... when he found out he had been fully reinstated to the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell?
He was at a local Hooters in Dallas eating a chicken sandwich.
Insert appropriate one-liners in comments section. Perhaps you will earn a citation for the "comment contest winners."
Which we assume is the reason that, out of the middle of nowhere, he criticized how Cowboys coaches utilized him in a playoff loss to the Giants last January in Big D.
With Chris Henry, Chad Johnson, Joe Horn and Anquan Boldin hogging the spotlight with their various and sundry storylines, T.O. got into the act by pinning some of the blame on head coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, the Cowboys' head-coach-in-waiting.
"I feel I made the most of the opportunities," Owens told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It was just like when I played in the Super Bowl with the [Philadelphia] Eagles, I told the coach if I am on the football field to treat me as if I am 100 percent. I don’t think they [were] considering what I did in the game. ... I felt like I could have done more."
Owens is just a tad late in getting to this subject. Then again, he was tending to other matters in the immediate aftermath of the Giants' upset playoff victory.
"Th-th-that's my teammate ... Th-th-that's my quarterback."
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo spends plenty of time autographing helmets for fans. But the other day in training camp, he handed over his own helmet to a security guard. And then he wound up autographing that one.
Cute.
There's surely a good punchline in here, but I'm preparing for my 3 p.m. "live chat," so I'll give the honors to Black N Gold and Islander505. (or anyone else who has a clever one-liner about Jessica Simpson's beau.)
Take it away, fellas.
(-photo from People.com)
This is what Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones has to say about what Don Imus said about him yesterday.
"I'm truly upset about the comments," Jones said. "Obviously Mr. Imus has problems with African-Americans. I'm upset, and I hope the station he works for handles it accordingly. I will pray for him."
Imus is defending himself over his comments.
"I meant that he was being picked on because he's black," Imus said in the statement.
I personally think this is the end for Imus.
And, if it is, I personally don't care.
He has been unfunny and irrelevant for years. The only time you hear his name is when he says stupid and/or racist things.
I don't mean to competely ruin Neil Best's life - I really don't. Besides, he's got his hands full with reporting about whether Mike & The Mad Dog are about to leave WFAN.
But Don Imus said something on his radio program this morning that will potentially get him in hot water again. And maybe fired again.
Warner Wolf was doing a news/sports update about Pacman Jones - oops, it's Adam Jones - and Wolf mentioned how Jones had been arrested half a dozen times before being suspended by the NFL. And how Jones now wants to drop the Pacman nickname.
Imus asked what color Jones is.
Oy.
I haven't listened to Imus in years. I hate to say it, but it seems like once he addressed his substance abuse issues he became unfunny and unlistenable.
The mere mention of his name does generate page views, however, so someone is paying attention.
Again, Best, I'm sorry. I hope you don't go insane.
I'm on vacation.
I have to get some gas for my propane tank because we're gonna barbecue some chicken tonight. We will then take the kids to see Kung Fu Panda.
Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, who has gone by the nickname "Pacman" for as long as he can remember, does not want to be referred to with that moniker any longer.
He's trying to change his image, in case you hadn't heard.
No surprise here, really.
Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn hasn't shown up at mini-camp this week, and now he is asking for his release. The Cowboys want Glenn to sign an injury waiver. He doesn't.
Bottom line: You will see Glenn in a different uniform this season.
Don't be surprised if it's with the team that is run by the man who once suggested Glenn was a girl for nursing an injury in New England.
Seems like yesterday that Bill Parcells said "she's doing fine" when a Patriots beat reporter asked how Glenn was feeling after tweaking a hamstring in training camp.
That was 1996.
And I'm fairly certain Jessica Simpson's pop would say he's no Blutarsky either.
But with the NFL news cycle slowing down now that Matt Walsh is in Roger Goodell's rearview mirror, we finally have time to catch up on the more important business of pro football: namely, the pressing gossip surrounding Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Simpson.
The buzz on the street is that Simpson and Romo have called it splitsville, but there are conflicting signs as to whether the romance is officially over ...
... oh, crap. I can't do this. I'm sorry. I'm trying to get hip to coming up with flimsy excuses for storylines to post more "blogrotica," as I call it when either Neil Best or Erik Boland - or both - use pics of hot women in shameless attempt to draw readers.
