The score stood deadlocked at 17, the third quarter quickly dwindling away between heated rivals Cowboys and Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday. Dallas, which had come into the game tied with Green Bay for the NFC's best record (7-1), had not been having it easy with New York?currently on a six-game winning streak?or rather, had not been having it easy with themselves, having committed a myriad of penalties throughout much of the first half.
The Giants, on the other hand, were thankful to be where they were in the game?let alone the standings?with expectations at an all-time low entering the season?at least from a fan's standpoint. But here both teams stood, Dallas white juxtaposed with a rare New York red, tied up late in the third quarter, with virtually the entire fate of the 2007 NFC East title on the line.
The $67.5 million man, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo lined up under center on first and 10 on New York's 25 yard-line with a receiver to both his left and right, his backs lined up in an I-formation. Carrie Underwood's fiancé-to-be then got the snap and dropped back, utilizing the play action (and subsequently Madden's vision cone, of course), then slung the ball deep down the right sideline, hitting Terrell Owens, who was torching Giants corner Sam Madison in the process, perfectly in stride for the touchdown and a 24-17 lead.
As a spectator, you knew what was coming next: some extravagant, likely inappropriate celebration from the infamous receiver and his seemingly endless bag of shenanigans. But instead, after slowing to a halt after making the go-ahead score, Owens jogged over to the middle of the endzone, ball in hand, and gracefully presented it to the referee, with his teammates around him and on the sideline rejoiced, the Rom-Ow connection responsible for yet another Cowboy victory (31-20). It was an act few had ever seen before, for players, coaches, and fans alike: an unblemished display of sportsmanship from Terrell Owens. Surprised? You shouldn't be; it's the way he's been for awhile now.
There was a time when Terrell Owens's behavior mirrored that of a 10-year old who just got his XBOX 360 taken away, combined with that of the present-day Alex Rodriguez (with whom, much to my chagrin, the Yankees have re-signed. Going back on your word?now that's great behavior).
From the time he was a young lad back in the 1998 playoffs, catching the game-winning, 25-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left to beat the Packers in round one, up until his signing with Dallas in March of 2006, Owens's aura could best be described in one word: obnoxious. Whether it was pulling that Sharpie out of his sock to sign a touchdown ball he had just caught, borrowing a cheerleader's pompoms to do a little shimmy, or absolutely ripping on then-49ers offensive coordinator Greg Knapp or former quarterback Donovan McNabb on the sideline, Owens has been the subject of more headlines than movies that include Samuel L. Jackson (which, at least of Wednesday, was every movie ever). After leaving San Francisco in 2004 for the Eagles, Owens, in an interview with Playboy even insinuated that former teammate and quarterback Jeff Garcia was a homosexual (Garcia, ironically, at one point actually dated a Playboy playmate). Could there be an athlete who was more annoying? Or, in the case with Garcia, an athlete who was more wrong?
After an unfulfilling trip to the Super Bowl that resulted in a loss to the Patriots, Owens's relationship with the Eagles quickly began to deteriorate, the receiver demanding more money; the organization refusing. So after thousands upon thousands of shirtless sit-ups in his driveway in front of the media, while affected agent Drew Rosenhaus did his best Jerry Maguire-I'm-all-about-personal-attention-and-my-client-deserves-more-money impression, Owens was finally released by Philadelphia on March 14, 2006, only to sign with divisional foe Dallas four days later. Get yo' popcorn ready.
He had an electric debut against Jacksonville, but eventually leveled off as he and quarterback Drew Bledsoe failed to establish a healthy on-field relationship. A few weeks later, there was a report that Owens had allegedly tried to commit suicide by overdosing on medication, and though he survived, whether he had actually intended on killing himself that day remains a mystery.
Then, along came Tony Romo. After a dreadful first two quarters of a game on October 23, Bledsoe was benched at halftime in favor of the undrafted, fourth-year quarterback out of Eastern Illinois, who finished off the game, then the season. Quite frankly, that's all Owens needed, as he finished last season as the league-leader in touchdowns (13), and since that fateful day, has rarely had an outburst or exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct (besides allegedly hocking a loogie in D'Angelo Hall's grill that is, which he immediately apologized for days after). But how did this sudden transformation happen? And has he really changed?
You could argue he'd done it to curry favor with the guards. Or, maybe make a few friends among us cons. Me, I think he did it just to feel normal again, if only for a short while.
Okay, clearly that line is straight out of the "Shawshank Redemption"?I'm just keeping you all on your toes, and it sort of seemed fitting. In all seriousness, though, there are a number of theories as to why Owens has undergone this total 180:
1) Perhaps last year's legendary head coach Bill Parcells may have instilled in Owens a new, resolute mindset, the coach being famous for being an expert disciplinarian with zero-tolerance for any funny business, even though Owens claims to have learned "nothing, really" during his lone year with the Tuna, who resigned at the end of the season after a first-round playoff exit.
2) Perhaps it is the "laid-back" coaching style of this year's head coach Wade Phillips that fits Owens like a glove.
3) It could just be Romo himself, who also seems to fit Owens like a glove, especially when you consider the receiver has yet to lash out at his gun-slinger of a quarterback.
4) Or it's because he is winning, and winning big.
It is this last point that makes the most sense. Just like the old adage says: winning solves everything. The Cowboys are still tied for the best record in the NFC at 8-1, Owens is getting the ball whenever he wants it, and Romo will put it right on the money for him nine times out of 10 (unless they're playing Buffalo); how could you not be happy to be Terrell Owens?
Some people will argue that people never change, at least their character that is, and I happen to agree. Owens really hasn't changed, but rather, it's his attitude that has undergone a major transformation. Evidence enough has been the absence of Owens' name from headlines every Sunday that normally served as bastions for his weekly antics. Instead, Owens is letting his play do the talking: 50 receptions for 855 yards and eight scores going into Sunday.
We can all learn a valuable lesson from Terrell Owens (I know, sounds crazy, right?): No matter how many questionable things we have done in our lives that we might regret, it is never too late to turn it all around. Ever. Each passing moment gives us the opportunity to start anew, without any regard for our past, for isn't today really all that matters?
After scoring his second touchdown of the game Sunday, Owens tossed the ball to the referee once again and then jogged towards the sideline where teammate Sam Hurd was awaiting to congratulate him. When they finally met on the sideline, Owens initiated a celebratory dance: "Crank Dat," as the two began to superman that?well, you all know how it goes?assuring all of us that despite his recent metamorphosis, there still remains a little of the man that was.
And although he may have a notorious past, there's really no doubt that today we spell redemption: T.O.