CrazyCowboy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 32,287
- Reaction score
- 440
T.O. vows to make splash in playoffs 
'I expect myself to elevate my game,' Cowboys receiver says
Chris Mcgrath / Getty Images file
Terrell Owens says he's ready to turn it up against the Seahawks on Saturday.
View related photos
IRVING, Texas - About a month ago, Terrell Owens said he wouldn’t be excited until the playoffs start.
Well, they’re here. And T.O. is ... about the same as he was a month ago.
But, he promised Wednesday, that’s only because he is saving himself — for Saturday night, when the Dallas Cowboys play in Seattle against a Seahawks defense scrambling to find guys to plug in at cornerback.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Owens said. “I’m not a guy who will lose his focus. I’m not a guy who lacks confidence. ... You’ll see.”
Owens might as well rest up. After all, how he does will go a long way toward determining whether Jerry Jones’ gamble of bringing him to Dallas was really worth all the trouble he’s caused.
If the Cowboys win a playoff game for the first time since 1996, that will be all the justification Jones needs to say the move worked, especially if Owens is a reason they win.
But if Dallas loses, all the questions about the turmoil T.O. causes will resurface, as will all the talk about whether he should be back next season.
And that will be the case regardless of how he plays. Remember, Owens was terrific for Philadelphia in the Super Bowl two years ago, but still became an outcast soon after. This will be his first playoff game since then.
Asked Wednesday if the Cowboys (9-7) made the right move by bringing him in, Owens himself indicated the playoffs will provide the answer.
“A number of things, attitudes, positions can change just by the mere thought of winning ballgames,” he said. “By the end of the playoffs, everybody’s thinking may be different.”
How much of a factor has he been so far?
“I’ve played a pretty prominent role as far as our record,” he said. “I don’t feel like I have a separate win-loss column than anybody else. ... I think my involvement and my position here on the team has helped get this team where it needs to be. One of our goals was to get to the playoffs. Now we’re here and we’re going to try to go to the next step.”
Statistically, Owens had a very good season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns. His numbers would’ve been even better had he not led the league in drops. He let at least two long TDs go through his hands and had a couple more flubs in the end zone on shorter plays.
More than the drops, this season will be remembered for the drama, from the “accidental overdose” to “the snitch” to asking, “Why am I here?” to his recent complaints about needing to be involved earlier in games.
Jones paid Owens $10 million this season, half in a signing bonus. He’s due a $3 million roster bonus in March and a $5 million salary next season. He’s also under contract for $7 million in 2008.
Owens laughed at the subject of whether he’ll be back next season.
“I hear all the speculation, but that is the last of anybody’s worries at this point,” he said. “If I’m not here, I will be somewhere else. ... I’m capable of playing at a high level. I can still play this game.”
Over his nine-game playoff career, Owens averages 5.3 catches, 75.1 yards and .44 touchdowns per game. The catches and yards are a smidgen better than his regular-season averages, while the TDs are below his standard of .70.
More importantly, his teams are 4-5, having lost the last two and four of five.
He’s had three 100-yard games, twice in losses. But his teams have won all three games in which he’s scored.
Slide show: The Week in Sports Pictures
• Week in Sports Pictures
NHL goalie on ice, craziness in the mud, flying fists, and more.
“I expect myself to elevate my game,” he said. “I definitely look forward to doing that in the playoffs. Right now, there’s not any room for excuses.”
The biggest reason to think things will be different this time is Seattle’s banged-up secondary. Rookie Kelly Jennings will start on the right side and safety Jordan Babineaux is moving up to left cornerback. Starters Kelly Herndon and Marcus Trufant are out.
“That’s just a part of an NFL season,” Owens said. “It’s very unfortunate for them. We can’t worry about who is out and who is replacing them. We’ve just got to go out there and make the best of the opportunities.”
Owens has made his mark in Seattle before. That was where he scored a touchdown, pulled a marker out of his sock and signed the football, helping cement the outlandish image he’s been cultivating ever since.
“T.O. always has something good for you,” Jennings said, “so we all can expect him to do something.”
