He's Back
After Missing 14 Practices, Owens Finally Returns
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 16, 2006 6:05 PM
OXNARD, Calif. - For the first time in two weeks, Terrell Owens was back on the practice field wearing shoulder pads and a helmet.
A football helmet, that is.
That's right, Owens finally returned to practice Wednesday here at the Cowboys' River Ridge training camp complex after missing 14 consecutive practices with a sore left hamstring.
Always the last player to enter the field, whether he's practicing or not, Owens made his entrance in style once again, jogging onto the field just a few minutes before the team officially began practice.
And unlike other players who normally return on a limited basis, Owens jumped in feet - or rather hamstring - first, practicing with the first-team offense despite not practicing since Aug. 2.
"Not bad, not bad - not 100 percent," Owens said of his first day back. "Not where I want to be. But definitely some improvement. I talked to the trainers before I came out here, and I gave it a go. I just felt with the things I was doing rehab-wise, I could do some limited stuff. We're not going to go overboard. They're going to work me in until I get my endurance. We'll go from there."
The fact Owens returned to practice less than 100 percent is a small change in tune for the receiver who said earlier this week he only knows how to practice "one way," meaning full speed. The discussion surfaced after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested last weekend he hoped to see Owens return to practice giving maybe a 75-percent effort rather than not having him practice at all.
But Wednesday, as fellow receivers Terry Glenn (blisters/sore foot) and Patrick Crayton (sprained ankle) continued to miss practice, Owens returned, saying he was ready to end the speculation surrounding him and his much-talked about hamstring the past two weeks.
"I don't want to be a problem," Owens said. "So these are some of the things that I'm trying to minimize. I don't want to have any friction with anybody. But at some time, if someone tries to question my heart, or my injury, then it does get under your skin a little bit.
"But again, I know my body better than anyone else. I'm going to be smart about it. And the coaches are being smart about it. We're on the same page. They're not just going to throw me into the fire and jeopardize the progress that I've made so far."
While Owens would be expected to practice the rest of the week, he said he wasn't sure if he would play Monday night.
"At this point, I don't know," Owens said of playing against the Saints in the Cowboys' second preseason game. "I am still in rehab phase. I am getting reps. I am getting in there with the guys. I am going against the defense trying to get my hands on the ball, trying to get in flow of the offense. Drew (Bledsoe) and I need to get in sync and get on a better page in a couple of these preseason games going into the season."
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said during his press conference earlier in the day it was possible Owens might return to the field. While the coach has remained rather patient in front of the media with Owens missing so much practice, he did express a desire to get Owens back in the fold.
"I'm not reluctant to mention the fact that he is missing a lot of work and we need to get him integrated into our offense," Parcells said before Wednesday's practice. "We're running out of time. We're halfway through our preparation for our first game. I think today would probably be 50 percent of the practices we have prior to Jacksonville, so we need to get going here, if possible."
But like Owens, Parcells said just returning to practice doesn't mean Owens will automatically play Monday night in Shreveport, La., against New Orleans.
"I would have to see how he feels, how he's doing, what he looks like and does he look like he's ready to go play," Parcells said. "He has missed a lot of time. It wouldn't be so much whether he practiced or not, as to how he looked, how he practiced, and did he get enough practice to make a good judgment about playing him."
Despite numerous reports Owens' reluctance to practice already had caused the first rift with Parcells, both downplayed the issue.
When asked if he was mad or upset with Owens, Parcells said, "No, no, no . . . absolutely not. I'm not (mad) at anybody, because the situation is not something that you would get (upset). Can you get a little frustrated from time to time? Yeah, sure, but that's all. We'll see. Things will work out."
In fact, Owens said he has received nothing but support from his head coach in the last two weeks.
"It was pretty much a situation where he told me if I felt like I needed to and with the things that we've done the last, past couple of days, if I felt good enough, to go out there, but at the same time be smart about it," Owens said. "But he said I had that option. Like I said, we're on the same page."
And for the first time in two weeks, on the same practice field again, too.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=19AD90C0-EE7B-A946-94A67AD9863CC4E6
now obviously its a bit premature to say he has changed, considering he only started practicing again yesterday, nevermind playing in any actual games. but some of his comments in this interview (highlighted in bold) really surprised me, these weren't things i expected to come out of his mouth. i'm really hoping he's learned his lesson from last year, cuz i really don't think he's gonna have another chance if he blows this one. what do you guys think? is he gonna turn the page and finally smarten up, or is he gonna revert back into the old T.O.?
