DMN Blog: NFL Network has T.O.'s back

[Bleu Star]

Nope.

I was on the "keep Owens" group.

Then I moved to the "I don't really care. The organization just needs to make a decision" movement.

I took a step towards the "cut Owens" group lately. There's still probably another hundred steps or so to go in that direction before I am in that group.

I hear ya man. Next season can't get here soon enough. At least we have 11 draft picks and should be busy wheeling & dealing in the draft. Something to look forward to...

 

[Vintage]

I hear ya man. Next season can't get here soon enough. At least we have 11 draft picks and should be busy wheeling & dealing in the draft. Something to look forward to...

11 draft picks... and needs at DL, LB, and S.

And OL.

Should be interesting to see what we do in the draft.

 

[JonJon]

how did TO become the problem. He wasnt the problem last year. He still put up great numbers (for the quarterbacking he had this year)

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? No one will ever know...

 

[JonJon]

The enemies of Romo are the ones who are busy defending the cancer.

And just like Owens did in S.F. and Philly--he is trying (and succeeding) in trying to tear down the leader/quarterback of the team.

So predictable.

More proof there are fools born every minute who will be dupes of cancerous leaders like Owens. More proof he needs to be shown the door marked with the letters, E-X-I-T.

You mean the same Owens that cried defending Romo last season and still said that Romo is his quarterback this season, supporting Romo even when he wasn't playing his best? That TO?

 

[NextGenBoys]

how did TO become the problem. He wasnt the problem last year. He still put up great numbers (for the quarterbacking he had this year)

Can any of you people read. I CLEARLY said he is not THE problem.

He is PART of the problem. As in causing distractions, having to cater the offense to him, and his weak psyche.

When things are going great, he is a great teammate. Kind of hard not to be. But when things get a little bit rocky, lets just say there could be better ones out there.

All that being said, I've been "Pro-T.O." as far as him returning since day one.

 

[Big Dakota]

The only resolution to this equation is for the guy with the famous girlfriend to play in December and January like he plays in September. OR......... for the guy with the plastic face to be interred in a pine box.

 

[theebs]

Just watched the roy williams interview.

He said flat out, I love terrell owens, I love the guy, but he is a poor example for the young guys in the locker room, his antics trickled down in the locker room.

He went onto say the team is full of ME's and not us's.

He said the team needs order and structure, and said everyone said parcells was too tough but we need someone like him back.

I am encoding now and will upload it.

 

[Big Dakota]

Just watched the roy williams interview.

He said flat out, I love terrell owens, I love the guy, but he is a poor example for the young guys in the locker room, his antics trickled down in the locker room.

He went onto say the team is full of ME's and not us's.

He said the team needs order and structure, and said everyone said parcells was too tough but we need someone like him back.

I am encoding now and will upload it.

Well, jerry and wade are just the men to bring it together.

 

[ddh33]

Just watched the roy williams interview.

He said flat out, I love terrell owens, I love the guy, but he is a poor example for the young guys in the locker room, his antics trickled down in the locker room.

He went onto say the team is full of ME's and not us's.

He said the team needs order and structure, and said everyone said parcells was too tough but we need someone like him back.

I am encoding now and will upload it.

I love Roy Williams. I think he's a great guy in the community, and I think he truly loves the Dallas Cowboys. We can debate his skills and abilities (and I know we all have), but I do like the guy.

I'm betting that this doesn't make a lot of people on this forum happy though. I constantly hear about players stepping up and making each other accountable, but then I see those same fans rip Bradie James for trying. I'm betting they'll rip Roy too.

And all of the Terence Newman fans will be fine too because Roy prefaced his comment by saying how much he loves TO, right? Because I wouldn't want to see a double standard when it applies to a favorite scapegoat.

 

[TheDude]

You know, I will take Roys comments as valid. TO is not exactly the person who younger players should emulate in terms of vocalizing, holding grudges, communication for their careers.

Its hard to say this and not come across as an apologist, but I don't think it translates into wins and losses. Too many "shelfish", Me first people have won (Keyshawn "throw me the Damn Ball" Johnson being a PRIME example). So it is still not the predominant issue in my opinion.

That said, Roy Williams is the biggest blame deflecter on the team. No deep TD (S Moss), was ever his fault. He always points out a teammate on the field. And the "I am a 4-3 safety not a 3-4 safety" is about the most laughable thing in the world and as "Not ME" based phrase I have heard.

Quarters, Single deep, Cover two are the same for all safety's. 3-4 and 4-3 only refer to LBs and DL. The coverage is the same.

So while his comments about Owens are his opinions and maybe valid, he then turns around to challenge the "scheme", which is all Owens has really done via the media. Plus, RW had his own little OTA vacation last year as well as not working out with the team.

How is that not being a "ME?"

