"America's Table," A Dallas Cowboys Roundtable Discussion: Talkin' T.O.

Welcome to the second installment of America’s Table, Bleacher Report’s newest Dallas Cowboys roundtable.

Unless you have been under a rock for the past week, you have probably already heard the news that lightning-rod receiver Terrell Owens has been released by the Dallas Cowboys.

In the immediate aftermath of the shocking release, one thing has become more abundantly clear than ever.

Whether Owens was or was not a divisive player in the Cowboys’ locker-room, he is most certainly a polarizing player among fans and media members.

Since the move by the Cowboys, there have been tears of sorrow, cheers of joy, and simple indifference from fans and media members across the nation.

Not surprisingly, the members of America’s Table have a few hot sports opinions of their own regarding the situation that the NFL’s most talked about wide receiver currently finds himself in:

What are your overall feelings about the release of TO? Do you like or dislike this move from a personal standpoint, and how do you feel it will impact the Cowboys next season?

James Williamson: Personally, I had come to love TO as a player and as a person. In many ways, I identified with him and it just crushed me when I heard he was released. I still am not over it. I personally dislike it and it, to me, will take a lot of fun out of the Cowboys next year.

It will definitely impact the Cowboys because every team had to game plan around Terrell Owens and now he is gone. I felt that the combination of Owens and Williams would be unstoppable this year. I really did. They have that kind of talent.

What really confuses me is why TO was not traded. The Cowboys could have unloaded him somewhere for maybe a first-round pick. They gain nothing from releasing him. It makes no sense.

Andrew Nuschler: Whooo boy, I gotta say even I didn't see this one coming.  I'm as hard on Terrell Owens and as down on him as almost anyone you can find, but the news that the Dallas Cowboys cut him struck me as astounding.

Not that I disagree with the sanity of the move.

It's just that Jerry Jones and the 'boys jumped aboard this train wreck with eyes wide open.  They can't claim ignorance to TO's rep for being a team-killer.  Not when they picked him off the scrap heap where the Philadelphia Eagles had freshly deposited him.

Not when those Iggles unwisely took TO off the hands of the San Francisco 49ers for pennies on the millions of dollars.

So why cut him?  Why now?  Owens had been a comparable angel in Dallas when his tenure in Big D is assessed next to the stints in Philly and the City.  Sure, he threw a couple not-so-subtle barbs at Tony Romo and Jason Garrett.

Those were Hallmark greetings relative to what he did to former versions.  This is a guy who once openly questioned Jeff Garcia's sexuality and tried to hang a Super Bowl loss around Donovan McNabb's shoulders.

To me, the move indicates one of two things, possibly both: (A)  Jerry Jones sincerely believes in Romo and is going to give the kid every shot to succeed (smart); and/or (B)  Jones is almost as whole-heartedly behind Garrett (jury's still out on that one).

People keep pointing out how this means that Romo will have a clear locker room, ready for his divine leadership to blossom. That's definitely true, but I say it's even more significant for the vote of confidence it announces in support of the young (and really expensive) offensive coordinator.

After all, this is a guy who Jerry Jones seemingly hand picked as the eventual head coach of his 'Pokes, paid millions of dollars to keep him around, and—if you're looking for Terrell's serious transgressions—those would seem to be scattered at Garrett's feet.

When you have all that operating budget, it makes no sense to bring in a headache like Owens so ditching one has to make perfect sense. 

If you can afford to grab a bunch of it, why compromise harmony when there's plenty of talent on the market without the incidental costs?  You can't separate the two—a player's value is the product of the entire package.

And Terrell Owens' ego is simply beyond any physical talent he could ever bring to bear on the field. It always has been. The dude cannot be good enough on the field to offset the carnage he wreaks in the clubhouse, plain and simple.

That's saying somethin' because homeboy could really run down the pigskin in his prime.

But therein lies the other hidden gem to this move—Terrell Owens is 35 and he is playing in the National Football League. This is not Major League Baseball; this is not a game that frequently features excellence aged close to 40 years.  Even a workaholic like Owens will start losing a step here, an edge there.

Some say he already has.  Jerry Jones is apparently one of them—all the bluster to the contrary.

When that happens, you're best clear of the implosion that will follow because athletes are typically the last to acknowledge such news and the denial is usually a pretty ugly affair. I sincerely doubt the process would have been any different for Terrell Owens.

Now, Dallas has no such worry.

The franchise can go with Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams (who has physical tools approximating Owens' and is only 27) or they can bring in some new talent at the position. I happen to think wide receiver is one of the most highly overrated positions in the NFL.

I know a great receiver can really help your club, but I think there are lots of receivers in the NFL with the capacity to be great if put in the right situation. And a lot of them will probably be intrigued at the situation in Big D.

There's a whole lotta right down there, especially now that TO is history.

Robert Allred: From a personal standpoint, I don’t like this move at all. Like a fungus, T.O. has grown on me. In addition to being a Cowboys fan, I am now also a T.O. fan, and I want to see the guy do well. I think he could have done well here.