I can justify posting a pic of Simpson here, because she's a viable subject when it comes to NFL matters because what she says and does affects the quarterback of the most famous team in the Western hemisphere.
And I suppose I could get back in "Craig's" good graces by posting a pic of a young lady "at the pole," as he would say, when writing about Pacman Jones, since strip clubs are part and parcel of his off-field situation. But I can't.
And, as for gratuitous pics of Cowboys' cheerleaders or Jets "Flight Crew" babes, I still can't live up to the standards of Boland and/or Best. I'm sorry. I know I've failed you.
In the meantime, check out news from the Jets mini-camp, where Boland is writing about football and football only. I think. And if you care to inflate Best's page views and his massive ego, then check out WatchDog. Last I checked, Best was still in his basement, still in his jammies, still blogging away.
I hope you enjoyed the Stanley Cup playoffs.
I'm rooting for Big Brown, although I'm not predicting he will win the Belmont. I'm not doing so in the best interests of his Triple Crown bid. After all, the last two times I made predictions, I failed miserably: David Archuleta lost to David Cook in the American Idol finals, and the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals.
I don't care enough about basketball to make a pick, although my guess is that Boston will win.
Oh, wait. My soon-to-be-new-boss owns an NBA team, so I guess I do care about basketball.
Celtics in 6.
We just received this from one of our former editors at Newsday, a man we referred to simply as Newsday Otto.
It is a catchy video explaining how things went for the Cowboys in 2007.
It goes by very quickly.
You will like it.
Unless you are a Cowboys' fan.
Or Tony Romo.
Or Terrell Owens.
The controversial receiver was heading into the final year of his contract.
No more.
Terrell Owens has agreed to a three-year contract extension with Big D worth close to $27 million. That's roughly the same deal the Patriots gave Randy Moss to remain in New England.
Owens and Jerry Jones will talk about the deal later today at a press conference at Valley Ranch.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has allowed suspended cornerback Pacman Jones to begin participating in the Cowboys' off-season program. That's the good news for the troubled Jones, who has been involved in a slew of off-season incidents since joining the NFL in 2005.
But the commish did not fully reinstate Jones. That decision will be made by Sept. 1, depending on whether Jones behaves himself and complies with the league's personal conduct policy.
A wise move from the NFL's top man. Give Jones, who has comported himself acceptably in recent months after missing the entire 2007 season due to suspension, a chance to practice with his new team. But don't give him carte blanche until the regular season. The Cowboys open Sept. 7 in Cleveland.
"Commissioner Goodell told Jones that his continued participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner," the league wrote in a statement. "Jones will be expected to continue the personal conduct program established for him by the NFL and the Cowboys and to avoid further adverse involvement with law enforcement."
Jones could be in a Cowboys uniform as soon as Tuesday, when the team holds its next off-season practice session.
Jones was suspended without pay on April 10, 2007 after a series of arrests and legal problems, which included his involvement in a shooting at a Las Vegas strip joint last year. Jones has been arrested six times and has been involved in 12 incidents requiring police intervention since being drafted.
Jones and Goodell met in Atlanta May 21, and Jones convinced the commissioner he was ready for the next step in his return to the league. But if Jones screws up between now and the regular season, Goodell will not hesitate to suspend Jones yet again. This time, perhaps for good.
"This limited reinstatement is a step in the process," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Adam is aware of the things that need to be done in order to take the next step."
Pacman Jones joins Cowboys teammate Tank Johnson, a defensive tackle who was also suspended last year before being signed by the Cowboys.
"The important thing is getting him here and getting him acclimated," Johnson said. "I have told him you are a good kid, we know you and we're looking forward to having you on the team and we're excited about you proving everybody wrong."
Jerry Jones has dangled the possibility that Pacman will play some at receiver, although the team mostly envisions him as a cornerback and possible kick returner.
But first things first. Jones needs to understand that he is down to his last chance. Screw up now, and it's over.
Let's hope this time he gets the message.
Cowboys safety Roy Williams, whose pass coverage liabilities have been well documented in this space and others, decided to change numbers from 31 to 38 after the end of last season.
It was a way of reinventing himself. Or so he thought.