 

[DuaneThomas71]

If Roy did in fact say what theebs said, he's a hypocrite.

I think him standing around and missing tackles is a bad example for the rest of the team.

I think Terrell Owens working his butt off in the off-season is a good example.

If Roy worked as hard as T.O. he'd be on his way to Canton. Isn't that ironic?

 

[28 Joker]

February 8, 2009
NFL Network has T.O.'s back
1:39 PM Sun, Feb 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Everybody knows that Deion Sanders is a T.O. apologist. But he wasn't even on the NFL Network panel that came to the conclusion that getting rid of T.O. would be a mistake by the Cowboys.

Jamie Dukes is firmly in the pro-T.O. camp. Matter of fact, he wrote on an NFL.com blog post that he doesn't believe the speculation that the Cowboys could cut T.O. He calls it a conspiracy to blame the Cowboys' woes on T.O. (Thanks to Dan Reeves for playing his role in the conspiracy.)

Dukes claims that the players don't consider T.O. a problem. That, of course, depends on which players you're talking to.

Dukes does acknowledge that "a certain player who shall remain nameless" might have a problem with T.O. Gee, wonder who he might be referring to?Baggage is something Owens will have to deal with because he made that bed. However, it's time to place the credit and blame where it belongs. The success and failure of the Cowboys is squarely on the consistent play of the one that shall remain nameless. The media has planted the seed in the head of the nameless one that things would be better if T.O. was not on the roster.
A word of caution: If T.O. gets his walking papers, nothing will change because Roy Williams will call out his quarterback just like he did in Detroit. The only resolution to this equation is for the guy with the famous girlfriend to play in December and January like he plays in September.

...and I'll take Romo's and Garrett's back.

Owens isn't the player he has been in the past. His play declined significantly in 2008. The Packers and Commanders gave the blue-print for shutting him down or playing him with success. The 49ers didn't get the memo. Nate Clements played way off and let Owens get started. The 49ers gave him a career day, because they are dumb, I guess. The formula that Jimmy Johnson talked about was on tape.

Jimmy Johnson, the former two time Super Bowl winning coach in Dallas, gave his opinion on Terrell Owens' lack of a 100 yard game through week 11.

According to Johnson, cornerbacks were physical with Owens and jammed him quickly. This quick, physical jam disrupted Owens' route and allowed the corner to get in a good chase position. According to Johnson, Owens couldn't run away from the defenders. Johnson agreed that Shawn Springs put on a clinic against him. Johnson went on to say that teams used to mix up coverages against Owens (man under, 2 deep; man under, one deep). However, in 2008, teams were following the blue-print and not letting him run free.

Howie Long, another Super Bowl winning analyst, gave this quote on Owens. It gives a very telling reason for his declining output for the 2008 season. When combined with Johnson's break down of how teams played Owens, in 2008, by jamming him quickly, you can understand why Owens averaged
65.8 YPG in 2008 and saw his YPA go from the 9.0 range to the 7.0 range.

"The thing about T.O. is that he's not a stop-and-start guy. He's a receiver who needs momentum. Once he hits 10 yards or 15 yards, that's when he is really at his best. Whenever, he is forced to restart again, he just can't seem to do it".

Howie Long (Fox Sports Analyst)


I went back and looked at some of Owens' biggest plays of the season and his game log, and Long's and Johnson's comments appear to hit the bulls-eye.


72 yard TD against Lito Sheppard:

Sheppard was playing way off. Owens got a free release, ran by Shepard and had a free run at a safety biting on another route.

35 yard TD in Cleveland:

Owens, in a tight formation, gets a free realease and runs through a zone.

Charles Woodson dogs Owens all night and gets physical at the line. Owens finishes with a 2-17-0 night. Owens abuses another physical corner, Al Harris, in 2007. Both games are played in Jason Garrett's passing offense. Garrett called the plays.

Shawn Springs and the Commanders see what Woodson did, and Springs and the other Commanders cornerbacks, including Carlos Rodgers, hold Owens to a 7-71-1 game. Owens has the ball directed or thrown to him 19 times. After the game, he complains about the "lack of opportunities". Marion Barber gets 8 carries. Felix Jones, on a roll coming into the game, gets 0.

The Bengals, without cornerbacks the caliber of Woodson or Springs hold Owens to a 2-67-1 day. Owens catches 2 passes. He scores a 57 yard TD when the Bengals played way off and gave him a free release. The free release allowed Owens to get cranked up and going full steam ahead. The play is run from a tight formation. Garrett uses the tight formation to help Owens out some.

The Cardinals hold Owens to a 4-36-0 day. His longest catch is 10 yards.

I will leave out the three games with Brad Johnson. Owens didn't have any big games and wasn't a big factor, but I will will not "count them". Johnson plays very poorly.

