T.O. "blindsided" by Cowboys' release
There was plenty of debate on whether the Dallas Cowboys should have released Terrell Owens, who leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns (38) over the past three seasons. So much so that Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones issued a "gag order" for his coaching staff including Jones' puppet head coach Wade Phillips.
The debate boiled down to: did T.O.'s production on the football field outweigh his antics in the locker room? Ultimately, the answer to that question, as determined by Jones, was no.
Owens, who signed a one-year contract with Buffalo, shared his thoughts on the subject with Rogers Sportsnet.
While I believe T.O. would have continued to be a "locker room cancer" in Dallas had he not been released, Buffalo is getting a bargain. Owens, who will earn $6.5 million with the Bills, has no choice but to perform at his best while toeing the company line. If he doesn't, he'll be shooting himself in the foot for his next deal.
The debate boiled down to: did T.O.'s production on the football field outweigh his antics in the locker room? Ultimately, the answer to that question, as determined by Jones, was no.
Owens, who signed a one-year contract with Buffalo, shared his thoughts on the subject with Rogers Sportsnet.
"You hear all the speculation, and you talk to the owner of the team, and he reassures you, you're not going anywhere and then, out of left-field … you get blindsided."Jones, however, did not have any comments about T.O.'s conspiracy theory.
"I know whole-heartedly he [Jerry Jones] wanted me there," Owens said. "There were some people I know who got in his ear that pressured him to make that decision. For that, it's sad. You let two or three people conspire to get me out of the situation."
"I don't have anything to say, but we have a great relationship," Jones said. "I'm sorry we didn't get this year in on the contract, but I don't have any pointed comment to what he said that there were people within the organization that didn't want him here. I read the substance of [the comments]. Bottom line is I don't really have any comments."Last June, Jones made a huge mistake by giving T.O. a contract extension. With the perceived security of being under contract for another four years, it was easy for Owens to revert to his divisive ways that led to his departure in San Francisco and Philadelphia.
While I believe T.O. would have continued to be a "locker room cancer" in Dallas had he not been released, Buffalo is getting a bargain. Owens, who will earn $6.5 million with the Bills, has no choice but to perform at his best while toeing the company line. If he doesn't, he'll be shooting himself in the foot for his next deal.
