The moment the Cowboys signed receiver Terrell Owens to a three-year $25 million contract, the countdown began on when his services would be terminated.
It doesn't appear it will be this season. The Cowboys are expected to pay Owens a $3 million roster bonus today to stay with the team.
After last season ended, owner/general manager Jerry Jones told everyone who asked that Owens, the Cowboys' leading receiver, would return in 2007.
Jones even got snippy on his weekly radio show at season's end.
Asked if Owens would return, Jones replied, "I said yes, OK. I don't know how I can answer you any clearer."
Well, Jones has one final chance to change his mind.
If the Cowboys don't cut Owens today, he will receive his bonus and play in Dallas in 2007.
"I wasn't worried about it," Owens said Thursday. "He [Jones] said he was going to do it."
There were many signs pointing to the Cowboys retaining Owens after the 2006 season.
Jones and his son, Stephen, told candidates for the then-vacant head coaching job that a new coach had to get Owens the ball.
Owens led the team with 1,180 receiving yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He was targeted by Cowboys quarterbacks 152 times, tops on the team and tied for the fifth in the NFL.
When Wade Phillips was hired, he said Owens was part of his family and made it clear that he wanted to get his playmakers involved.
And as the Cowboys were putting together their coaching staff, they tried to hire George Stewart, who is close with Owens and was his receivers coach in San Francisco.
When Stewart signed a deal to coach in Minnesota, Dallas hired Ray Sherman, a twice former offensive coordinator, as receivers coach.
Sherman reached out to Owens via text messages and phone calls to try to develop a good relationship.
Former receivers coach Todd Haley and Owens clashed numerous times last season. At one point, Owens told Haley to not call him on his cellphone.
Jason Garrett, the Cowboys' new offensive coordinator, visited Owens in Miami to talk about the new offense.
"Explosive," Owens said earlier this month, describing the new offense. "I think it's going to be explosive and get everybody involved and obviously myself – to move me around a little bit and get me more involved than I was last year. I'm looking forward to it."
Phillips has praised Owens' toughness during the off-season. Owens wasn't expected to catch any passes until late July because of two surgeries on his right ring finger, but he surprised the Cowboys by catching passes earlier this month at the first minicamp.
And with Owens back for another season, the Cowboys are looking forward to their leading receiver having a better 2007.
"Right now, this is a new season for us," Owens said. "I think the only thing that matters is the guys here in the locker room and us focusing on one goal, and that's winning the Super Bowl."