At Washington, Owens has a 5-38-0 night. Again, the Commanders handle him. Owens catches a 25 yarder.

After the game, Owens complains in a Deion Sanders interview that Jason Garrett's system is the problem and not his play. This public attack comes after the biggest win in the Cowboys' season. He doesn't mention that he had a monster game against Shawn Springs last year in Texas Stadium, under the same offensive coordinator and averaged 9.4 YPA in Garrett's offense in 2007, one of his best seasons, ever.

Mike Singletary vacations in la la land and lets Nate Clements play 7-10 yards off Owens. He plays tough guy and ignores the blue-print. Owens has a career day (7-213-1). Owens catches a 75 yard TD. Owens doesn't complain about Garrett's system after the game, after the other team let him get his momentum going down hill all day. What was Nate Clements thinking, too?

Owens has a 5-98-1 TD game on Thanksgiving. He catches a 33 yarder. Owens has some success beating Seattle's best corner and getting some separation.

December comes and the defenses get tough, and they are not stupid like the 49ers.

Pittsburgh hold Owens to a 3-32-1 day.

The Giants hold Owens to a 3-38-0 day. Thanks to Patrick Crayton breaking free late, Romo hits him for a crucial TD.

The Ravens hold Owens to a 5-63-1 game. Owens breaks free deep in the game, but Romo misses him.


Owens put up a 6-103-0 game against the Eagles. Jason Witten throws him his longest pass, a 42 yarder. The play comes after the play breaks down and Romo gets the ball to Witten on the outside.

Owens finishes the season with two 100 yard games and averages 65.8 YPG. Owens best game comes when S.F. plays 7-10 yards off of him. He has a career day during a poor season. The Commanders and Giants handle him easliy. The Eagles give up the Lito Sheppard play and the Witten 42 yarder on a bust.

Early K.C. Joyner returns (*8 games) say that Owens has a 2.0 YPA against Joyner's 'red' cornerbacks. That lags behind Patrick Crayton's 2.8 YPA against them in 2007. That is one reason Roy Williams was brought in. In 2007, Owens put up a 9.3 YPA against Joyner's 'red' corners. He did it in Jason Garrett's passing system, and Garrett called the plays . That drop off is off the table. By looking at the game log, I don't see that stat getting much help.
Owens has become a fly pattern WR or deep bomb WR. If he can't run away from you, you can stop him or shut him down.

When you combine his declining output and play with his "drama' off the field, the choice should be obvious. The team has plenty of weapons to compete. The franchise's is worth about 1.5 billion dollars; furthermore, Owens is on a path to ruin it and your franchise quarterback, who is worth $ 43 million himself.

It's not the media. It's not hate. It's not all Jason Garret's fault. It's reality.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8...table:-Week-11
Last edited by 41gy# : 1 Hour Ago at 10:01 PM.

 

[Clove]

You know, I will take Roys comments as valid. TO is not exactly the person who younger players should emulate in terms of vocalizing, holding grudges, communication for their careers.

Its hard to say this and not come across as an apologist, but I don't think it translates into wins and losses. Too many "shelfish", Me first people have won (Keyshawn "throw me the Damn Ball" Johnson being a PRIME example). So it is still not the predominant issue in my opinion.

That said, Roy Williams is the biggest blame deflecter on the team. No deep TD (S Moss), was ever his fault. He always points out a teammate on the field. And the "I am a 4-3 safety not a 3-4 safety" is about the most laughable thing in the world and as "Not ME" based phrase I have heard.

Quarters, Single deep, Cover two are the same for all safety's. 3-4 and 4-3 only refer to LBs and DL. The coverage is the same.

So while his comments about Owens are his opinions and maybe valid, he then turns around to challenge the "scheme", which is all Owens has really done via the media. Plus, RW had his own little OTA vacation last year as well as not working out with the team.

How is that not being a "ME?"

Great post.


I will say this about TO personally. He has to be patient in games, and if they refuse to throw it his way, let the Owner go to bat for him instead of taking matters into his own hands.

Stop being a freaking baby, answering questions about the coordinator, *****ing about not getting the ball publicly (do it behind closed doors like I used to do ) just stop acting like you're 5 years old.

Having said that, no WAY IN HELL DOES HE DESERVE TO BE CUT FOR IT.

This entire offseason, all I've tried to point out is that a lot of things people focus on, has nothing to do with the bottom line.

If someone comes to me and says, TO can't score anymore, he can't get opened, he can't outrun anyone, teams don't double cover him and he still can't get seperation, then I'd say, get his $$$ out of town.

If someone says, TO hates his head coach, hates Dallas, doesn't get along with the owner, is always fighting in the locker room, getting in trouble off the field with illegal activity, I'll say, he needs to go.