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
'I expect myself to elevate my game,' Cowboys receiver says
Chris Mcgrath / Getty Images file
Terrell Owens says he's ready to turn it up against the Seahawks on Saturday.
View related photos
IRVING, Texas - About a month ago, Terrell Owens said he wouldn’t be excited until the playoffs start.
Well, they’re here. And T.O. is ... about the same as he was a month ago.
But, he promised Wednesday, that’s only because he is saving himself — for Saturday night, when the Dallas Cowboys play in Seattle against a Seahawks defense scrambling to find guys to plug in at cornerback.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Owens said. “I’m not a guy who will lose his focus. I’m not a guy who lacks confidence. ... You’ll see.”
Owens might as well rest up. After all, how he does will go a long way toward determining whether Jerry Jones’ gamble of bringing him to Dallas was really worth all the trouble he’s caused.
If the Cowboys win a playoff game for the first time since 1996, that will be all the justification Jones needs to say the move worked, especially if Owens is a reason they win.
But if Dallas loses, all the questions about the turmoil T.O. causes will resurface, as will all the talk about whether he should be back next season.
And that will be the case regardless of how he plays. Remember, Owens was terrific for Philadelphia in the Super Bowl two years ago, but still became an outcast soon after. This will be his first playoff game since then.
Asked Wednesday if the Cowboys (9-7) made the right move by bringing him in, Owens himself indicated the playoffs will provide the answer.
“A number of things, attitudes, positions can change just by the mere thought of winning ballgames,” he said. “By the end of the playoffs, everybody’s thinking may be different.”
How much of a factor has he been so far?
“I’ve played a pretty prominent role as far as our record,” he said. “I don’t feel like I have a separate win-loss column than anybody else. ... I think my involvement and my position here on the team has helped get this team where it needs to be. One of our goals was to get to the playoffs. Now we’re here and we’re going to try to go to the next step.”
Statistically, Owens had a very good season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns. His numbers would’ve been even better had he not led the league in drops. He let at least two long TDs go through his hands and had a couple more flubs in the end zone on shorter plays.
More than the drops, this season will be remembered for the drama, from the “accidental overdose” to “the snitch” to asking, “Why am I here?” to his recent complaints about needing to be involved earlier in games.
Jones paid Owens $10 million this season, half in a signing bonus. He’s due a $3 million roster bonus in March and a $5 million salary next season. He’s also under contract for $7 million in 2008.
Owens laughed at the subject of whether he’ll be back next season.
“I hear all the speculation, but that is the last of anybody’s worries at this point,” he said. “If I’m not here, I will be somewhere else. ... I’m capable of playing at a high level. I can still play this game.”
Over his nine-game playoff career, Owens averages 5.3 catches, 75.1 yards and .44 touchdowns per game. The catches and yards are a smidgen better than his regular-season averages, while the TDs are below his standard of .70.
More importantly, his teams are 4-5, having lost the last two and four of five.
He’s had three 100-yard games, twice in losses. But his teams have won all three games in which he’s scored.
Slide show: The Week in Sports Pictures
• Week in Sports Pictures
NHL goalie on ice, craziness in the mud, flying fists, and more.
“I expect myself to elevate my game,” he said. “I definitely look forward to doing that in the playoffs. Right now, there’s not any room for excuses.”
The biggest reason to think things will be different this time is Seattle’s banged-up secondary. Rookie Kelly Jennings will start on the right side and safety Jordan Babineaux is moving up to left cornerback. Starters Kelly Herndon and Marcus Trufant are out.
“That’s just a part of an NFL season,” Owens said. “It’s very unfortunate for them. We can’t worry about who is out and who is replacing them. We’ve just got to go out there and make the best of the opportunities.”
Owens has made his mark in Seattle before. That was where he scored a touchdown, pulled a marker out of his sock and signed the football, helping cement the outlandish image he’s been cultivating ever since.
“T.O. always has something good for you,” Jennings said, “so we all can expect him to do something.”
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
: 
:laugh1:
