douboy167
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IRVING, Texas - Wide receiver has suddenly become a pressing need for the Cowboys.
When free agency began nearly a week ago, offensive tackle and safety topped the priority list, with kicker not too far behind.
And regardless if former Lions guard Kyle Kosier has experience at tackle, it would be a stretch to assume the Cowboys have addressed that area as well.
But now, with Keyshawn Johnson being released Tuesday to avoid a $1 million roster bonus and a potential salary dispute down the road, the Cowboys have a rather large void at the wide receiver position as well.
And while there certainly seems to be a player on the market who can fill the void nicely, there have been no T.O. sightings around Valley Ranch . . . yet.
Now that doesn't mean the Cowboys are disinterested in wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was just released by the Eagles Tuesday afternoon, just minutes apart from Johnson's release.
Judging by media reports from coast to coast, one might assume Owens has already signed with the Cowboys. It seems Dallas is now the perfect place for the troubled wide receiver, who was basically fired from the team in mid-season last year when his off-the-field conflicts with quarterback Donovan McNabb became too much of a distraction.
And yet, this is the same Owens who infuriated Cowboys fans six years ago when he celebrated two touchdowns on the midfield star at Texas Stadium. Although he paid for it the second one, thanks to former safety George Teague, who blasted him after the second score, the act has not been forgotten.
But regardless of the past, if Owens indeed should sign with the Cowboys, he might become a welcomed sight since things have changed so drastically at wide receiver.
By releasing Johnson Tuesday, and watching many of the better free-agent wide receivers sign with other clubs this first week of free agency, Owens would now seem to become the Cowboys' best option to fill their wide-receiver void.
Sure, Packers wide receiver Javon Walker, who is coming off an ACL injury last season, is reportedly asking Green Bay to trade him.
And the Bills could be parting ways here real soon with veteran Eric Moulds, who has asked to be either released or traded. And remember, Moulds has a track record with quarterback Drew Bledsoe. But then again, so did Peerless Price, who caught just six passes in his 12 weeks with the Cowboys last season.
Now Moulds is in a different class than Price, having been to three Pro Bowls. But he's turning 33 in July, and would only become a stop-gap measure for the Cowboys, who desire to grow younger at wide receiver.
Of course, the same case could be made for signing Owens, who turned 32 in December. Then again, Owens might just be in his own class - in terms of on-the-field talent. And that has to be the reason the Cowboys, or any other team, would have interest in acquiring the temperamental 10-year veteran.
Problems aside, Owens is a proven playmaker.
He has 716 career catches for, 10315 yards and 101 touchdowns.
Despite playing in only seven games last year for the Eagles, he still led the team in receiving yards (763) and touchdown catches (six).
He also brings a rare combination of size and speed, not to mention play-making ability. Owens had a 91-yard touchdown catch last season and has 40 career catches of 40 yards or more.
Now the drawbacks with Owens have more to do with his personality and maturity.
Even though he spent eight seasons in San Francisco, the 49ers couldn't wait to ship him first to Baltimore and then to Philadelphia after Owens publicly asked to be traded and then disputed the Niners ability to trade him to the Ravens.
His first season in Philadelphia not only went down without a hitch, but Owens ended the year, playing in the Super Bowl after suffering what appeared to be a season-ending leg injury against the Cowboys.
Owens won over the Philly fans after his first season, not only becoming the go-to receiver the team had lacked in recent years, but his courageous performance in Super Bowl XXXIX nearly lifted the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title.
But then came the off-season, where Owens asked for a raise, just one year into a seven-year, $48.97 million contract. When the Eagles declined, Owens threatened to holdout in training camp. Although he finally reported, he soon was dismissed after more confrontations in both practice and team meetings.
And while he began the season on the field, his feud with McNabb escalated to the point where the two were reportedly not on speaking terms.
When asked to respond on Michael Irvin's comments that the Eagles would be better off with Packers quarterback Brett Favre rather than McNabb, Owens was quick to agree, and did so in a national TV interview.
The last straw came after Owens was involved in a locker-room fistfight with former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas, who served as the team's consultant last year.
The Eagles suspended Owens for the allowable four games, and then decided to make him inactive for the remainder of the season - a decision an arbitrator upheld during his grievance hearing.
Philadelphia officially released Owens Tuesday, avoiding a $5 million roster bonus.
So the question now, for the Cowboys, or any other interested team, is just how much to pay Owens?
That will be the dilemma facing the Cowboys, who have plenty of money to spend on free agents, but can't afford to take the chance of overpaying for a player with such baggage.
On the flipside, Owens and his agent Drew Rosenhaus are certainly aware of his market value, especially after seeing the money being thrown as such players as Antonio Bryant, David Givens and Antwaan Randle El in free agency.
Bryant just signed a five-year, $15 million deal with the 49ers that included a $5 million signing bonus. Randle El, who has never been more than a No. 2 receiver, signed a lucrative contract with the Commanders that included $11.5 million in guaranteed money. Givens just received $6 million up front from Tennessee after a mere 59-catch season
However, if the Cowboys want Owens bad enough, Jerry Jones certainly has the history of paying the piper. He did sign Deion Sanders to a seven-year, $35 million contract in 1995, their biggest free-agent signing to date.
And again, the free agent market is dwindling. Left are the likes of Rod Gardner, David Boston, Troy Brown, Jabar Gaffney, Az Hakim, Reche Caldwell, Josh Reed and, of course, Keyshawn Johnson and Peerless Price.