But if someone says, he was ticked off at the play calling, and that warrants an explosive player being hated and released, that in itself is not smart business, and only people who are interested in something other than winning would even think about such non-sense.

I judge players by what THEY DO ON THE FIELD.

 

[DuaneThomas71]

Great post.


I will say this about TO personally. He has to be patient in games, and if they refuse to throw it his way, let the Owner go to bat for him instead of taking matters into his own hands.

Stop being a freaking baby, answering questions about the coordinator, *****ing about not getting the ball publicly (do it behind closed doors like I used to do ) just stop acting like you're 5 years old.

Having said that, no WAY IN HELL DOES HE DESERVE TO BE CUT FOR IT.

This entire offseason, all I've tried to point out is that a lot of things people focus on, has nothing to do with the bottom line.

If someone comes to me and says, TO can't score anymore, he can't get opened, he can't outrun anyone, teams don't double cover him and he still can't get seperation, then I'd say, get his $$$ out of town.

If someone says, TO hates his head coach, hates Dallas, doesn't get along with the owner, is always fighting in the locker room, getting in trouble off the field with illegal activity, I'll say, he needs to go.

But if someone says, he was ticked off at the play calling, and that warrants an explosive player being hated and released, that in itself is not smart business, and only people who are interested in something other than winning would even think about such non-sense.

I judge players by what THEY DO ON THE FIELD.

Apparently we're a dying breed.

A lot of people here seem to think it's more important that the team consists of 53 players who each give each other friendship bracelets.

 

[TheDude]

Charles Woodson

dogs Owens all night and gets physical at the line. Owens finishes with a 2-17-0 night. Owens abuses another physical corner, Al Harris, in 2007. Both games are played in Jason Garrett's passing offense. Garrett called the plays.

:laugh2:


If anyone thinks Charles Woodson played Owens one on one all night they are wearing a tin foil hat.

Watch Austins 57 yard post. That happened due to 3 guyshading TO. They even lined up a LB on him to jam him on plays.

The part you don't get is that the fact they put 2-3 guys on him, that opens up the field for others. Check out M Barbers stats, Felix Jones Stats, Mile Austin's plays. That was THE MOST DOMINANT game we played all year.

My definiton of "Dogging someone all night" is Newman vs. S Moss in game #2. And that definitely wasn't the story in Week #4.

This vendetta is comical

The Bengals, without cornerbacks the caliber of Woodson or Springs hold Owens to a 2-67-1 day. Owens catches 2 passes. He scores a 57 yard TD when the Bengals played way off and gave him a free release. The free release allowed Owens to get cranked up and going full steam ahead. The play is run from a tight formation. Garrett uses the tight formation to help Owens out some.

as is the "tight formation" vs cincy
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d7cc79&campaign=ec0009
..just about as conventional I-formation as it gets other than Witten off the line on the other side (dictating play action).

You don't even know what "tight" formation is.

What were the replacement's (RW11) stats? What was his YPG? What were his 100yd games? What is his excuse, he says it wasn't the foot.


Keep trying :laugh2: :laugh1: :laugh2:

 

[tyke1doe]

TO is a problem because he rubs some the wrong way. Thats life! I work with some people i dont like but i still do my job.

But do these people publicly criticize their managers? And, if they do, do they retain their jobs?

Look, T.O. isn't the only problem with the Cowboys. I think Jerry Jones is the biggest problem, personally, because everything rises and falls on leadership.

But he (T.O.) is a distraction. And his attitude - for good or bad - is mostly infectious.

I'm sorry, but I don't know too many jobs where an employer, even a top one, can get on public television and criticize his supervisors and then create an atmosphere where other employees (Romo, Roy Williams, Crayton) feel emboldened to do the same thing - and continue to retain his job (which is why it doesn't surprise me there's a divide at Valley Ranch regarding what to do with T.O.).

If anyone knows of an ordinary profession outside of sports that one can do that, please let me know. I'd like to look into it as a second career.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Tony will Miss T.O. someday when he's gone, he should be happy he's not throwing the ball to Jason Tucker and Wane McGarrity.

 

[Bleu Star]

Apparently we're a dying breed.

A lot of people here seem to think it's more important that the team consists of 53 players who each give each other friendship bracelets.

Yeah. We all know friendship bracelets equate to CHAMPIONSHIPS!

 

[TNCowboy]

If Roy did in fact say what theebs said, he's a hypocrite.

I think him standing around and missing tackles is a bad example for the rest of the team.

I think Terrell Owens working his butt off in the off-season is a good example.

If Roy worked as hard as T.O. he'd be on his way to Canton. Isn't that ironic?

His work ethic as far as working out is unquestionable. His work ethic on the field is another matter altogether. He takes off plays frequently. Sometimes, his blocking looks more appropriate for the basketball court rather than the football field. And he flat out quits on routes, sometimes.