Owens Up To His Old Tricks

Imagine my shock and surprise when I woke up this morning and heard the report saying Cwboys WR Terrell Owens is upset with Tony Romo because he feels Romo likes Jason Witten better. Imagine my amazement that Owens would ever feel like his quarterback was against him, especially, when T.O. went out of his way to defend Romo after last season's playoff loss to the Giants in Big D. (If you can't tell, I am being sarcastic!)

All of this comes out just a few days before the Cowboys face a do or die situation against the New York Giants. Dallas is 8-5 and on the verge of being eliminated from playoff consideration. Earlier this week, Jerry Jones went out and questioned the toughness of RB Marion Barber. Now comes the report that Owens is jealous. It couldn't come at a worse time.

Yes, Owens has nine less receptions than Witten. But, what Owens fails to remember is that Romo missed a chunk of time this season, replaced by The Keystone Combination of Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger. Owens also seems to forget that he has been thrown to more than any other Dallas receiver this season. If he had less dropped passes, then maybe he'd have more receptions than Witten.

But, sadly, nothing is ever Owens' fault.

We are seeing Bad T.O. emerge once again. We saw him in San Francisco, where he went after Jeff Garcia, had a feud going with then-coach Steve Mariucci, and screamed at then-assistant Greg Knapp because he wasn't getting the ball.

Bad T.O. then seemingly forgot to file his free agent papers and cried until he was traded to Baltimore. Yes, Baltimore. The Ravens wanted Owens badly, and it seemed as if Owens and Ray Lewis had the kind of friendship that would lead to a beautiful partnership. But, as soon as Owens realized the Ravens had no one at quarterback, he started moaning and groaning that he didn't want to play there, eventually forcing a trade to the Eagles.

We all know what happened there. A Super Bowl appearance one year, followed by the feud with quarterback Donovan McNabb. A feud that earned Owens a one way ticket out of town.

The next stop was Dallas, where his act wore so thin on Bill Parcells that Tuna might have hung the whistle up for good (first going to ESPN and then becoming the head honcho with the Dolphins). Parcells' replacement was Wade Phillips, his polar opposite.

You had to know this was going to happen. You had to know Owens was eventually going to do something like this. He wouldn't dare do it with Parcells around, but with the easygoing Phillips in charge it's a different story. Phillips a players coach (a good one at that). He believes in treating his players like men. That's the problem with Owens. You can't treat him like a man for too long because he eventually snaps. You have to keep him on a short leash.

Look, Owens is one of the top two or three receivers in the NFL. I am not going to deny that. But, if it were me, the headaches he causes in the locker room would cause me to stay far away. I don't agree with Skip Bayless very often, but he is right when he calls Owens Team Obilterator.

This season, because of injuries and losing games they never should have lost, is pretty much over for the Cowboys. Owens has a choice to make. He can continue acting like a jilted lover, which would split the locker room and probably lead to his release (because the Cowboys would pick Romo over T.O.), or, he could grow up, realize he's acting like a child, apologize, and move on.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure Owens won't just stop acting like this. The pattern throughout his career has been for him to see it through when he gets started on his path to self destruction.

At the same time, I'm pretty sure someone will take a chance on Owens next year, because in the NFL, if you can help a team win, it doesn't matter what kind of person you are.

Even if you are a Team Obilterator.