But Williams has become a lightning rod for criticism in Big D, and the fact that he has shunned the media only adds to the distraction and creates more controversy.
Not surprisingly, his teammates, coaches and own came to his defense in talking about the veteran safety, who is more widely known for his big hits and horse collar tackles than his solid pass coverage.
The Cowboys reportedly want to have the veteran wide receiver sign an injury waiver because of the risks associated with a knee problem.
Glenn isn't sure what his future holds in Dallas, but when a team goes down the "injury waiver" road, it's not good.
Read into that any way you like, but it's true.
In fact, Deion has counseled Pacman in recent weeks as the troubled cornerback hopes to be reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and begin training with his new teammates in Dallas.
The two share a lot in common. Both are cornerbacks. Both have dabbled in playing receiver. Both are controversial.
As for whether Deion is as enamored with strip clubs as Jones, we can't say.
But we can say that if Jones is permitted back into the NFL, he'll wear No. 21 in Dallas. The same number Prime Time wore during his NFL career.
Click here to see a recent interview with Jones.
The Cowboys' 24-year-old running back has just signed a seven-year, $45 million contract.
That's a pretty good chunk of change for a guy heading into his fourth year without ever rushing for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Hmmm ... wonder what Brandon Jacobs thinks about that one.
Jacobs is heading into his fourth season, rushed for 1,009 yards last year and helped the Giants win the Super Bowl.
He's looking for a new deal, too.
Sorry, that snarky comment in the headline about Cowboys safety Roy Williams not being able to cover was all mine.
Fact is, he can't play in space, which is why he has become maybe the most one-dimensional player in the game. Great hitter, can't cover. Not a good combination for a safety, especially one consistently voted to the Pro Bowl. Throw in the fact that he was once suspended for yet another illegal horse collar tackle, and ... you get the picture.
In any event, he met with his coaches after reports surfaced that he was uncomfortable with his role on the defense. He feels better about things.
That would be Mr. Terrell Owens and Mr. Flavor Flav, who will appear in Mr. Flav's MyNetworkTV show "Under One Roof" on Wednesday.
I'm sure Mr. Best will have some more information on this, but I wanted to just whet your appetites for whatever he writes about Mr. Owens' venture into the television business.
Will T.O. go into acting after his playing days are over?
"If I'm going to really consider doing acting after football, this a great start to let me get my feet wet," Owens said. "For an actor trying to become an A-lister, I think I'm on the bottom of the pile. I'm a D-lister."
That's what teammate Greg Ellis says about the Cowboys' veteran strong safety.
Ellis says that's why Williams seems to be distancing himself from some teammates in recent weeks.
Um, Greg, there's a good reason Williams isn't comfortable with head coach Wade Phillips' system. It's because Williams has been a liability in pass coverage throughout his NFL career. So, for all the hard hits and the horse-collar tackles, the bottom line is that Williams' ability as a defensive back leave plenty to be desired.
Yes, he has been traded from the Titans to the Cowboys.
Yes, he has been signed to a very affordable deal that does not hang the Cowboys out to dry if the whole thing blows up.
No, he has not been reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who may not rule on the matter until June or - more likely - July.
In the meantime, Goodell will surely read this story that reports a man charged with the shooting of three people outside a Las Vegas strip club accused Jones of ordering the shooting and framing of said man to avoid identifying the real shooter.
Yes, it is a very complicated situation.
The Cowboys have reportedly offered a deal worth $30 million to restricted free agent running back Marion Barber.
Barber reportedly wants a deal worth between $40 million and $60 million.
I'm simply hoping the journalism profession continues a while longer so I can keep doing this. I would gladly settle for quite a bit less than Barber is asking.
There's a better chance of Pacman joining T.O. and the Cowboys, although even that scenario may not materialize as quickly as some had expected.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the Pacman talks have fizzled for now, and that he considers the signing of former Bengals receiver Chris Henry "unlikely."
Unlikely? How about no way?
The troubled career of Adam "Pacman" Jones is expected to take yet another turn very soon, as long as the Cowboys and Titans can complete a trade that has been in the works for a couple weeks.
Looks like it's only a matter of time before it happens.
