DALLAS – Terrell Owens has been a 49er, an Eagle and now is a Cowboy. It's easy to forget the turbulent T.O. also spent one and a half whirlwind weeks in 2004 as a Raven before pouting, kicking and screaming so loudly that he finally was dealt to Philadelphia.
Mike Singletary was an assistant coach in Baltimore at the time and remembers the team bracing itself for Owens' arrival.
"You had both sides," Singletary said when asked about the reaction. "That is what (Owens) brings. You don't know. Some guys felt that, 'Hey, this is great.' Other guys felt, 'Can we handle this?' I just think that it was one of those things, but it worked out for him."
Indeed, Owens seems to have a Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde effect wherever he lands.
In San Francisco, he was crying in the arms of coach Steve Mariucci after a miraculous last-second touchdown in the playoffs against the Packers. A year and a half later, he and Mariucci were on the outs following Owens' display on the Texas Stadium star.
He went to Philadelphia largely to play alongside pal Donovan McNabb, on whom he piled praise in 2004. Two years later he had set his relationship with McNabb ablaze, beginning with accusations that McNabb had lost his resolve in the Eagles' Super Bowl defeat.
So far in Dallas, there's been plenty of Dr. Jekyll.
Quarterback Tony Romo spoke about Owens on Wednesday as if he were giving the best man's speech at Owens' wedding.
"We're lucky to have him on this football team," Romo said. "I wouldn't trade him for another receiver in the league."
Indeed, the relationship has gotten off to a great start. Romo and Owens have combined for 30 touchdowns since 2006, the most in the NFL over that span. Last year, Owens had 15 touchdowns and 1,355 receiving yards. They were his highest totals since 2001, when he hooked up with Jeff Garcia for 16 touchdowns and 1,412 receiving yards.
But some fine – and to 49ers fans, familiar – cracks have begun to appear in Dallas.
When Romo missed three games with a broken finger earlier this year, Owens' numbers fell. With Romo back in the lineup last week, Owens still was held to 38 receiving yards and no touchdowns.
During a taped interview Thursday night with the NFL Network's Deion Sanders, a frustrated Owens put the blame at the feet of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, an accusation that's been getting big attention in Big D.
"I think a lot of people, they see that when I get my hands on the ball things happen," said Owens, sounding the way he did in 2003 when he feuded with 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. "I can't throw it and catch it. I can do only one thing. It's not that I can't play, it's the system which I'm in."
At the end of the interview Sanders assured viewers that the conversation only gets juicier. Part 2 runs today.
Brace yourself, Dallas.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at sacbee.com/ninersblog.
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