Practice Sports Story

The New TO?

It is well documented throughout his career that T.O.(Terrell Owens) has been a big time distraction and cancer on his football team? It started in San Francisco when he was a rookie under coach Steve Mariucci. Many of his teammates complained that he whined and cried about how he wanted things to be done. The thing about TO is, that nobody doubts his talent. This was evident when TO caught the game winning touchdown to oust Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers and advance to the second round of the NFC playoffs in 1999. But still, nobody wanted him in San Francisco. So he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles where it was thought that coach Andy Reid could straighten out the controversy stricken player. Wrong again as TO would always be complaining to reporters how he doesn't get the ball enough and so on. Not to mention his off field scares in the off-season of 2005 when he apparently "accidentally" overdosed on pain killers, and was sent to the hospital to stay alive. Although the Eagles went to the Superbowl with Terrell, coach Andy Reid still decided that he was too much of a cancer and no longer wanted him in Philly. Where would this talented, yet distracting WR go next? The Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones were interested in TO, and they decided to sign him to their team and give him another chance to prove himself. With legendary disciplinary coach Bill Parcells, Terrell Owens should not be a problem right? Well, kind of. As far as being in the media he was not too bad at all, but it was basically a love hate relationship between TO and coach Bill Parcells. After the Cowboys lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Seattle Seahawks on a botched snap by QB Tony Romo, Bill Parcells gave owner Jerry Jones a choice, keep the coach, or keep TO, but not both. Jerry Jones decided that he wanted his talented WR Terrell Owens. This year the Cowboys went 13-3 during the regular season and had a first round bye in the playoffs before playing host to the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff round. The seven point underdog Giants came into Dallas and won the game 21-17 to advance on to play the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field. After the game TO was not his same old self in his press conference. Usually a man that wasn't shy or sentimental at all, Terrell Owens stood in front of all the cameras and microphones with his dark sun glasses on, and basically let his feelings go. The media asked questions about Terrell's quarterback Tony Romo, and his involvement with celebrity Jessica Simpson. TO was clearly in tears, and with his bottom lip quivering he defended his Quarterback by saying, "This is not about Tony. You guys can point the finger at him, you can talk about the vacation, and if you do that, it's really unfair," Owens said, his voice choked with emotion. "It's really unfair. That's my teammate. That's my quarterback. You guys do that, it's not fair. We lost as a team. We lost as a team, man." It was a side of TO that nobody had really seen before, it was bizarre to the reporters who were in that press conference. As much as myself and other people had not been a fan of TO because of his off and on the field antics and cockiness, a part of me felt for Terrell. When TO said, "thats my teammate. Thats my quarterback" is his trembling voice, there was a sense that TO had grown up some. The villain in TO, at least for the time being, had gone away. Now whether or not Terrell Owens is truly a changed man is yet to be seen, but that particular press conference after the Cowboys lost to the Giants was a touching moment that I wont soon forget about this years NFL playoffs. Not that I am rooting for it, but after this emotional press conference a part of me wouldn't mind seeing Terrell Owens win the Superbowl someday. Good work TO, for a few sentimental moments you were finally the role model that you are supposed to be, keep it up.

Matt Ferris