T.O. is scheduled to guest star in an upcoming episode of the MyNetworkTV new half-hour comedy, “Under One Roof,” announced the network’s President, Greg Meidel. Starring Flavor Flav, the series is slated to debut on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. 
"As the buzz continues to build around the premiere of ‘Under One Roof’ we are thrilled that football superstar T.O. will be teaming with Flavor Flav to help kick off the inaugural season of this hilarious new sitcom," Meidel said.
Flav plays Calvester Hill, an ex-convict that moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother, Winston (Kelly Perine). Calvester subsequently turns the Hill family’s life upside down, parading his old prison cronies through the house; teaching his nephew Winston Jr. (Jesse Reid) to be a gangsta rapper; and butting heads with Winston’s snooty wife, Ashley (Carrie Genzel), seventeen year-old princess Heather (Marie Michael), and housekeeper Su Ho (Emily Kuroda).
Said Flav: "It is an honor and a blessing to have Terrell ‘Touchdown’ Owens on my show, ‘Under One Roof.’ I am excited and I can't wait to complete an episode with one of my most favorite players in history. One thing special I want to say to Terrell is, ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of my show and consider this episode one extra touchdown under your belt.'"
(Writer's note: In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd mention the name Flavor Flav in a football blog. Ah, the magic of today's journalism.)
That's because the Cowboys have re-signed their veteran left tackle to a long-term contract extension.
Jerry Jones took a calculated gamble by placing the franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin, which left him vulnerable to losing Adams in free agency.
But Jones played this one correctly, banking on the fact that Adams didn't want to go anywhere as a free agent. The owner was right; Adams agreed to a deal that will likely keep him in a Cowboys uniform the rest of hsi career.
That's the buzz on the gossip pages of "Us" magazine, so it must be true, right?
The mag quotes various folks who supposedly know the couple, and the prediction is that wedding bells are in the near future for the NFL's hottest couple this side of Tom Brady and Gisele.
So, why do we care about this development?
Frankly, we don't.
But it's the off-season, and we're trying to keep you entertained until the 40 times come in for the offensive linemen at the combine.
... not when he says things like he did the day after his 13-3 Cowboys were beaten by the Giants in the NFC divisional playoffs. 
"After looking at the tape, I certainly feel like the best team lost the game," Phillips said. "I feel like we outplayed them, but we lost."
Wow.
Phillips also talked about all the progress the Cowboys made this season, how they earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, how things are looking up for the future.
Pttoooeey!
Bottom line: Phillips is still a coach looking for his first career playoff victory (0-4).
But at least he gets to sleep at night. In fact, I bet he's snoozing away right now, while I'm about to see if there's a Conan O'Brien re-run that'll put me back to sleep.
“Leave Tony alone … It’s not fair … It’s not fair … He’s my teammate. He’s my quarterback.”
Really, it's one of the funniest - yeah, funniest - things I've ever heard out of the guy's mouth. With all the trash he has thrown at his quarterbacks - Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, especially - it just amazes me that he starts bawling when defending Tony Romo after going down to the Giants in Big D. Maybe funny isn't the right word. How about utterly absurd.
I can only imagine how Garcia and McNabb must feel watching that tape.
Pass the barf bag, please.
Here's the latest from Cowboys camp on Terrell Owens' condition:
According to the Dallas Morning News blog , T.O. looked fine in the portion of the morning practice open to the media. He was taped at the outset of the practice, but then had the tape removed from his injured ankle and continued with no noticeable limp.
Two words for the Giants: Uh-oh.
There's almost no chance Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens plays in next weekend's regular season finale in Washington. Owens suffered what is being termed a high ankle sprain in last night's win over the Panthers, and he walked out of the locker room on crutches.
The Cowboys play the Redskins in a game that could decide homefield advantage in the playoffs, but with Terry Glenn almost ready to make it back from season-long knee problems, the Cowboys are expected to shut Owens down until the playoffs. That would give him three weeks to recover, since they've already clinched a first-round bye.
... if for no other reason than providing an excuse to post yet another picture of the lovely Jessica Simpson.
(Hey, posting pictures of pretty women got Neil Best a Publisher's Award, so I guess he was onto something.)
