Sources: Dallas may release Owens

[Mr.MULLETINO]

Sources: Dallas Cowboys to talk about releasing Terrell Owens - ESPN

Improving locker room chemistry will be the highest priority for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason and that will force serious discussions between Wade Phillips' coaching staff and owner Jerry Jones about whether to release controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens, according to team and league sources.

"I think we all know that chemistry is the problem with this team more than the schemes or anything else," a Cowboys source said. "Are we going to continue to allow talent to outweigh everything else in the decisions we make with players and putting the roster together? We're like the Redskins used to be when they signed every player they wanted. There's more to it than talent. It has to be more about the team.

"The big one [Owens] didn't get discussed yet, but I'm sure it will and real hard."

The Cowboys released twice-suspended cornerback Pacman Jones last week and Tank Johnson is expected to depart through free agency. Both decisions are at least partly related to the renewed emphasis on creating a different atmosphere in the locker room. The Cowboys began their ill-fated 2008 season with three players on the roster who had been suspended by the league or their previous teams -- Jones, Johnson and Owens.

At least two sources believe that vice president Stephen Jones will attempt to convince his father that Owens should be finished with the Cowboys. But Jerry Jones just last year invested a $12 million signing bonus in Owens, which means there would be salary-cap fallout. In fact, Jerry Jones has suggested that there might be enough damage that the team would find it difficult to sign NFL sack leader DeMarcus Ware to a new contract.

"I think some of people want to just cut our losses and get rid of all those guys … T.O., Tank, Pacman,'' another Cowboys source said. "But I really think Jerry likes the thrill of trying to make it all work."

The discussions involving Owens have not yet been formally initiated and probably will not occur until the Cowboys are more certain of the composition of their coaching staff.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's candidacy for at least two NFL head-coaching positions could influence the Owens debate. Garrett met with the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday after interviewing last week with the Detroit Lions.

At the moment, Jones has insisted that Phillips will return, but he might have to reconsider if Garrett secures another opportunity. There are people within the Cowboys' organization who do not believe that Garrett would turn down another job unless Jones was willing to promote him to head coach in Dallas and purge Owens from the roster.

Not only does Owens have relationship issues with quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten, but the controversial receiver consistently criticized Garrett's play calling and his offensive schemes to the point that sources say the offensive coordinator does not believe they can coexist.

The potential of the Cowboys losing Garrett to another team could accelerate the timetable for a decision about Owens. They had expected not to face a deadline until his $3 million roster bonus is due June 3. But that changes if Garrett finds himself in a position to leave the Cowboys and makes Owens' departure a condition of his remaining.

"I think Jerry would have to think about it, but I believe he'd let Jason leave,'' said one team source, believing Jones would prefer to be relieved of his remaining $6 million obligation to Garrett.

Regardless, Owens could still be jettisoned. His detractors can argue their belief that Owens, 35, is a poor route runner with inconsistent hands and generally a descending player who seldom accepts responsibility for his own shortcomings. There is fear internally that he will become more volatile if his performance continues to deteriorate -- and that he may feel more empowered if he perceives that his presence forced Garrett to depart.

Of particular concern is the apparent negative influence Owens has had on teammates such as Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton and even running back Marion Barber.

"You have to be worried about his influence over there, and I think we'd get some of those players back over to our side if he was gone,'' another source said. "I think we have to decide how detrimental he is to Witten and Romo.''

While the productivity of Garrett's offense plunged and quarterback Romo appeared to regress in his second full season as the starting quarterback, Jerry Jones apparently still covets his young offensive coordinator. The perception within the Cowboys' coaching and executive offices is that the team's demise was more the result of poor locker room chemistry and a serious leadership void than it was a failure of Garrett's system.

It was Jones who personally returned Garrett to the Cowboys' organization with the expectation that he would eventually become the next head coach of the franchise. When Garrett was offered head-coaching positions with the Ravens and Falcons exactly a year ago, Jones persuaded him to remain with the Cowboys by making him the highest-paid assistant coach in football. Jones was fiercely determined to have Garrett develop Romo and maintain offensive continuity, and even mentioned his view of the team's future with Garrett as head coach in the new $1 billion stadium which the team opens next season.

[Skunk Works]

Has Terrell Owens wore out his welcome in Dallas?T.O. must go. That, at least, is what folks with their ear to the ground in Dallas are saying. Any number of Cowboys insiders are saying a publicity magnet like Terrell Owens is now more damaging than he's worth.

Owner Jerry Jones apparently remains in T.O.'s corner, however, and Jones usually keeps his own counsel.

According to Jennifer Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, however, Stephen Jones (the team's executive vice president) is pushing his father on this issue.

"He obviously at least somewhat buys into a feeling among a growing number of [Dallas] coaches and front-office types that T.O. is a drama queen who creates issues when they don't exist, and his age and his $3 million roster bonus due in March make that untenable," Engel wrote.

Source: Philly.com
Has Terrell Owens wore out his welcome in Dallas? - Sports Rumors - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[liquidsky]

Funny how Jerry Jones now is all about team chemistry. It was not like that when he brough in Tank Johnson, TO, Pacman, etc.

[Spurfan15]

Lol... I remember when my Cowboy fan friends were telling me TO would be tamed in Dallas and all. Note to all teams from a Niners fan: avoid TO like the plague. When he's getting 100+ yards per game and everything is going well, TO is happy and everyone loves him, but once things get tough at all, Owens instantly becomes a virus in the lockerroom. He has one of the absolute worst attitudes in NFL history.

[TexasNative]

Originally Posted by liquidsky

Funny how Jerry Jones now is all about team chemistry.

JJ used to be very good at chemistry. Especially as it related to Tequila.

[versace3177]

Originally Posted by Spurfan15

Lol... I remember when my Cowboy fan friends were telling me TO would be tamed in Dallas and all. Note to all teams from a Niners fan: avoid TO like the plague. When he's getting 100+ yards per game and everything is going well, TO is happy and everyone loves him, but once things get tough at all, Owens instantly becomes a virus in the lockerroom. He has one of the absolute worst attitudes in NFL history.

How do you figure? I didn't hear him blast the team or call anybody out after the horrendous loss to Philly. If he's all those things ppl say he is then why wasn't there a story bout him and his lousy attitude? As I recall he was quoted as saying they need to regroup and all put in more hours to get better , himself included!

[Jason R]

Um there's been PLENTY of stories about his lousy attitude. This isn't the first time we're hearing that he's doing too much talking behind closed doors in Dallas.

[versace3177]

I understand that Jason all I'm asking is How do we know it's that bad ? Maybe it's just way blown out of proportion. They all have attitudes I would presume. Ah well this is an argument that will never get resolved lol I was just sayin it's possible he ain't that bad

[SleepyAdamII]

Did the Dallas Morning News publish their story about the Cowboys?

Other than the obvious Wade being a lame Head Coach, there were some scathing remarks about Romo. Million dollar body with a $.10 head.

This summer will be very interesting. Any assumptions for the cowboys?

I saw lose TO, Ship out Romo, and hire Gruden. I think Romo may nab us some good draft picks. If not this year, than the next.