Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens is back in his element.
The center of the attention. The villain of all villains.
Why else would he wear a T-shirt emblazoned with “fancy little football person” on it? It was an obvious reference to the remarks toward him last week by Dallas Police Association spokesman Glenn White for his supposed criticism of the police following his accidental overdose.
“I am always in the middle of a storm,” Owens said. “I feel like I am in a storm right now. It comes with the territory.”
Part of him may hate it. But part of him loves it.
And no matter how much he tried to downplay it, this is the storm he has waited all season for: returning to Philadelphia for the first time as a member of the Cowboys.
Owens built his career–rising from an unknown third-round pick to arguably the best receiver in the game–thriving on the negativity, doubts and criticisms of others. On Sunday, Owens will be smack dab in the middle of the mother of all negative situations.
No, “it’s not Vietnam,” as Cowboys coach Bill Parcells put it. But there’s no question who will be the target of intense verbal and physical warfare at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday .
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“They may have to beef up security this week,” Owens said. “I am probably the most hated guy coming to Philly this weekend, so I expect the worst.”
Eagles fans–who have booed Santa Claus, cheered when Michael Irvin was briefly paralyzed, and egged the Cowboys’ bus last season–threw a mock funeral for Owens before the Cowboys game last December. They burned his jersey and Owens-related merchandise.
“They can burn all of them,” Owens said. “That’s more money in my pocket. I get the royalties from it. Buy it and burn it all day.”
Owens said he has already heard that Eagles fans have plans of mocking last week’s incident when he accidentally overdosed on painkillers.
“They’ve got a little chant for me: “O.D.! O.D.! O.D.!” Owens said, laughing. “I’m ready for it.”
Considering this is the moment he has pointed to since being unceremoniously dumped by the Eagles at the end of last season, Owens will have a little something for them and their fans. He has no plans on backing down.
After signing with the Cowboys in March, he circled the date of the first trip back to Philadelphia on his calendar.
He acknowledged that part of his motivation this season was not only to help the Cowboys go to the Super Bowl but also to gain vindication for his tumultuous final season in Philadelphia. He was labeled a locker-room cancer because of his fights with management and quarterback Donovan McNabb. The Eagles banished him for the final nine games.
“It’s been mentally there,” Owens said. “I had to get it in my head and take it one game at a time. This game is this week, and we’ve got to deal with it. Once we win, it’s going to be special.”
Owens’ biggest challenge is not trying to do too much and letting the hoopla of the return distract the Cowboys from their main goal of beating the Eagles. The Cowboys (2-1) trail the Eagles (3-1) by a half-game in the NFC East.
“We’re not going there to taste the cheese steaks,” Owens said. “We’re going up there to try to win a ballgame.”
Though Parcells hasn’t talked to Owens personally about the situation, he has talked to his players about the type of environment they will be playing in and where they need to focus.
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe expects “it to be crazy. I am sure the fans have been working on their signs for a long time.”
Bledsoe said the Cowboys handled the previous week’s distractions pretty well as evidenced by the 45-14 victory against Tennessee.
Though he hasn’t necessarily had a breakout performance with the Cowboys so far–14 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown–Owens expects to break out soon.
He is finally in football shape after missing much of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
“The time is coming,” Owens said. “The more I get my hands on the ball, the more I feel like I’m close to making something happen.”
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ON TV: Cowboys at Eagles, 3:15 p.m. Sunday, WFLD-Ch. 32