After Missing 14 Practices, Owens Finally Returns
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 16, 2006 6:05 PM
OXNARD, Calif. - For the first time in two weeks, Terrell Owens was back on the practice field wearing shoulder pads and a helmet.
A football helmet, that is.
That's right, Owens finally returned to practice Wednesday here at the Cowboys' River Ridge training camp complex after missing 14 consecutive practices with a sore left hamstring.
Always the last player to enter the field, whether he's practicing or not, Owens made his entrance in style once again, jogging onto the field just a few minutes before the team officially began practice.
And unlike other players who normally return on a limited basis, Owens jumped in feet - or rather hamstring - first, practicing with the first-team offense despite not practicing since Aug. 2.
"Not bad, not bad - not 100 percent," Owens said of his first day back. "Not where I want to be. But definitely some improvement. I talked to the trainers before I came out here, and I gave it a go. I just felt with the things I was doing rehab-wise, I could do some limited stuff. We're not going to go overboard. They're going to work me in until I get my endurance. We'll go from there."
The fact Owens returned to practice less than 100 percent is a small change in tune for the receiver who said earlier this week he only knows how to practice "one way," meaning full speed. The discussion surfaced after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested last weekend he hoped to see Owens return to practice giving maybe a 75-percent effort rather than not having him practice at all.
But Wednesday, as fellow receivers Terry Glenn (blisters/sore foot) and Patrick Crayton (sprained ankle) continued to miss practice, Owens returned, saying he was ready to end the speculation surrounding him and his much-talked about hamstring the past two weeks.
"I don't want to be a problem," Owens said. "So these are some of the things that I'm trying to minimize. I don't want to have any friction with anybody. But at some time, if someone tries to question my heart, or my injury, then it does get under your skin a little bit.
"But again, I know my body better than anyone else. I'm going to be smart about it. And the coaches are being smart about it. We're on the same page. They're not just going to throw me into the fire and jeopardize the progress that I've made so far."
While Owens would be expected to practice the rest of the week, he said he wasn't sure if he would play Monday night.
"At this point, I don't know," Owens said of playing against the Saints in the Cowboys' second preseason game. "I am still in rehab phase. I am getting reps. I am getting in there with the guys. I am going against the defense trying to get my hands on the ball, trying to get in flow of the offense. Drew (Bledsoe) and I need to get in sync and get on a better page in a couple of these preseason games going into the season."
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said during his press conference earlier in the day it was possible Owens might return to the field. While the coach has remained rather patient in front of the media with Owens missing so much practice, he did express a desire to get Owens back in the fold.
"I'm not reluctant to mention the fact that he is missing a lot of work and we need to get him integrated into our offense," Parcells said before Wednesday's practice. "We're running out of time. We're halfway through our preparation for our first game. I think today would probably be 50 percent of the practices we have prior to Jacksonville, so we need to get going here, if possible."
But like Owens, Parcells said just returning to practice doesn't mean Owens will automatically play Monday night in Shreveport, La., against New Orleans.
"I would have to see how he feels, how he's doing, what he looks like and does he look like he's ready to go play," Parcells said. "He has missed a lot of time. It wouldn't be so much whether he practiced or not, as to how he looked, how he practiced, and did he get enough practice to make a good judgment about playing him."
Despite numerous reports Owens' reluctance to practice already had caused the first rift with Parcells, both downplayed the issue.
When asked if he was mad or upset with Owens, Parcells said, "No, no, no . . . absolutely not. I'm not (mad) at anybody, because the situation is not something that you would get (upset). Can you get a little frustrated from time to time? Yeah, sure, but that's all. We'll see. Things will work out."
In fact, Owens said he has received nothing but support from his head coach in the last two weeks.
"It was pretty much a situation where he told me if I felt like I needed to and with the things that we've done the last, past couple of days, if I felt good enough, to go out there, but at the same time be smart about it," Owens said. "But he said I had that option. Like I said, we're on the same page."
And for the first time in two weeks, on the same practice field again, too.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=19AD90C0-EE7B-A946-94A67AD9863CC4E6
now obviously its a bit premature to say he has changed, considering he only started practicing again yesterday, nevermind playing in any actual games. but some of his comments in this interview (highlighted in bold) really surprised me, these weren't things i expected to come out of his mouth. i'm really hoping he's learned his lesson from last year, cuz i really don't think he's gonna have another chance if he blows this one. what do you guys think? is he gonna turn the page and finally smarten up, or is he gonna revert back into the old T.O.?
