Are The 'T.O. Problems' Starting For The Cowboys ?

I was one of those Dallas Cowboys fans that quickly got on board after Jerry Jones signed Terrell Owens in the off-season. I am well aware of the problems that T.O. has caused in some other cities. However, I thought maybe T.O. realized that he was running out of teams that would accept his troubled past and still be willing to pay top dollar. Surely, I thought, we can at least get a year or two of solid play before he went crazy again. I may have been wrong.

Even though two pre-season games are behind us now, T.O. has yet to play a down for the Dallas Cowboys. He has been rehabbing a hamstring muscle by riding a stationary bike on the sidelines during practice, even though an MRI showed no damage. Last week, he came back and practiced for one day. Then he found out he would not be playing last Monday night, and wouldn't you know it, the hamstring was re-aggravated on the same day. How's that for timing?

Now T.O. is back on the stationary bike during practices. When the media asked if the coaches needed to see him on the field before the season starts, he replied that they have several years worth of film they can watch. That kind of remark makes it look like T.O. doesn't really appreciate the opportunity he has been given with the Cowboys. He has also indicated that he probably won't play in any of the pre-season games. He has taken a second MRI, and it also showed no damage.

I don't know if Owens is really hurt or not. I hope he is, because if he isn't, then the troubles are starting much sooner than expected. If he does sit out the entire pre-season, he may find himself sitting out game one as well. Parcells doesn't have a track record of starting players who did not practice. I agree with "the Tuna" on that. If you didn't practice, you shouldn't play.

Maybe I'm wrong, and this will all be settled before the season opens. I hope so. The alternative is too horrible to think about.