T.O. catches a fine
Terrell Owens has finally pushed the Dallas Cowboys too far, drawing a $9,500 fine for missing a team meeting and a rehabilitation session and being late to an offensive meeting, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.
“That’s our club business. That’s going to be accounted for,” team owner Jerry Jones told the newspaper.
The incidents occurred Friday, the team’s final day preparing for a preseason game against San Francisco. The Cowboys beat the 49ers 17-7, making them 3-0 this preseason without Owens playing any of the games because of a hamstring injury that’s also kept him out of 19 of 31 practices since the start of training camp.
He missed much of the offseason training program — with permission — and turned his hamstring injury into an attention-getter by flying in specialists to help him rehabilitate and wearing a cycling team outfit one day while pedaling a stationary bicycle.
After returning to practice for several days, coach Bill Parcells ruled him out of a Monday night game and Owens hasn’t practiced since. He said he aggravated the injury because the club pushed him too hard. When Parcells said this week that he needs to see Owens on the field, T.O. responded that there’s 10 years of tape to show what he can do.
Jets wait out QB situation
Even though the regular season is two weeks away, Jets coach Eric Mangini insists he hasn’t chosen a starting quarterback.
Those who thought Mangini would finally choose between Chad Pennington, Patrick Ramsey, Brooks Bollinger and rookie Kellen Clemens remained disappointed.
Such indecision might bother players on some other teams, but Pennington, who started the 13-7 loss to the Giants on Friday night, said “It’s not that big of an issue.”
Pennington still appears to be the favorite for the starting job as the preseason winds down. He got his second preseason start and went the longest of any Jets quarterback this summer.
The performance had its ups and downs. The Jets scored no points in his eight drives, nor in the two drives he directed in the preseason opener at Tampa Bay.
Spikes ready to dig in
Buffalo Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes has a message for anyone who may have doubted his determination.
“I’m back,” Spikes said Saturday after Buffalo’s 20-17 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns.
It was the two-time Pro-Bowler’s first game appearance since shredding his right Achilles’ tendon in the third week of the 2005 season.
One tackle against the Browns helped erase months of frustration.
On the game’s first play, Cleveland running back Reuben Droughns was stuffed by Spikes off right tackle after gaining a mere 2 yards. Spikes jumped up and pumped his fist before teammates swarmed him.
Spikes lined up at his new, strong-side linebacker position for 13 plays over the first two series against the Browns.
Emmons back for Giants
New York Giants starting weakside linebacker Carlos Emmons returned to practice after missing more than three weeks with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Emmons was injured a couple of days into training camp during a goal line drill. He returned on a limited basis for a couple of days, but the injury has prevented him from playing in the first three preseason games.