Terrell Owens Upset About Not Getting Passes From Drew Bledsoe - Ft. Worth Star Telegram

Sources: Owens, Haley had shouting match

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

IRVING -- Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens said numerous times that he has learned from his past problems and wants to be a better player and better teammate in Dallas.

In that regard, Owens is having a slow start on and off the field.

Owens was late to practice on Wednesday and got into a shouting match with passing game coordinator Todd Haley, several sources said.

According to a source, Owens sent Haley a text message about the Cowboys not getting him the ball enough, which was a continuation of the his sideline rant Sunday when he caught three passes for 45 yards in a 38-24 loss at Philadelphia.

On Sunday, Owens repeatedly asked Haley: “Why did y’all bring me here?”

Owens didn’t back down while talking to the media on Wednesday when he questioned why the Cowboys weren’t doing enough to get him involved. It was that same day that he was late to practice and had the verbal confrontation with Haley, who, according to a source, pointed out his poor route running in the game and the number of passes the Cowboys threw his way.

Haley, known for his temper and who has tried to be patient with Owens, didn’t back down as both men asked the other not to disrespect them, a source said.

Assistant coaches are not allowed to talk to the media. Owens was unavailable for comment on Friday.

Curiously, a day after the Haley-Owens confrontation, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells declined to discuss Owens to the media. He continued the moratorium on Owens talk Friday.

In an interview with the Star-Telegram on Thursday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t appear bothered by Owens’ complaints about being more involved.

“I think Terrell is looking for ways to helps us win and to get better,” Jones said. “Most competitors want the ball. That’s not a negative. I think that’s what the situation is going to be.”

Jones was most responsible for recruiting and signing Owens to a three-year, $25 million contract in March, despite his troubles with players and management in previous stops with the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

He said he had no problems with Owens’ openly questioning, “Why did y’all bring me here?”

“I just look at that as a heat of the battle after you had a disappointment type of situation,” Jones said.

Owens’ recent action won’t affect his status for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans. He practiced with the first team on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Owens has made the wrong kind of headlines with the Cowboys since training camp when he missed 21 practices with a strained hamstring. On Aug. 25, he missed a team meeting, a rehab session and was late for offensive meeting. He was subsequently fined $9,500.

He suffered a fractured hand in a Sept. 17 game against Washington. Ten days later, Owens was hospitalized after suffering an accidental overdose.

On the field, Owens has caught 17 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown. It’s his slowest start since 1999.