romo-friendly" activities should point to that and hopefully it brings with it the accountability and responsibility it should. We should see how this has taken root late in the season.

We all know this team has the talent......no more excuses....time to be accountable and produce.

That's why Owens going away had to be done. It not only eliminated a hassle, it clears the water so the other issues we had last season can be seen with more clarity.

 

[BrassCowboy]

I understand Owens caused some problems here.....but it seems the failure of the team is directly pointed to Owens.

From being a cancer in the locker room.....to forcing Romo to throw the ball to him.

Im really hoping this team has great success this year......Super Bowl success. But IMHO success wont be because TO has left town....it will be because of a healthy season.....improved OL play....better decisions making by Romo and improved play by the defense.

We all know this team has the talent......no more excuses....time to be accountable and produce.

Lets get this season started already!!!

this team will be better because players and coaches will not have deal with hotheads on the sideline yelling how open they were and just acting like a piss poor crybaby. (Watch quite a few games last year where they showed TO on the sideline or coming off the field)

The team will no longer have to coddle players who cannot keep their nose clean off the field and keep their mouth shut with the media. (Pac Man, Tank Johnson, and I like Ellis but he was an offseason whiner)

TO absorbed so much attention from this team that it affected more than just his play on the field, but it affected team chemistry, playbook, coaching styles, media outlook of team, Jerry's sanity, etc...

I defended TO before last half of last year, but game after game of seeing him whining to the coaching staff, media, and players in game and after, it is was time to go.

Now this team can concentrate on the game as a team rather than an individual. I will say Jerry should remove every "me" player we have and he did. See my sig.


EDIT * this is not the answer to all our problems, but they were problems that needed removed so that the team can moved forward. The answer to all our problems will be up to ALL the players and the coaching staff to cure.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Releasing TO shows how desperate Jerry is to justify his foolish decsion to hitch his wagon to tony romo. They are admitting that they know romo doesn't have the stones to take control, and are keeping their fingers crossed/praying that the move will pay off, and if/when it doesn't then who else is Jerry and everyone else going to blame for romo's inneffectiveness?

Will it be Roy Williams, who we probably already know won't replace TO's production because he can't get WIDE OPEN? Or will it be the offensive line, who will be slammed beacause they only give romo 6-7 seconds to throw the ball, and he gets sacked when he can't hit a receiver who isn't wide open. Or will it be Jason Garrett because he isn't the one fumbling or throwing interceptions, but because his offense is "to predictable." I don't recall that being an issue in 2007.

When will Jerry learn that as brilliant as he is in business, his football knowledge, especially at qb is seriously lacking. Carter, Hutch, Henson, Leaf, Stoerner, romo?

And how many excellent quarterbacks will Jerry pass on coming out of college until he stops making excuses for romo. Perhaps this season when romo is among the league leader in turnovers and the team goes 5-11.

Wow. Nothing but complete failure in that post. You might be the single most ignorant fan when it comes to football that I've seen on these forums. But that's quite the accomplishment considering some of the folks we have here who clearly don't know a thing about football other than what the media tells them they should know.

If you count amazing as being able to put up stats with great players around him while managing to be a turnover machine and choke when the pressure counts then ya I am with you on the fact that he is so amazing.

Everyone seems to see him succeed and can say "see, i told you how great he was." Those are the real peaches of fans who can't see past their own bias opinion confusing what they want with what will probably happen. I want a winner at qb so the team will win a Super Bowl, which I don't think will happen with this bum.

So I guess what you're saying is that back in the day, after Troy's first 3 seasons as a starter, you were pissed off and ready to get rid of him right? You didn't believe the Cowboys would EVER win with him at QB and probably ran around telling everyone that thought that they would win Superbowls with them that they were dumb, bias, or crazy?

Right? Right?

Nah. You're another one of those folks who'll claim you always knew Troy was great, and would get it done, because now you've got the benefit of the whole picture to back up how good he was.

If/when Romo leads this team to any playoff succes, or God forbid a Superbowl championship ( I know there are a few on these boards who would immediately committ suicide over him doing that, rather than have to face the fact that they were wrong about him) you probably won't even post around here anymore cause there will be no way you're willing to eat crow about being wrong.

I imagine if you were a Colts fan you'd have wanted to dump Peyton Manning after his 3rd season of starting as well. I mean it was only another, what, 2 or 3 years from that point before he ever won a playoff game?

No, I'm wrong all the time and I don't mind admitting it.

I bet you can't say the same.

BTW, I never predicted greatness for Romo in the first place, so I'd have nothing to crow about even if he did turn out to be a superstar.


No, everyone wants to see him succeed because it's good for the team.

This isn't that hard.

It is for those who don't know anything about football in the first place.

 

[EPL0c0]

you guys are blind if you dont think TO was a scapegoat for this season. Bad quarterback play was the doom of this season. The majority coming from brad johnson.

If you dont like TO that is fine, but dont be silly...and if TO got to Romo where he played bad, then that is Romos fault still, because it still lead to bad QB play.

To some extent, Owens is a scapegoat. I think a lot of people (fans and media) rolled up some of the on-field problems Dallas had in 2008 and lumped it onto Terrell Owens.

This isn't anything new either, it's things folks on here have stated: Poor Oline play sometimes, missed blocking assignments, missed tackles, poor kick coverage, etc.

