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UP-TO-THE-MINUTE: A T.O. TOP 10 by The Fish

by Mike Fisher

Wed, Mar 15, 2006, 11:36 PM

It was back on Nov. 22 when we told you first of Bill Parcells' purposeful media "leaks'' that led us to report that the Cowboys would indeed pursue Terrell Owens. It was back on Jan. 8 when we broke the story of a Cowboys source who was "adamant'' about the team wanting to release Keyshawn Johnson. (A story that, oddly, never did make it to the papers.) It was last week when we reported that Jerry Jones was working to convince Parcells that T.O. was a worthy "wild-cattin''' move.

With that hat trick on our permanent record, we thought we'd take a few more shots on goal. Ten of them, in fact:

1) If the T.O. Sweepstakes comes down to a bidding war between Dallas and Kansas City, the Cowboys can win by making their offer a multi-year deal. An agent friend of ours with knowledge of the situation says KC's proposal to Owens is of the "trial-basis'' variety. We take that to mean that it is short-term, maybe even one year.

2) The Cowboys, as the local papers have written, could conceivably bring Keyshawn back after he's tested the market. Well, emphasis on the "conceivably.'' Because no matter the cooperative relationship a beat writer or two has with Key-Key, that ain't the plan.

3) There are other WR names out there who could end up being Johnson's replacement in Dallas. Green Bay's talented young Javon Walker is coming off an injury, and he's not the brightest bulb. (His Wonderlic score make Vince Young seem like the MENSA club president.) But he's a budding star. Buffalo's Eric Moulds is a former standout who has faded, but a reunion with Drew Bledsoe could reinvigorate him. Viable ideas? Yes. The Cowboys' intentions when they released Keyshawn within minutes of Owens becoming available? No.

4) Conventional wisdom has it that the T.O. suitors are Dallas, Kansas City and Denver. If KC won't go long-term, and Denver has a tight cap. ... Well, it's Dallas with a 33-percent chance with a bullet, right? Not so fast: Today's "we-aren't-interested'' team is tommorow's "it's-only-gonna-cost-how-much?'' team. There is every reason to assume that another potential bidder or two is playin' possum, letting the Cowboys establish some groundwork before pouncing.

5) Speculate away about the teams that might be interested in hiring Keyshawn. Bet money on this: He'd love to go to Philly. He thinks he can help them win again, they need a No. 1 target, and he'd love to be in a vengeful position to stick it to Dallas twice a year.

6) It has been written repeatedly that Owens "will be patient,'' that he "might not even sign until September.'' From everyone we have talked to, we've gathered a lot of things. ... but we've never gathered that. Additionally, we should note: If you've ever been locked in a room with Jerry Jones, you know you rarely exit the room without having been sold. The idea that Jerry would present an idea to Terrell Owens in March and then not get a definitive response on it until September seems. ... well, ridiculous.

7) One local newspaper wondered if Owens will be "another Jerry Rice,'' i.e., someone who at 33 is just beginning to peak. In terms of Owens' physique and conditioning and athletic ability, this question answers itself. T.O. is absolutely capable of performing at a high level for many more years. But that is NOT the part of Owens' longevity that is truly at issue. He might still be a fine football player at 40 -- but he might have been, by that time, a fine football player for two or three more eventually-fed-up employers.

8) Contrary to the concerns of some fans I've heard from and a talk-show host or two, the interest in Terrell Owens has little effect on the time or money available to spend on scouting other pro and college talent. Typical take: "Fine and well about T.O., but don't we really need a kicker, an offensive tackle, a safety and a linebacker?'' Answer: Yes, you need a kicker. And you will sign a kicker, a veteran kicker who is a name-brand. And when you find yourself having to win a game 13-12, you can better do it because of that kicker. In the first round, the Cowboys are focusing their preparation on those other three positions. So help is coming there. Now, about that 13-12 victory: Sign T.O. -- and keep the reins tight -- and you won't be so limited in potential scoring ability.

9) Sharky agent Drew Rosenhaus is obviously a pivotal player in all this. But somewhere, behind a closed door or in a shadow, another mover-and-shaker is an old friend, T.O. chum and Cowboy-for-life named Michael Irvin.

10) People say they wouldn't sign Owens because "it's not like the Cowboys are just one player away.'' Ah, but yes, they are. At 9-7, they were indeed one player away from winning another game, and therefore of getting into the tournament, where anything can happen. Truth is, in this age of parity, virtually every team in football is "one player away.'' Besides, if a team is actually "two players away'' or "three players away,'' doesn't it need to sign one before it signs the second and the third?

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Mavs Just Refuse to Give Up

by Norm Hitzges

Wed, Mar 15, 2006, 07:49 PM

You see it all the time in sports. Teams get behind early and end up mailing in the final minutes of a game. They basically throw in the towel and decide to back off and regroup for the next game on the schedule. It doesn’t matter how good the team is, every team has an off night every once in awhile. But, for some reason, this Dallas Maverick team just refuses to give up when it has a bad night.

The Mavericks are battling injuries right now. They dug in last night to catch Cleveland from 19 down. This team just refuses to quit. They fight and fight and fight. And they win.

There’s a lot that I still don’t know about this team. But I do know this: THIS TEAM WILL NOT QUIT. There are very few teams that I can remember that have played as hard night after night after night as the Mavericks have.

