Watching since 1964 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Also interesting to me at least is the Big Tuna is getting blamed still (allegedly) by JJ for failure in the Big D. RANDY GALLOWAY rgalloway@star-telegram.com Let us give thanks for the departure of Terrell Owens' ego Gone, but certainly never forgotten: Terrell Eldorado Owens, the name given to him by his mother at birth, departed our local football world, peacefully it seemed, in the dead of night, the month of March, the year 2009. The final termination papers will show the deceased suffered from severe head rot, which is certainly not to be confused with stupid. This man was borderline brilliant, not to mention extremely charismatic and a born leader. Mr. Owens, however, was also an idiot. Or as a friend of Eldo delicately said it Thursday, "Terrell is not a bad guy, he’s just troubled." As we had already been advised in Mr. Owens previous NFL homes, namely the 49ers and the Eagles, others in the locker room also become "troubled" once they are exposed to Eldorado’s daily dose of self-serving personality. Recruiting mindless followers in the locker room is a talent as immense as what his football ability once was. In other words, this sucker wrecks a team. All of Philly laughs now. But all of the NFL was already laughing at the state of the Cowboys. Count me, however, among the surprised — no, make that shocked — when Jerry Jones delivered the decision Wednesday night that enough was indeed enough. Publicly admitting this kind of huge mistake, and then eliminating the problem, is not a path I figured Jones would follow. At least not for the 2009 season. Then, why now? It has been suggested, including in this newspaper, that Owens’ butt is now on the street mainly because of what was seen on the field last season. It was indeed obvious that age was chipping away at Owens’ talent level. He was not the same receiver. In fact, what Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson did to Owens on Sunday night, Sept. 21, exposed this slippage. Woodson jammed Eldo at the line of scrimmage. Yes, a safety was "over the top," as the excuse makers would say, but that safety was 20 yards deep. Owens, however, couldn’t move past Woodson. For most of the rest of last season, except for a brain-dead game plan by the 49ers’ coaches, Owens became a Tarzan in body only. He was Jane when 180-pound corners slapped him around at the line. Gonna blow, told you so. Told you so every day the last three years, or ever since Jerry made the mistake of signing this guy. Eldo is now gone, gone, gone. What does that mean for the ’09 season and beyond? The Eldo lovers immediately put the evil eye on Tony Romo. No excuses for Romo, that’s their tribute to the departed Owens. I disagree. There were already no excuses for Romo, who forfeited any alibi the second he opened his mouth after that December debacle in Philly. Tony has many QB issues beyond the presence of Owens, although without doubt he shed a back-stabbing, fake friend, piece of shoe leather with this guy gone. Jerry won’t admit it, and didn’t Thursday, but in junking Owens he eliminated the main source for the toxic chemical spill in the locker room last season. Jones, of course, remains in denial about chemistry issues on his team, telling the NFL Network this: "I look at this as more a strategic move relative to personnel than I do something wrong with Terrell Owens." What followed was a bunch of double talk. Look, as Jerry well knows, the Cowboys could have lived with Owens for another season, even with his talent slippage, his salary, and Jones’ desire to try and salvage the Roy (Uno Uno) Williams trade. What had to change, however, and what Jerry won’t admit he changed, was the toxic environment in the locker room, something that Owens had spilled into the lap of Romo. See Philly. See San Fran. They know this story. When it came down to a 35-year old receiver or a quarterback who for better or worse will decide the future course of your franchise, well, there is no decision. Eldo had to go. Again, court me as shocked that Jerry actually did it. Let’s call this a case of right thinking by Jerry Jones, the owner. But the Cowboys are still dealing with Jerry Jones, the general manager/head coach. And Wade Phillips, the defensive coordinator with the imaginary title of head coach. Based on what was seen last season, we can now question this team’s overrated talent level in multiple areas, but until the day comes that Jerry finds himself a real head coach, then steps back and allows that head coach to rule in the locker room, the Cowboys will forever remain the failure they’ve been. Big Bill punted it, you say? Over four seasons, Parcells had a quarterback with talent for exactly half a season. As long as Jerry continues to call Big Bill a failure at Valley Ranch, which he does regularly, and as long as the likes of Wade Phillips are his idea of a head coach, all hope is lost. Owens was a Jones mistake from the day Eldo arrived. But correcting one blunder this week doesn’t save Jerry from himself. Randy Galloway’s Galloway and Co. and be heard 3-6 p.m. weekdays on ESPN/103.3 FM. http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/column...ry/1242440.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stussy109 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Bet the under on the cowboys over under season win totals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribo Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 ... Gonna blow, told you so. Told you so every day the last three years, or ever since Jerry made the mistake of signing this guy. Eldo is now gone, gone, gone. ... http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/column...ry/1242440.html Sounds to me like this guy has been dissing TO for three years, just waiting for his departure. It seems this was the column he was going to write no matter the actual circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Sounds to me like this guy has been dissing TO for three years, just waiting for his departure. It seems this was the column he was going to write no matter the actual circumstances. There's a lot of that going around right now. Easier to preconceive/parrott the party line than to actually think/be original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Toboggan M.D Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 http://audio.wgr550.com/m/audio/21970864/d...tm?pageid=28472 Listen to his WGR550 interview. He HATES T.O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watching since 1964 Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 His follow up