ALL WORLD ALL SPORTS (www.allworldallsports.com)

by Digger

Here we go again.

The Dallas Cowboys can't seem to distance themselves from controversy.
Jerry Jones, Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, Jayson Witten, Jessica Simpson....
It's the same old story when it comes to Cowboys football in December. Something always seems to stir the pot.

Terrell Owens had bit his tongue most of this season while talking with reporters. He's been baited and set up to deliver incriminating comments against fellow teammates. To his credit, at least publicly, T.O. has remained drama free.

However........

His history of taking aim at team quarterback's is nothing new. From Jeff Garcia (SF) to Donovan McNabb (Philly) and now his current signal caller, Tony Romo.

Anyone paying attention while watching Dallas games this year has noticed T.O. often yelling at teammates and coaches. He finds time (or nerve) to smile when dropping passes. Then, yells at Romo when the ball is delivered elsewhere.

Owens is a walking time bomb. It's December, and he's ready to explode.

Apparently, Owens is now miffed at Romo because Dallas QB and TE have been studying game film and improvising plays to better enable their team to win games. Owens, feels left out... and according to anonymous sources (from an article appearing on ESPN.com).. T.O. has been created a rift.

Players, coaches and fans are all tired of this guys antics. Owens is a gifted wide receiver on the football field. On the sidelines and clubhouse.. he's a disaster. It's always ME, ME, ME with this guy. Garcia wasn't throwing him the ball often enough. McNabb wasn't throwing him the ball often enough. Now, it's Romo's turn to get picked on by someone in need of psychiatric counseling.

The problem isn't with Owens not getting the ball from Romo. The untold story is evident to those watching live games.
T.O. doesn't run every play hard.
T.O. cuts off routes leading to turnovers or lost downs.
Dropped passes while showing off his pearly whites.
Screaming at teammates when annoyed on sidelines.
Talking behind teammates backs to other teammates.

It's always something with T.O. He wants to be the featured attraction.. then when he gets the attention... POOF.. his magic turns to dust.

Dallas is fighting for survival entering the final three games of 2008. According to the referenced ESPN article, some players realize they need T.O.'s talents to advance. So they're content not to rock the boat. Coach Phillips, just like Owens former coaches, seems reluctant or powerless to control this free spirited guy. That's the problem.

Take a look at successful teams with headcases. Super Bowl Champion Head Coach Coughlin is a no nonsense guy. As soon as someone steps out of line... Coughlin steps in and sets things straight. He did not allow team distraction TE Shockey on the sidelines during the Giants Super run last year. Self inflicted gun shot victim and star WR Plaxico Burress was suspended for the rest of this year. Retired Tiki Barber and a host of others have been released or admonished without a moments delay.

One of the problems in Dallas has been tolerence by team owner and coach wannabe Jerry Jones. Jones is the puppet master continuously chasing after troubled players, rewarding them with big bucks, coddling them when they do wrong... and... a basic lack of discipline (suspensions) only fuels the fire.

Dallas was picked by many to represent the NFC as Super Bowl contenders. Now, they're clinging to playoff hopes while playing subpar football. The Champs come to Dallas. Both teams coming off disappointing defeats last weekend. Romo will be under heavy pressure on and off the field. Some are calling him a choke artist based on lackluster career December passing & team records.

No single player causes late season failures.... it's a complete organizational effort (thanks in large to ignoring troubling situations).

It's time for Dallas to stop whinning and start playing.