I think this change has occurred over the last 2 years. I think Avery has a lot to do with this. But this started before Avery got here. I think that this started with Nellie and his decision to turn the team over to Avery.

I think that Avery’s arrival certainly was the signal. But I think that Nellie can be given a lot of credit for Avery’s arrival. Avery has put a ton of work into this team. He has put his stamp on this team. This team’s ability to dig down is greater than any Maverick basketball team I’ve seen.

The question for me about the Mavericks is their health at playoff time. If they are healthy at playoff time, I think a series against the Spurs is s coin toss. I think that there are 3 teams in this league at the Championship level. The Pistons, the Spurs and the Mavericks are the 3 teams that I think can make a serious run at the title.

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NCAA's brings out familiar names

by Dave McNabb

Wed, Mar 15, 2006, 04:59 PM

The son of a former tennis player, Florida's Joakim Noah is one of many familiar names that annually burst back into the national spotlight at NCAA tourney time. Noah's dad, Yannick, likely will be shown often cheering for his 6-11 sophomore son to get the Gators back to a Final Four ... Arkansas guard Ronnie Brewer comes to Dallas just like his dad Ron did as one of the Eddie Sutton triplets two decades ago ... another triplet, Sidney Moncrief has a talented son as well. A 6-5 junior receiver in Little Rock who is being highly recruited ... There's also Brendan Winters at Davidson, whose dad is former NBAer Brian ... Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is a former TCU guard under Moe Iba. Dixon's sister, Maggie, has led Army to a tournament berth in the women's bracket. And you didn't even know Army had a woman's team. Everyone has heard of Courtney Paris, the daughter of Michigan and 49er lineman Bubba Paris at Oklahoma ... And don't forget, Hakeem Olajuwon's 6-3 daughter Abi from Los Angeles, has signed to play with the Sooners next year ... There is another connection to Phi Slamma Jama. Texas A&M's LaToya Micheaux is the daughter of Larry Micheaux.

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Keyshawn is Gone--Is T.O. on his Way

by Norm Hitzges

Tue, Mar 14, 2006, 10:25 PM

The Cowboys have released Keyshawn Johnson. They chose not to pay him the $1M signing bonus that was due him tomorrow.

It’s hard to believe that the Cowboys wouldn’t have something in mind when they released Keyshawn.

Johnson was a good player. As a matter of fact he was a very good player for the Cowboys the past couple of years. This leaves them in need of a lead receiver. And there is only one real lead receiver out there.

Terrell Owens.

And you know my thoughts on him. I think people have forgotten what a dirtbag T.O. has been. He’s gotten nasty with both of his previous teams.

Also, I think that the Cowboys are steering a very dangerous course here from a lockerroom leadership aspect. Keyshawn was respected in the locker room, so was La’Roi Glover. Scott Fujita was also a respected guy in the room.

I can’t imagine adding Terrell Owens to that locker room is a plus.

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Locals jump into March Madness

by Dave McNabb

Mon, Mar 13, 2006, 12:38 AM

Iowa's triple threat 6-11 senior Erek Hansen from Euless Trinity has developed into a great shot blocker, rebounder and defender to lead the Hawkeyes into the tourney as a senior.

GW has DFW

Montrell McDonald from FW Wyatt helps George Washington into the tourney as a No. 8 seed against UNC-Wilmington. A GW win likely means a matchup against Duke in the second round.

King Tutt

Oral Roberts gets a berth behind former South Garland guard Ken Tutt, who actually started out at Mesquite. ORU also had Moses Ehambe of Mansfield Summit and Yemi Ogunoye of Cedar Hill.

BC connection

Boston College has Marques Haynes of Irving, Ted Dunlap of Jesuit (nice Catholic boy) and Sean Williams of Mansfield. Why BC from Dallas? A little karma because Skinner became Rhode Island coach when Tom Penders left for Texas and coaches always use connections like passes upcourt.

Band of Brothers

The Lake Highlands duo: Warren Carter goes in with Illinois and Josh Carter goes with the Aggies.

Who needs Knight?

Rockwall's Nathan Doudney transferred from Texas Tech to Gonzaga. although a role player, Doudney gets much better scenary during the year and Zaga's in the tournament and Tech is cowering in Knight's eyebrows trying to figure out a way not to hire his son Pat as the next coach.

NCAA qualifiers

Air Force

Adam Hood, Mesquite Poteet

Albany

Jason Siggers, Skyline

Boston College

Marquez Haynes, Irving

Ted Dunlap, Jesuit

Sean Williams, Mansfield

George Washington

Montrell McDonald, FW Wyatt

Gonzaga

Nathan Doudney, Rockwall

Illinois

Warren Carter, Lake Highlands

Iowa

Erek Hansen, Euless Trinity

Oral Roberts

Ken Tutt, South Garland

Moses Ehambe, Summit

Yemi Ogunoye, Cedar Hill

Oklahoma

Michael Neal, Mesquite Poteet

Texas

Lamarcus Aldridge, Seagoville

Texas A&M

Acie Law, Kimball

Chris Walker, Grapevine

Dominique Kirk. Bryan Adams

Kenneth White, Molina

Josh Carter, Lake Highlands

UNC-Wilmington

Mitch Laue Bishop Lynch

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