Obviously, I am not privy to everything that goes on behind closed doors. It is quite possible—and I dare say probable—that there are things going on behind the scenes that I do not know about, and that T.O. was as bad as the media would like to have us believe.

But for now, I just don’t buy it. I believe that much of the T.O. drama was, and continues to be, overblown.

That being said, it very well could turn out that this release could turn into a blessing in disguise. No matter who is to blame for the T.O. saga, there is no denying that the situation has been a distraction. It seemed as if every week there was a new T.O. story that just had to be talked about.

With T.O. gone, hopefully Dallas can stay out of the news a little, and perhaps even—gasp—fly under the radar next season. It looks as if Jerry Jones finally wants the circus to leave town, and that might not be a bad thing.

Who do you blame for the "TO Experiment" failing in Dallas?

James: ESPN! I hate ESPN right now. I have listened to a half dozen interviews of Terrell Owens. I have read articles about the so-called statements and I have listened to other Cowboy players talk about it.

They all prove that ESPN blew this way out of proportion to make headlines. They had no ethical boundaries about it at all. The constant coverage, rumors, speculation, and flim-flam were enough to drive a person crazy.

Jerry Jones cut TO, in my opinion, to shut up the press really. Think about it. Dallas was always in the news and it rarely had a neutral or positive tone to it.

The negativity gets into the locker room and it messes things up, which is one of the many things, I believe, that messed up Dallas’s season.

Terrell Owens did not ever go to the media. The media took rumors and unnamed sources to the maximum. They never gave him the benefit of the doubt once. Not once.

Andrew: Hey, maybe the real teacher's pet is Jason Witten.

Nah...nobody loves tight ends that much. No, the real culprits here are the usual suspects:  Jerry Jones and Terrell Owens. It was the ego-maniacal nature of both that made this scenario a loser from the get-go.

It's Jerry's fault for believing the mystique of Dallas could conquer even the gnarliest self-lover the League has ever seen and it is Owens' fault for being so infatuated with himself, for having his head so far up his own posterior that he couldn't see the tremendous talent/opportunity he was wasting.

And it's been wasted, make no mistake about it.  That's why, when the dust settles, I really like the move.  A lot.

Robert: I hate to be Switzerland here—or Sweden if you're Jessica Alba—but I am going to take the neutral road with this answer. The blame for things not working out has to be shared.

T.O. has to assume some blame because of his past. The way that he acted in San Francisco, in Philadelphia, and even in Dallas at times, is nobody’s fault but his own. Yes, the majority of his “controversial “ statements were the truth, but he also chose to air dirty laundry at times that probably should have been kept in-house.

Were some of his comments and actions overblown during his stay with Dallas? Absolutely. But a large reason for that is because of the reputation that he has built for himself throughout his career as being a selfish player that puts himself above the team.

Because of this reputation, everything he did was put under a magnifying glass. It is probably not fair, and I don’t believe that makes it right.  Unfortunately, however, life is not always fair.

Jerry Jones also has a fair share of the blame. If you want to know who is running the “circus,” look no further than Jones. He has always lived under the credo that any publicity is good publicity. He has brought in guys like Adam “Pacman” Jones, Tank Johnson, and of course, Terrell Owens.

He has always been more than accommodating to media, even giving them offices inside of Valley Ranch. He wanted the media attention, and he got it.

Unfortunately for T.O. and the Cowboys’ organization, much of the media attention they received this year was negative, and there is no denying that it impacted the play on the field.

This brings me of course to the media, who also had their hand in this little failed T.O. experiment in Dallas. They have been waiting and hoping for T.O. to fail, sometimes even trying to help push along the process.

They would take what would be a non-story for any other player in the league, and would make it national news if it involved T.O.

It is not any single person’s fault that this relationship didn’t work out. It took a shared effort to mess up what could have been a beautiful thing.

Some people think that there is still a chance that TO could be in a Cowboys uniform next season. Do you think this is at all a possibility, or just wishful thinking from a handful of fans?

James: I wish for it, but no. He is going to get picked up or retire. Jones is not going to bring him back unless we really need him and I doubt that will be ever.

Andrew: Some Dallas fans are hoping this might just be a restructuring move, that Owens will be re-signed in the near future, I doubt it.

Owens’ ego doesn't allow for that. At least it doesn't allow for such intentions to be kept secret.  If he's doing something for the greater good, you better believe we're all gonna know about it.

Nope, I think Terrell Owens will be wearing a new uniform next year and I have no idea which one it will be. If Dallas doesn't want your sideshow, who will?  Surely someone, but I don't know and I don't care.

Robert: Not at all. Terrell Owens will never wear a star on his helmet again. Period.

Part of me really wishes he could, but I don’t see any way this happens. For one thing, if the Cowboys were to bring T.O. back, it would make the Dallas Cowboys organization look worse than they already do.

Jerry Jones has made a stand with this move that tells fans, media members, and anyone paying attention, that the circus has left town.

If he were to bring back T.O., not only would a little circus be back in town, it would be freakin’ Cirque du Soleil!

I also don’t think that T.O.’s ego would allow this to happen. Whether he will admit it or not, this has got to hurt. I believe that he loved being a Dallas Cowboy, and that he truly wanted to finish his career with that star on his helmet. He made it known.

