Watching since 1964

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

If someone tuned in 6 months from now, nothing will have changed. If anything it will be worse. Until there is a management shake-up at WGR and they hire people at the top with a clue, their performance sadly mirrors OBD.

Your reply is silly because you didn't even understand my original post. Plus where did I say Oman is a bust? I mentioned pass catching first and foremost with Hillis. I think Brandon Jacobs proved even last year you keep on the lookout for guys that size who can run. Like we couldn't use a fullback who can do what this kid does. He had over 100 yards rec as a fb against the fins. And how do you know Denver wouldn't have given him more carries as the season progressed in his rookie year even without injuries? We use ML and FJ on the field at the same time. You don't know they wouldn't have just as you don't know Oman would have produced in Denver. I'm not saying he will not go back to fullback, but even then he's proven a weapon. Nothing against Oman I'd like him to succeed because he's on our team, but I don't see him having the success Hillis will have if he stays healthy simply because the physical talent is greater.

I know the draft is always a gamble, but looking at films and the competition they played in college, how is it not obvious Hillis had way more upside than Oman?! Missing on any pick, 6th round etc. IS A gaffe...the Giants and others don't accept 6th rd misses. Plus who couldn't use a talented guy to groom as a an running fullback/backup rb/te etc. Shanahan said this kid could be a Dallas Clark type. We'll see... I like his attitude especially for a 7th rd rook! "The thing that really got me going was the ESPN analysis and they were all saying we shouldn't get off the plane," Hillis said. "That really got me fired up."

I wonder what this guy will do to us? Another gaffe by our front office. If you missed the highlights from a few weeks back, maybe even more impressive than his running is his pass catching. Starts at 3:26 mark. Earlier on in the vid he shows his special teams talent. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/dolphins...s-17/1066442776

He loves to mention that. The need to speaks volumes. Clueless and sad. WGR's management is ultimately at fault of course since they let him treat the listeners this way, so it only encourages him. They refuse to value their listeners and the only way they will get rid of him is if it costs them tangible $$$ or they finally draw a line in the sand and he crosses it. People listening and supporting the shows advertisers only prolongs his time on WGR. So all we can do is not listen plus I think you'd have to get a bunch of people voice their objections to the advertisers.

Thanks all. Good info, looks like we are going to have to grow one. Hopefully from the 2009 draft. Doubt we get surprised by a good free agent C signing here. Sad that OBD has neglected center for so long, I'll stop trying to understand that.

I would think most here were disappointed when OBD refused to make center a priority in the draft since TD's reign was 'toppled . I'd be interested in knowing how the centers drafted in the last 3 years are doing, if anyone has some solid info on them. Thanks.

James Brown from CBS lead off his segment (after Carton played a very funny blooper involving John Clayton!) talking about us and had some great things to say about Buffalo this year. http://www.wfan.com/ It's under 'Boomer and Carton Audio'. No link I had to hit 'download' to play it.

Double non-secret probation completely agree!

I use Firefox just tried it works fine.

Understood, no problem. I just hope they win and stay healthy Sunday.

I understand your points and they are valid of course. But again, I was referring to him not being a starter on a number of teams LAST YEAR. I heard negative comments from people who seem to know O-line LAST YEAR. - So we know preseason don't mean squat...so I am holding off judging his play THIS YEAR until we see some games. Again, I hope he's great.

Bashing Butler are your words, not mine. I don't think he would have started on a number of teams LAST YEAR. Some will agree, some won't. Same old same old. New year obviously..jury's still out on him and others. I hope he succeeds. I hope he becomes an all-pro. He's got the desire and size so that's a start. You shared your opinion, just don't accuse me of bashing someone when you didn't check to see how I project him going forward. You said there are O-line experts 'here' ... So, I welcome all experts opinions ... but to be an expert it is a general rule of thumb you had to have played or coached the game on with a fairly high level of success in the college or the pros to be even considered one.

As a backup I'd agree some of the better teams would have taken him last year, but not to start. Now Miami, sure they would had him start- I hope Butler can succeed 'cuz obviously we ain't got a good alternative yet.

Thanks Brad.

Thanks for the welcome and advice ... good to see your screen name remembering "BobbyGreatHands"

Peters made the Pro Bowl in his 2nd year of being a left tackle, 3rd year starter I believe. Very talented but he was as we all know very raw. McNally taught him; but in the clip didn't take ANY credit for Peters success. I don't think many teams, and all we can speak about are last year and the previous McNally years, would take Melvin and Brad off our hands. Plus look at all the O-lineman we have let go. Who among them is doing anything? Aren't some of them out of the league at still a fairly young age? JP, some of our wide receivers, and Trent all played so-so at best last year. Plus the big X-factor, or should I say 0 factor... Fairchild! Everybody knew what was coming. So IMO to say McNally didn't do a good job wit the O-line is oversimplifying things. To my recollection Donahoe never drafted a decent O-lineman except for the oft injured Jonas Jennings. We signed 2 good free agents last year, but the O-line experts I've heard say continuity is required for this to work best. hopefully they will stay healthy and get a 2nd year together. That ain't much time. We all know that continuity has been severely lacking. For what, close to 10 years or more on the O-line?

Thanks for the welcomes and glad to share a clip from the NFL insider who knows J Peters work better than anybody... The Mouse.

I just saw this for the first time. If you haven't seen it, IMO it's worth a look. http://www.pompomboo.com/2008/08/chris-chambers.html

Thanks for the compliment and the welcome...

Here's the audio...he goes into detail about the why and how unique Peters is. He starts that discussion just past the halfway mark on the clip. http://weck1230.com/brad/091008mcnally.mp3