No doubt Owens is the best of the lot, despite his history. And in a time of need, and certainly the Cowboys have a need for a lead wide receiver, there is no telling what someone might do. :starspin
When free agency began nearly a week ago, offensive tackle and safety topped the priority list, with kicker not too far behind.
And regardless if former Lions guard Kyle Kosier has experience at tackle, it would be a stretch to assume the Cowboys have addressed that area as well.
But now, with Keyshawn Johnson being released Tuesday to avoid a $1 million roster bonus and a potential salary dispute down the road, the Cowboys have a rather large void at the wide receiver position as well.
And while there certainly seems to be a player on the market who can fill the void nicely, there have been no T.O. sightings around Valley Ranch . . . yet.
Now that doesn't mean the Cowboys are disinterested in wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was just released by the Eagles Tuesday afternoon, just minutes apart from Johnson's release.
Judging by media reports from coast to coast, one might assume Owens has already signed with the Cowboys. It seems Dallas is now the perfect place for the troubled wide receiver, who was basically fired from the team in mid-season last year when his off-the-field conflicts with quarterback Donovan McNabb became too much of a distraction.
And yet, this is the same Owens who infuriated Cowboys fans six years ago when he celebrated two touchdowns on the midfield star at Texas Stadium. Although he paid for it the second one, thanks to former safety George Teague, who blasted him after the second score, the act has not been forgotten.
But regardless of the past, if Owens indeed should sign with the Cowboys, he might become a welcomed sight since things have changed so drastically at wide receiver.
By releasing Johnson Tuesday, and watching many of the better free-agent wide receivers sign with other clubs this first week of free agency, Owens would now seem to become the Cowboys' best option to fill their wide-receiver void.
Sure, Packers wide receiver Javon Walker, who is coming off an ACL injury last season, is reportedly asking Green Bay to trade him.
And the Bills could be parting ways here real soon with veteran Eric Moulds, who has asked to be either released or traded. And remember, Moulds has a track record with quarterback Drew Bledsoe. But then again, so did Peerless Price, who caught just six passes in his 12 weeks with the Cowboys last season.
Now Moulds is in a different class than Price, having been to three Pro Bowls. But he's turning 33 in July, and would only become a stop-gap measure for the Cowboys, who desire to grow younger at wide receiver.
Of course, the same case could be made for signing Owens, who turned 32 in December. Then again, Owens might just be in his own class - in terms of on-the-field talent. And that has to be the reason the Cowboys, or any other team, would have interest in acquiring the temperamental 10-year veteran.
Problems aside, Owens is a proven playmaker.
He has 716 career catches for, 10315 yards and 101 touchdowns.
Despite playing in only seven games last year for the Eagles, he still led the team in receiving yards (763) and touchdown catches (six).
He also brings a rare combination of size and speed, not to mention play-making ability. Owens had a 91-yard touchdown catch last season and has 40 career catches of 40 yards or more.
Now the drawbacks with Owens have more to do with his personality and maturity.
Even though he spent eight seasons in San Francisco, the 49ers couldn't wait to ship him first to Baltimore and then to Philadelphia after Owens publicly asked to be traded and then disputed the Niners ability to trade him to the Ravens.
His first season in Philadelphia not only went down without a hitch, but Owens ended the year, playing in the Super Bowl after suffering what appeared to be a season-ending leg injury against the Cowboys.
Owens won over the Philly fans after his first season, not only becoming the go-to receiver the team had lacked in recent years, but his courageous performance in Super Bowl XXXIX nearly lifted the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title.
But then came the off-season, where Owens asked for a raise, just one year into a seven-year, $48.97 million contract. When the Eagles declined, Owens threatened to holdout in training camp. Although he finally reported, he soon was dismissed after more confrontations in both practice and team meetings.
And while he began the season on the field, his feud with McNabb escalated to the point where the two were reportedly not on speaking terms.
When asked to respond on Michael Irvin's comments that the Eagles would be better off with Packers quarterback Brett Favre rather than McNabb, Owens was quick to agree, and did so in a national TV interview.
The last straw came after Owens was involved in a locker-room fistfight with former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas, who served as the team's consultant last year.
The Eagles suspended Owens for the allowable four games, and then decided to make him inactive for the remainder of the season - a decision an arbitrator upheld during his grievance hearing.
Philadelphia officially released Owens Tuesday, avoiding a $5 million roster bonus.
So the question now, for the Cowboys, or any other interested team, is just how much to pay Owens?
That will be the dilemma facing the Cowboys, who have plenty of money to spend on free agents, but can't afford to take the chance of overpaying for a player with such baggage.
On the flipside, Owens and his agent Drew Rosenhaus are certainly aware of his market value, especially after seeing the money being thrown as such players as Antonio Bryant, David Givens and Antwaan Randle El in free agency.
Bryant just signed a five-year, $15 million deal with the 49ers that included a $5 million signing bonus. Randle El, who has never been more than a No. 2 receiver, signed a lucrative contract with the Commanders that included $11.5 million in guaranteed money. Givens just received $6 million up front from Tennessee after a mere 59-catch season
However, if the Cowboys want Owens bad enough, Jerry Jones certainly has the history of paying the piper. He did sign Deion Sanders to a seven-year, $35 million contract in 1995, their biggest free-agent signing to date.
And again, the free agent market is dwindling. Left are the likes of Rod Gardner, David Boston, Troy Brown, Jabar Gaffney, Az Hakim, Reche Caldwell, Josh Reed and, of course, Keyshawn Johnson and Peerless Price.
No doubt Owens is the best of the lot, despite his history. And in a time of need, and certainly the Cowboys have a need for a lead wide receiver, there is no telling what someone might do. :starspin