column. He said JJ's son pushed for Owen's release... I like how JJ's kid handled Tuna! ________________________________________________________ Posted on Sun, Mar. 08, 2009 Stephen Jones waiting in wings to take over Dallas Cowboys RANDY GALLOWAY rgalloway@star-telegram.com Just when we think Jerry Jones is hopelessly lost in his own football world, listening only to the voices in his head, along comes a jolt that suggests that change is slowly, real slowly, coming to Valley Ranch. Last week’s "jolt" was the sudden departure of Eldorado Owens, something that shocked even Eldo. But Jerry was "listening." Listening to 44-year-old Stephen Jones, who within the Dallas Cowboys’ organization carries the titles of chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of player personnel. But don’t think nepotism. "I said it when he was 25-26 years old, and nothing has changed," noted former head coach Jimmy Johnson a couple of weeks ago. "Stephen is a good one. A real good one." Or as Larry Lacewell, the team’s former personnel director once told me, "Stephen Jones is brilliant." There will come a time when Stephen takes over the Cowboys. He will be the next Jerry. But for now, as Jerry seeks opinions from within the organization, and throughout the NFL (no matter what you think, Jerry does ample homework on all decisions), the common doubt is while he listens a lot, does he really hear what is being said? In the case of Stephen, the answer is yes. Jerry hears Stephen. That doesn’t mean, of course, he always agrees, or follows up on what he hears. All evidence suggests, however, that Stephen was the driving force in bringing his father around to the thought that it was time for the Cowboys to move on without the Owens’ locker room influence. Since Jerry hates "Valley Ranch sources," I will quote "someone who knows," as telling me Friday, "There is nothing Jerry hates worse than giving up on one of his projects. We saw that with Pacman [Jones] when he got into trouble and Jerry still brought him back. Terrell Owens, of course, was Jerry’s biggest project. "What made Jerry such a financial success in his oil business days was he wouldn’t give up on a project. He’d keep on drilling. I thought he would keep on drilling with Owens." What changed his mind? "Jerry listened to the opinion of Stephen," added Mr. Someone Who Knows. "Stephen never comes off as half-cocked or emotional. When Stephen feels strongly about something, you can bet it’s a well-presented case." There were media reports in February that No. 1 son was campaigning his father to dump Owens. Jerry would later deny there was a difference of opinions. But that could be word games. Jerry might have been on the fence about what to do, but two different voices have told me Stephen privately pushed his father to dump Owens. There is a tendency, at least for me, to sometimes think of Stephen as the outgoing youngster who is fiercely loyal to his father (I’ve heard the wrath more than once after an unfavorable column). But Stephen now has 19 years in nothing but the football business. This is no kid. "The joke is that Jerry was an outsider who wants to be a football guy," said another former Valley Ranch employee. "But Stephen IS a football guy. He grew up in the business of running the Cowboys. What he does within the organization, how many hats he wears, is incredible. He is the port in the storm for the front office. Just a real nice and smart young man who gets it. He really gets it." Asking around last week, I wanted to hear how Stephen differs from Jerry, personality-wise, on a day-to-day basis at Valley Ranch. A few comments follow: "Stephen knows Jerry really enjoys being the face of the team, and he’s happy for his father. Jerry has his ego, good and bad. But if Stephen has an ego, I’ve never seen it surface. He’s very well-grounded." "Stephen realizes his dad’s weak points, but he also understands his dad’s strengths. And more than anything, he worships Jerry." "Jerry can be hardheaded, to say the least. Stephen is much more open-minded." "Jerry can handle confrontation, but he’s more of a negotiator. Now, Stephen, you don’t push him. I remember one day when Big Bill [Parcells] was on one of his hell-on-wheels tears. He was telling some staff members to stay out of the training room. When Stephen walked in, Bill told him, 'I don’t want you in the training room, either.’ "Stephen looked hard at him, and said, 'As long as we own this team, I’ll come in here any damn time I please.’ It was the end of that discussion." The day will come when Jerry retires. That’s when Stephen will take over. Until then, the son’s influence is a growing positive at Valley Ranch. http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/column...ry/1245141.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I like how JJ's kid handled Tuna! _______________________________________________________ I don't disagree Tuna is an egomanical bag of turds, but ask yourself whether Dallas is better off today. If you answer yes you are sadly mistaken. That he left is a good thing by the way cause I hate that team with a passion. Regarding Galloway--he is an absolute hoot to listen to & his dislike for Owens was never disguised during his (Owens) stay in Dallas. But...he (Galloway) is a showman who understands the importance of selling papers and commercials. He shouldn't be confused with a serious journalist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watching since 1964 Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 No, Dallas is certainly not better off today without Parcells. In simple terms, The Big Tuna was defeated by a pasty white big mouth bass (JJ)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Sounds to me like this guy has been dissing TO for three years, just waiting for his departure. It seems this was the column he was going to write no matter the actual circumstances. I agree with everything he says about TO, but that was a different context than the one TO is in now. Apples and oranges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watching since 1964 Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 If I remember correctly, Galloway was furious, along with Peter King and many others, when '2' called Werder, a very respected reporter, a liar over and over on national tv when Werder reported that 2 accused Romo and Whitten of conspiring together to keep the football away from him. Bottom line, for everyone sake including 2's, I hope he does great things on and off the field while he plays for this team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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