Morning Report: A hot potato named Owens

Terrell Owens has worn out his welcome in Dallas. He was sent packing from Philadelphia and San Francisco because of his antics.

So, which team will take a chance on the talented but trouble-making wide receiver now?

The Eagles say they have no interest in T.O., Part II. And it appears they won't have to put up with him in division games. The Giants and the Redskins have said they don't want him, either.

They aren't alone, according to Newsday's Bob Glauber, who wrote:

"Teams throughout the NFL couldn't get the word out fast enough that they wouldn't go near the 35-year-old receiver.

"By 11 a.m., the Giants and Jets had sent out word that T.O. was No Go. Shortly thereafter, the Falcons, Redskins, Ravens, Vikings, Titans, 49ers, Chiefs, Browns and Dolphins hopped onto the Just Say No bandwagon. Oh, and the Eagles were not interested, either, having already experienced a locker-room implosion at the hands of the temperamental star.

"There has never been anything quite like it: the ultimate example of the 'what goes around, comes around' theory. With all the ill will Owens has spread throughout the NFL, it was no wonder that teams would disavow any interest in one of the league's most controversial players. For all that talent, Owens' destructive behavior with the 49ers, Eagles and Cowboys is sufficient evidence of how radioactive he has become.

"Surely, some team eventually will take a chance on Owens; that's the way it always is with a talented player. There's always a team willing to take the risk; the Raiders, perhaps? Or maybe the Patriots?

"But whoever does take a chance on him, the risks certainly will outweigh the reward. It's just a matter of when the whole thing blows up."

And what does his departure mean for the Cowboys?

Here's what Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News wrote:

"A team that emphasizes a strong running attack improves its chances to win cold-weather games in December. The Cowboys have struggled in December games in all kinds of weather for years.

"With Owens gone, the pressure on offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is magnified. It's hard to think that Owens' release comes as unsettling news to Garrett.

"Owens challenged his coordinator last season. Garrett, wisely, did little to respond.

"When he was asked about Owens at the Senior Bowl in January, Garrett said: 'I have a lot of respect for him, certainly as a player. We'll just leave it at that, OK?'

"So you got your way, Jason. Now do something to make this offense feared again.

"Without Owens, and with little money really to spend on an additional wide receiver, Garrett has to recognize that his wide receiving corps is not special. Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd - that's a group that has the potential to be OK.

"Not special.

"The team doesn't have a pick in the top 50 of the draft, so scrap the idea of adding an elite rookie receiver.

"But where the Cowboys have a real chance to be special is in the backfield.

"There is reason to believe a slightly lighter load in 2009 will allow Marion Barber to regain the yard he lost in 2008, when his average fell to 3.7 yards per carry. And the Cowboys possess the running weapons to spell Barber.

"Early in the season, rookie Felix Jones was the offense's most dynamic player - except in the loss to Washington when Garrett forgot to use him. Jones' 8.9 yards per carry was off the charts. In addition, he can break a kickoff return at any moment.

"Jones was a first-round pick. Big things were expected.

"But late in the season, rookie Tashard Choice averaged 5.1 yards per carry and even ran effectively against the Steelers' top-ranked defense. That was outstanding for a fourth-round pick.

"What if the Cowboys shifted their balance and relied on the run as heavily as they do the pass?

"Just give that stable of backs an extra two carries a quarter. Eight more carries a game.

"Garrett no longer has to worry about a receiver whining publicly about his lack of catches. We won't be counting 'thrown tos' in the new press box this season.

"A run-happy Cowboys team - something the Cowboys were in the '90s when Garrett picked up a Super Bowl ring - would stand a greater chance of avoiding the late-season fades that have plagued them during the Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips years."