Cutting Terrell Owens was the Best Move for the Dallas Cowboys

When the Dallas Cowboys announced that they had released Terrell Owens, the move was meant with mixed reaction. While everyone agreed that he was probably a distraction to players and coaches on and off the field, the consensus was Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be crazy to cut someone of Owens' talent.

While the true reasons why may never be admitted, it is clear that Owens had to go because his affect on team chemistry surpassed the effect his play had on the scoreboard. Ultimately, that cost Owens his job in Dallas.

This past season proved that any team can compete for the NFL title. Experts who made the pre-season picks in 2008 never dreamed the Arizona Cardinals could make it to the Super Bowl. While there is considerable talent on the Cardinals team, the team played beyond expectations late in the season and during the playoffs. The team made a "run" unseen in the NFL in recent memory. The reason is simple: team chemistry.

Looking at the Cowboys' roster, there was no reason why the team shouldn't have been among the NFL's elite, yet they constantly underperformed. It was up to Jerry Jones to determine why.

Ultimately, he did not blame the coaching, as he kept head coach Wade Phillips when he had a chance to make a change. He also kept offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and assistant coaches who clashed with Owens (Assistant coaches Jones did fire worked with the defense and special teams). Some argued the coaches tried too hard to placate Owens' complaining, working him into the play-calling when the running game or players like Jason Witten and Roy Williams could do just as well.

Jones did not blame other players. Yes, Tony Romo did not play to his potential. However, Owens questioned his play during the season (even as his stats saw a boost when Romo was healthy), and some may argue undermined Romo's role as leader of the team. Owens openly criticized Jason Witten, accusing him of conspiring to have more plays go his way.

When Romo struggled to come back from injury, he spent more time throwing to Owens instead of allowing the trio of running backs (Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice) take some of the load. Roy Williams, regarded as one of the game's best receivers, saw few plays go his way. He would never see the touches he needed to make an impact while Owens was on the team. Of all of these players, Owens was the most expendable, and probably the only one whose play did not warrant the attention he demanded.

Is it fair to have him take all the blame? Perhaps not, but someone had to. Wade Phillips tried to establish a nurturing, positive locker room atmosphere. Time and again, Owens upset that. They tolerated it when his play made the Cowboys better. It didn't anymore. His mouth and ego wrote checks his play couldn't cash. Owens may still be better than 90% of the receivers in the league. When you don't win, however, little else matters.

Jean Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News pointed out that while Owens was one of the best receivers the Cowboys ever had, he also bore the responsibility for a poor locker room atmosphere. "T.O. was flawed. Who could possibly dispute that? He whined way too much. At 35, he's a declining player whose ego will never ever allow him to admit it. He is a locker-room cancer," he wrote. That being said, he said all the team's excuses for poor play and bad chemistry go with him.

Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Tony Romo and the rest of the cast have no excuses now. It's time to start winning, or at the very least play like a team that cares.

Source: Taylor quote from The Dallas Morning News, 3/5/2009