Jones hints that T.O. will remain with Cowboys
February 18
San Antonio Express-News
"Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted strongly Tuesday that he's keeping controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens.
"You and I both know that the one you're asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer you want to hear, then you would've already had it," Jones said. "So the fact you don't have it ought to tell you something."
Speaking at a news conference in Arlington to announce George Strait will headline June 6 the first event at the team's new $1.1 billion stadium, Jones initially declined to discuss the club's roster makeup for 2009 and emphasized no decision has been made regarding Owens.
"There are several decisions on our roster we have to look at," Jones said. "This is the time of year we do that. I'm not trying to be trite, but as you all know we're evaluating players in college, we're evaluating free agents and we're evaluating our own roster. ... Changes to (the roster) are pure speculation."
Toward the end of the 45-minute session, however, Jones made his comments about "the one you're asking about all the time," a thinly veiled reference to Owens.
Speculation about Owens' future has been a favorite NFL parlor game since the Cowboys' season ended with a 44-6 drubbing at Philadelphia on Dec. 28. Since, several pundits have predicted Jones will cut ties with Owens, who had a sub-par season thanks in part to his struggles with press coverage and double teams.
Owens, 35, led the team last season in receiving yards (1,052) and touchdown receptions (10). But his yardage and reception (69) totals were his lowest in a non-suspended season since he amassed 754 yards and 60 catches for San Francisco in 1999.
Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs for Philadelphia in 2005, but he missed nine games while serving a team-imposed suspension.
Owens' age isn't the only issue. The Cowboys would take a $9.6 million salary-cap hit if they were to release him. Then there were reports last season of clashes between Owens and quarterback Tony Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
But on Tuesday, Jones suggested stories of locker-room strife were media creations and insisted he's not concerned about personality clashes.
"Not at all. Period. I'm just not," Jones said. "They are a figment of the result. You didn't hear about those things when we were winning. You hear about those kinds of things when we're losing. So I'm just not. And if you all knew more about some of the things you write about, you wouldn't be as concerned."
Jones also said coach Wade Phillips will be his own defensive coordinator next season, replacing the fired Brian Stewart."
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