Anyway, T.O. now says he was joking when he suggested that Simpson was not welcome at Cowboys' games after she was on hand for boyfriend Tony Romo's three interception clunker against the Eagles on Sunday.
"I was just kind of explaining to [Romo] what kind of happened during the course of the [interview] session," Owens said. "I kind of told him what was said, and he kind of expressed what Jessica had told him. I was like, 'Look, dude, it wasn't meant like that. Everybody was having fun, and I was saying what I had to say. There it is, it's a big story."'
Owens said he didn't think there was a problem between he and Romo. Then again, considering T.O.'s track record of controversy and conflict with his quarterbacks, anything's possible.
Terrell Owens has some advice for Tony Romo's new squeeze, Jessica Simpson: Please stay away.
Owens thinks there's a connection to Simpson's appearance at Texas Stadium and one of Romo's worst career efforts in Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
Cause and effect? T.O. thinks so.
"With everything that has happened, obviously with the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel she has taken his focus away," Owens said. "Other than that, she was high on my list until last week."
And down the road?
"Oh, I got a message for her when we make the playoffs. Just stay tuned."
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton made some disparaging remarks about New England's defense after the Patriots waxed Dallas on Sunday. 
"Offensively, they are the real deal. I'm not going to lie about that," he said in the Forth-Worth Star Telegram. "Defensively, I can tell you no, they're not. They're not (that good) at all. The only time they stopped us is when we had penalties. If that's stopping us, it is what it is. Defensively, they are not the real deal."
Crayton also suggested that the teams would have a rematch - which could only happen if the Patriots and Cowboys advance to the Super Bowl. Um, Patrick, this might not be the best time to say things like that. You've just been beaten by a better team, and even if you do get to the Super Bowl - a big "if" at this point - then why would you want to put bulletin board material up for the Patriots in October?!?!?!
Ok, so it's not quite that simple.
But we came across an item from Time Magazine in which Owens is asked 10 questions from fans. One of them was who he'd like to see as the Cowboys' No. 1 quarterback if he could have anyone in the NFL. 
His top two picks: Peyton Manning - no surprise there. And then MCNABB!!!!
Um, didn't Owens shoot his way out of Philly a couple of years ago by constantly ripping McNabb for being one of the root causes of all his problems? Now he gets to play fantasy football with his own team, and he picks McNabb?!?!?
This guy is nutso!
It was fine to see him actually answer the question honestly, although we don't know how Tony Romo - the real starter - will feel about it. In fact, Romo and head coach Wade Phillips would probably have preferred that Owens say something like, "Tony Romo is my favorite guy" or, if he doesn't want to be completely lame with that response, "It's not even something I think about. Tony Romo is my guy, and I'm cool with that."
Instead, Owens can't get through a sentence without creating some kind of controversy.
Pass the Prozac, please.
Ok, so it was only a matter of being late to a practice. But when Terrell Owens is the one late to practice, it's news.
Which is why new Cowboys coach Wade Phillips had better saddle up for a bumpy ride with his temperamental receiver, who has had more run-ins with coaches than any player in western civilization.
T.O. showed up 20 minutes late to practice, as the Cowboys worked out against the Broncos in four sessions over the last two days. Phillips was asked about the matter, and he said simply that a player was late and it's been handled. He did not identify the player, although it was pretty obvious who it was.
To this point, Owens has been a model citizen for Phillips. Then again, he started off great with Eagles head coach Andy Reid and then went psycho the next year when the team wouldn't re-do his contract.
Bill Parcells kept his distance from Owens from the start last year, and he never really warmed up to the guy. What a surprise.
The Cowboys were holding their collective breath earlier today when they sent Terrell Owens for a precautionary MRI, and the news was all negative. Which, of course, in MRI parlance, is all positive.
A negative result on the MRI means the aching back he was having checked out showed nothing more than a strain. He'd been suffering lower back spasms, but there are no further problems, and he's expected to be back within a matter of days. The Cowboys will hold him out of their first preseason games just as a precaution, but they aren't worried in the least about his availability for the season opener against Big Blue.
(The best news of all: Any time you get can Terrell Owens name in a headline, the more likely readers will tune in. Thus, more hits to compete with psycho Newsday blogger Neil Best, who will resort to just about anything to attract readers to his twisted world.)