I don't think that Owens gets enough credit for the little things he did; look at the Arizona game. He had just 4 rec for 36yds. BUT on Crayton's 55yd TD TO blocked 2 defenders to get Crayton free. On MBIII's 70yd TD Owens (and Austin I think) made the key blocks that let him take the corner and run up field. It wasn't Owens that wiff'd on protection on the McBriar punt in OT. Those are the intangibles you get with Owens that Roy has to do as well.

Am I glad he's gone? He's not a Cowboy so who cares about Owens now. Yes Owens had plenty of screw ups (drops, wrong routes, etc). I think folks are quick to blame his off-the-field/sideline/lockerroom crap and ignore the on-field/game crap. This is a team that had lots of (fixable) problems all around...

 

[BrassCowboy]

To some extent, Owens is a scapegoat. I think a lot of people (fans and media) rolled up some of the on-field problems Dallas had in 2008 and lumped it onto Terrell Owens.

This isn't anything new either, it's things folks on here have stated: Poor Oline play sometimes, missed blocking assignments, missed tackles, poor kick coverage, etc.

I don't think that Owens gets enough credit for the little things he did; look at the Arizona game. He had just 4 rec for 36yds. BUT on Crayton's 55yd TD TO blocked 2 defenders to get Crayton free. On MBIII's 70yd TD Owens (and Austin I think) made the key blocks that let him take the corner and run up field. It wasn't Owens that wiff'd on protection on the McBriar punt in OT. Those are the intangibles you get with Owens that Roy has to do as well.

Am I glad he's gone? He's not a Cowboy so who cares about Owens now. Yes Owens had plenty of screw ups (drops, wrong routes, etc). I think folks are quick to blame his off-the-field/sideline/lockerroom crap and ignore the on-field/game crap. This is a team that had lots of (fixable) problems all around...

good post

 

[Vtwin]

How can you be a scapegoat if it really is your fault?

How is it TO's fault that Tony Romo needs to have just the right guys around him to be an effective leader? A leader leads who is around him that needs leading. If you need to always make sure you have the "right kind of guys" around him then you don't have much of a leader.

TO is exactly right. Now that doesnt mean the team will not be better off with him gone but the fact that TO is not on this team because it was affecting Romo's ability to be the "team leader" is a fact.

FYI I'm no TO cheerleader either. Didn't want him here. Gave him a chance and actually gained a bit of respect for the man. Not terribly upset to see him go only because he is a media magnet and an automatic distraction no matter how he acts.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

:horse:

 

[khiladi]

Again, it is amusing... It was Stephen Jones who said that Tony Romo wasn't stepping up to the leadership role with TO there... TO didn't say it, but was responding to a question about Stephen Jones comments. TO then said that everybody knew TO was the QB, but THEY, obviously meaning the people above, saw something. He then goes on to say somebody is lying, which is quite obvious, that somebody in the organization is lying... The whole release makes no sense, especially after the whole Dan Reeves debacle... You bring in Reeves essentially to baby-sit Garrett, he gets released and TO is released not suddenly, but much later.

The organization is clearly playing off the Romo issue, because Romo is the face of the franchise. If the organization puts it in any other context, then they will get a lot more criticism than they want. The party-line "we are doing everything for Romo" is what the fans and people want to here.

 

[khiladi]

BTW, plenty of people within the organization have stated TO was a scape-goat, and those that left the Cowboys did as well, like Canty. So when TO says he is a scape-goat, people act like it's something new?

 

[khiladi]

Let's not assume that being a leader means that you're a good one. After all, Hitler was a leader; Osama Bin Laden is a leader; except that these two were trecherous ones. Now T.O. is not in that bad class, but when it comes to being a badly influential leader in the football locker room - well - that he clearly is.

Hitler was a brilliant leader and if it weren't for the two-faced act of people within the organization, he might have well succeeded with his designs. His goals and purposes on the other hand were what made him evil.

 

[khiladi]

When a team starts failing and TO is on board expressing his displeasure, it is always because of TO 'acting out'. You people act as if he should take all the criticism in stride and be a 'team-player'. Hell, everybody on this board can't stand that they get called out in their posts on this forum, let alone the big screen. And this is the internet. The difference between the general people and TO is that TO can actually play the game of football.

 

[BrassCowboy]

How is it TO's fault that Tony Romo needs to have just the right guys around him to be an effective leader? A leader leads who is around him that needs leading. If you need to always make sure you have the "right kind of guys" around him then you don't have much of a leader.

TO is exactly right . Now that doesnt mean the team will not be better off with him gone but the fact that TO is not on this team because it was affecting Romo's ability to be the "team leader" is a fact.

FYI I'm no TO cheerleader either. Didn't want him here. Gave him a chance and actually gained a bit of respect for the man. Not terribly upset to see him go only because he is a media magnet and an automatic distraction no matter how he acts.

give me a break, two other teams before him could not "lead" him.... I will not say he is all to blame, but he displayed his share of the problem with his teammates and coaches. Nothing good comes from it.

TO is obviously "a" problem so now he is GONE and we are better for it.

And now I will go on record and say that all TO talk is non cowboy related now seeing he no longer is a Cowboy and should go in the NFL Talk section.
Mods???

 

[khiladi]

Nothing good comes from Randy Moss either... He tore up the Vikings and the Raiders... But you know, the QB and OL play of the Raiders had nothing to do with him being a mal-contentent...