To be kicked to the curb the way he was, I just do not see any way that he would be willing to come back. He will move on to another NFL team or he will retire.

Assuming TO is not back with the Cowboys next season, does his absence help or hurt QB Tony Romo's development?

James: Little bit of both. TO is a guy who wants to lead his team to victories, but the one thing that is funny about him is he honestly believes that they cannot make these victories without his help, which leads him to asking for the ball more often.

With him gone, no one will be buzzing in Romo’s ear, but TO is also one of the greatest receivers of all time. He was Jerry Rice’s understudy in San Francisco.

When you lose a guy like that, it is going to hurt unless you have guys that can replace him, and I’m sorry but Roy Williams has not proven himself yet in a Dallas uniform.

Andrew: This is great news for Romo’s development, because the skepticism has never been about Tony’s ability. It is about his leadership and his ineffectiveness at rallying the troops when the job had to get done. Owens wasn’t helping in that regard; he was hurting because he was always rallying the troops to his cause.

That wasn’t always the team’s cause.  Now, that hurdle is no longer in front of Romo.

Robert: I was really torn on this question. T.O. has been a large catalyst in Romo’s success during his short career, but I also think that in the long run, this could be the change that the Cowboys offense needs.

Let’s face it; the Cowboys had too many weapons on offense last year. Now in a video game or in fantasy world, that would be a ridiculous statement to make, but in the real world, it might just be true.

They had T.O., Jason Witten, Roy E. Williams, Marion Barber, Patrick Crayton, Martellus Bennett, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Miles Austin, and Sam Hurd. There is absolutely no way to get all of those playmakers the ball, and when that happens, egos will come into play.

By removing T.O., the Cowboys can now do what they are probably best equipped to do—run the football. They have three running backs, and with less fire power in the passing game, they now have more incentive to actually use them, and use them a lot.

This brings us back to Romo.

With a stronger rushing game, Romo’s job becomes much easier. Defenses have to play more honest, the receivers can get open faster, and there will be one less receiver (ego) demanding the ball.

Romo might not have the same kind of gaudy numbers that he has had in years past (or he might), but he will no longer be asked to carry the offense. As a result, turnovers should go down, and he will become a more efficient quarterback that still has the ability to make the big play from time to time.

What uniform will TO be wearing next year, or will he even be in the league?

James: Most likely Minnesota, Jacksonville, Oakland, or maybe New England. Those are teams that could use him. Maybe San Francisco might take him back. That is a question that I cannot answer since usually Dallas is the last stop for players like TO. He may retire.

Andrew: See No. 3.  I don't care because Terrell Owens is many things, but not a winner.  You simply can't make that argument—he's been on talented teams and driven them to despair, not to the Promised Land.  Whoever picks him up is screwed.

Robert: I don’t think there is any way that Terrell Owens is sitting on the couch when the season rolls around. Someone will pick him up.

It might be tonight, could be tomorrow, or he might have to wait until training camp or later, but a team will take a flyer on him. That being said, placing him is a harder task.

The best fit would probably be Miami, although I am not sure how interested Bill Parcells is in reuniting with “the player.”

There has also been the always predictable talk of shipping him to Oakland, where NFL rejects often land when they are out of work. And we have all heard speculation about T.O. landing on yet another NFC East squad in New York or Washington.

I don’t think any of those happen, however. My gut tells me he will end up in Denver, but I have absolutely nothing to back this gut feeling up with. Also, it should be noted that my gut told me he would never get cut, so take that for what its worth.

Short and sweet: Can the Cowboys win a Super Bowl without TO in the lineup next year? Could they have won one with him?

James: I think the Cowboys still have enough talent to win a Super Bowl, but it will be more difficult in my opinion.

I definitely think they could have won the Super Bowl last year. To me, I thought what hurt the Cowboys last year was injuries. Big injuries kept us out of the playoffs.

Andrew: Dallas is better off without him, but I’m not sure it makes them automatically a Super Bowl pick. Tony Romo is much better off without him, that’s for sure.  And Jason Garrett has a chance now that Terrell will be someone else's problem.

It's Tony Romo's team and Jason Garrett will have a firmer hold on the situation without Owens yanking at the reins in every way, at every chance.

The Dallas Cowboys seem to be a Super Bowl favorite every year.  With no more Terrell Owens in the picture for 2009-2010, that hype will have a much better chance of coming to fruition although I still think they have some work to do.

One thing’s for sure—it wasn’t happening with him.

This is Addition by Subtraction 101.

Robert: Yes, and yes.

This team is talented, with or without T.O., and they certainly still have the pieces in place that could take this team all the way to the Promised Land.

That being said, I was not predicting a Super Bowl win a week ago, and I am still not predicting one today. This team had many more problems than simply T.O., and they still do today.

Until I see improved line play, a change in offensive philosophy (i.e. run the ball!!), and a more consistent defense, this team is not going anywhere.

Can they win a Super Bowl? They could before and they still can now. Now they just have to go out there and get it done.