<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Parcells waiting to play OwensOXNARD, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2006) -- Terrell Owens is going to have to practice more before he plays for Bill Parcells.Parcells said the receiver won't play in the Dallas Cowboys ' second preseason game Aug. 21 against the New Orleans Saints. Owens went through his fifth straight practice Aug. 19 since missing 14 in a row because of hamstring problem."He's gotten some pretty good work in this week, and I just don't want to start over next week," Parcells said. "Hopefully, he'll get his first real game action next weekend."Owens didn't talk to reporters after the morning practice, the first of two for the Cowboys on their final full day of workouts at their California camp.Since returning to practice Aug. 16, Owens has gone through individual and team drills. He has run routes at full speed, making hard cuts without any apparent problems.After the team's only workout Aug. 18, Owens said he was "a little bit sorer than usual" but was still day to day. He wasn't sure if he would play against New Orleans.Parcells said the decision to hold Owens out was final."Nothing will change my mind," Parcells said. "It's the natural course of events. I don't think you can play pro football practicing four to five days. I think you need more than that."When asked how much time Owens needed, Parcells said, "I don't know the player that well, but certainly more than what he's had so far."Dallas has a short turnaround between its next two preseason games. With a day off after playing New Orleans, the Cowboys have only two true days of practices before playing San Francisco at home Aug. 26.Owens first felt a twinge in his hamstring Aug. 2, but an MRI taken three days later was clear. Owens flew in several doctors and trainers, plus a hyperbaric chamber, because he still didn't feel right.During Cowboys practices, Owens became a regular on the stationary bicycle. One day last week, he wore the uniform of Discovery Channel pro cycling team -- sporting the similar blue and silver colors of the Cowboys -- to poke fun at all the time he was pedaling on the sideline.Owens remained in California last weekend when the Cowboys played their preseason opener in Seattle. When the team returned to the practice field Aug. 14, Owens started doing more in his rehabilitation and missed only three more sessions before finally donning the pads again and joining his teammates."Even with the time that I've had off, just being Lance Armstrong on the bikes over here, I feel like I've still come in and they've put me in situations where I kind of had to push myself a little bit," Owens said. "My conditioning, my wind is not where it needs to be. But it's a 16-week season, so I know my conditioning will be there."</div>http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/DAL/9609671
Personally I would have played Owens if I was Parcells. To me it seemed like Owens was milking his injury because he didnt really want to practice, but he is going to need some reps to learn the new offense, his pure talent isn't always going to be enough.
I wouldn't of played him, you practice to play, and T.O. didn't practice so he shouldn't of played. You're exactly right that he needs reps and he hasn't gotten them, and even though, yes, it is Terrell Owens, it only takes 1 out of 11 guys to screw up a play for everybody which gets in the way of showing how they have progressed. They will play him after he gets reps in practice.
I have to agree that you practice you play. But on the other hand I would much rather T.O. be completely health for the start of the year. Although, he will play the first half of the next game, I think that would be enough reps for him to get comfortable. He and Bledsoe are pros and they've been around the block because the fact of the matter is that a pass route is a pass route. It's all terminology...so it may take a few games but I think it will all come together. After watch the last 2 preseason games, I'm pretty comfortable with our receiving depth. I think Glenn's going to have another good year, along with T.O. But the younger receivers are pretty impressive. And not to mention the offensive line has been pretty good the last 2 games only give up 1 sack.So I think the offensive side of the ball will be good to go along with a pretty good defense. So absolutely the thing that Dallas needs is to get T.O. get those few games under his belt to feel completely comfortable.
